Chapter XXIX
The Empty Room
No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.
- Mary Wollstonecraft
Kitty who had grown bored on the conversation, or rather lack thereof, other than Mr Collins going dully on, so she had gone for a walk in the garden. Mary and Jane were still politely listening to Mr Collins.
There were only so many times she could listen to Mr Collins talk about the changes that Lady Catherine had suggested he make to Longbourn when he became master. She thought it was rather odd that the great Lady Catherine should make suggests about an estate she had never been to and knew very little about. But Kitty reasoned that since she owned Rosings which from Mr Collins' descriptions was a very large estate. So she must know something about running an estate.
Her mother and Lydia had not come down stairs today, in a strange way it was their company she missed rather than that of her father. He had already been a fairly distant parent in her life, always in his book room. Lizzy and Jane would go in with him, and every now and then Mary, mostly Lizzy really. He would be at the table for meals and come out for tea most days and the odd evening every now and then, but mostly he would just read his newspaper or a book, or talk to Lizzy or tease their mother.
It wasn't that she did not regard him, view him with the respect that owed to him as her father. But she did not know him very well. He said things that did not make sense to her, she was also aware that he found her effects amazing. She had tried to understand to read and improve her mind, reading the same books that Mary was, but they were really very dull. She had tried the ones Lizzy read, but she had not been able to make head or tail of them.
Drawing and painting were two things that she really loved, but Mr Bennet had not been particularly impressed with her drawings. Mrs Bennet had been sweet about them, telling her she draw well. But after a while she had given up and gone to play with Lydia.
The house was too quiet, the house was normally filled with laugher, bickering and chatter. But now there were just hushed whispers, with Mrs Bennet crying loudly every now and then. It was strange without Lydia or Mrs Bennet, Kitty was not really sure what to do with herself. She remembered her drawings and decided to practice a little. It was the best way to amuse herself really. She had left her things in the music room, so she went to fetch them, it had been a long time since she had even touched them.
Finding a quiet spot in the garden Kitty sketched.
ooOoo
Elizabeth came down again later in the afternoon, after checking on her mother and trying to check on Lydia. Her mother was asleep and Lydia's door was locked. She called softly through the door, but Lydia make no answer. Hoping that she was like their mother, also asleep she left her alone.
Mr Bingley had come to call on Jane, bringing Mr and Miss Darcy with him. She was not entirely sure how to act around that gentleman anymore, so much had passed between them. So much left unsaid. Mr Collins had received them on behalf of the ladies; Elizabeth took a deep breath and then entered the room.
The gentlemen stood as she entered, Mr Collins slightly slower than the other two. The usual greeting followed by condoles were given and then all parties returned to their seats. Mr Bingley was the only gentleman in the room who she felt she was equal to mean without either her temper getting the better of her or blushing. Neither of which would do in the current setting. So to her sisters, Mr Bingley and Miss Darcy would she speak to, ignoring the other two to the best of her ability.
Miss Darcy looked quite withdrawn, clearly not comfortable in the current setting.
"I am very sorry about your father, Miss Elizabeth. Miss Darcy said gently when Elizabeth handed her, her tea cup. "I know how hard it is to lose a father, particularly when you were so close."
Elizabeth thanked her, before moving towards Jane, who looked slightly pained, from the quick whispered conversation, they a little while later while pouring fresh tea for the guests it seemed that Mr Collins had been speaking at length since Elizabeth had left him.
Mr Collins had very magnanimously invited Mr Bingley and the Darcys to stay for dinner. Which of course they accepted, there was no separating Mr Bingley from Jane, nor did Mr Darcy seem inclined to leave either.
Mrs Bennet came down not long before dinner was announced, Hill had informed her that Mr Bingley was there, and she wanted to make sure that he was comfortable. With a dead husband and with only two of her daughters engaged and not yet married she wanted to do everything in her power to make sure that neither suitor lost interest.
