Page 53 of A Most Favourable Match

“Charlotte Collins is nearing thirty years of age and has few prospects, as I understand. Mr Collins is respectable and has expectations, even if his wits are not of the highest order. We cannot all be as quick as you and Mr Bennet. It is a shame to hear that your father avoided Mr Collins. The young man might have learned something from him.”

It was a gentle rebuke to Mr Bennet for avoiding his domestic duties, but Elizabeth heard it andunderstood Mrs Gardiner’s wider points too. “You are right, Aunt,” she conceded with a sigh. “My father and I have judged Mr Collins harshly. He likely cannot help being the man that he is. It is also true that I have no reason to think he will be a bad husband to Charlotte, even if I could never marry such a man myself.”

“Never mind,” Mrs Gardiner said kindly and held up her own letter with twinkling eyes. “Now, here is a light-hearted and far less surprising missive from Longbourn with all the usual family news. Your mother writes that Lydia and Kitty have triumphed at the Meryton assembly by dancing with more officers than any other girls…”

“Oh, dear!” Elizabeth said with a rueful laugh. “I hope they did not disgrace our family name entirely.”

“Mary insists on practicing the most mournful songs on the pianoforte, and your mother is at a loss for how to prevent her performing them at Lady Lucas’s next gathering. Your father is encouraging Mary and claiming she will liven things up.”

“He should not make such mischief,” Elizabeth remarked. “It is not fair to Mary to make her an object of ridicule, even if Sir William’s parties can be dull.”

“Your mother also wants you to come home soon and links this to the return of Mr Bingley to Netherfield, which I know will not influence your decision either way. He has recently returned to Hertfordshire from London for his health, apparently, and plans to live there quietly for a time.”

Elizabeth nodded, thinking that Mr Bingley hadlikely left London to avoid being around Jane so much. Itwasfor the sake of his health, in a way. She doubted that Miss Bingley would be happy to miss the rest of the Season, but she might have stayed in London with the Hursts.

It would be unfortunate for Mr Bingley to have Jane brought back into his orbit so rudely, but Elizabeth could only consider his feelings so far when Jane’s health was at stake. If Jane stayed quietly resting at Longbourn, there would be no need for them to see one another.

“If Mother bids us to come home, this might be useful in persuading Jane to leave London,” Elizabeth suggested thoughtfully. “I tried again this morning, but with no success.”

“Well, your mother explicitly bids you to come home and Jane to remain here with Lord Grantchester, but she has likely not yet seen my letter explaining Dr Grove’s advice about country air. I am sure that she will want Jane back at Longbourn as soon as she reads that.”

“May I take the letter upstairs and read it to Jane?” Elizabeth asked. “I am sure she will want to hear all the news from home, and it will provide some amusement for her.”

“What a good idea, Lizzy,” agreed Mrs Gardiner. “Yes, take the letter upstairs. See whether your mother’s wishes might change Jane’s mind about London while you are there. Tell her that I would accompany her to Longbourn. There is no need for you to go too, unless you wish it.”

“For the sake of Mr Bingley’s rest cure and freedom from my mother’s matchmaking, I should stay here and keep Uncle company,” Elizabeth agreed with a laugh. “Well, let us make our plans once Jane has changed her mind, if that ever happens.”

∞∞∞

Elizabeth had not really held out much hope of success in her suggestion to her aunt. She knew Jane would be interested in all her family’s doings and glad to hear from them. Still, her determination to stay in London had been so strong until now, despite her weakness of body and spirit, that the minor trifle of Mrs Bennet’s wishes seemed unlikely to shift her.

Jane listened to the letter with a gentle smile, her reactions very similar to Elizabeth’s on hearing of her younger sisters’ goings on, although more muted. Reaching the final pages, which only concerned wider news in the neighbourhood, Elizabeth expected little reaction from Jane as she read her mother’s words aloud.

Mr Bingley is returned to Netherfield Park all of a sudden, and says it is for his health, although he looks well enough to me, Sister. I cannot help wondering if he is instead set on seeing a certain young lady…

Do tell Lizzy that he has come back and bid her return to Longbourn soon. Mr Bingley says that this time he is to stay for a long time and live very quietly, but I am sure he will come for supper if we give him sufficient inducement.

“Mother is quite incurable,” groaned Elizabeth,lowering the sheets of thin paper for a few moments. “She cannot see that I have no more interest in Mr Bingley than he has in me.”

“Do you think Mr Bingley is very ill?” Jane asked, and Elizabeth realised that her sister was sitting up straighter in the bed and speaking with greater animation than she had shown in a week. “I do hope not.”

“Likely he needs a rest and some clean country air,” Elizabeth replied pointedly. “Just as you do, Jane. Aunt Gardiner has written to Mother and told her of Dr Groves’ recommendations, incidentally. I am sure that she will want you to come home when she sees that.”

“Yes,” murmured Jane, brushing back her hair from her face with a strange little smile. “Yes, I believe I shall go home now.”

Out of nowhere, she gave a quiet little laugh and seemed surprised by it herself.

“Really?” Elizabeth asked, astonished at such a sudden change in attitude but keen to take advantage of it before the winds changed again. “Of course. I shall direct your packing, Jane, and Aunt Gardiner will accompany you to Longbourn. You do not mind if I stay in London a little longer, do you? There is an afternoon concert and picnic in the park that I have been looking forward to.”

Jane shook her head. “No, you should stay and enjoy London without me and my problems weighing you down, Lizzy. If I stay in bed here, you end up staying in with me and missing out.”

“You have never weighed me down, Jane,” Elizabethreassured her sister. “I will be easier in my mind knowing that you are safe at home in Longbourn and following Dr Groves’s instructions, though. You must promise me you will rest and not let Mother disturb you too much before I come home. I know that Aunt Gardiner will speak to her.”

“All will be well, Lizzy,” replied Jane, her eyes now beginning to shine with their old light. “I do not know why, but I really feel that. It is as though the clouds are beginning to disperse and the sun is starting to shine through.”

Elizabeth smiled back, puzzled but grateful for the apparent revival, whatever its cause. She only hoped it would not precede a correspondingly violent reversal. It was like magic, and almost too good to be true.

Pushing back the bedclothes and standing on slightly unsteady feet, Jane stretched. “Would you help me dress?” she asked Elizabeth. “Suddenly, I feel much better. I think I may go downstairs and sit with our aunt.”