Chapter 4

Lydia and Kitty walked to town to distract themselves. Although they still lived in Longbourn, life was very different than a few months ago. Now, they did not have funds to buy anything that was not absolutely necessary, and they could not participate in social events of any kind because they were still mourning.

Behind them, Mrs. Bennet walked accompanied by Mary. They were going to leave letters at the post office and visit Mrs. Phillips. Mrs. Bennet could no longer use the carriage as before because the only horse they had was used in the land work. In addition, some of the maids had to look for work in other houses because she could no longer pay them a salary.

Furthermore, walking helped Mrs. Bennet not feel overwhelmed by grief and loneliness. Fortunately, it was not too cold that day, and the twenty minutes of walking were very pleasant. She discovered that Mary was excellent company; she spoke little and rarely complained.

After leaving the letters for Jane, Elizabeth, and Mrs. Gardiner, Mary, and her mother went to visit Mrs. Phillips. Finally, it was time to return home, and Mrs. Bennet said goodbye to her sister and headed with Mary towards the commercial zone of the town where they had agreed to meet Lydia and Kitty to return home.

Mr. Wickham was curious to know what had happened to the older sisters of the Bennet family. She had heard a rumor that Jane Bennet had traveled to London to demand that Mr. Bingley marry her. If that was true, he knew that Bingley was very rich, and perhaps he could find a way to obtain funds from the gentleman.

"My dear Lydia, you look very pretty even though you are wearing mourning clothes," Wickham whispered to Lydia while Kitty chatted with Denny and another officer.

"Thank you very much, my dear Wickham. You do not know how horrible it is to be locked at home all day, and my mother does not allow us to invite friends. But seeing you always makes me happy," Lydia replied with a flirtatious look.

"And how are Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth? I have not seen them for many days. I hope they are not ill," Wickham said casually.

"They traveled to London and are at my uncle's house, although not for long."

"Why? Do they plan to travel somewhere?"

"No, I imagine you know that with my father's death, things have changed a lot in my house. Jane and Lizzy will work because we shall have to leave Longbourn in a few more months and live in some small house here in Meryton." Lydia could not help but feel sad, and in order not to get melancholy, she approached Wickham and said flirtatiously, "I hope you do not miss Lizzy too much. Do not forget that you have other friends here in Meryton." Lydia approached Wickham and touched his chin.

Wickham did not have time to react because he heard Mrs. Bennet's voice.

"Lydia, Kitty, it is time to go home."

"Mama, I do not want to go home. Please, let us stay here for one more hour and talk to my friends," Lydia said.

"Excuse me, sir, but my daughters and I must return home immediately."

"But Mama…"

"Not another word, Lydia. Kitty, say goodbye to the officers because we must return home now!"

"Yes, mama," Kitty replied. Her mother was distraught, and she preferred not to press her.

Finally, Lydia had no choice but to resign herself and return home. In the first part of the walk, she complained and tried to throw a tantrum in the middle of the road, but Mrs. Bennet ignored her. Mary and Kitty remained silent to avoid trouble.

But as soon as they entered the house, Mrs. Bennet spoke with her daughters. Mary and Kitty were surprised because their mother began to scold Lydia like she had never done before.

"Lydia, I never want to see you flirting like that with officers again in a public place where everyone can see you and gossip about us. The only thing we have left is our reputation, and for no reason, I want to cause malicious rumors, especially now that we are in mourning."

"Mama, it is unfair that I must be locked in this house all day. I cannot talk to my friends or attend to balls," Lydia protested.

"Of course, it is not fair. Or is it fair that Mr. Collins owns all this and not my daughters? Or do you think it is fair that while you complain because you cannot converse with your friends or dance in balls, Jane and Lizzy have to be working so you can eat? Of course, it is not fair because life is not fair. But life is even more unfair to women who do not know how to protect their reputation. Lydia, I do not want to hear you talk like a spoiled child again; I want you to reflect and understand that our lives have changed forever and that nothing will ever be the same again."

"I do not care…" Lydia shouted, crying. But she remained silent when she saw that her mother was not feeling well.

"I do not want any more complaints; now, we have to be more united than ever," said Mrs. Bennet. But she could not continue speaking because she could not breathe.

Mary and Kitty were frightened when they saw how Mrs. Bennet had lost color. Then, they helped her sit and asked if she was feeling better. Mrs. Hill brought a glass of water, and after ten minutes, Mrs. Bennet managed to feel a little better.

"I am sorry, Mama," Lydia said, guilty for making her mother feel indisposed.

