Chapter 35: Country Life 29: Leaving without Saying Goodbye

Two weeks before Christmas, the Gardners visited as promised.

The Gardners usually stayed at Longbourn on Christmas Day almost every year, but this year was a rare exception. The Napoleonic Wars had entered a critical period, and the supply of goods was blocked, which had greatly affected Mr. Gardner's trading business.

In previous years, Mr. Gardner would turn down all social engagements and business deals to make time for family gatherings. But this year, in order to meet his annual revenue target, he had to take on a big deal: preparing special wine for a client's banquet during Christmas week.

This matter had been decided about six months ago, and the Bennetts had been informed in advance by letter. The Gardiners decided to come to Longbourn two weeks in advance, and visit some distant relatives of the Gardiners in Meryton. They planned to stay here for a week and return to London during Christmas week, just in time to bring Heather back with them.

The Gardners' visit was warmly welcomed. All their nieces liked their uncle and aunt very much, and the Gardners were also very kind to them.

"Oh, my dear Heather." Mrs. Gardner gave Heather a big hug. "These past few months have been so long, and Lily has been thinking about you every day. If this journey wasn't really inappropriate for children, she would have definitely come along to see you in advance."

Heather also kissed Mrs. Gardner's cheek passionately: "I have already packed my luggage in advance. I will definitely go back to give little Lily a big kiss at Christmas."

After the greetings, Mrs. Gardner was immediately pulled over by Mrs. Bennett to talk. She had a lot to say to her sister-in-law.

Mrs. Bennet complained for a few minutes about Elizabeth's reluctance to marry Mr. Collins, which had led to the transfer of wealth to outsiders, but she soon got to the point. She described Mr. Bingley of Netherfield in vivid detail, describing how he was an excellent son-in-law, and what made her even more happy was that this excellent son-in-law was about to become her own son-in-law!

"You haven't met Mr. Bingley. Everyone at Longbourn who has seen him raves about him. And yet this wealthy young man, so well-off, fell in love with our Jane at first sight! He visits our house almost every day, and every time he comes, his eyes are glued to Jane. Because you're Jane's aunt, I'm telling you in advance that Mr. Bingley is expected to propose to Jane this week!"

Mrs. Gardner had long known Mr. Bingley through her correspondence with her niece, but she had not expected that the relationship had progressed to such an extent that they were engaged. She praised Jane's gentleness and beauty and expressed her curiosity about Mr. Bingley himself.

"The weather has been bad these past few days, and Mr. Bingley hasn't been here for two days. But I think he should come soon. After all, tomorrow is the day he and Jane will celebrate two months of knowing each other. Just wait and see."

Mrs. Gardner always liked her patient and meticulous niece. When her children were still young, Jane often went to town to help her and comfort her.

"Jane, I'll be waiting for your good news. I'll definitely add something nice to your dowry then."

The fire crackled in the warm fireplace, the living room was filled with laughter, and the young girl blushed in anticipation of the most important day of her life.

"But to be honest, it seems like Mr. Bingley hasn't been here for three days, no, it's been four days as of today." Mary walked upstairs carefully, holding the oil lamp.

"It's almost Christmas, so they must be busy." Heather said hesitantly, a trace of worry flashing through her mind.

However, until three days later, Mrs. Gardner still did not see the legendary Mr. Bingley as she wished.

She and her husband had been traveling frequently between Longbourn and Meryton these days, eating almost every meal at a different relative's house. At least half of the relatives asked her about Miss Bennet's close relationship with a wealthy gentleman. Out of caution, she could only budge the subject vaguely.

On Thursday, Mrs. Bennet finally couldn't bear it anymore. She sent Lucy and the maid, Mrs. Helen, to Netherfield to deliver a Longbourn Christmas dessert to the Bingley family to try, and by the way, to find out what Mr. Bingley was doing.

By noon, Lucy came back, but she was alone.

"Where's Mrs. Helen? Why are you back alone?"

Lucy was breathing heavily, and her hair was wet with sweat in such a cold winter.

"Oh no, ma'am. When I got there, they were moving things out at the door of Netherfield. Miss Bingley called me in and told me that Mr. Bingley had gone back to London, and that the rest of them were moving out today too."

Everyone in the room stared in disbelief. Back in London? The man who'd promised to propose this week had simply left without saying goodbye? The Bentleys had been getting along so well with the Bennetts for the past month, and after staying here for so long, they were leaving without anyone even saying goodbye? What a joke!

Mrs. Bennett's voice was split with shock. "What nonsense are you talking about? Moved away, how is that possible? No, why is this? Jane, is there something wrong between you and Mr. Bingley?"

