From Longbourn to Pemberley - Spring 1811 Page 11

  ‘But Mother, I can deliver all the news, I was there!’ exclaimed Maria, somewhat disappointed at having to play second fiddle when she had so much to tell.

  ‘And here is the news from pompous Mr. Collins,’ murmured Mrs. Bennet. ‘As if we were interested in knowing what the heir to Longbourn has to say and do.’

  ‘Mother,’ whispered Mary, ‘you seem to have forgotten that we might one day need the generosity of Mr. Collins who, may I remind you, did everything he could to satisfy you a mere few months ago.’

  ‘Mary, I have no wish to hear what you have to say regarding this matter. It is already embarrassing enough that Lady Lucas is making a display of this; I beseech you to not add to this, you know that my nerves cannot handle it.’

  While she quietly uttered these words, Fanny Bennet looked bitterly at her second eldest, who smiled contritely and shrugged her shoulders. Was she to carry the blame with regards to this proposal to the end of her days? When all was said and done, Mrs. Bennet’s nervous system once again exhibited a great deal of resilience, which proved itself to be beneficial, as the gathering ended in a certain state of calm. And thus it was learned that Mr. Collins had managed to impress the people of Rosings when he showed them his new variety of cucumbers; that Miss de Bourgh appeared to take pleasure in reading poetry; and that Lady Catherine had been flattered when her opinion was respectfully solicited regarding the landscaping of the small park adjacent to the village’s public square. It was learned that she had then given her opinion, and directions to follow, and that she would consent to check whether the work had been well done. Charlotte ended her letter with news about Fanny Price who had written to extend her gratitude for the hospitality she had been shown and to share that her return to Mansfield Park had been satisfying. Elizabeth was relieved, and then her thoughts turned to London, where she imagined the return of a certain gentleman to Grovesnor Square, a return that must have been anything but satisfying. Fortunately, this would have been at least a fortnight hence and Mr. Darcy had probably been caught up in the whirlwind of activities in the capital. He had most certainly forgotten everything already; she would do the same, good gracious! This is the vow she made while she slid her hand into one of her pockets; naturally, it was the pocket into which she had placed the letter he had written her.

  Chapter VII

  In which it will not be the first

  nor the last time that it is a matter

  of the frivolity of Lydia Bennet and

  the anticipation that this might have consequences

  As all good things must come to an end, an announcement was made regarding the date on which the regiment, which had been quartered in Meryton for several months, would move to Brighton. Shortly thereafter, it was noticed that all the young women of the area showed signs great despondence. The sadness appeared universal. Only the oldest of the Bennet sisters were still in a state that enabled them to eat, sleep and go about their daily activities. How did Kitty and Lydia make it through this trial? We shall disregard this, just as Mr. Bennet did, incidentally. The fact remains that at the same moment, Mrs. Bennet felt a great need to see all these charming young men in uniform once more before their departure; perhaps it was the memory of certain Colonel Miller that had given her this idea. And so, one fine afternoon, Colonel Forster and his wife, in the company of officers and the representatives of the best families in the area, found themselves at Longbourn.

  ‘Miss Elizabeth! What a pleasure to see you again. I heard that you enjoyed your stay in Kent.’

  ‘Indeed, Mr. Wickham,’ she replied, taking a sip of tea. ‘I very much liked the region.’

  ‘You made the acquaintance of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Did that go well?’

  ‘Rather well, yes. It was made all the more pleasant due to the fact that Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy were also staying at Rosings during this time.’

  ‘The Colonel. And Mr. Darcy!’ added the young officer, suddenly seeming less confident. ‘I seem to recall the former as being amiable and approachable, quite the opposite to the latter.’

  ‘Quite the opposite, it is true. But regardless, it is not up to me to pass judgement.’

  ‘What is it that you wish to say? Has he changed so much that his company is as pleasant as that of his cousin, the Colonel? Of this I am most surprised.’

  ‘No, Mr. Darcy has not really changed. On the contrary, I could confidently add that I think Mr. Darcy improves upon acquaintance. In this regard, I am also most surprised.’

