She stopped herself as she was on the verge of delivering a scolding meant for Edwards Ferrars, and a sudden swell of feelings she could not name told her that she was moments away from tears. She slammed the front door, and then turned and leaned her back against it, weeping at… she knew not what. She slowly sank to the floor, her face buried in her hands as a wave of unbearable wretchedness poured out of her.
***
Darcy had business to attend to that morning, closing Darcy House after opening it so briefly for his feckless friend. He seldom stayed there himself, preferring the companionship of his relations at Matlock House, but he had hired a small amount of staff for Edward’s benefit, imagining his friend might stay six months or more. Darcy paid each of the servants two months’ wages, composed letters of recommendation for all of them, and dismissed them all with a promise that they should be the first candidates considered when next he opened his house in town, should they still desire a place there. It occurred to him that by such a time as that, it may well be Elizabeth who oversaw suchhousehold manners, but he believed his generosity would please her.
When Darcy returned home, Lady Matilda informed him that she had received word from Mrs. Gardiner – a note had been delivered very early that morning, hours before the countess awoke.
“Thank the Lord, Miss Bennet’s fever has finally broken,” she cried, displaying the letter for Phillip and Georgiana to examine. “Doctor Post told Madeline that dear Jane is past the greatest danger, though Miss Elizabeth is still beside herself – the poor girl!”
“Her affection for Miss Bennet is most endearing,” Phillip said, giving the letter a nod of approbation. “I hope my daughters show one another half so much devotion. Shall we call again?”
Lady Matilda surveyed the viscount curiously. “So you still wish to visit Berkeley Street daily, though Miss Bennet has given you the brush off?”
“It was done for the best,” Phillip said, giving his step-mother a wink and a bright smile. “I think you are well aware of my reason.”
Georgiana gave her cousin a shy but knowing smile. “Perhaps another lady of the house is better suited to you, Phillip.”
The viscount laid a hand on his heart as he gave the ladies a dazzling smile. “What tears I have shed that Mrs. Jennings has gone away!” And then he turned to fix Darcy with a slow, deliberate, and wicked grin.
Darcy stiffened, trying not to sneer as he was struck by countless recollections of his cousin praising Elizabeth, teasing her, and charming her with his good humor. Since the day of their absurd artwork – since it had become apparent that MissBennet’s interest in Phillip was cordial at best – he had shown Elizabeth a greater degree of attention.
He drew in a deep breath and slowly exhaled, recalling to mind every instance of Elizabeth displaying by some look or jest that she felt what he did. He had grown surer of it in recent days, and yet he had also wavered at times. But he could not waver now, as he stared down his cousin. Never had he imagined they should ever be rivals, but if they must be, it would not be for long.
Darcy schooled his countenance into neutrality as he excused himself from the room. He strode out of the house and allowed his feet to carry him to where he most wished to be – to throw himself on Elizabeth’s mercy before the viscount could.
***
Elizabeth knew not how long she had been weeping in the foyer; she only roused herself when her Aunt Madeline came rushing down the stairs. She reached the bottom and came to crouch in front of Elizabeth. “I just looked in on Jane when a maid came to tell me you had run mad, and were cursing and accosting a visitor. What has happened?”
Elizabeth laughed through her tears. “It was only Willoughby,” Elizabeth said. “You know I shall always be fiercely protective of those I love, and that awful scalawag has wounded my cousin and my sister.”
“Lizzy, what language! But I am very well-rested, which is proof that you are not. Jane is sleeping comfortably, and so too should you be, my dear.”
Elizabeth allowed her aunt to pull her to her feet, but then she began to protest. “I had three cups of coffee this morning, before Jane awoke – and even if I could sleep, I should only be awake all through the night, while everyone else is abed.”
Mrs. Gardiner pressed her lips into a thin line of disapproval, but before she could admonish her niece, the bell at the front door was rung. The housekeeper bustled into the foyer, looking astonished to find Elizabeth and her aunt already there. Mrs. Gardiner arched an eyebrow at Elizabeth. “I trust you shall be civil to our callers, Lizzy?”
