Page 31 of A Most Beloved Sister
“Yes, well, it stood out very clearly to me when I first read it. I shan’t bore you with the contents of the rest of the book, but they were quite similar.”
“It makes logical sense though, doesn’t it?” Miss Bingley replied. “After all, if someone does not have anything to offer to society, then what purpose do they serve?”
“But what about those who are too sick to work?” Elizabeth asked, annoyance lacing her words.
“If they’re too sick to work, then they’re probably too sick to live. So if they’re going to die, they’d better do it and decrease the surplus population. Lord knows we have enough orphans and street rats.”
The room fell instantly silent. Elizabeth felt a hot well of anger rise in her chest, and she knew her face must be as red as the fire inside of her. She stood quickly, her fork and knife clattering on the table. Her father’s words echoed in her ears, and she bit her cheek to keep herself from giving the hateful woman the tongue-lashing she deserved.
“Excuse me,” she said. “I find I am suddenly not fit for company.”
She made to leave the room, but she was only halfway to the door when Bingley cried, “No, wait!”
Elizabeth stopped, but she refused to turn around, unwilling to let the company see the tears that filled her eyes.
“Miss Elizabeth, I cannot even begin to apologize for my sister’s behavior,” he continued.
Miss Bingley gave a strangled gasp. “Charles!” she hissed.
“No, Caroline. Enough is enough. I warned you last night that if you continued to behave poorly, you would be confined to your rooms. You didn’t even last twelve hours.”
She tried to protest again, but he slammed his fist down on the table, causing everyone else to startle in their seats. Elizabeth turned around just in time to see Bingley say, “Now, Caroline. Or so help me, I will call for a footman to drag you by your hair.”
The young lady emitted a slight shriek and placed a hand on her elegant coiffure that was far too elaborate and therefore out of place for the breakfast room. She threw her napkin on the table. “I will never forgive you for this, Charles. Never!”
As she ran from the room, she brushed past Elizabeth much harder than was required, especially given there was plenty of space. Bingley opened his mouth, his face turning even more red, but Elizabeth just shook her head. He relaxed, then turned to Mrs. Hurst. “Louisa, will you please act as mistress for the remainder of our stay?”
Mrs. Hurst looked nervously at the door through which her sister had just departed, then back at her brother. She touched the small swell of her stomach that had been hitherto unnoticed by Elizabeth. “All right, Charles,” the married lady agreed.
“You can’t do any worse of a job than Caroline,” grunted Mr. Hurst.
Bingley closed his eyes and sighed in exasperation. When he opened them again, he said calmly, “Again, Miss Elizabeth, my apologies for my sister’s behavior. I don’t know what has gotteninto her lately. Please, if there is anything I can do to make amends—”
“There is no need, sir,” Elizabeth interrupted. “I think as long as she and I are not in one another’s company, things will go more smoothly. I am hopeful that my sister will soon be able to return to Longbourn, and you will once again enjoy the privacy of your own home.”
The conversation was then interrupted by the news that the doctor had arrived. Elizabeth sighed in relief. Perhaps, finally, they could go home.
Chapter 9
Elizabeth watched as Darcy shook the newcomer’s hands and made introductions. She was surprised to see that the doctor was much younger than she had expected—perhaps around thirty years of age.
“Shall I show you to your rooms, Doctor?” Mrs. Hurst asked.
“Yes, thank you. I should appreciate washing before seeing the patient.”
Elizabeth went to Jane’s room to await the man. Jane’s eyes were glazed from the laudanum, but she was calm and happy, waxing at length about the agreeable conversation she’d had the night before with “dear Mr. Bingley.” Elizabeth attempted to explain about the doctor, but Jane’s ability to carry a conversation was limited.
The younger Bennet sister had hoped her father would return before the doctor was ready to see the elder, but those hopes were dashed when the door opened.
Mrs. Hurst entered, followed by two maids and the doctor himself. “Jane, dear, this is Dr. Carson. He’ll examine you now; would you like me to stay, or shall I leave you to your sister?”
“Please stay,” Elizabeth requested quietly. “I would like to have company, and seeing as my father has not yet arrived from Longbourn…” her voice trailed off.
Mrs. Hurst nodded and gave Elizabeth a sympathetic pat on her shoulder. “The foreman at my father’s warehouses had a daughter my age who was much like your sister.”
“Was?”
Her lips turned down. “She, too, had a weak heart. My father made his fortune and sent us to finishing school. Maggie died one winter I was away.”
