Chapter 9 Uproar
Mr Bennet arrived at Pemberley after riding his horse for two days straight. Since the express had reached Longbourn—all hope seemed to be lost. Not one indication of Elizabeth's whereabouts had been reported, it was like she had disappeared from the surface of the earth.
Mr Wickham, who was well known in the area, had not been spotted. No highwaymen, gipsies or any other strangers had been observed in the area. The Peaks was a popular destination for the gentry in the summer but none of their leads had turned out even slightly suspect.
The Pemberley party who met him upon his arrival was disheartened. The theory they were considering as likely might be difficult to prove. One of the tenant's young sons had seen Miss Elizabeth set out on the northern path towards the Hunting tower. It was supposed that she might have walked too close to the edge of a small canyon that the River Derwent had carved nearby and had fallen into the stream. Miss Bennet had revealed that Elizabeth did not know how to swim. It was plausible that she could have slipped on the edge, fallen into the Derwent of which the current would have taken her too far down the stream to be discovered. It was the only option they thought possible after everything else had been explored with nothing to show for it.
Mr Bennet could simply not accept that fate for his most beloved daughter. She was not foolish enough to tempt fate and venture too close to edge, of that he was certain. He explained to his hosts that their conjecture had a major flaw because Elizabeth was deathly afraid of heights. There was no chance in the world, she would have ventured out on the edge of a canyon, however small and insignificant it may seem in the eyes of his hosts. Mr Darcy even suggested that she might have been spooked by a deer but Mr Bennet was confident that she would rather fight a creature of the forest before she challenged a height with a vertical drop.
The aggrieved father refused to give up, he proceeded with a search of his own. Pleased that Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy's son kept him company on his hours' long rides within the perimeters of Pemberley. He thought it unlikely that she had wandered further off on foot.
A cousin of Mr George Darcy came to aid their search. He was a trained soldier in his Majesty's army, Colonel Vernon was experienced in tracking the enemy as he had fought in Peninsula War.
Mrs Reynolds, Pemberley's housekeeper, became Jane's support during those difficult weeks. Waiting patiently at home for any news was putting as much toll on her as the search did on its participants. Mrs Reynolds kept her mind occupied relating the history of Pemberley and her own rather interesting childhood while they kept their hands busy.
Never before had so many items for charity left Pemberley to the orphanage in Kympton. Mrs Bates had been beside herself when they delivered a basket full of clothing to their young charges. The ladies needed something to occupy their time while they waited.
Each night Mr Bennet returned for supper, more dejected than the day before. There was no trace in the forest or pastures of his Elizabeth. Caves had been explored and the riverbank had been searched for dainty footprints. No one dared gainsay him when he wanted to explore the Hunting Tower for the third time the next day. They understood his grief and let him approach it in his own way.
Especially the eldest Mr Darcy had some notion of what the elderly man was going through. Mr Bennet looked like he had aged a decade since he arrived at Pemberley a week ago.
Mr Darcy believed that Mr Bennet knew hope was dwindling but needed to be certain that no stone had been left unturned for the sake of his conscience. Mr Darcy wished he had had Mr Bennet's wherewithal when his own wife and son had passed. The sight of their dead bodies had been so unsightly, he was told, that he had not ventured into the chamber after all hope was lost. He had regretted his cowardice ever since. He could not envision his Anne looking anything but beautiful. Neither pain nor blood could have erased her essence to the point where he would find her abhorrent. He knew that now but, in his grief, and at cousin Susan's strong insistence, he had relented.
The child was reported to have some sort of birth defect that had made the delivery difficult. He had never inquired what exactly but it was implied it was something with his limbs he had imagined to be an extra limb or something. Yet another incident where he was strongly advised not to look for himself as it would only add to his already heavy burden.
He had spiralled into grief so profound that he hardly could pull himself out of his bed in the mornings. Anne's screams still echoed in his mind to this day, mixed with raucous laughter like the pain had driven her from her senses.
He had been so grateful that Susan had stepped into the role of a mother for little Emma when he could not be a father to her. They had created a bond those days that he had not had the heart to severe when he managed to pull himself together and resume his duties to his land and his dependants.
It may seem impossible to Mr Bennet at the moment but time put perspective on grief. He had married Susan to let her take care of his daughter but with time, he had realised that he needed an heir. The abhorrent thought of bedding someone who was not Anne had been overcome and he had two children he was immensely proud of to dote upon and leave Pemberley into the safe hands of. He may wish the fate of his dear ones had ended differently but he did not repent his later actions. He had done what was necessary and was richer for it.
