51. Chapter 48

Ch 48

Several days later, a letter arrived at Netherfield addressed to Jane and Lizzy. Jane intercepted it first and since her sister was away with Kitty and Louisa in town, she decided to go ahead and read it. She curled up in a soft chair in the drawing room, near the window and cracked the sealing wax bearing her father's familiar seal.

Jane and Lizzy,

I trust this letter finds you and your sisters well. Our journey to London was an uneventful, if not quiet, one. You may assure Mr. Bingley of his sister's safe arrival at their townhome. I daresay she was quite pleased to arrive and be done with your uncle and me. Sadly, I must report she did not appear to find in either of us a satisfactory traveling companion. She began the morning quite insistent she did not wish to go to London. After some long minutes of listening to her rather strident complaints, your uncle decided that we should spare the horses since the road had become difficult and insisted that all who were able should walk. Naturally, I was not fit to do so, but the rest of the occupants walked for over a mile if I recall correctly. She was much calmer after that and the remainder of our trip into London was much more pleasant, for your uncle and I at least. Ah, well never mind that.

As you might well imagine, your mother's nerves are in quite a state since I have told her all our news. She is distraught about the damage to Longbourn and wishes for me to tell Lizzy she is not to pick any of the wall coverings nor fabrics until she returns home. For, as your mother so succinctly put it, 'she does not know the best warehouses.'

Initially she was quite disturbed with pains in her head and flutterings of her heart when I told her of the fire and the demise of my cousin, Mr. Collins. However, she became much more sanguine when I explained to her Mr. Jacobson's situation and our agreement to be of mutual service to one another. While I do not believe she fully understood all the details of the arrangement, she was cognizant of the most important fact, the entail shall be ended and she no longer has to fear taking up residence in the hedgerows.

Such was the state of her nervous agitation that I did not convey the rest of my propitious tidings until just this morning. You may assure your sister Mary that your mother finds Mr. Pierce an acceptable suitor for her, though I do believe a clergyman with a living would have suited her much better. I did not tell her, but I believe in time she will be very well satisfied with Mary's settlement in life.

'The son of an earl!' she declared when I told her of your suitor, Jane. She was so overcome at the thought of it that Mattie was sent scurrying to bring her smelling salts. Although you must know my dear, as your mother has told you many times before, it could not have been for nothing that you are so beautiful. A man of worth would have to notice you. She did ask after his estate and was a mite disappointed to hear he had none. She rallied on the information that he is in the market to purchase one soon.

And Lizzy, I must inform you that you have risen in status to 'her dearest girl' upon the news that your young man's estate is worth ten thousand a year. She is quite pleased that you (and your sister Jane) will be in a position to place your younger sisters, Kitty and Lydia, into the paths of other rich men now. It pained me to refrain from telling her that Kitty is already spoken for, but I did give Kitty my word that she would have at least a few more days free of your mother's efforts to see her well settled.

More seriously, I regret to inform you that Lydia's transformation is not so complete as we might have hoped. Before you ask, yes, I am well aware of what happened in Brighton. Colonel Forster did indeed write me of Lydia's unfortunate deportment in that city. We had all hoped that your sister's experience would have been sufficient to affect a great change in her demeanor. While, at least to me, she seems under a good deal more regulation, it is difficult to tell whether that is due to your Aunt Gardiner's direct influence or a lasting change in her behavior.

Your youngest sister, I fear, was quite put out to hear that her three eldest sisters are being courted by worthy men. I suppose during her stay in Brighton she fancied she might the first among you to marry and, in some bewildering way, triumph over all of you. I do not profess to understand this reasoning, I am merely reporting it as your aunt has explained it to me.

The final straw, I believe, was the news that Kitty had become intimate with the sister of the new lessor of Netherfield Park. Lydia immediately discerned this must mean that it was Kitty's design to use this connection to gain access to the brother and thus secure herself a rich husband. Altogether it was too much for Lydia to bear and she quite broke down from the strain. She experienced a fit of nerves that would rival your mother's most energetic episodes. It was not until your Aunt came to attend her, and cast me from the chambers entirely, that any calm was restored to Gracechurch Street.

