by Lynne Robson
Elizabeth laughed and said, “If Charlotte had told me that you were this mischievous, I would never have believed her. From what Mr. Collins told us, I was expecting you to be someone quite different. My father told me not to believe what he said and now I know why.” Looking at her timepiece, she said to Lady Catherine, “ I had better start to make my way back to the parsonage now. Charlotte will be worried since I told her I would not be long yet already several hours have passed.”
“Yes, well I’ll accompany you to show you the shortest way back.”
Chapter Four
Saturday soon came, and early that afternoon, her ladyship’s nephews, and niece arrived at Rosings Park. Lady Catherine sent word to the parsonage that the ladies were invited to join her for afternoon tea. In fact, the whole of the party were also invited to dinner that evening, including Mr. Collins once he had finished his sermon for the morrow.
At 3 o’clock, precisely the ladies arrived at Rosings to be introduced to Lady Catherine’s nephews and niece. Elizabeth noticed a beautiful blond haired girl sat next to her brother holding his hand, and looking at the floor. She felt very sorry for this young girl as she could see that she was terribly shy and was uncomfortable in the presence of three strange women.
“Mrs Collins, Miss Bennet, and Miss Lucas, may I introduce you to my nephews Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam and Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy, also my niece Miss Georgiana Darcy,” Lady Catherine said.
At each introduction the ladies curtsied, the Colonel then started to converse with Charlotte and Mariah. Mr Darcy then approached Elizabeth,
“Hello Miss Bennet. It’s a pleasure to see you again,” He then bowed respectfully as Elizabeth curtsied. “My aunt has told me how much she has been enjoying your company over the last three weeks. May I introduce my sister to you?”
“Of course Mr. Darcy, the pleasure would be mine sir,” Elizabeth answered.
“Georgiana, this is Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire. Miss Bennet, this is my sister Miss Georgiana Darcy.” Georgiana and Elizabeth curtsied.
Elizabeth then said, “It is wonderful to meet you Miss Darcy, your aunt and brother have told me so much about you. I hear you love music and play exceptionally well.”
Georgiana coloured and said, “Yes, I do love music, but I do not play as well as I should like to, Miss Bennet. My brother has told me how much he enjoys your playing and singing.”
Elizabeth smiled, “I am afraid that he has misled you, I do play but very ill indeed. I am afraid coming from a family of five girls, I get very little time at practicing, but enjoy playing when I can.”
“My brother never lies Miss Bennet, he tells the absolute truth. Tell me, what is it like to have a sister? I wish I had one. Then again, I have a wonderful brother.”
“It is wonderful to have sisters, but there can be problems as well,” said Elizabeth with a teasing smile. “That is being able keeping hold of your personal possessions. You find that someone is always borrowing them without permission or forgetting to return them when they do have your permission. Then again having a sister like Jane is wonderful. We can talk about everything and anything. It is nice to have someone to rely on and to be able to confide in when you need to, knowing that person will keep your confidence. What is it like to have a brother? I have always wanted a brother but it was not to be.”
“It is wonderful to have a brother, he has been my tower of strength since my parents deaths, and has helped me through many trials,” Miss Darcy replied smiling affectionately at her brother. Then to lighten the mood of the talk Miss Darcy asked, “Miss Bennet, I do hope that tonight you will play for us after dinner I would love to hear you play and sing.”
“Yes, if you wish, I will play this evening,” Elizabeth promised smiling at her.
Later, Miss Darcy excused herself as she said that she was feeling tired and that she would like to rest before dinner.
Once Miss Darcy had left the room the Colonel approached Elizabeth smiling saying, “At last we meet Miss Bennet, I have heard so much about you.”
Elizabeth looked puzzled.
“Both my aunt and Darcy have told me all about you, I will have to tell my father that I met his old friend Thomas Bennet’s second eldest daughter. Have you met my father Miss Bennet?”
“No, I am afraid not to my knowledge, since my Grandma’s death seven and a half years ago, my father has not visited many of his friends in London as he tends to keep to his library. Although, only Jane and I are allowed in to my father’s library and because of this, he has taught us the love of the written word,” Elizabeth told the Colonel.
“How are the rest of your family, Miss Bennet?” asked Mr Darcy.
“When I left them two weeks ago my mother and younger sisters were fine, although, my father was feeling a bit sad because I would be gone for so long. My sister Jane has been in London for the last few months, as Jane, as not been herself for some time, and I am extremely worried about her,” Elizabeth replied unhappily.
Mr. Darcy looked at Elizabeth and replied “What’s the matter with Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth?”
“Since last November when Mr. Bingley left Hertfordshire she has been quiet and withdrawn. My aunt and uncle Gardiner took her to London, to see if they could bring her out of sadness, as she loves their children we all thought it might help her,” Elizabeth told him.
