14. Chapter Fourteen

Mary cast about for landmarks. Never in her memory had a storm come up this quickly at Longbourn. Though, to be fair, she was not paying attention to the weather as she fought with Gabriel. There she spotted the low hedge around what was once had been Jane's herb garden. They were going in the right direction, at least.

She did not bother to speak. She knew it would waste energy that she did not have. Even now, she could feel the tremble running along her muscles at the exertion of slogging through the rough terrain. In the span of what must be less than an hour, there were already several inches of snow, possibly as much as six. Her slight half boots were certainly not up to the task as snow kept sloshing over the sides and creeping down her ankle.

After an eternity, Mary finally saw the edge of the house. Her heart leapt within her. Finally! Shelter was near. They had to rush and get dry and warm, or they would all be horribly sick. They might be sick anyway, but staying out any longer would be worse. Calling back to the silent bulwark of support that was Mr. Goulding, Mary said, "We are almost there! Can you see the house?"

As if spurred on by the sight, Mr. Goulding nodded and picked up his pace and passed Mary up. She had to admit that it was easier to follow him because she could step in his footprints and not have to fight with the snow as much. After such a struggle, it was almost a letdown to finally make it through the kitchen door.

They all collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath. Mary lay there for a moment, simply happy to be out of the wind and snow. It was only a minute though because very quickly she started hearing Evaline's teeth chattering. That would not do. They could not lay in their wet clothes without doing something about it or things would go downhill fast.

Rolling up, she crawled over to where Evaline lay next to her brother. Her eyes were closed, and her face flushed, and her lips were nearly blue. She had to get her out of her wet things and into something warm, but what was there for her to wear? They needed a fire and something hot to drink as well. Shoving at Gabriel, she got his attention and when his eyes opened and he focused in on her, she said, "We need to get warm. I am going to look for things to change into, but we need a fire. Can you build a fire?"

When he nodded his head and sat up, he gently handed his sister over to her. "We have plenty of wood to burn in the kitchen stove. I will bring some in from the stables." Getting up, he went in the direction of the stables, following the line of the building, in search of whatever they had to burn.

Mary held Evaline to her for a moment before holding her out from herself. She hated to do it, but she needed to get her up and moving. "Evaline, honey, I need you to wake up. We have to look for something to change into and blankets." Standing awkwardly, Mary pulled the girl to her feet and then, when she did not respond, she shook her slightly.

"I'm sorry. I should not have pushed her." Evaline's words were sloppy and confused, but at least she was blinking owlishly at Mary.

"I know, honey, I know I forgive you and we can talk about that later if you like, but we have to find dry clothes." Wrapping her arm around Evaline, Mary forced her to walk with her. Walking down the hallway away from the kitchen, Mary found the linen cupboard.

She knew that her father may very well have torn all the linen to shreds, but she was hoping he had overlooked the sheets and blankets that were there. It was safe to say the man never would have contemplated where his clean sheets came from or how they were replenished.

Opening the cupboard, she was glad to see that there were some sheets and blankets. They smelled vaguely musty, but it would have to do. Debating whether she should bring the blankets into the kitchen now or later. In the end, she decided that if she brought the blankets back to the kitchen, they might warm up near the fire that Gabriel was going to be making in the kitchen stove. Handing Evaline some blankets to carry, Mary hoped if she could get the girl moving and interacting, she could stave off the possibility of hypothermia.

Evaline took the blankets and moved as directed but was not talkative, which worried Mary. Going back into the kitchen with the blankets and Evaline, she was happy to see Gabriel bringing in the wood that they would need. "I found some blankets and hopefully I can find something for us to change into."

Putting down what appeared to be a second or third load of wood down next to the stove, he fed the fire that was starting to blaze merrily. "It will take a while for this room to warm. The temperature has dropped so dramatically."

Studying the stacked wood, Mary asked worriedly. "Is there enough wood, do you think?" Moving over, she took the blankets from Evaline and staked them with her own on the kitchen table.

