Richard seemed to consider this. “I will ask, but I am not certain. It would be good to know that whoever is in the house is someone we can trust. After Miss Bennet’s escapade last night, I am even less inclined to trust her. I wonder what her parents will think of her actions.”
That question was answered when the entire Darcy and Fitzwilliam families arrived at Longbourn. The house was in an uproar—Jane was missing, Mr. Hill had notified Mr. Bennet that he and his wife would leave for another position in a month, and Kitty and Lydia were excited about their upcoming visit to Pemberley. Jane’s absence did not seem to bother the two youngest girls, given her recent behaviour, and they even wondered if she had run away with that Wickham character hanging around Longbourn.
“La, what a good joke,” Lydia chortled at the breakfast table to Kitty when Mrs. Hill came in with the news.
Not long after, their guests arrived, bringing Jane with them. When Mrs. Hill saw Jane in the party, she could not hide her surprise, and she glared at the girl darkly, wondering what mischief she had been up to. “Miss Bennet, there you are? I must let Mr. Hill know you have been found and to stop searching for you. There was quite an uproar when the family realised you were not in your room and nowhere to be found,” she scolded.
Jane scowled at the housekeeper, but there was nothing she could say. Major Fitzwilliam quietly asked to be shown into the parlour and for Mr. and Mrs. Bennet to join them. With a curtsey, she rushed to do as she was bid.
The Darcy family and Richard settled themselves around the room. Jane was encouraged to sit in an armchair, and Richard sat on one side and George on the other. Both moved the chairs slightly away from Jane’s, as they were there to keep watch on her, not to show any interest in her. Lady Anne sat next to her eldest son, again in a way so she could watch the young lady and continued to examine her closely. She saw the way her eyes followed Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam and wondered what exactly the look in her eyes represented.
Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam had been inseparable since breakfast. Even before the night of the assembly, the couple were rarely apart, but now, there was an added closeness between them. Lady Anne had wanted to speak to Elizabeth about her concerns regarding her momentary illness the other night, but she felt that Elizabeth had already drawn her own conclusions. It could explain their heightened closeness if the young couple had discussed those suspicions. Moreover, the recent attempt on Elizabeth’s life would bring them closer together.
Regardless of that, Lady Anne watched Jane’s reaction to their closeness. They seated themselves on a settee somewhat closerthan propriety would allow. While a casual observer might not have noticed, to Lady Anne—and likely to Jane as well—it was apparent they were holding hands underneath Elizabeth’s skirt. Lady Anne was pleased to see her son so obviously in love with his wife, but Jane, well, Lady Anne was not sure what the look on her face meant.
Mr. Bennet entered the room a moment later, and Mrs. Bennet came in looking harried a few minutes later. “My darling Jane,” the matron cried when she entered, “where have you been? We were so worried about you. I was certain you had gone to marry that nice Mr. Wickham, but Mr. Bennet said it was impossible. Though”—she stopped and noticed the other in the room and looked at her daughter sitting between two gentlemen—“perhaps you have other news. Do you have an attachment to one of these gentlemen?”
Jane opened her mouth to speak but was immediately stopped. “Stop now,” Richard barked. “Whatever you are thinking of saying, I suggest you not even attempt it. No one in this room would ever marry you, and you can make whatever claim you like, but neither your father nor mother could force my cousin or me to marry a girl like you. Even if you were a lady, I would certainly not fold in these circumstances, and I dare say my cousin would act the same way.”
“What is this?” Mrs. Bennet cried. “My daughter is a gentlewoman and should be treated with the respect due to her.”
“She has done nothing to deserve my respect, madam,” Richard retorted. “Do you know where your daughter was last night? Because she was not in her bed. She sneaked into Netherfield late at night and had anyone discovered her, she would have been ruined. This is the second time her actions have nearly ruined your family, Mr. Bennet, and you have done absolutelynothing to censor her. She still believes she is deserving of the best. She was peeking into bedchambers at Netherfield, and only locked doors prevented her from attempting to seduce one of the three bachelors or one married man in residence. What would she have done had she made her way into an occupied room, sir? What will you do?”
Mr. Bennet sat there in shock and could not say a word.
Richard sighed in exasperation. “Mr. Bennet, yesterday I suggested you accompany your wife and daughter to Scotland. I no longer think it is optional—you most certainly should accompany your wife and daughter. Perhaps with fewer … distractions, you would find a way to pay more attention to what your family is doing. With some time and attention, you might be able to persuade them to be more reasonable in their expectations, but if not, at least you will be aware of what they are doing.
