Chapter 24 - Georgiana's Letter
Things returned to normal for Elizabeth - well as close to normal as things could be. Mr Darcy and Mr Collins left the neighbourhood, her father was no worse and spring was finally beginning to appear. Elizabeth spent most of her time when she was not with her father outside walking through her favourite haunts. She was determined not to focus on the unpleasantness that the future held for her and rather to focus on the present and those few aspects of the future that gave her pleasure. She understood that Kent was a very beautiful country, which had much to recommend it, and she would be able to return to Longbourn and call it home again, with her mother and sisters around her.
That was a pleasant thought and she would not think of the two events that would bring this state of affairs around. Her marriage to Mr Collins, and the greater evil, the death of her beloved father. He was in a great deal of pain, she knew, although he hardly ever mentioned it. She knew he would rather his remaining time was spent enjoying the company of his two favourite daughters, rather than dwelling on the pain and the illness that would one day kill him.
Mrs Bennet was still very pleased by Mr Darcy's going away and Mr Bingley's continued attentions to Jane. As she put it, even though they were in no danger since Lizzy was to marry Mr Collins, it was nice to have a little more certainty.
The date of the wedding had finally been set, before Mr Collins had left for Kent, for the middle of March. He was very pleased by this, as it would mean that Elizabeth would meet Lady Catherine at Easter, and would have a special service to witness him in action for the first time, as he put it. He seemed to have forgotten that Elizabeth had already been introduced to the great lady, however briefly, in London. Elizabeth thought it best not to remind him of this.
ooOoo
Jane was not at all pleased by this turn of events - Mr Darcy gone and Elizabeth quiet and playing Mr Collins's dutiful future wife. Her hopes now rested entirely on Mr Bingley, who did not seem to realise the need for urgency. Elizabeth had hardly said a word during the days that followed the dance at Netherfield and had simply listened to Mr Collins. Lydia and Kitty had had a great deal of fun and they were looking forward to their next chance to dance. Lydia was very loud in her hope that there would be more officers next time.
However, Elizabeth's withdrawn manner was missed by the rest of the family. She had watched Mr Darcy and was convinced of his regard for her sister. To leave the country so quickly, she was sure that something had happened between them. But Elizabeth would not admit that there was anything in their relationship, that he was an acquaintance was all she would say.
With their father's health no better she knew there was a real need for urgency. But all she could do was wait for Mr Bingley to make his move and pray that he did it sooner rather than later.
ooOoo
Georgiana was confused, her brother had left for Hertfordshire just a few days ago to see Elizabeth, but he was back in London again. She had not yet had a reply to her last letter, which Fitzwilliam had taken to Hertfordshire and given to Elizabeth himself. She knew he was in an ill temper, for he had hardly said a word since arriving. She had tried asking about his return to London but only received a very curt answer in return. Which did not explain any of the events.
After dinner, she decided to try one more time.
"Brother, do you have a reply for me from Hertfordshire?"
Fitzwilliam coloured for a second, "No, I'm afraid not." He rose from his seat, and stood by the fireplace, looking down at the burning wood.
Georgiana, determined not to let the subject be dropped, continued on with a boldness she did not feel.
"Did you hear Elizabeth play any of the music I sent her? I do so hope that she liked Mendelssohn's Wedding March."
Fitzwilliam's back was to her, so she could not see his face. "I did not have the pleasure." His voice was even enough, but there was a formal quality about it that he did not normally use with her.
Georgiana continued again, "I would like to know if she liked it, it is one of my favourite pieces. I am sure she would play it very well."
"Perhaps you should visit her in Hertfordshire and then you could hear her for yourself. I'm sure Miss Bingley would love to join her brother and take you with her."
Georgiana's surprise at his words was great, only a few days ago Fitzwilliam was not willing to let her anywhere near Hertfordshire and now?
"To Netherfield?"
"Yes, unless you would like to stay at the Inn?"
"But what about -" here Georgiana's forced courage failed her. She was unable to say his name. She would be able to one day, when it felt like a dream, something that had happened to another girl. But it was much too fresh in her mind.
"I thought you wanted to see the Miss Bennets again?" His voice was firm, but he did not sound like himself.
"Yes, I do. But-"
"Well then it's settled then. You must speak to Miss Bingley tomorrow. I will have the carriage waiting for you at 10 o'clock. I will write to Mr Bingley."
And with that he had left the room. Georgiana heard the sound of his study door closing and knew that she would not see him again that evening. She knew not what to make of any of it. Why was he back in London, when Elizabeth was still in Hertfordshire and still engaged to Mr Collins? And why was he sending her to Netherfield?
Whatever the reason it was clear that he wanted her to be there, enough to place her in the same place as George Wickham. At least she would be able to spend some time in the country and Elizabeth had mentioned she loved to walk. She could ride, though she did not often have the chance, but she did love it.
She went quite happily to bed that night, in the knowledge that she would be helping her brother and that she would be seeing Elizabeth soon.
ooOoo
Jane was sitting by the window of her room. It was a misty morning, she saw a horse and a man in a blue coat riding out of the mist and towards the house. She knew it must be Mr Bingley, and she was very happy to see him. Although there was a certain tension that she felt every time she saw him. Laying her book down, she slowly got to her feet, waiting for her mother's summons telling her that he had arrived. She smiled when she heard her mother's voice, "Jane, come downstairs, Mr Bingley will be here any second."
