Chapter 17
The Bennets find out
Five weeks after leaving Oakridge Manor, the Darcys returned to their estate.
Several letters had been exchanged between the couple and their families during their wedding trip; however, they were unsurprised by the sheer amount of correspondence awaiting them at Oakridge Manor.
Only their closest family members had their direction at Lake Windermere; the rest of their correspondence had been forwarded here from London.
Charlotte had refused to give Mrs. Bennet or Jane the direction to Elizabeth’s new estate, insisting she did not have one for them yet.
This was not a lie, although Charlotte was at least aware of the location of both estates, but knew Elizabeth had asked her to wait to write until she could send the direction once they had decided on which estate to accept.
Before they left Oakridge, Elizabeth wrote to her friend with the news, but by this time, Mrs. Bennet had been told by Sir William and Lady Lucas she would not be allowed to continue to harass their daughter.
Although she had not given up, she had decided to send her letters to her brother in London, hoping he would forward them.
She had written him a letter to complain of many things: his allowing Elizabeth to marry without her being present, his not telling Mr. Bennet of the young man’s prospects, his inviting Mary to town instead of Jane, their having never introduced Jane to eligible gentlemen as they had with Elizabeth and a whole litany of other perceived slights.
Such a letter was not likely to induce the Gardiners to invite Jane to London, especially after Elizabeth made them aware of what occurred at Longbourn when they visited and what happened after.
Lucas Lodge was the second house Mrs. Bennet and Jane called upon the day after Elizabeth left, and the visit had been tense.
The Bennets had visited after their visit to Mrs. Phillips, sister of Mrs. Bennet, where they had learned Elizabeth had been seen in Meryton the day before.
They had been the picture of the happily married couple and spoke to many townspeople.
“I was so pleased to see Eliza in town yesterday, Mrs. Bennet, Jane,” Lady Lucas said as soon as her guests entered. “She and Mr. Darcy look so happy together, and I know you are both pleased by her felicity in her marriage. They are a very handsome couple.”
Mrs. Bennet was unprepared for this opening.
“Yes, we are very pleased by the match,” she replied, uncertain how to proceed.
She had not intended to begin speaking of her daughter so quickly in the visit, as she had intended to speak of other things first, building up the news of Elizabeth’s visit and planning to rub it the fact she had a daughter married and at just seventeen years of age.
“And so well settled,” Lady Lucas continued.
“Why she has written Charlotte of her new husband’s connections and the legacy from his grandfather.
Why, he is to inherit an estate somewhere near his family’s ancestral estate in Derbyshire.
Knowing how much Eliza loves the outdoors, she will be delighted in the Peak District.
And this wedding trip to the Lakes, well, I am certain Eliza will enjoy it very much.
They will soon be quite well settled at their estate.
Eliza said they have no intention of returning to town this Season, although she thinks her new mother-in-law might try to persuade her to return in June following their wedding trip. ”
Mrs. Bennet had not fully comprehended all the words her daughter’s new husband had spoken to her while she feigned a faint in the hallway following Elizabeth’s departure. Lady Lucas’s words brought much of it back. “His uncle is an earl,” she said quietly.
“Yes, he is the Earl of Matlock and has a large estate in Derbyshire, although the Darcy family itself is very well off,” Lady Lucas confirmed.
“The Darcys are not titled, although Eliza mentioned they could be. Mr. Darcy’s elder brother inherited the ancestral estate, which is called Pemberley, and it once was a marquessate.
The elder Mr. Darcy is seeking to restore the title, so not only would Eliza be connected to an earl but also to a marquess.
I am not certain of all the details, as apparently the present Mr. Darcy’s father had not cared for titles and had not made the application, but the current master seeks to have it reinstated. ”
“Would that make Lizzy a lady?” Mrs. Bennet asked, forgetting she was meant to pretend she knew all this already. She had not wanted to let Lady Lucas realise she had spoken more to Lizzy than her mother.
“No, not unless something were to happen to the elder Mr. Darcy and your daughter’s husband were to inherit the title once it has been awarded,” Lady Lucas told her, smirking at her eagerness.
Mrs. Bennet deflated somewhat with this news. “Is the elder brother married?” she asked. Jane perked up at this idea as she thought of ways to force the gentleman to marry her, regardless of his preference. She was brought back from her contemplations when Lady Lucas spoke again.
“No, but surely Eliza has told you he has asked his uncle to help him find a titled bride,” Lady Lucas replied smugly.
“Oh,” Mrs. Bennet sat flatly, her dream of connecting her daughter to this man falling.
“However, if I were to persuade Lizzy to let Jane stay with them, she might meet this elder brother and make him fall in love with her. Jane is far prettier and would make a wonderful marchioness,” she thought.
Out loud, she spoke again. “We were very pleased to see Lizzy and her new husband and were disappointed they could not stay. Lizzy hopes to return sometime after her wedding trip.”
“Yes, she mentioned that was your wish, but as they do not intend to return south, she was rather uncertain about it happening. She and her husband preferred the country to town and were very pleased to learn of the estate. Unless Lady Anne, her husband’s mother, convinces them to return, they will remain in the north as they learn the management of their new estate.
I imagine she will need to do some redecoration, and she was hopeful her mother-in-law and aunt would visit when the Season was over. ”
Mrs. Bennet fumed inwardly at Lady Lucas’s words. If anyone should be helping Elizabeth redecorate her new home, it should be her mother, not her mother-in-law. Struggling to conceal her anger, she soon took her leave.
Jane was equally displeased but shared a private word with Charlotte before they departed. “Charlotte, I have misplaced Lizzy’s new direction. Can you write it down for me?”
“I do not know how you could have misplaced it when she does not have the direction yet and has asked her friends to direct their letters to the Gardiners for the present,” Charlotte said, pretending to act surprised at this request. “As they are on their wedding trip, they intended for the Gardiners to collect their post until they are more settled. If something is urgent, the Gardiners will inform them via express. Surely, if you were on your wedding trip, you would not want to be bothered by others’ petty concerns.
No, Eliza and her new husband intended to be very selfish and enjoy only the company of themselves for this next month or perhaps a little longer. ”
Unhappy, Jane acknowledged Charlotte’s words. “I will send my letters to the Gardiners,” she replied and then took their leave.
Not satisfied with their visit, the Bennet ladies went into town and loudly complained about Elizabeth’s unwillingness to follow their plans.
So far, nothing they had planned, from the visits Mrs. Bennet had planned for her married daughter to Jane’s own plan of making Elizabeth unhappy but turning her husband’s attention toward herself.
Not only that, but the Lucases believed Elizabeth had no intention of returning to London, which meant she could not be used to introduce Jane to wealthy and titled men.
Hearing of the elder Darcy, Mrs. Bennet and Jane felt confident they could manage to trap him, but they could do nothing as long as they could not force Elizabeth to do what they wished.
“Whatever will we do, Jane?” Mrs. Bennet asked her daughter.
“If Lizzy remains in the north, she cannot invite you to London and introduce you to other men. Mary is with the Gardiners, but they do not have the same connections as Lizzy’s husband.
Although they did introduce Lizzy to Mr. Darcy, perhaps they could introduce you to Mr. Darcy’s family and Lizzy’s new mother, Lady Anne, could introduce you around.
We must write to the Gardiners and insist they take you to Mayfair. ”