Chapter 12
Mr. Bingley left London at dawn because he did not want to see or hear his sisters. He knew they probably would not talk to him for a while after what he planned to do. But he knew they depended on him to maintain their lifestyle; therefore, they would have to accept it even if they did not agree with his decision. As for his friend Darcy, he was certain he would change his mind once he realized how happy he was with the only woman he could love. Once he settled in Netherfield and changed his clothes, he asked a servant to saddle his horse and headed for Longbourn. He was optimistic that Mrs. Bennet would help him locate Jane. She had always treated him with great deference and affection.
When he dismounted his horse, no one came to help him. Without a doubt, things had changed much in that place. Mr. Bennet's death meant the downfall of his wife and daughters. He tied the reins of his horse to a small tree so it could rest and eat some grass. Then he walked towards the house's entrance and knocked on the door.
When Mr. Hill opened the door, he was surprised to see the young gentleman. But like a good servant, he bowed and waited for him to speak.
"Good afternoon; I have come to visit and offer my condolences to Mrs. Bennet. Can you let her know I am here?"
"I am sorry, sir, but Mrs. Bennet and her daughters traveled to London for a few days," Mr. Hill replied.
"What a misfortune! I was very excited to be able to speak with Mrs. Bennet. Could you tell me when she and her daughters plan to return?" Mr. Bingley was under the impression that perhaps Mrs. Bennet had gone to London to look for Jane.
"I am sorry, sir, but Mrs. Bennet did not inform me of her plans."
Mr. Hill and his wife were not only servants but part of the family. Since Mr. Bennet died, they had greatly supported Mrs. Bennet. In a way, Mr. Hill felt it was his duty to protect his employer and her daughters. Furthermore, he knew how much that man had made Miss Jane suffer; he had seen her cry on more than one occasion. Therefore, he would not provide any information. If Mr. Bingley were there to inquire about Miss Jane, he would not help him. Now, she had a good and loving husband, and the last thing she needed was problems.
"I understand. Thank you for your time," Mr. Bingley said. Then, he took his horse and rode to Meryton. Indeed, Mrs. Phillips would know when her sister would return to Longbourn, or better yet, she could give him information about Jane.
But when he arrived at the Phillips' house, the servants informed him that they were not at home and they would return only at the end of the following week.
So Mr. Bingley thought the only thing he could do to get information about Mrs. Bennet and Jane was to visit the Lucases. Surely they could answer some of your questions.
Unfortunately for him, they were not aware of any of the events that had occurred in the lives of Mrs. Bennet and her daughters. She had preferred not to tell anyone about her daughter's marriage to avoid comments and rumors. Officially, the family was mourning, and they kept all social interactions to a minimum. Mrs. Bennet preferred to protect her daughter than tell a bunch of gossiping ladies that her daughter was now a Baroness.
"I hope, my dear Mr. Bingley, that you will not leave us so abruptly this time. More than one lady was very sorry to see you go," said Sir William, looking at his wife.
"I am very sorry that my departure has caused trouble," replied Mr. Bingley. He felt guilty for having generated rumors and inconvenience to his beloved angel and her family.
After five minutes of listening to Sir William talk non-stop, he dared to make the first comment and ask about what really concerned him. "At the moment, I do not know how long I shall stay. I am here to sort out some business and will likely have to return to London in the next few days. This morning, I went to Longbourn to pay my condolences to Mrs. Bennet, but I could not find her. The butler informed me that he had traveled to London but did not tell me when they would return. Do you know anything about her or her daughters? It is important for me to offer my condolences to her and her family."
"They probably traveled to spend time with Mr. Gardiner, Mrs. Bennet's brother. They will probably stay there for a few days to resolve unfinished business or visit family," Sir William explained.
"I imagine you know that very soon, my daughter Charlotte will be the new mistress of Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet may have traveled to London to arrange the paperwork for her new house. It is a fairly small house, but close to its sister. As a good man of God, my son-in-law has allowed them to stay all this time, but Longbourn no longer belongs to them. Now it is my daughter's," said Lady Lucas, full of pride. Finally, she could prove to everyone that she was better than Mrs. Bennet.
"I understand; thank you for your time, and it has been a pleasure to talk with you." Mr. Bingley did not wish to spend more time listening stories about Mr. Collins and his generosity.
