Page 174 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

“She has gone to bed with a terrible headache,” Jane said. “Hill took her tea, but she says she cannot bear any light and wishes to be left alone. I think the scene with Lydia has affected her more than we realized.”

Kitty twisted her handkerchief between her fingers. “She has hardly spoken since Lydia came home.”

“Mamma has had a severe shock,” Jane said. “She will be better after she has rested.”

Mary said, “I do not believe Mamma understood before today what might come of encouraging Lydia to behave as she pleased.”

Jane looked to Elizabeth. “Do you think Mr. Wickham will speak of this incident? If people learn that Lydia arranged to meet him alone, they will assume the worst. She will be ruined, and the disgrace will fall upon all of us. None of us will escape it.”

The possibility had been troubling Elizabeth since they left Oakham Mount.

“If he wishes to be malicious, he might, but he would also have to explain why a man of his age was waiting alone for Lydia on Papa's estate. The story would do him little credit.”

“Then perhaps he has as much reason for silence as we do,” Jane said.

“I hope he sees it that way.”

The door opened, and Mr. Bennet entered.

“Your mother will not come down to dinner. Hill tells me her headache has become severe enough that she thinks Mr. Jones should see her, so I have sent for him.”

Jane rose. “I hope she is not so very ill. Mamma has suffered headaches before, but I have never known one to cause her to take to her bed like this.”

“Nor have I. There is little advantage in frightening ourselves before Mr. Jones has examined her.”

They went in to dinner, though little was eaten and even less was said.

Mr. Jones arrived before the table had been cleared.

Elizabeth heard his voice in the hall and then his footsteps upon the stairs. Mrs. Bennet's room lay above them, and for the next half hour every sound from that part of the house seemed unnaturally distinct.

At last Mr. Jones came downstairs. Mr. Bennet met him in the hall, with Jane and Elizabeth following.

“She tells me she has suffered a severe shock,” Mr. Jones said. “Her headache is considerable, but I see nothing at present that gives me cause to believe she is in immediate danger. She must be kept quiet tonight. No excitement, and no crowding about her bed.”

“May one of us sit with her?” Jane asked. “I do not like the thought of her being alone when she is so unwell.”

“One of you may stay if she wishes it. Let her rest, and I shall return in the morning.”

Mrs. Bennet allowed Jane to remain with her.

Elizabeth went upstairs with her sister and stopped outside their mother's bedchamber while Jane entered. The curtains had been drawn, leaving the room in shadow. Mrs. Bennet lay beneath the covers with one arm across her forehead.

“Jane?” she murmured.

“I am here, Mamma. You need only rest.”

Elizabeth quietly closed the door.

She went downstairs and found Mr. Bennet in his study. Before she could ask, he told her, “Mr. Jones does not believe your mother is in danger. Let us hope a night's rest restores her.”

Elizabeth wished she could take comfort from his words, but she remembered too well what had happened before, when Lydia had run away with Wickham.

Was it all beginning again?

They had crossed into the past hoping to change what had happened, but could the course of events truly be altered?

The next morning Mrs. Bennet's headache had not improved, and she asked for her sister.