Chapter 4: All Mixed-Up
What Elizabeth wanted most was some solitude, to organise her thoughts and feelings and to reflect on the shocking disclosure that she had inadvertently heard. However, that was not quite to be. Without giving the matter some modicum of thought, Elizabeth was not in a position to share what had occurred with Jane, especially when much of the content concerned Jane herself and the lady in question was quite ill. For her part, Jane was awake, and making an effort to appear better than she felt.
What Elizabeth was able to comprehend for herself was that there was some type of secret which the men of Netherfield knew (excluding Mr. Hurst, quite likely), but the women did not. This secret involved the Bennets, and quite possibly her father knew all or some of the matter. It was obvious it concerned Mr. Darcy; equally obvious that he thought little of her parent's conduct. The implication that her parents had used Jane and herself as fortune hunters was mortifying, more so because that had precisely been her mother's plan.
Did her father owe the Darcys money? Elizabeth could not fathom what business her family had with the Darcys. She wasn't unaware of the failings of her father, any less than those of her mother. Had Elizabeth's opinion been all drawn from her own family, she could not have formed a very pleasing opinion of conjugal felicity, domestic comfort, or capable parenting. Her father, captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humour which youth and beauty generally give, had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had very early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her. Respect, esteem, and confidence had vanished for ever; and all his views of domestic happiness were overthrown. But Mr. Bennet was not of a disposition to seek comfort for the disappointment which his own imprudence had brought on, in any of those pleasures which too often console the unfortunate for their folly or their vice. He was fond of the country and of books; and from these tastes had arisen his principal enjoyments. To his wife he was very little otherwise indebted, than as her ignorance and folly had contributed to his amusement. This was not the sort of happiness which a man would in general wish to owe to his wife; but where other powers of entertainment are wanting, the true philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given.
Elizabeth had never been blind to the impropriety of her father's behaviour as a husband. She had always seen it with pain; but respecting his abilities, and grateful for his affectionate treatment of herself, she endeavoured to forget what she could not overlook, and to banish from her thoughts that continual breach of conjugal obligation and decorum which, in exposing his wife to the contempt of her own children, was so highly reprehensible.
However, it was not just in matters of marriage that her parents were ill-suited. Her father's property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for a family full of daughters, was entailed in default of heirs male, currently a distant relation. Her mother's fortune consisted of the four thousand pounds left to her by her father.
Both Elizabeth's parents were incautious with money; they never practiced economy, because - and it was incredulous to Elizabeth that her father would be so wishful - they always believed that they would have a son who would break the entail on Longbourn. By the time her parents gave up hope of a male heir, it was too late to start saving. Her mother had no economical skills, and though her father ensured the family did not exceed its income, he had not taken any measures to increase his wealth.
The logical conclusion, in Elizabeth's mind, was that the Bennets owed the Darcys money. It irked her that Mr. Darcy would have discussed such pecuniary matters with Mr. Bingley, spoiling any possible suit towards Jane. Yet, was Mr. Bingley even interested in Jane? Why would he defer Jane to Mr. Darcy, who quite correctly had not even met Jane?
A mere debt, no matter how big or small, could not explain all the rest of it. None of it was clear to her, but she made up her mind to be guarded and wary of both gentlemen.
After some time, she was joined by Caroline Bingley and her sister Louisa Hurst, both of whom expressed concern and tenderness for the well-being of Jane and sat with her till summoned to coffee. Jane was still doing very poorly, and Elizabeth would not quit her at all, till late in the evening, when she had the comfort of seeing Jane sleep, and when it seemed to her rather right than pleasant that she should go downstairs herself.
On entering the drawing-room she found the whole party at loo, and was immediately invited to join them; but suspecting them to be playing high she declined it, and making her sister the excuse, said she would amuse herself for the short time she could stay below, with a book. She had no intention of owing money to anyone, especially Mr. Darcy. Mr. Hurst looked at her with astonishment.
"Do you prefer reading to cards?" said he; "that is rather singular."
