Chapter 26
Life at Longbourn ostensibly went on as it ever had, with some small changes.
Their pin money was increased, and Mrs Bennet was given free rein to purchase new dresses and accoutrements for herself and all her daughters.
Miss Farnsworth was also dressed for her new position as companion, and the staff were all awarded sums to acknowledge their years of loyal service.
This made Longbourn happier than it ever had been.
It also had the benefit of helping Jane to, if not forget, at least recover from her disappointment.
The excitement of a London season in the new year was not overshadowed by the whole Gardiner family’s arrival for Christmas.
But January came, and London was still many months in the future, and Miss Farnsworth took it on herself to get all the Bennet daughters to return to working on their accomplishments.
This diligent work was interrupted by a welcome invitation from their uncle for Jane and Elizabeth to join his family in town.
Originally, Mrs Bennet was to accompany them, but Kitty was ill in the days leading up to their departure with a terrible cough, and Mrs Bennet could not be parted from her.
It was therefore to be left to Mrs Gardiner to see that Jane and Elizabeth purchased the first of many new dresses they would need for their London appearance, when the season was to begin.
They both welcomed the distraction, as life in Meryton had become quite staid in the absence of the Netherfield party.
The militia were still quartered in Meryton, but the ladies of Longbourn had little to do with the officers.
There were no grand balls at which to dance with them, and most of the local families had quite tired of entertaining the officers as so few of them were adequately financially stable to marry any of their daughters.
But they were surprised when their father notified them that he would be accompanying them to deal with some matters of business.
Mr Bennet and his eldest daughters arrived in Gracechurch Street one week later.
They were welcomed with hugs from their aunt and uncle, Gardiner, and from their two children.
Jane and Elizabeth had had little time to prepare gifts for the children, but Lydia had donated some of her old toys, which in truth had once been Jane’s, for the amusement of her younger cousins.
Mr Bennet spent most of the first two days in discussions with their uncle, or out with him to visit men of business on matters Elizabeth and Jane knew little of.
At dinner on the third night, their father announced to the joy of his daughters that Mr Collins was to be in town tomorrow and would be joining them for several days.
It was welcome but surprising news. They had not expected to meet him again for some months, although he had indicated that it would not be long before an invitation to Kent could be expected.
Mr Collins arrived at the next midday. He at first appeared unaltered from when he had first arrived at Longbourn, but there was a little something in his face which was different.
He was still thin and pale, but there was a slight smile when he greeted Mr Bennet, Jane, and Elizabeth.
The grave air that had surrounded him when first they met was completely gone.
He was perhaps a trifle shy around the Gardiners and their children, but Elizabeth had to admit they could be overwhelming.
The purpose of his visit was not apparent to Elizabeth, and Jane acknowledged that she was also at a loss to explain why he had come.
When he spent a good deal of time talking with their uncle and aunt they supposed it was so that he might meet his extended family.
But the next day, he joined their father and uncle in their visits and discussions in their uncle’s study, which was even more perplexing than his arrival had been.
He did, however, make a little time available to spend with his young cousins, and Elizabeth remarked to Jane that he had added materially to their family group, to which Jane had agreed.