The Heir and Spare (Jane Austen Adaptations)

3. Elizabeth

Chapter 3

Elizabeth

E lizabeth and Jane walked through the back edges of their property where Elizabeth knew wild herbs and roots grew. Their baskets were only partly filled, but they hadn’t as yet come across the lavender.

Jane lifted a delicate lace flower from a bush and placed it in her basket. “We are so fortunate that the conditions are so favorable for many of these.”

“We really are. And of course that the past vicar taught us how to plant them.”

Elizabeth dug out the roots of a particularly useful herb. “We will need to plant more of this one if it’s the roots we need every time.”

“I think the leaves and flowers are also useful. But I think you’re correct. We must plant some more. They aren’t spreading like they could.” She pressed her lips together. “I think it might be the lack of sun. See those branches? They weren’t there when we originally began this plot of our wild garden.”

Lizzie nodded. “I see what you mean.”

“Let’s have Joshua come and trim those.” Jane seemed to be doing her mental calculations about all the branches she would ask him to trim. Lizzie let her handle it. She was pleased they could work on this together and that she was so intrigued by the idea of them growing their own medicines. The vicar had been correct and his remedies worked. Particularly the one to quell their mother’s nerves. She was much more relaxed. And complained so infrequently of the flutterings and flittings of her heart that Lizzie almost forgot her constant need for smelling salts.

They moved toward the field. “But look! That lavender is beautiful.” They paused at the edge of the trees. Their lavender had definitely spread and now filled a rather large patch with a thick flowing wave of color. The sweet aroma tickled her nose and she breathed deeply. “And this must be Mother Nature’s trophy. It’s almost a shame to pick some.”

“This will certainly grow.” Jane ran her fingers over the tops of the flowers. “It will make a beautiful water.”

“And it’s supposed to be good for calming us as well as Mother you know, perhaps a sachet under our pillows?”

“Or Lydia’s pillow.” Jane laughed. “That girl could use some calming.”

“I think perhaps when the militia is not in town, she will go back to bemoaning her boredom.”

“We can only hope.” Jane clipped a stalk of lavender.

Once their baskets were full of all sorts of aromatic herbs and plants, they turned to walk back up the hill to the house.

“Tell me.” Lizzie searched the side of Jane’s face as they walked. “How was the lunch with Bingley’s sisters?”

Jane’s face grew troubled, and Lizzie almost regretted asking.

“They are…not as congenial as he.” She walked along in silence for a moment, but Lizzie didn’t pressure her.

She stopped suddenly. “In fact, I do believe they are openly insulting if you want to know the truth.”

Lizzie gasped. “What did they do to you? Did they insult you? Surely not with Bingley right there?”

“Oh no, nothing at all, not really.” She sighed. “You know those people who say nothing at all, not really, but they are saying so much. They leave so much to be assumed and to hurt.” Her face clouded further and lizzie was shocked to see a tear form at the corner of her eyes.

“What is this?” She pulled Jane into a hug. “What did they say or not say or whatever?”

“Oh, just things like, ‘Your mother would know about laughing.’”

Lizzie paused and frowned. “Wait, that’s it?”

“You know, because she was laughing so hard she had that coughing fit at the assembly and then she was so loud about me and Bingley, about us courting even before we knew one another.” She fisted a portion of her dress in her hand. “I’m sorry. I should be more loyal to our mother, but that was so embarrassing. Bingley heard, and we could hardly look at one another. He looked everywhere but at me. Then Caroline said things about Lydia too; about Mary’s playing the piano and her less than impressive voice. She said all kinds of things without saying anything at all and when I left I felt that every part of me was lacking in some way.”

“She talked about you as well? About me?”

“Well no. We were left off her list of people to criticize. But even Father. She hardly saw him at all but she had things to not say about him as well.”

Lizzie stomped her feet as she walked. “I really hate that kind of talk. Everyone seems so proficient at insulting in the most polite manner possible. I don’t often know how to counter it. If one is overly careful in their wording, never quite saying what you think they might be saying, how do you even respond without turning the conversation into something childish or brutish?” She frowned.

“Well, no matter. We don’t want to claim a proficiency in insulting others, do we?”

Lizzie laughed and then wrapped her free arm over Jane’s shoulder. “No, we do not. And you, my dear, could never be such a thing no matter if you desired it. But I.” She shook her head. “I feel…I am well on my way.” She tucked a strand of free hair behind her ear. “You must somehow disbelieve everything they insinuated and remember them to be the most boring, insipid creatures we have yet encountered. Who would want to be in the presence of a perpetual bored expression and a tight pinched face? She couldn’t be lovely with those evil thoughts running through her head. No one could. She will be doomed to ill looks and you will forever be fresh and lovely and a pleasure to look upon until your dying day.” She kissed her soundly on the cheek.

