Chapter 7

Within an hour of arriving back at Longbourn Elizabeth was mad at herself. The Michaelmas Assembly was scheduled for that very evening. If she had stayed in London for one more day she would have missed all the madness. And that was the only way to describe that first hour back in her family home. There was so much happening all at once. It took Elizabeth, with significant help from Claire, several hours the next day to remember, review and analyse the reactions of the different members of the family. And that was before everything that happened at the evening Assembly.

Elizabeth and Claire were in Elizabeth’s room, the smallest of the family chambers. She had no issue with that and was not going to force all her sisters to move just so that she could reclaim her old bedroom, especially as it was Mary that now resided there. It was the middle of the afternoon on the day after her return and it was the first moment where she had a modicum of privacy.

“Let us talk about my welcome. I will make a statement but then I want your thoughts. I have a piece of paper and a quill, as there will be things that I will want to remember and to consider. So let us start. The family were all out front and all greeted me enthusiastically.”

Elizabeth looked at Claire, beckoning for her to comment.

“Do you wish me to be candid, bluntly so?”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened. That was quite the comment before they had even started.

“Yes please.”

“Who were you focusing on? When you first alighted the coach?”

“Er, Papa, then Mama, then my sisters in order I think. Why?”

“Because Miss Lydia’s reaction when you stepped down was that of momentary annoyance. She schooled her features quickly but she frowned when she saw you.”

“Do you know why? Or at least a reasonable guess?”

“Your body.”

Elizabeth flushed at the blunt answer.

“She had the figure closest to your mother’s. Remind me what age she is please.”

“Her 15 th birthday was last month.”

“As the youngest I think she took delight in having the most womanly or obvious figure. And then you stepped down and she realised that was no longer the case.”

“Really, she was upset about that? I find the scrutiny at best uncomfortable and at worst disgusting.”

“It is only a guess but I did notice she was pulling her shoulders back which emphasised her bust when I observed her at the Assembly.”

“Okay, what else?”

“Miss Mary was the only person who was relaxed and hugged you without constraint. Because she is the only one of your sisters that knows you. She is the one who has had the most face to face contact. We talked in the carriage about meeting the family again and you stated you were nervous. Everyone was nervous, I could see it in the faces of your parents and oldest sister.”

Elizabeth had come to this conclusion but it was based on the later interactions.

“I agree with that. I did not recognise it right away but rather after the later conversations.”

“May I turn it back on you?”

Elizabeth nodded.

“How did you think that first meeting in the drawing room went?”

Elizabeth grimaced, knowing what Claire was doing.

“You are far too sneaky. You are going to make me say it so that you can agree with me, rather than the other way round.”

Her response was an unrepentant smirk.

“I could be coy and try and utilise my vocabulary with words like ill-disciplined. But we both know the word that immediately comes to mind is rude. Mary and Jane are excused from the charge, and Kitty to an extent, but Mrs. Bennet and Lydia were rude. It was amazing how many different times they could be rude in so few minutes. And Papa.”

Elizabeth did not know how to finish that thought. Mr. Bennet had genuinely welcomed Elizabeth home but within 10 minutes had mocked her for not continuing her reading. The kind of reading he had guided her to four years earlier. Her current vociferous reading of newspaper, magazines and even specialist journals was dismissed with a casual wave of his hand. In hindsight it was not unexpected but it had still stung at the time. Claire continued.

“Within the first 15 minutes your mother complained that you were not married, passed comments on your figure and especially your dress, and looked on as Miss Lydia made even more snide comments. Miss Lydia complained you had not returned with presents for the family, made constant inappropriate mentions of your uncle’s wealth and seemed take great delight in mocking your dress and especially the lack of lace. She also constantly interrupted when you were trying to talk to Miss Jane and Miss Mary.

“I do not really know how Miss Jane is feeling. I was not able to discern her thoughts, either yesterday afternoon or in the evening. The only aspect of her personality that I have seen is her endless ability to try and see the best in people, even when they are clearly in the wrong. She tried to excuse Mr. Darcy, and Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia for drinking too much, and did not react to your mother at the Assembly.”

It was a devastating critique but Elizabeth could not fault it.

It had started from almost the moment she had entered the house. Elizabeth was not a mother, she was still a maiden, but she had raised three children who were only seven, six and three at the time of their mother’s death. For four years she had, with significant help from their nurse and the Gardiner housekeeper Mrs. Brewer, taught them how to behave in company. She was not some overly strict martinet, the children could still be children, but she had taught them the difference between behaviour amongst themselves when there was no outside scrutiny, and the behaviour expected when they were in the company of other people, especially adults. In short, she had taught the three children manners. Kitty and especially Lydia were ill-mannered, behaviour allowed and even encouraged by Mrs. Bennet.

Then there was the noise. And here Mrs. Bennet was without compare. Elizabeth had physically cringed the first time her mother screeched at her. For having the temerity to question whether she needed to attend the Assembly. The Pope had not made as much noise when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg. It also led to the first glimpse of Mrs. Bennet’s ‘nerves’, something Elizabeth realised she had not missed during the last four years. Once Mrs. Bennet had started shouting and screeching, others in the room had resorted to the same tactic, if only to be heard. In hindsight, Elizabeth’s comment had not helped.

