Author's Note: As always, thank you, thank you, thank you for your feedback. Please continue to message me or comment about questions, issues, or anything else you see. I am enjoying this story, and I hope you are as well.
Chapter 32
Immediately after the wedding, Richard Fitzwilliam returned to Longbourn to escort the Bennet family to London. Mrs Bennet was still protesting this action, loudly and vociferously, as her trunks were loaded on the cart that morning and had not ceased when the major arrived with the carriage that would convey them south.
"Mrs Bennet, I suggest you cease this racket at once, as I will not put up with it for the journey to London," the major commanded. It was a commanding voice and one not even Mrs Bennet could fail to listen to, and that woman immediately fell silent.
The family boarded the carriage. Richard had intended to ride inside; however, at the last moment, he chose to ride his horse instead. It was unlikely that Mrs Bennet would remain cowed during the entire four-hour ride to London.
It did not take long following the carriage's departure that he heard the complaints begin once again. He wished he had brought some of that belladonna or some other sedative he could have given the women. He felt sympathy for her husband for a moment before recalling that his inaction had caused this. Suddenly, he thought that listening to his wife's complaints was an appropriate punishment for his indifference.
When the carriage reached its destination at the docks of London some hours later, Richard was more than happy to dismount. The cart carrying the Bennets' trunks was unloaded, and Richard could see the last of the trunks being brought onto the ship. He escorted the Bennets on board and watched the ship as it made its way down the Thames, headed east toward the North Sea. Travelling this way would take at least a week, but sailing was slightly less arduous than travelling over land. The servants hired to accompany the Bennets were well used to sailing and were paid extra to ensure the comfort of their charges in case of seasickness or the like. Once they arrived at their destination, the two would take on some of the more demanding tasks, but all three Bennets were expected to take on some of the responsibilities unless they used their own funds to pay for additional servants.
It had been decided that Collins would augment Mrs Bennet's annual income of 250 pounds, coming from the interest on her jointure, with an additional 150 pounds. Jane would continue to receive her hundred pounds as well. Lastly, Mr. Bennet would receive an additional 150 pounds, bringing the family's total annual income to 400 pounds. This sum was granted to the family in exchange for relinquishing their claim to Longbourn during Mr Bennet's lifetime. While it was sufficient to maintain a reasonably comfortable standard of living, it could not match the affluence they enjoyed at Longbourn. Mrs Bennet would need to adapt to a more frugal lifestyle with fewer opportunities for entertainment. Their servants spread the word that they were residing there for Mrs Bennet's health, subtly alluding to her mental instability, making it unlikely they would host social gatherings frequently.
Mrs Bennet was nearly as displeased with the journey by ship as she had been in the carriage. More than one sailor threatened to gag the lady or to throw her overboard, which had merely garnered a laugh from the lady's husband. This caused a sailor to hint at throwing the gentleman overboard as well and then taking the "pretty but dim" girl for his enjoyment. Mr Bennet could not laugh at this, and he went so far as to glare at the man and report his insolence to the captain.
"I cannae say I disagree with my men about your mistress, sir," the captain responded gruffly. "She's been a challenge to endure with her ceaseless prattle. If'n you keep her in check, fewer souls will be eager to toss her overboard. As it stands, we're makin' good headway and hope to make landfall in Kirkwall a day ahead of our reckonin'."
There was little Mr Bennet could say in response to this, but he did speak to his wife about the threats to her person. She was, naturally, affronted at their threats and her husband's inability to do anything about them. Still, she did manage to confine herself to her quarters for the remainder of the voyage.
Arriving at Kirkwall was a disappointment to Mrs Bennet. Her expectations had leaned toward a sizeable town akin to London, yet it presented itself as more of a village. Though larger than Meryton, it resembled the scale of a town like Saint Albans, likely accommodating a few thousand residents. Here, the local populace was primarily involved in various trades, in stark contrast to Hertfordshire, where the landscape was dominated by farmers. On the Mainland of the Orkney Islands, the pulse of the community revolved around maritime occupations.
Much like the residents of Meryton, the inhabitants of Kirkwall held a certain wariness toward newcomers, which, perhaps, was heightened due to the town's isolated location. The servants accompanying the Bennet family made arrangements for their transportation, and soon, their luggage was being loaded onto a cart. Afterwards, the Bennets were assisted into a somewhat cramped but functional carriage. Their journey led them south of the harbour until they reached a modest lodge set at a distance from the town.
The lodge was not lavish or extravagant but well-maintained and sturdy, offering functionality over extravagance. Though not opulent, it did provide sufficient room for each family member to have their own private chamber, allowing for some privacy in their new surroundings. The servants' quarters were situated on the second floor, and while not as roomy as the family's chambers, they were adequately spacious to comfortably accommodate the two servants who had accompanied the Bennet family. Unfortunately, there was no room for additional servants to live in the home.
"This will never do," Mrs Bennet loudly complained. "We must find a better place to live—perhaps in the town."
