Page 99 of See, Hear, Speak No Evil, Mr. Darcy
“And she iscertainto attend if we hold a ball. When Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth were at Netherfield, they looked in the ballroom. Mrs. Nicholls said it has not been used in years,”Georgiana said, looking between himself and Bingley with such hope it would break a man’s heart to deny her.
“Brilliant, Ana. We could have a ball in two weeks, three at most. I will speak with Caroline the moment we are returned.” With Darcy’s mind reeling, the strength and serenity of Bingley’s voice grounded him. Darcy spared a long look at his friend, appreciating his approach to this with such a firm and decisive manner.
“Thank you, both of you. I do not understand it, but I feel like I have known Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth longer than a few days. Both have shown me every consideration.” Georgiana sniffled.
Darcy patted his sister’s hand. “They value your company in equal measure.”
Darcy looked out the carriage window, willing the Gardiners to arrive by that very afternoon, though the missive had yet to be written. He prayed that whatever had caused such upheaval was not so dire as it seemed. But after searching through Elizabeth’s eyes, in the single moment they had allowed themselves the reprieve, he knew otherwise. He feared the cause of her sadness might tear his heart asunder.
Chapter 9
A Week’s Sequester
How have I become a prisoner in my own home?Elizabeth felt certain these days were the bleakest she had ever known. Her cousin marked religious texts with passages on a daughter's duty. More unpleasant were those outlining duties that were a wife’s province. Her father prohibited her from walking and the companionship of her sisters. Her mother warned her that if she told Mr. Collins her parents were forcing her to marry him, she would be tossed from the house the very same day.
But who would marry a man more than three inches shorter than her and so soaked in sweat he had to change his cravat multiple times a day? And did he use tallow candle wax in his hair, or was it that he never washed it? A man who revered another woman and thought she would do the same? No lady of sense or education would tie herself to such a man.
For her defiance and because she had attempted to explain the truth to Mr. Collins, her parents ordered Elizabeth to her room. She had taken no care with her appearance since his arrival, coming out unkempt whenever she was forced to join her cousin and listen to his conversation.
Elizabeth had made herself press the second rose and keep all thoughts of Mr. Darcy hidden, even from herself. Mrs. Bennet further threatened her, saying she would receive only meals of gruel if Mr. Collins saw her crying. Having not discussed her perfect memories with anyone, only she knew that her tears flowed for the loss of her prince. Tears of such hopelessness held more power than those of anger, and she had to press thoughts of him aside that she might think how to escape such a fate as being married to Mr. Collins.
Counting her pin money, Elizabeth knew she had enough to catch a post coach to London. There, she might live with her aunt and uncle Gardiner. It was the note Mary slipped under her door, asking how she could help Elizabeth escape, that caused her to apprehend the full significance of having reached her majority.
Her birthday had been only weeks before the assembly that the Netherfield party attended. They had not celebrated because the harvest was later in the year, and they had all assisted at a neighboring estate, as the master had died that summer and the widow’s son was too young yet to take over.
Did her parents recognize that she wastwenty-one? She need not remain. They could not force her to marry. After those revelations, Elizabeth wondered if her aunt and uncle could help her find a position as a governess. Even assisting one of the drapers who worked with her uncle would have a more comfortable situation than what she knew this day.
During these endless nights without conversation, she considered what evils she might encounter should she set out alone. She had tried, oh, how desperately she had tried to imagine a life with Mr. Collins as some way endurable. Despite her efforts, she could think of nothing worse than suffering in the duties of his wife, a lifetime of submitting to Mr. Collinsandhis patroness.
Knowing their mother would never waste Jane on such a vile man, the single reason for staying was her certainty that one of her younger sisters would be forced to become his wife in her stead.
Never had she been happier to learn that her uncle Gardiner had arrived. Although she had been kept in her room, she heard angry voices on her behalf. When he had attempted to come and see her himself, he was thwarted. Still, she had never loved her uncle more.
“Father did not tell him the truth, Lizzy. He and our mother claimed you were being defiant. I did my best to convey that there was more to it, and I am certain he understood. He returned to Netherfield to speak with Mr. Darcy. I believe he must return to London. But we did hear him tell our mother he intends to bring Aunt Maddie to Mr. Bingley’s ball,” Jane whispered through the door on her way to sleep in Mary’s room.
She learned of Mr. Collins having observed one evening that the quietude was unusual in a house full of so many ladies. The following morning, before Mr. Collins came down, her father commanded her to join them all in the breakfast room and ordered them to speak. In concert, they asked Elizabeth if she was well and if there was anything they could do to relieve her suffering.
Mrs. Bennet slapped her hand on the table, ordering her daughters to cease speaking. When they stared back at her, she reiterated her expectation, “None of you are to acknowledge Elizabeth until my ungrateful daughter assures me I am to be mistress here all my days. I have been good to all of you every day, making certain you were well turned out. Seeing to my care is theleastshe can do in return.”
Their mother had glared at her, demanding again an agreement that would allow her to stay at Longbourn and remain its mistress. Elizabeth returned the stare with equal coldness.
“You sacrificed for your convenience the daughter who longest holds her anger,” Lydia said, taking Elizabeth’s hand. Because she had not spoken to Elizabeth, she had broken no rules. “Mr. Collins’s life will be miserable every day he is forced to wake up in a house with Elizabeth as his wife. It will be amusing to learn the ways she makes him regret your interference.”
Elizabeth leaned down to kiss her sister’s hand in a show of her appreciation.
Mr. Bennet glowered at his second daughter, who had said not one word since her entrance to the room. “I will not have this insolence!”
“What insolence?” Jane asked with forced serenity. “You demanded we speak, so we are speaking. You then demanded we not speak to our beloved sister Elizabeth, so we do not. You demanded we not tell the idiotic man who is your cousin that she is being forced into accepting him, that she is being abused into submission. We have not. Tell us the acts of insolence we have committed and are now accused of doing?”
Kitty said, “You have pushed too far. Your neighbors already know Elizabeth was hurt in anger.”
“Elizabeth, I will see you in my study,” Mr. Bennet ordered.
“You will not do so alone,” Jane said, her words unsteady.
“I will not hurt her,” Mr. Bennet said, evidence of his being beleaguered by this situation showing in the shadows of his face when Jane stood with Elizabeth. “Jane, I assured your mother that you and our other daughters will accept Elizabeth's fate. It's time for you to release your anger and accept it. Idemand this ends now. Lizzy is to be my cousin’s wife, and that is the end of it.”
Mr. Bennet Speaks to His Favorite Daughter
