Chapter 20 #2
“Mrs. Darcy, Miss Darcy, Miss Bennet, I am exceedingly pleased to see you all here,” Mrs. Hurst said.
“Mrs. Darcy, I have wanted to encounter you for some time to apologise for your last visit with my sister, but I have hesitated to impose myself on you in your home. My sister is quite unhappily settled in Yorkshire, but she will remain there for some time. I do hope that we may be able to continue a pleasant relationship now that your sister and my brother have married.”
Elizabeth indicated that the lady should join them in the fourth seat at the table.
“I would be willing to do so; however, you should know that your sister continues to attempt to spread her version of events, embellishing them, and has managed to drive a rather significant wedge between my sister and myself,” Elizabeth explained.
“Given that Jane believes that I compromised Mr. Darcy into marriage, ‘stealing him away’ your sister, we have not been much in company of late.”
Mrs. Hurst looked surprised at that. “Caroline was not supposed to be able to send any letters to Jane or anyone else connected with the Bennets,” she informed Elizabeth.
“I understand that Mr. Bingley is aware of the letters and confiscates any letters that arrive. She continues to spew her vitriol although Jane is no longer able to read or reply to them,” Elizabeth said quietly. “My husband suspects they are worsening because of the lack of a reply.”
“Hmm,” came the reply from that lady. Then, standing, she made her apologies and excused herself before making her way out of the shop and into her carriage.
Considering what she had heard, Mrs. Hurst decided to pay a call on her brother’s new wife. Arriving at their townhouse, she was soon shown to a sitting room where Jane was sitting and sewing. She noted her pale countenance and wan appearance, as well as the dark circles under her eyes.
“How are you doing, Louisa?” Jane enquired in a falsely cheerful tone as her guest sat in a nearby chair. As Louisa observed more carefully, she noted that Jane’s demeanour seemed subdued and tired.
The ladies exchanged pleasantries for several minutes while waiting for the tea to arrive. Once they both were served and the servants dismissed, Louisa began what she had come to say.
“I met your sister, Mrs. Darcy, while shopping earlier. She mentioned she had not seen you lately, and I am frankly surprised by such a turn of events,” she began.
“The two of you always appeared so close when we were all in Hertfordshire, especially when she came to Netherfield to visit with you when you fell ill when visiting there.”
Jane looked a little abashed at this question but managed to draw herself up and presented herself with a haughtier look as she said, “There has been some distance between us since we married. I am afraid I have been rather disappointed with my sister’s behaviour.”
“I cannot imagine how. Mrs. Darcy’s behaviour has always been above reproach. Our sister Caroline’s has been much more questionable of late,” Louisa replied frankly.
“Surely you know of the events that led to her marriage with Mr. Darcy, given that you were at Pemberley when they occurred,” Jane said, seemingly shocked at her sister’s reply.
“There was no bad behaviour on anyone’s part that led to the engagement or marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Darcy.
Mr. Darcy came across your sister rather unexpectedly and proposed marriage to her that same day, which your sister accepted happily,” Louisa told her.
“The only one who misbehaved on that trip was Caroline, who attempted to demean the Bennet family - yourself included - and when that did not work, she attempted to enter Mr. Darcy’s bedroom after learning of his engagement and force a compromise.
Everyone in the house that night was aware of her behaviour as she raised quite a ruckus and demanded the servants allow her entrance into Mr. Darcy’s room. She was rather brazen in this attempt.”
“I do not understand,” Jane began, her face showing her surprise. “Your sister has written of how she was engaged to Mr. Darcy and how my sister forced the compromise, causing her to lose him. Caroline claimed that Elizabeth was pregnant before she married Mr. Darcy but has since lost the child.”
“My sister was never engaged to Mr. Darcy. In fact, after all that has transpired between them, some of which you were witness to that night at Darcy House, I rather think he despises her,” Louisa said.
“And I would dare say that little Caroline has said about the relationship between the Darcys is true, and most is carefully contrived to make things more difficult for them. Caroline wanted Mr. Darcy, but he has barely tolerated her.”
Jane sat back in shock. “Why?” was all she could manage to say.
“She hates your sister because Mr. Darcy admired her,” Louisa stated.
“She wanted Pemberley and did not care whom she hurt to get it. And when your sister managed the feat, she turned all her anger upon her. If she had any clout, I have no doubt she would have spread many rumours about her in London.”
Jane continued to look at Louisa, an expression of unbelief fixed on her face. After several minutes, she burst into tears, proclaiming, “Oh, Louisa! I am afraid I have ruined so many lives with my utter foolishness.”