She glanced at her father's door on her way downstairs, as Elizabeth was still inside with him, although she knew from Sarah that Mr Bennet was asleep. Elizabeth seemed to think that if she left his side even for a moment he would move on. They had always been so close. She had been a little jealous as a child, but when she was a little older it made her smile. They were not like in temper, but there was a similarity in the turn of their minds that the rest of the family did not possess. She knew that Elizabeth would be harder hit when their father did die than the rest of the family. She considered herself a loving a dutiful daughter, but Lizzy was in many ways like the son that the Bennets' had never had. At least as far as their father was considered.
She remembered how it was Lizzy who Mr Bennet had taken out with him when he visited the tenants on the estate. Jane had been left to sooth her mother and help with the younger girls. She had never minded, she preferred dolls and dresses to trees and cows. It was Lizzy who he turned to when he needed a second option.
"Jane, where are you?"
"Coming, Mama."
It was on one of these trips that Lizzy's dislike of riding had come from, on a misty morning just like today. She had nearly been killed when she was about twelve years old. She had fallen from the horse she was riding. They had been out early that morning, Jane could not remember why. She had stood by the door, watching them ride off, Kitty wrapped around her leg and Lydia crying in the distance. She had turned away to calm Lydia and thought no more of the mist. It had been about an hour later when a manservant had rushed through, saying that he had to get the doctor, that Miss Elizabeth had had a nasty fall. A few minutes later her father had rushed through, with Lizzy in his arms. She had never since him as scared as he had been that day, his face white. She had only looked at her sister later, and seen the blood. So much blood.
Jane passed Hill on her way, she had a small tray with some letters on it and was walking towards Mr Bennet's room. "For the master and Miss Elizabeth." She said.
"Put the letters in my father's study Hill." She said quietly, "He is asleep at the moment. Give Elizabeth her letter when she leaves my father's room."
Jane entered the drawing morning to find Mr Bingley, Mary and Mrs Bennet. Mary was sitting quietly in a corner reading, while Mrs Bennet was engaged in conversation with Mr Bingley. He stood as she entered.
"Ah, there you are my dear. I was just telling Mr Bingley I had called you and could not imagine what had been keeping you." Mrs Bennet smiled fondly at her.
Jane greeted Mr Bingley politely as he bowed to her. While she took her place quietly by Mary, Mr Bingley sat down again.
"I have some good news Miss Bennet that I think will please you." He began in his natural good humoured manner. "Or at least I hope very much that it will please you."
She smiled patiently waiting for him to tell her what it was. "I have this very morning had a letter from town, my sister Caroline is going to rejoin me at Netherfield."
"That pleases me very much, I would like to see your sister again. We saw too little of her when we were in town." She said, she was genuinely happy to hear that Caroline Bingley would be in the area again, despite what Lizzy had said, she still enjoyed Caroline Bingley's company and thought it very sad that she had left the neighbourhood. Also Caroline Bingley being in residents meant Mr Bingley would be more free to entertain.
"Miss Darcy is to join us as well. I understand she is looking forward to going riding." Mr Bingley continued.
"It will be a pleasure to see Miss Darcy again." Mrs Bennet said, "is Mr Darcy to bring her?"
"No, ma'am. I believe he has business in town that requires his attention for sometime. I am not sure when we will see him again in Hertfordshire."
"That is such a pity." Mrs Bennet said happily.
ooOoo
Georgiana had been awake very early that morning, for she had not slept well. Her concern for her brother and her excitement at seeing Hertfordshire, a place she had heard so much about, were to blame although not equally.
Fitzwilliam did not appear for breakfast as was his habit. She had expected to see him before leaving to call on Miss Bingley, however, she heard from the housekeeper, Mrs Williams, that he had not eaten and had left the house very early that morning. She did not know where her master had gone, Georgiana thanked her and ate her own breakfast, wondering about where her brother could be.
ooOoo
Elizabeth didn't leave her father's room until it was time to go to sleep, though Jane joined her after Mr Bingley had left, she could not convince Elizabeth to take a break. The next morning Jane went to her father's study after an early breakfast to attend to his letters as she had taken it upon herself to do, and she saw the letter for Elizabeth lying next to the pile for her father. It was not in a handwriting that was familiar to her.
She once she had attending to her father's affairs she went in search for her sister, the letter in hand. She found her sitting in her room, by the window, a book resting on her lap quite forgotten, she was staring out of the window, deep in thought.
"Lizzy, can I come in?" She asked quietly.
Elizabeth looked up, surprised to see her. "Of course."
"How is Papa?"
"He is a little better, he is washing."
Jane sat down next to her sister, on the window seat. "A letter came for you." She handed it to her, "I didn't recognize the hand."
Elizabeth pale face coloured and she opened the letter quickly, but then breathed a sigh of relief.
"It is from Miss Darcy, though it did not look like her hand on the address. I thought for a moment that he had-" she did not finishing explaining. Jane was in no doubt who he was, but she decided not to push her sister further for the moment. "That is odd, it is dated quite some time ago."
"She is coming to stay at Netherfield, Mr Bingley told us yesterday." Jane said, "Caroline Bingley is coming back and she is joining her. It will be pleasant to have ladies in the house again. I fear Mr Bingley has been rather lonely on his own."
Elizabeth murmured in agreement, but her attention was devoted to reading her letter, which was a long one. Jane left her to read it in peace.
Note - James Collins is William Collins younger brother. He is not going to inherit Longbourn after Mr Bennet dies. Mr William Collins is the heir.