Page 25 of The Sole Love

“If nothing else works, you—Mrs Bennet—will go to Mr Haskett, tell him the truth, and let him find a solution.” Mr Bennet’s voice was so cold that Mrs Gardiner shivered. She did not see how her in-laws could continue their life together after such a tragedy.

Mrs Bennet did not say a word, but she fell back against the sofa again, her cheeks on fire. A long moment of silence followed. Then Mrs Bennet stood up and spoke, more composed. “It is a good idea to find Mr Bingley, and I am sure Lizzy will help, even if that Mr Darcy is not her favourite. But where could she meet the gentleman?”

“We met Mr Darcy at the same ball where—” Mr Gardiner preferred not to continue the sentence.

“Where Jane met young Haskett,” Mrs Bennet said, and then she continued in a cantankerous tone. “Why did you have to show them to the whole of London?”

Mrs Gardiner was ready to answer, but it was Mr Bennet who replied, and his words and voice were far from pleasant. “Now you try to pass the responsibility to them, dear wife? Because they wanted to entertain our daughters and allow them to breathe other air than that full of gossip and villainy in Meryton? And to which you amply contribute?”

“Now, dears,” Mrs Gardiner intervened, “let us not lose our tempers. The girls are about to return. Go upstairs and rest. You will have time to prepare for dinner and attempt to disguise this air of anger and sadness. If we want them not to know, we have to play our parts. Your room is ready.”

“I should prefer to go to the library if that is not a problem for you,” Mr Bennet said.

“Of course, and if you agree, I shall accompany you,” his brother-in-law replied, happy to escape the nightmarish atmosphere.

The two men left the room, and only then did Mrs Bennet open her eyes again. Assisted by a maid, she went upstairs to rest.

Mrs Gardiner did not offer to accompany her. She needed time to think and to appear perfectly composed when her nieces returned. It was a dreadful situation. Just when Jane had found love again, this terrible news risked destroying not only her but also the family. For the moment at least, nobody knew—except them. Surely, Mr Haskett was not aware; otherwise, he would not look with such pleasure upon Jane’s relationship with his son. Perhaps he even thought it was destiny’s compensation for their lost love. But then, she could not imagine her sister Bennet in the midst of such a story. And why did she not marry Mr Haskett? The families were friends, and the Gardiners were highly regarded in their community.

Her reflections were interrupted by the arrival of Elizabeth and Jane. They looked happy and full of that beneficial energy that young people in love spread around them. She made an effort to put a smile on her face and welcome them.

“Guess who has come?” But she did not wait for an answer. “Your parents.”

“How splendid. Now we can depart for Bath!” Jane exclaimed. “Where are they?”

“Resting—your mother had quite a difficult journey, and she is somewhat unwell. You will see them at dinner.”

“I am going to nap. I am so tired I can hardly walk,” Jane said. “Will you come, Lizzy?”

A discreet sign from Aunt Gardiner caused Elizabeth to refuse. “I shall stay a while with Aunt Gardiner. I am not that tired.”

Ready to begin a sweet story about their morning, she turned to her aunt, only to see her smile transform into a worried face.

“My God, what is wrong? Is Mama truly sick?”

“Come, my dear. We are going to speak to your father and uncle. They are waiting for us in the library.”

“What is it?” Elizabeth wanted to know more, but her aunt just shook her head.

The men would decide how to handle things with Elizabeth. However, before leaving the parlour, she turned to her niece.

“Please remember that you need to find your happiness no matter what happens. Your only duty is towards yourself.”

Such strange talk did not unveil the mystery but only made it more obscure. Elizabeth could tell that nothing good was waiting for her in the library, and her excellent mood disappeared.

They found the men in a cloud of smoke, so Mrs Gardiner opened the windows and sat at a distance from them.

Mr Bennet’s face was a mask of sadness, and on an impulse, Elizabeth hurried to embrace him. He began to talk abruptly, as there was no better introduction for such a matter.

“My dear,” he said, addressing Elizabeth, “we have to put an end forever to Jane’s relationship with Mr Haskett. It cannot continue, and they cannot marry—not even see each other.”

Elizabeth wanted to speak, but her father shook his head.

“Please permit me to finish. We need you to talk with Mr Darcy and together devise a plan to reunite Jane with Mr Bingley.”

“No!” she cried. “You cannot ask this of me!”

However, to her astonishment, her father closed his eyes almost as if he were crying, silently begging her to help him.