Chapter 32
B ennet was more than pleased that whatever had caused his Lizzy to pull away from him was a thing of the past. He was sure she would have some good ideas for how to cause her mother and youngest sisters to once again act in a way he wanted them to for his own amusement.
"Come in Lizzy," Bennet called out enthusiastically when he heard her knock on the thick oak door. "We need to plan how to manipulate your mother and youngest sisters so they will return to the way they used to behave. They supply no merriment while they behave as they do now."
Elizabeth took a seat before the desk and had to school her features not to allow displeasure to show. "Are you saying you do not want Mama, Kitty, and Lydia to behave as they should?" she asked, but then answered her own question. "Of course you do not, how can you feel superior to them if you have nothing over which to mock them?"
All Bennet could do was stare at his second daughter with an open mouth, raised eyebrows, and his glass of port suspended in his hand between the desk and his mouth. "How dare you speak to me in that fashion?" Bennet thundered when he recovered somewhat.
"Does that mean you will be sanguine with my marrying and not being your companion meant to amuse you until the end of your days?" Elizabeth asked calmly. Again, her father looked shocked she had been able to discover his intentions. She continued before he had time to respond. "I must thank you for truly opening my eyes to who you really are when you refused to act to protect Lydia. That was your final failing which caused me to see you for who you are, it began when you said not a word to Mr Darcy regarding his slight aimed at me, which by the by, he apologised for as soon as I ignored your advice, and allowed him to speak to me.
"It was from that time I began to understand you care for no one except your own selfish needs and your desire to feel superior by denigrating all those around you." Elizabeth paused and was not put off by the look of fury on her father's countenance. "The only good which came out of Mr Wickham's almost perfidy against my sisters and me, was my learning just how wrong I had been about so much. And why would I not be so? You made sure I was formed in your image. I cannot think of the way I used to tease my mother—who is not at all unintelligent—and younger sisters, all at your instigation, without abhorrence.
"I could list every instance of your behaving contrary to your duty as protector of your wife and daughters, and if I thought you were capable of change, I would. I am sure you will find some way to make yourself the victim and claim you have been ill used. In that, you and the convict who tried to ruin us, have something in common: blaming others for their own actions.
"You have failed, Mr Bennet, I will not be your companion, as much as you attempted to make me unmarriageable, I will marry one day. If you order me into your study, which is your right as my father, I will obey and sit and not say a word until you release me. However, I will not willingly spend time with you other than at mealtimes. The days of my disrespecting Mama, or failing to treat my sisters and others with kindness and respect merely for your entertainment, or any other reason, are over. I am sorry to inform you Mr Bennet but your plans for me failed spectacularly and you will never be gratified in them. I also know why, over and above your extreme indolence, you refused to save for dowries for your daughters. For shame, Sir!" Elizabeth remembered something. "When I was young and impressionable you told me the fifth commandment only applies to the father, in that, like so many things, you were wrong."
"Do not think yourself intelligent, you are nothing but a silly girl like your mother and sisters!" Bennet spat out angrily. "You will regret the day you turned on me in this way!"
The truth of his daughter's words cut him to the quick, but he would not allow her to see that. How had everything gone so wrong? He had been sure his plans for Lizzy had been realised, only now to discover they were for nought. How on earth did she know why he had not added to the money they would receive from their mother? He knew there was no point commanding her to join him in his study, she would sit there silently as she threatened. She would not entertain him, debate, or play chess. As angry as he was, dispensing corporal punishment, especially to a female, was something far beyond the pale for him. The sad part was he well knew his second daughter was inordinately intelligent; now he would have to mourn what would never be.
"You have said quite enough, Sir. I perfectly comprehend your feelings, and have now only to be ashamed of the way I cooperated with, believed in, and venerated you in the past. May I be excused please?" Elizabeth replied calmly.