When he returned to Netherfield, Mr. Bingley locked himself in his study to decide what to do. He would remain a few more days in Hertfordshire, awaiting Mrs. Bennet's return. He would wait two days, return to London, and ask his solicitor to investigate where Mrs. Bennet's brother lived.
'At least I know that the gentleman's name is Gardiner, that he has a warehouse in London, and that he lives near Cheapside,' thought Mr. Bingley, a little more resigned.
P&P
Mr. Darcy was much more relaxed. In recent days, he had seen her much more cheerful and eating better. Furthermore, her eyes were luminous again, and she smiled more often. Knowing she had a better salary to help her mother and sisters had probably given her peace of mind. He felt satisfied with everything he had done for her. However, he did not know what to do when he thought about the future.
Mr. Darcy knew that Elizabeth could not live with them for much time. As long as she was present in his life, he could not look for a wife, much less court a lady. He would inevitably compare all the women to her, and he knew that none would have her intelligence, charm, and beauty. Despite everything he felt, he refused to assume he was in love with her. His silly infatuation would end at some point, or at least he hoped it would. He would turn twenty-eight in a few more months and comprehended it was time to get married and produce an heir.
While Mr. Darcy looked out the window, immersed in his doubts and guilt, Elizabeth thought about everything she wanted to do in London. She desired to have at least one entire afternoon free. If Jane was in London, she could see and hug her, even if it was for a brief moment.
Elizabeth knew they would arrive in London in an hour and that Mr. Darcy intended to rest one day and travel to Kent the following. Furthermore, she knew that Georgiana planned to spend the entire afternoon of the following day with the Countess, and in the evening, everyone would have dinner at the Matlock house. So, her plan was to get the entire afternoon free and perhaps have dinner with Jane and her uncle and aunt.
Elizabeth noticed that Georgiana was sleeping, and Mr. Darcy sometimes read and then observed the landscape. She wanted to bring up the subject, but she knew that Mr. Darcy was not easy to approach, so she thought about what she should do for several minutes.
'This man is so temperamental; I have to think carefully about how to talk to him. If he gets angry, he can prohibit me from visiting my uncle, and when he travels to Kent, I shall not be able to leave Georgiana alone, much less invite my uncle and aunt to Darcy House. I have an idea…'
"Excuse me, Mr. Darcy, what are you reading?" Elizabeth said, indicating the book he had in his hands. Then, with her best smile, she added, "I imagine it must not be a very interesting book because I noticed that it has not managed to capture your full attention. When I like a book, I can spend hours reading it…"
"It is an interesting book, Miss Bennet. In fact, I have read it on more than one occasion. The truth is that it is difficult for me to read and concentrate when I travel; the movement of the carriage and the sound of the horses' hooves do not allow me to focus. That is all."
"I understand… but you did not tell me what book you are reading. But I understand if it is a secret; in that case, you do not have to tell me, but if you do, I promise that your secret will be safe with me."
"A secret? What reason do you think I could have for hiding what I am reading from you?"
"It may be that you are reading a Gothic novel in which a young man, whom a beautiful young lady rejected because she believed him to be a man without fortune, is truly the son of a Duke," Elizabeth replied, smiling.
Mr. Darcy could not help but laugh at such a witty comment. "I assure you that I am not reading a gothic novel, although there is a romance. A beautiful queen who many men desire rejects them all because she awaits the return of her beloved husband who went to war but has not yet returned."
"Did that beautiful queen unweave at night what she wove during the day?"
"Yes, Miss Bennet. Now you know what I am reading, and you can understand that although there is romance, there is also adventure and many conflicts."
"That was one of my father's favorite books. He used to read it to me when I was a child."
"I know, you told me that last week, and I guess that motivated me to read it again."
"You are right, I remember now. I was sitting with Oscar reading letters from my family."
"Oscar is the stable dog, right?"
"Yes, sir. I have a lot of affection for him; he is such an adorable dog. I am delighted to know that Mr. Turner takes great care of him and that you have allowed him to live in the stable with the other animals."
Mr. Darcy told Elizabeth that Oscar's first owner had been someone his mother cared about and that, for that reason, he felt it was his duty to take in his pet. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy discussed their pets and discovered they both loved animals.
