Page 42 of Resilience

“I take the well-being of every person I am responsible for very seriously, I assure you.” His demeanour was all sincerity.

Elizabeth smiled at the gentleman. “I know that you do, Mr Darcy. I have seen what a marvellous brother, cousin, and friend it makes you, and I am sure that you are just as devoted a patron and landlord.”

Mr Darcy blushed. “That is high praise, coming from you.”

“I assure you that it is well deserved.” Elizabeth then turned, for Georgiana was asking her a question from across the table.

The ladies had just left the men at the table and were on their way to the music room when a carriage was heard in the drive. Mr Darcy emerged from the dining room with the other men. The footman opened the door and everyone peered out to see Bingley stepping down from his carriage, quite uninvited.

“Bingley, what on earth are you doing here?” Darcy hissed as he emerged from the house. “This is not the way to force your wife upon my sister, who is just inside.”

“I assure you, Darcy, I had no such intention,” Bingley promised. “Jane and I were travelling north so that I might introduce her to some of my relations. But once we were too far away from Meryton to turn back, Jane began to fall ill each morning, and has only become worse each day in the carriage. She suspected that she was in an interesting condition, but never thought that she would react so poorly to travelling. All we could do was press on for Derbyshire, where I have friends and she has some family, in the hopes of finding a place where Jane might obtain a few days rest. She has been too violently ill for us to continue, she must rest for some days and recover her strength.”

“Oh, my poor sister.” Mary Collins, having heard all about the Matlock’s decree and Darcy’s unwillingness to entertain Mrs Bingley from Elizabeth, swept out the door to the carriage. “Dearest Jane, of course you may seek shelter with me. Mr Darcy, I shall travel with Mr and Mrs Bingley to the parsonage with all haste so that I might make my sister comfortable as soon as may be. My husband and my sister Elizabeth may follow.”

“Of course, Mrs Collins, that seems eminently sensible.” Darcy understood immediately that Mary was removing Jane Bingley from Pemberley before she became a problem.

Bingley stood and stared at Darcy in disbelief. No, his friend had not denied them a place to stay, precisely, but it was obvious that it had never been his intention to offer one, and that Darcy regarded Mrs Collin’s interference with relief.

“Bingley, would you like to go for a ride in the morning?” Darcy asked his friend.

“I am afraid that even when not in a carriage my wife is unwell all morning and half the day. I dislike leaving her in such a condition,” Bingley answered. “Perhaps in the afternoon when she is resting.”

“Just send a note when you are ready, and I will meet you on the village green,” Darcy bowed as the others returned to the house.

“Ought we to call for the carriage and follow immediately, Cousin Elizabeth?” Collins asked Elizabeth anxiously in the hall when they returned indoors.

“Honestly, Cousin William, the smaller Jane’s audience, the easier it will be for Mary and Mr Bingley to manage her, I think.” Elizabeth was blunt. “The more of us that are there, the greater will be our sisters’ complaints. I believe that if Mary has an hour to settle Jane into a room, the fewer dramatics we shall all have to hear tonight. I do not believe that Mary will be hurt if we do not follow immediately. She knows Jane as well as I. Jane will complain more tomorrow that we did not rush after them to see to her health, but Jane is going to complain all day tomorrow no matter what happens.”

“That does sound like Mrs Bingley,” Georgiana agreed as she led them to the drawing room for tea and conversation.

Chapter Nineteen

Friday 3 April 1812

Pemberley

Denny,

I will be there with my lists of crop yields and ledgers tomorrow at noon as planned, but my sister and some local ladies wonder if they ought not pay a few calls upon your bride, inconvenient as it may be for your family.

The ladies worry that since Mrs Denny will not know her neighbours before she loses her father-in-law, that she will be unable to accept them as callers when she is in full mourning. The local ladies would not wish to see your young bride isolated for so long just because she had not received introductions before her bereavement.

If it is acceptable to you, my sister, her companion, and two local ladies will ride in the carriage and leave after an appropriate visit has passed. I will escort the carriage there on horseback and ride home when yours and my business is conducted.

Hopefully this will help your wife to make some friends of our neighbours as she settles in. Even though none of them are of an age with her, they are kind women who will advise her well. I know Mrs Denny enjoyed a full social circle in Meryton, and my sister feels it would be a shame if she had no visitors for months because of ill luck and the poor timing of fate.

Return your answer with the groom.

Darcy

Friday 3 April 1812

Hawthorne Vale

Darcy,

Your sister’s concern is very kind, and Kitty appreciates her thoughtfulness. She had not considered that soon she might end up isolated at home with no one but Lizzy and sometimes Mary for company when my father dies. He does not deserve to be mourned by us, least of all by my good wife, but the county will expect it, and judge her if she does not. Even though her full mourning would be only three months, I would not see her without visitors for the duration.