All was not calm and bright in the Bennet household.
It wasn't quite Christmas yet, but it was close enough that plans for dinners to host and neighborhood events to attend were whirling around Mrs. Bennet's mind as she stared at the ceiling of her darkened bedroom. She had so hoped that they'd have at least one engagement to announce at those events, at least one fiancé to recompense for the lack of male Bennets, but it seemed that God and everyone else had conspired together to thwart her best matchmaking efforts. But no, the only fiancé to be found was that dratted Charlotte Lucas'. They deserved each other, really. Nasty pair. If only Lizzy would have simply taken pity on her poor mama, but Mrs. Bennet was left only with the satisfaction that Lady Lucas, not the Bennets, would have to satiate that man's insufferable appetite with her cheap table-everyone knew that that family was only barely keeping up noble appearances.
It was through these thoughts that a faint noise reached Mrs. Bennet's ears. One that hadn't echoed through Longbourn's thin walls in many, many years. When Mrs. Bennet had learned that she was expecting for the first time, she had gleefully set up the nursery in the bedchamber closest to hers, so she could easily hear if her precious baby boy needed his mama. The boy, of course, never arrived, but she always rushed to her daughters' bedsides when they needed her. When Lydia had finally left the nursery and Mrs. Bennet had begrudgingly accepted that a son would not be arriving to fill her place, the bedroom had been renovated into a finer chamber befitting beloved Jane, who would save them all. So through the quiet that usually settled over the household late at night, Mrs. Bennet could hear her eldest daughter's muffled sobs.
She briefly entertained the notion of returning to her younger days, of going to her beautiful daughter and reassuring her that it was all simply a bad dream. Shhhh, she would say. It will be alright in the morning, my darling. You'll see. But it wouldn't be alright in the morning, and Mrs. Bennet, despite her dearest wishes, knew that. Mr. Bingley and the Netherfield party had been gone for two weeks with no sign that the grand old house would be opening again anytime soon. She may not be the most intelligent of women, but she knew when a battle had been lost.
Accompanying the cries that drifted through the walls was Elizabeth's voice, attempting to soothe her brokenhearted sister. Mrs. Bennet stayed put. Jane didn't need her, and she had no desire to see Lizzy at the moment. Jane's tears eventually subsided, or at least, Mrs. Bennet could no longer hear them, and Longbourn's mistress drifted off to an unhappy sleep.
The Gardiners arrived a week before Christmas and not a moment too soon in Mrs. Bennet's opinion. The household truly was falling to bits and no one had the slightest sympathy for the toll that it took on her nerves. Lady Lucas was clearly trying to outpace her future son-in-law in ego; if Mrs. Bennet had to sit through one more dinner where the only topic of conversation was Charlotte's brilliant match, she might actually explode, or at least make a scathing comment about Charlotte only being able to secure the man because Lizzy rejected him. But Mrs. Bennet was more of a lady than that former tradesman's wife ever would be, title or no, and so she simply smiled and gloried in all of the attention her girls were receiving from the officers. They never looked twice at Lady Lucas' plain daughters.
Jane, who hadn't cried since that one night (at least not to Mrs. Bennet's knowledge), eagerly took the children out to the gardens. She really was a dear girl, and the only one in the house who had any compassion for her poor mama. It really was a shame that she was heading towards spinsterhood, and Lizzy right along with her. Mrs. Bennet would have loved a grandson with Jane's blond curls and Mr. Bingley's charming smile. Jane hadn't looked twice at a man since the Netherfield ball and she barely spoke two words in company anymore. The Gouldings' youngest son had scarcely left her side at the Lucas dinner just a few days ago, and she hadn't even smiled. Sure, his inheritance portion wasn't much and he was only a little younger than Mrs. Bennet herself, but Jane really could not afford to be picky at her age.
Mrs. Bennet said as much to Mrs. Gardiner. "Really, I don't see why they shouldn't be a good match. She's not getting any younger you know, and what does love really have to do with marriage these days anyway? Mrs. Goulding, the doctor's wife, that sounds well enough for her, I suppose. He's a doctor in some town to the North, you know. I would encourage him towards Elizabeth, in case Mr. Bingley comes back for Jane, but I have done my last good turn for that insolent girl. I must just pray that some rich man realizes the benefits of a lively, beautiful wife like Lydia, for I'm sure she's the only one who will get married now. The others seem determined to live a life of spinsterhood and Lord knows what will become of them once those Collinses throw us out. I swear to you, Madeline, I could see that awful Lucas girl redecorating the parlor in her mind the last time they came for tea." Mrs. Bennet would have continued if not for the need to stop and take a breath.
