“No, Lizzy, you go. Your mama will be happy to see you.” His confused response caused the sisters to all share a look.
“Jane, I will not be long. This is the first opportunity I have had to be here with Alex, and the day is so fine.”
“We will see you when you return to the house, Lizzy.”
Separating from her family, Elizabeth retraced her steps to the church and followed the path around the side of the building to the cemetery. She continued to the Bennet plot and found her mother’s grave. It blended now with the other graves surrounding it. A stone marker had been set since the last time she had been there, before her visit to London where she met and married Gregory.
Staring down at the grave, Elizabeth subconsciously tightened her hold on her infant son. “Mama, I am returned home. I wish tointroduce to you my darling boy, Gregory Alexander. You would have adored him, Mama.”
Elizabeth described meeting Gregory at the assembly and their wedding. “He was a good man. He was strong, brave and confident, but for all that he had such kindness in him. I can imagine you gushing over him should you have seen him in his uniform. Such a striking figure he made dressed in full regalia.” Tears were trickling down her cheeks. “I wish he could have met his son, for him to know I gave him this blessing.” Elizabeth struggled to hold back a sob, “I am sorry, Mama, sorry I did not fight harder to keep Lydia home. And I’m sorry our neighbours were so spiteful to you because of her folly. You did not deserve such treatment. I hope, wherever you are, seeing Alex now brings you a little joy.”
Alex started to fuss, and Elizabeth swayed side to side in a twisting motion, to settle him.
“You like to rock as if you are sailing in the ocean, do you not, my darling boy? You like the movement just as much as your papa did.” She kissed his little head and breathed in his baby scent.
“I will take care of you, my son. This I promise to you and to Gregory. I will watch over you and you will grow up to be just like your papa. Kind and strong.” Kissing his head again, she stood straight and with final farewell to her mother she walked out of the graveyard.
On her return to the house, she joined the family for the meal. As soon as the celebrations were over, she asked Aunt Gardiner to join her under the guise of having questions about Alex.
“How is Jane?” Aunt Gardiner inquired, not waiting a moment after she sat on Elizabeth’s bed.
“She is hurt. And angry, I think. The second is not an emotion she is familiar with. Being so isolated at Longbourn, she has not been afforded the luxury to process her emotions. Please help me convince her to return with us to London.” Elizabeth, holding Alex, joined her aunt on the bed.
“It has been so lonely for her here, but she would not leave your father.” Mrs Gardiner’s lips pressed into a pinched line. She shook her head, “I invited her to come so many times, Lizzy. She refusesto accept her future might yet include a good man and a family of her own.”
“I hope she will come now and put the loss and pain behind her.” Elizabeth laughed. “It sounds so trite to say such. Lord knows, I am very aware how much courage it takes.”
“She never did have your fortitude, Lizzy.”
“I never had her goodness, Aunt.”
“Hush Lizzy, you have a different kind of goodness.”
“Well, we shall have to make sure Jane finds a new kind of goodness, and fortitude as well. One sister has already been lost to us, not to mention our mother. I will not lose anyone else before their time.”
Madeline held her niece’s face gently between her hands, “My dear girl. I am so very proud of you.”
They hugged until Alex’s cry of hunger broke them apart. If Madeline’s shoulder was wet when they separated, she spoke not one word of it.
~ / ~
That afternoon Elizabeth began her campaign. She and her aunt had worked out different schemes which might either entice Jane to Town or at least assuage her concerns over leaving Mr Bennet.
“Jane, I am asking you again to accompany me to London.”
“Lizzy…”
“The doors are open Jane. Let life back in. Besides, I will need your help with Alex.” It was beneath her, but Elizabeth knew Jane could never turn down a blatant plea for help.
Jane gave her sister a long, contemplative stare.
“Very well. I shall travel with you to London, but I am not interested in meeting anyone.”
“I am in mourning, Jane; I will certainly not be attending assemblies. Perhaps our uncle and aunt might take you to see a play or a concert.
Elizabeth crossed the room to sit beside her sister. “Kitty will be staying and I think it is the perfect opportunity for her to learn from Mrs Hill what we both were privileged to learn from Mama.After the time she has spent under Mrs Gardiner’s tutelage, I think she will do very well.
Jane nodded her head in agreement. “I will speak with her and Mrs Hill. Perhaps we might even entice papa out of his book room and get him to discuss a book or two with her.”
