Page 34 of A Most Beloved Sister
“Because she will be staying here to care for Jane, and you will be returning to Longbourn with us,” Mrs. Bennet replied smugly. “This will allow her to be in Mr. Darcy’s company and secure him quickly!”
Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open. “But, Mama, I cannot leave Jane!”
“I would rather—” Jane’s protest was interrupted by a strong fit of coughing, which went unheeded by Mrs. Bennet.
“You will if I tell you to,” the matron retorted. “I am your mother, and I have the final say!”
“I believe I am still the head of the Bennet family,” Mr. Bennet responded dryly. “Unless something has occurred of which I am not aware?”
Mrs. Bennet rounded on her husband. “I insist you bring Lizzy home immediately!”
“And why would I do that?”
“Because a new officer is coming to Meryton tomorrow! He is a particular friend of Colonel Foster. As Jane is for Mr. Bingley, it only makes sense that this new soldier will want the next eldest Bennet daughter to wed.”
Elizabeth gaped at her mother. “Surely you cannot mean for me to marry a soldier whom I have never before met!”
“Why not? It’s not as if you have any other prospects.”
“But, Mama, what if I wanted to marry the officer?” wailed Kitty, who was ignored by everyone in the room.
Dismayed, Elizabeth turned towards her father, who was smirking at his favorite daughter. “You do not wish to follow the drum, my dear, and abandon your mother along with the rest of your sisters?”
Mrs. Bennet blinked at her husband. “What do you mean abandon her mother?”
“Well, when I die, Mrs. Bennet, you will be needing a place to live. If Elizabeth has married a soldier, she will not be ableto provide for you when I am gone.” Mr. Bennet looked over at Elizabeth and gave a sly wink. “If Lydia marries Mr. Darcy, she will also be several days away in Derbyshire. You likely would never see her again after the wedding. You will not be able to rely on her, either.”
Mrs. Bennet’s jaw dropped, her eyes widening with horror. She gaped at Elizabeth, then at Mr. Bennet, then back at Elizabeth again. Her mouth opened several times, but no words came out. At last, she said, “Perhaps I have been hasty in deciding that Elizabeth should marry a soldier. Or Lydia marry Mr. Darcy. Clearly there is still much to consider.”
Elizabeth sighed in relief. “Then I may stay here with Jane, Mama?”
“Yes, yes,” Mrs. Bennet muttered, her eyes darting furiously between all her daughters.
“A wise idea,” Mr. Bennet said dryly. “Now, I think it best we leave Jane to rest.”
Jane, who had been watching the conversation with a smile on her face—interrupted only by the occasional coughing fit—had begun to doze off once again. Mrs. Bennet gave her eldest a fond look. “Very well.”
“But, Mama!” wailed Lydia. “I wanted to stay here and see Mr. Darcy!”
“No, Lydia,” Mr. Bennet replied with uncharacteristic sharpness.
The youngest Bennet daughter fell silent and settled for glaring daggers at Elizabeth instead.
Mrs. Bennet gaped at her husband. “That’s quite all right, Lydia. We will find another way for Mr. Darcy to spend time with you; that is, if you really want to move so far away to the north. In the meantime, perhaps Colonel Forster’s friend will take a liking to one of your other sisters…”
The matron then bustled out of the room, loudly discussing which would make the best wife for the new officer: Kitty or Mary. Mr. Bennet rolled his eyes at Elizabeth, who responded with a tight smile. “Narrow escape, my dear daughter.”
“Quite. I take it you still haven’t told her about Mr. Collins’s visit, then?”
Mr. Bennet let out a loud sigh, then glanced sheepishly at Jane. Noticing she was fast asleep, he whispered, “Now tell me everything the London doctor told you.”
Elizabeth quietly summarized the man’s findings, including the fact that Jane could not return to Longbourn until her cough had completely gone away. “I do not like the idea of staying at Netherfield indefinitely,” she finished. “It means depending too much on the kindness of strangers.”
“I do not see that we have any choice, my dear,” Mr. Bennet replied. “Not if we wish to have Jane with us as long as possible.”
Their conversation was interrupted when Mary stuck her head back into the room and said solemnly, “Papa, I think it best if we leave now. The time for an appropriate social call has come to an end.”
“Quite right, my dear. Where would we be if we did not have you around to help us maintain propriety?”
