Elizabeth looked up from her letter and sighed. The idea of returning to Bethlem made her shudder. She had visited only once, and she still had nightmares of what she had witnessed. In her sleep, however, it was Jane in chains and a straitjacket instead of strangers.
The building itself was as miserable as its inhabitants. A nationwide campaign to solicit donations from the public to build a new hospital had just begun, as the floors were uneven, the walls were buckling, and the roof was leaking.
Within the dilapidated building were more than one hundred patients, nearly all of whom were in chains and shackled to the walls in varying states of undress. Although they were locked in cells with bars and peepholes, they were not left unattended. To generate income to care for said patients, anyone could pay as little as a penny to enter and taunt the inmates.
Shuddering, Elizabeth shook her head to rid herself of the memories. It had been three years, after all; she was much more mature now at twenty than she had been at seventeen, and she knew what to expect. Besides, her aunt’s dedication to a cause that centered around a family member who was not even related by blood made her feel ashamed.
Nodding firmly to herself, Elizabeth resolved to also do better here at Hertfordshire. There were a few tenants of both Longbourn and Netherfield who had children born with certain difficulties. Mr. Bennet made an extra effort to keep rents low and gift baskets filled so the families could keep their children at home rather than abandoning them to a workhouse or asylum.
While Bethlem Hospital was reserved for the most extreme cases of insanity and was typically for adults, its mere existence and its terrible conditions bore witness to the fact that those who were different—whether mentally or physically—were not easily accepted by society.
Most of Elizabeth’s efforts—and those of Mrs. Gardiner—were focused on helping people more like Jane. There were orphanages and workhouses who took in all kinds of people, and Mrs. Gardiner worked with an organization that tried to keep track of anyone in those places who were more simpleminded,like Jane, but could still function tolerably well in society if they only had a little help.
Without that help, however, many of these people were unable to keep up with the heavy demands placed upon them in workhouses, and even in the orphanages. There simply wasn’t enough food to go around, especially with the economic troubles being worsened by the war with Napoleon.
After pulling out her pen, Elizabeth mended the tip and began to write.
Dear Aunt Gardiner,
I received your letter, and I cannot believe Mary is already ten years of age! Tell her from me that I will take her to Gunter’s for ices as a special treat in celebration, or perhaps a young ladies’ tea—whichever she chooses.
Tell Catherine that Mary had to wait until she was nine, and young ladies must also practice the virtue of patience. As for Edward, he may join me on an adventure of another kind—perhaps something that is less rigid.
And tell Philip he needs to give his poor mama some time to rest!
I know I did not handle things very well when we went to Bethlem, but I am three years older now, and I will know what to expect when we go there again. I do not think I will ever enjoy seeing people in such conditions. It brings me such happiness to know that people like Mr. Tuke exist. If only all men could be as generous of spirit as he, especially if they are young men of large fortune.
Please give everyone at the orphanage my best, and tell Robert that I have some wonderful new stories to tell him when I next visit. I hope that will be soon, but there are curious happenings here in Hertfordshire that require my presence, I believe. Our new neighbor, Mr. Bingley, seems to have taken aninterest in Jane… and I seem to be the only one who feels any concern over the matter.
The fact that his friend is a gentleman by the name of Mr. Darcy is not in his favor, as he spoke quite rudely of Jane. You will never believe what he said about her, and in my hearing! He may be the master of a large estate in Derbyshire, but that does not excuse—
Elizabeth put the unfinished letter to the side, planning to finish it later after she spoke to her father. Her thoughts still on its contents, she absentmindedly made her way down the stairs to her father’s bookroom. He bid her enter in response to her knock, and she poked her head in through the door.
“My aunt Gardiner wishes me to insist you read her husband’s letter immediately.”
Mr. Bennet looked up from his book and waved a hand at the desk. “You do it for me, Lizzy. Goodness knows you’re better at this than I am.”
She smiled at this rare bit of praise and sat down across from his desk. After opening the letter, she read to herself.
Bennet,
I will not waste your time with pleasantries, as I know it will cause you to put this letter down before actually reading it in its entirety. I shall leave that kind of communication to my wife and yours.
It is almost time for a renewal of the investment contracts. There is a new investment opportunity that has arisen, but I do not recommend it at this stage. With Jane having just reached her majority, and your age being what it is, I recommend you leave the money liquid and put it into the four percents.
Elizabeth looked sharply up from the paper. “Are you ill, Papa?”
“No, my dear, though as I am but a few years away from sixty, and the latest information says the average lifespan of our time is but sixty-four, it is probably best to be prepared.”
The money you have been sending me each year now totals in excess of thirty thousand pounds. As agreed, Jane will have ten thousand as her dowry or to support her living, whichever may occur. The remaining will be divided amongst your girls as dowries or for their maintenance as well.
If you agree, I will begin immediately to sell your shares of investments and place the money in the bank in your name. I strongly suggest that you update your will to include these numbers, otherwise the heir that is coming to visit soon may try to claim them as part of the estate.
Respond to me immediately.
Please give Fanny and the girls my love.
Yours, etc.