“Are we having fish for supper?”

This stunned everyone into silence. Mrs. Bennet rallied the quickest.

“Why are you asking that? What on earth do you mean by such a question?”

“Well as you are caterwauling like a Billingsgate fishwife, I assumed we were having fish.”

Elizabeth had sat there and endured a lengthy harangue from her mother before excusing herself and retiring to her room. Within a minute first Mary and then Jane squeezed into her small bed chamber.

“Lizzie, it is good to have you home. I thought it would take you at least a day to make Mama mad, and yet you managed within an hour of coming home.”

“Mary, do try and not sound so pleased. Lizzie, it is truly wonderful to have you back at Longbourn. You have been missed terribly.”

Elizabeth was not sure about the universality of that statement but hugged first Jane and then Mary.

“I could have done without the Assembly tonight. I have no wish to be paraded about like an animal at auction. But it cannot be helped. Mary, we spoke in July so forgive me if I ask my questions of Jane first. How are you Jane? You look very well, that is obvious from a glance, but how is everything else?”

“I have no right to complain, life is good, yet there is a sameness to it. There are so many men away because of the war that those that are left are few in number. As you can image Mama is excited and delighted that Netherfield Park is occupied again.”

“The Upton’s have returned?”

“No, they have leased it. The new tenant is rumoured to be young and wealthy.”

Jane did not have to say anything else to Elizabeth. Mrs. Bennet was sure to be picking out Jane’s trousseau already.

“Is he attending the Assembly this evening?”

“No one knows for sure. The latest gossip is that he is waiting for a party from town, although the numbers vary wildly.”

Elizabeth thought about the carriage she had ended up following to Meryton before it turned off on the road to Netherfield Park.

“I can shed some light on the matter. I believe at least some of the group arrived today.”

She explained the journey, including the raised voices at the inn.

“So they appeared to be two couples?”

Elizabeth nodded.

“Well at least he has not brought more single women to the area. It will take weeks to catch up Lizzie, so many stories to share, but we should get ready for the Assembly. You are home where you belong.”

Even as Elizabeth was sharing another hug with Jane again all she could think of was how she was not sure of the last statement. It was far too soon to think anything of the sort. Mary remained once Jane left. She looked at Elizabeth intently, although not critically.

“Do you think it was wise to antagonise Mrs. Bennet so soon?”

Elizabeth shrugged.

“It was out of my mouth before I could stop myself. I did not adamantly state I was not attending the Assembly, I merely quietly raised the possibility. Surely you can see that Mrs. Bennet’s reaction was not appropriate, it was not normal at all.”

“Assemblies are incredibly important to her. She fixates on them for days, weeks even, in advance.”

“Is there a reason for this?”

“Husbands for all her daughters. It is her constant worry, her constant refrain, and even thinking about what will happen to us when Papa passes away, well that induces her ‘nerves’.”

It was at that moment that Elizabeth realised her uncle knew his sister and brother-in-law very well. Four years earlier it was the memory of Mrs. Bennet’s Christmas refrain that spurred Elizabeth into moving to London and helping her Uncle Gardiner raise his family. And yet here at Longbourn nothing had changed. Elizabeth had known this, deep down, but had tried not to think of it. The two adult Bennets had not changed their behaviour. Mr. Bennet was going to live the life of an indolent gentleman until the day he died. And Mrs. Bennet expected her brother and daughters to rescue her. There had been no effort made by her father to raise the family’s income to allow more of a surplus to be saved, and equally no effort made by her mother to economise and save some of their current income. There were no additional funds for their dowries, other than her mother’s original ￡5,000.

And it sickened Elizabeth to think this way of her parents, but she could not avoid the truth of it. And then her second moment of clarity struck. Most painfully and most personally. She was back under the control of her parents, at least notionally, and they would not hesitate to sacrifice her for the benefit of them, although it would be framed as helping the family. And all this despite helping Mr. Gardiner for the last four years. At least he still held her guardianship. Elizabeth refocused on Mary.

“I will work to hold my tongue and not create any additional drama. Come, we should prepare for the Assembly.”

Sadly, that second sentence flew in the face of the first.

“Lizzie! Lizzie! What is this I hear that you have your own maid.”

Elizabeth reckoned it had taken less than a minute for Lydia to storm off, tattle to their mother, and for Mrs. Bennet to storm into her bed chamber. Elizabeth calmly stared at her mother.

“Claire has been my maid for more than three years. I was the mistress of Uncle Gardiner’s home, of course I would have a maid. Uncle Gardiner generously agreed to pay her, and Robert the footman, until I reach my majority.”

Elizabeth turned back to continue getting ready.

“This will not stand. Claire will come with me and attend to Jane. She is the eldest and Claire can prepare her to look her finest for the Assembly.”

