Page 63 of Roses from Pemberley
“Well, Iknowyou are right,” said Mrs. Bennet. “In fact, when I went to pick up my boots earlier, Mr. Crump had the audacity to ask me how, precisely, I was related to Lady Catherine. And, not wishing for any more impertinence on his part, I told him that my daughter was engaged to her nephew.”
“Mamma!” cried Elizabeth.
While Darcy said, “Really, I do not mind.”
After another half hour of convivial conversation, the gentlemen announced their intention to depart.
“But my aunt would like to have all of you over to Rosings again for dinner tomorrow,” said Darcy. “if you are free.”
“We would be delighted,” said Charlotte, with murmurs of acquiescence from the rest of the group.
Elizabeth and Jane walked their suitors to the gate and bade them farewell.
But Elizabeth stayed there for some time, even after Jane had gone back inside, looking after Darcy as the phaeton drove further and further away.
“I love you, Fitzwilliam,” she murmured, then followed her sister inside.
CHAPTER 27 An Express from Hertfordshire
The following evening, the party from the parsonage sat in Lady Catherine's drawing room, talking animately in small groups. Elizabeth purposely sat beside Lady Matlock in order to gauge her reaction to the courtship and see if she harboured any resentment towards her. But that lady remained as gracious as ever and only repeated her congratulations, stating how she knewthat Elizabeth would make Darcy happy.
It was during dinner that an express rider was shown into the room and presented Mrs. Bennet with a letter. Not wishing to wait, she opened it in front of the entire company.
When Elizabeth would think about that moment days later, she realised how composed her mother had been. And she doubted that she herself could have done a better job of hiding her acute and utter devastation. For Mrs. Bennet only gave a gasp, looked briefly round the room and stated, “I am afraid we must leave.”
“What is it, Mamma?” asked Jane, now rising and going to their mother.
“Your father has suffered an apoplexy,” she answered, with more composure than Elizabeth had ever thought was in her, “because Lydia…has eloped.”
Mrs. Bennet strode from the room in a fit of tears and was followed by Jane, and then Elizabeth. She went directly to the drawing room and stood at the center of it, before being guided into a chair by Jane. Darcy followed not long after that, bearing a glass of sherry and offering it to Mrs. Bennet. She took a tentative sip while the others followed behind him.
“We apologise for ruining your dinner, Lady Catherine…” said Elizabeth.
Lady Catherine sailed in and surprisingly sat next to her mother. “Please, Miss Elizabeth, now is not the time.” She then turned her attention to Mrs. Bennet. “Will you not share the rest of the letter with us and tell us how we may be of service?”
She looked around, still clutching the letter, and her eyes alighted on Mr. Darcy. And it was yet another source of puzzlement to Elizabeth as to why she chose that gentlemen to give the letter to.
“Please read that aloud, Mr. Darcy,” she said. “Everyone may as well hear the truth. For I am afraid it cannot be long contained.”
He nodded briefly, glanced at the letter, and began to speak. “It is from Miss Mary Bennet and addressed from Longbourn…”
Dear Mamma,
I must ask for your return to Longbourn as several dreadful things have recently happened that require your immediate presence. It seems that Lydia has been in the habit of sneaking out and meeting with Mr. Wickham. And today, Kitty received a note from her that she has eloped with him.Unfortunately, Maria Lucas was with Kitty when she opened the note and now everyone in the neighbourhood is aware of it. Colonel Forster undertook to find them and was shocked to discover that they headed for London instead of Scotland. Papa was beside himself, and had been about to go in search of them when he was taken by a sudden apoplexy. He now lies in his bed and has not spoken a word since.
I have tried to keep the family together as best I can, with the assistance of Aunt Philips. Our uncle has, in turn, ridden to London to request help from the Gardiners.
I am not certain what more can be done, however, because our father may not have long to live, and our family’s reputation is in ruins…
Darcy stopped abruptly and no one spoke. Elizabeth wondered briefly what he was thinking, but then she realised that there was no time for that. She needed to get Jane and her mother to Hertfordshire and nothing else mattered.
“My mother is right,” said Elizabeth, breaking the silence. “I am afraid we must leave you now.”
She went to her mother and was about to assist her to stand but was forestalled by Lady Catherine.
“I do not think your mother is in any state to leave just yet, Miss Elizabeth,” she said gently. “Pray, allow her a moment or two while we consider the situation.” She stood up and looked quizzically at Lord Matlock who only gave her a slight nod. She turned to Elizabeth. “I would like to offer my carriage for your trip home. My coachman will drive, and two footmen will accompany you. But I am afraid it is too dark to leave now. So you had best leave first thing in the morning.”
“I thank you for offering your carriage, Aunt,” said Darcy, “but I feel it would be more efficacious if they went in mine. For I too will be leaving tomorrow.”