  In response to his doubtful gaze, Elizabeth could not help but smile derisively; she took pleasure in leaving this manipulator in a state of uncertainty.

  ‘And so, Mr. Wickham,’ she continued, ‘we both find ourselves in a state of surprise - in the hopes that you find this surprise as pleasant as I do.’

  The turn that this conversation had taken must not have pleased Mr. Wickham, as he hurried to respond to a desperate plea by one of the boldest young women of the group, such as Miss Lydia Bennet, for example. And while he rushed to the rescue of whomever was in need of being rescued, Elizabeth felt a great relief knowing that the regiment would be leaving in a few days and that life would return to a state of normalcy. To be more precise, Jane would hide her anguish, Lydia and Kitty would not hide theirs in the least, she would hide all the embarrassing memories connected with Hunsford and as for Mary, she would perhaps hide her regrets regarding Mr. Collins.

  Longbourn, the 22nd of May, 1811

  Dear diary,

  I feel the need to unburden myself today; Reverend Fordyce would probably have me show somewhat more restraint. But am I truly obliged to endure all the highs and lows of Kitty and Lydia’s moods? I can but rejoice the departure of the regiment just a bit over a week ago; our household might return to some semblance of earnestness. How can one work diligently when, at any moment, someone charges in, lamenting the departure of the officers and interrupting my piano practice for the sake of mere trivialities?

  I must exercise patience; it seems that the youngest members of the family are putting me to the test more than usual right now, and Mother does nothing to discourage their attitude. I must constantly remind myself that honouring those dear to me no more than a pious vow. Yet at times, I have but one wish: that Lydia disappear, that Aunt Gardiner invite her to visit instead of Lizzy and that we be relieved of her exasperating presence!

  No, I can no longer let myself continue like this, dear diary; it might give me some solace, but I must admit that it is far from being enlightening. If Mr. Collins were here, I could ask him for some advice.

  Just as it reached the ears of Mary, hunched over her diary, the joyful cry also reached the ears of everyone else in the household. It was followed by the sound of joyful prancing, and then the youngest burst into her mother’s room, a tearful Kitty close behind. Was she not her sister’s perfect accomplice? Did they not share everything? The invitation should have included her, too! Why favour Lydia? Had Mrs. Forster not appreciated her presence? It was unfair!

  ‘Mother! Mother! I just received the most marvellous news! A letter from Harriet Forster. Here’s what she wrote me: “My dear friend, as we have developed a congenial complicity over the months that the regiment has been quartered in Meryton, what would you say to joining me as my companion during our stay in Brighton? The Colonel has rented a house, and if you accept my invitation, it would be pleasure to receive you, etc., etc.” Is this not the most extraordinary of opportunities?!’

  ‘Oh! Lydia, what an incredible chance for you to make yourself known and to show yourself in your best light! There will most certainly be wonderful evenings and magnificent balls where you will have the chance to dance with most of the officers.’

  ‘Goodness! Mother, it’s not fair! I also wish to go to Brighton and dance and amuse myself.’

  ‘Kitty, Mrs. Forster invited your sister. That’s how it is, and there is nothing you can do about it. So I beseech you to calm down! You must exhibit more maturity. After
all, you are older than she by two years.’

  ‘Lydia,’ interrupted Elizabeth, who had heard the exchange despite herself, ‘you do not yet have the agreement of our father, and...’

  ‘Lizzy, how can you show so little understanding?’ interjected Mrs. Bennet. This is a great opportunity for your younger sister to make her first steps in “real” society. Your father cannot but be amenable to this.’

  ‘There you have it! You see, Lizzy, I will most certainly be going there. But Mother,’ cried Lydia, turning towards Mrs. Bennet, ‘I will need other gowns. I cannot present myself to Brighton society like this, can I?’

