Netherfield Park Revisited (4 page)

When the families gathered for Her Ladyship's funeral, it fell to Jonathan as her manager to make the necessary arrangements and ensure that all the appropriate formalities were carried out.

He was kept so busy by his various solemn duties, which he took very seriously indeed, that he did not at first realise that Amelia-Jane had arranged to stay not at the Camden apartments with the rest of the family, but with the Bingley sisters.

They had a very fine house in Barton Place, not as close to the Royal Crescent as they would have liked, but close enough to Lady Catherine's prestigious neighbourhood to suffice. On their invitation, Amelia-Jane and her daughter Cathy had joined them, together with a Mrs Arabella Watkins, a widow recently arrived in Bath, who seemed to have become, very quickly, a particular friend of Miss Caroline Bingley.

Later, when Jonathan went to call on his aunts in order to accompany his wife and daughter to church, he was introduced to Mrs Watkins, but being preoccupied with other more sober matters, he had not noticed her with any particularity. So, when Amelia-Jane spoke enthusiastically of her new acquaintance, he was unable to proffer an opinion, one way or another.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Jane had settled in at the very comfortable apartments they had taken at Camden Place and were preparing to dress for the funeral, while their husbands had gone to call on Miss de Bourgh, who was, sadly, too unwell to attend the funeral service at the church.

Jane was trying on a shawl she had purchased that morning in Milsom Street, hoping to add a further degree of sobriety to her gown, which unlike her sister's was not wholly black, but had a design of embossed roses on the skirt.

Jane was not entirely happy with her appearance. “Lizzie, do you suppose the family will forgive me if I do not look totally bereft, not donning the deepest mourning? I am sure the other Bingley women will make up for it,” she said anxiously.

Elizabeth, despite the solemnity of the occasion, had to smile at her sister. “Dear Jane, with your sweet, serious face, complete with black bonnet and veil, no one will notice that your gown has not also gone into deep mourning,” she said, adding, “I had to, for Darcy's sake—he was her favourite nephew and still carries the main responsibility for her family Trust. I daresay I would otherwise have felt quite comfortable in semi-mourning.”

Jane shook her head. “No doubt Miss Bingley would have persuaded Amelia-Jane to don a black bonnet and veil too,” she said, adding with a little grimace, “Oh, Lizzie, I have to confess I am very uneasy about the friendship between those two. Caroline is too old and sophisticated to be a suitable friend to Amelia-Jane. I wish I knew what Jonathan thinks of it, but he is so loyal, he will say nothing that may reflect badly upon his wife, even if only by reference to her friends.”

The sudden return of the gentlemen caused them to suspend their discussion, but Elizabeth understood her sister's qualms. There was little love lost, even after all these years, between herself and Caroline Bingley, whose supercilious, sneering remarks had caused her so much aggravation at the very beginning of their acquaintance. Now she was Jonathan's aunt, and Elizabeth had no doubt that the aunt's influence upon her nephew's wife would not be beneficial.

She had her own concerns, too.

However, it was time to put aside these thoughts, don their black bonnets and veils, and go forth to the church and pay their respects to the redoubtable Lady Catherine for the last time.

After the formalities were over, however, Elizabeth did get her nephew Jonathan alone, as the mourners milled around the tables laden with food, and on asking him how he was, she received such a look of resignation and sadness that she was convinced something was very wrong indeed.

Despite her awareness of the occasion, she felt compelled to inquire, “Jonathan, what is it? I can see you are not happy and I cannot believe it is all on account of Her Ladyship,” she said, softly, but he only looked askance and hurried away to attend to some aged lady who needed a drink.

Elizabeth was most unhappy. She had hoped to get more from Jonathan than an uncharacteristic shrug and a crooked smile. She determined to speak to Darcy on the earliest possible opportunity.

Mr Darcy and Jonathan remained in Bath for a few days, to support Miss de Bourgh and attend the reading of the will, but the rest of their party left the city on the day after the funeral.

Travelling as expeditiously as possible, they arrived at Ashford Park, where Elizabeth proposed to stay until her husband returned.

