Page 42 of Roses from Pemberley
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“Mamma! Why did you do that?” asked Elizabeth once the gentlemen had left.
“Because they deserved it!” answered her mother. “And also because I was so worried that you would die!” Elizabeth stared at her mother who continued, “But I cannot believe that the two of you did not see it before. In fact, I cannot believe thatIdid not see it.”
“See what, Mamma?” asked Jane.
“Why, that you have been treated shabbily by those gentlemen.”
Elizabeth and Jane were silent for some moments, before Jane said, “But what if they never come back?”
“Never come back! Nonsense. What decent gentleman does not return for the woman he loves simply because he wastaken to task for his poor behaviour? And is that the kind of gentleman you would wish to marry?”
Jane blinked, then eventually murmured, “I never thought about it that way before, Mamma.”
“They shall return,” said Mrs. Bennet with confidence.
Elizabeth, however, was still focused on what her mother had said about the gentlemen loving them. “And what makes you think Mr. Darcy loves me, Mamma?”
“I do not know,” said Mrs. Bennet, with a shrug. “I just assumed…from the way he was sitting with you in the garden…”
“It was very kind of you to defend me earlier,” said Elizabeth, despite not knowing if she was thankful or angry at her mother, “but just because he sat in the garden with me does not mean he loves me.”
“Well, if he does not, then it is his loss!” Mrs. Bennet took another bite of cake and added, “This is really quite good, Charlotte.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Bennet.”
Elizabeth was just beginning to relax a little when her mother assaulted her with yet another question. “So are you interested in him, Lizzy?”
“What are you talking about, Mamma?”
“I am talking about Mr. Darcy,” answered Mrs. Bennet with a huff. She finished off her cake then put the plate down. “Areyou interested in him?”
Elizabeth was caught. She did not wish to lie about it, but also did not wish to divulge her hopes, only to have them come to naught. And possibly become an object of pity.
“Well, perhaps I might have been,” she finally answered, “But what does it signify when you may have frightened him off?”
“Do not say that, Lizzy,” said Jane unexpectedly. “I agree with Mamma, and believe that they will return.”
Elizabeth stared at her sister and mother, feeling as if she were in another world. She sagged against the cushions of the couch and realised that she needed more than several hours to ponder what had happened that afternoon. Mrs. Bennet had always been protective of them but this was completely unexpected, even for her. Elizabeth supposed that it was her brush with death that had caused her mother to behave so fiercely. And erratically.
Eventually she said, “Very well, Jane, Mamma. I shall believe you when you say they shall return. However, might I have someone’s assistance to go upstairs? I feel quite exhausted and need to lie down for a moment.”
CHAPTER 19 Conversation in the Parlour
The gentlemen walked in silence for some time, both still unable to come to terms with Mrs. Bennet’s stern reproofs.
“Can you believe that?” said Bingley as they reached the middle of the lane.
“No,” said Darcy with wide eyes, still feeling dazed, “I would never have expected it of Mrs. Bennet.”
“Nor would I.”
They were silent once more, and Darcy realised that what he had said at the assembly must have been heard by Elizabeth. He always suspected it but now it had been confirmed.
“What shall we do?” asked Bingley.
“You are asking me? What doyouthink we should do?”
