Chapter 5
Elizabeth slowly walked towards the house she hoped that she hadn't been gone for as long as it felt. She knew her mother would be livid if she was out too long. Not that it mattered, Mama would be angry with her for something real or perceived wrong. She often felt like no matter what she did, she would always be wrong.
With a long sigh, she entered the surpringly quiet house. She quickly made her way to the dining room to find her father and Jane sitting at the table. She found her seat and greeted them warmly. She served herself some eggs and ham with toast. She answered favorably when her father inquired if her walk had been enjoyable.
"Mama is not up yet?" she asked as casually as she could.
"she was rising when I came down." Jane answered.
"Lizzy, I would like to speak with you after my breakfast in my library. Jane you may join us as well." Mr. Bennett told them as he rose from the table.
Jane and Lizzy just looked at each other. They agreed without even speaking to hurry after their father. They knew that if mama got there before they could leave the table it would be nearly impossible to escape. Lizzy softly knocked on the library door.
They entered the library when they were bidden to enter. They sat down across from their father at his desk.
"I wanted this opportunity to speak with you especially Lizzy. I know that I do not always notice what is going on under my own roof. For that I feel most ashamed." He said holding his hand up to stop anyone from speaking. "if I paid more attention I would have noticed that your mother has been speaking unkindly to you, Lizzy and not very discreetly. You may well ask how I've learned of this?"
"I have to admit I am quite curious." Jane said since Lizzy seemed to find the floor quite fascinating.
"This morning I had a visitor. I was quite shocked that Sir Lucas arriving at my library door. He told me of how his wife and daughters had told him of overhearing your mother speaking to Lizzy before entering the assembly. I will not repeat what they had overheard for I'm sure that you can imagine. He said that his wife and daughters were most distressed at the words spoken to a lady they greatly esteem."
Lizzy looked slightly ashamed at her father. Jane grasped her hand in support. Lizzy didn't know what to say. She was humiliated to know someone had heard her mother.
"Lizzy, you have nothing to be ashamed of. You do not control your mother's behavior. I inquired from the Hills if this happened here and to my surprise I found out it was a common occurrence. Why did you never come to me?"
"OH papa I didn't want to trouble you with such a small thing. Mama is always saying something hurtful to someone so I thought that it was better if it was to me instead of Mary,or Kitty. I've always stronger than they are. It doesn't bother me that much." Lizzy replied not even noticing that Jane had left and returned with the other sisters.
"Lizzy, please don't lie to papa. We all know it hurts you. We've all heard you cry. And the look on your face when mama speaks like that." Lydia said honestly.
Turning to her father, she took a long look at him. He was a bit unsettled yet filled with pride at his youngest daughter. He had always thought she was a silly replica of his wife. But the look in her eye spoke of an unleashed intelligence and of a girl with a compassionate heart. He knew just by looking at her that with proper direction she could do very well for herself. He was almost nervous as she opened her mouth to speak.
"Papa, we had a discussion about this last night. The five of us has decided that we need to work together to help protect Lizzy. We are afraid she is vulnerable. That because she believes what mama says some charming dishonorable young man could try to take advantage of her. We've also thought it best we not try to stop mama for fear of making it worse for Lizzy." Lydia informed their father.
She had wanted to tell him that he was failing them. But the look in his eyes stopped her. Somehow she could tell that he already knew it.
"Girls, first let me tell you how sorry I am. I have failed you all. First for not planning for the future as I should have. And now for not protecting Lizzy. But I am taking steps to correct this. First I've been going through our accounts to see where economy can be made. Happily I have found that if I cut my own expenses on books and brandy I can still enjoy an occasional good book and brandy, but I can take the rest and invest it so that we can improve your doweries. Next I plan on talking to your mother. I will threaten her with losing her pin money for the rest of her life if I have too." He announced.
All his girls looked shocked but proud that he noticed his shortcomings.
"As for what I would like you to do, I want you to be watchful of your mother. If she begins to harass Lizzy, come get me immediately. Only speak up to your mother if it cannot be helped. I would like for it to stop completely but until I can ascertain why she does this I fear that it will continue even under threats."
All five girls agreed to their father's request. But was stopped by the man before they left.
"Girls before you leave to greet your mother, I want to tell you that I'm extremely proud of all five of you. You noticed that one of your sisters were suffering and you took steps to alleviate it. You make this old man proud of the compassion you have shown. I want you all to know that any of you are welcome to come join me in my library. You should have always been welcome. I'm only sorry it took me so long to see you as you really are."