Inevitably, the subject of Jonathan's marriage—never far from their thoughts these days—came up again, as Jane recalled observing the couple at the funeral.

“Was there not a terrible coldness between them, Lizzie?” she asked sadly. “I am very anxious for them. Poor Jonathan looks so unhappy and I do believe Caroline Bingley's influence upon Amelia-Jane is doing no good.”

Elizabeth, trying not to add to her sister's distress, suggested it might be only a temporary problem in their marriage, some misunderstanding which might well work itself out, but Jane would not be comforted.

Exacerbating her unhappiness, the returning Mr Darcy brought the news that Amelia-Jane had remained in Bath with Caroline Bingley and her sister Louisa, while Jonathan had travelled with Mr Darcy and the Grantleys as far as Oxford, where they spent the night before Jonathan had continued his journey to London, alone.

“He was clearly upset that his wife was not returning with him, I had no doubt of that. I gathered he had an important appointment on the Monday with James Wilson at Westminster and could not stay on in Bath, as she had asked,” said Darcy, who confessed to Elizabeth, when they were alone, that he was concerned that Amelia-Jane seemed determined to thwart her husband's desire to return to Westminster.

“Do you believe he means to return to the Commons?” Elizabeth asked apprehensively, knowing already that Amelia-Jane abhorred the very idea.

“No, not to the Commons—there's no opportunity there, now the elections are over, but I gather he has been offered a chance to work for James Wilson, who is keen to get the Reform agenda running in the new Parliament. He hopes Lord Russell will soon be back in government. Indeed, Jonathan believes that a united opposition will succeed in defeating Derby and get Palmerston and Russell back on the treasury benches.”

“And would you consider that to be a sound development?” asked Elizabeth, who, being rather disinterested in matters political, was usually content to be guided by her husband's opinions on this subject.

Darcy had no doubts at all. “Anyone would be an improvement on Derby,” he replied, adding almost as an afterthought, “I have little time for Palmerston—the man is more interested in foreign adventures than Parliamentary Reform—but I agree with James Wilson that Russell is a genuine Reformist. Jonathan believes that given the opportunity, Russell would work with men like Gladstone to liberalise the electoral laws and extend the franchise.”

“And is that what James wants Jonathan to work on?” his wife inquired.

“Ultimately, yes,” he said, and explained, “But before they can achieve any of that, they need to negotiate an agreement with the Liberals, to help them defeat Derby in the Commons. Jonathan believes it can be achieved, and I know he would give anything to be involved.”

Darcy spoke with the certainty of someone who had discussed the matter thoroughly, which he had, with Jonathan on the journey from Bath to Oxford.

“And how does Jonathan propose to pursue this goal at Westminster, while continuing to manage Rosings?” asked Elizabeth.

Darcy knew his wife would always ask the pertinent questions.

“Ah, yes. Well, as a matter of fact, he does not. He has spoken to me of this already and will write to the Trust, after all the legal formalities following upon my aunt's death are completed, requesting that he be released from his duties as her manager in the Autumn. Jonathan feels, quite correctly, that he cannot responsibly undertake the duties of both positions and seems to have decided that his political work must take precedence.”

Elizabeth was very surprised to hear this account of her nephew's intentions, so clearly proclaimed.

“And has he told Amelia-Jane of this decision?” she inquired.

“I do not believe he has had the opportunity yet,” Darcy replied. “I gather he intended to tell her as soon as the funeral was over, but her decision to stay on in Bath has rather ruined his plans. I don't suppose she will welcome the news; he intends that they should move to Grosvenor Street, temporarily, while he looks to take a place in the country.”

Suddenly, Elizabeth felt cold and reached for her shawl.

She knew, from everything Jane had said that Jonathan's wife would oppose the entire plan. She had become far too comfortable with her style of life at Rosings to agree to a change.

“Poor Jonathan,” she said, as Darcy helped her with her shawl. “No wonder he looked so sad. I certainly do not envy him.”

Understanding her melancholy mood, Darcy took her hand in his and held it. They loved their nephew dearly and were most unhappy that his seemingly contented life appeared to be going badly awry, with circumstances tumbling out of his control.

