After a day or two with few visitors and no trips to Meryton, the Bennet sisters were eager to see new people. All five were waiting for the Darcys when the gentlemen appeared at the door to the drawing room. Their chattering suddenly ceased when the men stepped inside, and all five stood and curtseyed at once.
Darcy and his son bowed, the identical smirks on their faces betraying their amusement at the synchronous action of the ladies. Darcy was the first to speak. “Good evening.”
“Good evening,” they chorused.
Darcy cleared his throat, feeling that it would not do to laugh at them at this stage of the visit. “Miss Bennet, would you do me the honor of introducing me to your sisters?”
With a smile and a nod, Jane proceeded to do so. “You know Lizzy, of course.” She gestured to her left, where Elizabeth stood, then to her right. “This is my next sister after Lizzy, Mary. On the other side of her are Catherine, who we call Kitty, and Lydia. Lydia is the youngest.”
“I am the liveliest, though. Mama says so.” Lydia tossed her head, grasping the side of her skirt in her hands and twisting back and forth.
“Thank you, Lydia.” Elizabeth had hoped none of her sisters would embarrass her this evening. If Lydia’s self-promotion were the worst it got, Elizabeth would be grateful. Turning to the gentlemen, she invited them to sit. “Our meal should be served soon. Mama was going to join us; the maid was doing her hair when I came down. I cannot imagine what is keeping her.” Elizabeth’s voice quieted as she spoke the last sentence, her eyes glancing at the door.
Just as the group began to seat themselves on the chairs and couches, Mrs. Bennet burst into the room in all her characteristic effusiveness. Everyone rose once more.
“Please, forgive my tardiness! I hope my girls have made you welcome?”
Jane hurried to make the introduction. “Mama, this is Papa’s friend, Mr. Darcy, and his son, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.”
The gentlemen bowed to Mrs. Bennet. Mr. Darcy stepped forward to take her hand. “Your daughters have indeed welcomed us. They are charming girls.” Ever the gentleman, he kissed Mrs. Bennet’s hand, holding it in his as he continued. “Please accept my condolences for your loss. Bennet was a good man. He was the best of friends to me, and I know from his letters how much his family meant to him.”
Blushing, Mrs. Bennet thanked him. “He spoke of you often, Mr. Darcy. I know he wished many times that the two of you could meet again soon. He looked forward to your letters, though. He called them a lifeline.”
“I also regret that we did not have more opportunities to meet.” Darcy was not able to say more, for a bell caught his attention. He lifted his head for a moment, and then looked back at Mrs. Bennet. “Is that the supper bell I hear? I confess that I am famished. Shall we go in?” Darcy tucked Mrs. Bennet’s hand under one arm and offered the other to Jane.
Taking his cue from his father, Fitzwilliam did the same, offering his first to Elizabeth and then, once the jolt that had run through him at her touch had faded, to Mary. He escorted the sisters out of the room, while Kitty and Lydia looked at each other, shrugged, and followed.
In the dining room, the gentlemen seated the ladies and then took places themselves. Mrs. Bennet did her best to direct Fitzwilliam to sit beside Jane at the end of the table, by forcing Lydia to move to the other side, but that young man knew his own mind; he wished to sit beside Elizabeth, and so chose the empty chair between her and Mary. Mrs. Bennet’s displeasure was written all over her face, but for once, she remained silent. Once the soup was served, conversation began.
“I must thank you again for coming all this way, Mr. Darcy. My brother explained that you would not make it here in time to attend the funeral, but that you were eager to come and help us with the reading of the will. That odious Mr. Collins is set to inherit, you know.” Mrs. Bennet’s fear and grief overcame her, and she began to wail out her distress. “He will throw us into the hedgerows, I know. I do not know what will become of us. I should have married my eldest girls off long before this, but Mr. Bennet would not allow it, and now look at us; six women to feed on just my money alone. We will starve!” Waving her handkerchief and gasping, she began to call for her salts as Jane and Kitty, who sat on either side of her, attempted to calm her.
Mrs. Hill rushed in, her mistress’ vinaigrette in her hand. Soon, Mrs. Bennet was calmed, though her frantic energy had disappeared. Despite the insistence of her daughters and guests that she retire to her room and rest, the matriarch of the family refused. There were single gentlemen and unmarried daughters in her house. They must be brought together without delay. Therefore, she stayed, and though much subdued, she was still able to weasel enough information out of the Darcys to assure her that when the younger married her Jane, she and her daughters would be well taken care of.
Throughout the meal, Mrs. Bennet continued to push Jane forward.
“Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, how kind of you it is to come such a long way with your father to visit us.”
Fitzwilliam was uncomfortable with Longbourn’s mistress. Her fit of hysterics had taken him aback; he had never witnessed such a scene before and had no frame of reference for how to respond to it. He would rather the lady did not speak to him at all, but he would not dishonor her as his future mother-in-law, nor would he willingly injure his own father by behaving rudely to his friend’s widow. “It was nothing, madam. My father greatly esteemed your husband; it is an honor for me to assist him here.”
“You do not seem very old. Tell me, have you reached your majority?”
“Yes; I turned one and twenty not long ago.”
