A knock at the door signalled the arrival of the housekeeper with Mrs Bennet’s tea. Mrs Gardiner had requested it earlier, and asked that a measure of brandy be added to help Mrs Bennet sleep.
It did not take long for the drink to have the desired effect. Mrs Gardiner and Jane left the room a few minutes later, leaving a maid seated beside the sleeping matron.
“How are you, Jane?” Mrs Gardiner asked once they were out in the passage.
“I confess that I do not know what to think,” she admitted. “So much has happened of late—beginning with Lydia’s behaviour in Brighton and ending with Lizzy’s return engaged to Mr Darcy. Papa seemed to believe that locking Lydia in her room would be sufficient, and he has forbidden Kitty from leaving the house, but that is the extent of it. I had hoped Lizzy might soon return so that she might help me bear the burden of it all, yet now I am uncertain what we ought to do.”
Jane clasped her hands together as she spoke, for the weight of responsibility had rested upon her shoulders for many days—burdens usually borne by Lizzy with greater confidence.
Mrs Gardiner regarded her thoughtfully.
“My dear Jane, you have done very well to keep the household in order these past days, but I cannot help thinking you have been too ready to wait for Lizzy to return. It is not her responsibility—nor entirely yours—to determine what must be done about your sisters, yet I suspect you have expected Lizzy to be the one to act. You are the eldest, and you have always set an excellent example for them. Your parents ought to have done more, certainly, but neither can you expect Lizzy to remedy every difficulty at Longbourn.”
Jane coloured slightly at this gentle reproof. “I did not mean to place the burden upon her,” she said quietly. “Yet when matters grew worse, I hardly knew what else to do. I wrote to her in great distress, hoping she might advise us—or at least return home soon. Lizzy has always understood such difficulties far better than I and has borne the burden of our parents far more easily.”
Mrs Gardiner slipped her arm through Jane’s as they began to walk slowly down the passage.
“Lydia’s conduct is very troubling, and it is fortunate the matter was discovered before she succeeded in doing anything truly irreparable. Your father must determine what is to be done next, and I very much hope that when we return downstairs something will already have been decided.”
She gave Jane’s arm a gentle squeeze.
“You are a very considerate sister, but there are moments when one cannot depend upon others—even Lizzy—to manage the difficulty. Your uncle and Mr Darcy are already considering the matter, and I do not doubt they will insist upon some decisive action. It will not be long before Lizzy marries and leaves Longbourn, and you must consider what part you mean to take for yourself.”
Jane hesitated. “But Mr Bingley…”
“…allowed himself to be very easily led,” Mrs Gardiner finished gently. “I do believe he still feels an attachment to you, and it is possible he may return to Netherfield once he learns of his friend’s marriage. Yet if he does, will you receive him as though no time has passed without a word? Will you not, at least, demand an explanation for his prolonged absence?”
Mrs Gardiner paused a moment before continuing.
“You must decide what you want, Jane. When you came to London with us last winter, you never wished to meet the gentlemen my husband wished to introduce to you. Until now, you have waited patiently—but patience alone will not settle your future. You must decide what you want.”
Jane was silent after this, for the question her aunt had asked could not easily be dismissed.
Eleven
When all, save Mrs Bennet and Lydia, were gathered in the drawing room, plans for Elizabeth’s marriage began to be discussed in earnest.
“Surely this talk of marrying within a fortnight is nothing more than foolish speculation,” Mr Bennet said, clearly making one final effort to retain his daughter a little longer. “Lydia has not, in truth, ruined herself, and as she is to be confined to the nursery for the present—or at least until I can make enquiries regarding the school Mr Darcy mentioned—our reputations may yet be preserved. There is no need for such haste. Your mother will be most disappointed.”
Elizabeth could not help but glance at Jane, but her sister sat very still, her hands folded in her lap, her expression perfectly composed. Unable to gain any support there, she met her father’s gaze with steady composure, but she could not entirely quiet the unease that had lingered since the previous evening.
Her heart beat rapidly, and while she could, in some ways, understand his reluctance, she knew that she would not allow it to sway her. On the journey south, she and Fitzwilliam had discussed what they wished, andamong other reasons, neither had any desire for the extravagant display that her mother would wish.
“There may be no need, Papa,” she replied, her voice calm, but leaving little room for quibbling, “but there is every reason. You know very well that Mama would wish for a lavish affair, and given all that has transpired here of late, I have little desire to be paraded about the entire village for weeks on end. No, Fitzwilliam and his sister are already here, as are the Gardiners, so I see no reason to delay.”
Elizabeth felt Fitzwilliam’s quiet support beside her, and when she glanced at him, his expression held steady agreement. His hold on her hand tightened, just a little, in encouragement and support.
“Yes, Bennet,” Gardiner interjected, clearly seeing that Elizabeth was irritated. She could only assume that he meant to prevent her from arguing with her father again, and she relaxed just a little, suddenly aware of just how tense she had been. Even so, the sense that something was not quite right lingered in her mind, although she could not yet name its source.
Her uncle continued. “Since we are all here, it will be easy enough to plan a small ceremony and a simple breakfast to celebrate the couple before my wife and I are obliged to return to London. With all your guests out of the way and the wedding behind you, you can begin making the necessary arrangements to place Lydia in a school—escorting her there yourself as is your responsibility.”
“It may serve you well to arrange for Mary and Kitty to have a companion or someone who can instruct them while Lydia is at school,” Mrs Gardiner joined in. “If Jane wishes, she can accompany us to London for the rest of the summer, if that will ease your burden here at home.”
“You would take away my other sensible daughter?” Mr Bennet complained. “It is bad enough that Elizabeth will go away after this, but without Jane present, I will not hear a word of sense until she returns.”
“That is why you must hire a companion, for perhaps she can teach your daughters—maybe even my sister—to speak with sense as well as propriety.You have paid little attention to any of the others, beyond Elizabeth, so you do not know what they might be capable of with just a little aid.”
It was her uncle who spoke this time, and Elizabeth nearly sagged with relief against Fitzwilliam. His presence steadied her, even as the conversation threatened to turn once more. While she knew what her aunt and uncle were saying was correct, she could not help but wish things could have been a little different.