They were almost home; as the carriage negotiated a deep bend in the road and the lights of Pemberley came into view, Elizabeth sighed with relief. It had been a long and difficult week.

***

Not many days after their return, Elizabeth received an unexpected visit from Jane, who came alone and brought with her a letter from Jonathan, recently written from London, the contents of which had obviously caused her much grief. She was plainly distressed and would take neither tea nor any other refreshment until both Elizabeth and Darcy had read the letter.

When Elizabeth first began to read, she could not quite understand the reason for her sister's anguish, but as she continued reading to the final page, she could better appreciate her feelings.

Jonathan had honestly and unambiguously informed his parents of his decision to return to public life and placed before them his reasons for doing so. He wrote:

Dearest Mama,

I had hoped to inform you of my decision sooner, but I had, perforce, to wait until Amelia-Jane and Cathy had returned from Bath, as I wanted to tell them first.

I intend to resign from my position at Rosings and accept the offer from Mr Wilson to work with the Reform Group in the Parliament. It is the best opportunity I have had in years to perform some significant public service.

I have long felt the need to do more than manage the private estates and business affairs of Lady Catherine de Bourgh—important though it was to Her Ladyship and her tenants, it is nothing to what this position at Westminster offers.

I do not mean in a financial sense, for the remuneration is not very much greater and there is no house, nor are there other privileges included. But it is a great opportunity to make a worthwhile contribution to my country.

Others may find satisfaction in military service or commercial enterprise, but as you know, I am not cut out to be a soldier or a successful businessman. I do believe however, and Mr Wilson believes, that I can contribute to the work of the Reform Group in Parliament, which is so vital for the future of England. It would be a great privilege to be involved, in whatever modest capacity I am asked to serve, in such an historic enterprise.

I might add that my dear sister Emma is wholly in agreement with me on this matter. I hope you will understand, dearest Mama, why I have decided to accept Mr Wilson's proposition. Indeed, he has even offered us the use of his town house in Grosvenor Street, until we find a suitable residence, which is extraordinarily generous of him, do you not agree?

None of this could explain his mother's anxiety, until the final page was reached.

There is, however, one unhappy consequence, which I had not anticipated and which I still hope and pray may be averted.

Amelia-Jane is implacably opposed to the entire scheme and will not agree to move to London. She claims she has no liking for London society and prefers to stay on at the Dower House with Teresa and Cathy, at least until I have found a suitable country residence to which she may move.

I am exceedingly grieved and have tried very hard to persuade her, but she has made up her mind and I must respect her wishes.

She may continue at Rosings conveniently until the new manager is appointed, which will probably happen before Christmas, whereupon she and the children will have to move out of the Dower House.

Dear Mama, if you will write to Amelia-Jane, inviting us to Ashford Park at Christmas, I am sure it will help to mend things, as I do expect to find a suitable property by the New Year.

The generosity of Lady Catherine's bequest to me will make this much easier to achieve. I shall be forever grateful to Her Ladyship for her kindness.

Elizabeth, who already knew of the bequests that Georgiana Grantley's boys, Colonel Fitzwilliam's sons, and their own Julian had received, had expected that Jonathan would be similarly rewarded.

Lady Catherine's nephews had not been forgotten in her will, nor had several of the young women in the family, who had received gifts of jewellery; Amelia-Jane and all three of their daughters had been likewise favoured.

But, it appeared that Jonathan Bingley had been singled out for his loyal services and been well rewarded. Whether or not it had been Her Ladyship's intention, the considerable sum she had left him would undoubtedly help Jonathan purchase his own place in the country and pursue his career in public life, as he clearly desired.

Unfortunately, it appeared, his ambition would be achieved at the cost of alienating his wife and fracturing his family. Was Jonathan fully aware of the risk he was taking? Elizabeth wondered.

Jane clearly did not believe he was. She was distraught. “Lizzie, what is to be done? Mr Darcy, please, can you not speak to him? I cannot believe he intends to sacrifice his marriage and family in this way.”