Chapter Thirty-Four

"Lizzy, oh Lizzy. It is so good to see you."

Jane Bennet came running out of the house to greet Elizabeth as she alighted from the carriage.

"Oh Jane, it is good to see you too," said Elizabeth, who was delighted to be home. "I have so much to tell you."

"And I you, Lizzy. It feels as if you have been away for months."

Elizabeth looked at her sister's tired face. "Oh Jane, I should never have left you with Mama. It was too much and it was selfish of me."

"But you are here now. And it is good to have you back."

They linked arms as they walked into the house and soon were surrounded by Lydia and Kitty.

"Lizzy! You are home. We have missed you so much," squealed Lydia. "We have so much to tell you."

"We do indeed," giggled Kitty. Elizabeth raised her eyebrows to Jane. She couldn't imagine what Lydia and Kitty had to tell her.

Mrs. Hill was there to take her coat. "It is good to see you, Miss Elizabeth."

"It is nice to be home," said Elizabeth. "How is Mama?"

"She has been missing you, though Miss Jane has been a great comfort to her. She is in her room waiting for you to arrive."

"You mean she's not downstairs."

"No. She has been suffering with her nerves," said Mrs. Hill "but I am sure they will be improved when she sees you."

Elizabeth gave a slight smile. She suspected they might too, though not before Mama had made her pay for deserting her.

They all made their way to Mama's room. Mrs. Bennet was lounging on a chaise with a shawl over her.

"Is that my Lizzy? You are back."

"I am indeed, Mama," said Elizabeth, kissing her on the cheek. "It is lovely to see you."

"It is lovely to see you too, Lizzy," said Mrs. Bennet in a weak voice.

"How are you?" asked Lizzy as they all took seats.

"Oh Lizzy, you have no idea how much I have suffered."

"Why, Mama?" asked Elizabeth innocently.

"Why?" snapped Mrs. Bennet. "How can you possibly ask such a question. None of you girls are married, we will soon be thrown out on the streets."

"Mama, you know that is not true. Mr. Collins has promised we can stay in this house."

"And for how long? He might change his mind after your disgrace."

"What do you mean?"

"Mama had a letter from Mr. Collins," said Jane quietly.

Elizabeth looked at Jane. Why hadn't her sister warned her?

"Mama, it was nothing…"

"Nothing? You upset someone as important as Lady Catherine and get sent home in disgrace."

"Mama, Mr. Collins does not know what he was talking about and I was not employed by Lady Catherine."

"So why are you here?" asked Mrs. Bennet crossly.

Elizabeth inwardly sighed. She was beginning to wonder herself.

"Well, I am very glad to see you, Lizzy," said Lydia. "The regiment are back in Meryton. There are some very handsome officers."

Kitty dissolved into giggles. "You must come to Aunt Phillips' house. She has invited the colonel of the regiment and some of his men her house for a party on Friday."

"Yes… Lizzy, perhaps you will find yourself a rich husband," said Lydia gaily.

"Lydia… I do not need one."

"Oh, shut your chatter. How it tires me," said Mrs. Bennet. "You must all go away."

Kitty and Lydia did not look too disappointed, but just as they were about to stand up Jane stopped them.

"Mama, I wanted to tell you something. Mr. Bingley has asked me to be his wife and I have accepted."

A stunned silence fell across the room a silence which was suddenly broken by Mrs. Bennet screaming. "Jane, are you serious… Mr. Bingley… Jane, tell me this is not a joke."

"It is not a joke, Mama. Mr. Bingley asked me to marry him last week, but I did not want to say anything until Elizabeth came home."

Mrs. Bennet threw off her shawl and swung her legs off the chaise longe. "Oh, my dear Jane, how clever you are," she said kissing her on both cheeks. "I knew… I just knew… he would marry you. What a gentlemen, how rich you will be…. Oh, where is Hill? I must get ready. I must visit your Aunt Phillips at once…

"Mama. Lizzy is home now…"

"Oh, what does she matter," said Mrs. Bennet dismissively. "Hill, Hill. Where are you?"