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It was September and a busy time on Pemberley. Longbourn was still lacking its master but even Mr Bennet had realised it was time to head home. There was nothing for him here at Pemberley, he had to countenance the inevitable, regardless of how much he would like to fight it. His little Lizzy was irrevocably gone. There had been no sign of her anywhere, no ransom note, nobody washing up on the riverbank, nothing...
Wolves were occasionally spotted in Derbyshire; the theory was either she had been attacked by them or her body had been taken down the river to never resurface. It mattered not because his little Lizzy was no more.
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The leave-taking from Pemberley was a gruelling experience, particularly for Jane who felt like she was giving up on her sister while her heart still whispered of hope.
It was a blessing though, that Mr Bingley accompanied Mr Bennet and Miss Bennet on their way home. His sister had left for the north with his sister Louisa and her husband Mr Hurst. They were to visit family but he had chosen to be there for his betrothed although his marriage was postponed to sometime in the distant future. He could not selfishly press the matter at such a dreadful time.
The family gathered in the foyer to see their guests off, standing in a united group with the gravity warranted by the occasion. Mrs Reynolds stood a few feet apart, wringing her hands. Jane approached her and enfolded the elderly lady in her arms for a quick hug that was unheard of but Jane did not concern herself about propriety at this particular moment.
"Thank you, Mrs Reynolds. I am eternally grateful for your comfort through this ordeal. I could not have managed without your gentle support."
"I am glad I could be of service, Miss Bennet, but may I make a last inquiry before you leave?"
"Of course!"
"I am loath to mention what might bring you pain but what am I to do with Miss Elizabeth's belongings? She has many beautiful garments and Mr Bennet has not given any orders of what to do about them and I have not had the courage to address the matter with him."
"I cannot bear the thought of donning anything that belonged to Elizabeth and I certainly cannot bear the thought of seeing any of my sisters doing so. Give the items to those who need it the most."
"Thank you, Miss Bennet. I promise your sister's attire will be appreciated where I send it."
"I trust your judgement, Mrs Reynolds, I have no qualms they will not be put to good use. Goodbye, Mrs Reynolds, and thank you for your invaluable support and comfort."
The old housekeeper dabbed her eyes, unable to speak by the charity of Miss Bennet, feeling utterly undeserving.
#
Coming home to Longbourn sans Elizabeth was torture. Mrs Bennet wailed and took to her bed. She had been certain Elizabeth had wandered off and just needed to be found in one sort of predicament or other. When reality hit, it was heart-wrenching. Yet there was no funeral to arrange, no closure to be had but the uncertainty of a stone that might have been left unturned.
The younger girls cried silently, even Lydia who had been called home from her sojourn to Brighton with the first news of Elizabeth's disappearance. Her visit with Mrs Foster had been cut short but she did not complain. Mrs Foster proved an insipid creature when they were not at a ball or a soiree. Lydia did not relish sitting at home, waiting for callers when their callers were busy training for war.
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Miss Bingley returned to Netherfield before Christmas with Mr and Mrs Hurst. Mr Collins arrived at Longbourn to celebrate the yuletide with some disturbing news. Rumours had reached Rosings that Miss Elizabeth had forged a romantic relationship with Mr Darcy and had been sent away in disgrace. Mr Collins urged his new father to denounce her which left Mr Bingley with two additional guests as Mr Bennet had not taken the denunciation of his deceased daughter lightly. If it was Mr Darcy senior or junior she had had a liaison with, the rumour did not say but Miss Bingley urged her brother to leave Hertfordshire behind and seek property in Derbyshire. She believed Mr Darcy to be half in love with her and she wanted her brother settled closer to herself when the expected event occurred.
Mr Bingley did not let himself be persuaded. He was secure in Jane's love for him and he waited patiently until summer was upon them.
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The double wedding was held in London. In two instances Miss Bingley had been right, Mr Bingley did not purchase Netherfield but looked for properties closer to his sister's new home of Pemberley. Jane did not mind as Meryton held too many memories of her most beloved sister. Derbyshire did not sound as bad when her new sister would live close by. She would not be alone.
The wedding was held on a lovely day in June where Mr Bingley got his Jane and Mr Darcy married his Caroline. Mrs Darcy was far from pleased with the match and had made her sentiments known with an upheaval that had rattled the walls of Pemberley to the core. Her son obviously had a stubborn streak and could not be swayed. Her husband sided with the boy who he believed to be capable of choosing his own bride.
Mrs Darcy served her guests' ample amounts of Ratafia and delicious food, feigning happiness she did not feel but one did what was needed to keep up the appearance while one stewed on ways to avenge herself on her unwanted new daughter. She could make her life somewhat unpleasant at Pemberley but she doubted George would stand for it, he was her son after all. What could she possibly do to make him regret her? Perhaps a divorce could be arranged in the future if she could just make George regret his choice of wife?