Chapter Eight

"Mr Darcy," said Jane. "Thank you for coming. My sister informs me you have something to tell us."

"Yes," he said, "and I think it best to start talking about it at once."

Elizabeth looked at Jane, suppressing a look of astonishment. Perhaps Jane was right.

They all sat. "Miss Bennet, I presume your sister has told you what we discussed last night?" Jane inclined her head. "Very good. Well – I have solved the mystery."

Elizabeth couldn't help but be caught up at least a little by the tension of the moment. "Do tell us, sir."

Mr Darcy looked serious, even a little sad. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable, but I must tell you it is quite a big thing I must impart to you. It has the power to change your lives, and complete would be the change."

Jane sat, looking almost unruffled, while Elizabeth started to stew. What could it be, oh, what could it be, what could it be?!

"I had first best tell you the story of my cousin – I call him uncle, but really he is my cousin – the Earl of Matlock. Miss Elizabeth, you met his wife at the assembly rooms not very long ago. When he was a very small boy, closer to infancy than childhood, he was asleep in his parent's carriage outside an inn, and when some ruffians stole the carriage, he was taken along. He was lost to his parents, and found a year later by a man who ran an orphanage for foundlings. My cousin was brought up as a foundling and only discovered himself to be an earl when he was about thirty, when my father did some investigations, and located Lord Matlock, his cousin."

"What an amazing story," commented Jane calmly.

"Yes," said Mr Darcy, looking a little haggard. "Here comes the difficult part to tell; before Lord Matlock found out his true identity, he was very poor. Extremely poor, in fact. He and his wife had two sons and two daughters whom they could not provide for properly, and in despair they decided to adopt out the two daughters." He paused. Jane and Elizabeth looked blank. "Of course, when my cousin came into the earldom, they regretted this step immensely, and tried everything to get the two girls back, but they did not know their identities and could not find them anywhere." He paused longer this time, and looked at the ground as he quickly said, "The daughters' names were Lara and Vivian."

The response was immediate. Jane started, and gripped Elizabeth's wrist so tightly her whole hand was white, and Elizabeth gave a small scream. "You don't mean to say – you are not suggesting – that we ... are those daughters?" she whispered.

"I'm afraid so," said Mr Darcy.

Elizabeth quickly calmed down, and almost laughed. "I think you have made a big mistake, Mr Darcy," she said, standing up. "It's not us."

"On the contrary," he replied. "Everything points to it being you."

"Sit down, Lizzy," said Jane, trying to be firm but failing miserably as she struggled for composure. "It does seem too amazing, certainly, but you must agree it does seem that we are at least in some small way connected to this."

Elizabeth sat down and looked at the floor, as did Jane. She took a convulsive gulp of breath. "Mr Darcy, may I just clarify what you are saying?"

"Certainly," he replied.

"My late parents, Mr and Mrs Bennet, are not my real parents. They adopted Jane and I from your cousin the Earl of Matlock ... except he was not the Earl then ... and Jane and I are not Jane and I but we are his daughters. Is this what you believe?"

Mr Darcy paused. "Yes."

"It is too wild!" cried Elizabeth, jumping up. "Have you gone mad? Things like this do not happen in real life!"

Jane pulled Lizzy down again. "Sir, do you have any other proof?"

"Well, yes," said Darcy reluctantly. It gave him pain to see them so upset. "I visited your lawyer Evans this morning. He was the one who orchestrated the whole adoption, and the only one who knew what had become of the two Fitzwilliam girls until now – my cousin had made him promise never to tell him where the girls were when he first adopted them out. However, under the circumstances, he agreed to tell me what I already knew."

The room was deathly silent for a few moments.

And then a few more.

"Mr Darcy," whispered Jane, "what do the Fitzwilliam's – our parents – expect of us?"

Elizabeth looked at Jane in shock. "Jane?"

Jane was pensive. "I told you I had some recollection of those names, Lizzy. I am certain that what Mr Darcy tells us is the truth." She looked at Darcy again. "Sir?"

"You are right in assuming I have told the Fitzwilliam's," said Darcy. "In all honesty, I cannot tell you what they expect. Their reaction was much the same as yours; Rosalind did not even know she had two sisters. I think that they await your expectations. The Earl and Countess were particularly thrown into a whirl, as they have been looking for you and wishing for you these past two decades." He paused. "I know this is a very awkward thing for you to handle. Please believe me when I say you are under no compunction whatsoever to recognise this connexion. It is entirely up to you. But I will say that the Fitzwilliam's are a family who would be nothing but warm and who have missed you so much. They would be made so happy by your return to them. And forgive me for speaking plainly, but I know your circumstances are not good presently. Any of those worries would be gone forever if you rejoined your family." Darcy sighed. "Please think about it." He stood to leave.

Jane stood up, and Elizabeth followed slowly. "Thank you, sir, for taking such trouble over this," said Jane, still white, but otherwise composed. "Will you please visit us soon? We will think about it seriously, and give you an answer."

