Chapter Text
On Sunday afternoon, I ordered the carriage to go visit the Darcys. I had a most important purpose in doing so.
I had tried to visit them before, twice at Netherfield and once after their visit to Longbourn on Saturday but had not yet been able to talk to Lizzy alone. First, I had tried Friday morning. Mrs. Nicholls herself showed me into the music room, all the while telling me “I have heard the wedding breakfast was splendid, that it will have been the best of the year.”
I was happy to hear that. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her that the one I would host for Jane and Colonel Fitzwilliam would be grander still, but I recalled Mr. Bennet had forbidden me from speaking of such things. So, I said “Since I have four other daughters, I plan that when they wed each breakfast shall be grander still.”
In the music room were Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, Lady Catherine, Miss de Bourgh, her companion, Judge Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam. I did not think it boded well that the Darcys were not still within his or her chambers. I eager to talk with my daughter then, said “Lizzy, I need to talk with you,” but Lady Catherine prevented this.
I am not particularly clever, so I did not know what she was doing as first when she interrupted to say “Mrs. Bennet, you are just the person we need right now to help us sort this out. We have just been discussing whether everything is arranged in the music room as it ought to be. Should the piano forte be turned? Are the chairs placed satisfactorily to hear?”
It had been Miss de Bourgh who had helped me understand that this was not their real topic of conversation when she said. “Mamma! The piano forte is just right. You moved how I like it best.”
And then, as if to emphasize that the piano forte should not be moved, Miss de Bourgh sat herself down and began to play. Her playing sounded loud, even angry. But she was very skilled. I found myself listening rather than talking. The longer she played, the less angry her playing sounded, and when that piece was done, she played another and then another.
When Miss de Bourgh finished playing, I could not help but approach her and exclaim “Oh Miss de Bourgh, how lovely is your playing. You are quite talented. Oh, if my Mary and my Lizzy could but play as you do!”
In my enthusiasm and high spirits, I did not realize at first that that Miss de Bourgh was shrinking back as I approached. I do not think I even knew I was getting so close to her before Judge Darcy came to stand between us.
“Mrs. Bennet, you are quite kind in all your praise of Miss de Bourgh, but she is shy, embarrasses easily, sensitive to loud words. Should you wish to ever hear her again, it is best to simply sit quietly in a chair and listen.”
He led me back to a chair. I was hopeful that Miss de Bourgh would play some more then, but she did not. She left with her companion.
It was only then when I looked around that I noticed that my daughter and Mr. Darcy were gone. However, I was soon distracted when Lady Catherine came and sat across from me and began asking me questions about my daughters. Oh, how easy it is to praise my Jane and my Lydia! But because Judge Darcy was near, I also praised Kitty and Mary, for certainly it would be well to find in him a husband for any of the rest of them.
While I was praising them, Colonel Fitzwilliam came and sat adjoining us. From the expression on his face when Jane was mentioned, I was more convinced than ever that he was besotted with Jane.
I tried to encourage the Colonel toward Jane, telling him, “Do not worry about Mr. Bennet. He will come around. Why I remember, he did not want to make Mr. Bingley's acquaintance at first and refused to have Mr. Darcy even come round to see Lizzy, let alone marry her. Each time he made a joke of not letting me know he had changed his mind, perhaps the same will happen tomorrow, too.”
The Colonel said, “I hope you are right.” Then the man smiled, a smile that made him look almost pleasant. Of course, he was not a handsome man, but at least he still has his hair, sandy thought it might be. But what did it matter when he was the son of an Earl? The better the blood, the uglier some men are, but naturally great men all expect to have lovely wives.
I could not garner a similar enthusiasm for Judge Darcy about any of my other daughters. Perhaps he favored Jane as well?
Soon, I left, for I had a duty to be home for my own callers. Friday is one of the days we are at home to visitors. We had many that morning and all congratulated me on my daughter’s recent wedding. Everyone told me, from Mrs. Harrington to Mrs. Long, how much they had always liked Mr. Darcy and joined me in discussing how this lifted all my daughters’ prospects. I well enjoyed myself.
I tried visiting my daughter again the next day, on Saturday morning. But this time, although I was shown in, Mrs. Nicholls apologetically told me the Darcys were “indisposed.” I found this promising.
