Chapter 7: Aftermath

Mary sat by the window in her room, watching the slender figure of her sister disappear from her sight.

Oh! Lizzy! What have I done? When will I ever see you again?

She thought with guilt. All the memories of the time spent with her sister in Longbourn flashed through her mind. They had shared similar interests in books and music. Mary always looked up to Elizabeth as her sister and confidant. In a house filled with gossip about the neighborhood families and eligible bachelors, she found her sister's company as the sole comfort.

What am I to do now? She wondered. She knew that her sister had to face worse battles in life.

I hope you find a safe future in town, Lizzy. She prayed.

One by one, the household woke up. Elizabeth was absent for breakfast.

"Where is she? Mary, where is the insolent girl?" Mrs Bennet asked with irritation.

"I do not know, Mamma. I have not seen Lizzy."

" Oh! I know where she is. She would be roaming in that mount. That is what she does. Mr Collins! Oh! My poor nerves."

"Do not worry, madam. I can be of service in correcting her attitude and habits after marriage."

" I am sure you will. You are too kind, sir." She said. They exchanged glances, and from the look on Mr Collins' face, Mary knew her mother had already conveyed the plan.

She was disgusted beyond measure. You will never accomplish your cruel plans, Mamma. Never!

She thought. After breakfast, the entire family was present in the drawing room. Mrs Bennet looked for Elizabeth's arrival impatiently.

" I will be in my room. Please send a word when I have to…I mean when I am needed." He said to Mrs Bennet.

She nodded with a smile.

Mary was fuming within. How could she do this to Lizzy?

An hour passed. Jane got up to leave.

"Where are you going?" Her mother asked.

"I am tired. I would like to rest in my room."

"No, you will not. I mean, you are needed here."

"What for Mamma?"

"Just do as I say."

"Mary, wait in the garden. When she comes ask her to go to her room and wait. She is not to come down today. Do you understand? Papa and I are upset with her. Let me know when she is in her room." Her mother cried to Mary.

Mary got up and left outside.

I will have to feign ignorance. The longer it takes for them to understand her disappearance, the better.

She left for the gardens. She knew that her sister must have reached town. She walked in the gardens in vain, not knowing what the reaction of her household would be once they discovered her disappearance.

After about half an hour, one of the servants came out.

"Miss Mary, your mother has called for you?"

Mary went into the house.

"Where is she? Has she not returned yet?" Her mother cried impatiently.

"I do not know, Mamma."

"She is usually back by now. What has caused her to be away for so long? Insolent girl. Maybe she is sitting on the mount and crying about the truth."

"What truth, Mamma?" Mary asked innocently.

"Never mind. You leave. I will ask the footman to fetch her. How long can Mr Collins wait to comp.." She bit her lip and left for her room.

"Oh! Mary! Mamma has been so irritated since morning. What had Lizzy done now?" Lydia said with irritation.

Mary was silent. She knew she could not trust any of her sisters in this matter.

By dinner, Mr Bennet and his wife got anxious.

"The servant tells me she is nowhere near the mount." Mrs Bennet said with worry to her husband.

"I am sure she is there. Did they check the trails she walks in? She must be upset about what happened last night."

"Oh! She was born to give me headaches, just like her mother."

"Enough. I said not to talk about the past. I have had a bad headache since last night. Whatever your plan is, execute it and send her away. I cannot look at her after revealing the truth."

Mrs Bennet looked at him with anger. She was unable to forget the past.

A search party was sent to bring Elizabeth back home.

Mr Collins tried his best to contain his anger. That morning when Mrs Bennet had conveyed the plan of compromising Elizabeth, he was thrilled.

He was always tempted by her beauty and personality.

If this is the only way she will marry me, then so be it. He waited patiently for many hours. But when Elizabeth did not turn up, he was agitated. Where is she? She is testing my patience.

Mary observed him keenly and was glad that Elizabeth was not in Hertfordshire.

One by one, the footmen returned without any news about Elizabeth.

Mr Bennet finally understood the seriousness of the situation.

"Did you enquire in the village? Was she not seen in Meryton too?"

"No sir. No one has seen Miss Elizabeth since morning." The servant replied.

"I hope you were discreet in your enquires."

"Yes! Sir. We did not raise any concern." The servant replied, worried. All the staff in Longbourn had respect and affection for Elizabeth.

"Oh! This is dreadful, Mr Bennet. Where is that girl now? I am sure she is hiding somewhere just to threaten us." Mrs Bennet cried.

"This is ridiculous, madam. First, she refuses my hand. Now she insults me by avoiding coming home. I hope you would not mind if I treat her the way she is required to be treated once she is back." He said and left to his room in anger.

"Mr Bennet, I have a suspicion."

Mary, who was standing by the door, trembled in fear. Will they know about her whereabouts?

"What?"

"I think she jumped off the mount."

"What nonsense?"

