Chapter 42

Chapter Forty-Two

JULY 1810

W hen the Gardiners, along with Mary and Catherine, arrived at Pemberley late in July, they were pleased to see Elizabeth once again. It had been more than a year since most of the sisters had been in company with each other even though they regularly corresponded.

Through these letters, Elizabeth had developed a close bond with Mary, although she had also formed a friendship with Catherine. The differences in their ages and circumstances made it a bit more challenging, while Catherine and Georgiana found much more in common with each other.

Therefore, the sisters, both by blood and by marriage, were excited to see each other. Even young William Darcy, safely ensconced in his mother’s arms, waited on the steps at the front of the house as they awaited their guests. When the carriages arrived, footmen quickly assisted everyone as they disembarked, and for several long minutes, chaos reigned as greetings were exchanged.

Finally, Darcy’s voice sounded over the overlapping noise. “Come inside, everyone, and join us for refreshments. That is, unless you would prefer to see your rooms first.”

When no one wished to rest, they all settled into the saloon that had large windows opened over the park. Before long, the Gardiner children and young William, who by this time was beginning to droop from all the excitement, were escorted to the nursery. With that, the groups moved from more general conversation and drifted into groups. The two gentlemen settled into conversation about business ventures while Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner discussed the children.

Initially a bit awkward, the three unmarried ladies soon grew comfortable with one another, aided by the letters they had exchanged.

After a few tentative glances and polite smiles, Georgiana spoke first. “Miss Catherine, you mentioned in one of your letters that you enjoy reading poetry. Have you come across anything new that’s captured your attention lately?”

“Mary shared a copy of Lyrical Ballads with me, and I was reading it on the way here. She and I discussed it a little during the journey, and I confess I am most intrigued by Samuel Coleridge’s contribution about the sailor,” Catherine answered.

This led to a discussion of the poem that eventually caught the attention of the others. Nearly an hour later, when it became necessary for them all to seek their rooms to dress for dinner, the friendship between the three younger girls was fully formed.

Gardiner waited until the following day to speak to Elizabeth and Darcy about Mrs. Bennet. “She has become increasingly hysterical over the last few months, to the point that her daughters no longer want to visit with her. Before they departed Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet was becoming increasingly abusive in her language toward them. She has not been violent, but Phillips wonders if it is possible that she may become so one day. He asked me for suggestions for a physician who might be able to treat her if it becomes necessary. ”

Darcy nodded. “My family physician in London would be helpful in this matter. He assisted my uncle after our marriage in dealing with Lady Catherine. They have her tucked away in a house at the seashore to help her recover from her nerves. The physician specialises in cases where the mind has grown troubled and could offer a similar course of treatment for Mrs. Bennet, should it become necessary.”

Elizabeth's face grew pale at the mention of her mother’s condition. “I hate the thought that she has gone mad. I wonder if she has always been this way, or if by always giving into her demands, Mr. Bennet made it worse.”

“My sister was always selfish, even as a child. My parents did not always acquiesce to her demands, but when they did not, she would raise such a fuss that it made her difficult to live with. Likewise, Mr. Bennet gave in to her because it was easier, but it is possible she would have been this way regardless of who her husband was,” Gardiner replied, patting Elizabeth on the hand. “Your Aunt Phillips was often her target, which is why the sisters are not particularly close now. Both she and her husband believe she will grow worse with time, and it has become difficult for anyone to visit her. She is demanding and hateful, not to mention combative. As we said, she is not violent, but there is concern that she could become so.”

Elizabeth and Darcy look at each other, silently communicating with each other. “What do you need from us?”

Gardiner looked at them in surprise. “Nothing,” he paused for a moment. “Well, perhaps an introduction to the physician you mentioned, but my brother and I will handle everything else. Collins will continue to contribute the same amount he is currently giving her, and that, along with the interest from her dowry, should take care of most of her expenses. Phillips and I will cover anything above that.”

Darcy nodded. “Please let us know if you need anything else. I have an estate in Scotland, and my uncle has one in Northumberland. If you need a more remote location for her, please let us know and we will see what can be arranged.”

Reaching out, Gardiner took his nephew’s hand to clasp it. “We do appreciate your offer of assistance. I know that you and Elizabeth have little reason to do anything for my sister at this point, given her actions over the years.”

