“Yes. What are you asking for, Lizzy? Before you answer, I will remind you that each of my daughters received a new day dress from Aunt Gardiner at my expense. You are given pin money each quarter along with the ability to charge trinkets to my accounts in Meryton. You cannot tell me that you already need another new garment for if I agree to do so for the three of you, Lydia and Kitty will complain until they have their share.”
“We appreciate your continued generosity and are grateful for our new gowns. The reason I mention the grain prices was to ask if we might have a contribution from this increased revenue to add to the monies we are pooling? We need to look to the future, Papa. As it is, we do not have enough to last a month.”
Her father sat back in his chair, stunned. “Your futures? Are you not expecting Mr. Bingley to propose, Jane?”
Jane’s blush served to increase Elizabeth’s boldness. “Papa, the only one confident of an attachment with our neighbor is Mama. You raised each of us to be independent. Therefore, it is only right that we pursue our futures as if we only have ourselves to rely upon. Your contribution will give you the satisfaction of knowing you are aiding us to care for ourselves properly.”
Sitting forward, their father drummed his fingers on his desk. “Let me think about this.”
Not thirty minutes later, Elizabeth and her two sisters rushed into her chambers, their pockets brimming with coins. Their petition was perfectly timed, for Papareceived payment earlier that morning for the spring wheat that was recently harvested. Her mother had not yet spent all the third quarter rent. Their agreement stated none of his three eldest daughters could request additional funds for ribbons or sweetmeats that they often purchased during visits to Meryton. Nor could they place anything on Longbourn’s accounts at any of the shops. Elizabeth, Jane, and Mary readily agreed.
Placing the money in a pile, Mary carefully counted each coin. It was a start to being independent.
Mary, displaying her usual skepticism, asked, “Why did you think of this now?”
Elizabeth clasped her younger sister’s hand. “I would not have thought of this had you not tasked me with taking a clear look at our situation and considering what I might do to improve it. In two weeks, I will apply to Papa again after Longbourn receives payment for the corn harvest. I will explain that no gifts for the festive season will be expected, nor do I need a new cloak for the winter.”
“Mama will not appreciate your sacrifice, Lizzy,” Jane stacked the coins in neat little piles. “She is already insisting on new gowns for us in case Mr. Bingley holds a ball at Netherfield Park.”
Mary said, “Then perhaps we should tell her of our plans.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No, if she knows we have a store of money, she will insist we share the next time Lydia demands funding for whatever has captured her attention for the moment. We all know that Mama has no will when it comes to our youngest sister.”
Jane added, “Or for her eldest. Therefore, I see thewisdom in keeping our arrangement to ourselves. The money we have is not much, yet a laborer with a family could live frugally for an entire year on it. We need to send this right away to Uncle Gardiner for him to invest. In that way, we can be completely honest when we explain to Mama, or even Lydia, that they cannot ‘borrow’ from us since we have nothing.”
Elizabeth jumped to her feet, pulling Mary with her. “Brilliant, Jane. I shall write to him now. Once we find someone whom we can trust who is traveling to London, we will send this purse to Uncle.”
The fruitful activity of the day gave her relief. She could not wait to share her results with Mr. Darcy.
Then, Elizabeth’s smile faded. She was far too eager to see him. She must take care to protect her heart. The fear of losing her affections to a man who could not return them was a rational concern.
Interrupting her musing, Jane and Mary declared that they, too, would write to their uncle and aunt Gardiner to show support for this arrangement.
They finished the letters just as Lady Lucas and Charlotte, followed by Mrs. Goulding, then Mrs. Long arrived. All three were excited to walk to the Meryton post. Instead, they impatiently waited until later that afternoon before they could depart.
Like the lasttime Darcy entered the hall at Netherfield, the complaining voice of Miss Caroline Bingley greeted him. This time, she was encouraging her brother to move Darcy from the superior chambers in the family wing tothe nether regions of the guest portion of the house. He paused outside the door to gather his fortitude after being in the pleasant company of Miss Elizabeth.
“Caroline, you must remember where Darcy placed us when we vacationed at Pemberley. He treated us as valued guests, putting us in the best rooms. Why, Sister, did you not state minutes ago your intention of redecorating your suite here with the same color and patterned paper as the one at Darcy’s house?”
“Mr. Darcy’sformerhouse,” she said brusquely.
“Be that as it may, whatever his circumstances today, he is worthy of the best I have to offer.”
“Bah! Can you not see how your continued association will harm your efforts to increase your influence in London? Instead of welcoming him, you should do everything in your power to encourage the Wickhams to come to Meryton. Now, they are worth knowing.”
“I will have no more of this, Caroline. For as long as Darcy remains at Netherfield Park, I will not welcome the Wickhams here. Your fascination with Mr. Wickham is unseemly for a single woman who overspends her income, has no independent means of living, nor a house of her own. Should you continue imposing uponMrs.Wickham’s kindness and innocence, I will have no other choice than to release your portion to you to live as you choose away from me. Whether Hurst and Louisa take you in will be up to them. I will not have it.”
Darcy wanted to applaud. Never had he heard Bingley take his sister to task. He was extraordinarily proud of his friend.
Miss Bingley responded, “I know when I am not welcome, Charles. Louisa, Hurst, are you with me toreturn to London, or will you remain here with the rustics?”
Mrs. Hurst complained, “We did not want to leave Town in the first place. We only did so at the insistence of you, dear brother. I shall direct the servants to pack our trunks. It will be a blessing to return to London in the comfort of Mr. Wickham’s fine coach.”
“There, Charles,” Miss Bingley said. “What do you think of that?”
“Seems a lot of riding back and forth to London. Alas, you are making your choice, as I have made mine. Therefore, I, too, shall ride to London. I will see my solicitor about releasing your dowry to you.”
Stepping into the room, Darcy acted as if he had heard none of the conversation. “Good afternoon.”
