Page 28 of The Sole Love

Elizabeth looked at her intently. Her family rarely called her by her full name.

“Yes, Aunt dear,” she murmured.

“We are living through a difficult moment, one that may be resolved quietly within the family, but it may also—”

“Have other consequences,” Elizabeth finished for her, and her expression clouded. “Oh, if I were to lose…Mr Darcy’s friendship.”

Suddenly, her fear was so evident that Mrs Gardiner breathed more easily. At last, Elizabeth was becoming aware of the depth of her feelings, and her aunt’s strongest wish was now to see her safely married as soon as possible.

Chapter 11

Everyone gathered in the parlour before dinner. Only Mrs Bennet was absent.

“Where is Mama?” Jane asked.

“She is not coming down for dinner,” said her aunt.

Jane could sense her family’s worry. Her father and uncle barely spoke, while Aunt Gardiner tried to keep the conversation going only for their sake.

Frightened, she ran to her mother to see for herself. They spent several minutes together, barely talking, but her mother seemed no different, though perhaps more tired.

“I am well,” she reassured her daughter. “All I need is a good night’s sleep. Tell them I am feeling better.”

Jane, always a dutiful daughter, announced to the family gathered around the table that her mother would be fine in the morning.

For once, Jane’s inability to see reality helped everyone, including herself. There was no occasion for cheer, and Mrs Bennet’s illness justified everyone’s apparent preoccupation.

“My dear,” Mr Bennet said cautiously, “it is not as simple as you think.”

Only then did Jane look more attentively at those around the table. Apart from the children, who were smiling, the others kept their eyes on the food before them.

“What are you saying, Papa?” Jane asked, still hopeful they would show some interest in her and her plans for the coming weeks.

“My dear, unfortunately, your mother has some serious problems, and I am sorry to tell you that your plans will have to wait. We are all returning to Longbourn.”

Jane looked from her father to Uncle Gardiner and then to Elizabeth. She could not believe that something else had arisen to interfere with her happiness. But worry for her mother prevailed, and for the first time, she understood the seriousness of the situation.

“Is Mama ill?”

As nobody answered, she asked again, “Are you hiding something from me? Elizabeth…?” Her sister was her last hope.

“No, dear. We are not hiding anything regarding Mama’s health. We just do not know what is wrong with her.”

Naturally, the explanation of Mrs Bennet’s illness was adopted by all of them and agreed to by Mrs Bennet herself.

“We came to see a doctor and to take you home.” Mr Bennet spoke for them all, but his attention was on Jane. She was the only one distressed at the prospect of leaving London.

No further sound was heard from Jane. She realised that her plans were less important, but deep inside, beyond her worry, she felt a little anger. Once again, her life was being put on hold. All evening, she alternated between genuine concern for her mother and desolation over her broken dreams.

“But so many plans were made…” Jane said, her voice little more than a whisper.

“I know, my dear,” Aunt Gardiner agreed. “In the morning, you and your uncle will pay a visit to the Hasketts and explain the situation. I am sure they will understand.”

Jane hid her tear-filled eyes from her aunt. Regardless, for her mother’s sake, she was ready to make any sacrifice. And David was a sacrifice. Her last hope was to have the opportunity to whisper to him that they would see each other as soon as her mother recovered. She needed that promise.

“Is David important to you?” Elizabeth had asked only hours earlier as they returned from the lovely morning they had spent with the Hasketts.

“In the same way that Mr Bingley was? Probably not. I do not feel that kind of love. It is more like a warm friendship. The good thing is that I now understand that many different feelings can lead to marriage.”