Looking at his sister in concern, he commented, "Yes, either Isaac or Jeremy must have stocked wood to prepare for winter. The horses seem well enough with hay and water. Your stable is surprisingly insulated. I put blankets on the horses, so they should manage well enough for now."

Looking into Evaline's slightly glazed eyes, Mary smiled kindly. "I am going to look for clothes that I think were put in one of the chests." Moving to brush her damp hair back from her face, she said, "Evaline, why don't you stay with your brother here by the fire, sweet girl? Maybe your brother can help you dry your hair with one of the towels I brought."

Mary made eye contact with Gabriel, and they seemed to communicate over their mutual concern for the quiet girl. Turning to leave, she squeezed the girl"s trembling shoulder. She was glad that she was at least still shivering. It would be very bad if she had suddenly stopped shaking.

Hurrying away, she made her way through the silent and cold home. Ignoring her own clacking teeth as she looked for the clothes that they would need to change into. She knew that they had not taken everything with them when they left Longbourn. There simply had not been room. If she remembered correctly, there should be several trunks of clothes that had been stored in the attic.

In no time at all, she had made her way to the much colder attic and was opening the trunks with uncooperative fingers. It had only taken a few tries before she found a trunk with dresses that they had all outgrown. Grabbing a dress or two that might fit Evaline, she moved on until she found a trunk that must have contained some of Grandmother Catherine's clothes. Though the dresses were many years out of style, they were dry. The next chest must have contained some long-deceased male relatives" clothes. They were horribly out of date, but would be the best option for Gabriel.

Moving down the stairs with her arms full of clothes and a few knitted blankets that she had also found she peeked in a few of the rooms on the second floor and noticed that there were a few quilts that they could bring down to the kitchen, but she did not have the room for it in her arms full of clothes. Maybe later she would come back after they were all warm and dry.

When she returned, she found Gabriel attempting to dry his own hair. His sister was sitting on the floor next to the stove, her hair mostly dry. At least she looked up at her and smiled faintly when Mary walked in. That was progress.

"I found us clothes. I am uncertain of their style or smell after being stored for so long, but it is something that is dry, and we all need that." Putting the clothes in a pile on the table and the blankets stacked in a pile on the counter next to the stove, Mary moved to the cabinet and lit another candle. Gabriel had lit several candles, but the storm was blocking out all the light that normally came into the kitchen. "Evaline, why don't you and I move into the pantry so that we can change. We can take a few candles with us so that it is not so dark in there."

"All right." Evaline's voice was low and rough, but at least she had responded.

Sorting through the clothes, she picked out what they would need to bring with them. She startled when Gabriel came up next to her and took up the clothes that she had brought down for him. "Why don't you and Evaline stay here by the fire where it's warm? I can get dressed in the pantry. "

Blushing, Mary nodded her head. She did not have time to fully process how untoward the entire situation was, but hearing Gabriel speak of changing had definitely hit a cord. Already she had spotted that his shoes were next to her in front of the fire. Had she ever seen a man's stocking feet? Not that she could recall. It was surprising that she had yet to catch fire from the mortification that she felt in the situation. She would just endeavor to act as normally as possible. "I think that is a good enough idea. Evaline needs to stay warm. Our next thing to worry about is going to be getting something warm into her. Did you check to see if the pump was working?"

"I had not thought to check. I know it was working when you all cleaned. But the drop in temperature could cause things to freeze. I will work on that next." Leaving with an arm full of clothes and a candle, he shut the door behind him.

Mary wondered with as cold as she was if her tendance to blush outrageously could be discerned. Gathering the clothes that she had brought down for Evaline, she knelt in front of the girl. "Let us get you out of those wet things. I brought two dresses as well as an assortment of under things down. I am uncertain which will fit you, but we will manage somehow, I am sure."

Evaline looked to the pantry where her brother was changing and frowned. "This is rather irregular." Her voice was still a rough whisper.