Elizabeth shrugged. "Truly, we offer to make things easier for you , not for her. I do not wish her ill and I want nothing to do with her, but I do not want your children or my aunt and uncle to suffer when we have the means to offer assistance."

“And we appreciate your offer. I will let you know if there is anything we need. Have you heard from Lydia at all?” he asked, changing the subject.

Scoffing, Elizabeth shook her head. “No, I have not. She has not written to me since the last time I replied to a request for funds with an emphatic ‘no.’ It is good she is no longer under Mrs. Bennet’s influence, but I am uncertain she will ever learn her lesson.”

“Your aunt had a time with her while she stayed with us,” Gardiner confirmed. “Like my sister, she has no problem throwing a tantrum when she does not get her way. My wife did not give into her demands, and there were several occasions when we were forced to lock her in her room. At five years of age, my children were better behaved than that girl who believes herself ready for marriage.”

Elizabeth sighed heavily. “Forgive me, but I have had enough of this conversation. I am grateful that I now have a relationship with three of my sisters even if they are primarily conducted through correspondence. Now that Mary and Catherine are here, I look forward to the opportunity to get to know them even better while they are in residence at Pemberley, more so when I saw how well they and Georgiana got along. However, I am certain you gentlemen have business to discuss, and I need to meet with Mrs. Reynolds before I search out my sisters so we can enjoy some time together. ”

With that, Elizabeth stood and departed the room, leaving her husband and uncle behind her.

It did not take long for her to finish the necessary conversation with the housekeeper and then to seek out her sisters. All three were settled in an upstairs sitting room, speaking quietly about a novel they had each read. Elizabeth joined in the conversation happily and spent the next several hours enjoying time with her sisters. They fawned over little William who joined them about half an hour after Elizabeth did, and the Gardiner children followed shortly after.

The rest of the visit was spent in a similar fashion, and when it came time for Gardiners to depart, several plans emerged. First, Catherine would stay in Derbyshire with the Darcys, and Catherine and Georgiana would benefit from each other’s friendship. It had not taken either Gardiner or Darcy long to agree to their request since it was obvious the two girls had become close during the three weeks of the visit.

Mary would also remain, at least for a time since she had met a gentleman in Derbyshire who had piqued her interest. Fortunately, she had piqued his as well, and only a day before she was scheduled to depart, a neighbour of Darcy’s called at Pemberley to meet with Gardiner about the possibility of her remaining for a time so the two could visit, and possibly court, should they decide to move forward.

The Darcys and the gentleman, Thomas Linley, would likely travel to London around the same time in the autumn, and any relationship begun at Pemberley could continue there. Mary was a few months before her eighteenth birthday, and her sister and aunt were making plans to introduce her to society in the spring. Georgiana and Catherine would travel to London with them as well to learn from masters in music and art, and to experience a taste of the culture that could only be found in town.

Over the months that followed, the sisters grew closer together. Mr. Linley became a fixture at Pemberley in the months between the Gardiners’ departure and the Darcys’ planned trip to London as Mary slowly came to know the young man. She celebrated her eighteenth birthday in early October, and it was on that day that Mr. Linley formally asked to begin a courtship. Mary hesitated only briefly, relieved that he had chosen this path rather than rushing into a proposal.

She confessed her anxiousness to her elder sister. “A part of me feels that I am unprepared for marriage. The example of our parents makes me afraid of someday finding myself in a relationship like theirs. I have seen how you and your husband are, and the Gardiners, and even the Winters and the Allens, so I know that such good relationships are possible, but still I worry.”

“Our parents were selfish people, Mary, who were incapable of loving their children as they should have. You are nothing like our parents; you clearly are capable of loving others. If you and Mr. Linley decide to marry one day, make sure he is someone you can love completely. More importantly, once you wed, you will have to choose to love each other every day. No matter what anyone else says, love is a choice that you make. You have seen how aggravated I can get at William, and you are by now well aware of how stubborn I can be. However, we have chosen to love each other and to put each other first. That is something our parents did not do, either for each other, or for their children.”

Mary could only sigh and agree, but she continued to go slowly in her relationship with the young man. He was content to allow her to set the pace, escorting her to the theatre and other events she was allowed to attend before her official debut, but that was as long as his patience lasted.

Leading her to a small alcove in the ballroom, still in sight of the others but giving them the privacy they needed, Mr. Linley confessed his love to Mary Bennet and begged for her hand in marriage. With tears in her eyes, Mary admitted to her own feelings and happily accepted.