Mrs. Bennet stood and hugged Lydia, "I hope you understand that everything I have told you is for your own good and that of your sisters. Now we are alone, and we have to support each other."

Lydia hugged her mother and began to cry. Mrs. Bennet also began to cry. Then she opened her arms, and Mary and Kitty hugged her, too, crying. Although they all felt sad, at least they knew that they were not alone.

P&P

"Mr. Darcy, I…" Elizabeth did not know what to say. She was so convinced he would not offer her the position that she had not considered whether she wanted to work for him.

Mr. Darcy became even more nervous as he saw Elizabeth hesitate. She probably had the same doubts as him. If their relationship was improbable a few months ago, now it was impossible. He hoped that she would understand his intention to help her but that she would also understand that their relationship now had to be strictly formal and nothing more.

"That is right, Miss Bennet. My aunt thinks you are the proper person to accompany and guide my sister. And Georgiana had a good impression of you, which led me to decide to offer you the position."

"I understand. I appreciate you taking the time to come here to inform me of your decision," Elizabeth responded. She needed time to think but suspected Mr. Darcy needed an immediate answer.

"You see, Miss Bennet. I am a very busy person, and due to the multiple responsibilities I must fulfill, I do not always have the time to be close to my sister. Furthermore, Georgiana is at an age where she needs the company and guidance of a lady. Well, I suppose you already know that because you discussed it with my aunt."

"Yes, Mr. Darcy. Lady Margaret explained to me what my duties would be as Miss Darcy's companion," Elizabeth replied.

"So, are you still interested in the position?" Mr. Darcy asked. He did not understand why Elizabeth did not give him an immediate answer. She should have been happy knowing that she would work for an honorable family that would treat her with respect, but on the contrary, she seemed rather troubled.

"Of course, I am interested, but until you talk to my uncle, I am afraid I shall not be able to give you a definitive answer." Elizabeth had too many doubts, even more so when Mr. Darcy spoke to her in such a high-handed manner. Maybe it was better for her to seek employment with another family.

"Of course, that is precisely why I came here. I wish I could talk to your uncle and close this matter once and for all. Do you think I may wait until your uncle arrives, Miss Bennet," Mr. Darcy asked.

"Yes, of course, he and my aunt must be arriving soon. Please sit down," Elizabeth said, indicating an armchair.

Elizabeth asked a servant to bring a tray of tea and served a cup to Mr. Darcy while they waited. She tried to talk about some things to make the moment not so awkward, but he only answered briefly and remained silent. Finally, Elizabeth lost her patience and continued embroidering without saying anything else.

Mr. Darcy preferred to ignore Elizabeth's engaging conversation. Given the current circumstances, they had to learn to keep their distance and have a cordial but strictly professional relationship. Fortunately for Elizabeth, Mrs. Gardiner and Jane arrived home. She introduced the gentleman to her aunt, and although he was respectful, he greeted Mrs. Gardiner and Jane and said nothing more.

Ten minutes later, Mr. Gardiner arrived and invited Mr. Darcy to his office to discuss the contract and Elizabeth's obligations as Mr. Darcy's employee. The meeting between both gentlemen lasted approximately twenty minutes, and both were satisfied with what was agreed upon. Mr. Darcy thought that negotiating with Elizabeth's uncle would be more complicated. The man was a merchant and Mrs. Bennet's brother. But despite these two aspects, the man was quite decent and well-educated.

After almost two hours at the Gardiner house, Mr. Darcy said goodbye and returned to Darcy House, convinced that Elizabeth would be Georgiana's new companion.

"Have you made a decision, Lizzy? I must say that I found Mr. Darcy to be rather serious for being so young, and I can understand why he has a reputation as a proud gentleman. However, we must admit that he was kind enough to come personally to talk to your uncle. Men of his social status and wealth have employees in charge of all their affairs," Mrs. Gardiner said.

"I do not think I can accept, Aunt. The truth is that I do not understand why he offered me the position if he clearly despises me. He did not speak to me for almost half an hour, aunt," Elizabeth said indignantly.

"Lizzy, I never saw Mr. Darcy talk much," Jane said to encourage her sister. "But if you do not want to work for that family, do not do it. Mrs. Smith has offered me a good salary, and I do not think you need to work."

"Besides, Lizzy, you must remember that for Mr. Darcy, you now work for him. Maybe that is why he feels like he does not have to socialize with you."

"You are right about that, aunt. If when I was the daughter of his friend's neighbor, he barely spoke to me, now that he considers me his employee, he should have less consideration. Tomorrow, I shall send a note to the Countess and tell my uncle to tell Mr. Darcy that I have received an offer to work in London and that I prefer to be closer to my family," Elizabeth said.

