by Kara Louise
The housekeeper announced that Miss Elizabeth had come to inquire after her sister.
Bingley promptly stood, followed by my master who seemed to struggle to his feet, and then Mr. Hurst, who rose, most reluctantly, from his plate. A small morsel dropped nearby, but at the moment I was not inclined to snatch it up.
Whereas Bingley enthusiastically welcomed Miss Elizabeth with a profuse greeting and assurances that Miss Elizabeth’s ailing sister was being well looked after, I was only able to discern a very soft, “Miss Elizabeth,” from my master in acknowledgement of her.
From the condition of her attire, I speculated that she must have walked some distance on her journey here. I know that the farther I walk, the better chance there is of my paws getting muddy. However, it appeared she cared little for the state of her appearance, but her concern was reserved exclusively for her sister. Despite her anxiety, her eyes were exceptionally bright and her countenance much more rose-coloured than the last time I saw her.
After being assured that my master’s breathing was no longer impaired in any way (he was breathing normally again), I approached Miss Elizabeth and cheerfully greeted her with my wagging tail and looked up at her with great admiration in my eyes. She looked down at me warmly and with a ready smile, but was prevented from any further attention by Miss Bingley quickly approaching her.
Neither of us failed to notice the scrutinizing look Miss Bingley gave her as she came around the table, letting her eyes rest on Miss Elizabeth’s feet. “Eliza, you have not walked all the way here, have you?”
“I did. It is but three miles.”
Louisa then exclaimed, “Three miles in such dirty weather!” Her shocked outburst was then quickly tempered with a mild, “Such devotion you show to your sister, Miss Bennet.”
Miss Bingley walked up to her and took her arm. “Certainly you did not make the trip alone?” Whilst her words were showered with concern, her tone of voice dripped with accusation.
“My two younger sisters accompanied me part of the way.”
Miss Bingley gave a fleeting glance at the others at the table, widening her eyes in implicit scorn.
This censure was missed by Bingley, who was only of a humour to receive her and openly admire the affection she held for her sister. “I am quite certain, Miss Elizabeth, that your sister will greatly appreciate your coming all this way to see her. We shall do everything we can to accommodate the two of you.”
“I thank you, Mr. Bingley. May I inquire how she is faring this morning?”
Miss Bingley was the one who answered. “Unfortunately, I believe dear Jane slept quite ill. Louisa and I took turns seeing to her. She awoke this morning with a fever and we have sent a dispatch for Mr. Jones.”
“My family is deeply grateful for all you have done. May I go to her?”
“Certainly, Miss Eliza. Please allow me to show you to her room. I hope you will be most reassured that we are doing all we can to ensure her comfort.” She eyed my master and I could see she was hoping he would notice her gracious hospitality rather than this country nobody’s fine eyes.
As the two ladies departed the room, Bingley seemed gratified that Miss Elizabeth had come. “I cannot recall ever meeting two sisters who are more agreeable and close as the two eldest Bennet sisters! To think that Miss Elizabeth walked all this way for her!”
“Perhaps,” my master began. “However, a simple cold does not justify coming so far… alone.”
“But that only serves to show how great the devotion is!”
My master said no more and they continued to eat in silence until Miss Bingley returned. “Miss Eliza appears most pleased with our ministrations to Miss Bennet.” She turned toward my master with a smile and I could see that she was gratified that he was attending to her conversation. But the smile quickly turned to an expression of hauteur as she continued, “But can you believe that she walked all of three miles in such conditions and without a proper companion? Only because her sister has caught a chill! Did she not consider that her sister would be in our good care?”
Bingley stood up and walked over to the window. “I am quite certain, Caroline, that she harboured no doubts about the care and concern we are showing her.” Gazing out of the window, he surveyed the grounds. “Do you suppose it is too muddy for some hunting this morning?”
“Mmm,” grunted Hurst between swallows of food. “I would be quite willing to entertain some sport today. I have had quite enough talk of ailing ladies and their requisite care.”
“Darcy?”
I noticed him look toward the door through which Miss Elizabeth had just departed. “Yes, perhaps today would be a good day for sport.”
The men decided to meet back in an hour and I followed my master upstairs, happy for this opportunity to be with Sadie again. As we passed Miss Bennet’s room, although the door was closed, I noticed an almost imperceptible slowing down of his stride as we walked past and he cast a furtive glance at the door. After passing it, he quickened his steps and once in his chambers, set out to ready himself for a day of sport without delay.
