by Zoë Burton
“Good afternoon, Mr. Collins. How good it is to see you.” Bingley, ever the gregarious gentleman, greeted his visitors with a bow and performed introductions where necessary.
As usual, Mr. Collins felt it necessary to flatter the Darcys. After all, should something happen to Lady Catherine, Mr. Darcy had much more to offer him than anyone else of his acquaintance. It never hurt to place oneself in good standing with such a powerful gentleman. It was possible for Darcy to give him a living. Then, he might be able to hire a curate to serve the Hunsford church while Collins himself could serve the Darcys.
Once everyone was seated, they spent time catching up with each other’s news. Inquiries were made and replied to in regards to the felicity of the new couples and the progress of the wedding plans. Mr. Collins offered to assist Meryton’s rector with the ceremony, an offer that was graciously declined. Eventually, having sat listening for a few minutes as his wife relayed news about her parents’ plans to travel to Kent for a visit, he thought of his patroness and the news there, and decided to share it with Mr. Darcy.
“Your aunt and cousin are well, Mr. Darcy. I visited Rosings yesterday morning, before my dear Penelope and I began our trip here.”
Darcy did not wish to encourage the obsequious man, and so merely nodded. His lack of response, of course, did not deter his wife’s cousin.
“Miss de Bourgh has a new companion; you know this, of course.”
Despite himself, Darcy’s interest was piqued. While he was in frequent contact with both Lady Catherine and Lord Matlock, his aunt and uncle, only so much could be conveyed in a letter. With Mr. Collins’ propensity to gossip, Darcy might get a clearer picture of what was really happening with his cousin on a day to day basis. This did not prevent him from speaking in monosyllables. He still did not like the cleric. “I do.”
“Miss de Bourgh is given a special tea to keep her calm, and it has been a great success. She has, however, had one or two instances where she has become … belligerent … and her companion has had to step in. The woman is magnificent! She immediately speaks to Miss de Bourgh in a firm tone of voice and reminds her of some agreement they have, and there is an immediate cessation of the behavior. It is amazing to watch.”
Darcy nodded. He had suspected that this herbal tonic his uncle said Anne was getting might not be as efficacious as they had all hoped. “Have they considered changing the dosage in the tea?”
“Lady Catherine did say, just a few days before I left, that her daughter had required a larger dose.’
“When Miss de Bourgh has become recalcitrant, has she made threats to her mother or anyone else?”
“Not when I have witnessed it, and Lady Catherine has not shared with me if she has.”
“No,” Darcy murmured, “I expect not.” He took a moment to reflect and then continued his questioning. “Has my cousin spoken to you directly, about … anything?”
“No, Mr. Darcy. I have found it both strange and relieving that she seems to not see me, or recognize me. I could be mistaken; I only know that she does not speak to either my wife or me, and says very little to her mother.”
Darcy nodded again. “Thank you.” He lapsed once more into contemplation, and Collins, seeing that he had lost the gentleman’s attention, turned his own toward the rest of the party.
~~~***~~~
After the rector and his wife left Netherfield, Darcy took his wife to their chambers for a nap. He insisted she was tired and Elizabeth was too enamored of what she suspected would happen to object overmuch.
Once they had undressed and settled under the covers, Darcy asked her opinion of Mr. Collins’ news regarding Anne.
“I am happy she is subdued. It sounded to me as though your uncle’s letters, as well of those from Lady Catherine, were reasonably accurate.”
“It does seem as though they had the right of it. I had been concerned that my uncle and cousins were hiding the facts, but if Collins is correct, he provides evidence to support their claims.”
“Will you still avoid Rosings?”
“Until I am assured that Anne has let go of her obsession, yes. I have no wish to stir whatever fantasies she may still have, nor do I wish to rile her temper towards you.”
“I understand; to be honest, I am glad to hear it. I feel an uneasiness about the situation myself. I will not rule out a visit in the future, though.”
“No, nor I.” Darcy shifted his position, rising up on his elbow to look down at his wife. “Enough conversation, Mrs. Darcy. I have a better use for your lips.”