“Yes, of course.” Elizabeth allowed her aunt to lead her into the parlor, where she wiped at her face and grimaced at her wild appearance in the mirror. She was then forced to endure a quarter hour of Miss Bingley’s false commiseration, backhanded insults, and shameless boasting. A veritable parade of callers followed, and Elizabeth’s patience was worn thin by the society snobs who only came to glean gossip about Mrs. Jennings’s disgraced relation. Mrs. Gardiner dealt with them all deftly, and Elizabeth was in awe of her aunt’s abilities to evade the topic of Lucy Steele and say everything required to remain on civil terms with the acquaintance they had made in London before hinting that Jane’s illness made it inappropriate for the visitors to overstay their welcome.
Elizabeth had roused herself tolerably well from her ill humor, for her stubborn will was resolved that she would not disgrace her aunt, nor give Mrs. Gardiner any cause to again attempt to send her to bed. She relaxed a little in the company of Mrs. Palmer and Colonel Brandon, both of whom she had grown fond of since coming to London.
There was one caller, however, who threatened to shatter Elizabeth’s tenuous grasp on equanimity. Charlotte Lucas was shown into the parlor, accompanied by her sister-in-law, Lady Selina Lucas. Elizabeth stumbled through the civilities, recollecting her last meeting with Charlotte as if it were only yesterday. Mrs. Gardiner, and even Mrs. Palmer offered Elizabeth looks of commiseration throughout their tepid chatterwith Lady Selina, until finally Charlotte came to the point of her visit.
Hanging her head a little, she offered Elizabeth a bland apology for her behavior in Hertfordshire, claiming she had been mad with grief over Mr. Collins, and then she thanked Elizabeth for advising her to reconcile with her brother’s wife. Elizabeth did her best to be gracious, though she comprehended Charlotte’s true reason for making amends as her former friend began flirting with Colonel Brandon.
Lady Selina confirmed Elizabeth’s suspicions, mortifying Charlotte before the colonel as she informed the other ladies of her intention to find Charlotte a suitable husband, declaring how tragic it should be to see her end an old maid.
“You have met my mother, Mrs. Jennings, I think,” Mrs. Palmer said, her expression turning uncommonly satirical. “And she has heardall about youfrom Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Dashwood. But perhaps you are not meant for marriage. I have a cousin – a very distant cousin – whose betrothed was killed in battle on the continent. She became a ladies’ companion, and she has been happy with some old dowager in the north of England. I believe old Mrs. Ferrars is in search of such a companion as she recovers from her apoplexy, for all of her children have been dismissed for displeasing her.”
Mrs. Palmer appeared deliriously pleased with herself, and Elizabeth did her best to conceal her own pleasure in seeing Charlotte so thoroughly unsettled. It had taken all of Elizabeth’s restraint not to snipe at the grasping creature herself, for she would not risk her aunt’s displeasure.
Mrs. Gardiner briskly turned the subject to Jane’s recent illness, thanked them for their sympathy and well-wishes, and had all their callers out of the house in another quarter hour. She had just commended Elizabeth for her patience – patienceElizabeth was very near the end of – when a letter arrived. It had been sent express from Longbourn to Mrs. Gardiner, who opened it at once. Elizabeth waited expectantly, and ere long her aunt cried out in alarm.
“Your sister Lydia was sent to visit her friend Mrs. Forster in Hampshire, at Colonel Forster’s new estate. Mrs. Dashwood writes that Lydia was not two days with her friends before she was induced by an officer of the colonel’s former regiment, who had also traveled there, to form an attachment and run away with him.”
“Good God,” Elizabeth cried, one hand on her chest in dismay as she sank down onto a sofa. In a state of exhaustion and vexation already, she was too stunned to make any further reply.
Mrs. Gardiner sat down beside Elizabeth and continued to summarize the letter aloud as she read it. “Your mother has taken to her bed… Kitty and Margaret are cross that they shall not go ice-skating on Mr. Bingley’s pond… oh! Marianne and Elinor have been guests at Netherfield these four days, and Lady Rebecca would keep them there so the scandal does not affect – oh dear.”