"For the way you have spoken to me this day, you will not return to London. I will no longer give you an allowance, and if any man is witless enough to come asking for your hand, he shall be sent away with a flea in his ear. This will be in force for the rest of my days, so enjoy your lonely life, because now you have lost me," Bennet spat out.
"I cannot lose what I never had. And it is only for less than three months that you will have the power to decide where and when I travel, or whom I marry or do not marry. On the fifth day of March in 1813, I will reach my majority, in case you forgot that fact." Elizabeth, stood, turned, and left her spluttering father's study. She did not tell her father that missing her allowance was not a hardship as she had—unlike him—saved, and invested, most of her quarterly pin money.
At least he had not commanded her to remain in the house and never leave it. That would have been one order she would have disobeyed.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
By the time Elizabeth reached the drawing room, the tension of keeping her equanimity during the confrontation was too much for her. She fell sobbing into her mother's welcoming arms as she released her anxiety in a physical form.
Mary led her younger sisters out of the room and pulled the door closed. Lizzy needed to speak to Mama without interruption. She would speak to her older sister later. She was grateful neither Kitty nor Lydia questioned their need to vacate the room and allow Lizzy privacy.
Fanny waited until Lizzy had cried as much as she needed. She handed her second daughter, the eldest one left at home, her silk edged handkerchief while rubbing Lizzy's back comfortingly.
"Was it so very bad?" Fanny asked when Elizabeth had ceased crying.
"No worse than I expected," Elizabeth averred as she dried the last of her tears. "He took it about as badly as I thought he would, but I had to say what was needed. Nothing he said caused me to cry, it was simply a release, after having to maintain my outward fa?ade in the study."
"Did my husband punish you?" Fanny worried.
Elizabeth explained what her father, Mr Bennet as she thought of him now, imposed on her. "At least he will not order me into his study and I am allowed out of the house."
"It is for less than three months," Fanny shook her head .
"That is what I said," Elizabeth stated as she gave a watery smile. "If we are welcome, my sisters, and I should visit Netherfield Park most days. At least Becca and Gigi are there, not to mention Mary's fiancé. I would visit Charlotte at Lucas Lodge but I think her attentions are focused on her colonel."
Remembering what Lizzy said about her father revoking her allowance, Fanny took her daughters hands in her own. "You will not be hurt by having no allowance," Fanny asserted, "I will give you part of mine, and I am sure your sisters will do the same once they hear about the cruel an undeserved punishment Mr Bennet imposed on you for speaking the truth to him."
"Mama, as much as I appreciate it, it will not be needed," Elizabeth claimed. "When I was about six, I heard Uncle Edward imploring your husband to invest and save with him; of course Mr Bennet refused. Even though at that age my allowance was not very much, I had three quarters worth of allowance I had not used, and asked Uncle if I was allowed to save with him. He agreed on condition I not tell my parents." Elizabeth looked at her mother shyly, "he said until I reach my majority you two had the power to take my money. It is why I never mentioned my money to Mr Bennet. In any event, I have been sending most of my allowance to him for over fourteen years now."
"Lizzy, how much money do you have with my brother?"
"A little more than one thousand five hundred pounds. My uncle earns me roughly ten percent per annum. I have never taken it before, but I could have up to one hundred fifty pounds each year without affecting my principal."
"My clever Lizzy!" Fanny exclaimed. "I am sad to say, the way I used to behave, I would have demanded your money and wasted it on fripperies no one needed. Edward's advice to you was sound. Make sure it remains a secret for the next three months or your father will be purchasing books and port with your funds."
"Well I know that, Mama. Before I knew what Mr Bennet is, I thought to ignore what Uncle Edward advised, but I thankfully knew his counsel was always sound, so I did not tell Mr Bennet," Elizabeth owned.