“You should all begin packing—we have asked Mrs. Hill to bring down trunks for the three of you. You will travel as soon as arrangements can be made for a boat to transport you to Kirkwall, in the Orkney Islands in Scotland. Take your warmest things. I do not know for certain, but I would estimate that you can take no more than two trunks each. I suggest you think carefully about what you pack. Mr. Bennet, as far as I am concerned, the books are the estate’s property. My cousin has already sent a letter to Mr. Collins, asking him to come here to transfer the ownership to him. If he can arrive before you depart, perhaps he would be willing to allow you to take a few, but you will not be able to keep many.”
Richard continued explaining details about their travel, although many details had yet to be arranged, and what they could expect once they arrived at their new home. Lady Anneand Elizabeth both watched the women’s reactions to this news. Mrs. Bennet looked aghast, while Jane merely looked resigned to it. They were both clearly unhappy, but Elizabeth continued to wonder exactly what they were thinking.
Finally, Richard was done, and Mrs. Bennet immediately began. “Lizzy, how can you allow your new family to treat us this way?”
“I do not know why you should be surprised, madam,” Elizabeth replied, drawing on her husband’s strength. “My entire life, you told me how worthless I am, and I have yet to hear you apologise for that. Your only reaction to my sister’s attempt to poison me was to comment that it was unsuccessful, and I sincerely doubt you said anything to Jane about it. You are lucky my family is not vengeful. Would you prefer Jane tried and hanged for her part? It is not too late. Madam, my sister is being punished far less than she deserves.”
“You could stop this if you wished,” she tried again.
“I could not and would not have intervened; Jane’s actions are a direct result of the lessons you’ve imparted,” Elizabeth retorted. “You raised her to believe in her superiority over not only me but also our other sisters, instilling in her the belief that she could have anything she desired. However, she is now confronted with the reality that such a notion is far from the truth. As for me, once I leave Hertfordshire, I shall consider myself an orphan. My sole concern will be safeguarding my sisters from your misguided influence and my father’s indifference. I am determined to secure them the education they should have, and eventually, they will find suitable matches. I will do all I can to support them in their endeavours.”
Mrs. Bennet opened her mouth to protest again, but her husband cut her off. “Mrs. Bennet, that is enough from you,”he said tiredly. “The decision has been made, and there is nothing we can do to reverse it now. The three of us will be in forced proximity for the rest of our lives with only ourselves for company, so we should learn to live with each other now. Let us allow our daughter and her family to depart as we prepare for our journey.”
As Mr. Bennet spoke, the men in the room observed him closely. His words lacked conviction and held a tone of resignation. It left them wondering whether this stemmed from being compelled to abandon his beloved books or from the prospect of living in such proximity to his wife and eldest daughter.
“Mr. Bennet,” Richard said as the rest stood, “if I might have a moment of your time, there is one additional thing I would like to say to you.” The two stepped into the bookroom and had a short conversation. The rest of the party was still preparing to depart, and Elizabeth was farewelling the housekeeper. Mrs. and Miss Bennet had already gone above stairs.
Kitty and Lydia ran boisterously down the stairs just as Mr. Bennet and Richard finished their conversation. They rushed to hug their sister. “Lizzy, I am so happy to see you again, and we are so pleased at the prospect of travelling to Pemberley with you,” Kitty cried.
Elizabeth hugged her sisters back. “Well, I will go as far as Oakridge with you, but then you will continue with Georgiana. Have you already spoken to Papa?”
“What does Papa care?” Lydia laughed. “He will be pleased to have fewer people and more quiet in the house so he can read his books.”
“So you do not know that Papa has decided to take our mother and sister to Scotland for their health? And that Mr. Collins will take over the estate?” Elizabeth asked.
“Oh, was that what Mama was crying about? What a good joke?” Lydia laughed again. “It serves Jane right—she has become very bitter now that no one in town will speak to her. Perhaps she will behave better in Scotland. Oh, what a long journey they will have.”
Elizabeth shook her head at her silly sister. “I do hope, Lydia, you will be sure to listen to Georgiana’s governess and will learn to conduct yourself more properly. I will see you often, I am sure, but you will need to write to me about your progress.”
“La, Lizzy, I do not like to write letters. Kitty can write you, or perhaps Georgiana will, but I do not care to apply myself that way,” Lydia protested.
