Chapter 2: Hertfordshire
March 1811 Hertfordshire (4 months ago)
"Hurry now, Jane dear. We are not to be late for the evening." Mrs Bennet cried.
"How do I look, Mamma?" Jane asked, looking at herself in the mirror.
"You look lovely as ever, my dear. You are the jewel of Hertfordshire."
Jane smiled in agreement. Jane was the eldest of the Bennet girls. She was twenty-two years old, and Mrs Bennet was still worried as to why she did not get any eligible suitors. The Bennet family was leaving for Lucas lodge for a dinner party. Mr Bennet declined the invitation and wanted to spend time in the library.
The youngest daughters were also excited about the evening. Elizabeth was second to Jane, sat with a book without any excitement. She was somehow different from her sisters. Her interests were uncommon to young ladies of society. She loved to be outdoors and explore nature. Her love for books always stopped her from other womanly pursuits.
Her mother was always critical of everything she did.
"You are of no use to this family." She often said. Although hurt by her words, she tried not to be affected by her words. Mrs Bennet often compared her looks to Jane's. She said she was not as beautiful as her sister. Jane was extremely satisfied whenever she heard the comment.
Elizabeth had always been fond of Jane as they shared a room since childhood. But somehow, Jane did not value her as much. Her mother detested everything she did. Sometimes she openly acknowledged that she was devastated when Elizabeth was born as they had expected a boy.
"Papa! Why does Mamma behave like this to me alone?"
"What do you mean?" Mr Bennet asked, not looking at her.
"I came back later than usual from my morning walk. She said I am disobedient and arrogant just like my blood. I do not know what to make of it?" She said, sounding hurt.
"I have no time for all this, Elizabeth. Take your book and leave me in peace." He said.
She left the library unable to understand her father's nonchalance towards her.
There were days when he would talk to her with affection. And suddenly, he would distance himself from her. But she loved him a lot.
He was always worried about money. The estate of Longbourn was not flourishing as before. To add to his worry, the estate was entailed to his cousin.
"Oh! How horrible it would be if you were to die, Mr Bennet." His wife would often worry.
Elizabeth loved her family, no matter how they behaved.
Her youngest sisters, Lydia and Kitty, did not like to obey her. She found their manners lacking. They flirted with every eligible bachelor they met in the village and social settings. Mary was of a different disposition. She loved to play and was very silent.
That evening, they left for Lucas lodge for the dinner party. Elizabeth had always loved to go there, but this time it was different. Her best friend Charlotte was the daughter of Sir William. She had married a wealthy gentleman in town some months ago. Elizabeth missed her very much. She was sensible, and both of them shared the same interests.
"Lizzy, I am sad to leave you and Hertfordshire. I hope you can visit me in town." She said before she left.
"Papa hates town. He hardly allows us to visit our uncle. You have a beautiful life ahead of you. I am happy for you, Charlotte." She had replied despite her sadness in losing such a friend and confident.
Charlotte had a sister, Maria. She was very much like Mary.
That evening, Lady Lucas had invited the local families for dinner. There was music, and Lydia forced the other girls to dance.
Jane enjoyed the attention she was getting from all the bachelors. But she was not impressed by any of them. She knew they were not wealthy.
Charlotte was an old maid. She married someone rich. I will get a wealthy man too, with many estates and carriages. She thought.
Her mother's views towards marriage had slowly become her own. Jane was the most selfish one of all the Bennet girls. She wanted everything best for herself and seldom cared about others, especially Elizabeth.
For Elizabeth, the evening was tedious. Jane gave her stern stares when any of the men spoke to her.
Lydia and Kitty flirted with all the young men. Her mother was oblivious to their behavior.
By the time she came home, Elizabeth had a headache. Her sisters had behaved poorly. She overheard Kitty asking one of the men to take her for a walk. Elizabeth had joined them much to the anger of her sister. She did not want to leave her unchaperoned. The next day she addressed the matter.
"Kitty, it was inappropriate to ask Mr Johnson to take you to the gardens for a stroll without a chaperone. I wish you could understand this."
"Oh! Do not be so bossy. What is wrong with spending some time alone with him? Are you scared that he may propose to me and I will get married before you?"
"Marriage is not everything in life. You are too young to understand. As your sister, I forbid you from doing this again. This is not appropriate behavior for our family." She said strictly.
"Mamma! Mamma! See what Elizabeth is saying. Come here." Kitty yelled and ran out of the parlour.
Within minutes, her mother came inside fuming.
"What did you say to Kitty?" She asked with anger.
"Mamma! She behaved inappropriately yesterday evening. She wanted to go for a walk with Mr Johnson without a chaperone. It is not the first time I have seen her asking men to take her away from the gatherings. I asked her…"
Before she could complete the sentence, Elizabeth was shocked by the slap she received from her mother. This was the first time her mother had hit her.
Tears swelled in her eyes.
"Mamma! I was trying to correct her flaws." She said, unable to control her tears, in shock and shame.
"Who are you? Who are you to correct her flaws?"
"I am her sister. I am doing what you are supposed to do." Elizabeth cried in anger.
"Shut up! Sister, my foot. You are the last person to advice anybody in this world about morals. You and your uncouth behavior. You always wander outside even before we wake up. I can accuse you of meeting someone and having an affair."
"Mamma! Stop it!" Elizabeth cried, unable to bear the accusation.
"Shut up! Don't you dare utter another word to Kitty. You are not her mother. She has the freedom to do what she wants. Go to your room and don't join us for dinner. I do not want to see your face."
Elizabeth ran upstairs and collapsed into the bed.
Her mother was always unkind towards her, but getting abused physically wounded her beyond measure. This was the first time it had happened. She wondered what she had done wrong to instigate such a behavior. She wanted to find her father and talk to him. But she did not have the strength to face anyone.
She was utterly mortified by what had happened. She always thought her mother hated her for her impertinence.
But deep down, her heart whispered to her that there was some other reason.
She did not know what it was, and she cried herself to sleep, unable to fathom what she had done wrong to get such treatment in life.
Next morning she met her father in the library.
She showed him her face. Her cheek was still red.
"What have I done to get this treatment from her, Papa? I know I am not her favorite child. As a sister, I cannot be silent seeing such behavior from Kitty."
Mr Bennet looked at her without emotion.
"Your mother told me what happened. She was angry, and she expressed it by slapping you. Now, leave it."
"Papa, are you serious? How can I tolerate such treatment from my own mother? I am not a child."
Mr Bennet looked at her with irritation.
"Yes, you are not a child. We have raised you for all these years with care and affection, but you are not grateful for anything. You always want to correct your sisters or point us out wrong. I am tired of it. Have you seen your mother behave like this towards any of your sisters? You are at fault. Accept it and leave." He yelled at her.
Elizabeth walked out of the library, and for the first time she understood that her mother would never treat any of her sisters that way.
She did not know what to do.
Why does she hate me? She wondered for the millionth time in her life.