"Is that true, Lizzy?" Mr. Gardiner asked as he entered the room.

"No, uncle, but we cannot tell those people that I do not want to work for the Darcys because the Master of Pemberley is pompous and conceited," Elizabeth replied, laughing.

"If you plan to work, Lizzy, I do not think anyone can make you a better offer." Mr. Gardiner explained to Elizabeth the salary she would receive and even the number of vacation days she would have to visit her family. "Mr. Darcy even explained to me that if you want, you can participate in the classes that Miss Darcy receives with her French, painting, piano, and literature teachers."

"That is a lot of money! I never thought I could receive such a sum!" Elizabeth knew she could not refuse something like that. After a few years of work and saving, she could secure a future for herself and her sisters, who did not manage to marry. Although Elizabeth wished she could reject the offer, she knew she could not turn down an opportunity like that.

"Mr. Darcy would like an answer tomorrow morning. What do I tell him, Lizzy?"

"Tell him I accept, uncle," Elizabeth said with resignation.

"Well, today has been a very intense day. In two more days, Jane leaves, and Lizzy next week. How about we talk about anything but the next few days?" said Mrs. Gardiner to motivate her nieces.

"Excellent idea!" Mr. Gardiner added. He and his wife felt very sorry for their beloved nieces' situation and frustrated that they could not do more.

After a delightful dinner, Elizabeth and Jane retired to rest. Although they both had difficulty falling asleep, they did not talk to each other like they always used to.

Jane thought about Elizabeth going to live north and being very far from her family. She had to be strong and not show weakness. Her objective was to find a solution for his family, and she could not waste time crying or lamenting.

For her part, Elizabeth was thinking about what her life with the Darcys would be like. It had not escaped her notice that Mr. Darcy wanted her to take classes with his sister. It was another way to remind her how deficient she was and far from being an accomplished woman.

"Good night, Lizzy."

"Good night, Jane."

P&P

Mr. Darcy had gone to the club to clear his head. In a few days, he would leave for Derbyshire, but before leaving, he had agreed to meet his friend Bingley at the club. He was still deciding whether to mention the Bennet family's current situation and that Jane Bennet was in London with her uncle. Louisa and Caroline had told him that Jane had visited them and that they decided not to tell their brother. Therefore, Mr. Darcy chose not to mention the subject to his friend and that he would reveal the truth in a few more months.

For the moment, it was better that Mr. Bingley knew nothing about the matter so that he would not feel forced to make a decision. Mr. Darcy knew that his friend fell in love easily and that in a few months, he would be courting another beautiful young lady.

"Darcy, how are you?" Andrew said to his former university classmate.

"Taylor, or should I say Lord Norton?" replied Mr. Darcy.

"We do not need to be so formal. Also, this title has come to me in a very painful way," Andrew replied.

"I am very sorry; I comprehend how difficult it is to lose someone you esteem and appreciate." Mr. Darcy invited his friend to sit and chat for a while.

The gentlemen talked for several minutes about their lives and their plans for the future. Although they had never been close friends, Andrew and Mr. Darcy had been cordial to each other and even part of the same study group.

"The last six months have been difficult, Darcy. Along with the pain I feel for the loss of my brother, I have had to take responsibility for all family affairs and learn how to manage the estate."

"I completely understand what you are going through; the same thing happened to me when my father passed away," Mr. Darcy added.

"I remember, and you were quite young," Andrew said.

"Besides all the family businesses, I had to care for my sister, who was only ten at that time."

"I hope I can do the same for my nieces. They are the memory of my brother and my only family. They are more important than the money or the title."

Mr. Bingley saw his friend talking to a gentleman who looked quite elegant and walked over to join the conversation. "Good afternoon, Darcy. I am very pleased to see you again."

"Bingley, it is nice to see you too," said Mr. Darcy. Then he introduced the two gentlemen, and they talked for a few minutes about friends they had in common.

"Well, I hope you will excuse me, but I must go to my aunt's house. I need to talk to her about some urgent matters. It was nice seeing you, Darcy, and meeting you, Mr. Bingley."

"The pleasure was all mine, Lord Norton," replied Mr. Bingley cheerfully.

"I hope to see you soon," replied Mr. Darcy.

Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy continued conversing about fencing and other topics for several minutes to avoid discussing more personal things. Still, Mr. Bingley could not help but make some comments that made Mr. Darcy very uncomfortable.

