Chapter Seventy
The next morning brought news from Meryton. At last! Elizabeth thought, as she took the letters upstairs and opened the one from Jane.
My dear sister,
Things are no better here, I am sorry to say.
Papa has given me two weeks to bring Mr. Bingley to the point, and then I am to return to London to try to get one of my earlier suitors to make me another offer.
None of them will have anything like the three thousand pounds that Papa needs, but Papa says even a thousand would be a big help.
Mr. Bingley visits faithfully, but he is quite preoccupied with his visitors, and I suspect he cannot think of anything else until they are gone!
Oh, of course, you do not know about all the visitors!
Of all things, the Earl and Countess of Matlock have come to Netherfield Park in order to meet Charlotte Lucas, who is now betrothed to their eldest son, Lord Worthing, though he calls himself Mr. Fitzwilliam!
He was at the Lucas’ last card party; I am certain you met him.
Mama is furious, of course, for she cannot possibly compete with Lady Lucas, who will have a Viscount for a son-in-law! And though she says nothing, I think she blames me for not having captured the man myself. Lizzy, he never so much as looked at me! What was I supposed to do?
Perhaps I should just go to London now; there is nothing here but unhappiness.
In any case, dearest sister, I hope you are finding some relief in Kent. As sad as I feel for you and myself, I am everything delighted for Mary! Please give her a hug and a kiss from me.
Your own,
Jane
It was all Elizabeth could do to not throw herself on her bed and weep after reading such a letter. Poor Jane! The kindest, sweetest young lady on earth! She deserved so much better than a loveless match with a merchant in London!
It was some time before she could bring herself to open her next letter.
Dear Lizzy,
The impossible has happened! I am engaged to be married, and to the best, nicest, kindest man imaginable! Mr. Fitzwilliam, who is actually the Viscount Worthing, has proposed to me! I accepted at once, of course, though with great trepidation that his parents would oppose the match!
But instead, the Earl and Countess came at once to meet me!
They are completely delighted that their son, who they long thought would never marry, found a bride!
The Countess wanted the ceremony to be held someplace quite elegant and fashionable in London, but Reginald – yes, I call him Reginald or Reggie!
– is completely opposed and much prefers that we be married from our little church here in Meryton!
Lizzy, can you believe it! I am to marry a man I love! And be a Viscountess, and someday a Countess! I feel as if I have fallen into a fairy story!
Dearest friend, will you stand up with me?
I suppose I should ask Maria, but I really would very much prefer it to be you!
Please say that you will! The first of the banns are being called this Sunday, the second on the fifth of January, the third on the twelfth of January, and we will marry the following Tuesday, the fourteenth!
I know why you went away, but please, please come back for my wedding!
So much love, dearest friend!
Charlotte
Elizabeth lay on her bed for a long time, staring at the ceiling. Finally, she went downstairs and handed both letters to Mary.
Mary read them both, and then looked up at Elizabeth, her face knotted in confusion.
“I hardly know how to react,” she said. “I am, of course, utterly delighted for Charlotte, who truly deserves every good thing that happens to her. But I am simply baffled that our parents could do such a thing to Jane.”
“They have no choice,” Elizabeth said, dully. “They would never do so if they could think of an alternative. You cannot imagine that Mama would be pleased to have her most beautiful daughter married to some unknown merchant or banker.”
“What are we to do?” Mary asked. “Lizzy, think of something! Mama always says that Jane cannot be so beautiful for nothing; so now I say that you cannot be so clever for nothing!”
The two sisters stared at one another. Then Elizabeth said, slowly, softly, “I have an idea.”