"Mrs Bennet," Mr Bennet responded with a hint of impatience, "there are no funds available for additional lodgings. We reside here without expense, and our limited funds must be allocated for essential needs. Our primary concern is to ensure we have an ample supply of provisions. While it is only the first of August, we must soon prepare for the winter. The climate here is somewhat less predictable than what you are accustomed to, but it is not as severe as in other northern regions due to the moderating influence of the ocean. We must also obtain some form of transportation, although it will differ from what we are used to. Our standard of living will need to adjust accordingly, and you will have to adapt to these changes."
"Why?" she demanded.
Mr Bennet struggled mightily at his wife's continued ignorance. "Are you this foolish, madam? Do you truly not understand that our entire life has changed? We allowed our daughter to believe that she was entitled to anything she desired, and because of that, she attempted to kill the nephew of a peer. Only through the kindness of our daughter and her family were we not subjected to a rather public trial and have been allowed to continue to live our lives, albeit in reduced circumstances. Until you can face the reality of our new situation, you should remain in your room. And there is no Mrs Hill to attend to you—whatever you need, you must fetch for yourself."
Sighing, Mr Bennet turned on his heel and left his wife standing outside their new home.
In the following weeks, the Bennet family adjusted to their new circumstances. Mrs Bennet continued to complain about her nerves and despised their new home. She did use some of her funds to hire an additional maid or two, as she was unwilling to fetch and carry as required to help the household run. Mr Bennet explained to her that meant less funds for new clothing and other fripperies. He did allow his wife and daughter to purchase some warmer clothing—he had brought with him an additional five hundred pounds that would be used to acquire the things they needed for their new life. These funds had been obtained by selling some of his rarer books to the bookseller in Meryton and his new son-in-law. Indeed, most had come from Fitzwilliam Darcy as the bookseller in town did not have the kind of ready coin that Mr Bennet required.
They successfully acquired a compact carriage and a trusty horse for purchase. Conveniently, the lodge featured a small stable attached to it, which offered promising prospects for their future. Come springtime, their plans included procuring additional livestock and engaging the services of a dedicated gardener and a stable boy to maintain the property. In the interim, the former soldier engaged by Major Fitzwilliam assumed the dual roles of groom and coachman in addition to his other responsibilities around the house. Mr Bennet himself also took up the tasks of tending to the horses and maintaining the carriage. These were skills he had acquired as a young man but had set aside in favour of his books in recent years. Now, he was reviving those abilities in this new setting, recognising their practical value in their changed circumstances.
Mr Bennet found a friendship in Jane as well during this time. With little else to do, Jane had come to her father for suggestions about a book to read to occupy her time. Soon, the two spent time each afternoon with Mr Bennet reading out loud while Jane sewed or embroidered. Mrs Bennet disdained this time, choosing to spend more and more time in her room to avoid the rest of her family. The maid she hired spent most of her time attending to the matriarch, which pleased nearly everyone, as the rest of her family was tired of her constant complaints.
One afternoon, before he started to read, Jane asked a question she had been pondering. "Papa, will we ever leave here?" she asked. "We have only rarely ventured into town, and I have noticed how the residents treat us. They think us all a little mad and are very wary of us."
"We are 'sassenach' here," he remarked. "Strangers, and to make matters worse, Englishmen. It is improbable that we will ever gain complete acceptance, and to be quite candid, I must admit that I find contentment in this life. I am more active now than I ever was at Longbourn, taking on a greater role in providing for our well-being and actively engaging with my family. This experience has opened my eyes to the shortcomings of my past behaviour, especially now that most of my family has been uprooted from their familiar surroundings."
He continued, "I have come to appreciate the time we have spent together, Jane, and, for the first time, feel as though I am genuinely getting to know one of my children on a deeper level. Even when I claimed that Lizzy was my favourite, it was primarily because of what she could do for me. She actively sought knowledge from me, making it easier for me to impart what I knew. I yielded to her curiosity because it was simpler to teach her than to resist, much like I did with her mother."
Sighing deeply, "I apologise to you, Jane. We would not be in this situation if not for my indolence. I doubt you will ever meet a man here to marry, and because of the stigma of madness that accompanied us, no man will ever desire to know you more than as a pretty face. I wonder if we will ever find friends here or if we will always be isolated."
"I do not mind, Papa," Jane replied. "I feel that an isolated life is what I deserve. I acted badly and treated Lizzy and, well, everyone we know terribly. Like you, I pretended to care for Lizzy when it benefited me and ignored her when it did not. When she married, and married well, I was upset that she had what I felt I deserved. I was a fool."
"We both have been, and your mother is the greatest of all of us. At least, I hope that you and I are improving, but your mother, well, your mother will never change, I am afraid," he said, patting her hand. "Perhaps, when we have been here long enough, we will make some friends, and you and I will know how to behave should we do so."
Author's Note: can/should Jane be redeemed? What should happen to Mrs Bennet? What if she passes away from a fit of nerves and both Jane and Mr Bennet find happiness with locals and take up an entirely new life? :)
Next up, back to the Darcys. I keep thinking we're approaching the end, and it is getting closer, but there are still a few story line to wrap up. Still debating whether Collins should wait a few years to marry, but as someone pointed out, how would the two meet? Mary is 15/16 right now, and Collins is mid-20s though I realize that's not a terrible age gap for the time period.