Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Longbourn
Elizabeth considered herself to be a knowledgeable, observant sort of girl, aware of all that occurred around her.
She would be compelled, however, to admit to any who asked that she often neglected her younger sisters, for she found their company to be a trial and their improper behavior to be an embarrassment.
And so, it was somewhat unexpected when Jane pointed out the changes that were taking place all around them.
“Have you noticed anything amiss with Lydia?” Jane asked one day.
“No,” Lizzy said slowly. “Why do you ask?”
“She does not seem to be herself,” Jane replied. “Something is different about her. And Kitty follows Lydia’s lead in every way. She, too, is behaving rather oddly.”
Jane could not give Lizzy any particulars. Elizabeth, in turn, chose to carefully watch her sisters for the nonce. What she saw was nothing short of miraculous.
Kitty and Lydia both appeared to be attempting greater decorum overall. They were more polite than they had ever been before, and both modulated their tone several times over the course of an evening. Lydia even sewed from the charity basket which was a task Elizabeth knew she found distasteful.
It was just three days before their aunt and uncle were due to arrive, however, that Lydia did something that truly shocked Lizzy.
The second Bennet daughter was bundled up in the entryway, two baskets filled with things for tenants at her feet. Lydia appeared quite suddenly at her side, and Elizabeth jumped in surprise.
“Lyddie!” she cried. “You gave me quite a fright.”
“I am sorry,” Lydia replied. “But I wished to ask where you are going.”
“I am taking a basket to the Turners and the Smiths,” Lizzy replied. “Both families have ailing children and could use some of Hill’s remedies.”
“Do you visit the tenants often?” Lydia asked.
Elizabeth searched her sister’s face and saw only sincerity there. “Jane and I try to visit each of father’s tenants at least once a month,” she told her sister. “It is hard to know if there are any needs if we do not. There are others who bring word, as well, if additional help is required.”
“But why?” Lydia asked. “Do they not have sufficient for their needs? Does Papa charge them too much rent?”
“It is not so simple,” Elizabeth said patiently.
“It is our duty to provide for those with less than ourselves. The Turners may have enough for their needs, but a little additional help cannot go amiss. If we did not take this basket to them, they might have to call the apothecary. Mr. Jones needs to be paid, and that might be beyond what the Turners can afford.”
“Is this task something that the mistress of an estate might do?” Lydia asked.
“It is, though Mama has left the duty to Jane and me for quite a long time,” Lizzy replied. “It is not a task she learned how to do, for she was not raised to be in the position she now finds herself.”
“Can I come with you?”
Elizabeth looked sharply at her sister, looking for signs that Lydia was jesting or not serious, but there were none. Finally, she nodded.
Lydia rushed to collect her things, and together the sisters set out to deliver their baskets.
Lydia peppered Lizzy with questions as they walked.
She wanted to know what her elder sisters did to contribute to the running of the estate, how to plan a menu, how to arrange a dinner party, and many other questions that could not all be answered immediately.
“My dear sister, I know not what has prompted your desire for this knowledge, but I approve!” Lizzy enthused. “It might be prudent if we addressed your questions one at a time, however. Shall we begin with what our duties are concerning the tenants on our father’s estate?”
Lydia agreed and Lizzy spent the remainder of their walk explaining to her younger sister the many things the two eldest Bennets did for those who farmed Longbourn’s land. Lydia seemed to be listening intently to everything that was said.
At the Turner’s home, Lizzy paused outside the door, reminding her sister that polite behavior included hiding any reaction at the state of the home from those they visited.
The tenant cottages were well kept, Lizzy explained, but they in no way could compare to a home like Longbourn or Lucas Lodge.
Even the Phillips’s home would be far nicer.
Lydia did a fair job of schooling her expression during the visit.
She barely even winced when the youngest Turner child, a little boy named Samuel, grabbed the front of her pelisse with hands covered in food.
Mrs. Turner was quick to apologize, and Lizzy was pleased when Lydia calmly assured the woman that no harm had been done.
The visit to the Smiths also went well, and on the journey home, Lydia was largely silent.
“I did not realize how very blessed we are,” she finally said softly. “How can a family of seven fit in such a small space?”
“The Turner’s cottage is one of Longbourn’s larger tenant dwellings,” Lizzy said. “It has three bedrooms, a kitchen, and a parlor. Papa arranged to add another bedroom to the back two years ago.”
Lydia looked horrified. “They have five children!” she cried. “We each have our own room at Longbourn.”
“Indeed,” Elizabeth said. “There are many who are not so blessed as we are, and there are many who are not so blessed as the Turners. Why, Aunt Gardiner writes to me of her charity work in London, and she once told me of a family with ten children, all living in a two-bedroom flat. It is because we have so much that we must impart of our excess to those in greater need.”
“But do we not have want?” Lydia asked. “We do not have enough for decent dowries, or so Mama is always saying.”
“A little economy would go a long way in assisting with that,” Lizzy muttered.