  While she uttered these words, she pointed at her attire and made a small gesture of disdain. Before her mother enthusiastically assented to her sister’s demands, Elizabeth left the room, seized her hat and disappeared onto the first path she came across. It was the one that led to Netherfield Park, to Mr. Bingley’s, and therefore to Mr Darcy. Her thoughts turned to the comments the latter had made regarding her family. How could she repudiate her sisters and parents when she herself found them exasperating? She had to do something before Lydia was left to her own devices in the midst of an entire regiment. The thought made her shudder, as one part of her family had already made itself noticed, and it was her duty to intervene in order to prevent the escapades of her frivolous sister. She turned back and headed to the library, where she knew her father was busy delighting in the exploits of Don Quixote.

  *****

  In this final week of May, there were two departures the importance of which we should call attention to. The first was that of Fitzwilliam Darcy, happy to exchange the heat and sooty fog weighing heavily over the streets of the capital for the green Surrey countryside. He made the trip astride his favourite stallion, his trunk following in the carriage that his servant drove. The ride did him good; he could finally give his need to escape free reign. Georgiana was in Matlock and the letters he received from her revealed that his young sister was enjoying her stay. He decided to write his Aunt Victoria to cordially thank her for this invitation as soon as he’d reached his destination. And then his thoughts took him to Hertfordshire. What would Elizabeth be doing at this very moment? Did she still detest him? Would he, in her eyes, always be the last man in the world she would marry? He forced himself to banish these obsessive thoughts; the route was not lacking in charm, he had come to relax, to leave behind all these months of vainly waiting, of denial, of humiliation, and regret.

  The second departure was that of Lydia Bennet, agitated by thoughts of leaving the all-too quiet rhythm of Longbourn in favour of the whirlwind of pleasures that was most certainly awaiting her in Brighton. She had left, light-hearted and beaming, without a shimmer of thought for poor Kitty. It did not even occur to her that the latter might suffer in her role of always playing second fiddle, as she was so occupied with delighting in her “real” life, which would be starting today! Lydia was therefore unaware of Elizabeth’s look of consternation; the latter had watched the carriage leave and had then gone straight up to her room to avoid the enthusiastic words of her mother, Kitty’s tears of envy, Mary’s indifference, and her father’s ironic comments regarding the lack of judgement of one, two, or even three of her sisters. With respect to her father, she could not help but be annoyed with him for being so nonchalant when it came to the education of his daughters. Instead of taking into account what she had explained to him, he had taken the opposite stance regarding her advice and she had been obliged to justify herself. Had the imprudent manner of her younger sisters caused one or two of her suitors to flee? Come, Lizzy, it was surely because they were not worth it! So much for vain fellows who were unable to acknowledge the value of his two oldest daughters. Conclusion: Lydia would go to Brighton and make an exhibition with no great consequences and the household would return to a certain state of calm, at least for a short time. The subject was therefore considered closed to discussion, as was the door to her father’s library. There was no more changing the behaviour of those dear to her; Elizabeth had failed. Seated on her bed, she closed her eyes. Her contemplations on her failure soon led her to Darcy. What would he be doing at this very moment? Did he suspect that she bitterly reproached herself for what she had said, that the burden of her family weighed heavily on her, and was a source of great distress? A burden for which her sister had paid the price of happiness, a burden that she could not relieve herself of and which made her feel ashamed... But why was she thinking of the master of Pemberley? Perhaps because deep in her heart, she felt a sense of remorse, and regret.

  *****

  The children had been asleep for at least an hour when Madeline Gardiner heard her husband’s steps in the foyer.

  ‘Edward, you must be exhausted. I’ll ring for a servant and have some food brought up to you in the drawing room.’

  ‘You’re right, my dear, the day was much longer than I expected. Please have them include a glass of wine, it would do me good,’ added Edward Gardiner, sitting heavily on the sofa beside his wife. ‘How are the children?’

  Knowing that the escapades of their two youngest would make her husband laugh, she recounted the boys’ day in a humorous fashion. She started with the squirrel chase at the park, which had almost ended in disaster. Luckily, at the last possible moment, they had managed to keep the boys from tumbling into the water. She finished with an account of their visit to the Porters’s, where they had celebrated the birthday of little Isaac, who had received a cute puppy.