Once again, I listened to Miss de Bourgh play, but this time I heeded Judge Darcy’s advice and stayed in my chair. This time it was only Lady Catherine, Miss de Bourgh and Judge Darcy who were present.
As none of us spoke as she played, I noticed something that I may not have noticed otherwise. Judge Darcy had taken a seat by Lady Catherine and kept sneaking looks at the great woman. I began to wonder, was he truly not a candidate for any of my daughters? Could he be fond of Lady Catherine instead? Usually, single men of any age prefer women who have only lately had their come out, who still have their full bloom.
Of course, I could not stay long this time either, for I needed to make sure Mrs. Hill and cook were doing all they could to make sure we would be ready for when the Netherfield party called. I was sure that after things were discussed, the evening meal would be in celebration of Jane’s engagement to the Colonel, but in case it was not, I then sought out Jane to discuss an alternative plan.
“I believe your father will see reason today, but in case he does not, the Colonel must obtain a special license (not a common license like Mr. Darcy did) and whisk you away to London to marry from his father’s house. To make it quite proper, I could accompany you. There would be no harm in it, having your mother with you and being of age.
“How much I should like to see an Earl’s house! Perhaps they might even throw you a wedding breakfast, make you some grand present, perhaps even a home! but if they are not so inclined, we could still host a grand wedding breakfast later at Longbourn. Oh Jane, it could be like something in a novel, very romantic indeed! Mr. Bennet would have no choice but to accept it once things are done. Imagine, in just a few days you could be married!”
I thought Jane would tell me it was a good plan. She did not. She tightened her forehead in a most unbecoming manner. I reached out to smooth the lines away. It would not do for my beautiful daughter to become wrinkled.
Jane shied away from my touch, "No Mamma. I cannot do it and I shall not. I can see now that I was swept away with the idea of making a good match. I am fond of the Colonel, would not repine being his wife, but Papa is right. It is too soon. Mary is right. Better not to marry in haste and regret it. Lizzy is right. It is not worth tearing the family apart. If he loves me, he can prove his love by working to provide for me."
"Working? The son an Earl should not work." I was not expecting Jane to make such a suggestion.
"Perhaps not, and I do not mean he ought take up a trade, but he can make his estate profitable so it may be our home. He should work hard to accomplish this, will wait if he truly cares for me."
Jane tilted her chin in a way that usually only Lizzy did. I recognized it as a "I am determined" expression. I did not remember seeing Jane do such before.
She continued, still speaking gently but with a determination I had not heard before, "I wish to, will have the Colonel demonstrate some constancy toward me. I shall not put myself into the hands of someone who cannot provide for me and expects to live off Mr. Darcy's fortune. I can imagine such a man abandoning me to my own devices while he satisfies himself with a mistress."
Then the chin tilt vanished, and she was my meek but lovely daughter again, her blue eyes wide as she said in an almost child-like voice, "Mamma, I hope he will agree. I do not want to wait too long."
As Jane would not be accommodating, I decided to try to persuade Mr. Bennet again. But he seemed more resolute, despite my complaints how much I suffered and how this afflicted my nerves.
When it was a few minutes before the scheduled time for the meeting, I was watching the front drive waiting for our guests. Mr. Darcy and the Colonel arrived before the rest and so I came outside to await the others with them.
In seeing Mr. Darcy just then, I had a motherly impulse towards him. Therefore, I greeted Mr. Darcy with affection, said "Welcome to Longbourn my dear son" and grasped him by the hand. He startled slightly. I clasped his hand in both of mine, "You must call me Mamma Bennet now, or just Mamma as I understand your mother is dead."
By saying this, I meant to show my affection. I had never had a son before, not truly. It was well that the daughter who had cost me so much, had married well to a man of large fortune, the Master of Pemberley. I was confident now that Mr. Darcy would provide for me should anything happen to Mr. Bennet.
Not wishing the dear Colonel to be left out I told him, “And I am certain you shall be my son, too, as well.” He gave me a grave nod before wiping his hands on his coat. I wagered he was nervous.
The men had no time to respond, truly, for the next moment a carriage arrived with Lady Catherine, Lizzy and Judge Darcy.
