4. 12 November 1811
ELIZABETH
The letter that Jane had received from Miss Caroline Bingley the afternoon before had sounded very friendly—thus Elizabeth was on high alert.
The woman had been quite unpleasant in every interaction—if one counted incessant bragging about one’s friends unpleasant, and Elizabeth definitely did.
What could Miss Bingley mean to accomplish by seeking Jane’s company?
Well, Mr Bingley’s sisters will have Jane alone—no Mr Bingley, no other Bennet sisters to protect her.
Miss Bingley can question her ruthlessly, find out all the faults and foibles of the Bennets, and Jane will not only answer truthfully, without even the tiniest instinct of self-preservation, but she will not even tattle to anyone that she was put through an inquisition.
Elizabeth wished she could think of an excuse Jane could use to say a polite “no thank you.” But she had not come up with something before Jane eagerly penned a “yes, please” response, and now, almost four and twenty hours later, she still had no idea how to protect her family.
She listened with horror as her mother plotted to make the whole thing worse. “Jane, you shall ride Nellie to this dinner at Netherfield Park.”
Elizabeth and Jane both gasped. Despite the dismay in her gasp, Jane still addressed her mother mildly. “I do not think that is wise. The clouds look quite threatening.”
“Well, your father needs the horses on the farm,” their mother said, “and so Nellie will do for you.”
Jane acquiesced, of course, but Elizabeth said, “Mama, do not do this. Jane needs the carriage, and you must insist that she have the horses.”
“No, no, it will be well. You must trust me, girls.”
“Well, if she cannot have the carriage, she must stay home.” Elizabeth was determined to have her way, because she was convinced that her mother wished for Jane to be stranded at Netherfield overnight because of the predicted rainstorm.
She hated the idea of anyone manipulating a situation for the reason of “catching” a husband.
And if she could impute her own mother’s mercenary motivation for sending Jane on horseback, it was certain that Miss Bingley would, as well.
It would cast a poor light on the entire family.
But somehow her mother managed to arrange things just as she wished, and Jane rode off on Nellie, dressed well, with her warmest pelisse and hooded cloak. Elizabeth felt quite angry, as she stood outside in the rather frigid, sunless afternoon, watching Jane ride away.
When she could no longer see Jane, she went inside.
Her bitterness knew no bounds when the rain started earlier and heavier than expected.