When Elizabeth noticed Mr. Darcy was relaxed and conversing pleasantly, she dared to speak. "Mr. Darcy, I do not want to sound impertinent. Believe me, what I shall request, I do it with humility, and I shall understand if you think it is not convenient or impossible."
"Tell me how I can help you, Miss Bennet." Mr. Darcy noticed Elizabeth was very nervous and tried to be as kind as he could.
"Sir, if it is not too much to ask, I would like to know if I can use a few hours tomorrow afternoon. I want to visit my uncle's house and, if possible, see my sister Jane." Elizabeth was so nervous that she could not look up, so she did not see Mr. Darcy smile.
"Georgiana and I talked about the subject and planned to tell you about it this evening during dinner. But since you asked me, I can give you the news now. My sister and I thought we would give you the day off. We shall spend the day at our uncle's house and have dinner there. Tomorrow after breakfast, one of my coachmen will take you to your uncle's house and shall pick you up the next day after breakfast. You have to be back before noon because I shall leave for Kent at that time."
"Oh, Mr. Darcy, I thank you so much…" said Elizabeth. She could not continue talking because of the emotion and joy she felt. "I promise I shall return before noon and care for Miss Darcy while you are in Kent. Well… Now I have to concentrate on finishing this handkerchief for my mother. My aunt will send it to her, and I know she will be pleased." Elizabeth could not stop talking about how excited she was.
Mr. Darcy could not stop smiling. Elizabeth's happiness caused him an inexplicable joy, and her smiles and eyes full of light made his heart beat fast.
"I am delighted to see you so happy, Miss Bennet, and I hope you enjoy your time with your uncle, aunt, and cousins."
"I shall do it, I know I shall… And if I am blessed and my dear Jane is in London, I shall be able to see her. The lady she works with is very nice, and I know she will allow me to visit my dear sister for a few minutes."
Mr. Darcy wishes he could have told Elizabeth she could invite Miss Bennet, but he knew it was best to keep her as far away from Darcy House as possible to avoid a meeting with Bingley.
When Georgiana awoke, she was pleased to see her dear friend so happy. She told her not to worry about herself and to enjoy time with her family.
Finally, the carriage arrived at Darcy House at dusk. Everyone was exhausted, so after dinner, they retired to their respective rooms. Elizabeth slept happily, thinking about everything she would do the following day.
P&P
Elizabeth got up early and ate something quick in the kitchen. Then she told the coachman she was ready and set off for Cheapside. When she arrived at her uncle's house, the family was having breakfast, and she sat at the table with them.
"Lizzy, we thought you would arrive tomorrow," Mr. Gardiner said.
"It was a miscalculation, Uncle. When I traveled to Pemberley, we were in the middle of winter, so the days were shorter, and we could cover less distance each day. Also, the roads were not in very good condition. Now, it gets dark later, and the roads are much more acceptable. That is why it took us one day less."
"My dear, I shall send a message to Jane, and if you wish, we can visit her later," said Mrs. Gardiner.
"If Mrs. Smith does not mind, I would love to spend the afternoon with Jane. I must return to Darcy House tomorrow and plan to stay with you tonight."
"We are very happy to have you with us, dear Lizzy," said Mrs. Gardiner.
"I must return early tomorrow because Mr. Darcy plans to leave for Kent at noon. I shall spend at least two weeks in London with Georgiana, but I do not know if it will be possible to see you during that time. Therefore, I want to make the most of this day because I do not know when we shall be able to see each other again." Elizabeth could not stop talking and eating. She was so happy that she could not remember being so hungry for months.
"I think it is best if we do not make any plans until we talk to Jane," Mrs. Gardiner said nervously. She and her husband thought Jane should tell Elizabeth how much her life had changed.
"I have sent her a message, and I think it will be alright for us to visit her soon," added Mr. Gardiner.
After breakfast, Elizabeth spent time with her little cousins and then went into the drawing room to chat with her aunt about her life at Pemberley. Elizabeth could tell that her aunt was tense and did not understand why. She knew that the Gardiners were sincerely happy to see her and that perhaps something was wrong with Jane.
After an hour, Jane and Andrew arrived at Cheapside. Mr. Gardiner explained that Elizabeth was in the drawing room with Mrs. Gardiner and invited Andrew to his study. He thought it was best for Jane to converse with Elizabeth alone before introducing her husband.
