Chapter 7

Netherfield in the Rain

T he next two weeks were mostly pleasant for Elizabeth. Never one to linger on her disappointments, she quickly forgave Mr. Collins for his indecorous song. The man was certainly an imbecile, but not one with ill intent in his heart. She found his ballad embarrassing, improper, offensive, and poorly constructed, but it was not written with malice. After a month in her brother-in-law’s presence, she firmly believed he was a decent fellow. He could be easily managed, if only Jane was strong enough to do it.

As for her sister, Elizabeth feelings were more inconsistent. Though Jane disliked conflict and wished to keep everyone happy, she was not as sweet natured as Elizabeth had once believed. For the most part, the two sisters got along. Jane was a good hostess and wished to please Elizabeth, but there were times when she would say something careless. It was those casual insults that led Elizabeth to trust her mother’s and friend’s cautions. It wounded her to admit it, but Jane’s goodness was only on the surface, just as Suzy had said. Although her sister had not been mean-spirited or intentionally cruel, her comments were thoughtless at times, and often hurtful. Jane gave every impression of being overly spoiled by her adopted mother and too reliant on her good looks.

After some effort, Elizabeth convinced her sister to attempt chess. Jane quickly learned the rules of the game, and after three matches, became somewhat adept at strategy. Unfortunately, that was to be the last time the two played.

“Jane, why are you sitting in this dreary old room?” Mrs. Phillips wrinkled her nose at the décor in the unused drawing room.

“Elizabeth is teaching me to play chess. She believes I will become a proficient with enough practice.” Mrs. Phillips eyes squinted at her least favorite niece. Elizabeth sat straighter in her chair. She refused to be intimidated by her aunt.

“Chess may be well and fine for a girl like Elizabeth. You, my Jane, are a beautiful woman who had the good sense to marry a landed gentleman. You have moved up in the world and need not spoil your mind or your posture hunched over a chessboard.”

Choosing to ignore the intended gibe about her beauty and posture, Elizabeth remained silent. But, oh, how she wished to bite back. It was especially difficult to overlook the comment about “moving up”. Jane and Elizabeth may have been raised by tradesmen, but they were born to the gentle class. Marrying a gentleman was Jane’s due. For herself, Elizabeth did not care about her husband’s status as long as she loved him.

Jane picked up her queen and stroked its smooth surface, before gently placing it back on the board. Elizabeth said a silent prayer that her sister would not relent, but her resolve crumbled. “You are correct, of course. I should not wish to give Mr. Collins any reason to be displeased with my figure or my pastimes.”

Elizabeth attempted to persuade Jane to play many times after that day, but it was not to be. Her sister held firm to her decision, though she was as polite and sweet in her refusal as ever. When not visiting with neighbors or walking to Meryton, the sisters spent time working in the still room and playing Piquet, Jane’s favorite two-person card game.

Elizabeth had never been fond of card games. If she was forced to sit still for so long, she preferred it to be for something useful, like sewing, or for something mentally challenging, like reading and chess. But for her sister, she would make the sacrifice.

One day, on a walk to Meryton, Elizabeth asked a question that had haunted her since she was a very young girl. “Jane, what do you think our lives would have been like if our parents had not died?”

Jane’s mouth tugged slightly downward. “I do not like to think about it. It gives me such pain to know that we never truly knew our mother and father.”

“I also feel pain when I think of what we missed. However, I cannot help but wonder how our personalities would have been affected had we been raised as the gently bred ladies that we are.”

Jane stopped and placed her hand on Elizabeth’s forearm. “I do not wish to distress you, but I cannot but think that your life has turned out better for it. You have been well loved by my uncle and have a hefty dowry, too.”

Elizabeth nodded in agreement. “I am fortunate to have Papa’s love and affection. Although I am not his daughter by blood, he has always treated me as if I were his own. I could not have asked for a better father. But that is not what I mean, and you know it.”

