A Little Inclement Weather part 3

Join me for a little more inclement weather and a meeting with Mr. Bennet.

Part 3

Two days later, Elizabeth coughed and fell back into a pile of soft pillows, nestling into the featherbeds in a very fine guest room at Netherfield. The rose and vine paper hangings on the wall were thankfully not matched by all the fabrics in the room—those were pleasing tones of rose and green—making the room restful and not a busy eyesore. They were in a slightly older style, as were the dark oak four poster bed, dresser, cheval mirror and dressing table. But superior quality was always preferable to modern styling. A point upon which she often disagreed with Mama and Lydia. Good thing then it was she lying here with a cold and not either of them.

A large china bowl of dried roses stood near the window, in the direct sunlight, perfuming the air with a faint sweetness. It was probably a good sign that she could smell that now. If only attractive surroundings and an attentive hostess could ease the throbbing in her head and clear the congestion from her nose and chest.

“And what is your pronouncement of their condition, Mr. Perry?” Miss Bingley, fresh and crisp in her finely tailored blue muslin gown, stood between Papa and Mr. Perry at the foot of Elizabeth’s bed, hands clasped before her, concerned but not to the point of anxiety.

Mr. Perry, a tall, weathered and somber man, had served as Meryton’s most trusted apothecary for as long as Elizabeth could remember. Longbourn trusted him implicitly—probably because he was so somber. Somehow seriousness meant wisdom and knowledge that could never be possessed by a light-hearted man—or so it was generally believed.

Pray that he would pronounce favorable news

He rocked back and forth on his heels, thumbs in the waistband of his pants—his typical posture that somehow added to his general solemnity. “I fear both ladies are quite ill. Miss Elizabeth is in far better condition and might be moved back to Longbourn should that be desired. However, Miss Bennet is quite too ill to be moved at present, even though her ankle is only twisted and not broken. I am hopeful though of a good recovery for both, given time and—” he lifted his glasses off his nose to stare at Elizabeth directly, “— sensible behavior.”

Someone must have told him that it was her idea that had them out in the rain.

Papa turned to Miss Bingley, mouth open and ready to speak, but Miss Bingley cut him off, waving an open hand. “I would not hear of sending either of them home! Moreover, sinceMiss Bennet hardly knows us, she should not be denied the comfort of her sister as such a time. Pray, Mr. Bennet, do not require that of us.”

Papa frowned and shook his head. “I hate to impose upon so new an acquaintance—”

“It is no imposition at all. And as soon as they are well enough to join us in the parlor, I know we will enjoy their company—perhaps so much we will not let them leave.” Something about Miss Bingley’s posture and the crinkles beside her eyes—yes, she really meant it.

“Then I suppose I have no choice but to thank you for your hospitality and warn you that my wife will be most energetic in returning the favor in due course.” Papa had that funny little smirk on his face that he used when teasing Mama, the one Mama still had not yet learned to accurately discern.

He was right though. Mama would be most animated in her efforts to repay Miss Bingley her kindness. Elizabeth’s cheeks heated, and not from fever. Oh merciful heavens!

“Excellent! I promise they will have the best of care. Come, Mr. Perry, let us go find Nicholls and instruct her on the preparation of those potions you mentioned. I am sure Mr. Bennet would like a few moments with his daughter.” Miss Bingley ushered Mr. Perry out.

Papa pulled the small chair from the dressing table close to Elizabeth’s side and sat down. The smirk left his face and his tone grew more serious, creases lining his forehead. “If you want to come home, I will not object even though a well-packed trunk has already arrived for you. Your mother was quite adamant that your wardrobe should be well prepared for any event at Netherfield.”

“Somehow I do not see either of us participating in many ‘events’ as you called them. That aside, I would prefer to stay here and care for Jane, not leave her to the ministrations of strangers. She never complains and I fear some need might be overlooked, even by a hostess with only the best intentions.” She held her breath to choke back a cough. And honestly, not having Mama hovering over her and Jane seemed like a good thing, too. Trying to comfort Mama whilst feeling rather dreadful was a trial to be avoided. But probably not the thing to mention right now.