Kitty came in from the garden just before they were about to go in for dinner, "Go up and change quickly Kitty and ask Lydia if she will be joining us." Mrs Bennet told her daughter sternly.
Mrs Bennet talked quite loudly until Kitty returned about Mr Bennet, about Jane and Mr Bingley's wedding, about her head and nerves. Mr Collin piped in every now and then, mostly to Elizabeth whom he was standing near. She was not sure how it had happened, but she had ended up standing with Mr Collins on one side and Mr Darcy on the other.
Kitty came back into the room rather quietly and tried to get Elizabeth or Jane's attention without alerting the rest of the room. However, Mrs Bennet noticed her and called the attention of the entire room to her second youngest daughter.
"Good heavens child, why have you not changed? You are keeping us all waiting. I have half a mind to go into dinner without you."
"I needed to speak to Lizzy and Jane." Kitty replied.
"Whatever about? Surely you do not need their options on what to wear?" Mrs Bennet asked.
"No, it's not that." Kitty said nervously.
"My dear cousin there is nothing you cannot say to me that you can to your own dear sisters." Mr Collins said stepping forward, taking Elizabeth's arm in his. "I will very soon be your brother as well as your cousin and the master of the house that you are living in."
Elizabeth silently withdraw her arm from Mr Collins and stepped towards Kitty, concerned by her expressions, and trying not to pay Mr Collins any heed or notice Mr Darcy who was following her close behind. Jane was also crossing the room, Mr Bingley following closely behind her.
"This is ridiculous Kitty, why have you not changed?" Mrs Bennet asked again.
"The door is locked, and Lydia isn't answering." Kitty replied at least when it became clear that even if Elizabeth and Jane left the room, the rest of the party would just follow them.
"What do you mean isn't answering. You must not have called loudly enough, she must be sleep." Mrs Bennet declared, and then to Mr Bingley and Mr Collins, "Such a dear child, she is very distressed by Mr Bennet's death."
"I did Mama. I called very loudly."
Elizabeth's blood had run cold. When was the last time they had actually seen or heard Lydia. It was very unlike her to be locked up in her room all day making no noise. She was not a quiet girl. Jane and Kitty had spoken to her this morning, trying to get her to eat something. But that was hours ago.
Without a second thought Elizabeth ran for the hall, up the stairs and was outside Lydia and Kitty's room in no time at all. Mr Darcy was still right behind her. Jane, Kitty and Mr Bingley following.
Mrs Bennet, Mary and Mr Collins followed soon after.
At first they thought it was just a matter of unlocking the door, which was easier said than done. Lydia had left the key in the lock on the other side. It was a while before they had managed to work it out of the door using the fire poker.
Then Hill, who had brought out the master keys, put the key in the lock and turned it to unlocked the door, they all sighed a sigh of relief, however, their relief was premature. The door did not open when Hill push it. She tried again, but the door would not move. Mr Bingley stepped forward and put his shoulder against it, but still it did not move.
"Lydia, are you alright?" Elizabeth called out as loudly as she could and was soon joined by Jane and Kitty. But there was no answer,
Mrs Bennet was no help and got in everyone's way. "Oh my poor dear Lydia. What if she has fallen and hit her head? She could have been laying there for hours. Why did you not think to check on her? First Mr Bennet and now my poor sweet Lydia!"
"What can the girl mean by it?" Mr Collins complained loudly, "the dinner shall be cold by the time we have got into the room."
When they finally managed to get the door open, which took Mr Bingley, Mr Darcy and a footman, so much for trying to keep it from the servants, but there was no hope for it, to try and be discreet at such a moment. There had never been much hope of it.
The room was empty. There was no sign of Lydia, her cupboards stood open, clothing laying here and there as if someone had packed in a hurry. A drawer had been moved across the
door, blocking it from opening. The window was wide open, the wind blowing the curtains.
And there was a note on the mantleā¦
