Page 11 of Resilience

Jane, who seemed to have learnt quickly that her new friend did not care for Elizabeth’s company, had dismissed her sister the instant Miss Bingley entered the room.

“You must be aching to be outside, Lizzy. Why do you not go for a walk? She is worse than a hound, never happy inside the house.” Jane turned her attention abruptly to her new friend.

After spending two hours walking to Netherfield–and that was after her early morning walk to Oakham Mount–Elizabeth felt no need for further exercise. She spent the rest of the afternoon in the music room with Lady Priscilla, Georgiana, and Mrs Annesley, and was only readmitted to Jane’s room when it was time to change for dinner, which she did in Jane’s dressing room with the evening dress she brought in her valise.

“Mr Collins, my father and Mr Darcy tell me that you have an impressive range of parishes,” Elizabeth offered a topic to her cousin when the party was seated at the table and the first course was served. “That must keep you very busy.”

“Very, Miss Elizabeth.” Mr Collins, seated on her left, took up her conversation. He seemed well-meant, though perhaps with just a touch of nervousness. “I am grateful for my curates, though I spend a great deal of time travelling from one parish to another to ensure that everyone’s needs are met. Mr Darcy is my patron, and he ensures that my task is not arduous by supplying all I require to perform my work.”

“You must be capable indeed to earn the trust of a gentleman with such responsibilities,” Elizabeth said encouragingly.

“You are too kind. Mr Darcy is too kind, though he prefers me not to sing his praises too liberally. It was by his kindness that I was elevated to such a position, although I will not mortify him by elaborating upon his generosity.”

“I am sure your patron must be everything sensible and dependable, to successfully manage so many concerns and give such opportunities to those who deserve them.” Elizabeth noticed Darcy redden slightly from across the table. My cousin is correct. Mr Darcy dislikes particular attention.

“Miss Elizabeth, I am working on trees in my sketching. Priscilla is helping me, and I would like to try my hand at the sycamore we saw when we visited your tenants at Longbourn. It is such a magnificent tree.” Georgiana spoke up from two places down on Elizabeth’s right.

Elizabeth smiled at Mrs Annesley, who was between them. “General Sycamore is well-known in these parts, Georgiana. You may visit Longbourn to draw whenever you please, as long as your brother has no objection. To view it from the top of Oakham Mount would be the best advantage for drawing, I think. Whatever you do, pray do not attempt to draw the view from the top of the great tree itself, which I did when I was seven. I lost my paper and pencil less than halfway up. None but John Lucas had the courage to climb high enough to bring me down. I will be glad to accompany you if you wait until Jane is well.”

“Poor Eliza, if you had informed us of your preference for the outdoors, I am certain we could have found a tree for you to eat your dinner in,” Miss Bingley interrupted snidely.

“Not at all, Caro. As we can all see, I am no longer seven,” Elizabeth returned.

Miss Bingley glared at Elizabeth’s familiarity of her first name, as if she had not quite improperly begun such forward addresses herself. “Sketching trees. How rustic.”

“And how refreshing!” Lady Priscilla said from further down the table at her place by Mr Bingley. “Sketching landscapes and verdure is a very desirable accomplishment for a girl your age, Georgiana. And such a peaceful, ladylike occupation.”

Bingley sought to lighten the moment, seeing that his sister was–not for the first time–coming close to insulting Miss Darcy, something that Lady Priscilla would be sure she regretted.

“To lovely, ladylike occupations!” He stood and raised his glass. “And to Miss Bennet’s swift recovery.”

Everyone drank, except Miss Bingley, who smirked at Elizabeth. “And to the true friends who remain faithfully by her bedside instead of chasing new connections.”

Elizabeth flushed bright red in indignation.

“Now see here!” Priscilla interrupted angrily, before she was interrupted by Mr Darcy.

“Bingley, did you notice that more than half of the roofs on Longbourn’s cottages were new? Miss Elizabeth, is that a developing project that your father is working on? A number of Netherfield’s cottages require new roofs as well. Are there enough labourers locally to attend to such repairs?”

“Oh! Yes, indeed, Darcy and I were wondering who ought to be hired. We meant to speak of it to the steward tomorrow.” Bingley was quick to assist in turning the conversation and Elizabeth answered gratefully as the next course was brought in.

Later that night, Elizabeth changed into the nightgown she had brought with her while Miss Bingley bade Jane good night. The woman had deserted her other guests to race Elizabeth up the stairs, and Elizabeth had no desire to tolerate her company.

Elizabeth emerged from Jane’s dressing room. Miss Bingley was gone and a maid was about to leave the room as well.

“I am sorry, but I was never shown to a room,” she apologised.

“A room, miss?” The maid hedged nervously.

“Miss Bingley understood that I was to remain until my sister returns to Longbourn. Surely she had a bed prepared.” Elizabeth could tell that not only was there no bed, but that Miss Bingley must have refused to have one prepared, and the maid had been nervously expecting this inquiry. There was no point in abusing the servant over the matter, she was not at fault.

“Miss Bingley ordered nothing, Miss Bennet.” The maid dropped a curtsey and fled.

“You were aware that Miss Bingley was expecting another guest, yet you still imposed yourself, Lizzy,” Jane tutted. “Imagine, entering another lady’s home during a house party and demanding a bed.”

“I was sent by Mama, Jane!” Elizabeth was exasperated. “Miss Bingley could hardly expect your family to allow you to remain here alone, it is simply not done, and if our hostess was raised a gentlewoman, she would know this! And may I mention, you have always been my dearest friend, and you have never in all of our lives been less than delighted to see me, so how was I to expect how unwelcome you would find me? I wish more than anybody that I had not wasted my morning rushing to your side, but now I must stay as long as you stay. If you want me to go home, perhaps you ought to get dressed and ask for Mr Bingley’s carriage. Mama will not permit you to remain as a guest here unless someone from home stays as well.”

“I am not well enough to go home. Caroline says Mr Bingley likes me, I will not risk coming down with a fever and spending a month in bed.” Jane was firm. “I am not sleeping well, Lizzy. You will disturb me if we share. You will have to make do with the sofa.”