Jane's face turned pale after being asked by her, and she couldn't say a word.

Elizabeth held her hand distressedly: "That's enough, mother. Jane doesn't know anything. Don't embarrass her anymore. She is already sad enough."

Mrs. Bennet said, "Yes, Jane is the most gentle and sensible child. She would never cause Mr. Bingley any displeasure. It must be Mr. Bingley's sisters who said something. No, I must ask them myself!"

Her loud noise frightened the children, so they didn't dare to approach her and talk to her. It was Mrs. Gardner who reached out and pulled her back.

Mr. Gardner also said, "Well, sister, if you go now, you will only make the neighbors hide at home and laugh at you. Mr. Bingley has never had any confirmed relationship with Jane. Who can you use to go to his sister's house and question her?"

Jane was about to marry a good man, which was Mrs. Bennet's greatest spiritual support recently. But this support was shaking, and her whole nerves and reason began to collapse.

At this time, Heather stood up and said, "I will go to Netherfield now. Miss Bingley and I are friends. It is normal for me to go and see her when I heard that she is leaving."

Her brothers, sisters-in-law, and nieces all agreed, and at least Heather seemed much more stable.

Mrs. Bennet walked over quickly and grabbed Heather's hand, as if it were a lifeline. "My dearest sister, please go and ask for me. The whole of Longbourn knows about the relationship between your niece and Mr. Bingley. Isn't he bullying me?"

Heather couldn't help but glared at her. "If it weren't for you, sister, always gossiping, Jane wouldn't be in this embarrassing situation now. If someone comes to gossip, you must stand in front of them no matter what."

Mrs. Bennet quickly agreed. She looked really pitiful at the moment. Heather didn't say anything more and set off immediately.

When she arrived at Netherfield, there were no servants at the door moving the luggage. There were only a few empty carriages parked at the door. Miss Bingley stood alone beside the convoy ready to depart, gazing quietly into the distance.

"I knew you would come." She forced a smile at Hazel.

Heather walked over to her and reached out to pull at her cloak, which was about to be blown away by the wind. "You knew what was going on, but you didn't tell me in advance. Why did you just run away without caring about anything?"

Heather knew that this was definitely not the plot in the original book where Darcy and Miss Bingley did not agree with the marriage and therefore left Bingley in London. There must be other hidden reasons behind this.

Miss Bentley was silent for a long time until she heard a knock on the car window next to her. It was her sister urging her to leave quickly, and she finally spoke.

"Something seems to have happened in our family. I'm not sure about the details, but I know it's a business matter."

She couldn't help coughing before continuing, "Actually, my brother knew the news several days ago. At first, he didn't believe it, but then one of his confidants who was in charge of financial affairs came over, and my brother was convinced that our family's financial situation was truly in crisis."

"Financial situation?"

"Well, a few days ago I saw my brother anxiously pacing around his study, sending and receiving countless letters every day. I only figured out something the day before yesterday: he must have been defrauded when he bought that thousand acres of land. Now that land may no longer belong to our family, and it may even bring us disaster."

Heather had never expected this kind of question. She did remember that the original book mentioned that the Bentley family was a new rich family who had earned a large fortune by running businesses, but they lacked land, so they had always wanted to buy a manor.

So when she invested in the canal, she did not expect that Mr. Bentley also had a thousand acres of land. This was not a small amount, and many hereditary landowners might not have this amount.

When Mrs. Bennet asked Mr. Bingley at the dinner table, she received a positive answer. Heather thought she had remembered it wrong or the setting did not mention it.

Now that I think about it, it's possible that Mr. Bentley had indeed purchased the land himself with his many years of income, but for some reason, everything suddenly went wrong. This wrong turn may not have happened at all, or it may be something that will happen in the unfinished story after the original novel ends.

In short, everything changed.

The procedures and issues related to land must be very complicated, but it is impossible to grasp the key to the problem by blindly guessing on your own. Now perhaps only Mr. Bentley himself understands the ins and outs of the matter best.

Heather held Miss Bingley's hand and looked at her seriously. "Caroline, you have to cheer up. This may just be a temporary crisis. When you get to London, you must find a chance to find out what happened and then write to me. I've said before that you saved me. If you need me, I will definitely not stand idly by."

Caroline pursed her lips, tried hard to blink back her tears, nodded, turned around and got into the car.

Two months ago, the carriages carrying the rich young men and beautiful ladies from the north of England came in with great fanfare, causing a huge splash throughout Longbourn; two months later, they left hastily and quietly, leaving rumors to spread in the small village.