The Pemberley Chronicles (46 page)

Emily, by her selflessness, had shown them a different type of love, and her grief reflected this difference. Her example of courage and true generosity of spirit had been an inspiration to him. He fervently hoped that it would help Elizabeth, too. He knew there had developed a rare closeness between them and prayed for it to continue, for there was no doubt Emily's singular strength could help raise Elizabeth from the mire of her grief. Cassandra surprised him by suggesting that the loss of William was all the more catastrophic because it meant Pemberley had lost its male heir. Darcy remonstrated, dismissing her concern, "It is not of any significance, Cassy; since the estate is not entailed, if we had no sons, you would inherit Pemberley, when your Mama and I are gone." Cassandra was not convinced.

"That is not how it is meant to be, Papa. In any event, I shall be Richard's wife, with our own place to run. There has always been a Master of Pemberley. It will not be the same, and Mama knows it." Darcy sighed and let the discussion lapse. It would be best to let things take their course, since they were returning to England with Emily, who may be staying on at Pemberley. She had spoken of taking up teaching at the school and working with the choir again. Richard would need someone to help him with the hospital at Littleford, she had said, and she would offer her services if they needed any help at the school at Kympton. She pointed out that there were a great many things to do in the community, and she thought Caroline would appreciate some help, too. Emily seemed determined to devote her energies to doing everything she could possibly find.

Darcy, understanding her desire to keep busy, wished with all his heart that Emily might draw Elizabeth back into the life of the community at Pemberley. His own inclination was to continue the work they had undertaken to improve the estate and build a community for all of the people in the district. In that aim, Elizabeth had been his greatest supporter, but now he feared she might retreat into her private grief, turning her back on Pemberley, rejecting it as the scene of her greatest sorrow.

C
HAPTER
T
WENTY
-T
WO

The dower of inward happiness

O

N RETURNING TO
E
NGLAND
, Emily hastened to her parents at Lambton, while Elizabeth went, as she had promised, to Jane at Ashford Park. It had been several months since the two sisters had

met. Their greeting was warm and affectionate, while tears filled their eyes as they embraced. With Bingley and Darcy in London on business, they looked forward to the time they would spend together.

Before her visit to Italy, Elizabeth's inability to control the bitter grief that kept welling up inside of her, each time she encountered the security of her sister's family, had distressed them both. But Jane, far from being insensitive to her sister's feelings, was careful not to add to her anguish. She strove to shield her from aggravation and pain. Overcoming her impatience to acquaint her sister with everything that had happened while she was away, Jane set aside trifling matters and related only significant news. Even this was done with discretion and care. Once Elizabeth became aware of these matters, however, she was quite determined to know everything. When Jane had hinted in a letter at Christmas that Emma was spending a great deal of time in London at the invitation of the Wilsons, a family with whom the Bingleys were well-acquainted, Elizabeth had assumed that Jane had been missing her daughter. The possibility of an imminent engagement had never occurred to her.

Now, it was revealed that David, the younger of the two sons of the Wilsons, both of whom were in Parliament, had proposed to Emma and been accepted! The speed with which it had come about had surprised everyone, Jane said, though it did appear that the two had been inseparable for most of the previous month. The engagement was soon to be announced at a gathering of both families, in London.

While this news came as a complete surprise to Elizabeth, it was less astonishing than that which followed shortly after. No sooner had it been revealed than she demanded to be told every detail. Jane explained that soon after Darcy and Elizabeth had left for Italy, Charlotte Collins and her two daughters had been invited to spend Christmas at Ashford Park. "It was really Jonathan's idea, Lizzie," she said. "He thought they would be lonely at Mansfield, where except for their immediate neighbours, they knew few families. They were hardly likely to be invited to Lord Mansfield's Christmas dinner! Mr Bingley and I agreed, hoping it would save Charlotte from the embarrassment of waiting upon an invitation to Lucas Lodge."