With those words, Darcy captured her mouth with his. The couple was not seen by the rest of the party before dinner was announced.
~~~***~~~
The day of the wedding finally arrived, sunny and warm with a delightful breeze to keep it from becoming too hot. Through the herculean efforts of Elizabeth and her younger sisters, Bingley had been kept away from Jane the entirety of the day before. Now he stood at the altar, Darcy by his side, as he waited for Jane and her father to appear in the back of the church. He allowed himself a moment of distraction, watching his sister Louisa and her husband, Reginal Hurst, find seats. The Hursts had arrived two days ago, and for the first time in their three-year marriage, he had enjoyed their visit. How different everything is with Caroline married and gone!
Bingley knew Caroline would not be in attendance today. While it saddened him, he understood the Meades’ reasoning. Caroline could not bring herself to be in the presence of the Darcys just yet, and Meade had hopes that keeping her away from them would expedite Caroline’s recovery from her disappointment.
A brief stir in the crowd and a change in the cadence of conversation turned Bingley’s attention back to the end of the aisle. There stood his beloved, one hand on her father’s arm and the other holding a bouquet of her favorite flowers. Though it was not the right time of year for them, Darcy’s conservatory at Pemberley had an abundance of the blooms, and he had sent for them as a gift to the bride.
Not soon enough for Bingley’s liking, Jane was at his side. Unable to tear his eyes away from her, he went through the entire ceremony with his gaze riveted on the bride, though he repeated his vows and followed the ceremony without a mistake.
Chapter 11
At the back of the church sat Mrs. Bennet. She had spent most of the last weeks in her rooms, unwilling to face her husband and an empty house. With no daughters at home to attend her, she was alone except for her maid, and she could not confide in a servant.
Each word that her girls had slung at Mrs. Bennet had hit home. They were correct—she had not liked her second daughter from the day of her birth. Elizabeth had not been the easy baby Jane was; she was fussy all the time. Nothing Mrs. Bennet had done had eased the child. Try as she might, Elizabeth seemed to want nothing to do with her mother. The same was not the case with the other adults in the house. Mr. Bennet, his mother, and even the wet-nurse had more success in calming Elizabeth than Mrs. Bennet did. That, she began to recognize, was the beginning of her dislike for her second daughter.
As Elizabeth had grown, little changed. She still preferred anyone but her mother. Then, when the girl began to read, that was all she did, much to Mrs. Bennet’s consternation. As she grew older, Elizabeth and her mother grew even further apart. Mr. Bennet’s preference for his second daughter became more prominent the older Elizabeth became, and Mrs. Bennet felt more and more left out. Along with this came the mortifying realization by Mrs. Bennet that she did not understand above half of what came out of Elizabeth’s mouth.
One of the things that had drawn Mrs. Bennet to her husband when they were first introduced, back when she was Miss Gardiner, was that he was educated. Well educated. Mrs. Bennet was not; the fact that such a handsome, intelligent gentleman had taken a liking to the uneducated daughter of a country attorney amazed and flattered her. It never mattered that she did not understand what he said. It did matter, however, when it was her child who spoke that way. Mrs. Bennet often suspected El
izabeth laughed at her, and while she must accept that in her husband, she did not have to from her daughter.
The final problem, the one that Mrs. Bennet was most vocal about, was that Elizabeth was not ladylike, at least not in her mother’s eyes. She preferred to walk hither and yon through all manner of weather and dirt instead of sitting in the parlor with her stitching. When a girl, Elizabeth had often arrived at home for meals in ripped and muddied pinafores caused by climbing trees and fighting with the neighborhood boys. To her mother, the girl was incorrigible, defiant, and ungrateful. She refused to obey, and Mr. Bennet refused to force her.
In short, Mrs. Bennet had never experienced anything like her second daughter, had no idea how to manage the child, and instead of asking for assistance from her friends and family, Mrs. Bennet simply withdrew from the girl. Her dislike of Elizabeth’s behavior grew into dislike of Elizabeth, herself. While she was aware that a good mother did not despise her own child, Mrs. Bennet could not help herself. As the years passed, she gave up even trying to hide it. It became second nature to her to disparage and revile her second daughter.
