Previously: Mr. Bennet turned out Mrs. Longden and the masters
Not wanting to interfere with her younger sisters' lessons, Jane had taken Miss Darcy and Mrs. Annesley to visit Lady Lucas and Maria Lucas. Mr. Darcy, having met Miss Lucas at Rosings, and having no objections to the young lady, had approved of the visit.
The three returned from their visit, which had been a success, the two quiet, young ladies finding much commonality in their quietness, to find Longbourn in an uproar. Which was putting it mildly. A storm of noise was radiating from the house; what was being said was incomprehensible, but the tone was clear. Anger. Incandescent anger. Burn the family down anger.
Mrs. Annesley suggested that she and Miss Darcy would head round the house to the garden where 'they would rest from their walk.' Miss Darcy was eager to agree judging by the way she nodded her head, although she said nothing.
Jane stared at the front door, it seemed to be almost vibrating from the tumult within. She considered entering the house but, 'discretion being the better part of valour' (she supposed her father had a Latin tag for that) she decided to go around to the kitchen door.
She found the house servants gathered in the kitchen, avidly listening to what was going on between her family members. They startled when she said "Do none of you have anything to do?"
One of the maids waved her hand towards the public rooms and said "We can't do our work in there …"
"Then find something to do elsewhere." After the servants had murmured 'yes, miss' and started leaving the kitchen, Jane continued "Cook, please see that some lemonade and biscuits are taken to Miss Darcy and Mrs. Annesley out in the garden. Hill, please come with me to the still room."
Once they were in the still room Jane asked Hill "What is going on?"
As she spoke Hill wrung her apron back and forth. "After you left this morning Mr. Bennet turned Mrs. Longden and the masters out. Mrs. Longden sent Tommy over to Netherfield and he came back with Mr. Bingley's coach and when she and the masters left the girls started to weeping and wailing and then at nuncheon they started in on your parents. And they've been going at it for the best part of a quarter hour now."
Jane thanked Hill and sent her back to the kitchen to sit with Cook and keep the other servants from renewing their eavesdropping.
Jane called up what little valour she possessed and walked slowly down the hall to the door to the dining-parlour. The door was sufficiently ajar to let her see what was happening within; it could have been closed tight and she could have still heard what was being said.
Her parents and Elizabeth were standing on one side of the table, her three youngest sisters were on the other.
All were full red in the face. All were at full volume. All were waving their hands about, some pointing, some shaking fists. Not one was listening to what the others were saying.
Her father was yelling 'he was the head of the family' and 'he could discharge who he wished' and 'he demanded respect' and 'he could turn them out too if he wished.'
Her mother was shrieking that 'she had educated her daughters' and 'they were proper ladies because of her' and 'she would find them good husbands' and 'she demanded respect.'
Elizabeth was shouting that 'Mr. Darcy would educate them' and 'they didn't need Mrs. Longden and those masters' and 'Mr. Darcy would get them better ones' and 'they should be grateful.'
Mary was screeching that 'she was talented' and 'they didn't care' and 'she wanted to learn' and 'she wanted respect.'
Kitty was crying that 'she was talented' and 'they didn't care' and 'she wanted to learn' and 'she wanted respect.'
Lydia was screaming that 'they were wrong' and 'she didn't care what they thought' and 'Mrs. Longden was fixing them' and 'she was going to be a lady in spite of them.'
Jane wanted her family to stop. To be quiet. To discuss things like adults. She did not know how to stop them. She could not raise her voice to surpass the volume of sound already in the dining parlour. She considered the epergne which had pride of place in the centre of the table, quite the ugliest ornament she had ever seen, but her mother loved it. If she were pick it up and smash it down – that would get her family's attention and maybe shut them up. But what would she say to them? She did not know. Her courage failed her. The epergne would survive to shatter another day. She walked away.
Jane joined Miss Darcy and Mrs. Annesley in the garden. Miss Darcy, practising the role of hostess, poured Jane a glass of lemonade. The three sipped lemonade and tried to ignore the storm raging within Longbourn.
Miss Darcy tried to make small talk, but when Jane did not respond, Mrs. Annesley touched her charge's arm and shook her head.
The thunder quieted and all three turned to look at the house. A long minute passed and then a series of reports sounded like pistol shots. Doors were being slammed.
Jane took another sip of lemonade. The sour taste matched her mood.