Mrs. Gardiner seemed to understand. "You only want the best for your girls and they know that, Fanny. It just takes some a little longer to find their way. I didn't marry your brother until I was a little older than Jane, remember, and we are very happy. And if it is meant to be with the young Mr. Goulding, then I'm sure it will be. You certainly can't force Jane to accept someone when she's still grieving Mr. Bingley."
"If I could force my girls to do what I wanted, we would all rest much easier, I tell you. That Lizzy is determined to vex me, I'm sure of it. She rejected a perfectly fine match. I knew that she was impertinent, but I thought that she loved her family. I thought that she loved her mama. But no, we will all starve and Charlotte Lucas will see to it." This was not the first time that these thoughts had haunted Mrs. Bennet, and she was certain that it would not be the last.
She continued. "I truly just need a break from all of this. Perhaps that arrogant Mr. Darcy was right, remember that he was the one who insulted Lizzy? Really, that child isn't the beauty that Jane is, but a true gentleman would never say that in her hearing. Anyway, he said that country life is less varied than town, and perhaps he was right. I find that I grow very tired of seeing the same faces for every gathering. No wonder the girls don't want to marry anyone here, since they've seen them too much. It's the same people and the same gossip. I even grow tired of the officers, as handsome as they are. They're all dirt poor anyway, but they have better taste than some with five, nay, ten times their income. Oh, what am I to do? There is never anyone new here and Mr. Bennet refuses to do a thing about it as usual. I feel quite despaired of it."
An idea hit her. "Madeline, what do you say to Jane and I coming back to London with you? It must get so lonely, with my brother at his warehouses all day, and perhaps Jane will meet some rich man there. At least, it will be a change of pace for her. And I couldn't possibly allow her there unaccompanied. Oh, but what about her dresses? Mr. Bennet would never approve of her going for a season. That man, on my word, never does a thing for his daughters. Please, Madeline, have pity on your poor niece."
"I suppose I can speak to Edward about it, but I don't see why we couldn't host you for a time. I'm sure that Jane will appreciate extra time with the children, and the children will love seeing her more," Mrs. Gardiner nodded in agreement.
Lizzy chose that moment to interrupt their conversation. Mrs. Bennet repressed her flash of irritation. London would be good for her, she resolved. She would get away from her most vexing daughter, and so would Jane. Perhaps without Elizabeth's influence, Jane would find a man to her liking, or at least one that she would willingly marry. Lord knows, her second daughter could drive off a man without even having to open her mouth.
"Aunt Gardiner, I was hoping that you would be able to help me. I know that it's so close to Christmas, but I find that I have no idea of what to give to Jane this year. She has no interest in the romance novels I initially thought of for her, not now, and I gave my idea of lace and a new bonnet to Kitty and Lydia." Elizabeth seemed more than a little frantic.
Mrs. Bennet hit on another idea. Without waiting for Mrs. Gardiner to respond, she said, "Why, it's just brilliant. Jane and I will be joining the Gardiners in London after Christmas, and she'll need a new wardrobe. Why don't you help pick out fabric for a new dress, or better, simply give Jane the funds and we'll get something new from the warehouses there?"
Lizzy's brow creased in confusion, but Mrs. Gardiner seemed to agree. "That might be a good plan, Lizzy. Perhaps select a ribbon or something out here to choose a color scheme for her, and we'll pick out fabric to go with it. You need not send any of your pin money, but a few ribbons will allow Jane to have her own creativity while keeping a piece of you with her in London."
"You're really going to go to London, then? I was going to speak with you about that-I thought that Jane could use some time away from Meryton. You know how everyone is, they all talk about how it's such a shame that she got abandoned by Mr. Bingley and they don't even think about how she feels about the whole thing!" Lizzy's voice rose in indignation.
So it was settled. Jane was quite surprised with Lizzy's gift on Christmas Eve and the planned visit that came along with it, and it was set that the party would leave after the Lucas' Twelfth Night assembly. It was just as well, since Mrs. Bennet had no desire to be in attendance for the much-anticipated wedding scheduled for the end of January. It was sure to be cold and miserable anyway and Mrs. Bennet was not sorry to depart for the glittering excitement of town and all the entertainments that were sure to provide great distraction for herself and her eldest daughter.