The Heir and Spare (Jane Austen Adaptations)

12. Jane and Elizabeth

Chapter 12

Jane and Elizabeth

J ane had never done anything so reckless. But here she was, tearing up to the front drive on a horse, almost to the door of the Bingley estate. A servant appeared on the front stoop, and Caroline’s face with open mouth stood out in an upper window. But Jane cared not for any of them. She had one wish only, and that was to see her beloved Charles.

Her horse skidded to a stop in response to her pulling back on the reins. She’d have to give that animal ample oats and grain for his assistance today.

Charles appeared on the front steps and then the rest of the world went away. All was quiet, all was diminished in sight, except for him. “Charles.”

“Jane.”

She sucked in a breath at the use of her first name. Up to that moment, he hadn’t dared. But the sound of it on his lips rushed through her like a great storm and gave her the courage to say what she needed to say. “Oh, Charles, you mustn’t go!”

He started as though truly shaken, and then a great light filled his face. Every line or concern disappeared behind his smile. He approached until he stood at her side, his face turned up to see her on the horse. Then when he spoke, his words were soft, intimate sounding. “Say the word and I’ll stay. Or go. Or walk or run. I’m yours to command.”

Jane could hardly speak for the joy that suddenly choked in her throat. But she must tell him all. He must know of Lydia and…Wickham and the scandal that would befall them. “Oh, Charles. You may wish to have nothing to do with me.”

“Certainly not, ever my dearest.” His eyes had so much kindness, so much trust. She almost quaked in fear and abandoned her purpose.

“I…I want always to be with you. But I’m afraid. There is much I must tell you. Something has happened.”

He immediately reached for her. “Then let’s get you off this animal so that I might converse with you properly.” His hands gripped her waist, but it was no easy dismount when not riding side saddle; not when attempting to be appropriate.

Eventually, with some embarrassed laughs, he tugged at her backwards, hips first, both legs following.

With both feet on the ground at last, she leaned her back against him a moment. “Thank you. You do not know how much I felt as though I carried my life in my hands the whole ride here.” And he would never know the extent of her inner angst and worry about how she could ever find happiness again. She still did not know, and she was as yet unsure she could place such a responsibility on Mr. Bingley. He was, after all, surely concerned for his own social well-being as well as that of his future children.

He turned her to face him. “Oh, my darling. Your hands are shaking.” He lifted them to his lips and kissed them both multiple times. “Tell me. What has happened?”

She stared into his face, almost quaking and giving up on her purpose. But his eyes were kind. His face trusting. He stood as close as was appropriate. And after but a few breaths, it all came tumbling out. “It’s Lydia. It cannot be concealed. She has been absconded by George Wickham.” The words rushed out as quickly as she could rid her lips of them. She held her breath, watching his face. Most men, nearly all men, would turn from her now and leave the area as he had planned, as he was packing trunks to do already.

Charles frowned, his eyes studying a piece of Jane’s hair above her right shoulder. But after only a moment more, he nodded. “What has been done to rescue her?”

Jane’s breath left her body in such a great wave of relief she almost collapsed against him again. “I don’t exactly know. My father and my uncle who lives in London have been in conversation.” She started to shake again. “Oh dear.” Her teeth chattered. “I don’t know what’s the matter with me, but I’m suddenly so c-c-cold.” She leaned against him to steady herself, but the world started spinning and soon went very dark.

* * *

Elizabeth arrived home to complete mayhem. Her mother had taken to her bed, wailing and calling for her salts, keeping the servants and their sister Kitty rushing around to meet her every need. Her father was nowhere to be seen. She went in search of Jane, but to no avail. At length, she stopped their servant Mrs. Hill, who carried linens on one hip and a tea tray in the other hand. “Please, Mrs. Hill. Where is Jane?”

“Oh, bless her, my poor child. She left hours ago, yesterday even, on your father’s horse. Word was, she was off to convince Mr. Bingley to stay here.”

“What? Was she in her right mind?”

At that, Mrs. Bennet commenced calling, “Hill! Hill! Where are you, Hill?”

“Go. I’ll find her.”

Their loyal servant turned without another glance and rushed off to her mistress.

Elizabeth puzzled this turn. She’d gone after Mr. Bingley? On horseback? Jane was many things, but not a horsewoman. She found Mary, who looked as confused and concerned as she. “What has happened?” Mary’s eyes were wide and concerned.

Kitty was not in her room. They went out the back entrance to a side garden. She was not there either. “Please tell me Kitty, too, has not disappeared.”

“Where is Jane?”

“I’m going after her as soon as I figure that out.”

They made their way to the barn and at last, in the back corner, they found Kitty. She had found a new litter of puppies and held one to her face, pacing the small space. She mumbled to herself, incomprehensible words, slightly panicked-sounding phrases. She was so lost in her own concerns, she didn’t seem to notice the squirming puppy or their approach.

Lizzie and Mary exchanged a glance and then Lizzie said, “Kitty?”

Their youngest sister stopped but then she turned from them, bowing her head over the puppy.

They stepped nearer, Mary putting her arm across Kitty’s shoulder.

“Come, Kitty, tell us what has happened?”

For a moment she said nothing but then her shoulders dropped, her head bowed further, and she whispered, “It’s all my fault.”

