Page 8 of A Most Beloved Sister
Mrs. Hill had been sent to fetch Elizabeth the following day, and she immediately fell in love with Jamie and his story. She took him under her wing and brought him back to Longbourn with her. Jamie lived above the stables and did odd jobs around the estate.
It was Jamie’s situation that spurred Mrs. Gardiner into heavy involvement with London charities that helped those who were born with impairments—both physical and mental—and were unable to care for themselves. It became a passion of hers, of sorts, once Jamie’s plight had opened their eyes to the realities of the situation for those like Jane who had no one to help them make their way in life.
Seeing his face here at Longbourn was a reminder that not everyone in the world was as hateful and bigoted as Mr. Darcy.
“Hello, Jamie,” Elizabeth replied to his greeting with a smile.
“Did you have a nice time at the assembly last night?” he asked eagerly. “You and Miss Jane looked like angels!”
Jamie often rode along with the carriage, acting as a footman, which gave the Bennet family a higher status in society than they would have been able to afford otherwise.
Elizabeth’s eyes softened. “What a nice thing to say. It’s a shame not everyone shared your opinion.”
He scowled fiercely. “What happened?”
What Jamie lacked in physical strength he more than made up for with intelligence—and discretion. Ever since Elizabeth had rescued him—as he called it—he had been her devoted guardian and confidante, even more so than her best friend, Charlotte Lucas.
Without the slightest hesitation, Elizabeth revealed the entirety of the conversation she had overheard between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley.
Upon completing the narrative, she looked at Jamie expectantly. To her satisfaction, his face revealed as much indignation as she had—and still—felt. “Is he blind? I mean, Janeisdifferent… but unnatural? That’s not the word most men would have used.”
“Mr. Darcy is clearly not most men,” Elizabeth spit out, folding her arms and stamping a foot.
“Darcy, you say?”
Something in Jamie’s tone caused Elizabeth’s arms to fall to her sides. “Do you know him?”
“The name sounds somewhat familiar… but I cannot place it.”
Further conversation was prevented when the sun, which had been climbing steadily in the sky throughout the morning, broke through the trees and shone directly into Elizabeth’s face.
“Oh, Lord, it’s nearly lunchtime,” she groaned. “Mama will have a fit if I miss the meal because I’m still out walking.”
She looked at Jamie, then down the trail towards Longbourn, then back at Jamie again, her teeth tugging on her lip in consternation. He laughed and waved at her with his good arm. “Go on, then! I don’t want Mother Hill to be on the receiving end of Mrs. Bennet’s nerves if you’re late!”
Elizabeth laughed and, after a cheerful wave of farewell, darted along the path that would take her home.
Fortunately for her, she returned to the manor to find the entire household still fast asleep. Everyone always had a bit of a lie-in after a night of dancing.
The afternoon brought the Lucas ladies to Longbourn. Lady Lucas, Charlotte, and Maria always paid a call after each assembly to discuss the events.
Lady Lucas was a kind woman who viewed the Bennet daughters as her own. The creases around her brown eyes deepened when she smiled warmly at the eldest Bennet girl. “Dear Jane, what a success you were last night!”
Mrs. Bennet was eager to agree, as usual, but she replied with uncharacteristically gracious restraint. “Your dear Charlotte began the evening well enough! She was Mr. Bingley’s first choice.”
Charlotte’s plain face tinged pink. Her voice was even, however, as she stated, “Yes, but he did seem to like his second choice better.”
Jane’s mother’s face lit up with pride. “You mean Jane, of course, because he danced with her twice! Yes, it did seem as if he admired her, did it not? And what was it he said to Mr. Robinson?”
Charlotte dutifully responded to the conspicuous tactic. “You mean when Mr. Robinson asked Mr. Bingley how he liked theassemblies? Yes, Mr. Bingley responded that he had never seen such pretty women in all his life!”
“And what was it he said after that, Lady Lucas? Do you remember?”
Elizabeth held back a snort at her mother’s prevarication. There was absolutely nothing wrong with Mrs. Bennet’s memory, but if there was one thing her mother enjoyed more than boasting about her daughters, it was hearing others sing their praises.
“Why, of course I do!” A faint note of amusement in her tone was the only sign Lady Lucas gave as to her awareness of Mrs. Bennet’s attempt at subtlety. “I heard it for myself when Mr. Robinson then asked which were the prettiest. Mr. Bingley said there was no doubt at all that the eldest Miss Bennet was the most beautiful.”
Mrs. Bennet squealed and clapped her hands.