I was not sure as to the wisdom of going out on the day after a rainstorm. In my younger days, scrambling in less than fine conditions would not have given me a moment’s pause. But I have found that my tolerance for such activities has ebbed as my age advances. As I feared, Sadie and I ended up being quite covered in mud. The men also found themselves often trudging in the mud and on occasion, would find one or both feet well entrenched, a situation that would elicit curses from the victim and good-natured ribbing from his companions. Whether it was the precarious condition of the terrain, I could not say, but Mr. Hurst was the only one who seemed able to down anything. He returned later that morning with two, whilst my master and Bingley brought down not a one. I was of the opinion that both men had something on their mind and it was not the ducks and geese that were flying about the grounds.
When we returned back to the house, we all went our separate ways to get cleaned up. Bingley led both Sadie and I to the stables for our baths. I confess that I do wish the stablehand given the office to bathe me was a bit more gentle in his endeavour. Afterwards, I was given leave to return to the house and I immediately went to my master’s chambers, where he was in the process of dressing after his own bath. My master and I were the first to return downstairs and we found it pleasantly quiet.
We were informed that Bingley’s sisters were both visiting with Miss Bennet and her sister. My master settled in a chair in the sitting room with a book and I settled at his feet, anticipating another opportunity to see Miss Elizabeth again.
I wondered if those were my master’s thoughts, as well. Every time the sound of approaching footsteps could be heard, he would anxiously look up and then upon seeing who it was, would turn his attention back to his book with uncommon concentration. For as tightly as his hands gripped the binding, one might assume that my master was reading a gripping account of some heroic battle, but I noticed once more that he was turning the pages quite infrequently, which gave me rise to think he was not as fully engaged in his book as he appeared to be.
Miss Bingley came downstairs next. Whilst I assumed that she had been attending to the Misses Bennet, I quickly readjusted my opinion as the scent she was wearing was overpowering and dizzying and the dress she wore I deemed to be one of her finest, which I found quite odd for an evening spent at home. Upon seeing my master, she came into the sitting room to join us. She informed us that the apothecary had come, declaring Miss Bennet’s cold to be particularly violent and that he advised her to remain in bed and promised her some draughts. She told my master how she and Louisa had been most concerned for Miss Bennet and they were faithfully following the apothecary’s advice, for the feverish symptoms had increased and her head ached acutely. Her words expressed care and concern, however her countenance did not.
More footsteps were heard and we both looked up to see Miss Elizabeth at the door. Her face was drawn and her hair somewhat dishevelled
. Despite her appearance, however, one could not miss the compassion she felt for her sister.
“Pray excuse me. I must thank you for your hospitality, but it is almost three o’clock and as much as I regret having to leave my sister, I feel that I must go.”
“I understand perfectly, my dear Miss Eliza. You must return home to assure your family of Jane’s condition. Let me call for our carriage to return you to Longbourn. Nay, I will not allow you to refuse.”
Mr. Bingley came in at that moment and agreed with his sister that Miss Elizabeth must make use of their carriage.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “That is most kind of you. I believe I shall.”
As Miss Elizabeth was preparing to leave, Mrs. Hurst came down. “I fear Miss Bennet is greatly concerned about your quitting Netherfield, Miss Elizabeth. I believe she does not wish for you to leave.”
Concern and uncertainty became etched across Elizabeth’s face whilst Miss Bingley’s took on an even more agitated deportment.
Bingley looked to his sister, who was most reluctantly obliged to convert the offer of the chaise into an invitation to remain at Netherfield for the present. “Miss Elizabeth, please accept our offer to stay here with your sister, until she is well enough to return home.” A smile graced her lips but I felt it was not touching her heart.
Miss Elizabeth most thankfully consented, and a servant was dispatched to Longbourn to acquaint the family with her stay and bring back a supply of clothes.
I was greatly pleased with this news. As I had not yet been able to spend any time with this young lady, it now appeared that I would have ample opportunity to do so. Uncontrollably wagging my tail in glee, I looked to Miss Elizabeth, who bestowed a warm smile back my direction.
I then turned to my master, who had observed this whole exchange in rigid silence. As Bingley and his sisters walked with Miss Elizabeth back to join her sister, I watched as he contemplated this news. His eyes narrowed, but they remained fixed on the door through which she had just walked.
At length, the sound of my still pounding tail caught his attention. He looked down at me and shook his head. “Control yourself, Reggie. It will never happen.” He looked back toward the door and drew in a deep breath. “I cannot let it happen.”
Chapter 12
My master and I sat in the drawing room alone. I knew that he was pondering the announcement that Miss Elizabeth would spend the night at Netherfield as it was clearly reflected in his demeanour. Attempting to remain collected, his nervous mannerisms -- repeatedly tapping his fingers against the arm of his chair and his foot against the floor -- betrayed his true lack of composure to me.
