Chapter 6: letters
Dearest Lizzy,
I hope this letter finds you well. I assure you that I understand the amount of distress your uncle's letter must have caused you. He tried to negotiate with Mr Collins. But he seems to have decided against letting you all continue in Longbourn. His demand for increasing the rate of the lease is beyond sensible standards. Your uncle tried to reason with him, but it is of no use. You may have to move out of Longbourn in a month or two. Our suggestion is for you to rent a cottage in Meryton for the time being. Mr Philip would be able to aid us in this. You must understand that this does not push you to make drastic changes in your livelihood. We will still support you in your new house. I know how deeply you were attached to your father; I beg you to look at life with hope. I still invite you to come and stay with us. But your mother does not want to leave the neighbourhood. I have already written to her. I am happy to know that your cakes have been selling well. You have an art of excelling in whatever you take up. We are proud of you. The children send you their love.
Yours,
Madeline Gardiner
Elizabeth felt mixed emotions after reading the letter. She did not know how to thank her uncle for helping them in their situation. But the thought of leaving her home tore her heart. Her mother had panic attacks when she heard the news.
"Oh! What am I to do? My poor nerves. With five unmarried girls, being driven out of my own home. That horrible stone-hearted man. May he rot in hell."
"Lizzy, do you think we will run out of money and have to work at some household? " Mary asked with concern. Elizabeth was worried for her younger sisters. They were too naive to face the world on their own. She hoped that the day would never come for her family to see such bad light. She thought of another source of income other than her baking business. She could only think of finding employment as a governess or a companion. Jane was still against the idea.
Mr Bingley had frequently called on Jane. Mrs Bennet pinned her hopes on him. Elizabeth hoped that Jane would not be disappointed. They started to look at cottages in Meryton to rent. They knew that they could not afford anything extravagant.
She met Mr Wickham a couple of times in her aunt Mrs Philip's house.
One such day, Wickham found an opportunity to open the topic about Darcy. He disclosed his history with Pemberley and the Darcys.
But the details he related to Elizabeth vested nothing but falsehood about Darcy's character and his mistreatment of Wickham.
Elizabeth was shocked to hear the details and could not believe that a man could behave in such an abominable way.
Wickham knew that he had vested a seed of compassion for him in Elizabeth's heart. Elizabeth pitied Wickham and felt sorry for him. She thought an honest man had been deprived of his living.
She met Wickham several times on her walk, and he complimented her in many ways. Elizabeth somehow did not feel comfortable with the open flirtation from him. She found it unsettling when Wickham spoke ill of Darcy during all their meetings though he had stated that he respected the family for raising him. She did not like gossip in any form and tried her best not to encourage Wickham.
But she could not deny the fact that he was a charming man. A few days later, she received a letter from Charlotte.
Dearest Lizzy,
I cannot begin to comprehend what you may be going through. Had I been Charlotte Lucas forever, I could have lived happily, even if I had to die as an old maid. Being Mrs Collins, I face the agony of looking at my husband every day, who has no compassion for my dearest friend's family. I have tried but in vain to convince him to be reasonable in his demands. But he is determined. I have written to father to assist you in anything you may need.
I miss you, Lizzy. I have you in my prayers every day.
Yours,
Charlotte
Charlotte would have failed miserably in trying to reason with him. She thought. She did not know what was in store for their family. They had negotiated on some cottages and were waiting for her Uncle Gardiners approval. Mrs Bennet was most vocal about her displeasure.
"How do you think a cottage with just two bedrooms would suffice for all of us? And where do we put all our things?"
Elizabeth had to explain to her that they could not take anything from Longbourn except their personal belongings. Mrs Bennet almost fainted in shock.
"This is unfair. He gets the house, our farm, our carriage, and everything. Oh! Why did I not have a boy? Lizzy, you should have been a boy. You always behave like one. Oh! Why did you have to be a girl?"
Jane tried to stop her mother from her directing her anger on Elizabeth. Elizabeth did not care. Her mother seemed to weigh the cause of all their misfortunes on her.
In a few days, Mr Bingley and his sisters arrived to invite the Bennets for the ball.
"It is so generous of you to invite us in person. My girls are particularly fond of dancing. Jane has always had the praise as the best dance partner by many."
"I agree with you, Mrs Bennet. I have not had more pleasure than dancing with her."
Jane blushed at the compliment.
Elizabeth knew for sure that her sister and Mr Bingley were deeply in love. She basked in the happiness on her sister's face, not wanting to even reason with the thought of hoping for love in her life.
/Happy New year to you all. May this year bring the best. Stay safe./