Mrs. Bennet started to turn away as if the matter was closed.

“No Mama, that is not what will happen. Claire is an employee of Uncle Gardiner and she works for me.”

Rather than get into a shouting match Elizabeth again returned to the vanity.

“Well I never. We will see what your father has to say about this.”

Nothing. Of course Mr. Bennet said, and did, nothing. Mrs. Bennet huffed and puffed but eventually had to desist so that she could prepare herself. Elizabeth stopped Claire from leaving her room and bade her sit for a moment.

“When we are done here ask Robert to get Uncle’s coach ready. Mary and I will travel to Meryton in it this evening. This will also allow you and Robert to be there and to observe. Be honest with the other servants, explain who you are, why you are there, and that you will be part of the community for the next nine months.”

“Of course Miss Elizabeth. May I ask why?”

“I can give you no reasonable answer other than some sort of feminine intuition. The two of you have escorted me, protected me, for years. You are very good at observing the surroundings.”

“You expect trouble, you think yourself in danger?”

Elizabeth shook her head.

“Oh no, nothing like that. I want two people with no past history to watch the evening. You have seen it already here at the Manor. I am the second daughter who is expected to do what she is told. There is absolutely no acknowledgement that I have been the mistress of a house for four years. This was the worst day to arrive and we have to survive the evening and this weekend.”

There was a lot more to say but there was not time.

--

That Saturday afternoon Elizabeth stopped thinking about the day before and refocused her attention back to Claire in front of her.

“Thinking about yesterday and this morning?”

“Your comments a moment ago had me thinking about my welcome and the hours until we left for the Assembly. Let us leave that debacle for a moment. What are your thoughts about this morning?”

“Your time away has changed your friendships. You described Miss Lucas as your closest friend when you first left here. It is clear that she and Miss Bennet are now very close. The way you have described them being unable to travel to visit you, I think they have bonded over shared miseries.”

“Miseries?”

“That was too strong. I think they are both chafing under the thumbs of their respective mothers. A visit to you in London would have been beneficial to you all, but them more than you. Miss Lucas has brothers yes, I am remembering that correctly?”

“She does, two of them, John and Franklin.”

“Why has Lady Lucas not allowed Miss Lucas to visit? Your uncle would have been delighted to host her for several weeks if not months. I do not know the Lady but is Lady Lucas lazy, relying on Miss Lucas to do the toil of the mistress while she gets to act the part?”

Elizabeth sighed.

“You can say the same thing with Mrs. Bennet and Jane. I can see how Jane and Charlotte would bond over this. In fact, when you lay it out like that it is obvious. And I am much closer to Mary now that Jane. It has not been deliberate or conscious it is just the natural flow of the four relationships.”

Claire nodded.

“To me it appears exactly like that, yes.”

“Is there anything else you noticed from this morning before we dissect the Assembly?”

Claire smiled.

“I know you will not want to hear this but you act in ways you do not even realise.”

“That sounds ominous. In fact you appear to be having far too much fun in this exercise!”

“I am sorry Miss Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth had to laugh.

“You also need to work on your sincerity. Enough joking about, what else did I do?”

“You did not defer to Mrs. Bennet. And before you ask, I mean you decided to do something and just went ahead, there was no asking permission of your mother. You did not ask to be excused from the room, you did not ask your mother if you could take a turn about the garden. You just decided and went ahead and did it. When you called me into the parlour and asked me to get your pelisse ready I saw the look between Lady Lucas and Mrs. Bennet. Later, while you were walking with Charlotte, Jane and Mary, I heard Mrs. Bennet complain to Lady Lucas about you.

“In fact, there is another issue. Mrs. Bennet is not my mistress, you are. I owe no loyalty to her and when she says something about you I am not conflicted as to whether to tell you. And no, I was not eavesdropping, your mother can be heard over half the house.”

“Oh bother. Can there be nothing about returning to Longbourn that is easy?”

“Is that rhetorical?”

“No, this is why we are talking this afternoon, I want your thoughts.”

“I do not think Mrs. Bennet is going out of her way to annoy you, she is not chasing conflict. But she has been the mistress of Longbourn for more than 20 years. I do not think she is capable of change. You left home at 16 years of age, given the way she acts she would have very happy if you were married at that age. But then after four years away you have returned. And there cannot be two mistresses of an estate at the same time.”

“But I am not acting as if I was the mistress!”

“Oh, I know that. But you should be treated as a guest, based on your life experiences. Rather than an as a daughter of the family.”

Claire shrugged.

“That is the issue. She does not see you as a young woman with more life experience than she herself possesses. She sees you as a headstrong daughter that she needs to rein in.”

There was a long silence.

“Am I wrong? Have I described the situation falsely?”

“No, you have not.”

“And there is one final point.”

Claire looked at the door and lowered her voice.

“Your friends in London. How would your mother react if she knew?”

Elizabeth held her head in her hands. She had thought leaving Gracechurch Street after four years would have been the most difficult thing, but it was clear she was wrong.

Was returning to Longbourn a mistake?