“I know you wonder how our lives might have been had we grown up as true sisters, but I do not think our relationship would be so different than it is now. Mama has told me that our mother did not wish for another daughter and was very angry upon your birth. Then, when you turned out to be so brown she pushed you from her chest. Your own mother refused to care for you. Our father had to pay both a nurse and a wetnurse.”

“But many children have a wetnurse.”

Jane huffed a sigh. “Elizabeth, our mother would not have been kind to you. You were not a son, and you are not as attractive as I am. You are better off in London.” Having nothing more to say, Jane plastered a pleasant look on her face and continued down the path toward Meryton. Elizabeth was stunned by the sentiment, and it took her some time before she resumed her walk.

By the next morning, Elizabeth had made peace with her sister’s comments. While Milly fastened the last buttons her dress, Elizabeth studied her appearance in the mirror. It was true, Jane was the more stunning of the sisters, at least according to the latest preferences in London. Neither lady reached the height that was considered fashionable, yet Jane’s fair hair easily established her as the beauty of the two. Their eyes were nearly the same shade of blue, but the dark navy ring around Elizabeth’s gave them a striking intensity. She may not have been the one to command attention, but she appreciated the way her pale eyes stood out against her dark hair and brows.

“You look very well, Miss Gardiner. Prettiest lady in Meryton.”

Elizabeth smiled at her maid. “Thank you, Milly, but I must disagree. I look very well, but Jane is the prettiest lady in town.”

“Not to all of us,” Milly said as she folded Elizabeth’s nightgown. Not knowing how to properly respond, Elizabeth left the room and went in search of her sister. She found her in the breakfast room reading a note alongside Mrs. Annesley.

“Oh, Elizabeth, it is the greatest thing. I have been invited to tea with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. It seems the gentlemen will be away from the house for a visit with the militia, and they wish me to come keep them company.”

Jane had made her admiration of the Netherfield ladies very clear. She respected their position in society and wished to emulate their fashion. Elizabeth found them both to be the epitome of everything that was wrong with the ton. They were shallow, mean spirited, and spent too much money on fashion that was meant to impress with its cost but not its style. Their position in society was also dubious. By nature of being Suzy’s best friend and the goddaughter of the Earl of Effington, Elizabeth knew many of the young ladies in the first circles. Never once had she been introduced to Miss Bingley or Mrs. Hurst. She would not share these thoughts with Jane, however.

“Jane, dear Jane!” Mr. Collins swept into the room waving a sheet of paper. “I have the most exciting news.”

Jane gently placed her own missive on the table before responding. “What is it, dear?”

“My friend, Mr. Greene has agreed to visit us. His most venereal patroness has agreed that he can leave his post and join us for a time.” Elizabeth bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing at Mr. Collins’ unintentional insult of the lady. She would need to add that to her letter to Suzy.

Elizabeth mastered her countenance before speaking. “Who is Mr. Greene?”

Happy to talk about his friend, Mr. Collins pulled out a seat for his sister-in-law and urged her to sit. Mr. Collins loved nothing more than a captive audience. “He has been my greatest friend since university. When we graduated, he went on to be ordained and I, of course, came back here to prepare for my role as a landowner. You will like him. We are so much alike in looks and personality, everyone says we are practically twins!”

Jane asked, “When should we expect him?” For her part, Elizabeth hoped his visit would not overlap her own. One Mr. Collins was more than enough.

“That is the best part, my dear. He will arrive tomorrow!”

Elizabeth was appalled that her sister had received so little notice of a houseguest, but it did not appear to rattle Jane. “Very well, I will ask Mrs. Hill to have a room made up for him.”

Turning to Elizabeth, Mr. Collins continued. “You will enjoy his visit, Elizabeth. He has a very good position in Hunsford but is heir to a small estate in Suffolk.” Mr. Collins stopped for a dramatic inhalation, only to begin again. “He would be a very good match for you, assuming you catch his interest.”