"Yes, I know. I do not like it either, but unless you would like to go upstairs, I see no other way. We can change in one of the bedrooms, but it is much colder up there, and the floor is rather unpredictable." Seeing Evaline's confusion, Mary explained, "I fell through the floor a few weeks ago when I was trying to check on my old bedroom."

Eyes as round as saucers at the information, Evaline shrugged and then rolled her eyes. "I would rather not fall through the floor on top of everything else." Sneezing, she added hoarsely, "We can change here by the fire."

"Yes, we will just have to be quick and try to preserve our maidenly sensibilities." Looking around the room, Mary noticed a chair had been brought in at some point. It was not a kitchen chair and seemed to be imposing and heavy, but it gave her an idea. "What say you to locking your brother in the pantry by pushing the chair in front of the door?"

A smile crept across Evaline's face. Obviously, the idea of locking her brother into a small room had its appeal. "I would find that … comforting."

Mary laughed, glad that Evaline seemed to be perking back up. She would only improve with dry clothes and warmth. "Do you want to help me move the chair?"

They made quick work of moving the chair in front of the door so that Gabriel could not come out and surprise them in a state of undress. If they laughed at the idea while they did, it was only fair. After all, he was a man, and both ladies had cause to be annoyed by him. Never had two ladies rushed to get dressed in such a swift fashion. What Evaline had said was correct: it was very irregular and neither of them felt comfortable dressing in a kitchen, but needs must.

"How do I look?" Mary looked down at her apparel with a frown. The dress she wore was probably from after her grandmother lost her husband and she had entered a prolonged mourning. It was a dowdy dress, especially compared to today"s styles, that reminded her of how she had dressed when she was not much older than Evaline. For a time, she had eschewed girlish fripperies as vain and wore only somber colors. In reality, she was uncomfortable with her appearance when compared with her sisters and felt that she would never look as pretty as her sisters anyway, so why try?

Biting her lip, Evaline seemed to debate about what to say. "I do not think it is your color, but at least you are warm." She offered an obliging smile, possibly in consolation, then snuggled into the blanket she had wrapped around her shoulders.

Grabbing her own blanket, Mary shrugged before saying, "Very true. You sound like my sister Kitty. She was always the one with an eye for color." Mary began arranging their clothes near the stove, hoping that they would dry soon enough.

"Hello? Miss Mary, is it all right for me to come out now?" Gabriel's voice sounded hollow as he called from inside the locked pantry.

"One moment." Lowering her voice, Mary whispered, "I guess we should move the chair and let him out."

Evaline sighed, "I suppose we must." This was followed by a peal of laughter from both ladies as they hurried to move the chair. Leaning against Mary, Evaline called out, "You can come out now, Gabriel!"

Evaline saw her brother's odd apparel and only started laughing harder. The outfit fit him, but it was from some time long past that had a style of fashion that was well forgotten. Catching her breath, Evaline continued to lean into Miss Bennet's warm side. The day had been a tumult of emotions, and she was worn and tired. While her head ached strangely, and she was becoming rather snuffy, she was also happier than she had been in an age. Somehow, in a way that she had never expected, she found Miss Bennet's presence soothing. She was kind and laughed with her. It was an experience that Evaline had never known.

Tilting his head, her brother asked, "What is so funny?"

Looking up at Miss Bennet in bewilderment for a moment, Evaline struggled with what she could possibly say. She was glad when Miss Bennet answered instead of her. "We could not tell you if we tried. I see the clothes fit. Though, like mine, they are from a generation ago and are quite out of date."

"I thought I looked rather dashing." Her brother puffed out his chest and struck a heroic pose that only made Evaline burst out in a bark of hoarse laughter. "I am glad to see you laughing, Evaline."

Reaching out, he pulled her to him and hugged her close. At first Evaline felt uncomfortable with the attention, as she was very unaccustomed to such actions, but eventually she relaxed into the hold. At the sound of movement behind her, Evaline stepped out of Gabriel's hold.

