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"Aunt," Elizabeth began, "Mr. Gardiner has assured you that your settlement will provide—"

"Do not speak to me of settlements! You have rejected the one arrangement that might have secured us all."

Jane drew a breath to intervene, but Lydia interrupted first.

"If we live in Meryton, may we be nearer the shops?"

"Lydia!" Mary exclaimed. "How can you be so frivolous at such a time?"

"I only asked," Lydia protested.

Mrs. Bennet declared that nobody understood her sufferings. Elizabeth looked toward the empty chair where her uncle had once sat and felt a fresh ache of grief.

It was nearly noon when the sound of an arriving carriage interrupted the household. Hill entered with the announcement that the Earl of Matlock wished to see Mrs. Bennet.

For one miraculous instant there was silence.

Then Mrs. Bennet sprang to her feet.

"An earl? Here? Jane, your cap is crooked. Mary, put away that dreadful book. Elizabeth, do not stand there staring! How can his lordship possibly have heard of our troubles?"

Elizabeth knew perfectly well how he might have heard. She looked at Jane, whose cheeks had become pink.

Jane met her gaze steadily and gave a tiny nod.

Before Elizabeth could decide whether to be angry or grateful, the Earl entered. He greeted Mrs. Bennet with proper courtesy, offered condolences upon her husband's death, and turned immediately to Elizabeth.

"My dear child," he said, taking her hand, "I am very sorry. Thomas Bennet was a good man, and I know what he meant to you."

The sympathy in his voice nearly undid her. She managed to thank him.

Mrs. Bennet began speaking at once of her nerves, the entail, and the dreadful prospect of relinquishing Longbourn. The Earl listened without interruption until she had finished. Then he asked whether they might speak privately.

"Certainly, my lord," she answered, delighted by his attention. "Elizabeth may remain, of course. She is concerned in our troubles."

"I should prefer to speak with you first," the Earl replied. "I shall talk to Elizabeth afterward."

Something in his tone caused Mrs. Bennet's smile to falter.

Elizabeth withdrew with Jane. They went into the library, where the familiar sight of her uncle's desk made Elizabeth stop beside the door.

"You wrote to him," she said.

Jane clasped her hands. "Yes. I hope you can forgive me."

"I should have wished to know."

"I feared you would forbid it."

Elizabeth could not deny the truth. She sank into Mr. Bennet's chair, then immediately rose again because it felt wrong to occupy it.

"What did you tell him?"

"Only the truth. That you do not wish to marry Collins, and that you have been made to feel you have no other choice."

Elizabeth's anger deserted her. She went to Jane and embraced her.

"You are very dear to me," she whispered.