After another hug between mother and daughter, Elizabeth left her mother in search of her sisters.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After leaving Mama's company, Elizabeth had told her sisters of her confrontation with their father and the results thereof. Her sisters, like her mother had, volunteered to share their allowances with her. Without telling them the true reason—Elizabeth did not want to chance her two youngest sisters letting something slip inadvertently. She told the truth, just not the whole truth: Uncle Edward would send her what she needed. Thankfully her sisters did not ask any questions about why their uncle would do that. Elizabeth fully intended to share the whole truth with Mary when they had time to speak in private.
Mrs Hill informed her mistress the Master had ordered that from this day on, he would take all of his meals in the study. This news was greeted with relief by Mr Bennet's wife and daughters. If Bennet had thought he would be punishing his family by denying them his company, he was sorely mistaken. Without his sarcastic comments or silent sneering at them, his wife and daughters enjoyed dinner that evening greatly.
In his study, Bennet who was still seething from the altercation with his second daughter hardly touched his food, rather, he increased his intake of port to drown out the thoughts about the many facts she had listed. Somewhere in the deep recesses of his mind his conscience was trying to tell him that he needed to make amends for his cruelty and selfish actions, but he had never listened to it before, and he was not about to begin now. In his mind, he somehow thought it would not be long before Lizzy realised the error of her ways, and she and his family would be begging for his company once again.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Thanks to there being no precipitation, only a slight frost on the ground, Elizabeth decided to ride Penny on Saturday morning. As she always did, she rode out without an escort. Had the threat posed by Messrs Denny and Wickham still been an issue, she would not have done so.
Since there had been some frost, Oakham Mount was not an option as the frost made the stones on the path to the summit rather slippery at times. She allowed Penny to gallop across several of the fields in the direction of Netherfield Park. The cold wind whipping at her face, as Penny ran, was invigorating rather than off-putting. As she approached the fence between the properties, Elizabeth spied a riding party of five. She slowed her horse until she was walking along the fence on the Longbourn side. The group on the other side was comprised of three Fitzwilliams and two Darcys.
Darcy was more than pleased they had met Miss Elizabeth on their early morning ride. His eyes found her beautiful face on their own accord and he was rewarded with a becoming blush when she noted his intent look.
Greetings were exchanged as the riders all stopped. "Mary did not join you?" Lord Hilldale asked disappointedly.
"She does not ride," Elizabeth averred. Seeing the questioning looks from more than one of those across the fence, she expounded, "Like I did, Mary began to learn to ride when she was seven. Mr Bennet thought it a joke to put her on a rather rambunctious gelding he used to own before Mary was ready. It threw her and she broke her left forearm, and ever since, she has refused to ride."
The fact he would not have known her at that age did not stop the Viscount from wanting to go thrash his future father-in-law. Just when he thought the man could not sink lower in his estimation, he had managed to do so. "Lizzy, how did your meeting go once you arrived home?" he asked.
"Much as I expected," Elizabeth replied. "It was well you approached him at the wedding breakfast prior to my speaking to him." She paused and again addressed her future brother. "If someone who happens to love her, and has patience with her, decides to teach her to ride, I am sure Mary will overcome her aversion to riding atop a horse."
"Then you must teach Mary, Brother," Lady Rebecca commanded. She looked to her other brother. "Does Charlotte ride, Rich?"
"Yes, I believe she does." The Colonel looked to his fiancée's friend to confirm or correct what he asserted. She nodded. "According to Lizzy, I have the right of it."
"Richard, are you calling at Lucas Lodge after you break your fast?" Darcy enquired.
"I am, why do you ask?" the Colonel averred.
"Unless Miss Elizabeth, sorry, I mean Miss Bennet objects, I thought we would accompany her and call at Longbourn," Darcy explained.
"By no means do I object, however, in my opinion it would be far more comfortable if my sisters and I call on you all at Netherfield Park. The climate in the house will be far less frosty ," Elizabeth suggested.