Elizabeth understood. "I do believe her new sister-in-law keeps the household on a very tight rein," she remarked.
"Indeed she does; Charlotte was there last October, and by her account, she was not eager to repeat the experience," said Jane.
"And what was Jonathan's interest?" prompted Elizabeth. Jane held up a hand, as if to ask for time to explain. It was quite an astonishing tale.
"Well, they came to us, and over Christmas the young people spent a good deal of time together. Lizzie, I could swear that I did not notice any special attention paid to one or the other of the girls, but by the time we were preparing to go to London in the New Year, Jonathan was exceedingly keen to take Amelia-Jane to the
Review
and the Richmond Ball. Bingley claims he noticed nothing at all, but Caroline Bingley alerted me to their being a great deal together, while we were in town. I must confess that I was not inclined to pay much attention to her, but Lizzie, you would not believe it, they were engaged within the month!" Elizabeth agreed that she could hardly believe it.
"But my dear sister, Amelia-Jane is not yet sixteen!"
"Indeed she is not. I have asked Jonathan if he is sure of his feelings as well as hers. He assures me he loves her and it is what they both want." Seeing Elizabeth's sceptical expression, Jane hastened to add, "But Lizzie, let me say that, since then, I have been most impressed with young Amelia-Jane. She is sensible beyond her years, when I think how trying Kitty and Lydia used to be. Charlotte has been an exemplary mother to all her girls. They are uniformly accomplished and perfectly well-behaved. Amelia is helpful and obliging, with not a trace of frippery or flirtatiousness about her. She sings, paints, and plays the piano, as well as sews her own clothes. Jonathan assures me that she reads a good deal, too, so as to improve her mind, in which she is encouraged by her sister Rebecca, who as you know, is very well-educated," said Jane, adding, "But Lizzie, as she is still very young, we have asked that they wait awhile, which neither seems to mind; Bingley says it would be best they are quite certain of their feelings, since Jonathan means to stand for Parliament in the future," Jane explained.
To Elizabeth, this piece of news was a source of even greater amazement. As far as she could recall, young Jonathan Bingley had hitherto shown no interest in public life at all. "Jonathan for Parliament! Is this the Wilsons' doing?" she asked. Jane shook her head.
"No, Lizzie, it is the result of the persuasive efforts of Mr Anthony Tate," she said, adding with rising excitement in her voice, "but thereby hangs another tale. Oh Lizzie, there is so much you do not know, so much that has happened while you were away."
"So it seems, pray do tell me, Jane, what is Mr Tate's involvement?" Elizabeth asked, her curiosity thoroughly roused.
Jane was almost apologetic as she explained, "Lizzie, I know I should have written something of this to you, but it seemed hardly appropriate to be talking of trifling things like love affairs and engagements, in the midst of the pain that you and Emily had to endure. I tore up so many letters." "Oh Jane," said Elizabeth, knowing well her sister's tender heart, as she went on, "Lizzie, you do recall that Charlotte's second daughter Becky has been something of a writer?"
"I was aware that Becky Collins was a scribbler, I know that she wrote some poetry--none of it very remarkable, mind," replied Elizabeth, remembering some material she had seen in Rebecca's hand.
"Well, throughout last year, she has been writing pieces for the
Review,
of which Anthony Tate is the editor, using the pen name Marianne Laurence." Elizabeth's raised eyebrows indicated some surprise, which increased as Jane continued, "She has since moved from Mansfield to Matlock, where she lives at the home of Mr Tate's mother, Therese Camden, and now, she is as good as engaged to Anthony."
Elizabeth exclaimed, "Good heavens, Jane, all these engagements in such a short time! Are they not a little sudden? What does poor Charlotte say?" Jane smiled, a little amused at her sister's reaction.
"Well, Lizzie, I am sure Charlotte understands that these things can sometimes come upon one, quite unexpectedly" she replied, as if to remind her sister of Charlotte's own very precipitate engagement to Mr Collins, many years ago, some twenty-four hours after he had been turned down by Elizabeth.
For the first time since William's death, Jane saw her sister laugh, her eyes bright as she recalled that fateful day at Longbourn and all that had flowed from it. "You are quite right, as usual, dear Jane. I am sure Charlotte would understand perfectly well the importance of seizing the opportunity. Besides, I am being presumptuous in making judgements. If all these young people wish to become engaged, why should they not? Now, tell me, are the wedding dates fixed?"
"No," said Jane, suddenly serious again. "Except for Anthony and Rebecca, who plan to marry in the Spring, the others must wait at least a year. It will not be proper for anyone in our family, so soon after . . . ," and as her voice trailed away, Elizabeth, understanding her drift, went to her at once, and they embraced as the tears they had not shed together for a very long time fell freely. Jane wept as she spoke, "Lizzie, if you only knew how deeply I have felt for you. Yet I did not know how to reach you. I was afraid I would hurt you by speaking of it, though I longed to share your sorrow." She could not contain her grief, "William meant so much to all of us. Bingley has never ceased to rage against the fates that let it happen, and Jonathan has nightmares and blames himself for not stopping the boys from riding out that day." This time, it was Elizabeth who, seeing how keenly Jane had felt their separation, reached out and held her sister close.
"Dear Jane, how I have missed you. But Jonathan is not to blame. There were others, who should never have intruded upon us on that day. They are culpable, not Jonathan, no more than Darcy or Colonel Fitzwilliam or myself. Jonathan must not blame himself. I cannot believe that Caroline or Aunt Gardiner would say any different." Her voice shook, though she remained strong, determined to reassure her sister.