Jane laughed, pretending to wipe the offending gesture from her cheek. “I think you are also perfectly perfect and do not need to think ill of yourself. Though you have more wit than I, you would never purposefully be cruel, not like they were. I know this.” She toyed with a ringlet of Lizzie’s hair. “And thank you for that. Thank you for always being my strength and having my back.”

“We are quite a pair, are we not? We shall rise together or go down trying.” She laughed. “But truly. I do think Bingley is half in love with you no matter what his sisters say.”

“He does have a glorious sparkle in his eye.” Jane laughed, her face blushing profusely. “Is that how you tell? If a man loves you…does he sparkle like Bingley?”

“I’m not the one to ask as no one has loved me as of yet. But what I see in Bingley is definitely a high interest. He seems completely captured, living in the world of Jane Bennet, not aware of any other world. I would say that is half in love.” Lizzie grinned. “And yes, he does seem to have an extra sparkle for you.”

Jane nodded, seeming satisfied with that answer. And Lizzie hoped that none of his friend’s snobbery would rub off on him for she feared that her sister was herself if not half, all the way in love already.

They returned to the house with baskets of herbs and things for Cook which were soon almost forgotten in the wake of callings and shoutings from their mother.

Lizzie groaned. “What could be happening now?”

Jane shrugged, and they both left the baskets on the table in the kitchen and went following the noise.

Their mother was on her back in her bed, fanning her overly pale face. “Oh, my dear Jane, we are so unfairly treated! So unfairly. And here I thought that my Lydia would amount to something, would be able to have the same amount of opportunity as her sisters. But how can she? How? When she is so roundly ignored?” She clutched a paper, an invitation of sorts.

“What is that,Mama?” Jane reached for it.

At first her mother resisted. “No, I will not allow it. How could this Lord I-don’t-even-know-his-name include Mary but not our Lydia? What is he thinking?”

Jane and Lizzie shared a confused glance.

Lizzie reached for the paper and this time her mother let it go. The sisters skimmed the page.

“Elizabeth and Mary Bennet have been invited to the house party of one Lord Shackley. The pleasure of your presence is expected on August 1.”

Elizabeth let the paper drop, her eyes unseeing. What could this mean? She and Mary were invited to a house party? “Who is Lord Shackley?”

Before her mother could begin wailing anew, her father’s voice interrupted behind them. “He is a colleague of mine. We correspond weekly on all manner of topics. He’s an eccentric to be sure but a brilliant mind. You will find his wit delicious, and his knowledge of the world is unmatched. I’m quite envious, actually.” He smiled and reached for his daughter’s hand. “As for why he chose the two of you, I cannot say. But I suggest you enjoy yourselves. It promises to be highly diverting if not quizzical at times. And I would guess his invitation to include some fine minds indeed.”

Lizzie nodded, her interest and curiosity definitely piqued.

Mary stepped forward, glancing nervously at their mama. “Am I to go then? Truly?” She showed the tiniest spark of hope as if she daren’t but wished to.

Her mother commenced wailing again. “Oh, my Lydia! Never to have an opportunity like the rest of you and by far the prettiest outside of Jane.” She clutched her eldest daughter’s hands. “It is not for nothing you are so lovely. Bingley will marry you and save us all, mark my words.” Her eyes were wide and desperate.

Lizzie looked to her father. What were they to do?

He shook his head and stepped out into the hall. Mary and Lizzie followed. “I do believe your invitations are due to my intimacy with him. We are quite close by letter. And he knows of all my daughters. Perhaps he knew you to be the most appreciative of his humor or his library.” Her father winked. “Either way, it will be a good diversion will it not?”

Mary nodded and clutched her hands to her chest. “I shall treasure every moment. Do you think he will appreciate a good sermon?”

Her father chuckled. “I cannot say. We have not been overly communicative about the things of the cloth. But I daresay someone there might wish to humor you.” He patted her hand, sharing a glance with Lizzie. “Follow your sister’s good example in her decorum and conversation. She will lead you well.”

Lizzie tried to wrap her mind around this new turn. She was intrigued. And curious. And it provided such a different diversion to her normal predictable life she admitted to being quite excited. “So, he has an impressive library you assume?”

Her father’s eyes twinkled. “Judging by his correspondence, I would guess one of the best. He is quite knowledgeable on many different topics and quotes different authors as though they are dear friends.”