Your mother and I have discussed this unfortunate episode with your aunt and uncle at some length. Together we have decided that it would be best that Lydia remain here, in London, under your aunt's watchful eye in the hope that her improvements will continue and become more permanent. Being the oldest child in the house seems to have benefited Lydia greatly and we hope she will continue to rise to the occasion as she helps your Aunt with your younger cousins.

I expect that I will be returning to Longbourn at the end of the week, perhaps a day or two later. I believe it will take that long for the papers to be prepared by my solicitor and my bank. I will, of course, wait until your uncle's physician is satisfied to allow me to travel on my own. Your mother is quite insistent on that detail. Currently we anticipate your mother's return to Meryton a fortnight after I return. I will travel back to London in our carriage so I may accompany her on the trip back. She is all excitement to meet your young men and assist you in 'securing them as soon as may be.'

If you have any pity upon your poor father, any or all of you might consider ending your suitor's suspense prior to your mother's return, unless you truly feel yourself in need of your mother's assistance. If that be the case, then by all means delay until she is here to impart her expertise.

Your Aunt Gardiner sends her best wishes and is quite excited for all of you. She knows both Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam by their reputations here in town and assures me that they are as fine young gentlemen as Mr. Bradley has portrayed them to be. Moreover, if they have been under the influence of Mr. Bradley, they must be very fine gentlemen indeed for she is convinced of the worthiness of said clergyman to instruct young men in all the wisdom of life. She insisted I tell you she does not know who is to be considered more fortunate, you girls for garnering their affections or they for securing yours.

I am sure you are all aghast at the length of this letter. It is quite likely that I have completed a year's worth of correspondence in this letter alone. So it is fitting that I close now. I will see you as soon as I have permission to spend three hours in my own carriage without someone to watch over me.

Affectionately yours,

TB

Jane looked up from her letter, an amused smile lifting the corners of her mouth. I can all but hear Papa's voice as I read this letter. He was pleased when he wrote it.

"You seem well satisfied, Miss Bennet," Fitzwilliam's voice called from the doorway of the drawing room. I fear I could lose myself in watching her.

"Colonel! I did not know you were come for a visit." she cried, blushing. "There is no need for you to lurk in doorways, sir. Do come in."

"I fear, not, madam. I do not wish to risk the wrath of our good vicar. He is quite adamant about proper deportment while your father is away. Darcy, Bingley and I have received the strictest of instructions that if any of you are alone in a room we are not to even enter unless a proper chaperone can be found. So you see, I am bound to watch my angel from afar until her good father returns." He bowed deeply.

Jane laughed softly, rising from her chair and stepping closer to Fitzwilliam. "My father's letter brings good tidings. Their trip to London was uneventful. Miss Caroline has safely arrived at her destination and my father and uncle at theirs. My mother handled the news, all of it, well enough that she will be returning in three weeks or so, though my sister Lydia will remain in London for some time longer with my aunt. Altogether, this is very welcome news."

"I am very pleased to hear it. And does he say how your mother responded to the news of our courtship?" He smiled charmingly.

"She was quite impressed to know that I had caught the eye of an earl's son." She smiled, batting her eyes playfully.

Reaching out, he took her hand and pressed it lightly to lips. "You know you have caught much more than my eyes, dear lady. You have captured my thoughts, my imaginations, and my heart," he whispered, his lips still brushing her fingers.

"Oh," she gasped, blushing hotly. "I fear I do not know how to respond to such an extravagant compliment sir."

"I think I know one response quite appropriate, there are just a few words I would wish to hear you say." Reluctantly he released her hand, catching her eyes with his.

A teasing glimmer in her eye, she replied, "My father did address that in his letter as well."

Fitzwilliam snapped alert, shoulders squared, back straight. "He did? What pray tell did he say?"

Jane's lips curved delicately upward in an enigmatic smile. "He said I might consider ending your suspense any time I felt appropriate, preferably before my mother's return. Now, I do believe I hear my sister returning and Lizzy will want to read my father's letter, if you will excuse me, sir." She pushed past him through the door way, lingering a moment longer than necessary to look up into his startled eyes with a beatific expression of her own. A moment later she was gone.

End my suspense? Whatever could he mean?…oh! A broad smile spread across his face.

"Good morning, Lizzy, Kitty, Louisa," Jane said as she entered the foyer. Did you find our Aunt and Uncle Philips well on your visit?"

