Chapter 5
Elizabeth was sitting in the parlour with a sketch pad open in her lap, scribbling as she stared out of the window.
She had been unable to concentrate on anything after that fateful evening when Mr. Darcy had so inexplicably proposed to her.
She was no artist but the absent-minded drawing gave her some purpose and kept her from reaching for the letter that Darcy had handed her the morning after his proposal, an explanation of sorts for all her misjudgements.
She had been loath to part with it but reading it had been productive only of misery; initially she had rejected his words in disbelief but soon reason had prevailed and she accepted the truth of it.
Mr. Darcy would never implicate his sister in such a scandal without just cause.
Guilt coursed through her as she remembered her behaviour; while it was unimaginable to accept Mr. Darcy’s proposal, there had been no need for her to be so cruel.
He was proud and high-handed, as had been apparent from his interference between Jane and Bingley, but he was not the villain that she had declared him to be.
“Eliza, an express has arrived for you from Longbourn,” Charlotte’s voice broke through her thoughts. She immediately got up and took the proffered letter.
“Why would my father send me an express?” Elizabeth worriedly sat down to read the letter. A frown marred her expression as she considered all that her father had conveyed. It took her a few minutes before she could form a coherent reply.
“Is everything all right? I see you are worried.” Charlotte asked when her friend did not say anything.
“I am trying to make sense of everything,” Elizabeth replied.
After a few minutes she got up and walked up to the window and stared out at the grounds.
Turning towards her friend, she finally spoke, “Charlotte, you remember my aunt Sarah?” At Charlotte’s nod, Elizabeth took a long breath and continued, “Her husband, my uncle Hardwicke, had an unfortunate accident and has passed away.” She closed her eyes for a few minutes before continuing, then slowly walked back to sit next to her friend.
“Papa was too overwhelmed by the news and in his urgency to understand all the particulars somehow lost his balance. He has a fractured leg, and while Mr. Jones has assured that he will make a complete recovery, he is in no condition to travel. I have been charged to visit my aunt and be with her and my cousin till all the practical details are sorted. Papa has sent his carriage and asked me to expect it by tomorrow.”
“I am so sorry. I remember Mrs. Hardwicke very well, she is a well-informed and practical woman. I hope that her situation is not very dire,” Charlotte spoke with concern.
“Papa says that the estate is entailed but he has little insight into any provisions that uncle Frederick might have made for his widow. My cousin is meant to have a dowry but other than that he does not know much. The solicitors will review the provisions of the will once the heir arrives, so by the time I reach Hampshire there should be more information,” Elizabeth responded.
“I am sure everything will turn out well enough,” Charlotte said encouragingly.
“It seems my sojourn in Kent is done; for I will have to be on my way to Hampshire tomorrow.”
The ladies then busied themselves with preparation for Elizabeth’s departure. A letter was dispatched to the Gardiners in London as Elizabeth was supposed to travel to them in a few days’ time accompanied by Charlotte’s younger sister, Maria Lucas, before returning to Hertfordshire.
“I have asked my uncle to send his manservant as planned initially. Maria can travel to Gracechurch Street and then accompany Jane back to Hertfordshire,” Elizabeth informed Charlotte.
“I have no concerns on that score. Mr. Gardiner is a conscientious man and Jane will be perfect company for Maria,” Charlotte replied.
Mr. Collins was away from home when the express had arrived and hence it was only during dinner that he became aware of the situation.
“But Cousin, you cannot depart without taking your leave from Lady Catherine,” he immediately said with some concern.
“Mr. Collins, there is hardly any time for that. My father’s carriage should arrive during the night and I plan to leave as early as possible. Also, now that I am in mourning it would not be proper to make social calls,” Elizabeth tried to calm her anxious cousin.
“Eliza is right, Mr. Collins. You are aware how attentive Lady Catherine is to proper behaviour; she will not appreciate a social call during mourning.” Charlotte gently tried to calm her husband and brought him around to the idea that he could very well go to Rosings and beg forgiveness on his cousin’s behalf.
The next morning, Elizabeth started for Hampshire as soon as breakfast was completed.
