Chapter 2 #3
“What an excellent idea, my dear Lydia. This house must have a beautiful ballroom. Once you are married, Mr Bingley, you will have a hostess, and then you may invite your friends and hold balls whenever you please,” Mrs Bennet added, casting admiring glances about the room.
“When Miss Bennet has recovered, I promise I shall set a date for the ball,” replied Mr Bingley.
Mrs Bennet was about to continue her nonsense, but Elizabeth interrupted her.
“Mother, I think it is time for you to return home.”
“Yes, indeed,” Mrs Bennet replied, though with little satisfaction. “I leave content, knowing that my dear Jane is in the care of such a kind host.”
Before taking her leave, Mrs Bennet turned to Mr Bingley with a broad smile.
“Mr Bingley, I do hope that, once my dear Jane has recovered, you and your family will do us the honour of dining at Longbourn.”
“I should be delighted, Mrs Bennet,” replied Mr Bingley at once. “Nothing could give me greater pleasure.”
“You are very kind, sir. We shall look forward to receiving you.”
Mrs Bennet then turned expectantly towards the rest of the company.
“Miss Bingley, Mrs Hurst, Mr Darcy, and Lady Campbell, I hope you will all accompany him.”
Eleanor smiled warmly. “Thank you for the invitation, Mrs Bennet. It is very gracious of you.”
“We shall be happy to do whatever my brother decides,” said Caroline with a forced smile.
“Indeed,” added Louisa. “It would be most agreeable.”
Neither lady appeared particularly pleased by the prospect.
Throughout the exchange, Mr Darcy remained standing by the window. His attention seemed entirely occupied by the garden outside, and he made no attempt to join the conversation.
Mrs Bennet cleared her throat.
“Mr Darcy, I trust we may also expect the pleasure of your company?”
Without turning from the window, he replied calmly,
“If Bingley accepts the invitation, I shall most likely accompany him.”
Mrs Bennet seemed satisfied with this answer.
“Excellent! Then it is settled. You are the most considerate of neighbours, Mr Bingley,” cried Mrs Bennet.
After exchanging farewells, Mrs Bennet finally departed with Kitty and Lydia, leaving behind a visibly relieved Caroline and Louisa.
Once Fanny had left, Eleanor immediately retired to her sitting-room and sent for her secretary. She instructed Mr Taylor to visit Longbourn and deliver a message to her brother. She needed to speak with him urgently.
Thomas and Fanny were hopeless, yet she was determined to do everything in her power to assist her nieces. Perhaps, in doing so, she might finally reconcile herself with the past and leave behind the pain she had carried for so many years.
◆◆◆
Mr Bennet was contentedly enjoying one of the books he had recently purchased. With his wife and two younger daughters absent, he was able to savour a rare moment of peace.
His tranquillity, however, was interrupted when the butler knocked at the door.
“Sir, a message has arrived for you. The gentleman who delivered it insisted that you read it immediately,” Mr Hill explained as he handed his master the note.
“Very well, give it to me,” Mr Bennet replied with some irritation. He did not like being disturbed when he had secluded himself in his study.
Mr Hill withdrew, and Mr Bennet unfolded the note and began to read.
As his eyes moved across the page, the colour drained from his face.
‘Ella?’
◆◆◆
The following day, at the appointed place, Mr Bennet arrived to meet his sister, who was already waiting for him.
“Good morning, Ella,” said Mr Bennet with studied reserve.
“Good morning, Thomas,” Eleanor replied, meeting her brother's defiant gaze without flinching.
“Ella, I must confess that receiving your note was a considerable surprise. I have no idea why, after disappearing for so many years, you should suddenly return as though nothing had happened. In any case, I have little desire to discuss the past, so whatever you have to say, I suggest you say it quickly.”
His tone was cold and dismissive.
“I understand,” Eleanor replied calmly. “Then I shall come directly to the reason I asked you here. Do not worry, Thomas. I have no intention of discussing the past; I just want to settle certain matters. I wish to know what your family has been told about me. I have asked you a direct question, and I expect a direct answer.”
“For my family, you have been dead these twenty years. And, Ella, after so many years without hearing from you, I eventually came to believe it myself.”
Lady Campbell drew a sharp breath.
“You never answered my letters. That is why I stopped writing. But I did not ask you here to reopen old wounds.”
“Ella—”
“No. Let me finish.”
Mr Bennet fell silent.
“I must travel north in two days to attend to some unfinished business, but I shall return within a month.”
“What is it that you want from me?” he asked quietly.
“When I return, I wish to be introduced to your daughters. I do not know what explanation you will choose to give them, nor how you intend to account for my absence. That is your concern.”
She paused for a moment before continuing.
“But you will present me to them as their aunt, Eleanor Bennet.”