“You will be looking for a wife soon, I suppose. Have you noticed my Jane? So beautiful she is, and graceful! She is such a good girl. Never given me a bit of trouble.”
“Yes, madam, I have seen her.” Fitzwilliam’s eyes darted to his father in silent appeal before he lapsed into silence, quickly filling his mouth with food.
Darcy saw his son’s plea, and intervened. “Indeed, Miss Bennet is a beautiful young woman, and I am certain she is very accomplished. I think, though, that we should leave this conversation for another time, what do you say?”
“I always say there is no time like the present! Why, I-” Mrs. Bennet’s voice grew in stridency as her panic began to grow again, only quieting when Jane stepped in.
“Mama, please. Mr. Darcy will be here for a few days, I believe?” She looked down the table at him, relieved when he nodded. “Surely it can wait until after we eat?”
“Very well. I will change the topic, for you, Jane.” Noticing Lizzy pushing food around her plate, Mrs. Bennet’s voice became sharp. “Do not waste that food, Miss Lizzy. We do not know where our next meal will come from. And do not monopolize the gentlemen’s conversation. How will Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy get to know Jane if you are constantly nattering in his ear?”
Elizabeth flushed a bright red. She placed her hands in her lap, squeezing them tightly together as she looked down and closed her eyes. Oh, to be able to melt down between the floorboards, she thought.
Fitzwilliam and his father both noticed Elizabeth’s embarrassment. Fitzwilliam burned with anger at Mrs. Bennet, wondering how she could not see that she had humiliated her daughter. Too angry to speak to the woman and wishing to comfort Elizabeth, he asked if she would like a little more wine.
Elizabeth’s eyes barely met his when she looked up. “Thank you. I would like that.”
Fitzwilliam gestured for the lone footman in the room, who brought the carafe and refilled Elizabeth’s glass. When the man had retreated again, Fitzwilliam urged her to take a sip, and to try to eat something. “You will feel better if you eat, Miss Elizabeth, even if it is only a few bites.”
The gentleness of his tone brought a wave of comfort to Elizabeth. It sounded to her as though he was not disgusted by her mother’s antics, and for that, she was grateful. Elizabeth had worried about her mother’s behavior all afternoon. As usual, the woman displayed her emotions for all to see. Why no one had taught Fanny Bennet to control herself was a mystery to Elizabeth, who along with Jane, was regularly embarrassed by her.
The remainder of the meal passed in relative silence, Mrs. Bennet being too affected by her attack of nerves to speak overmuch and the rest of the diners fearful of provoking another outburst. When the last course was served, Darcy ventured to suggest that the gentlemen remain with the ladies after the meal, rather than separate. “We can all enjoy a bit of quiet conversation right here, Mrs. Bennet. That will spare your nerves the necessity of an extended evening. My son and I will likely retire early as it is. Our journey was a long one and I, for one, am tired.”
“Of course, Mr. Darcy, whatever you like.” Mrs. Bennet was beginning to revive a bit from her nervous fit, but it had left her exhausted still.
“I would bring up a rather delicate subject now, while we are all here and settled.” Darcy was a little afraid of Mrs. Bennet’s reaction, but the topic must be broached, and it must be done now.
Mrs. Bennet smiled, nodding her head to encourage him to speak.
Darcy cleared his throat, then began. “I stopped by Mr. Phillips’ office on my way through Meryton today. As you know, he has waited to read Bennet’s last will and testament until I could arrive.” Darcy looked around the table, taking in every face and noting the interest, or lack thereof, in each one. “He will come here, to Longbourn, tomorrow and read it. I know, Mrs. Bennet, that you will likely not wish to be there.”
“No.” Mrs. Bennet’s voice quivered, and her handkerchief began to wave. “I could not bear it.”
Before she could burst into tears or another attack of the vapors, Darcy continued. “Very well. I will ask the young ladies, then: do any of you wish to sit in? Miss Elizabeth has already indicated to me her willingness; will any of you join her?”
A chorus of, “Oh, no, not me!” rang out. Darcy nodded. Turning to Elizabeth, he inquired, “And you, Miss Elizabeth, do you still desire to hear your father’s final wishes?”
Elizabeth was touched by his gentle tone, though she wondered why he was so with her and none of the others. She could not help but respond to it, though, and so she replied to his question. “Yes, sir, I should very much like it.”
“Then you shall.” Noticing that all the plates were empty, he pushed back his chair and stood. “I will leave you now. Thank you, Mrs. Bennet, for the excellent meal. You are a credit to our dear Bennet and his household.” Bowing to each lady in turn, he gestured to Fitzwilliam, who followed his father’s example and said good night. The pair of them then returned to their rooms.
That evening, every family member was contemplative. Even the rambunctious Lydia could not get the words “your father’s final wishes” out of her head. “He is really gone,” she suddenly said to her sisters, who had remained downstairs when their mother went to bed. “Papa will never again call us the silliest girls in England.” She burst into tears, startling Elizabeth and Jane, who had not witnessed her crying before, not even on the day of her father’s death. The four girls surrounded their sister, all of them comforting and crying their own tears, all at the same time.