"Why? It is a perfectly good explanation. Did you see the way she reacted to the truth last night? She was engulfed with shame. She did not want to marry Mr Collins. She has nowhere to go. She must have ended her life."

"She will never do that. She is strong like her mothe…." He stopped abruptly and continued. "She will never take such a decision. I think she ran away."

"Oh! Where could she go? She doesn't even know where Edward lives. She knows they are away. She has nobody."

"Please go and check her room. If she did run away, then she must have taken a lot of things."

Mrs Bennet checked Elizabeth's room. She found nothing missing. She noticed her chain on the dresser.

She did not run away. If she did, why would she leave her jewellery and go? She thought. Mrs Bennet clearly never understood the character of the daughter she raised.

She conveyed the particulars to her husband.

They were confused beyond measure.

By evening, the household was buzzing about Elizabeth's disappearance. Lydia and Kitty doubted whether she had eloped with someone. Jane thought her sister ran away to avoid marriage with Mr Collins.

No one in the village had seen her. A search party was again sent into the woods.

Mrs Bennet was filled with rage. Oh! That girl! She has the guts to spoil all my plans. If she did run away, then I hope she gets a worthy punishment somewhere.

Mr Collins conveyed his serious displeasure.

"I am very disappointed in these developments, Mrs Bennet. How am I to marry her if she returns tomorrow morning? I cannot marry a girl who had spent the night away from her home."

"Oh! Mr Collins, do not say that. I am sure she will be found. Maybe she is lost in the woods. Please do not make decisions in haste, sir. She will be found." Mrs Bennet said, trying to convince him.

The entire household went to sleep that night in confusion. Her father spent the night in the library, unable to come to terms with her disappearance.

Maybe she did run away. She knows no one in town except Sir William's daughter. Would she have gone there? I do not think Charlotte would welcome her.

Unfortunately, he was wrong. At that very moment, Elizabeth was resting in the townhouse of her dear friend.

She stared at the candles, unable to sleep.

She could not believe that her whole life had changed in a single night. How did I even manage to come to town all by myself? She wondered.

That morning her journey to town had been uneventful.

She tried her best to appear calm and did not want to gather attention to herself. With help from a few people, she reached her friend's home without delay.

She hoped that Charlotte was home.

Charlotte was surprised to see her. She welcomed her with warmth.

"Oh! Lizzy. I cannot believe it is you. How did you travel here? Did you come alone?" She asked with worry.

Elizabeth could not control her tears. She sobbed in her friend's arms.

"Lizzy, do not cry. Come with me." Charlotte said and took her to her chambers. She called for some refreshments.

Elizabeth sat down. She understood from Charlotte that her husband was not at home.

She composed herself and explained the reason for her sudden visit.

Charlotte watched her with agony. She could not control her anger when she heard about the compromise her parents had planned.

"Oh! Lizzy, this is truly horrible. I cannot believe they would do this to you. You did the right thing. I am certain there would not be any use in confronting them about their cruelty. I am glad Mary was able to help you leave."

"I still cannot believe I am here, Charlotte. I keep thinking whether I could have stayed there and somehow resolved things."

"My dear, you could have if the only matter of concern was the truth about your birth. But your parents have planned to ruin your reputation and life. I agree with what Mary said. You cannot be careful all the time. And that man you mention, Mr Collins seems to be a rake in disguise. I am glad you took this decision. You can stay with me."

"You are too kind. I am indebted to you forever. But I do not want to burden you. I want your help in finding employment. I want to work as a governess."

"Good God! Lizzy! Did you think I would allow you to leave my house in these circumstances? If you worry about what my husband might say then I can speak for him. He will mirror my thoughts. Your safety and welfare are our priority."

"I cannot stay here. Please understand. I cannot be a burden to you."

"You will never be a burden to me, Lizzy. You must stay with us."

"But I need to find my own living. I need to employ myself somewhere and divert myself from this misery."

Charlotte looked at her in dismay.

"I must wait for my uncle and aunt to return. They must know some truth. Please, Charlotte, can you help me find some employment?"

"If that is what you wish to do. I will. But promise me that you will wait until we find a decent household for you to stay."

"I will. I am lucky to have you. I do not know what would have become of me if I didn't have you in town."

Charlotte's husband was a wealthy merchant. He returned by evening, and Elizabeth was apprehensive about meeting him.

What must they think of me? Running away from home and asking them for such assistance.

But just like Charlotte, her husband Mr Davis, was very welcoming towards Elizabeth.

He was angry at the Bennets when he came to know of the particulars. He assured Elizabeth of all assistance and protection she would need in the future.

"There has not been a single day in which Charlotte has not mentioned your friendship, Miss Elizabeth. We will be happy to assist you in every way. Do not worry about anything. No one can harm you here. I am glad that you thought of us in such a time of distress. It speaks volumes about your friendship." He said, looking at his wife.

Charlotte was proud of him.

Elizabeth relived the happenings of the day in bed.

This was the first night she was spending away from Longbourn in all the years of her life.