Elizabeth was relieved when Mrs. Bennet went to visit their aunt in Meryton and insisted on Lydia and Kitty accompanying her, as it meant that she had time to talk to Jane alone. They sat out in the garden.

"When did this happen?" asked Elizabeth of her sister "And why did you not tell me?"

Jane gave her sweet, sweet smile and Elizabeth was pleased to see her looking so happy.

"I wanted to tell you at once, Lizzy, but I wanted you hear, so I could explain. Mama has taken up so much of my time, it has not been easy for me to write."

"But what has happened? I thought Mr. Bingley was giving up Netherfield."

"Lizzy, I do not understand it all myself. Mr. Bingley has only shared with me the barest details. He has made some very bad investments and lost a great deal of money. He didn't think he could offer me any sort of future."

"Oh Jane, I am sorry," said Lizzy, squeezing her hand.

"It no longer matters. Mr. Darcy has helped him. He has lent him some money, paid for some legal advice, and has someone who can help him with his business."

Elizabeth was shocked. She knew Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley were good friends, but she would not have guessed that he would help his friend to that extent. It was another side to Mr. Darcy she was seeing. He was so very different from the proud man she had first met.

Elizabeth hugged her sister. "I am so happy for you, Jane. Mr. Bingley is a good man and you will be very happy."

"I am, Lizzy, and it has been so difficult not to talk about it. There is only one thing that concerns me…"

"His sisters. I would not want to marry a man who has Caroline Bingley and Mrs. Hurst for sisters."

"Lizzy!" Jane tried not to giggle. "They are very kind and they are pleased about the engagement."

Elizabeth thought it was unlikely, but she didn't want to say so. She was so glad to see Jane look so radiant. She certainly did not want to spoil it. "I'm so happy that you are happy. It is the best news I have heard in a long time."

"But Lizzy, what I meant to say was I wish that you would meet a man who you liked enough to marry."

"Jane, you know that is not what I want. But I will tell you that I have in fact had an offer of marriage."

Jane was shocked. "From whom…"

"Mr. Darcy," said Elizabeth.

Jane paled. "Mr. Darcy, but he always seems so severe, so angry."

"Yes, he does, but under all his pride and arrogance, he is a good man."

"So you accepted?" said Jane excitedly. "Oh Lizzy, how wonderful."

"Jane, stop. I did not accept."

"But why not, Lizzy? Look how he has helped Bingley. You say he is a good man, is that not enough?"

"No, Jane, it is not. He proposed only as a business arrangement. Mr. Darcy does not love me."

"Would you mind telling me all about it?" asked Jane.

"No," said Lizzy, "but let's walk and the only things that can hear us will be the birds and the trees."

Elizabeth caught her sister's hand and pulled her to her feet and soon they were walking around the quiet lanes of Longbourn.

By the time Lizzy came to retire that night, she was feeling very tired and was grateful to be in her room alone. She sat at the mirror, unpinned her hair and loosened it and let it cascade about her shoulders. Very leisurely she combed it, stroke by stroke, thinking about Jane and Mr. Bingley's engagement. Mr. Bingley had ridden over from Netherfield to speak to Mrs. Bennet. Her mother had excelled herself in making embarrassing remarks about how happy she was that her first-born daughter had snared herself a rich husband, but Mr. Bingley was so very good natured that he didn't seem to mind and retorted with such glowing comments about Jane that Mrs. Bennet declared him to be the best future son-in-law that any woman could want.

Before they had parted for the night Jane had anxiously asked if she was envious.

"Jane, it would horrid of me if I was, but I am so very pleased for you, you know that," she told her.

Jane had still looked trouble. "But Lizzy, I would wish you to be as happy as I am."

"And I will be," Elizabeth said. "Now go…" And Jane had retired to her own chamber. And Lizzy could not help thinking about Mr. Darcy. She suspected she would never meet another man like Mr. Darcy and the time for her to be married had passed.