Jane assured her that neither the Gardiners nor Caroline had blamed Jonathan, but he still felt responsible. Being the eldest, he felt he should have done more to stop his young cousins' foolish escapade. "He misses them, Lizzie, especially William, and I am sure that this sudden passion for Amelia-Jane is due, at least in part, to the loneliness he feels," said Jane, her lovely face saddened by the memory. "I feel that Emma, too, has become engaged sooner than I ever expected, in an attempt to overcome those terrible feelings--losing first William and Edward, then Paul, only a few months later. Oh Lizzie, it has been such a terrible year for us all," she cried.
Later, as they took tea together, they talked of how it had been when they were both young girls and their lives had hardly been touched by sorrow. A disappointment here, some gossip there, what were they but mere pinpricks, compared to the recent tragedies they had suffered? As they talked, Jane told Elizabeth of Anthony Tate's wooing of Rebecca Collins and the link that had led to Jonathan's friendship with her sister, Amelia-Jane. "She would be visiting Rebecca, when Jonathan was calling on Anthony to discuss their political plans," she explained, adding, "You see, Lizzie, Mr Tate, who now owns the
Tribune
as well as the
Review,
intends to throw the weight of his newspapers behind a campaign to elect some younger men to Parliament. They say Mr Peel is building up the Conservative Party and the Whigs need fresh talent to bring against him. Mr Tate sees Jonathan as a likely candidate."
"And is Jonathan inclined to agree to this scheme?" Elizabeth asked.
"He says he wants to. Bingley thinks it is a good idea, too. He says it is time for the middle classes, who are creating Britain's prosperity, to be better represented in the Parliament." Elizabeth could not disagree with this sentiment; she had heard it espoused frequently, by both Darcy and her uncle.
"And what of your dear Emma and her Mr Wilson?" she asked, wanting to know more about her niece's engagement.
"Emma and Mr David Wilson are to marry in the Autumn, while Jonathan and Amelia-Jane will wait until the following Spring, when she will be seventeen," Jane explained.
"And, tell me, Jane, are you pleased about Emma's engagement? Is this Mr David Wilson the right man to make my lovely niece happy?" asked Elizabeth, knowing how rarely her sister spoke ill of anyone but concerned that she had not sung the praises of her future son-in-law to any great extent. Jane smiled and said she thought most young people today decided matters for themselves and if Emma was going to be happy with David Wilson, then she, Jane, was very happy for her. "Do I detect some uncertainty here?" asked Elizabeth, sensitive to every nuance of her sister's voice. Jane was immediately defensive.
"No, Lizzie, you must not think that. Bingley and indeed Jonathan have nothing but praise for both brothers, but I have always preferred Mr James Wilson, probably because he reminds me of Bingley. He is quite the nicest young man, with the best manners I have seen in many a year. He is sensitive and good humoured, never opinionated or boastful. Not since that summer when Mr Bingley first came to Netherfield, have I met so amiable, modest, and pleasing a young man as Mr James Wilson," she declared, leaving her sister in no doubt that Emma was marrying the wrong Mr Wilson--at least from her mother's standpoint. The comparison of Mr James Wilson with her beloved Bingley was the highest possible accolade.
"And Mr David Wilson? Is he not amiable and well-mannered too?" demanded Elizabeth.
"Of course, and he is intelligent and personable as befits his position. But James is my favourite. However, it is Emma's choice, and she is in love with her Mr David Wilson, so, Lizzie, I shall have to be content."
When Mr Darcy, who had been conscientiously catching up on his business commitments, returned with his brother-in-law, he was relieved to find Elizabeth and Jane as close as ever again. Their affection for each other was the very heart of their relationship. He knew they both drew strength and love from each other and had feared for Elizabeth, if she had not been able to restore the precious bond between them. For his part, difficult as it had been for him to bear his own burden of grief, while extending his sympathy to Caroline and Fitzwilliam, whose agony could not have been less than their own, he had strengthened his resolve to help his wife by his own example. His compassionate and ardent nature enabled him to help her deal with the profound grief they felt at the loss of William--without always feeling bereft and desolate. While it was not easy, he found he could often guide her to a calmer state of mind, where she was more amenable to consolation and comfort.
By the time Elizabeth was ready to return home, Emily, too, had restored her own relationships with her parents and her sister Caroline. She had decided to remain at Pemberley and help Richard manage the hospital at Littleford. There was much to be accomplished, with funds to be raised, furniture and linen to be purchased, as well as staff to be hired. Increasingly, Elizabeth found herself being drawn back into the activities of the community that had once been the centre of her life at Pemberley. Richard was very grateful for her help. The involvement of the Mistress of Pemberley in any charitable project guaranteed success. The hospital at Littleford needed her patronage, and Elizabeth gave it gladly. Caroline and Rebecca meanwhile, were campaigning for a permanent library for the area, using the newspapers and council meetings to do it. The need for young women to have access to good reading material was a cause celebre for the popular writer known as Marianne Laurence, who wrote extensively on the need for education for women. Emily needed no prompting to join their campaign.
Emma Bingley's wedding in the Autumn of 1835, a month short of the anniversary of her cousin's death, was the first such celebratory occasion that Darcy and Elizabeth had attended all year. The young couple were surrounded by a host of friends from London, and their distinguished professional connections afforded Mr and Mrs Darcy a chance to remain in the background, for once. Missing William terribly, they longed only to be away from the celebrations. They would never be free of these painful moments. Gradually, they would learn to live with them, but not yet.