Pemberley by Emma Tennant

Author:Emma Tennant
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2012-10-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Jane Bingley’s advanced pregnancy led her to accept an invitation to lie abed in the morning; and to her bedchamber Elizabeth came, when she had conferred with Mrs Reynolds on the fare of the day.

‘I do not believe it can be borne!’ cried Elizabeth. ‘Mama worse than even my nightmares told; and so many days and weeks of it to come!’

‘Hush, Dear Lizzy. Mama will be calm soon. It has been too much of an excitement for her, to come here to Pemberley, where she has never been before, and to see you when such a time has gone by,’ said Jane. ‘She will soon occupy herself with Lydia and her children, when they visit; and she will be invited by kind aunt Gardiner to Rowsley, I have no doubt of it.’

‘Oh Jane, I am not what I should be!’ said Elizabeth, whose eyes filled with tears. ‘I could not bring myself to ask our mother to visit here for so long – and when I do, I cannot wait for her to leave! How can you bear that she will be in the vicinity when your child is born, poking her way into your house at Barlow, into the home where you are so happy with Charles, as I was happy here at Pemberley!’

‘You are happy here at Pemberley with Darcy,’ said Jane quietly, for she knew Elizabeth’s impulsive nature, as quickly gay as sad. ‘And for us, you know, the child brings all the compensation that could ever be asked for. Mama’s ways will go unheeded, when it comes to it.’

‘Ah,’ said Elizabeth, hanging her head. ‘I do not know the happiness you speak of, Jane – but how I do yearn for it! I am not good enough for Darcy as I am, you know – he must wonder that I cannot give him a child – and his two previous brides, as they were intended to be, Miss Caroline Bingley and Miss de Bourgh. here at Pemberley and recalling to him that he might have a thriving family here by now!’

‘But Darcy loves you, Eliza,’ said Jane, ‘and he will wait patiently, you will see. I’ll wager there’s a child here next Christmas, and all this will be forgotten!’

Elizabeth kissed her sister. ‘I most fervently hope so, my sweet Jane. And now you must think of yourself and not of me, for I am such a selfish creature!’

‘You are the bravest creature I have ever known,’ cried Jane, ‘for there are few who could bear such a gathering as we have here at Pemberley.’

‘Without mention of Master Thomas Roper!’ said Elizabeth, and both sisters laughed heartily.

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