{"id":2153,"date":"2017-12-22T07:51:03","date_gmt":"2017-12-22T12:51:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/?p=2153"},"modified":"2021-12-17T12:26:43","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T17:26:43","slug":"chapter-11-spring-sentiment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elizabethannwest.com\/author\/readingroom\/chapter-11-spring-sentiment\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 11 A Spring Sentiment"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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This chapter just cut my heart to reread. Jane. Dear Jane.<\/p>

XOXOXO Elizabeth Ann West<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Chapter 11 - A Spring Sentiment, a Pride and Prejudice Variation<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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With two weeks left until her wedding, Elizabeth Bennet was once again packing her trunks. This time, she and Mary were to reside with Lady Matlock until the wedding ceremony to lessen the strain on the Gardiner home. Jane elected to remain behind to provide extra help, though Elizabeth secretly suspected that society was steadily becoming her elder sister\u2019s least favorite part of living in London. Gone were the plethora of compliments and attentions she enjoyed in Meryton. At the few teas the girls had attended, the primary focus was always on Elizabeth, a status the second eldest Bennet sister was not keen to continue but possessed little choice in the matter.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Accepting another gown from her aunt, Elizabeth graciously thanked her. \u201cIt seems I cannot stay put in one household for more than a month!\u201d The two women shared a giggle. Mrs. Gardiner took a seat on the bed, careful not to sit on any of the garments already laid out.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cI\u2019m afraid it\u2019s about to become much worse for you, my dear. The post of Mrs. Darcy requires extensive travel and packing.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth made a face and lowered the burgundy dress she was in the process of folding. \u201cI do hope there will be other inducements.\u201d For a moment, the two women remained completely serious, but soon broke into laughter. Mrs. Gardiner patted her niece\u2019s hand, happy that her private talks with her niece had made Elizabeth look forward to the wedding bed, not fear it. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cMy dear, I do believe at this time in just a few weeks you will be quite the content wife. Now, if you\u2019ll excuse me, I must return downstairs. Jane is entertaining the Bingleys.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cPray, I fear my packing will take me much longer than I originally expected.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Mrs. Gardiner clucked her tongue and shook her head. \u201cOh be hidden with you. Poor Jane does not need you sparring with Miss Bingley this afternoon.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Shrugging, Elizabeth returned to her packing, tucking her father\u2019s copy of Hamlet into its usual place. The tome had become quite the travel companion, and its addition to her trunk made her smile wistfully, remembering that night only a few months ago when she had imagined packing for the life of a spinster. Here she was packing for her life as a wife, and she found the latter much more to her liking, even if she did dislike packing in general. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Downstairs, Jane struggled with the Bingleys\u2019 visit.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cAnd Lord Bergamote is quite the gentleman! Being from France, he has such a number and variety of bon mots that we were all in stitches at Lady Carrigan\u2019s, were we not, Charles?\u201d Caroline Bingley continued to bring up subjects Jane could not possibly remark on. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cHe was not so witty,\u201d Charles sniffed, noticing Jane was scarcely paying attention. The more he considered making good on Darcy\u2019s warning, the less confident he was that he could give Jane a happy life. \u201cBut let\u2019s have no more talk of balls! Have you considered my invitation to the theater, Miss Bennet?\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Before Jane could answer, the front door to the Gardiner house opened. A very loud and shrill Lydia Bennet barged into the front foyer. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cLa, where is everyone? Let me go. It\u2019s me, Lydia! I am the niece engaged to the wonderful Mr. Wickham. Isn\u2019t he here as well?\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Jane blanched as Caroline reached for her teacup in a knowing manner. \u201cPardon me, Miss Bingley, Mr. Bingley.\u201d Jane rose from her seat as Mr. Bingley stood and bowed. Both Mrs. Gardiner and Jane reached Lydia at the same time, and the drastic plumpness of her figure made both women pause and look at one another in horror. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cWe had no idea you were to travel. Why did you send no note?\u201d Mrs. Gardiner\u2019s voice sounded strained as she mentally worked out where to place Lydia, then remembered that Mary and Elizabeth were to leave that very afternoon. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cAnd ruin the surprise? Where is he? Surely he\u2019s been found by now!\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cLydia, Mr. Wickham is not here,\u201d Jane explained quietly. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Suddenly, a look of panic crossed Lydia\u2019s face, and she began to shout. \u201cWhat do you mean he is not here? It\u2019s been months, Mr. Darcy promised he would find him! He must be found!\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Mrs. Gardiner and Jane shared another glance, and Mrs. Gardiner wrapped her arm around Lydia, attempting to steer her towards the back of the house, but Lydia refused to move and fought her guidance. Jane rushed back to the sitting room. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cMr. Bingley and Miss Bingley, it appears my sister has traveled from Hertfordshire to surprise us and see to her Uncle, but she is greatly fatigued. You\u2019ll forgive me for asking your pardon. I promise to call upon you in the very near future?\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Caroline Bingley sniffed, but placed her teacup down and rose with her brother. \u201cOf course, Jane dear, we could not possibly impose on you at a time like this.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Jane gave both a relieved smile, but as she walked them to the door, Mrs. Gardiner and Lydia were still in the foyer. As Caroline Bingley looked Lydia up and down, saying nothing, the bottom of Jane\u2019s stomach dropped. She wasn\u2019t positive, but any woman would take one look at Lydia Bennet and come to only one conclusion. The youngest Bennet daughter was breeding. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Not long after the Lydia ruckus and the Bingley departure, the Matlock carriage arrived. With Mrs. Gardiner busy in the kitchen plying a crying Lydia with tea and comfort, Jane Bennet began to weep in the armchair just inside of the drawing room. When the carriage was announced and her other sisters began to descend the stairs, Jane wiped her eyes as quickly as she could and set her shoulders back. She was the eldest Bennet sister, and already too much had fallen onto Elizabeth\u2019s shoulders to fix. With a serene smile, she greeted her sisters at the bottom of the stairs. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cHave a lovely time and make sure to tell Lady Matlock how much I appreciated her invitation.\u201d Jane hugged Elizabeth farewell. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