Miss Bennet seemed to be putting a kettle on to boil. Evaline hoped that there would soon be tea. The very thought of having something warm to drink made her shiver and realize just how cold she still was. Approaching her, Evaline asked, "Are we going to be able to have tea?"

"Well, I think so. We will, at the very least, have hot water as the pump is working for now. Though I think it would be best to fill several containers with water now just in case the pump freezes." Biting her lip, Miss Bennet leaned down and began looking in the cupboards, presumably for either tea or containers to put water in.

Looking around the kitchen, Evaline spotted another row of cupboards. Deciding to work her way around towards Miss Bennet, Evaline started poking about, searching for items that would be useful in their predicament. Meanwhile, her brother watched the lady like a mooncalf and then started to feed more wood into the stove. When that was finished to his satisfaction, he went to gather more wood to stack in the corner. It seemed to Evaline that the wood had been stacked near the door that led to the stables. At least he would not have to brave the storm.

While Evaline thought she may never feel truly warm again, she did seem to find a few useful items. Gathering the large pot and a teapot, Evaline brought them over. "I found these. Hopefully, they can be of use." When Miss Bennet took them with a smile, Evaline felt compelled to speak. With dropping shoulders and a defeated air about her, Evaline began, "Miss Bennet, I am sorry that I pushed your niece. It was uncalled for, no matter my concerns over the mud."

Putting down the pot that she had been filling, Miss Bennet turned and gave Evaline her full attention. "I am grateful for your apology, and I am happy that you see the error in your action. But I am sure that Ellie is fine. Children of her age are rather durable and always seem to be taking tumbles. My greater concern is over why you would feel the need to protect yourself in such a way. Can you remember what you were thinking when it happened?"

Rocking back and forth on her stocking clad feet, Evaline allowed herself a moment to reflect on her feelings from the moment in question. The only thing she could remember feeling was fear. She had been afraid to get dirty, afraid of the consequences of getting dirty. But how to explain that? Looking up at Miss Bennet's kind face, Evaline found that she could only tell the truth. "I was afraid of getting dirty. I was afraid of what my mother might say or do if I allowed it to happen."

Though Miss Bennet's eyes narrowed slightly for a moment, she did not lose her smile. "Well, I can see how that might worry you. Not all mothers are like Mrs. Darcy who delights in her children having a good time even if they get dirty."

"My mother is not at all like that." Tilting her head back in an imperious fashion, Evaline imitated her mother saying, "A young lady is never seen in soiled clothes, and there is never an excuse for allowing it to happen." Shrugging her shoulders, Evaline continued in her own voice, "Lately there have been so many new rules and new punishments to adjust to."

"What punishments?" asked Miss Bennet.

Hesitating, Evaline wondered if she was betraying her mother by explaining things, but she was feeling so at ease with Miss Bennet that she boldly forged on. "I have often missed dinner for my errors. My new governess is rather fond of having me walk with a book on my head to practice my posture. If she is not satisfied with how much I am progressing, I must stand in place with the book on my head for up to half an hour."

"Has your mother said why she is instituting all the changes?" Mary asked, her eyes compelling and compassionate at the same time.

"I am apparently beginning to prepare for my come out. Mother says that I may not have the best dowry, but I will be the most accomplished young lady Meryton will have ever seen. She expects for me to be leading Meryton society by the time I am seventeen. She expects me to make only the best match. I will need to catch someone titled and, failing that, they must be remarkably connected and wealthy."

"I have never spent much time with your mother, but it seems that she is trying to help you in the way that she knows." Pausing for a moment, Miss Bennet's nose wrinkled and to Evaline seemed to look conflicted. "I will not speak against your mother and how she wants to bring you up. However, I want you to know that I am here. I will listen to whatever you have to say. In fact, I want to listen to all of your worries and your thoughts. In fact, I would like for you to call me by my given name. Would you call me Mary?"

Evaline could do nothing but throw herself into the woman's side and cry. It seemed like she finally found someone that understood and cared about her on top of that.