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“I think that you, Aunt Philips, Papa and myself should leave as soon as possible for London.”
Both men started to speak but Elizabeth held up her hand.
“Please let me finish and explain then you may say your piece. There are at least four separate things that need to be dealt with. Foremost of them is dealing with the Gardiner children. Their mother is dead and their father is fighting for his life. I believe Jane is needed here to help with Mama so I propose that I move to Gracechurch Street immediately and help with the children until we are more certain of my Uncle’s recovery. Aunt Philips can go to the hospital and sit with Uncle Gardiner, she is his sister and can up and leave Meryton more easily than Mama. While she is with her brother the two of you can deal with the undertaker and organise the funeral. Papa, you can then return to Longbourn and let Mama know how Uncle Gardiner is recovering. The final thing that needs to be dealt with is the business. I have worked with Uncle Gardiner for four years and can make sure that nothing changes until he recovers. I know I will have no authority but I am the family member most known to his clerks.”
Paul Philips and Thomas Bennet looked at each other, trying to keep their faces expressionless.
“When did you think of all this Lizzie?”
Her father’s question was valid and Elizabeth was not going to dissemble.
“When you first announced the shocking news the thing that sprang into my mind immediately was Mama’s exhortation to Uncle Gardiner every Christmas. She was relying on family to save us. Now the Gardiner family is in desperate need of help. And I am going to do everything that I can to help. I am 16 years old, and last night the most important thing I had to look forward to was coming out at the Michaelmas Assembly in Meryton. Now that seems impossibly trivial compared to the assisting the Gardiners.”
Once again, the two men were stunned into silence but Elizabeth could see that her words had made an impact on both men. Her uncle nodded decisively.
“All of what you have said makes sense. Bennet, you and I will talk to our wives and tell them the plan. Martha and I will return home and quickly pack. We both have mourning clothes so we should not take long. Once we leave you should pack as well.”
Philips was looking at Mr. Bennet who nodded.
“I will.”
“Lizzie, I think you should pack as you normally do when you visit for a month. We do not know how long you will have to remain at Gracechurch Street. We need to leave as soon as possible so let us all do our part.”
Thomas Bennet followed Paul Philips out of the study to return to their wives in the parlour. Elizabeth did not want to be dragged into any arguments and retreated to her room, stopping only to request that a trunk be brought up. Jane found her looking through all her belongings.
“Lizzie, are you going to London?”
Elizabeth pulled Jane over to the window bench seat and they sat, hands clasped lightly together.
“Jane, I told Papa that I am going to move to Gracechurch Street to help with the family. Edward is older and will be better able to cope, to understand. But the younger three are only seven, six and three. They will need a lot of love and support.”
Jane gnawed her bottom lip before looking Elizabeth in the eye.
“Do you think Uncle Gardiner will recover?”
The question that no one was able to answer.
“I can only pray that he does. It is in God’s hands now. But I am going to plan and assume that he will.”
“Yes, we must all pray for him. What can I do?”
“I am going to leave Sarah alone to let her pack for me. I will just get in the way otherwise. Can you instruct Mr. Hill to pack for father please? He may have started but Papa is still in a daze. I am going to go and talk to Mama.”
“Do you think she will object?”
“Papa had given his permission but I still wish to talk to her. It is her brother after all.”
As they stood Jane pulled Elizabeth into a hug, holding it for longer than normal. As they left Elizabeth’s room they saw Mr. Hill, their father’s valet, carrying a valise into their father’s bed chamber.
“Come, I will accompany you to speak to Mama.”
They returned to the parlour and found Mrs. Bennet surrounded by her three youngest daughters.
“Mama, I would like to speak to you before I leave for London.”
Mrs. Bennet was uncharacteristically quiet and merely nodded her head.
“Papa informed you that I would be accompanying him and the Philips this afternoon?”
