“And you soon discovered that all was far from well.”
“Yes; but oh, Jane, I was so very stupid! I should have held my tongue, but I was so upset that I could not hide my tears. Everyone demanded to know what was wrong, and I told them about Lydia. They promised not to tell anyone, but –“
“It does not matter, Lizzy; soon enough, everyone will know the truth.” And Mr. Bingley is doubtless relieved at not being connected to the Bennet family, Jane thought, bitterly.
***
Mary and Kitty were at the breakfast table, as were Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, though Mr. Bennet was not.
“Has he eaten?” Jane asked Mrs. Hill.
The housekeeper shook her head. “He says he is not hungry.”
Jane said, “He refused dinner last night as well. But he must be made to eat.”
Mary added, “He must indeed; if we lose Papa, we are in dire straits indeed!”
Kitty shuddered. “Do not even think such a thing, Mary.”
Mr. Gardiner said, “Mary is right; your father cannot be allowed to continue in this manner. I will deal with him.”
But before Mr. Gardiner could do so, Mr. and Mrs. Philips arrived. Mrs. Philips, quite naturally, very much needed to condole with her brother and with Elizabeth, who had been absent, over the loss of Mrs. Bennet. Mrs. Philips wept continuously, saying again and again that it was Lydia’s dreadful behaviour that had caused their sister’s death.
“Fanny never before had a stroke of any sort, Henry! You know that!”
“I do know, Hattie. But I hope you have not told your friends about Lydia’s elopement?”
“Oh, no, it was to be a great secret, I know!”
“Please continue to keep it such, sister. We must protect the Bennet family name as long as we can.”
“Is it even possible to do so?” Mr. Philips put in.
“Hattie, what have the neighbours been told?” Mr. Gardiner asked.
“They know that Lydia went to Brighton, of course. Heaven knows, Lydia told anyone who would listen!”
“And what else?”
“That our sister Bennet died, of course.”
“And Colonel Forster’s message and subsequent visit?”
“I am afraid that the news that the Colonel had visited Longbourn was spread about quite soon. The reason for his visitwas not known generally, but the fact of his arrival could not be disguised,” Mrs. Philips said.
“So we cannot simply say that nothing has occurred,” Mr. Gardiner said. “But I do not know that we have to talk about an elopement. Jane, you said that your mother went to her room and asked for trays. Is it possible that no one, apart from Hattie here, knew of the elopement?”
“I have not considered that, Uncle. No, I do not think anyone outside the house was aware.”
“Then what if we simply say that Lydia had become very ill, and Colonel Forster came to tell Papa?”
“It is also known that Mama kept to her room and refused visitors. So how does that fit into the story?” Mary asked.
“Because she was upset that Lydia was ill and she was not able to help,” Kitty suggested. “That would upset Mama mightily, you know, if Lydia were to be ill and Mama not able to nurse her.”
“And so we could say that Lydia remains in Brighton, still ill,” Mr. Gardiner concluded. “Hattie, you must be careful to say no more.”
They all agreed on this version of the tale. Mrs. Hill was brought into the room and told what to say to those who would, inevitably, question her. Mrs. Hill assented at once, assuring the family that to the best of her knowledge, Mrs. Bennet had only told herself and Mrs. Philips about the elopement; the immediacy of Mrs. Bennet’s demise had quenched any curiosity the other servants might have had about Colonel Forster’s visit. Mrs. Hill promised to make certain that the other servants were told of Miss Lydia’s illness.