“Many women marry with no dowry. While bringing money with you to a marriage is desired by many, it is not something that is necessary. Wants are things that we cannot live without. Food, shelter, clothing… it would be rather difficult to survive if we lacked any of those.”
The conversation continued, and Elizabeth was rather surprised at the complexity and depth of her silly little sister’s questions. She did her best to answer and when they arrived back at Longbourn, Elizabeth had agreed to help Lydia to better prepare herself to manage a household someday.
When the Gardiners arrived two days before Christmas, the family greeted them enthusiastically. Lydia was restrained in her behavior, and Kitty followed her sister’s lead. Though Kitty had yet to join Elizabeth and Lydia for any of their little lessons, Lizzy had great hopes that she would.
Mary had also approached Elizabeth for suggestions on wholesome, edifying literature. With some convincing, Elizabeth had persuaded her middle sister to read certain works by Shakespeare, and Mary had opted to read a collection of sonnets from their father’s library.
Elizabeth enjoyed the changes occurring around her. Mr. Bennet seemed to sense them as well, and instead of hiding in his library as was his custom, he spent more of his time surrounded by his family. She even caught her father watching the ladies of Longbourn in confusion several times.
When Elizabeth had asked her sisters what prompted their divergence from their typical behavior, both related conversations had with Mr. Wickham.
Elizabeth did not know whether she should scold the man for his high-handedness or thank him profusely for his role in the betterment of life at Longbourn.
She resolved to come to know the gentleman better, the memory of her own conversations with him were still bright in her thoughts.
Christmas passed sedately in Meryton and at the end of December, Jane accompanied the Gardiners back to London to purchase her wedding clothes.
~
The holiday celebrations were not much livelier in London. Fitzwilliam Darcy spent Christmas with his sister and his other relations that were in town. Georgiana still refused to speak of what happened over the summer, and Darcy believed his dear sister was still nursing her broken heart.
They dined with the earl and countess on Christmas Eve.
Darcy’s eldest cousin, the viscount, was married and would be spending the holidays with his wife’s family.
Lord and Lady Matlock felt the lack and requested their Darcy relations join them.
There, Darcy’s aunt asked her nephew what his plans for the coming months were.
“My friend Bingley is to be married,” he replied. “Georgiana and I are to travel to his estate in Hertfordshire after the first of the year.”
“Bingley got himself caught, did he?” Colonel Fitzwilliam chuckled. “Tell me, is it another one of his angels?”
“Miss Bennet is the daughter of a gentleman,” Darcy answered. “She is tall, blond, and willowy. The lady is every inch a classic beauty, with a serene disposition to boot.”
“And has she a healthy dowry?” Lord Matlock asked. “Not that Bingley needs it, but it would certainly go a long way in helping to establish him in society. As a tradesman, he needs to consider these things.”
“Miss Bennet has no dowry to speak of,” Darcy said shortly. “The estate is entailed away on a cousin.”
“So, a fortune hunter, then?” the colonel surmised.
Darcy thought a moment before he spoke. “Miss Bennet is sincere in her feelings for my friend, or so I have been told,” he said slowly.
“Though I will admit that Bingley could have done better in terms of fortune, Miss Bennet is the daughter of a gentleman. Her position will raise his in society, even if only a little. I had once thought to discourage Bingley from his choice of bride… now I find I envy him for having the freedom to choose.”
“Come now, Darcy,” the colonel chided. “What can you mean, saying you have no choice in your bride? Are you not your own man? Or do you mean to honor the fictitious cradle engagement our Aunt Catty professes exists between you and Anne?”
“The expectations placed on me have been ingrained in me since birth,” Darcy argued. “Am I now to be told that I have the freedom to marry where I wish?”
“I think my dear wife would accept any woman you married, provided she were gently born, just to see one of you lot finally wed,” Lord Matlock chuckled. “Is that not right, my dear?”
“I suppose I would,” Lady Matlock grumbled. “You are all getting on in years; Darcy is the youngest at twenty-eight! If the girl was not a complete disaster, I could take her under my wing.”
Darcy could hardly believe what he was hearing. He glanced around the table, noting the amused expressions on the faces of his relatives. All except Georgiana, of course. Her face was unreadable, but even she was following the conversation intently.
“Look at him,” the colonel laughed. “I would wager he already has a lady in mind to fill the role of Mrs. Darcy. And I dare say he deemed her unsuitable up until about two minutes ago.”
“Really, Darcy?” Lady Matlock said with interest. “Do tell me about her!”
“There is no such person as of yet, I assure you,” Darcy insisted, feeling his face flush with the lie. He withstood a few more jabs from his relatives, and before too much longer the conversation turned.
Later that evening, alone in his chambers, he allowed himself to hope as he had never hoped before. Miss Elizabeth Bennet, with her fine eyes and pert opinions filled his mind.
He and Georgiana would be traveling to Meryton in a little less than a fortnight. In an instant, Darcy resolved that once back at Netherfield, he would begin courting Miss Elizabeth in earnest.