Page 15 of Resilience

“She could not have grudged you that,” Elizabeth insisted. “It was good of all of you to be there for her, and you made a great sacrifice by accepting her, no matter how much fortune you received.”

“I wish we had all been there, but one of us has been gone since just after the wedding,” Darcy said. “Our cousin Richard was her first choice, but he refused her. His reasons were his own, but he has not been home since, and it has been three long years. I still grieve that he did not come home when she died. He was my closest friend when we were growing up. I pray daily that he returns and that we one day recapture our previous bond.”

“Your sister speaks of your cousin Richard often, I believe that he is her guardian with you, and also Priscilla’s brother?” Elizabeth asked as Darcy nodded in answer. “I believe your whole family prays that he will return, according to the ladies. I gather that he is a great deal of fun.”

“He is with the right people. He must come home eventually, or his mother will eventually sail to the continent and pull him back by his ear.” Darcy smiled.

“Is Mrs Darcy’s mother well?” Elizabeth asked. “Has she recovered from her loss?”

“My Aunt Catherine is different than before,” Darcy answered thoughtfully. “She used to be forceful and unyielding. Learning that she could not order the universe, not even to ensure her daughter’s health has humbled her, at least a bit. She is a woman who knows disappointment and sorrow. I travel to Rosings to see her when I can.”

They had circled back as they talked and were approaching the house. Darcy stopped and looked down at her. “Miss Elizabeth, thank you for allowing me to look back on the last few years with gratification and satisfaction today. Sometimes it can be difficult to accept all of the good that our marriage did for Anne. Confiding in you has lightened my heart rather than burden me.”

“I am glad if talking about Mrs Darcy brought you peace, I would have been grieved if my question had caused you any pain.” Elizabeth smiled up at him “I must go up and change out of these dusty walking clothes before breakfast. Thank you for your company this morning, Mr Darcy.”

She curtsied as he bowed, turning to enter the house. As she did so, she looked up and saw Caroline Bingley glaring down at them from one bedroom window. Further down, Jane, who Elizabeth had thought would still be asleep, watched her sister from her own window, her disapproval and anger evident upon her countenance.

Chapter Seven

Two days after Elizabeth and Jane’s return to Longbourn, Elizabeth sat in the drawing room as her mother flitted about in a state of delighted agitation serving tea. Mrs Bennet repeated her welcomes as if their company were royalty who had landed unexpectedly at Longbourn by mistake rather than just the two Bingley siblings, the Darcys, and Lady Priscilla. Mr Collins was in the study with their father, a visit he had repeated often since his arrival in Meryton.

Jane, Elizabeth noted, displayed the same brightness of manner she seemed to always wear when in company with Miss Bingley. Elizabeth observed her sister, whose eyes sparkled with a mischief she had only ever seen in their youngest sibling, and wondered warily what it meant.

“Miss Bingley,” Jane began as she turned to her new friend. “I must thank you again for your kindness, and apologise for any trouble you experienced during my stay at Netherfield. Your burden would have been halved if it were not for Lizzy’s spirited, though quite unnecessary walk through the mud to tend me.”

“Indeed, I could hardly credit Miss Elizabeth’s machinations,” Caroline tutted, seeming for all the world as if she were teasing, but Elizabeth saw the cold glint in her eye. “She certainly made an entrance, a gentleman’s daughter appearing in such…disarray.”

“I have always admired my sister’s independence.” Jane smiled sweetly at Elizabeth, who raised her eyebrows at her. “I have never met another lady who could match it.”

“I thought Miss Elizabeth walked all that way because she cared for you very much,” Miss Darcy spoke up in a timid voice.

“Of course!” Jane smiled serenely. “Lizzy’s heart is always in the right place.”

“Even if her boots are not,” Caroline murmured quietly.

Mr Bingley beamed at everyone present. Elizabeth wondered if–for all his affability–he was not somewhat simple, for he seemed to believe the conversation was a pleasant one.

“Miss Bennet speaks with such warmth, and defends her sister so gracefully that one might almost suspect her of intending the opposite. How fortunate you are, to have a sister so willing to be cast as the villain of her own kindness.” Priscilla’s tone was all one might expect from the intensely displeased daughter of an earl.

“Oh!” Jane whispered, her lip trembling. “Oh dear! Lady Priscilla, I would never…oh to think anyone might believe I meant to degrade my dearest sister!”

Jane’s voice caught, the last word a sob in her mouth. Her eyes shimmered, then perfectly executed, tears began to spill down her cheeks.

“Good heavens! Miss Bennet, have we offended you?” Bingley jumped to his feet and hurried to her, glaring at Darcy’s cousin. “I am certain Lady Priscilla did not intend to cause such harm!”

Elizabeth noted Miss Bingley watching Jane in surprise, and wondered if that lady had been under the misapprehension that she was the one pulling the strings of this particular performance. Their neighbour looked like a playwright whose lines were being delivered quite wrongly.

“I-I only wished to praise Lizzy.” Jane wept beautifully. Elizabeth had never seen any person weep with such loveliness. “If my words were misunderstood, I must beg your pardon. I cannot imagine how I have given such an impression.”

Moved by Jane’s display of distress, Miss Darcy ventured, “Miss Bennet, I am certain that my cousin meant no accusation.”

“I would never knowingly say anything unkind about Lizzy. Never.” Jane’s chest heaved with sobs.

Priscilla did not retreat. She was as used to warfare as her brother who was fighting on the continent, though of an entirely different nature. Her eyes narrowed, a warrior recognizing a worthy opponent. “I spoke up only to ensure I understood you, Miss Bennet. Your intention may have been lost beneath…phrasing.”

“Indeed, dear Jane, we all know that you would never…” Caroline trailed off, gazing at Jane in perplexity.

“My sweet Jane, how could anyone think that you have the ability to hurt anyone!” Mrs Bennet cried as she rushed over to Jane with a cup of tea. “You must forgive Jane’s delicate feelings, Mr Bingley. It is not her fault that she is so good that she is easily wounded by the sharpness of others!”