Lizzie hurried to her other side. “Come, Kitty, it cannot be all your fault. Lydia is perfectly capable of making her own choices, Jane too. And Mother, well, Mother is dealing with this the best she knows how.”

But she shook her head and looked away.

The puppy squirmed so much she dropped to the ground. “Oh dear!” Kitty clutched at her dress. But the puppy landed on all four paws. “Wish that happened for people, too.”

“What, dear?” Lizzie tried to tuck a piece of her unruly hair behind an ear.

“When they fall, they always land right.” She sniffed. But then her lip quivered and she lowered her head in her hand.

“Come, Kitty. Talk to me.” Lizzie turned her so that they faced one another. “What happened?”

“Oh, Lizzie! I wish you had been here! I didn’t know. I didn’t know.” She cried into her hands. “Wickham is so handsome, so good to us all. He bought us ribbons. Everyone loves Wickham.” She shook her head. “How could he have done this?”

“Tell me.”

“He told her to meet him after an assembly dance back by the stables.” She sniffed. “We all thought he was having a bit of fun. She talked about a kiss maybe.” Kitty shrugged.

“Which would not have been advisable either.” Mary frowned. “You know that, right?”

“Yes, Mary. We know.” Kitty shook her head.

“Leave Mary be. She’s just trying to help you. And she’s correct. A woman going in the dark to meet a man to kiss him would be nearly as disastrous as leaving with him.”

Kitty considered her a moment and then she nodded. “I see what you mean.”

“People can declare a woman ruined for all manner of things, but mostly for being alone with a man in a compromising situation.” Lizzie shook her head. “I feel it a bit ridiculous myself. But Mary is exactly right.”

“I’m sorry. I know you’re just trying to help.”

“So, I’m assuming Lydia went to meet him?” Perhaps there would be some clue, some hint in the retelling that would help.

“At first, no. But then there was talk of other women going to meet him. There were ladies hoping to be the one with him back behind the barn.” Kitty shook her head. “And when Lydia heard that, she had to beat them all out. She almost ran out the back door.”

Lizzie pressed her lips together but stayed silent.

“I followed her but as soon as she saw me, she shooed me away. She told me Wickham wouldn’t do anything if she was not alone.” Kitty shook her head. “That’s when I should have known things weren’t right.”

“How could you have? We’ve never met anyone like this.”

“So I stayed back. But I followed in the dark.” She swallowed. “And I should have said something, done something.”

“What happened?” Lizzie’s hands went cold.

“She ran to him and they embraced. And then he kissed her.” Kitty’s mouth twisted in distaste.

“What’s wrong?”

“It didn’t look like a kiss should be.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it was more…forced, harsh or something. I always thought it would be slow and sensitive and romantic.” She closed her eyes. “Lydia must not have liked it either because she pushed away. But he pulled her back and would have kept kissing her. She twisted in his arms. He grabbed her. Then they said something, hushed whispers. She relaxed. She laughed. So I thought everything was fine. But then…” She hiccupped. “Then a carriage pulled around and they both climbed in!” She shuddered. “It all happened so fast.” She wrapped her arms around her own middle. “I should have made a fuss when Lydia didn’t like the kiss, right? That’s when I should have done something?”

Mary pulled her close. “Kitty, I don’t even know. At that point, she was ruined. So any fuss would have done her a lot of damage. She should not have been there in the first place. But that is not your choice or your fault.”

Lizzie nodded. “Mary is correct. I wish she had not gone alone to see him. But here we are. Have you heard anything from her? Do you know their intentions?”

Kitty looked away.

“Kitty.”

She pulled a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket. “She left me this.”

“ Dear Kitty. You will think me the most romantic heroine when you hear what I’ve done. By the time you read this, I will be a married woman, the first of the Bennet sisters. Not even Jane will be first in this .”

Lizzie shook her head. But Mary reading over her shoulder said, “It shows she had every intention of marrying. It shows that she hoped to do things the right way…sort of.”

“Yes, except for the running away part, she hoped to marry.” Lizzie nodded. “You’re right.”

“Then is everything going to be fine? Will they?” Kitty had so much hope Lizzie hated to dash it, but there was little to entice Wickham to marry Lydia. They’d both be abysmally poor for the whole of their lives.

“I don’t know, Kitty. I can’t imagine that was Mr. Wickham’s intent, but I am happy to hear it was Lydia’s.”

Kitty folded the paper back up. “Are you going to tell Mama?”

“That you knew?” Lizzie considered her for a moment. “I think you should tell Papa. It might assist him in the search.”

“Is there any hope? Will he find them?” Kitty shook her head, answering her own question. “It would take a miracle.”

“And we believe in those. We must not lose hope.” Mary linked arms with her sister.

The three moved toward the house. Lizzie could hear her mother calling out even from where they stood in the back garden. “We must assist where we can. I will be going immediately after Jane.” She stopped. “Kitty. What was Jane’s intention?”

“I don’t know. She just said she needed Bingley and asked for a horse to be saddled.”

“This was yesterday.”

“Yes, we received word that she’d caught a cold and would be spending the night.”

“Oh! Oh, well, I must go to her right away.”

Kitty nodded.

Mary stood taller. “We will assist with Mama and send any news from Father.”

“Thank you.” Elizabeth turned from them both, hurrying in the direction of Netherfield on foot. Jane had taken the only horse that was ridable.