Chapter 11 Shocking News
Elizabeth sat in the warmth of the summer sun and felt the easy breeze as it swept through her curls and lightly lifted the ribbon that marked her last spot in the book she had been trying to read. But try as she might she could not distract herself from the nervous anticipation of news that the nuptials between Lydia and Wickham had finally been completed. She could not understand the delay. Meanwhile the incessant arguing between her mother and father made her head ache. Her mother was determined that Wickham and Lydia must be received into the household. And she wanted a large reception along with new wedding clothes for all her daughters to help celebrate the wonderful news of her first married daughter with her neighbours. Her father was steadfastly refusing. He had declared that not a farthing more would be spent of the careless child, never mind allowing her to actually dine with her "husband" under his roof – not while he lived! Of course, that unfortunate comment had brought her mother's anger directly to bear on Elizabeth for how could she have spurned the offer of marriage from Mr. Collins and thus saved her mother from potential homelessness. Then, of course her mother's nerves gave cause for her to burst into tears and need to retire to her room. Elizabeth sighed. This was one of the very few times she found herself in agreement with her mother though. However, she had yet to attempt to try and make her father see that in order to shake-off the odor of a shot gun wedding that threatened to perfume the local gossip, he must accept his newly married daughter and her husband into his home for at least a family wedding luncheon. Of course a reception was out of the question – they could not go so far as all that – but a family wedding meal was definitely needed if they wished ….
Elizabeth's thoughts were broken into by the voice of their housekeep, Mrs. Hill, calling her name. Alarmed that her mother was once more in hysterics but worse than the usual, she arose from her seat and hurried towards Mrs. Hill's voice.
"What is it, Hill? She inquired as soon as she was close enough to her to not need to shout her response to harassed housekeeper."
"Oh Miss Elizabeth there has been another express and your mother has had another case of the vapours. I had Nancy help your mother to her rooms and your father wishes for you come immediately."
Elizabeth hurried her steps to match the housekeeper as she rushed return to the house.
"Whatever was the express about Hill – have you any idea at all?"
"No, Miss. I have not an idea but never have I seen your father look so shocked – not even the night that we received news of, of well of Miss Lydia. I felt it was best I come get you and not send one of the younger maids to fetch you. Miss Bennet has gone to your mother and your younger sisters are with your father in his library but he refuses to say a word until you have returned."
"Very well, Hill. Please see to my mother so that Jane may join us as well – and I will go immediately to my father."
Mrs. Hill paused to allow Elizabeth to pass through the entrance first and there they parted ways. Elizabeth to the library and Mrs. Hill up the stairs to Mrs. Bennet and Jane.
Elizabeth entered the library and was appalled at the pallor of her father's normally robust features.
"Lizzy, my dear Lizzy! He gasped as he waved a letter in her direction. She strode quickly across the room and was quickly scanning the hastily scrawled epistle that she barely recognized as her Aunt Gardiner's writing when Jane breathlessly entered the room.
Elizabeth gasped and grabbed the back of the chair closest to herself in an attempt to steady herself on her feet.
"Father?" she queried, "can this be true? Our Uncle Gardiner has been arrested? Under the charge of MURDER?"
It was all too much for Jane who silently slipped of her chair in a faint. Kitty began to cry and Mary simply sat owl eyed – for once seemingly speechless.
Mr. Bennet and Lizzy both grabbed at Jane and Lizzy snapped at Kitty "STOP that useless crying and go get Mama's salts. Mary - make yourself useful. Go get some cool water and a cloth. HURRY - both of you foolish, foolish girls, HURRY!"
Elizabeth felt her father's hand firm on her shoulder – "Easy daughter. Tis a shock for us all." He groaned slightly as he helped Elizabeth ease her sister into a sitting position."
Elizabeth whispered to her father; "You look as though you could use a stiff drink yourself Papa!"
"Yes, yes I could." He answered dryly, a little of his usual vigor returning to his voice.
"Your Aunt Gardiner asks in the letter that you come immediately to help her with the children and I believe your mother's other brother will engage an attorney for your Uncle Gardiner. As soon as we get some calm established in this household you must prepare to leave for town; though I begin to fear that our home will ever know peace again, my dear Lizzy.' Heavily sighing he added; "I have only myself to blame for this. No – please. Do not disagree. We both know that you were right when you warmed me of the folly of allowing Lydia to go to Brighton. "
Mary and Kitty collided in the doorway and the cold water Mary had brought ended all in her own face but Kitty managed to retain the container of salts and passed them to Lizzy. While Mary stood gasping from her unexpected cold bath, Elizabeth passed the salts under Jane's nose bringing her back to consciousness.
Jane grasped her sisters hand. "Lizzy! Did I hear right?"