“Nicholls is hardly a stranger. You know she will watch over Jane every bit as closely as Hill would. In fact, it was her assurances in the note that she sent to Hill that kept your mother from sending me out in the middle of the night to see to her precious daughters.” He cocked a bushy, grey eyebrow.

“Mama said that?”

“Indeed, she did.” He patted her hand. “I know how she can be, but she is worried for you both. Hill is concerned too, but is confident in Nicholls even above Mr. Perry.”

Elizabeth tried to chuckle, but it ended in a chest burning cough. “With two gentlemen of good fortune here, surely in want of a wife, I would have thought Mama would think it an excellent plan for us to stay here, had she thought of it herself first.”

Papa poured her a glass of water from the cut crystal jug and laughed heartily. “I shall recommend it to her the next time she brings up her matchmaking hopes for you and your sisters. Go out in the worst storm of the season and meet eligible young men. Perhaps she should write a book of such instructions. I am sure many would be interested.”

“Perhaps that should wait until the efficacy of such interventions is proven. As of right now, all we have to show for it are red noses and wretched coughs, oh yes, and a seriously turned ankle. So, it may not be the matchmaking means of choice for many who prefer to keep their beauty intact during the process. Speaking of which, did Kitty and Lydia make it to Lucas Lodge to meet the mysterious barrister cousin we have all heard so much about?”

Papa leaned back, licking his lips as if trying to wipe the sardonic smile away. A wholly unsuccessful effort. “You will find it greatly amusing, I think, to know that they have been compelled to stay the night at Lucas Lodge. The rain washed out the footbridge to the house and neither Kitty nor Lydia have the constitution to ford the stream to get home. Perhaps you should have sought their advice before you planned your strategy. It seems they have arrived at the same point with far less inconvenience.”

“Except of course for the servant who delivered the message across the too difficult to traverse stream?” Elizabeth winked as she sniffled and pressed a handkerchief to her nose.

“Precisely. Lady Lucas was good enough to say that your sisters were welcome guests and that Mr. Wickham—the barrister in question—was quite enjoying all the company. While your mother was quite pleased to hear both counts, she lamented not having a spy in their midst the way she does here at Netherfield Park.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, but that was a poor choice. The throbbing in her head now extended to her eyeballs. “Poor Charlotte!”

“Charlotte? Why do you say that?”

“Surely you know, it was her hope that her cousin would find her a suitable match. Her father is a knight after all. That should be good enough for a barrister.” At least a barrister with low standards.

“And you think that Kitty and Lydia will distract him from doing his duty to his family?” Now he was smirking again.

“Duty is perhaps a strong way to put it. It would be a favor to Sir William, and it would provide said barrister with a capable and pleasant wife.”

“Unfortunately, there is little more she can offer him, with respect to connections and fortune. I think most gentlemen in his position would be looking for more. But we should not forget that men of sense, whatever your mother may choose to say, do not want silly wives, and that is definitely in Charlotte’s favor.”

“I think the whole of Meryton would agree, she is eminently sensible.” Sadly, that was not a substitute for fortune, beauty, or connections.

“Pray forgive me if I do not tell your mother that. It would not do to crush her hopes so soon.” His left eye twitched in a small wink.

She leaned a little harder into the pile of soft pillows. “Has she placed her hopes in the direction of Netherfield as well?” Perhaps it was an unkind sentiment, but with five daughters to marry off, it was only to be expected.

“Let us just say it would be best to expect to be much in the company of Netherfield Park and Lucas Lodge in the coming months. Your mother spent quite some time in Hill’s office today. Hill followed up with me to consult on a temporary increase in the household budget to accommodate the increased entertaining your mother hopes for.” He rolled his eyes.

Elizabeth sneezed three times and pressed a handkerchief to her face just in time to contain another fit of coughing. Gracious! Her chest burned.  “Assuming that we do not die of whatever ailments have seized us.”

“Do be sensible, Lizzy my dear. People do not die of trifling colds.” He patted her hand and smoothed the blankets. “Nicholls and Hill agree that you shall be hale and hearty soon enough. According to your mother that is quite enough assurance for her to return to her matchmaking aspirations for all of you.”

So what do you think of Mr. Bennet? Tell me in the comments.

Find earlier parts of the story HERE.