She wondered what was happening there. She was scared that her father might come looking for her. She hoped she could find employment before that.

The next morning in Longbourn was chaotic. Lady Lucas arrived along with Sir William hearing about the search party for Elizabeth.

Mrs Bennet did not make an effort to be civil.

"Oh! My dear Mrs Bennet, what a dreadful affair? I cannot believe she is missing since yesterday. You should have called for our assistance."

"Whatever is needed is being done. We do not need any help at the moment."

"But where could she be? Do none of her sisters know anything?" Sir William asked with genuine concern.

"No, we don't." Jane replied without care.

"Could this be an abduction?" Sir William asked.

No one replied. Mr Bennet knew that whatever had happened to Elizabeth was because of them, revealing the truth about her past and forcing her to marry Mr Collins.

Some other neighbours came to visit the Bennets. Slowly, Mrs Bennet understood that Elizabeth's disappearance would bring shame to their family.

She did not know what to do.

Mr Collins was enraged by the affair. He wanted to settle the matter. He entered the library to find Mr and Mrs Bennet in a worried state.

"Do not mistake me to have come here to console you on what has happened. I cannot fathom what has happened to her. The truth is, I do not care now. My sole purpose for this visit was to marry one of your daughters. I still have the same resolve. My patroness would be enraged beyond measure if I were to return without a bride. Mrs Bennet, you lied to me by saying that your eldest daughter is to be engaged. As far as I can see, there is no one courting her. So, I will marry her and leave." He said with a look of resolve.

Mrs Bennet stared at him wide-eyed in shock.

"That is not possible. We promised you Elizabeth, not Jane."

"What matters to you is the future of your family. Longbourn will be yours only if I marry one of your daughters. I will marry Jane Bennet. I am no longer interested in marrying a woman who has spent a night away from her home, even if she is to return today."

"She will be found. You will marry her." Mrs Bennet said in vain.

"I will not. I want to marry Jane." He said firmly.

Mr Bennet walked close to him.

"I have no intention of allowing you to marry her. Do not dare to bring about this topic again." He said firmly.

"You forget that you are not in a position to deny me. Your estate is in a poor state. You have no money. Imagine the aftermath of your demise. Your family will become beggars. Do you want that to happen? I can marry her and leave. I will never come to take possession of Longbourn after your days." He said.

Mr Bennet was enraged. His mind could not process the thought of his daughter marrying such a man.

"You forget that I am still alive. Do not think you can threaten me. This is still my house. You will not talk about marrying Jane again. Am I clear?"

"You have no choice. Do you want your family to suffer? How long do you think you can live? Arrange for our wedding. You must be happy that I am tempted by this one. If not, I am certain none of your other daughters would entice a man like me with their plain looks. My patroness once said " My dear Mr Collins, none will satisfy a man in the marriage bed like a woman who is beautiful and tender in her manners. That is why I chose your eldest now. I cannot begin to imagine being married to the younger ones, even though Miss Lydia Bennet seems…."

Before he could complete his words, Mr Bennet pounced on the parson and struck him hard in his face.

"How dare you talk this way about my daughters?"

"No!" Mrs Bennet cried, trying to stop him.

"What makes you angry old man? You and your wife wanted me to compromise your daughter. What standards do you have to get enraged at me now?"

"Shut up! Get out of my house now."

"Mr Bennet, do not be hasty. Think about the future. I apologize Mr Collins." She said, trying to assist the man.

"Apologise my foot. Be assured that I will be waiting earnestly to throw you and your daughters out of this house once your husband is dead. " He cried with spite and left the room.

Mr Bennet was still fuming with anger.

He was already in a foul mood with Elizabeth's disappearance and all their plans going awry. He could not digest the words of Mr Collins and for once realised that the man had lower standards than he had ever judged.

"Now what? Look what you have done." Mrs Bennet yelled at her husband.

"What have I done? I have done everything according to your wish. You run a household with such skills that she ran away without the slightest trace. But I know where she is. She must have gone to Charlotte. I know they are still in correspondence."

"Oh! Pishh. Do you think that woman would welcome her friend who ran away from home? She is conniving as her mother. She would have chased the chit out. She deserves it. I don't think she has it in her to travel to town on her own. I bet she is dead under the mount somewhere."

"Enough. Enough. Leave me alone." He said. He made up his mind to send a servant to town to enquire about Elizabeth.

He poured a glass of whiskey and stared into the fireplace. He shut his eyes tight, unable to understand what he had done wrong in his life. He always wanted to raise and love Elizabeth as his own child, but he could never forget the past. The torture he had experienced until he married Fanny Bennet. All he wanted at present was to secure the future of his family. But everything had fallen apart.

He heard a commotion in the hallway and was certain that Mr Collins was leaving.

Good riddance! Had he not come to Longbourn none of this would have happened.

What happened to Elizabeth? Is she dead? Or did she run away?

Many miles away, Elizabeth sat in the breakfast parlour with her friend, not knowing if she would ever see her family again.