"They are quite well," Lizzy laughed as she removed her bonnet.

"Equal parts well and bewildered I would say," Kitty countered, leading them all into the parlor.

"Bewildered? Why ever would that be?" Jane asked.

"You have met our cousin, Mr. Jacobson and you ask why they are bewildered?" Lizzy replied, as they all laughed gently.

"He is a most peculiar man, is he not," Jane agreed. "But, you must agree, he is nothing to Mr. Collins."

"Never were truer words spoken!" Kitty chortled. "I do not mean to speak ill of the dead, but I will say that our Aunt Philips is most grateful that our newest Bennet cousin is as different to Mr. Collins as night is to day." As are we all!

The ladies laughed heartily. "He certainly smells much more agreeable," Louisa suggested tentatively. Another round of laughter followed.

"It is very good of our aunt to offer her hospitality to our seemingly endless parade of distant relations," Lizzy said. "I fear we have imposed greatly upon her hospitality in these last weeks."

"Well at least she is not left to entertain him on her own. While we were there, Charlotte Lucas came bearing an invitation for our aunt, uncle and cousin to join them for dinner tonight," Kitty reported.

"Sir William is a most gregarious soul," Jane smiled warmly. "I believe there are few he does not entertain at some point in time and he seems to take great pleasure in them all."

"I suppose so; he does have the happy talent for making people feel quite welcome. Everyone seemed well satisfied by the invitation. But the look Mr. Jacobson gave Charlotte was rather disquieting," Lizzy confessed sheepishly.

"Rather? I hate to disagree with you, but it was more than that!" Kitty twirled a stray curl in her fingers.

"He was very attentive to her," Louisa agreed. "Although his addresses were, ah, rather unusual, I do believe he was genuine in his pleasure at seeing her once again."

"And was Charlotte equally pleased?" Jane smoothed her skirt, glancing at Lizzy.

"She has such a tranquil disposition her reactions are difficult to gauge. I hardly knew what to make of it," Lizzy shrugged.

That evening Darcy, Fitzwilliam and Pierce sat around the curate's dining table, enjoying the last of Mrs. Pott's pie after a satisfying dinner.

"I say this is fine stuff!" Fitzwilliam exclaimed, savoring the last bit of his pie. "Once I have a cook, I will have to direct her to your Mrs. Potts."

"Well, you may wish to make quick work of it then as I do not know if I will be here this time next year," Pierce replied, lifting his coffee cup toward Fitzwilliam. "Speaking of which, tell me again what it was that Miss Bennet told you of her father's most recent letter."

"Yes," Darcy agreed, leaning forward on the table, his eyes lit with anticipation. "I wish to understand precisely what was conveyed in that missive."

Fitzwilliam laughed heartily. "Perhaps we need to send in a spy and retrieve that letter for ourselves."

"Ever the military strategist, are you not!" Darcy chortled, wiping pie crumbs from his lips with a napkin.

"I do not believe that is necessary." Pierce smiled, shaking his head. "It will sufficient for you to simply recount your conversation once again."

"Ah, but you settle for far too little, think of the intrigue, the excitement…" Fitzwilliam's eyes glittered.

Pierce rolled his eyes.

"I think you ought to answer him, before you drive our dear curate into unseemly behavior," Darcy warned with a wink.

"I suppose you are correct." He sighed dramatically. "Miss Bennet said that her father encouraged her and her sisters to 'end their suitors' suspense, preferably before their mother returned."

"Since you are the only one among us who has actually met the lady, you must give us insight into this cryptic message." Darcy looked at Pierce expectantly.

He paused before responding, clearly considering his words. "Mrs. Bennet is a lady with a very kind heart, but a very sensitive one as well. Her nerves are very fragile and she does not have a great capacity to contain her excitement. She, as all mothers are, is very concerned for the welfare of her daughters…"

"I see," Fitzwilliam interrupted, nodding thoughtfully. "You need say no more, I quite understand. It only behooves us as gentlemen to take the welfare of the lady into consideration and do our utmost to be considerate of her delicate nature."

"Indeed you are right, cousin," Darcy agreed energetically. "What say you, Pierce?"

"I believe a conversation with Mr. Bradley is in order as we must have his permission for a private interview with his charges. I have no plans for tomorrow morning, have you?"