Darcy was only getting used to the fact the woman he loved seemed to welcome his company. He was asking himself if it was too soon to request a courtship when Richard's words broke the pattern of his thoughts. It excited him to see Miss Bennet watching him shyly from the other side of the fence as her horse danced back and forth at her run being interrupted.
"Andy, have you and Mary decided on a date yet?" the Colonel queried.
"We intend to discuss that subject today," Lord Hilldale responded. "Why do you ask?"
"Charlotte and I have selected the fifteenth day of January, what say you to us marrying the ladies we love in a joint ceremony?" the Colonel suggested.
As she listened to the conversation, she realised with the brothers' marriages, Charlotte would be a sister to all of the Bennet daughters. For so long she had felt like another sister to Jane and herself, and now she would be indeed.
"It will be up to Mary. If she has no objection, then I will also agree," Lord Hilldale decided.
"If Mary assents, the decision regarding which church to marry from will need to be made," Elizabeth interjected. "We worship at the Longbourn village church and the Lucases attend St Alfred's in Meryton."
"Should we send a coach to collect those who will come to Netherfield Park at eleven?" Andrew enquired. "Rich, would it spoil some grand cosmic plan if Charlotte comes to us as well? That way we will have both ladies present to make a decision, and mayhap her mother will want to accompany her?"
"A carriage will be welcome as we will not have to ask Mr Bennet to use his. Mama will be with us," Elizabeth stated. "Richard, I suggest you have Maria come as well. She is of an age with Becca, Gigi, and my youngest sisters."
Farewells and expressions of joy at seeing one another in a few short hours were given and received. Elizabeth headed back towards the stables while the riding party on the other side of the fence did the same at their estate. Richard planned to send a note to Charlotte as soon as he arrived at the manor house. He was almost sure she would not object to the change in plans, but he would not assume that.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
At some point after he had broken his fast, Bennet could not understand why things were so quiet, so he rang for Hill. When he asked about the lack of noise, Hill explained a coach had arrived to collect the Mistress and her daughters a half hour earlier.
Bennet cared not they had gone, only that he had not been able to refuse them the use of the horses for the carriage.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
At Netherfield Park they were a merry group, which included Sir William who was with the men while the ladies made decisions about the weddings to come.
Louisa Hurst was more than happy to be included in the planning like a true sister. On the subject of a joint wedding, Mary agreed to it and the date with alacrity, as did Fanny. St Alfred's was chosen. It was a far larger church than the one at Longbourn. With the locals as well as all of the friends and family of the Fitzwilliams, the latter church simply would not accommodate everyone who would attend. In addition, although not as important, the former church sat a mile closer to Netherfield Park where, like after Jane's wedding, the celebratory meal would be held.
Once the men rejoined the ladies, Andrew sat off to the side with Mary. "Lizzy told me why you do not ride, all of the reasons for it," he said so only she would hear. "If you will allow me, I would like to teach you in a way which will assist you to overcome your fear of horses."
At first Mary wanted to refuse, but then she thought of how much she loved, respected, and more importantly, trusted Andrew. "I will be happy to have you teach me to ride," she agreed.
"If it is not too soon, what say you we begin the next time you visit this estate?" The Viscount was aware there was a very docile mare in the stables; one which would be perfect to teach someone like Mary, who had had a bad experience previously.
"I am in your hands, Andrew. Whenever you are ready to teach me, I will be willing to learn." Mary beamed up at her fiancé with all the love she felt for the wonderful man.
Darcy and Elizabeth gravitated one to the other and spent the time in close conversation, after the men returned to the drawing room. Fanny smiled as she watched her second daughter with Mr Darcy. ‘ Your father is not going to be well pleased. If it does not already, your heart will soon belong to Mr Darcy ,' Fanny told herself silently as she turned to look at her other daughters. Mary was lost in conversation with Andrew while the group of younger girls were enjoying one another's company. It seemed Maria Lucas was a welcome addition to the group.
It was after dinner when the Bennets were conveyed back to Longbourn.