Lizzy is heartbroken, of course. I need not remind you that she, like you, always swore to marry only for love. Mr. Bingley is a very nice man, handsome and well-mannered, but Lizzy does not love him. She likes him well enough, she says, but no more than that.
Of course, it was immediately suggested that you be sent for, as Mr. Bingley was likely to fall in love with you at first sight, but Lizzy made Papa promise that you would be allowed to marry for love, even if she would not be so permitted.
You would not be happy, I think, to be kept in the dark as to events here, so I have taken it upon myself to betray Lizzy’s confidence in writing this letter. I pray, Jane, that I am doing the right thing!
Truly, if you are in love with someone, Lizzy would not wish in any way to come between you and the object of your affection! But if not, well, I hope that you can find it in your heart to return to help us here. If nothing else, having you to confide in would be of immense help to our poor Lizzy.
Please do not mention any of this to the Gardiners, as there is nothing to be gained by having Uncle feel badly about not giving us more money!
With love,
Mary
Chapter Twenty-Six
Oh, heavens!” Jane’s voice was raised in distress.
“Jane?” Mrs. Gardiner looked up in alarm from her breakfast.
Mindful of Mary’s last sentence, Jane struggled to compose herself. “Oh! No, it is nothing, Aunt. Well, not nothing, but…apparently, Lizzy is rather ill and is asking for me. I must go to her at once.” Jane got to her feet immediately and then swayed, grasping the table for support.
“Jane, this seems rather an extreme reaction to the news of Lizzy being ill! She must be quite a bit worse than just ‘rather.’ Let me see that letter.”
“No, no, Aunt, she told me not to –“ And with that, Jane burst into tears and sank down into her chair.
Mrs. Gardiner had the letter out of her niece’s hand in a flash and read through it in less than a minute. Then she sat down as well. “Oh, Jane!!”
“I was not supposed to let you read it.”
“Nonetheless, I am glad I did. Mary is right; we have loaned your parents a good deal of money already, and I cannot see how we could give Longbourn three thousand pounds. We simply do not have that much ready cash. I am sorry, Jane.” Mrs. Gardiner’s voice was remorseful.
“No, of course not, particularly given that the Bennets appear to be such poor estate managers. But you see that I must go home at once.”
“Yes, of course. I will have Uncle bring you home on Saturday.”
“Saturday! But –“
“But you wish to be gone today, I understand. Recall, dear, that Uncle must be at his office during the week. Saturday is but four days away. Nothing will change between now and then.”
Jane could only shake her head at this. A good deal could change in four days! Why, Lizzy might accept a marriage proposal from this Mr. Bingley in that amount of time! Surely there was something she could do.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Tomorrow night we will have the Emersons here for dinner, Darcy. The eldest daughter married last Season, so the next daughter will be introduced to society this coming Season. Miss Emerson is considered likely to be one of the jewels of the Season, and you are fortunate to have the opportunity to meet her before she is introduced to thetonat large.”
“I will not be here tomorrow night, Aunt,” Mr. Darcy returned.
“Whatever do you mean?”
“Only that tomorrow I will go on to Hertfordshire, as I intended to do when I first arrived here.”
“What! But why?”
“I just feel that it is time, nothing more,” Mr. Darcy said. This was not quite the truth, but he was not about to show the Countess the message he had secreted in his right coat pocket. “I shall instruct Durham to begin packing.”
“Darcy, this is truly unreasonable of you –“
“No, Aunt, I have been very reasonable indeed, as I have met any number of young ladies at your behest. I shall give each and every one of them due consideration while I am at Netherfield Park with Bingley.”