Her father had sent his trusted coachman and a maid to accompany her and a more detailed letter to explain the whole situation as he understood it.
Elizabeth was quite worried and confused and read the letter from her father a few times trying to make sense of it all.
My dear Lizzy, your mother will never be sanguine with Sarah staying at Longbourn and for her sake I hope my brother has made some provision for his family but if that is not the case I implore you to convince your aunt to come to Longbourn.
Sarah was very fond of you in your childhood and I am sure will appreciate your presence in these difficult times.
I have not seen her or my niece for these last three years and hope she will forgive me for my neglect.
Do let her know that I will be in Hampshire as soon as Mr. Jones allows me to travel.
I know I am putting a lot of responsibility on you, dearest, but I do not see a way around it.
I have mandated a three-month mourning at Longbourn and while I am of a mind to allow some outings and neighbourly visits after a month, there will not be any fun or frivolity.
Kitty and Lydia’s insensitive reaction to the news of their uncle’s death has made me reconsider their education and behaviour.
As I sit in my library immobile, I plan to ruminate on the best possible way to improve their characters.
I tell you this as you have always been concerned on their behalf and I am ashamed that I did not give due consideration to your concerns.
Do write to me, dear, with whatever you find in Hampshire.
Elizabeth did not know what to make of this letter.
Her father had rarely treated family matters with proper seriousness but now his brother’s death had made him examine his own family.
Then there was Aunt Sarah; Elizabeth remembered her well enough.
She had travelled with her father the last time he had visited his sister.
She may not be as close to the Hardwickes as she was to the Gardiners, but she did not respect them any less.
Her aunt’s home had been well run and her manners were impeccable.
Her uncle had been a well-informed gentleman who had enjoyed playing chess with her and had even taken her around the estate.
She knew all about her mother’s irrational problem with her aunt but had never paid it any mind before.
Now she was genuinely worried that Aunt Sarah may have to come and live at Longbourn and abide by her mother’s strictures.
It was with these thoughts that she fell asleep as the carriage moved forward.
Mr. Collins slept restlessly and rushed to Lady Catherine’s side as soon as visiting hours permitted.
“Your Ladyship, I assure you that my cousin was deeply aggrieved and charged me to apologise on her behalf for not taking her leave.”
“Hmmm… Well, it could hardly be helped but why is it that Miss Bennet had to depart? It ought to be some male relation taking care of this business.”
“Mr. Bennet had a fall and broke his leg and as the Bennets do not have any son it has fallen to Miss Elizabeth to be of use to her aunt.”
“That is very irresponsible of your cousin, Mr. Collins. And what about Miss Bennet’s aunt? What is her situation?”
“I understand that she has only one daughter and the estate is entailed to heirs male. The heir is unknown to her and the Bennets.”
“This is highly improper. The heir should have presented himself to the family before inheriting. I am glad I advised you to visit the Bennets, Mr. Collins, or you would have been in a similar situation. Now you may inherit without any guilt.” Mr. Collins dutifully agreed.
“Where is Miss Bennet to travel, Mr. Collins? I wish you had spoken to me before, I would have written a note for her to present at the coaching inns. My recommendations would have made her journey much easier.”
“She goes to Hampshire, your Ladyship.”
“Hampshire, why, that is where Darcy and the Colonel have also travelled. Had Mr. Bennet sent the express earlier, Miss Bennet would have had their company.”
Thus the conversation continued between the parson and his benefactor until it was time for Mr. Collins to depart.
Unaware of Lady Catherine’s lamentations, Elizabeth made good time towards Hampshire, stopping only to change horses.
The night at the coaching inn was short and restless as anxiety for her aunt and young cousin kept her awake.
The next day she started at first light planning to reach Willowmere by nightfall.
Her maid was quick to fall asleep, but Elizabeth was too worked up to rest. She pulled out her drawing book, hoping that some sketching would help her calm her nerves.
She absently turned the book to the last page, where she had been working.
As she lazily looked at her work, she could not stop a gasp from escaping.
There, in her bold hand, was an intertwined E and D, which she must have absently scribbled.
E&D