  ‘You can only imagine our conversation when we returned. Our children are the unhappiest children in the world, Edward, because they don’t have a dog! “We have Percy,” I told them. “But he’s just a cat,” they replied. What terrible parents we are! In any case, to calm them down, I reminded them that the Porters had to stay in hot, noisy London all summer long, whereas they had the opportunity to stay in Longbourn with their charming older cousins. The dog was soon forgotten and the topic turned to packing our trunks and what toys we should bring!’

  Mr. Gardiner couldn’t help but laugh when he imagined the almost daily whirlwind of activity in the house and then, taking a sip of wine, he once again became serious.

  ‘Madeline, since we are on the topic of vacation, I believe you might be a bit disappointed. We will have to delay our trip with Lizzy. I have to conclude an important transaction, and it cannot be delayed.’

  ‘Oh! That’s unfortunate. But we will be able to leave, won’t we?’

  ‘Don’t worry, we will be able to leave by the end of the first week of July. What bothers me is that we have to return by the end of the month. I tried to push back the date, but it’s impossible. I am truly sorry, Madeline.’

  ‘Lizzy will probably be disappointed; she was looking forward to exploring the Lake District. If I understand correctly, we will have to abandon these plans, as we won’t have enough time.’

  ‘Indeed. I’m counting on you to find a closer destination, one that would please everyone just as much.’

  Mrs. Gardiner thought for a few moments, fiddling with the letter she had been reading when her husband came in. When he asked who it was from, she smiled and told him that it was from her sister Margaret. She had written that Emily was nicely settled in and seemed happy with her new life in Ballycraig. She also confided that Jane Fairfax had written, and that she detected a hint of melancholy in her letter, and that this worried her somewhat. The missive ended with an account of a pleasant encounter. She had happened upon a childhood friend, Alice Gurney, one of the sisters of the steward of Rosings.

  ‘I recall,’ said Madeline Gardiner, ‘that it is the father of young Mr. Darcy who had recommended Peter Gurney to help Lady de Bourgh manage the estate. And Margaret also wrote that Alice still lives in Lambton, where she married Robert Smith, the oldest son of the apothecary, and that he has taken over his father’s business.’

  ‘What a wonderful coincidence, particularly since this is not the first time that you are hearing about Derbyshire in a
while. Remember the young man Lizzy presented to us? We were at the Philips’.’

  ‘It’s true, George Wickham brought back many fond memories. Lambton, where I spent my youth, Edward!’ said Mrs. Gardiner, smiling.

  ‘Well! Madeline, I believe it has been sorted out. We shall go to Derbyshire in July. What do you think?’

  ‘Oh Edward, what a wonderful idea! It has been so long since I’ve been there! Furthermore, Elizabeth might be pleased. She seemed to have taken a liking to this officer. At least this was the case before he became engaged to a young heiress, if I remember well.’

  *****

  The Gardiners were not the only ones planning to holiday in Derbyshire. In a letter to her friend, Mrs. Dashwood, née Ferrars, Mrs. Hurst couldn’t help but express how highly she thought of the magnificent Pemberley estate and she then seized the opportunity to point out that spending time at this grand estate was most agreeable. Incidentally, she would be there at the end of July and would be staying for a few weeks. This being the opportune moment to cite the multiple assets of the estate, she used the library as an example, remembering that when she set foot therein, she thought she would be lost. It was an impressive place, with an incredible number of books, but the activities were numerous and pleasant, and alas, she had not yet found the time for reading. Naturally, in her missive, Louisa Hurst did not feel it appropriate to remind her recipient of the embarrassment that must have arisen due to the revelation of the secret engagement of her brother Edward, who had been rapidly disinherited in favour of the younger brother. Even more so because the latter had hastily married the fiancée who had forsaken her older brother! She had also deemed it unnecessary to confess to her that this perfume of scandal had, at least for a short while, deliciously wafted through the conversations of the wealthy as well as those who were doing everything in their power to join these ranks. The young lady adeptly suppressed her comments; the stay at Norland Park having been extremely pleasant, it was important to at all costs avoid anything that would cause her to be excluded from being received there simply because a few unpropitious words had slipped out. However, she could end on a subtle note by including a reminder that before too long, all correspondence was to be addressed to her at Pemberley, Derbyshire.