No one spoke but each daughter embraced their father tighter than they ever had before. No words needed to be said.
Mrs. Bennett was sitting in the dining room when the girls entered. Each greeted her kindly. Lizzy kept hers short and kept her head down. Under the table, Jane and Mary each took Lizzy by the hand trying to give her their support. But what she feared never came. Mrs. Bennett was talking about the assembly and Jane's success.
After Mrs. Bennett finished breaking her fast, the ladies all went to sit in the parlor. Each had a particular project going. They had been working for an hour when Lydia saw two gentlemen approaching on horseback down the lane. She announced what she saw and quickly cleaned up her belongings.
"oh do hurry girls they shall be here any moment." Mrs. Bennett said anxiously.
They quickly went about their cleaning and was ready to entertain visitors.
"Lizzy, do move over here by Mary. Mr. Bingley will want to sit next to Jane surely. She ordered. Lizzy moved immediately. She didn't truly mind. She would help her sister any way she could.
"Now Lizzy, you just sit there quietly. No one is interested in your impertinent comments. In fact I should send you straight upstairs. No one's coming to see you. Your impertinent, plain looking and deserve no one's notice." Mrs. Bennett told her daughter. Unfortunately for her she did not notice Kitty leave the room, nor did she hear the gentlemen being announced.
The livid look on Mr. Darcy's face told the room that he had heard their mama's words. Before any greetings could be made Mr. Bennett came in the room.
"if you'll excuse me gentlemen I must ask Mrs. Bennett to join me in my library."
"oh Mr. Bennett surely it can wait. Our guests just arrived."
"No Mrs. Bennett it most certainly cannot wait. Please come with me." He said leaving no room for any more argument. He was livid and if the look on their guests face was anything to go by he wasn't the only one.
The gentlemen sat down and a peaceful conversation began. Mr. Darcy even tried to participate even though he was still angry.
Mr. Bennett ushered his wife into the library and ordered her to sit down. She wordlessly complied. She could tell he was very angry.
"Mrs. Bennett some news has reached my ears that at first alarmed me but now it has angered me when I discovered that it was true. The fact that you could call any of our girls undeserving or unattractive absolutely astounds me. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"oh my poor nerves! You have no compassion for them."
"please save the dramatics! Just answer the question!"
"I'm allowed to voice my thoughts to my girls in my own home!"
"I have it from good sources that it happens when you're outside of your home as well."
"Well of course she'll tell you that. Anything to get you to pay her attention."
"I'll have you know that it was none of our daughters who told me. To my shame it was a friend and neighbor who thinks very highly of ALL our daughters who overheard and reported it to me."
Mrs. Bennett looked shocked. She didn't think that anyone was near enough to hear her talking to Lizzy. She scrambled trying to find a good enough excuse. But deep down she knew that there wasn't one.
"The verbal assaults end now. I will not have any one abusing any of my daughters. If I hear of you speaking that way to Lizzy again or any of our daughters like that, you will not be receiving your pin money for the next quarter. And I will find out."
"But you can't do that!" She cried out even though she knew he could very well do that.
"OH but I can and will." He told her then in a kinder voice he continued. "Fanny, I know that your better than this. But if you continue your unrestrained behavior and your cruelty, you are going to ruin any chances of our daughters making a good match. I know you're afraid and while I may not be as vocal about it as you, I do share them with you. Later this week I think we will need to sit down and come up with a plan for the future."
"You wish to include me?"
"Of course, my dear, we should have done this years ago. I want you to be part of the solution. It is your future as well. Fanny, you used to be so kind and to be honest with you, it has always been what I loved most about you. Yes you are beautiful as you have always been. But somehow you've lost your way. You've become mean and judgmental. I'm trying to figure out in my mind when and why it happened. Can you please explain it to me?"
"I don't know myself." She replied quietly.
"We'll figure it out together, Fanny. I love you. I always have. I just want my wife I used to know back."
"OH Thomas, I love you as well." She said as she started to sob.
Mr. Bennett came around the desk and embraced his crying wife. When she started to calm down he suggested that she go upstairs and rest. He would make her excuses to their guests and sit with their girls.
He hadn't planned on the last parts of his speech but somehow he knew she needed kindness as well as she needed firmness. He hoped that she would be open to making changes as well. At least it was a start.