Elizabeth did not know how to respond to that, so she remained quiet. That was to Mr. Collins’ satisfaction, as he was not done with his commentary.

“His patroness is Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She is the sister to an earl and has been so kind to extend her condescension to me. Mr. Greene often includes small pieces of advice that she has shared for my benefit.” Mr. Collins waved his letter. “Even today he wrote of her suggestion for closets. Jane, there is not time now, but we must consider adding shelves to all our closets. Lady Catherine says it is a superior way to maximize space.”

“But rather poor for hanging clothes.” Elizabeth’s joke earned herself a stern look from her brother-in-law.

Jane’s placid smile soothed her husband’s irritated feelings. “I am very pleased your friend will join us. I know you have wished for his presence often.” Picking up her own missive she continued. “Today I received a note from Miss Bingley. She has asked me to attend tea this afternoon. May I use the carriage?”

Mr. Collins’ eyes widened. “Today? Of course not! I must be away. There is so much to do before Mr. Greene arrives.” Realizing his wife was disappointed, he added, “Jane, I am very pleased they invited you, which is as it should be. You are so beautiful and gentle. And, of course, you are the wife of the area’s premier landowner. But you must realize that I must have the carriage. I need to stop by Lucas’ and Goulding’s to share my good news and I cannot be expected to walk that far. You can take the horse. I dare say the exercise will be good for your circulation.”

Elizabeth could not help but look at Mr. Collins’ soft physique. The exercise would do him more good than it would Jane. “Perhaps you could delay your trip to town. You can drop Jane and me off at Netherfield and then proceed with your visits.” To her shock, both Jane and Mr. Collins were affronted by her suggestion. They responded at the same time.

“Delay? I cannot delay. This is the most exciting thing to happen in Hertfordshire in years.” Mr. Collins emphatically shook his head at the idea, causing his neck to jiggle.

“Elizabeth, your name was not on the invitation. It would be bad manners for me to show up with my uninvited sister in tow.”

Elizabeth chose to ignore her brother-in-law's comment and responded to Jane. “It would also be poor manners to invite one lady of the house and not the other. I am certain Miss Bingley meant the note for both of us. What do you believe, Mrs. Annesley?”

Elizabeth’s companion had been sitting quietly while the others spoke, but Elizabeth could tell by the set of her mouth that she was bothered by the conversation. “I believe you are correct, Miss Gardiner. It is in poor manners to leave you off the invitation. However, I suspect that is as Miss Bingley intended.”

Jane’s lips tightened. “Be that as it may, in this I must have my way. You were not mentioned on the invitation, and I will not embarrass Longbourn by bringing along my unwanted sister.”

Jane’s words struck Elizabeth like a physical blow. Her throat tightened, a painful ache spreading as she battled to keep her tears at bay. Elizabeth forced herself to nod along as Mr. Collins droned on about his friend, the words barely registering; her mind was too consumed by her sister’s callous comments. When she could no longer bear it, she excused herself and retreated to her room.

After an hour of quiet contemplation, Elizabeth dusted off her injured feelings and sat at her desk to begin her newest letter to Suzy. There is no need to be gloomy, she told herself. It is only a visit to Netherfield. It is not as though Jane will spend the afternoon with ladies I like. But no matter how much she endeavored to talk herself into being pleased that she did not have to attend with her sister, her heart knew the truth.

My dearest friend,

Longbourn is to be invaded by a Mr. Collins replica. I am unsure if I should stay for the enjoyment of two such ludicrous men or ask papa to send the carriage posthaste.

Elizabeth sat in one position for many hours. After finishing her letter to Suzy, she wrote additional ones to her mother, father, and her grandmother in Lambton. So engrossing were her efforts that she did not look up until a rumble of thunder rattled the windowpane. Consulting her watch, she reasoned that Jane should be close to Netherfield at that time. But when a steady rain began to fall, Elizabeth could not help but wring her hands in worry.