“To my mind, he would be lucky to have you,” Elizabeth said, loyally. “And if you like him, then I shall like him as well. Even though he has yet to say a single word to me.”
“Shall we walk, Eliza?” Charlotte asked.
Elizabeth agreed at once, and the two set out for a brisk walk in the weak December sun.
“Now that we are away from prying ears, tell me how things are with Mr. Bingley,” Charlotte said.
“Quite frustrating. We have tried all the usual things. I look away when he speaks, while Jane gazes at him in adoration. I sit across the room whenever possible, while Jane sits beside him. Jane always knows just how he wants his tea prepared, when I cannot recall it to save my life. Dear Lord, the man must be thick as a block not to understand that he is to propose to Jane!”
“Why not leave Jane alone with Mr. Bingley? Go to London, or something?”
Elizabeth stopped and turned to Charlotte with a wide smile. “Charlotte, you are positively brilliant!”
Chapter Fifty-Three
Mrs. Gardiner felt tears gathering in her eyes as she read Jane’s latest letter.
Dear Aunt Madeline,
We have very deliberately withheld the truth of our situation here at Longbourn, but since you are about to come visit with us, it is best that you be prepared.
It is quite, quite bad. We have the vegetables and eggs from the home farm, and pheasant and fish from Papa’s hunting efforts, but anything that must be purchased is now quite beyond us. We must be careful not to kill our own animals, as the cows provide milk and the chickens lay eggs. The last sheep and pig were slaughtered some time ago.
Tea is reserved for guests, and I know Mama is concerned that there is insufficient to serve to you during your visit. We do not waste flour and sugar on nonessentials such as cake; it is reserved for breads. I do not know that there can be a cake for Mary’s wedding.
Mr. Bingley, upon whom we had pinned such hopes, seems to be simultaneously courting Lizzy and myself, and until he makes up his mind, we can do nothing but wait.
Papa did not tell Mr. Collins about the state of things at Longbourn; doubtless, he was concerned that such information might put him off marrying Mary. So we must keep up the façade, somehow, until after their wedding.
Aunt, I am reduced to begging. Might you not bring with you some tea and sugar? I write this with tears in my eyes, as you have always been so very generous to us, and to have to ask you to give us more is utterly repugnant to me. But I know not what else to do. There must be a wedding breakfast for Mary; there must be tea and cake.
Mama knows nothing of this letter, so I beg you not to tell her of it.
With desperation and love,
Jane
“Henry, read this.” She thrust the letter under his nose.
“May I not finish my breakfast, Madeleine?”
“No. Read it.”
Raising his brows at his wife’s insistence, Mr. Gardiner complied. Upon finishing it, he declared, “Why this is – this is dreadful! I should like very much to punch that Mr. Bingley!”
“Better you should punch Thomas Bennet,” she retorted. “In any case, I will bring a hamper full of food when we visit.”
“Two hampers,” her husband suggested. “We usually bring gifts for the girls; I think they would much prefer that we spend those coins on food.”
***
A full two days before the wedding, the Gardiners arrived at Longbourn with their two small boys. The Gardiners could see at once that the Bennets had made every effort to disguisetheir growing poverty, but sharp, knowing eyes could not be deceived.
Kitty had grown a full inch in the last six months, but her hems had already been let down as much as the material would allow, so she had stitched a broad band of ribbon around the hem in order to lengthen the gown. Lydia’s bodice was far too tight; it looked as if the gown would split open if she took a deep breath. None of her sisters were quite so well-endowed, so she would soon be wearing her mother’s dresses.
Mrs. Gardiner had a footman carry in the two hampers she had brought. Upon opening them, Mrs. Bennet burst into tears. “Oh, sister! Cold meats and cheeses and tea and candles and candies and cakes and every good thing! You have no idea –“ And Mrs. Gardiner took the sobbing Fanny Bennet into her arms; she managed to comfort her and glare at Thomas Bennet at the same time.
“Come,” Mr. Bennet muttered to Mr. Gardiner, and the two were soon ensconced in the study. The room was cold, as there was no fire.