With a quizzical expression, Elizabeth looked around in the hallway, but could only hear soft voices from the kitchen. \u201cIs Aunt crying?\u201d Elizabeth began to take a few steps towards the back of the town home, but Jane blocked her way. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cSssh, Aunt is embarrassed that her sentiments have run away again, but she said she would see you both soon. It would not be prudent to make the Matlocks wait.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Elizabeth eyed her sister suspiciously, but shook her head. The Jane she knew and loved was not the same Jane that left their mother\u2019s house to come to London, but there was no doubt any intrigues between Jane and their aunt were of a good nature. In fact, Elizabeth wondered if the two of them did not have some surprise planned for her as that was what she would be scheming if their positions were reversed. Turning around and linking arms with Mary, Elizabeth Bennet took her final steps across the Gardiner threshold as a resident. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Once the carriage had safely rolled away, Jane turned from the front window and hastened to the kitchen. Lydia looked forlornly at the table, still heaving sporadically with dry sobs. Covering her mouth in horror, she looked at her aunt for confirmation, and her aunt slowly nodded. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cMr. Wickham must be found straight away, I\u2019m afraid,\u201d was all her aunt explained with a heavy tone. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Gingerly, Jane approached Lydia to sit next to her, and the younger girl lifted her head to stare at her oldest sister with red-rimmed eyes. \u201cI\u2019m to be married. He said, he said\u2014\u201d she gulped for air, \u201che said we were to be married.\u201d Finished, she wailed a new howl of anguish. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Overwhelmed with grief for her sister, and all of their futures, Jane embraced Lydia and pulled her to her chest. \u201cShhh, shhh, all will be well. You were very brave to travel here all alone. Very brave. Together we will find a way to protect you and the baby. I promise.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>

Mrs. Gardiner excused herself and shuddered as she bristled down the hallway. She wished she could share Jane\u2019s optimism, but without a trace of Mr. Wickham, and the family more or less deciding there was no future for Lydia married to that lout, she was unsure how they might find protection for anyone. With a deep breath, she took the stairs one at a time to avoid for as long as possible the moment when she must break her husband\u2019s heart. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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