“I am sorry to hear that. I hope her stay in Town would help her to recover her spirits,” Mr Darcy said with some concern.
“Oh, by the way, Miss Bingley wrote and said that Miss Darcy and Mr. Bingley are newly betrothed. I am sorry, but forgot to congratulate her.”
“My sister is not betrothed to Mr. Bingley, why she is not out yet and only just 16 years old,” replied Mr. Darcy sounding rather angry and disturbed.
“Is she not? But Miss Bingley told us they are to be married,” an astonished Elizabeth said.
“I hope that she has not been writing this to anyone else, her brother would be extremely annoyed to hear this, and I must say I am as well, she has no right to spread such untruths. What else did she say?”
“Miss Bingley wrote to Jane when they left for London, informing her that they were leaving to arrange their brothers marriage, as he was newly betrothed to Miss Darcy, and that the marriage was to be held in July at St Paul’s in London,” Elizabeth told him, sounding confused.
“Good God!” Cried Mr Darcy, “She has gone too far this time. Mr. Bingley had to leave for town because he is selling part of his business. His father was a carriage maker of the highest repute and now he wants to become part of the landed gentry, like his father had always planned to do. He only was going to let Netherfield for a couple of years until he could find an estate to his liking. Last time I spoke to him, he was talking of returning to Netherfield, as he was contemplating marriage to Miss Jane. Did he not return then?”
“No, we have not seen him since the ball at Netherfield. My sister has been in town since January and visited Miss Bingley. However, it took Miss Bingley a whole month before returning the call, which I think, was abominably rude of her. She informed Jane that Mr. Bingley knew of her presence in town, but did not want to see her, as he was too busy with his fiancée, Miss Darcy”
“Mmm! I will bet he does not know of Miss Jane being in town. Knowing Miss Bingley, she will have kept this from him. I know I told him that I could not see any affection for him in Miss Jane’s countenance, but then again I told him that he knew her best and to follow his heart,” he thought. Aloud, he said, “ We know that Miss Bingley has lied about this, so it is most likely that Mr. Bingley does not know about your sister being in town.”
Lady Catherine, who had been listening to the conversation, with alarm, said, “Why don’t you invite Mr. Bingley to the ball? Elizabeth could then invite her sister to come as well. Elizabeth could give Jane the excuse that as I know her father well I would like to meet another of his daughters. Then I am sure she would come, not wanting to offend me by refu
sing.”
“Oh! Lady Catherine you are too generous, Jane would love to come, I am sure.” Elizabeth replied excitedly, “Pray, did you write to my father of what we have been speaking of earlier on this week?”
Mr. Darcy looked surprised at this and looked over at his aunt, who laughed at him.
“Yes, I did and got a reply this morning informing me of his plans to deal with the problem and I heartily agree with him.” Lady Catherine then turned her attention to the Colonel, saying, “Richard, do you know a Colonel James Forster of the Derbyshire Militia?”
Colonel Fitzwilliam, who had been talking to Charlotte and Maria, looked over to Lady Catherine, and replied “Yes, I know Colonel Forster, he was a bit of a ladies man at one time, and has just married a girl half his age.”
“Did you know Mr. Wickham is in his regiment in Meryton?” asked Lady Catherine looking at Mr. Darcy.
“Good God! Wickham in the Militia!” The Colonel said sounding surprised, “No, I wasn’t aware of this information. I will have to write to Colonel Forster and inform him about Mr. Wickham’s character.”
“Richard, I have already informed Mr. Bennet all about Wickham. He will inform Colonel Forster regarding Mr. Wickham’s, despicable behaviour with our family and others. I have explained to Mr. Bennet how he has seduced quite a few young girls in Lambton. I did this because I felt he needed to know, as he has three young daughters whom Wickham will target.”
“I hope you did not tell him everything Aunt Catherine,” said Darcy thinking of his poor sister’s reputation.
“Don’t worry William I have only informed Elizabeth, I told Mr Bennet the history of Mr Wickham and the young girls at Lambton. I have also informed him of how Wickham refused the inheritance your father intended for him with the church, and instead squandered the money you compensated to him. Mr Bennet has young daughters he needs to protect from Mr Wickham and people like him,” Lady Catherine replied.
“Elizabeth, I have told your father about a extremely good school to send your younger sisters to, which will help them calm down. I know you never went to one, but you and your elder sister had excellent teachers, your Grandma Alice, and your father, therefore, he is now thinking of sending them to a school. Miss Peace’s school for young women is an excellent school and he mentions in his letter that he is going to send them there for a year or maybe longer. ”
“Thank you Lady Catherine, my three younger sisters have been left to their own devices for too long. When does he plan to send them to this school?”
“He told me they start next Monday so they will be gone by the time you go home. Moreover, according to your father, your mother is now not speaking to him and has taken to her bed; therefore, it is very peaceful and quiet now at Longbourn. He said that wished he had thought of doing this much sooner!”