When Elizabeth saw her sister, she could not help but run into her arms and hug her. "Jane, my dear Jane, you do not know how happy I am to see you."
"Lizzy…" Jane said, and she could not continue talking because she started crying with joy.
"Dear nieces, I shall see the children and leave you alone so you can talk," said Mrs. Gardiner, leaving the room.
Jane took Elizabeth by the hand, and they both sat on a chair holding hands. "Lizzy, there are so many things we need to discuss, but first, I need to know how you are," Jane said. She was sad to see her dear sister so thin and pale. Her heart broke when she thought of everything she had suffered in that horrible man's house.
"I am fine, Jane. I have been very fortunate to work with such a wonderful girl like Georgiana. Furthermore, all the Pemberley employees have welcomed me warmly, and I have made good friends with them. And although I sometimes find it difficult to understand Mr. Darcy, I cannot deny that he has been a fair employer. So do not worry about me, Jane; I am fine."
"I am glad to know that Miss Darcy has treated you so kindly. But I want you to know that you no longer have to work or live far from your family. Lizzy, I have a home to offer you…"
"What has happened, Jane?" Elizabeth asked, very worried. She noticed that her sister was wearing very nice clothes, and in some ways, she looked different.
"Lizzy, I must tell you something important that happened to me a little over a month ago."
Jane took a deep breath and began to tell him the story of her marriage to Andrew from the beginning: "He desperately needed a wife, and I desperately needed someone who could provide me with a home and stability to help my family."
"Jane, you must not sacrifice your life for me or our sisters. Mama is much more aware of how she should spend money, and Mary, Kitty, and Lydia have matured. Jane, please do not ruin your life for us…" Elizabeth said, sincerely concerned.
"Lizzy, the best thing that could have happened to me was meeting Andrew. Now I have a family, two wonderful girls to care for and who need me, and a home for you and my sisters."
"Oh, Jane…"
"Lizzy, I want you to understand that I am happy and at peace with my decision and that I have someone in my life who respects me and is willing to help me."
Jane told her sister what her life had been like since she got married, everything that had happened with her husband's stepmother, and how they had managed to rescue the girls. "If you think I am unhappy, Lizzy, you are wrong."
"But do you love your husband? Does he love you? How do you think your future will be with a man who…"
"Lizzy, my husband and I have agreed to get to know each other and give ourselves time to get used to life together. I can tell you that every day I get to know him a little more; I feel like I made the best decision of my life. Lizzy, I deeply admire my husband and how he protects those he loves."
"Jane, dear, I do not know what to say."
"Do not say anything. Let me introduce you to my husband. Come live with us, and you will realize everything I tell you is true."
"Then I have no choice but to congratulate you and wish you the best. And, of course, I want to meet your husband."
"I have another thing to tell you before I ask Andrew to come. He is in Uncle Gardiner's study."
"Is there a problem?"
"No, my dear. Lizzy, now, I am a Baroness, Lady Norton."
"Lady Norton?" Elizabeth asked, laughing and hugging her dear sister. "I would like to see Mrs. Hurst and Caroline Bingley's face when she has to call you Lady Norton after how she treated you when you called on them."
"Honestly, I would rather never have to see those women again."
"You are too good, my Lady," Elizabeth said jesting.
Jane went looking for her husband, and Elizabeth prayed because everything her sister had told her was true. She did not doubt that her brother-in-law was a good husband and respected Jane, but her sister deserved to have love in her life, not just peace and stability.
When Jane entered on her husband's arm, Elizabeth noticed he looked at her nervously. Andrew was not as handsome as Mr. Bingley, although he seemed an attractive gentleman. Furthermore, she could tell he was confident and knew what he wanted, very different from Mr. Bingley, who abandoned Jane when she needed him most. Jane introduced her husband to Elizabeth, and he greeted her with great affection.
"We came to invite you to our home; we want you to stay with us. Your mother and sisters are at Aunt Amanda's house, and Uncle and Aunt Philips are with us. They will all return to Hertfordshire the day after tomorrow, so we have to take advantage of the time we have left together. Everyone knows you are in London, and they are waiting for you so we can have luncheon together."
"What a joy! I shall be able to see my whole family. Thank you very much, my Lord."