Elizabeth shrugged. "I will be returning to my sister shortly, and I do not wish to disrupt your game unnecessarily. I shall be content with a book in the meantime," she responded evenly, and then walked towards the table where a few books were lying. Bingley immediately offered to fetch her others – all that his library afforded.
"And I wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my own credit; but I am an idle fellow, and though I have not many, I have more than I ever looked into."
Elizabeth assured him that she could suit herself perfectly with those in the room.
"I am astonished," said Miss Bingley, "that my father should have left so small a collection of books. What a delightful library you have at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!"
"It ought to be good," he replied, "it has been the work of many generations."
"And then you have added so much to it yourself, you are always buying books."
"I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these."
"Neglect! I am sure you neglect nothing that can add to the beauties of that noble place. Charles, when you build your house, I wish it may be half as delightful as Pemberley."
"I wish it may."
"But I would really advise you to make your purchase in that neighbourhood, and take Pemberley for a kind of model. There is not a finer county in England than Derbyshire."
"With all my heart; I will buy Pemberley itself if Darcy will sell it."
"I am talking of possibilities, Charles."
"Upon my word, Caroline, I should think it more possible to get Pemberley by purchase than by imitation."
Elizabeth was so much caught with what passed; that Miss Bingley was fawning for Mr. Darcy was obvious, but the gentleman did not seem much interested in her. As well, while Mr. Bingley engaged in conversation, the animation she had observed in him previously was gone; this Mr. Bingley was very much more subdued than what he had been at all other social occasions.
"Is Miss Darcy much grown since the spring?" said Miss Bingley; "will she be as tall as I am?"
"I think she will. She is now about Miss Elizabeth Bennet's height, or rather taller."
"You have a younger sister, Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth's curiosity was piqued, despite her decision to remain guarded.
"Yes, Georgiana." Darcy was more talkative now than their entire walk to Netherfield. "She just turned sixteen; she is in London at the moment. I understand that you have several younger sisters as well."
Elizabeth had no opportunity to respond.
"How I long to see her again!" cried Miss Bingley. "I never met with anybody who delighted me so much. Such a countenance, such manners! And so extremely accomplished for her age! Her performance on the pianoforte is exquisite."
It amused Elizabeth that Mr. Darcy said nothing at all to this effusive praise of his sister. Mr. Bingley was looking at his cards, but seemed utterly distracted. Mr. Hurst soon called upon Miss Bingley to pay better attention to the game, and Elizabeth made her escape back to Jane's side.
Elizabeth joined them again only to say that her sister was worse, and that she could not leave her. Bingley urged for the local apothecary Mr. Jones being sent for immediately; while his sisters, convinced that no country advice could be of any service, recommended an express to town for one of the most eminent physicians.
This Elizabeth would not hear of; but she was not so unwilling to comply with their brother's proposal, until Darcy intervened.
"Bingley, didn't you say that the apothecary has already seen Miss Bennet? What different result are you expecting by sending for the same person a second time?"
"Mr. Jones is familiar with Miss Bennet, and he can certainly be here faster."
"I am not certain that speed should be the more valued criteria here; a delay of several hours to summon a physician will likely serve Miss Bennet better."
"I think calling Mr. Jones will suffice," Elizabeth interjected.
Darcy looked at her, and Elizabeth was not familiar enough to read his expression. "Again, what different result is expected by calling him twice in as many days, when you yourself just said that Miss Bennet is worse, not better?"
"My sister is worse, but she is not in critical danger. The apothecary will do for her; in my experience, sick people generally take a turn for the worse before they get better."
"Miss Elizabeth, is your medical expertise extensive?"
Elizabeth bristled, and tried hard to hold on to her countenance. "I simply wish to be pragmatic and not cause unnecessary panic."
Darcy shrugged, and turned to Bingley. "If you send an express to town, a physician can be here by early morning. My writing is clearer than yours; shall I write the note?"
Bingley nodded, and the matter was settled, if not to Elizabeth's satisfaction.
