As she approached the front drive, she stopped and stared at the house. Longbourn! Longbourn had always represented safety, security, stability. But the shrubberies had not been trimmed for ages, and the paint was peeling away from the doorway. She recalled now that the carpets in the drawing room were badly in need of replacing, and that a significantportion of the wallpaper in the room she shared with Jane had peeled away.
She understood now that these things had not been addressed as a result of lack of funds, not lack of attention. Now it all fell into place.
The unexpected departure of the Johnson and Lafferty families – well, she had known about that, of course. The Johnsons had left because Mrs. Johnson’s father had left her a small house in London. The Laffertys had left because their son’s wife in Suffolk had borne twins and desperately needed family help. That had left the two largest tenant farms empty last spring.
Why, then, had Papa not been able to find new tenants?
Oh. Likely because the two cottages were not in very good condition; now Elizabeth understood that there had not been sufficient funds to repair the roofs and fences.
Yes, the signs had been there all along, and Elizabeth had seen none of them. ‘I have been blind,’ she whispered to herself. ‘I should have seen and I did not.’
Oh, how desperately she wished Jane were here with her! But then it would be Jane who would be sacrificed to save the family. Beautiful Jane, sweet Jane, would step up at once to do her duty, and thereby lose her own chance to marry for love!
No, it must be me, Elizabeth thought, squaring her shoulders. Jane must know nothing of it, or she would rush home at once. Elizabeth would not allow her parents’ failure to rob Jane of her chance for happiness.
Feet dragging, Elizabeth went back inside the house. Making her way to her father’s study, she opened the door without knocking and found her parents sitting together, silently. They looked up as she entered; Papa’s face was pleading, while Mama was clearly getting ready to put her foot down and insist that Elizabeth do as she was told.
But Elizabeth spoke first. “Very well. I will do my best. But I have conditions.”
Her parents looked up at her, hope writ clearly on their faces.
“Jane is to be allowed to stay in London, so that she might have the opportunity to do what is being denied me.”
Mr. Bennet spoke at once. “Understood. Anything else?”
“Yes. Kitty and Lydia are not to make any public appearances until after…if…well, keep them away from this gentleman. I do not wish to waste my time making excuses for their manners, or lack thereof.”
Mrs. Bennet looked rebellious at this, but Mr. Bennet agreed at once.
Chapter Three
Well, Caroline? What say you? It is a fine house, is it not?”
“I say we would have been better off remaining in London,” Miss Bingley snapped. “It is very dirty in the country.”
“Tell me, Caroline, how I was to accomplish becoming a landed gentleman while remaining in London?” Mr. Bingley asked, impatiently.
“The society here is bound to be everything dreadful!”
Mr. Bingley replied, “The solicitor assured me that there is a family of young ladies not three miles distant. I do not doubt you will be fast friends with them in no time at all.”
“Country girls! Hmmph!” And with that, Miss Bingley sniffed and left the room, much to her brother’s delight.
For his part, Mr. Bingley was glad to be in the country. He enjoyed London’s delights, of course, but he was weary of the rank air, the endless horse droppings in the street, and the noise of the traffic and peddlers.
He stepped outside Netherfield Park’s front door and took a deep breath. Ah, this was delightful! The air fresh and clean, the only sounds that of the birds making merry in the treetops above him! Just now, he felt that he could be completely happyliving in the country always. His friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy, would doubtless understand, for he was never happier than when he was at his estate up in Derbyshire.
Caroline would never be happy here, he knew. Why she was so desperate to marry Darcy, when being mistress of Pemberley would have her stuck in the country most of her days, was a mystery to him. But that was her dilemma to resolve, not his.
Mr. Bingley reached into his pocket and reread the letter that had arrived that morning.
Bingley,
My visit to you will be delayed by some weeks. There is some sort of illness ravaging the tenants, and I must be on hand to manage the situation. I will keep you apprised.
Darcy
Mr. Bingley had not yet told Caroline of this delay. She was already in enough of a sulk.