Three days later, Lizzy sat with Charlotte in the Lucas' drawing room, sipping tea and enjoying pleasant conversation.

"So, how long do you expect your courtship with Mr. Darcy to continue?"

After my father's letter, I hardly know myself. Lizzy sat back and blinked, "I do not know. That is not exactly a topic for proper conversation between Mr. Darcy and myself, is it?" She laughed a little uneasily.

"Well, do not continue in it too long. It would not do for you to allow him to become discouraged and give up his suit. If a woman conceals her affections with skill from the man of her choice, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him altogether. It is not safe to leave any attachment to its own conclusion. There are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better shew more affection than she feels lest the man never do more than merely like her, if she does not help him on.''

"Your plan is a good one,'' replied Elizabeth, "where nothing is in question but the desire of being well married. However, I cannot see it as a sound way of determining anything of his character or agreeableness. Do you not believe these are significant issues to insure future happiness in marriage? I am quite convinced they are."

"Well,'' said Charlotte, "it is my sincere belief that if you were married to him tomorrow, you would have as good a chance of happiness as if you were to study his character for a twelvemonth. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other, or ever so similar before-hand, it does not advance their felicity in the least." She leaned forward knowingly. "They always contrive to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of your marriage partner before the fact.''

"You make me laugh, Charlotte; but it is not sound. You know it is not sound, and that you would never act in this way yourself.'' Surely she cannot be proposing that I act in such a manner.

"I am afraid then, my friend, I must disappoint you greatly." Charlotte dropped her eyes.

"What are you saying? I fear I do not take your meaning."

"I am engaged to be married to Mr. Jacobson." Do not hate me for this, Lizzy, please, do not hate me.

"Engaged to Mr. Jacobson! My dear Charlotte, surely you must be joking!'' Lizzy set her tea cup down on the table with a clink.

"Why should you be surprised? Do you think it incredible that Mr. Jacobson would be able to procure any woman's good opinion because he is so uncommonly odd? Or perhaps it his gangly appearance that you find so off putting as to prevent any woman being willing to marry him?'' Charlotte's voice turned cold.

Lizzy sat back in her chair, startled. This does not sound like you at all. I have never heard you so strident. "Not at all. He is an unusual man to be sure, but not so much as to make matrimony impossible. Yet you have known him for all of a week! I concede that I had not known Mr. Darcy for very long before he asked to court me, but at least we are taking time to know one another. We are working together for my father on the restorations at Longbourn and through that we are becoming quite certain of each other's character."

"I see what you are feeling,'' replied Charlotte, "you must be surprised, very much surprised. But when you have had time to think it all over, I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic, you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Jacobson's character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.''

"But you hardly know him! Do you feel any affection for him? Does he for you?"

"I am not like you, Lizzy! I am plain and well past the age most women would be considered on the shelf. I cannot wait any longer. I am a burden to my family and I have no other prospects. Nor do I expect to have any. Mr. Jacobson is a kind man and he desires to make changes in his life. He wants a helpmeet to walk with him through those changes. Like me, he has no romantic notions and simply desires a comfortable life."

"You do know he is quite deeply in debt, do you not?"

"Yes, he has been honest with me. I know, too, the great favor your father is doing him and that he will give up the entail on Longbourn in return. I do not believe he has concealed anything from me. He called upon your Uncle Philips to attest to his true situation."

"And you are satisfied with all you have heard?" I hope you will not regret Longbourn.

"I am. With the help your father has offered him, and some sound management, I believe what he says is true and that his estate, Evermere, can repay the remaining debt in just a few years. Mr. Jacobson believes this the start of a new life for him and he wishes me to share it with him. I am content to do so. In fact, Lizzy, I consider myself quite blessed." She finally met her friend's eyes once more. "I must also add that I am pleased that I shall never face the prospect of grieving your family over the matter of Longbourn. Given that Mr. Jacobson had his own estate that we believe is going to be restored to proper management, I was relieved to hear that the entail on your father's estate would be broken."

Lizzy smiled. "Then I am happy for you, Charlotte. May you both find this to be everything you desire."

"Then you will stand up with me? We will ask Mr. Pierce to read the banns beginning this week and plan to be married in a month's time. I would be so pleased to have you with me on that day."

"I would be honored to stand with you, Charlotte."