Elizabeth passed the chief of the night in her sister's room, and as promised, the physician arrived very early in the morning. Jane was doing tolerably better, but the physician had many instructions for her care, not the least of which was that Jane not be moved.
Mr. Darcy's comments to Mr. Bingley about how neither of her parents had come to see Jane still ringing in her ears, Elizabeth requested to have a note sent to Longbourn, desiring both her parents to visit Jane, and form their own judgement of the situation. Elizabeth had no doubt that if Mr. Darcy been aware of the contents, she would have further earned his disapprobation for seeking the opinion of anyone other than a qualified medical expert.
The note was immediately dispatched, and Mrs. Bennet, accompanied by her two youngest girls, Kitty and Lydia, reached Netherfield soon after the family breakfast. Elizabeth was thoroughly disappointed. Instead of her sedate and sensible father, the three silliest Bennets had arrived instead. She also knew that her mother could not possibly have any knowledge about whatever business the Darcys had with the Bennets; Mrs. Bennet was entirely incapable of keep a secret and if she knew anything, doubtless all the girls would by now know it as well.
Had she found Jane in any apparent danger, Mrs. Bennet would have been very miserable; but being satisfied on seeing Jane that her illness was not alarming, Mrs. Bennet had no wish of her recovering immediately, as her restoration to health would probably remove her from Netherfield. She would not listen, therefore, to Elizabeth and Jane's proposal of Jane being carried home, which in any event was directly contrary to the physician's advice.
After sitting a little while with Jane, on Miss Bingley's appearance and invitation, the mother and three daughters all attended her into the breakfast parlour. Bingley met them with hopes that Mrs. Bennet had not found Miss Bennet worse than she expected.
"Indeed I have, sir," was her answer. "She is a great deal too ill to be moved. I understand that the physician said that we must not think of moving her. We must trespass a little longer on your kindness."
"Removed!" cried Bingley. "It must not be thought of. My sister, I am sure, will not hear of her removal."
"You may depend upon it, Madam," said Miss Bingley, with cold civility, "that Miss Bennet will receive every possible attention while she remains with us."
Mrs. Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgments.
Bingley took this opportunity to introduce Darcy, and to Elizabeth's eyes, her mother showed not the slightest hint of recognition at his name.
"I am sure," Mrs. Bennet said, "if it was not for such good friends I do not know what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed, and suffers a vast deal, though with the greatest patience in the world, which is always the way with her, for she has, without exception, the sweetest temper I have ever met with. I often tell my other girls they are nothing to her. You have a sweet room here, Mr. Bingley, and a charming prospect over the gravel walk. I do not know a place in the country that is equal to Netherfield. You will not think of quitting it in a hurry, I hope, though you have but a short lease."
Bingley stumbled over his words, glancing at Darcy, who was steadfast in drinking his tea and observing some distant point beyond all of them.
"Whatever I do is done in a hurry," Bingley finally replied, "and therefore if I should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five minutes. At present, however, I consider myself as quite fixed here."
"Whatever could happen for you to resolve to quit Netherfield, hurry or otherwise?" Elizabeth inquired, hoping to gain valuable information in the absence of her father. "After all, you all but just arrived here."
Bingley laughed nervously. "Oh, well, one can never predict the future. Things of business may arise, or family matters…"
The answer was not to Elizabeth's liking, but she knew not how to pursue it further with him. Therefore, she turned to his friend. "And you Mr. Darcy, are your plans in Hertfordshire as uncertain as Mr. Bingley's?"
Darcy smiled at her cryptically. "My plans are well-defined."
Mrs. Bennet misunderstood her daughter's intention. "Oh Mr. Darcy, my Lizzy here is just wanting to know how much longer she will have the pleasure of your company."
Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep his countenance. His sister was less delicate, and directed her eyes towards Mr. Darcy with a very expressive smile. Darcy was clearly surprised, and after looking at her for a moment, turned silently away. Lydia and Kitty giggled. Elizabeth blushed and wanted to correct her mother, but knew not how to without appearing rude or drawing further attention to herself.
