Author's Note: A little more of Jane and Mary and a tiny bit of ODC as they head toward London.
Chapter 11
Jane and Mary began to make their way back to Longbourn, uncertain what to do next. Although she searched her mind for an applicable quote from the Bible or Fordyce, particularly about honouring one's parents, she could not force it from her lips. Instead, she reviewed what she knew with what her uncle had said about the parents' obligation to act in the child's interest.
"Jane, might we visit the rector on our way home? I have several questions I need to ask," Mary said after they had walked in silence.
"If one of us is obligated to marry Mr. Collins, should our parents demand it?" Jane guessed.
Mary nodded, and the two altered their course slightly, heading toward the church in Meryton. They soon arrived and knocked on the parsonage's door.
"Mrs. Allen, is the Reverend home?" Mary asked.
That lady nodded and invited them. "Would you girls care for tea or cakes? Mr. Allen and I were just about to sit down for a small repast."
"Thank you; tea would be lovely," Jane answered kindly. They followed Mrs. Allen into the parlour, all taking their seats. Once the young ladies were served their tea and pleasantries were exchanged, the two girls exchanged glances before Mary spoke.
"We have a … theological question, Mr. Allen. I was hoping you would be able to help."
Mr. Allen was accustomed to Mary asking questions but found it unusual that her elder sister accompanied her. Of course, he remembered the rumour circulating Meryton yesterday that Elizabeth Bennet had come for a visit and wondered if these questions had something to do with that.
"Of course, Miss Mary," he replied. "I am always happy to answer any of your questions."
"Where does one's obligation to obey and honour a parent cease?" she asked.
Mr. Allen sat back slightly, thinking over the question. The gossip that the Bennets had intended to force the cast-off daughter to marry appeared to be true, but since the girl in question had returned married, he wondered if Mrs. Bennet was now pushing one of these two daughters to marry the man. Mr. Collins had visited Longbourn once or twice more than a decade ago, and the reverend seemed to recall he was close to Mr. Bennet's age.
"Children are commanded to obey their parents; that is stated several times in the Bible. However, parents are also admonished not to 'provoke their children'," Mr. Allen sighed heavily as he pondered how to continue. "Girls, may I be blunt with you?"
Jane nodded slowly, wondering what the rector might desire to say to them. Mary answered for them both. "Please do, Mr. Allen."
Rubbing his hand across his face, he blew out a breath before he began. "Your parents are selfish creatures. Their insistence that one of their daughters marry the heir to Longbourn is born from your mother's desire to have a home for her lifetime. Of course, she could be sure of that if she only restricted her spending and made a deliberate effort to save. Your father goes along with her and does not force her to save because, frankly, it is too much effort for him to stop her. Miss Bennet, you will be twenty soon; your parents have been married for more than two decades. Had they only saved one hundred pounds per annum, they would have over two thousand pounds. The income from Longbourn has decreased over these last years because Mr. Bennet would not make the effort to do better. His tenants all need his assistance, and while they stay, most would leave if they had an option. Your mother and you girls make no effort to improve their lives, leaving it for others to provide aid. Aid they would not need if the master and mistresses did their duty to their estate.
"Now, your parents have done little to earn your respect, and they are attempting to force one of their daughters to marry the heir to allow them to continue their indolence. In my opinion, you have little obligation to do as they command in this instance. Legally, no one can force you to wed. You can refuse to say the words even if you are not of age. However, your parents can also force you from their home if you do not obey them. It places both of you in a difficult position."
"Uncle Phillips has promised his assistance, at least as much as possible. However, if I refuse to marry Mr. Collins, it would be best that I do not remain in Meryton. I am too young to seek a position, and my family is estranged from our relations in London."
The Allens nodded their agreement, and silence resulted for several minutes. "Mr. Allen, did not a classmate write you not long ago, stating that he was looking for a young lady who could be a companion of sorts for his daughter? Would Miss Mary suit, do you think?"
Mr. Allen considered this, steepling his fingers in front of him for several minutes. "She might. Of course, it is not a paid position, but a friend of mine has a young daughter in need of a friend. I am not certain of her age, perhaps a year or two younger than you, but the family lost a daughter to illness a little over a year ago, and they are hoping importing a friend would help her recover. The two girls were very close, and she has been melancholy since. There are not many young ladies nearby, so they wrote to ask if I knew anyone who could visit. Let me write to him this afternoon. I will send it by express, and we should have an answer in a few days. If things at Longbourn come to a head before I receive a response, you may come here or go to Phillips. Both of us will do what we can to protect you until we can send you north."
"What of me?" Jane asked.
Both Allens turned to look at her. "Will Mrs. Bennet force you to wed Mr. Collins after throwing you at Mr. Bingley for the last month?" Mrs. Allen asked, her eyebrow arched in surprise as she looked at the elder girl.
Jane flushed slightly at the implied criticism. "I do not know. If Mary goes away, I am the only daughter left of marriageable age."
"If your mother attempts to force you into marriage, we will find a place for you as well. You know you must say nothing of this to anyone other than Mr. Phillips. Do not even discuss it amongst yourself unless you are well away from Longbourn," Mrs. Allen warned them. Both girls nodded thoughtfully.