"Darcy… I do know why, but I miss the days I spent in Hertfordshire. Besides, I do not know if it was correct to leave Netherfield. I want to learn how to manage an estate and…"

"Bingley, I have nothing new to add regarding that subject. As I told you in the note I sent you, Georgiana and I shall leave for Pemberley at the end of this week, and I shall stay there until the beginning of spring. Then I must travel to Kent for three weeks. I am sorry, but I cannot help you with your predicaments because I have a lot of matters to resolve."

"I see, do not worry. I believe my sisters are correct and I should stay in London for the season. There are always interesting things to do here. Darcy... I cannot lie to you; I do not miss Netherfield or Hertfordshire but Miss Bennet. I hope she and her family are well."

Mr. Darcy could not help but feel very uncomfortable. He was not lying because his friend had not asked him any questions, but he understood he was withholding vital information. "Bingley, but I must go."

"I understand. I guess we shall not see each other for many months, so I wish you success in everything you do, dear friend."

"Thank you, and I hope you enjoy the season, Bingley. I hope we can see each other in the spring."

Mr. Darcy left, and Mr. Bingley stayed a few more minutes thinking of Jane Bennet. For some reason, he could not understand why he could not stop thinking about his beloved angel.

P&P

Jane had been living at Mrs. Smith's house for a week. She was elegant, cultured, and kind-hearted, just like her Aunt Gardiner. She thought that was why they were such good friends.

There was not much to do at Mrs. Smith's house, and Jane had the opportunity to read some interesting books and learn a little more about running a household. Jane was excited because Mrs. Smith had organized a dinner for several friends, and from what she understood, some single men who were her nephew's friends would attend.

From what Jane understood, Lord Norton had recently assumed the title and control of the family affairs after his brother's tragic death. Before that, he was in charge of his Aunt Amelia's businesses and frequented businessmen's circles. The young Baron had visited his aunt twice, and although he had been cordial with her, he always seemed nervous or worried about something.

That afternoon, it was not as cold as it had been the previous days, and Jane went for a walk in the house's beautiful garden. She felt a little melancholic because the day before, she had said goodbye to Elizabeth and did not know when she would see her again. After walking, Jane sat on a bench under the study window. There, she could enjoy the sun for a few minutes. Jane leaned her head against the wall to rest but could not. Without meaning to, she overheard a conversation between Mrs. Smith and Lord Norton, and although she knew she should not continue listening, what they were talking about was too important not to pay attention.

"Andrew, what did you think of Jane? She is a lovely girl and very pretty, do you not think? Mrs. Smith asked.

"Yes, aunt, Miss Bennet is very pretty, more so than I would have liked," said Andrew. Seeing his aunt look at him in bewilderment, he added, "I would have preferred someone who would not attract so much attention. But I must admit that she seems like someone with a good heart, at least on the surface. But I trust your judgment regarding that."

"Nephew, you have come to this house twice, and you have not even spoken to Jane. Andrew, you need to talk to her. You cannot expect her to accept you if you do not take the trouble to show the slightest interest. That is why I organized this dinner. Maybe in a more relaxed atmosphere, you will feel more comfortable, and you can get closer to her."

"I appreciate your efforts, aunt. But it is not easy to approach a lady to propose a marriage of convenience. I understand that a young lady in her circumstances does not have many options, but in the same way, it is not easy for me…"

The conversation in the study continued for several minutes. After hearing everything she needed to know, Jane discreetly walked away from the window and went to her room. The young Baron needed a wife to regain the guardianship of his nieces, and she needed a husband to protect her sisters. Maybe that was the great opportunity that she needed so much.

P&P

After several days of traveling, Elizabeth felt quite tired and missed her family and home more than ever. At least Miss Darcy was kind, and Mr. Darcy spoke to her only as much as was necessary. That was better than putting up with his pompous comments or criticism.

"Miss Bennet, if you look that way, you will see Pemberley," Georgiana said, smiling.

Elizabeth opened her eyes and looked where Georgiana was pointing. From the carriage window, she could see a beautiful mansion located in one of the most beautiful places she had ever seen. "Your home is very beautiful, Miss Darcy."

Mr. Darcy could not stop looking at Elizabeth, and her eyes lit up as she looked at Pemberley. He did not know why looking at her face brought him so much joy. For several minutes, he thought that perhaps it had not been such a good idea to have listened to his aunt's advice and employed Elizabeth.

P&P

Thanks to everyone who leaves comments and follows the story with enthusiasm.

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In the next chapter, Elizabeth will have to get used to living in Pemberley, and Jane will have to make a decision.

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