As I showed them to the parlor, I had an overwhelming desire to push for an immediate wedding, for though I had accomplished my goal of seeing one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield, at least for the time being, I still needed to see the others equally well married. It still seemed a bit odd to me, that Lizzy who was neither half as handsome as Jane, nor half so good-humored as Lydia should be married first. However, as much as it vexed me, I held my tongue, as Mr. Bennet had warned me I must do.
Mr. Bennet had barely even exchanged pleasantries with the others when he insisted “I have considered the matter carefully and have concluded, more time is needed to see if you, Colonel Fitzwilliam, will have the means to marry and if the two of you will suit. I will not completely deny my permission, but I believe you should return to your estate, see what you can do to get it all in good working order, make it as profitable as you can.”
The Colonel rejoined, “Any delay is unreasonable, as she has accepted and is of age.”
He was clearly preparing to say more when Jane gently said "Stop. Would you not hear what my wishes are?"
"But you said yes," Colonel Fitzwilliam replied, his forehead tense even as he reached out a hand in Jane's direction. "Do you not want to marry me, darling Jane?"
I saw how Mr. Bennet grew grim from the Colonel's casual manner in speaking to our daughter. However, before he could say anything, Jane calmly replied “I believe if your love for me is true, you can prove it by making your estate profitable enough so that you may support me as your wife.”
Mary, who is usually quite reserved in company said “I believe Papa and Jane have the right of it. For did not Jacob work for seven years for Rachel, and because of his love for her it only seemed but a few days?”
"Perhaps that story is not the most apt," Mr. Bennet rejoined, "for I believe seven years to be too long, and I certainly would not trick Colonel Fitzwilliam afterwards into marrying one of you instead and then obligate him to a further seven years of serving for Jane, too, but the idea of striving for what you desire, working hard for it and thereby proving yourself is a good one."
Mary blushed, but then seemed pleased that her father saw some merit in the comparison she had made.
As Jane was resolute, there was nothing for the Colonel to do but reluctantly agree. The poor man, though, he seemed so sad! But to his credit, he refrained from saying aught about his ill-usage by Jane.
Mr. Bennet suggested, seeing things had gone his way, "It is to be a protracted courtship then. Colonel, I shall bend this much, you may write to Jane through me, and if your letters prove suitable, I shall pass them onto her."
"But I do not write well!" The Colonel exclaimed and then clamped a hand over his mouth while his eyes went wide, before covering by stroking his hand down his chin and adjusting his lids. It was just a quick flash of movement and then his face was calm again. Had I blinked I might have missed his physical reaction, but I still would have heard the odd tone of his voice, which was pitched just a bit too high.
"Of course, you do. " Mr. Darcy replied.
The Colonel's lips twitched, but he made no reply. I had no idea what was going on.
"I know letters are a poor substitute but that is how it must be," Mr. Bennet told him. "Jane may write you through Lizzy, with her letters approved through Mr. Darcy. It may seem a cumbersome business, and I expect you to refrain from mentioning anything untoward. You shall address each other as 'friend' and sign likewise, nothing more."
"I understand," the Colonel replied.
A few minutes later, they all said their goodbyes and were gone.
Later, I told Mrs. Pope about all that had occurred. She had kept my two youngest daughters occupied during this discussion.
Afterwards, Mrs. Pope seemed most interested in the events and I told her every detail. I even asked her "Why do you think the Colonel was not happier he could write Jane? Why worry about his poor penmanship?"
The look in Mrs. Pope's eyes made me think she might know something, but that was impossible. I was not even sure if she had met the Colonel. "I truly cannot say," she replied.
As I could not help Jane get married just then, my resolve strengthened that I must certainly visit Lizzy again to apprise myself that all was as it should be. As I had frankly discussed everything with my daughter, it was time for her to be frank with me as well. Thus, on Sunday afternoon I sought her out again. I was determined to make sure she was doing her duty toward her husband and give her some additional advice if needed. If she heeded it, I was hopeful she might be carrying the Darcy heir before departing for London, and Pemberley beyond. As the carriage wended its way to Netherfield, I imagined how jealous Mrs. Lucas would be if my daughter gave her husband a son first.