Page 9 of Leave Her Wild
“Yes, Papa,” she said as she followed his directions, though a part of her wished to know if Jane’s “Mr. Darcy” was truly the same one who had once shunned her own acquaintance.
In the end, it was not Mr. Darcy in the carriage, but rather Jane and Aunt Gardiner. Elizabeth had caught Mrs. Hill in the passageway, and the two of them had peered out a side window to view the skirts of both women as they stepped down, but not a gentleman’s booted foot. Was Elizabeth relieved? She could not say or, perhaps, it was “would not” say.
Mrs. Bennet immediately rushed to greet Jane while Mr. Bennet assisted Mrs. Gardiner with her pelisse. Elizabeth caught Mary’s hand for support, for the first time she could recall, there was a barrier between Jane and her, and Elizabeth wondered if it would forever be that way because of a gentleman from Derbyshire.
“Oh, my darling girl!” Mrs. Bennet was saying. “How could you think any of us would not be overflowing with joy? You havesaved your sisters! You have saved me! Once you are Mrs. Darcy, you may introduce your sisters to eligible young suitors. Is such not true, Madelyn?”
Aunt Gardiner said with a straight face. “You may put your hartshorn away, Frances.”
“Of course, I might,” Mrs. Bennet said without even a notice of her sister-in-marriage’s small barb. “Such a triumph! Naturally, a titled gentleman would have been better, but Mary seems to think Mr. Darcy’s mother was titled.”
“Lady Anne Darcy was the daughter of the previous Earl of Matlock. The family name is ‘Fitzwilliam,’ which, by tradition, is Mr. Darcy’s given name,” Aunt Gardiner explained what Elizabeth already knew.
“Such an imposing name,” Mrs. Bennet said. She turned to Elizabeth. “Later, I wish you to explain to me something of the ‘Fitzwilliam’ family history so I do not appear so . . .”
“Mayhap we should learn of thed'Arcyfamily instead,” Elizabeth said without appearing to criticize her mother. Though she would never admit it to anyone, Elizabeth had spent several hours upon multiple occasions to learn all she could of the man.
“Both,” Mrs. Bennet declared undeterred, though neither Elizabeth nor her mother thought Mrs. Bennet’s intentions were set in stone.
“Tell us how it all came about,” Kitty demanded as she tugged Jane down beside her on a settle.
“I shall see to the tea and your quarters, Aunt,” Elizabeth pronounced, not wishing to learn more of Mr. Darcy wooing her sister.
“I cannot stay,” Aunt Gardiner instructed. “Your uncle must be away from home for the rest of the week. I promised I would return Mr. Darcy’s carriage this evening. It was generous of the gentleman to send Jane home in his coach.”
“Madelyn, if you would join me in my study, I would like to hear what your husband and Jane’s intended have discussed while my eldest fills her mother’s ears with tales of lace.”
Elizabeth also wished to hear her aunt’s opinion, but there was no means to be included in her father’s conversation. In the end, she was glad she had remained in the sitting room. Even after Aunt Gardiner returned, in Elizabeth’s opinion, there was nothing in either Jane’s tone or Aunt Gardiner’s praise that spoke of Jane’s affections for her betrothed.
“Mr. Darcy will arrive at Longbourn, as he has indicated, at the end of the week. He planned to call upon his sister, Miss Darcy, and speak of his intentions to marry. I shall have another sister with whom to share my new home,” Jane explained in strained tones.
Mrs. Gardiner added, “Miss Georgiana Darcy is some twelve years younger than her brother—about Kitty’s age, I would imagine. I believe the gentleman hopes Jane may serve as not only a ‘sister’ to Miss Darcy, but also a ‘friend’ to the girl.”
“I am confident Jane might serve both roles,” Mrs. Bennet declared.
Later, after Aunt Gardiner’s departure, Jane followed Elizabeth to Elizabeth’s room. “You are going elsewhere?” her sister asked when she saw the state of chaos in Elizabeth’s room.
“I shall room with Mary while your betrothed calls at Longbourn,” Elizabeth explained.
“It should have been me to remove from my quarters. It is I who has caused the upheaval,” Jane argued.
“No worry,” Elizabeth assured. “Mary and I do well together.”
“Of course you do,” Jane said softly. “Out of sight. Out of everyone’s thoughts.”
“Do not be melodramatic,” Elizabeth warned. “No one is forgetting the sacrifice you are making for the family.”
Jane broke into tears, and Elizabeth knew instant regret. She pulled Jane down beside her to sit on the edge of the bed. “I did not mean to be rude,” she offered. For the life of her Elizabeth could not apologize for her thoughts, but she could apologize for her tone. Therefore, she changed the subject to something her mother would likely repeat later. “What is the latest fashion in London?”
“I brought a few fashion plates home,” Jane wiped her eyes and permitted the diversion. “I thought Kitty would be wild for them. Your coloring might prove quite beneficial. The darker shades swallow me.”
For the next quarter hour, Jane prosed on about the smooth ride provided by Mr. Darcy’s carriage and, especially, on her desire to return to Longbourn. With a heavy sigh, her words trailed off.
Elizabeth gathered her sister into her embrace. “We are capable of discovering a means to survive without your sacrifice.”
“It is a wonderful match,” Jane protested, but only half-heartedly. “Mr. Darcy is handsome and extremely rich. He has been excessively attentive. How could I ask for more?”
“But you are not in love with him, and I doubt he could have learned to love you in a matter of weeks,” Elizabeth argued.