For the sake of saying something that might turn everyone's thoughts but especially her mother's, Elizabeth now asked her if Charlotte Lucas had been at Longbourn since her coming away.
"Yes, she called yesterday with her father."
"Did Charlotte dine with you?"
"No, she would go home. I fancy she was wanted about the mince-pies. For my part, Mr. Bingley, I always keep servants that can do their own work; my daughters are brought up very differently. But everybody is to judge for themselves, and the Lucases are a very good sort of girls, I assure you. It is a pity they are not handsome! Not that I think Charlotte so very plain - but then she is our particular friend."
"She seems a very pleasant young woman."
"Oh! dear, yes; but you must own she is very plain. Lady Lucas herself has often said so, and envied me Jane's beauty. I do not like to boast of my own child, but to be sure, Jane - one does not often see anybody better looking. It is what everybody says. I do not trust my own partiality. When she was only fifteen, there was a man at my brother Gardiner's in town so much in love with her that my sister-in-law was sure he would make her an offer before we came away. But, however, he did not. Perhaps he thought her too young. However, he wrote some verses on her, and very pretty they were."
"And so ended his affection," said Elizabeth impatiently. "There has been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way. I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!"
"I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love," said Darcy.
"Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away."
Darcy only smiled; and the general pause which ensued made Elizabeth tremble lest her mother should be exposing herself again. She also regretted commenting on romance. She longed to speak, but could think of nothing to say; and after a short silence Mrs. Bennet began repeating her thanks to Mr. Bingley for his kindness to Jane, with an apology for troubling him also with Lizzy. Mr. Bingley was unaffectedly civil in his answer, and forced his younger sister to be civil also, and say what the occasion required. She performed her part indeed without much graciousness, but Mrs. Bennet was satisfied, and soon afterwards ordered her carriage. Upon this signal, the youngest of her daughters put herself forward. The two girls had been whispering to each other during the whole visit, and the result of it was, that the youngest should tax Mr. Bingley with having promised on his first coming into the country to give a ball at Netherfield.
Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humoured countenance; a favourite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into public at an early age. She had high animal spirits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the attention of the local -shire officers, and her own easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance. She was very equal, therefore, to address Mr. Bingley on the subject of the ball, and abruptly reminded him of his promise on a previous occasion; adding, that it would be the most shameful thing in the world if he did not keep it. His answer to this sudden attack was delightful to their mother's ear:
"I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement; and when your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the very day of the ball. But you would not wish to be dancing when she is ill."
Lydia declared herself satisfied. "Oh! Yes - it would be much better to wait till Jane was well, and by that time most likely Captain Carter would be at Meryton again. And when you have given your ball," she added, "I shall insist on their giving one also. I shall tell Colonel Forster it will be quite a shame if he does not."
Mrs. Bennet and her daughters then departed, and Elizabeth returned instantly to Jane. She had had enough shame and embarrassment, and needed no further punishment by remaining in company.
A/N: I am yet again compelled to address certain reviewers directly. If you don't like my story, my characters, the 'lack of introspection' in chapters, 'copy/pasting' from the book, and all manner of other criticism, please, by all means feel free to NOT read this story, and write your own, or read some other story that meets your standards. I am so done with haughty, condescending, know-it-alls who have nothing nice to say except endless criticisms.
To add, most Regency P&P mirror events and dialogues from the book. This is not a bad thing. And if you cannot recognise where the dialogue and events have been tweaked and changed, I think the criticism should not be directed at the author, but perhaps at these self-appointed super-critics.
Also, for that special reviewer who apparently cannot see the difference or contextualise between a lifelong family friend deceiving Georgiana vs incompetent parenting that results in Lydia eloping with a veritable stranger...go away. Go away and stop reading my writing. I could never write anything to match your two dimensional understanding of matters.
Authors write stories for free, for the enjoyment of others. It's not okay to insult, ridicule, and make us feel bad for trying to do something nice and creative. It hasn't been 5 hours since I posted this chapter, and the torrent of abuse hurled my way and all the reviews I had to delete - definitely not okay.