Page 51 of A Most Favourable Match

Over the next few days, Jane wilted noticeably. Elizabeth had noticed her sister fading slowly since the earliest days of her engagement, but its likely ending now seemed to have radically speeded up this process so that it could no longer be hidden from anyone.

Losing her colour, her spirit and her appetite, on the third day, Jane did not even rise from bed in the morning. When Elizabeth’s gentle encouragement failed, she went downstairs to inform her aunt and uncle that Jane was indisposed.

“What is to be done, Lizzy?” asked a worried Mrs Gardiner, emerging from the bedroom after examining the invalid. “Jane says she does not need to have the physician, and nor will she be sent home, but she is very ill, it seems to me. Is something bothering her? Is it that Lord Grantchester has not called this week?”

Elizabeth nodded slowly and soberly. “You may be right, Aunt,” she said carefully, not wishing to reveal the content of Lord Grantchester’s last letter, if Jane herself had chosen not to do so. “Lord Grantchester has indeed been absent this week.”

“But Jane has said nothing to you about what is troubling her?”

Hesitating, Elizabeth considered her words. She could not lie to her aunt, but nor could she reveal Jane’s secrets. “I will go in and speak with Jane again,” Elizabeth replied, skirting around a direct answer. “Do go and eat your breakfast, Aunt. I will come downstairs and join you shortly.”

Although she regarded her niece thoughtfully, Mrs Gardiner nodded. Much to Elizabeth’s relief, she did not press her on what Jane might already have confided, at least for now. “Very well, Lizzy. See what you can do and what help Jane needs, but do persuade her to at least see a physician. It is better to nip these things in the bud quickly, lest they turn into a serious decline.”

That was a frightening thought indeed, especially as Elizabeth was conscious that Jane’s present state of imperfect wellbeing was of longer standing than their aunt realised. Though she went back into the bedroom with her fears weighing on her heart like a lead weight, Elizabeth did her best to smile soothingly at her sister. It would not do to make Jane feel any worse than she already did.

Jane smiled back, but only weakly. “I told Aunt Gardiner not to worry about me. I am only so very tired,” she said.

“To be so tired is a sign of ill-health,” replied Elizabeth, sitting down on the edge of the bed and smoothing Jane’s pillow. “Aunt Gardiner wishes you to see the physician, and she may be right.”

Jane shook her head listlessly. “There is no point, Lizzy. I do not know what is wrong with me, but it is nothing that a physician or apothecary can fix, Isuspect.”

“If you are still so tired tomorrow, may we call the physician?” Elizabeth pressed, even while supposing that Jane’s assessment of her own condition was correct. “It would be best, Jane, and it might set Aunt Gardiners’s mind to rest. She is worried about you now, and so am I.”

Jane closed her eyes, her expression unhappy. “I do not want to cause anyone bother or distress,” she sighed. “You must do as you think best, Lizzy. I cannot understand what ails me, never mind how to fix it.”

Elizabeth kissed Jane’s forehead and rose to her feet. “Aunt asked me about Lord Grantchester,” she warned her sister. “She has noticed his absence this week. What would you have me say?”

The question seemed to make Jane more miserable and indecisive than ever. At last, she opened her eyes and looked back at Elizabeth. “I wrote back to him, Lizzy,” she admitted softly. “It took me almost three days, and for such a short message. The letter was sent yesterday.”

“What did you say?” Elizabeth asked, but Jane had already closed her eyes and turned her face away on the pillow.

It was only too clear that Jane did not wish to, or perhaps could not bear to answer. Though practicality might have suggested demanding an answer, her sister was too weak and dispirited to be pressed. Elizabeth decided to pursue the matter later.

All the same, she would have given a great deal toread that letter. Jane had replied to Lord Grantchester, and it had been a short message, but what had she said?

∞∞∞

Elizabeth paced the upper landing at Gracechurch Street. Jane had now been in bed for two full days, and Mr and Mrs Gardiner had called in their physician, Dr Groves, regardless of Jane’s protestations that she was only tired and would be well again soon.

In their letters back to Longbourn this week, Elizabeth and her aunt had both felt bound to mention Jane’s indisposition. Still, Elizabeth had taken care not to raise any unnecessary alarm and had stated a confidence that Jane would rally again soon that she did not really feel.

Would it be better for Jane to remain in London in hope of a reconciliation with Lord Grantchester, or to remove herself from either hoping or stumbling into distressing chance meetings? At this stage, it was hard to tell. Once the engagement’s break was publicly known, Jane would likely be better in the countryside, but for now, Elizabeth supposed Jane saw such removal as too drastic a step.

Dr Groves was presently in the bedroom examining Jane, accompanied by their aunt. Elizabeth had been sharing a bedroom with her eldest niece so that Jane need not be disturbed. Though the examination did not last long, it seemed like hours before the portly old man emerged from the room, black bag in hand and deepin conversation with Mrs Gardiner. Their grave faces struck fresh fear into Elizabeth’s heart.

“How is my sister?” Elizabeth asked immediately. “Do you know what is wrong?”

Dr Groves looked sympathetically at Elizabeth and smiled. “I do not believe there is anything wrong with Miss Bennet in body. It is a tiredness of spirit that ails her and communicates itself to the world through corporeal means. As I was just telling Mrs Gardiner, my recommendation is that your sister should have clean air, wholesome food, and no excitement for some weeks.”

“I do think it best if Jane returns to Longbourn,” Mrs Gardiner put in regretfully. “It is not that it is any inconvenience to nurse her here in Gracechurch Street, but the air is cleaner and the atmosphere more peaceful in Hertfordshire.”

“Yes, do persuade your niece, Mrs Gardiner. The countryside would be much better for her at present, however much she protests.”

“We will work on her, won’t we, Lizzy?” replied Mrs Gardiner, with a glance to Elizabeth. “I think the main problem is that her betrothed remains in London.”

“Ah,” Dr Groves acknowledged with a knowing smile. “I see how it is. Yes, do persuade Miss Bennet to remove herself, even if her young man remains here. A few weeks or months apart is a small price to pay for good health.”

“It is. Do you think Lord Grantchester could be convinced to go back to Hertfordshire before the end ofthe Season, Lizzy? That might make it easier to bring Jane around, might it not?”