"My Lord? Please call me Andrew. Do not forget that we are family now."
"Alright, but you have to call me Lizzy."
After twenty minutes of pleasant conversation, Jane told the Gadiners they would return to their house and that they would be waiting for them for dinner. When Elizabeth arrived at Jane's house her mother and sisters ran to hug her. It was a very emotional meeting, so much so that even Mrs. Philips did not say anything.
"My dear Lizzy, you cannot imagine how happy it makes me to see you and to know you do not have to work another day," said Mrs. Bennet, kissing her daughter's cheek. "And besides, we will be able to see each other more often… My dear daughter, I am very proud of you for doing everything possible to help your family."
Kitty and Lydia could not stop talking about everything they planned to do when they visited his brother-in-law's estate while Andrew's nieces played with some kittens. The girls were sweet, and Elizabeth could tell they had become very attached to Jane. Undoubtedly, everyone in her family was well and happy, which made Elizabeth feel much more optimistic about Jane's future. But there was something that had her uneasy.
"Lizzy, if you do not mind, can you come with me to my office? We want to talk to you about something important," Andrew explained.
"Yes, of course," Elizabeth replied, surprised.
Once Andrew closed the door, Jane told Elizabeth to sit. Then Andrew explained the reason for that conversation.
"Lizzy, Uncle Gardiner told me you promised to return to Darcy House before noon tomorrow. Please permit me to talk to Darcy and explain that you will no longer be working for him. I know Darcy from Cambridge, and from what a friend told me, I believe he will not create any problems and will finish your contract immediately."
"Lizzy, we can send for your belongings so you can settle in here. I personally took charge of decorating a room for you… and Clara and Matilda are very excited to get to know you better. I told them you are very amusing and will take them for walks to all the parks in this city."
Elizabeth was happy and grateful, and although she had barely had time to process everything happening, she knew she could not leave the Darcys so abruptly.
"Andrew, Jane, you cannot imagine how grateful I am for everything you have done for me and our family. But I cannot leave Miss Darcy so abruptly." Elizabeth explained to Jane and Andrew how fragile Georgiana was and how much it had taken her to help her gain confidence in herself. "She is a girl who has been very alone all her life, and for some reason that I do not know, she has a tremendous feeling of guilt. I am her only friend, and if I leave her, I am afraid she will lock herself in her room again and…"
"Lizzy, you have always been very generous, but this time you should think about yourself," Jane said, taking her sister's hand.
"Lizzy, it is very generous of you to want to help that girl. But I want you to understand that Baroness Norton's sister cannot work as a companion. That would speak very badly of her as a sister. I imagine you understand I do not want negative rumors about my wife before I present her in society," Andrew explained.
"I understand… Andrew, allow me to talk to Mr. Darcy tomorrow. I shall explain that I can no longer work but stay with Georgiana until he finds someone to replace me. I shall be very emphatic in telling him that I shall be with Georgiana as a friend, that I am no longer her employee, and that he should not pay me. Tomorrow, Mr. Darcy will travel to Kent and return in two weeks. There, if you want, Andrew, you can talk to him. Furthermore, I shall explain to Mr. Darcy that I can only stay with them for a month because I shall travel to Somerset with you. If you allow it, I can invite Georgiana to come with me so she does not feel I am abandoning her. I know Mr. Darcy will be busy for several months and cannot always be with his sister."
"Yes, of course, she is welcome."
Andrew and Jane assumed they could not force Elizabeth to abandon that poor girl if she felt so emotionally attached to her. "Alright, but only for a month. In that time, they can find someone to replace you," Andrew said.
"At least during that time, you will be here in London, and we can see you whenever we want," Jane said and hugged her sister. "Now, it is time for us to return to the drawing room to share this wonderful day with the rest of the family."
Elizabeth was delighted to be with her family, but she could not help but think about Georgiana. She knew she still needed much help and someone who loved her as much as she did.
'What should I do... what can I do to help you, my dear Georgiana.'
P&P
Thank you very much to everyone who leaves comments and follows the story with enthusiasm.
Dear Readers: Some of my followers have let me know that due to the problems this site has had in the past months, they never received notifications and were unable to finish this story. I will post these chapters for a week so you can read the second part and conclusion of A New Beginning.
See you soon!
Saludos,
Yo