Page 4 of The Best Of Relations

It was almost bed-time when Mrs Bennet started up out of her chair with a look of alarm and dashed, without a word, off to the book-room. Her daughters looked at each other in bemusement, and even more so when both of their parents came out five minutes later, Mr Bennet with an envelope in hand and a long-suffering expression on his face. He was heard sending Mr Hill to summon Adams, the groom, and a few minutes later Mrs Bennet re-entered the parlour with a satisfied smile.

“Lord, Mama, what was all that about?” Typically it was Lydia who asked.

“Young ladies need not demand to know all the business of their elders and betters,” Mr Collins said with a sniff, but Mrs Bennet ignored him and answered her youngest daughter.

“Why, the ball tomorrow night, of course, Lydia. We could not have your Aunt Gardiner sitting at home. Adams will ride down to London tonight and ensure that she brings a suitable gown with her.”

“But she has not been invited!” Mary proclaimed at once.

Mrs Bennet dismissed that with a wave of her hand. “Goodness, that is of no importance. We shall send a note around in the morning. Jane may write to Miss Bingley, advising of my sister’s unexpected arrival. One more guest among more than a hundred will make no difference, I am sure, and we may use my brother’s carriage to convey us as well as our own.”

Jane looked a little uncomfortable about the imposition, but agreed. “I hope Adams will be all right in this dreadful weather, riding all the way to London,” she said in her soft voice.

“He has all night to get there, and it is only just above twenty miles to Gracechurch-street,” Elizabeth comforted her. “He need not go above a walk, and I am sure he will wrap up well. Hark! I think the rain might even have stopped.”

They all fell silent, listening, and one by one agreed. Finally, the succession of rain had indeed stopped.

“Hurrah!” cried Lydia. “We can walk into Meryton in the morning, I must have new shoe-roses, and perhaps we will see some of the officers – I did hope that Denny or Wickham might ask me for the first dance…”

“You will not be walking anywhere with this mud,” cried Mrs Bennet, “not a chance! You shall catch your death of cold, and who will dance with you then? No, those shoe-roses Kitty made for you will do very well, and as for the officers, I doubt not that they will all be queuing up to dance with you the moment you step from the carriage, darling lively girl that you are! No, off to bed with all of you now, get your sleep so that you will look bright and fresh for tomorrow.”

Chapter Two

Elizabeth slept poorly, and woke little refreshed. Looking out of her window at a sky still grey and cast over with clouds, she hoped it would not rain further and delay her aunt’s arrival at Longbourn. But before that, there was a great deal to do: she and Jane had some little needlework details to finish on Jane’s gown, and then they intended to bathe, and dress each other’s hair before the ball. They had best get started, and so she leaned over to the other side of the bed and gently shook her sister awake.

According to her good nature, Jane awoke with a smile on her lips and was much amenable to getting started on their preparations straightaway, so they should be ready before their aunt’s arrival. It also kept them sequestered from Mr Collins, who could be heard stumping around the house, cranky because he could not spend the morning paying fatuous compliments to Elizabeth, and out of the way of Kitty and Lydia, who spent the morning bickering as usual. Mary shut herself in the music-room and could be heard plunking away at the pianoforte, practicing some dirge she no doubt hoped to exhibit that evening. Elizabeth could only hope devoutly that she would not be given the opportunity.

Elizabeth had just finished untying the last of the curl-rags from Jane’s golden hair – her own dark locks were curly enough not to need them – when they heard the sound of carriage wheels outside.

“Our Aunt is here!” and they were both scrambling up from the cushions where they had been sitting before the fire. Downstairs they rushed, and were just in time to see their aunt walk into the hallway.

“Aunt Madeline!”

“Dear Jane, dear Lizzy!” she opened her arms to them and they threw themselves against her, much as they had been doing for the last ten years since she married their uncle. She had very rapidly become their favourite aunt, wise and kind. “My dear girls, what a pleasure to see you!”

“Sister,” Mr Bennet’s voice came dryly from the doorway to his book-room, “a pleasure indeed, though unlooked-for until last night. Can your urgent business wait until after you have settled in or must we speak now?”

“It can wait, Brother Bennet.” She smiled, walked over and kissed his cheek. “You look well.”

“As do you,” he smiled at her fondly. “Edward is well? The children?”

“Very well.”

“Well, Jane and Lizzy will make you comfortable, I am sure, and I shall be here when you are ready.” He gave her a slight bow, and left her to his daughters.

“Mama is just at her bath, Aunt, but allow us to show you upstairs. Oh, Adams,” Jane saw the young groom enter, carrying a trunk. “You got to London in time and safely, then?”

“Yes, Miss Bennet, thank’ee, Miss Bennet,” he flushed and tugged at his forelock.

“Indeed he did, and yes, I have brought my new gown with me, though I cannot think it was quite so urgent to set that poor young man on the road all night. He will be quite exhausted. The note said I should attend the ball with you?” Mrs Gardiner looked at her nieces.

“Yes, Aunt, I sent a note to Miss Bingley this morning and the response came not an hour hence, that we should of course be welcome to bring any relative of ours,” Jane soothed.

“Oh, good, I would not impose for the world. Now I know your cousin Mr Collins is occupying the guest room, where am I to sleep? I could share with one of you girls…”

“Certainly not!” Jane and Elizabeth both chorused.

“Jane shares with me, and you have her room. We made it up with fresh linen last night and Hill lit the fire first thing this morning. It should be lovely and snug, and we will have Sarah bring up warm water directly for you to refresh yourself, and tea.”