And now, she was a guest at her eldest daughter’s wedding when she should have been in charge of it. Over the last weeks, as she had continued to turn her girls’ words over in her mind, she had begun to understand the damage she had done to her family.
As much as it pained her to admit wrongdoing, Mrs. Bennet knew she must apologize to her daughters. All of them. She still was not fond of Elizabeth. It was how she felt, and she could not help her feelings. However, she had allowed them to rule her actions, and that was improper. She could hear her mother’s voice in her ear, telling her to modify her behavior. Mrs. Bennet sighed. It would be difficult to swallow even more of her pride than she already had, but it must be done. She would wait until the breakfast, she decided.
The ceremony had ended, and the families left their seats, walking towards the back of the church, where the door was. Mr. Bennet stopped short for just a moment as he caught sight of his wife in the last pew. He quickly collected his wits and continued on. When he arrived at Mrs. Bennet’s side, he bowed and extended his elbow, giving her a small smile as she tucked her hand under it. The couple were the first out of the church and positioned themselves by the door.
A few minutes later, once the registry had been signed, Darcy and Elizabeth also exited the church, swiftly moving to the side out of the way of the bride and groom. As her father had, Elizabeth paused to see her mother standing outside the church, dressed in her finest gown. She said nothing, merely nodding to acknowledge Mrs. Bennet’s presence and moving away.
Within a few minutes, the newly-minted Mr. and Mrs. Bingley stepped out the door, faces glowing with happiness. The crowd lining the path to Bingley’s open carriage cheered them on. Soon, the carriage had lurched into motion, taking the happy couple to Netherfield. The wedding guests, eager to partake of the breakfast, began ascending into their own equipages to make the three-mile trip.
~~~***~~~
Once inside the ballroom at Netherfield, and having partaken in a refreshing round of kisses, Jane and Bingley turned toward the door to begin greeting their guests. They held hands and looked with eager anticipation to sharing their special day with their neighbors and friends. Both were shocked when the first to enter were Mrs. Bennet and her husband.
Jane recovered her wits quickly, and greeted her mother first. “Mama. I am happy you have come.”
Mrs. Bennet’s eyes filled with tears. “You are beautiful, just as I knew you would be on your wedding day. I am sorry to have caused a rift between us as I did.”
“I forgive you. This is difficult for me to ask, because I do not wish for upset today of all days, but do you intend to apologize to my sisters, as well?”
“I do.”
“All of my sisters?”
Mrs. Bennet swallowed. It was not pleasant to be upbraided by a daughter, and she felt like a recalcitrant child being rebuked by its governess. “Yes, all.”
“I am glad, Mama. All of your daughters deserve your love and respect. You do not have to like us all, but we are your flesh and blood, and you should love us.”
“You are correct. Thank you, Jane, for your forgiveness.”
“You are welcome, Mama.” Jane kissed her mother’s cheek and allowed her to move to take a place in the receiving line.
By now, all of Jane’s sisters had become aware of their mother’s presence, both at the wedding and here at Netherfield. Mary, Kitty, and Lydia greeted Jane and Bingley with half an eye on Mrs. Bennet. Their wariness was apparent in the looks on their faces. With a tilt of her head, Jane urged them to speak to their mother, who used the opportunity to apologize. Though Mrs. Bennet’s sincerity, particularly when speaking to Lydia, was evident in her tear-filled eyes, all three girls remained cautious. Only Lydia was brave enough to impress upon her mother the importance of matching her words with actions to prove herself.
As the middle Bennet daughters were moving away from the receiving line, the Darcys entered the room. They had purposely delayed their arrival to give Elizabeth time to compose herself for the coming ordeal. She and Darcy greeted Jane and Bingley, congratulating them again on their marriage, and then Elizabeth took a deep breath. With the support of her husband’s hand on her back, she stepped down the line and stopped in front of her mother.
“Mama.”
