Chapter Twenty-Six
Oh, heavens!” Jane’s voice was raised in distress.
“Jane?” Mrs. Gardiner looked up in alarm from her breakfast.
Mindful of Mary’s last sentence, Jane struggled to compose herself. “Oh! No, it is nothing, Aunt. Well, not nothing, but…apparently, Lizzy is rather ill and is asking for me. I must go to her at once.” Jane got to her feet immediately and then swayed, grasping the table for support.
“Jane, this seems rather an extreme reaction to the news of Lizzy being ill! She must be quite a bit worse than just ‘rather.’ Let me see that letter.”
“No, no, Aunt, she told me not to –“ And with that, Jane burst into tears and sank down into her chair.
Mrs. Gardiner had the letter out of her niece’s hand in a flash and read through it in less than a minute. Then she sat down as well. “Oh, Jane!!”
“I was not supposed to let you read it.”
“Nonetheless, I am glad I did. Mary is right; we have loaned your parents a good deal of money already, and I cannot see how we could give Longbourn three thousand pounds. We simply do not have that much ready cash. I am sorry, Jane.” Mrs. Gardiner’s voice was remorseful.
“No, of course not, particularly given that the Bennets appear to be such poor estate managers. But you see that I must go home at once.”
“Yes, of course. I will have Uncle bring you home on Saturday.”
“Saturday! But –“
“But you wish to be gone today, I understand. Recall, dear, that Uncle must be at his office during the week. Saturday is but four days away. Nothing will change between now and then.”
Jane could only shake her head at this. A good deal could change in four days! Why, Lizzy might accept a marriage proposal from this Mr. Bingley in that amount of time! Surely there was something she could do.