Elizabeth laughed, “ Oh! Dear Mama will be locked away for weeks trying to get him to change his mind, by either entreating him or stony silence. It never works, as he will just lock himself in his library or go visit my aunt and uncle Gardiner or he could even turn up here… so be forewarned!” Thinking about her sisters Elizabeth added sorrowfully, “ I am sorry to hear that they will be sent away immediately as I will not be able to say goodbye and wish them well. I suppose that I will be able to write to Mary, Kitty and Lydia, and I hope for their sakes they will work hard whilst they are there”
Not long after this Charlotte, Maria, and Elizabeth left to get ready for dinner that evening. On their arrival at the parsonage, they found that Mr. Collins had finished his sermon, so he could attend that evening with the ladies.
Chapter Five
Dinner was a very lively affair, the ladies retired to the music room whilst the men had their port.
“I hope Mr. Collins does not make too much of a fool of himself this evening,” Charlotte said quietly to Elizabeth. “You know I feel very sorry for him, he did not have a happy childhood; his father treated him terribly, making him grovel for everything he needed. I think that is why he still does it today, with Lady Catherine and her nephews.”
“My father told me that Mr. Collins senior was not a very nice person,” Elizabeth replied.
“Mr Collins doesn’t speak very highly of him so I guess he wasn’t,” Charlotte said agreeing with Elizabeth.
Wanting to change the subject, Miss Darcy asked, “Miss Bennet will you please play and sing for us tonight, I would dearly love to hear you and I know my brother would as well.”
“Of course I will play, as I promised you earlier, but you must also do me a favour by playing for us, too!” Elizabeth replied.
“Oh no, I could not possibly do that, not in front of all these people, I have only played for my brother and the Colonel before.” replied Miss Darcy
“Will you turn the pages for me? If you will play, I will turn the pages for you so we will give one another courage to perform. Do you want to my know a secret?” Miss Darcy inclined her head in agreement. “Focus on the music and do not look around you, you will forget that you are in a room full of people and only the music will matter. If you play something, you know well and close your eyes that help too. That is what I do. ”
Miss Darcy looked at Elizabeth and smiled “I’ll try that but promise me you will stay at my side when I play.”
“Yes, of course I will,” Elizabeth, replied kindly since Miss Darcy was still rather apprehensive.
Therefore, that night the whole party was delighted with music from Elizabeth and Miss Darcy. Mr. Darcy was very proud of his sister, but was very surprised and glad to hear her playing to a room of so many people. Later, when Miss Darcy retired, Mr. Darcy approached Elizabeth before she left and thanked her for helping his sister.
“Mr. Darcy you have a wonderful sister, she just needs to be encouraged. I explained to her that if she focuses on the music, like she did tonight, she would forget about the people in the room. I also told her that if she plays something she knows well enough to play without a music score and closes her eyes and just plays, her nerves would not show, and she would play beautifully, which she did, do you not agree?”
“Yes Miss Bennet, we have all told her this before, but until now she has not taken any advice from us. You seem to have given her back some of her old self-confidence. I am very grateful to see this, as she has been so low since last summer. My aunt told me she has explained what happened with Georgiana and Wickham in the summer last year.”
“Yes, indeed she did and I am sorry such a scoundrel was allowed to hurt her so, she is such a lovely young girl; you must be very proud of her.”
“I am indeed, and I must say it is nice to see her start to open up. She seems to do this with you much more than she has done with any of her relations, even Lady Catherine could not reach her like you have.”
“I am glad to be of assistance, Mr. Darcy. I must go now since the rest of my party is taking leave. I am sure we will see you some time during the week, or maybe I will see you on one of my walks in and around the groves like I do, Lady Catherine”
“Yes, well perhaps you will, until then, goodnight Miss Bennet. ”
Mr. Darcy and the Colonel escorted them all to Lady Catherine’s awaiting coach handing the ladies into the coach.
Chapter Six
Elizabeth was correct when she said that her father would turn up at Rosings to see his old friends. On the day of the Easter Ball, the Earl and Countess of Matlock, along with Mr. Bennet arrived at Rosings laughing and talking of old times.
Therefore, when Elizabeth arrived back at the parsonage from her morning walk, she found her father waiting for her at the parsonage. He explained that he was the guest of the Earl of Matlock at Rosings Park and that he would like to introduce her to his long time friend. After they afternoon tea with the rest of the inhabitants of the parsonage, they both then set off for Rosings Park. Once at Rosings they were shown into the Chinese Room, there with seated with Lady Catherine was a distinguished gentleman and a handsome women in her early fifties
. When the gentleman noted who had arrived he arose from his chair in welcome. Mr Bennet then introduced his daughter,