She was not yet done. "Miss Bennet, I realise you have not had the best example to live with at home, but if you want to learn how to care for the tenants on your estate, I would be happy to assist you. I am not the mistress of an estate, but I was raised on one and know all about the duties a mistress should perform. You have never appeared interested before and may not be now, but I wanted to offer. It is little different than the work I do now, visiting the poorest of our parishioners, and sadly enough, there is significant overlap between the tenants on Longbourn and the poorest in our community. Miss Mary, if you remain in the neighbourhood, I would offer the same to you."
"I would enjoy that, Mrs. Allen," Mary replied quickly. "I have read much about charity but have never thought to ask what I might do to help those around me. Mama would not have looked kindly at my asking."
Mrs. Allen turned expectantly toward Jane. "I am … I am uncertain if Mama would permit it, but if I can accompany you, I will … I will try to get away sometimes. Is there a particular day of the week you conduct these visits."
The rector's wife eyed her sharply. "My usual days to visit the parishioners are Tuesday and Friday. I try to leave the house at nine sharp since that is typically when Mr. Allen works on his sermon at the church."
"I will … I will see what I can do. Mama will not be downstairs that early, and I might be able to slip out." Jane rarely rose before nine and was uncertain how much she wanted to. Perhaps it was best that she learn, but it did not seem like something she would enjoy. Were she to marry Mr. Bingley, though, or another landowner like him, would they expect her to know what to do? More than anything else, this question hardened Jane's resolve to try.
"Well, you have tomorrow to think it over. Send me word if either of you intends to join me on Friday," Mrs. Allen replied, seeing Jane's look and wondering what the placid girl was thinking. Jane rarely expressed much emotion, and Mrs. Allen had rarely heard her speak.
After a little more conversation, the Miss Bennets departed and continued on their way home. Again, they were quiet, both thinking of what they had learned that day. Immediately upon arriving at Longbourn, they went to their rooms to write letters. They each wrote to Elizabeth, apologising for their failure to write before now.
Mary remembered Elizabeth as lively and intelligent and recalled her mother complaining that her nose had always been in a book. She asked her estranged sister for recommendations for books to read to improve her own understanding and what she could do to prepare herself to eventually become a companion or governess or even to run a small household. She wrote a second letter to Mrs. Gardiner, the aunt she did not remember at all, and asked for similar advice.
Jane's letter was far more self-serving. She complained about her worries about being forced to marry Mr. Collins if Mary were successful in getting away. While she did apologise briefly for failing to find a way to continue sending letters all those years ago, she also asked for assistance in getting away from Longbourn, going so far as to hint that she would enjoy spending some time in that city in the spring. Although she was not certain, judging from the coach she had noticed that morning and their relationship with the Bingleys, Jane concluded that Elizabeth had married well and might be able to help her marry a man of similar standing.
The carriage conveying the Darcys back to London was quiet. Elizabeth snuggled into her husband's arms, and they were both glad to be getting away from the chaos that had been Meryton.
After stopping to rest the horses, Elizabeth spoke. "So, Fitzwilliam, where do you intend for us to go? I have no desire to remain in London, at least not if your aunt gets word of our arrival and forces us into society, as you know she will. I had quite enough of those old tabbies after our engagement was announced."
Darcy laughed, hugging his wife tighter to his side. "What do you say to the seashore, love? My family has the cottage in Ramsgate, and a few expresses should ensure everything is ready for us to arrive."
"Is it not terribly far to travel from London?" Elizabeth asked.
"It can be accomplished in one very long day or two if you prefer to travel in a more relaxed fashion."
"That is four days in a carriage within a fortnight; is there nowhere else we could go that is closer?"
"Truly, love, I do not care where we go so long as we can be alone," Darcy replied, nuzzling his wife's neck.
"That is all I want as well," she sighed.
He grinned at the slight whine in her tone. "Do you think we can persuade our staff to keep our residence at Darcy House quiet?"
"It is not the staff I am worried about, but your cousin. You know very well that he has an open invitation to your home and does not hesitate to take advantage of it."
Darcy laughed outright. "I must correct you, my dear, as it is now our home, and Richard is presently far away on the continent."
Elizabeth sat up. "When did that happen?"
"Not long after our wedding. It is a brief trip and not into battle, so he should be safe. I thought Lady Matlock told you before we were wed about the orders he had received."
Elizabeth leaned back into him. "I did not know," she replied. "He will return soon?"
"It was supposed to be a short trip to Brussels. He is expected to be home before Christmas," Darcy replied.
"Good. I know his mother misses him when he is gone."
"Georgiana does, too," Darcy replied. "Now, I believe we were speaking of ways to keep anyone from finding out we are home. If I lock you in our chambers for the next fortnight, then our presence should be unobserved, should it not?"
She giggled, but the giggle stopped abruptly when he kissed her deeply. The rest of the ride was equally quiet.
A/N: I really didn't have a plan for this story when it started, just an idea for a scene. It's taken on a life of its own. I have read your comments and I do hope to find a way to help Jane and Mary while not placing the burden on the Darcys. Many of you have suggested it is not Elizabeth's role to take care of her sisters, and I agree. That does not mean she'll never have a relationship with any of her sisters, but maybe only those who truly seek friendship and not gain. I'm still working out what will happen to Collins and what will happen when/if he arrives.
Please continue to comment and let me know what you think. I do read your comment, and I have gone back and made a few minor changes and updated the story, but for others, I'm still figuring out what they may mean. I'm not certain if this story will eventually get published or if it's entirely for fun.