Lizzie could tell by the way he lingered in thought that he treasured this correspondence. She wondered just how much influence he had exerted to gain an invitation. But she was grateful. It would be good to get away. Especially with her dear Jane so well situated and being courted by Bingley. She could avoid the awful Darcy and still hope the best for his friend.

She kissed Jane on the cheek as she hummed with a little skip down the hall to call for a trunk to be brought to her room.

The next day was filled with preparations for the two girls to leave. It was not often they were invited to do anything outside of Longbourne. In fact, none had ever been to a house party. Their mother had stopped wailing and eventually left her room to exert herself in the girls’ behalf. She had many thoughts on colors to wear and which bonnets to bring. She even had the girls bring their newer ball gowns just in case. By the time they were loading into the carriage, she had even summoned a smile and a hope for Mary to do really well. “If you smile more, my dear, you shall find the man for you. I’m sure there is one who loves to read and carry on about Fordyce’s sermons the way you do.” She dabbed her eyes. Though she didn’t sound very convincing, Mary seemed cheered by her words.

Lizzie put an arm across her shoulders. “Don’t worry, sister. We shall find much with which to divert ourselves, I’m certain of it.”

“I daren’t breathe wrong for fear she will stop my going.”

“Never fear. Father is right there ensuring our departure.” She smiled warmly at him. “Thank you. We shall write when we arrive.”

“And do make a note of all that is ridiculous so that we may divert ourselves later.”

“I will. But perhaps it shall not be as ridiculous as it is fanciful. Or even fun.” She winked, and then she and Mary stepped up into the carriage.

Her sister breathed out in relief as soon as they started moving and then her tears began to fall. “Shall I really be allowed to attend? I cannot believe it.” She wiped at her eyes, but the tears kept flowing.

“Oh, my dear.” Lizzie moved to sit at her side. “Of course we are off. We are moving, see? Father has made sure of it.”

She sniffed again and again but eventually the tears stopped, and she leaned into Lizzie with a smile. “I think this shall be the happiest times of my life. I shall not want to leave.”

Lizzie squeezed her. “We shall experience them together whatever they may be. I’m quite as excited as you, I think. At least for the library.”

“And who knows but the others who are invited have a predilection for books too? Or something in common with us?” Mary lifted out a novel.

“What is this? Are you reading fiction now?”

“I thought I should so that I know how to function in these sorts of activities, how men wish to be handled, how to fall in love.” Her face turned as bright red as Lizzie had ever seen it. “I’m ridiculous I know. But I’m desperately uneducated in the ways of romance.”

“As am I, my dear. I think fiction is a good choice for you but not because you need to change your ways. You just smile like Father said and be yourself. You’ll find someone who enjoys you just the way you are.” She was gratified to see the relief in Mary’s expression.

She opened the book to the second chapter. “All the same. I shall try to be the most approachable and knowable, pleasant version of myself. How’s that?”

“I think that is very savvy of you. Quite a great way of putting it. I shall do the same, how about that?”

Mary nodded, pleased. “If I learn anything of import in my book, I shall let you know.”

“What are you reading?”

She held up the title page. “It’s called Pride and Prejudice .” She ginned. “And so far, the hero is the most unlikable creature. But he has potential.” She tapped her finger on her lips. “I should not mind a curmudgeonly type of person if I understood him.” She lifted the book again then paused. “As long as he was kind, in his heart; kind but a little bit grumpy? That would be all right.”

Lizzie laughed. “What an odd and very Mary thing to say.” She didn’t know how much she’d want to marry a disagreeable man. The insult from earlier did not sting as much as it had, but she was still struck by how much a rejection like that with harsh words could affect her. No, she was not hoping to find a disagreeable man. Hopefully she would be enough for whoever was at the house party. They did not have to marry after all, or even dance perhaps. But they would be paired off doing activities together, presumably. She’d asked about house parties and all her mother could remember was that they were planned out carefully with fun diversions for the guests, and seating for meals and the numbers were typically even, so there would be men there, single men. And perhaps new friends in the women. She needed the diversion. She was not perhaps as desperate as Mary, but she was more than grateful to be rid of Mr. Darcy and his critical eye and rejections. It had affected her more than she realized.

At any rate, ready or not, they would be arriving in an hour or two. They were not too far from home which also brought some semblance of comfort. If it turned out to be full of disagreeable and grumpy people, she and Mary could leave no matter how much her sister was appreciating the grumpy but kind men. She laughed to herself. “Dear Mary. We shall have an adventure of it, that much I can promise.”

Mary hugged her book closer and Elizabeth looked out over the top of her head to watch the green hills out the window as their carriage made it slowly down the road toward Lord Shackley’s estate. Yes, an adventure indeed.