Page 102 of The Secret Diary of Anne de Bourgh

When we came home, Elizabeth was still awake and wished to hear our news.

“Mr Byerly did come,” I told her. “Caroline had particularly asked him.”

“How obliging of her.”

Her expression was so innocent that I began to laugh.

I hope Jane is right about Caroline’s feelings. She certainly appeared very happy this evening, and I should be glad if she had reason to remain so, and is able to make Hugh equally so.

28 November

Elizabeth received letters from Mary and Mrs Bennet this morning. She was not feeling quite well, and asked whether I would read them to her while she remained in bed, resting.

I began with Mary’s. Mr and Mrs Bennet are to spend Christmas with her and Christopher. They expect them early next month, and have persuaded them to remain until January, so that they need not undertake two winter journeys in quick succession.

I was surprised. I had supposed Mrs Bennet would wish to be in London when Elizabeth’s child was born.

Apparently Mrs Bennet had supposed so too.

Her letter began with a complaint about Mr Bennet’s determination to go into Leicestershire when Elizabeth would so plainly require her assistance in London. Nobody who had not borne five children could possibly understand what Elizabeth would need.

I paused, uncertain whether I ought to continue. Elizabeth had closed her eyes.

“I believe my aunt will be equal to discovering it,” she said.

“Will Mrs Gardiner come when it is time?”

“She has promised. And Jane will be here.”

She looked so relieved that I began to understand. Mrs Bennet is very affectionate, but I could imagine her finding a great many things to be alarmed about, and requiring everybody to attend to them. Her presence would have been more burden than comfort to Elizabeth. Mary, understanding, had taken steps to ensure Mrs Bennet would be elsewhere.

Elizabeth asked me to go on.

Having explained at some length why she ought not to go to Mary and bewailed her husband’s insistence that they must, Mrs Bennet had turned her attention to what she would do when she arrived.

Mary could hardly be expected to have arranged everything properly. There would be servants who required direction, linen which ought to be examined, and a cook who would certainly benefit from knowing how things were done at Longbourn. Mrs Bennet intended to take several receipts with her.

“I hope she leaves Mary’s stillroom alone,” I said.

“I should be more concerned for anybody who attempted to interfere with it,” Elizabeth replied.

I remembered Mary’s decided opinions about the position of her table, and thought Lizzy might be right.

Mary’s own letter had been much more sanguine about the upcoming visit. Christopher had ordered a supply of her father’s favourite wine, and Mary had chosen a room for her mother which she hoped would be warm and comfortable. She was looking forward to showing them her home.

I hope Mrs Bennet will allow herself to be pleased with it.

When I had finished, Elizabeth asked me to read part of Mary’s letter again. There was an account of Christopher attempting to help make space in a cupboard and discovering several things Mary had been looking for since their arrival.

Lizzy laughed, then settled back against her pillows.

I put both letters upon the table beside her and asked whether there was anything else she wished me to do.

“Only stay a little while, Anne, if you have nothing you would rather be doing. I so enjoy your company.”

I fetched my book and sat beside her reading until she fell asleep.

29 November