“Lizzy. You look well.” Mrs. Bennet found this portion of her apology to be the most difficult. However, she knew that to maintain a connection to the rest of her family, she must be cordial to Elizabeth.
“Thank you. You look well also.”
Murmuring her thanks, Mrs. Bennet struggled with what to say next. Suddenly realizing that Elizabeth and Darcy were starting to move away, she blurted out, “I am sorry that I was harsh with you.”
The Darcys came to an abrupt and immediate halt. “Thank you, Mama. Can you tell me why you were?”
Embarrassed at having to admit her faults in a public place, Mrs. Bennet flushed a deep red from her bosom to her hairline. “I have never liked you. You were such a fussy baby, and would never accept my comfort. We did not form a bond the way I did with your sisters. As you grew, the chasm between us seemed to grow instead of shrink. I did not control myself; if I had, you would never have known my feelings, or at least not the extent of them.
“Also, I was envious of your relationship with your father. I could understand no more than half of what he said, but you did. Neither could I comprehend above half what you said most of the time. I still do not.”
Elizabeth looked away from her mother to her father, then her husband, before looking at the floor and sighing. She lifted her eyes back up to examine her mother once more. “I am sorry I gave you so much trouble. I was not aware that I was.”
She felt Darcy’s hand slide around her waist from its resting spot in the small of her back. She leaned ever so slightly into his solid form, anchoring herself to him.
“I was wrong to display my emotions so openly and let them rule my actions.”
“I forgive you, Mama. I hope in time to change your mind about me.”
It was Mrs. Bennet’s turn to look away. “Perhaps that is possible. At present, my feelings are unchanged, but I will no longer allow them to come between my family and me. I miss my girls, and I missed out on planning Jane’s wedding. I do not intend for that to happen with the others.”
Darcy felt a need at this point to step into the conversation. “Mrs. Bennet, your apology and attempt to explain yourself are appreciated. I do not know you well enough to judge your sincerity, and you have just stated that your feelings are unchanged, and so I feel it necessary to warn you that any further unpleasantness from you towards Elizabeth will be met with a severance of her relationship with you. She and I have discussed this and are united on the subject.”
“I understand.” Mrs. Bennet could not look her son-in-law in the eye.
“I believe Mrs. Bennet sees the erro
r of her ways; you will not see any additional displays toward Elizabeth. Is that not right, Mrs. Bennet?” Mr. Bennet had stepped in when he saw his wife’s increasing discomfort. That she had apologized in the first place was surprising enough; he thought she could do without the additional pressure Darcy was placing on her, despite his good intentions.
“That is correct, Mr. Bennet. If I have nothing nice to say, I will say nothing at all.”
Darcy was less than pleased with his mother-in-law’s response, but did not feel a wedding breakfast was the time or place for additional discussion. He bowed his acknowledgment of his wife’s parents’ words. He waited as Elizabeth curtseyed, and when she rose once more, he gently led her away from the receiving line and toward the table. As he seated her, Darcy whispered in her ear, “Do you think she is serious?”
Elizabeth whispered back, leaning her shoulder against his arm, “I believe she is. I do not know if she is capable of changing her behavior completely, but I have no doubt that she will be more circumspect in her dealings with me. Papa and my sisters will make sure of that.”
“How do you feel about it?”
“I do not know how I feel. Cautious, perhaps. Mama has always been volatile. I think that we shall just have to wait and see what happens. We will not be in Hertfordshire much longer at any rate. There will be half a day’s journey between us at the best of times. Mama has never been a faithful correspondent to any of us, so I do not foresee abuse coming through the mail. Perhaps she will improve, with time and distance between us.”
Noting Elizabeth’s skeptical tone of voice, Darcy asked, “You doubt her?”
She shrugged. “Anything is possible. I prefer to wait and see rather than leap to a conclusion that could be wrong.”
“Very well, my love, we will bide our time and simply observe.”
~~~***~~~
The following summer, the Darcys and Meades converged on Netherfield for a visit of several weeks, along with the Hursts. It was the first time the families had all gathered in one place since the weddings, and the first time the Meades had been in company with the Darcys since the night before the Meades’ marriage.