Mr Darcy nodded. "I shall visit you tomorrow evening, if that is convenient." He left quickly, and took a breath of massive dimensions directly after leaving the house. And so it was done. He had done his duty. He tried to keep himself from thinking what could happen if Jane and Elizabeth decided against rejoining the Fitzwilliam clan. He didn't think he would ever be able to see Elizabeth again; at least, not in the casual, friendly way they had met in the past few days. Lord and Lady Matlock would be devastated. He didn't know if they would be able to get over losing their two daughters a second time. He sat back in his carriage, closing his eyes, and breathed deeply. In. Out. In. Out.

*****************

Jane and Elizabeth sat in the parlour without saying a word for several minutes. When the silence became so oppressive Elizabeth could hardly breathe anymore, she jumped up and ran to the bedchamber. Jane followed her slowly. "Oh Lizzy," she said wearily, sitting down by the form of her sister sobbing into the pillow.

Elizabeth sat up. "Jane, what on earth are we going to do?"

"As it has been said, Lizzy, the simple option is always the best."

"And what is that?"

Jane paused. "I think, Lizzy, that once you have reconciled yourself to the idea, the obvious thing to do is to rejoin our true parents."

"Jane, our whole life has been a lie!"

"No, it hasn't, Lizzy," said Jane. "You are being over-dramatic. We have been perfectly valid daughters of James and Fanny Bennet."

Elizabeth calmed down. "You are right. It's just that ... it almost feels like betrayal – of Father. And Mama, of course."

"I know what you mean, but it's not, Lizzy."

Elizabeth was quiet. "I know, Jane," she said after a while, brightening up. "Being a burden to our aunt and uncle has weighed heavily on us, we both agree on that. So this will be a part of our decision, will it not?"

"Yes."

"Well, I don't mind what you do, go and rejoin the earl and countess if you wish, but I will become a governess."

Jane rolled her eyes. "It's not funny, Lizzy."

"I'm serious!" said Elizabeth, and Jane saw that she was. "I have several friends who have mentioned that they were looking for governesses for friends of theirs before. It wouldn't be hard to find a position. I can do all the basic things that a governess is required to do. I could earn my own keep at last. I daresay it is not the ideal occupation I could wish for, but I'm sure I would enjoy it. I like children."

"Lizzy, are you out of your mind?" asked Jane. "Of course you cannot be a governess! Our aunt and uncle would never allow it, I could never do without you, and what would the Fitzwilliam's think?"

She had made a mistake in saying this. "I do not care a fig what the Fitzwilliam's think!" cried Elizabeth, firing up. "If they are so snobbish they couldn't bear their flesh and blood to work in such an occupation, I wouldn't want to have anything to do with them in any event!"

"Elizabeth," said Jane, grabbing her sister's hand, "it is not a matter of snobbery. It is a matter of knowing their daughter is confined to a life of drudgery and penury. I will remind you that our real parents lived in poverty for a large part of their lives, according to Mr Darcy. I very much doubt they have a snobbish bone in them. I don't think you can be thinking this through. We have never had a governess ourselves, but you must know what it's like for them! You are exaggerating our poverty; you feel ashamed that the Gardiner's have to keep us. We are not so badly off! In any case, there is no need whatsoever for you to sacrifice yourself."

"Jane, I don't think you can be thinking this through. It is a very good idea! I don't know why-"

"Don't make me lose you, Lizzy," said Jane quietly. "I cannot do without you."

Elizabeth stopped mid-rant and embraced her sister. "Jane, I don't think you realise how terrified I am at the very thought of entering the Fitzwilliam family."

"Yes, I do, Lizzy, and I will thank you to remember that I am in exactly the same position as you are," said Jane, slightly grumpily. "However, let me show you the advantages. Firstly, we would no longer be any charge on the Gardiner's. Secondly, we could help out our sisters. Thirdly, we would have no more monetary worries. Fourthly, the Fitzwilliam's are our true parents. This would be more of a blessing than you realise, I am sure. Fifthly, as opposed to you selling yourself as a governess, we would be together. Sixthly, do you realise the non-existence of your chances with Mr Darcy as a governess?-"

"Jane!" cried Elizabeth, outraged. "I have never thought of him-"

"Seventhly, I should... I should see Mr Bingley more often," said Jane, blushing, and rushing on to the next reason as quickly as was possible, "and eighthly, you would be the sister of Rosalind and Captain Fitzwilliam, and the other brother, and I have heard you say on countless occasions that they are the most amiable people alive."

Elizabeth smiled reluctantly. "Convincing reasons, Jane."

Jane smiled too. "I flatter myself they are."

Elizabeth was suddenly arrested by a thought. "Wait a moment! I could go and live with the Collinses!"

"Lizzy," said Jane loudly and slowly, "if you would rather spend the rest of your days with Mr Collins than with the Fitzwilliam's, you are clearly out of your brain. I will spend no more time trying to change your mind and instead send post-haste for Bedlam."

Elizabeth laughed. "I did not predict that I would be laughing half an hour after Mr Darcy's departure." But she was serious again soon enough. "Jane, I know there are many good reasons for doing what you think we should. But I can't promise not to think about being a governess. I think it is a very good idea, to tell the truth."

Jane looked uncomfortable. It was a difficult enough decision without Elizabeth making things worse.

*****************