Page 24 of Till Death Us Do Part
“If you do not get it, pray let Mr Bartlet know how I can find you. I suggest you let him take charge of your education. He cannot teach you himself, of course, but he can hire you a tutor.There are always girls who know how to read that want to earn a little coin. He can find and pay them for you.”
“I will do that. If you come back to Derbyshire, I will pretend I do not know you until you show me otherwise.”
“Probably for the best. We need to say our goodbyes now.”
With a quick hug, and a couple of tears hastily wiped away, the two separated and soon looked to all the world like lady and maid.
As Elizabeth rode through Meryton, she turned her head to avoid being recognised when she saw her mother with all her sisters entering her Aunt Philips’ home. Mr Baker had not bothered sending an express rider all the way from Lambton since his coach was just as fast, but he hadengaged one that morning so Mr Bennet would have advance notice to, as he put it,clear the decks.Elizabeth asked what that meant, but he just shrugged.
As expected, when they pulled into the drive at Longbourn, Mr Bennet was standing on the front porch quite alone.
Mr Baker dismounted and walked over to open the door and offer Elizabeth a hand down. The maid was not to spend any time at Longbourn or even exit the carriage, as he reckoned the less time she had to acquire or distribute gossip, the better. He had his horse, so the coachman was to turn around and return to Lambton straightaway, stopping to spend the night back in Hatfield.
Bennet said, “I thank you, sir. Was she any trouble?”
“No, sir. Quiet as a mouse.”
Bennet snorted in response, but handed Baker a small leather bag, which Elizabeth assumed held his fee.
Baker touched his hat politely and said, “Good day, Miss Bennet. I wish you good fortune,” before mounting and driving off to Meryton.
He planned to stay a day or two in the inn. His work was sporadic, and he would have to notify the people that brokered many of his jobs where he was, but there was no particular hurry. A town like this offered amusements enough so there was little reason to rush off to some other indistinguishable village.
“Lizzy, you led us a merry chase. Are you proud of yourself?” Bennet said with the smirking haughtiness he used when ridiculing their neighbours. He did not expect his daughter to take part, but the attitude was such an engrained part of his personality he did not even notice. Even if he had, he would have felt no remorse.
“No, Father, I am not proud of myself. Had I escaped—thenI would be proud of myself. At the moment, I have no room for any emotions besides frustration and hatred.”
“Come, come, now, Lizzy. You are overreacting.”
“Elizabeth!”
“I beg your pardon.”
“You really should beg my pardon literally, instead of the hackneyed phrase you bandy about, but I know you will not. I meant, that I will no longer answer to Lizzy. Call me Elizabeth or better yet Miss Elizabeth if you expect an answer.”
Bennet moved closer and stared at his offspring with what he hoped was a menacing expression. “I am master and shall address any member of this household as I choose.”
“I understand perfectly! You have laid down how you intend to behave, and I have laid down how I shall. We now understand each other. If you wish a response, you know how to get it.”
Bennet snapped, “Miss High and Mighty Bennet, since your elder and more sensible sister is not present, you will attend me in my library.”
Elizabeth shrugged and nodded, annoyed by his failing to offer time to refresh herself after a coach ride, even though she did not need it since it had only been an hour.
She preceded him into the library and sat down in a chair facing his desk to prepare for the assault that was sure to come. She idly wondered how much time she would have to sit in that chair and be yelled at.
She assumed that day’s assault would be unpleasant and imagined another intense session when her letter arrived in a week from Lambton.That should be fun!
“Miss Elizabeth, if you are not proud of your success, at least you can boast of enormous expense and frustration. Our family’s reputation was already suspect, and it has been nearly impossible to keep a lid on this debacle. You cost me well over one hundred pounds and several sleepless nights, so I suppose you can be proud of that.”
“Let us dispense with any discussion of my pride, as I see little point, and one hundred pounds is slightly less than Jane and Lydia alone overspend their allowances every year. It will hardly cripple Longbourn.”
Losing his temper, Bennet slammed his hand down on his desk. “Well then, shall we move onto selfishness? Do you have any idea what effect your actions would have on your sisters’ lives if you succeeded?”
Not to be out-angered, Elizabeth slapped her own hand down, and yelled, “It would have not the slightest effect, other than causing you some minor inconvenience!”
“You really think they will find good husbands with a fallen sister?”
Elizabeth gasped, and yelled, “Fallen!” then sat with fists curled hard enough for her nails to dig into her palm. “Fallen? I cannot believe you would use such a term even in private. Do you want to know your real issue?”