'Shhhhh, Jane. Rest a minute – you have had a bad shock." Elizabeth smiled wanly. "We've all had a shock. I'm not surprised Mother's nerves were unable to handle this news. Here, Kitty, assist me with helping Jane back onto her chair."
Once Jane was settled, Lizzy turned to her father. "I think the three of us could do with a small glass of wine. Mary you had best go change your clothes and Kitty please go assist Mrs. Hill with Mother."
Kitty opened her mouth as if to protest but her father spoke unusually sternly. "Kitty, do as your sister suggested. There look, Mary is already on her way out, please follow her." He raised his hand to halt her response. "Kitty. Now! Please. Go and close the door behind you."
As the door clicked shut behind Kitty's stiff back Elizabeth passed a glass of wine to Jane and another to her father before pouring herself a generous portion.
She edged herself onto the armchair situated by the large window behind her father's desk. "So my Aunt Gardiner wishes that I travel to town to be with her. Will you be alright, Father, if I follow her wishes?"
"Yes Lizzy. Jane and I will cope with your mother's 'nerves". No doubt your Aunt Philips and Lady Lucas will be by soon enough.
Lizzy made an impatient sound and darted a glance at Jane. Jane nodded her understanding.
"Yes Lizzy – I agree we should probably try to encourage Mary to take tea with them when they come. I will attend to Mama and have Kitty assist me. I think you are hoping we can contain this news until we know more?" she asked more than stated.
Finishing her last sip of the deep red wine, Lizzy rose from her seat and looked at her father. "With your permission sir, I will start my packing now and be ready to travel by first light tomorrow. "
Her father nodded his agreement. "I will speak to Mrs. Hill so that she can prepare for one of our footmen to travel with you to town. I'll see to it that James has the carriage ready first thing for you. Once in Meryton you can hire a carriage the rest of the way to town."
Elizabeth touched her father lightly on the shoulder as she passed him and he patted her hand gently. Jane arose and nodding to her father, asked Elizabeth if she would like help with her packing.
"Yes, Jane, thank you. We have much to discuss and little time to converse."
Upstairs in her room Elizabeth rang for the maid she and Jane shared. "Susan, please check in the laundry for the items of clothing I had laundered yesterday and prepare them for packing. I will be in town for possibly several weeks with my Aunt Gardiner."
"Very Good, Miss Elizabeth. Will you be wanting your best and second best dresses for any possible dances or perhaps an evening at the opera?"
Elizabeth hesitated. How likely was she to participate in anything beyond a quiet stroll in the nearby park with her younger cousins and aunt? And even if this was not such an impossible situation - what with her new found… respect… for Darcy how likely was she to want to dance with any other partner than him? She heaved a heavy sigh as the weight of the realization of how much further this new crisis must push Darcy away despite his apparent continued regard for her. Regardless, her family must continue the façade that other than her sister's unforeseen wedding to Wickham, all was good in the Bennett household.
"Yes Susan. Please pack those, as well as my best gloves and dance slippers. Oh, and please retrieve my copy of the Common Prayer book from the library so that I may have it for Sunday services while I'm in town. "
"Very well Miss." Her maid curtsied and Elizabeth nodded her dismal of the maid.
She turned to Jane and smiled at the air of confusion on her pale feature.
"Why Lizzy surely you don't expect – Oh!" The confusion cleared from her countenance as she realized the meaning of Elizabeth's answer to their maid's question. "Yes, I see. It is important we try to make this trip seem like a normal town visit.
"Yes," replied Lizzy. "Truly – it would only be natural that I visit town when our sister is there to celebrate her nuptials? Would it not?"
Jane nodded her agreement and they both fell into their own personal reveries as Lizzy sat down and pulled quill and paper towards herself on her little desk. She held the quill loosely in her right hand as she lost herself in the memories of the daily walks on the grounds of Rosings Park where she had frequently came upon Darcy – which she now realized were not the accidental meetings she had once believed them to be. She found herself strolling through the park on - street and there was Darcy, strolling alongside of her… NO! That would not do. Clearly she had lost that chance with Lydia's careless folly! Besides, she had left Darcy behind in Pemberley with his sister. However could she think she would meet him in town, let alone that he would be free to acknowledge her even if they did meet accidentally. She shook her head crossly and put her pen down.
Turning away from her desk, she interrupted Jane's contemplations; "Now Jane, about Father and his intentions of not allowing a wedding luncheon. I had hoped to discuss the importance of allowing them to dine here on at least one occasion so as to dispel all appearances of an elopement and possibly... Elizabeth blushed "and the possible loss of her virtue beforehand. You will have to take this on, dear as I will now be in town for who knows how long."
Together they began to discuss their strategies. It would not be long before their maid returned and this matter must be worked out beforehand.