I turned my attention to the rich smells from the kitchen as they grew stronger and began assiduously tempting me to wander in and beg for a sampling. I was prevented from pursuing such endeavours when Miss Bingley and her sister returned from escorting Miss Elizabeth to her room near Miss Bennet so that she might easily tend her sister during the night. Bingley entered, more distracted than I have ever seen him, and we waited impatiently for the announcement that the meal was ready to serve. Miss Bingley offered repeated assurances to her brother as to her devotion to Miss Bennet during her ailment, but they seemed to be more directed for my master’s approbation than for any selflessness on her part. At length, a servant announced the meal to us and Miss Elizabeth was summoned.
As we entered the dining room, we found Mr. Hurst already seated at his place. Miss Bingley artfully manoeuvred herself beside my master, and when Miss Elizabeth entered, she found the only remaining chair adjacent to Mr. Hurst.
Bingley seemed most concerned for Miss Bennet and inquired of Miss Elizabeth if she had at all improved.
“I fear I cannot answer favourably. She is by no means better.”
Bingley’s stricken countenance showed full force his distress. His sisters repeatedly expressed how much they were grieved, how shocking it was to have a bad cold, and how excessively they disliked being ill themselves. Though their declarations were ardent in their expression, they just as quickly ceased, with little real feeling behind their words. They then began a far more animated discussion of the latest fashions described in La Belle Assemblée. It was apparent to me -- and I am certain to Miss Elizabeth -- that they thought no more of the matter.
Whereas Miss Elizabeth appeared not to be particularly pleased with the seating arrangements, nor her dining partner, I was quite delighted. It not only allowed me to situate myself, as was my preference, in close proximity to Mr. Hurst in the hopes that I might glean some crumb dropped by him, but I was near enough to Miss Elizabeth to again become the object of her attentions. Once Mr. Hurst ascertained that she preferred a plain dish to a ragout, all conversation between them ceased. With a gentle nudging of my paw upon her shoe, she discovered me hidden under the table and I was treated to some surprisingly pleasant stroking through very clever -- and quite discreet -- manoeuvring of her foot against my head and belly.
Bingley was the only person who attempted to engage Miss Elizabeth in conversation. He was, however, often thwarted in his civility by his sister, who seemed intent to be in command of the conversation around the table. Whilst everything she said was chiefly addressed to my master, she held no little expertise in deflecting her brother’s attention away from their guest.
Consequently, as Miss Bingley held court on all manner of fashionable news, Miss Elizabeth ate her meal in bemused silence whilst her foot continued to stroke my fur and in due course, when it found a most pleasurable spot on my belly, a moan of ecstasy unwittingly escaped from the depths of me.
At the moment of my unfortunate outburst, my master had been responding as disinterestedly as politeness would allow to a question Miss Bingley had posed to him. He abruptly stopped in the middle of his sentence, and at that moment, Miss Elizabeth sharply pulled her foot away.
It was a few moments before my master was able to again attend to his conversation with Miss Bingley. Being out of his view, I can only surmise that he had heard my moan and was perplexed by it. He would often remark that he knew exactly where to scratch my belly to elicit that particular response from me. Whether or not he was aware that it was due to Miss Elizabeth’s pleasant ministrations I knew not, nor could I be sure of his reaction, but for the remainder of dinner, her foot remained sadly but firmly planted on the floor.
When dinner was completed, Miss Elizabeth excused herself to return directly to her sister and unfortunately, as soon as she had stepped out of the room, Miss Bingley began abusing her.
Her manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence; she had no conversation, no style, no taste, no beauty. Mrs. Hurst concurred, adding, “She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild.”
They continued to berate Miss Elizabeth as I wondered what it was about her that was so appalling to them. I could not understand why they disdained her for walking all that way from Longbourn to Netherfield. Walking is a wonderfully exhilarating pastime. My master and I took great pleasure in walking! And whilst she may not possess the same style and taste of Miss Bingley -- thank goodness! -- she had an unassuming and congenial air that I found most appealing.
I became increasingly unsettled at their contemptuous words accusing her of looking almost wild and her petticoat being six inches deep in mud. How I love to run free with nary a care about whether my fur is getting matted or my paws are coated in mud. Miss Bingley, so it would seem, viewed this as impertinent and unmannerly. I doubted that she knew how to take pleasure in such things. I considered it her loss, for I doubt very much that my master ever looked upon her with as much feeling in his eyes as he looked upon me during our jaunts. Or as he did upon Miss Elizabeth after hers, for that matter.
I came out from under the table and settled myself in a corner of the room, out of everyone’s way. My master shot a curious glance in my direction when he took
notice of me, eyeing me most suspiciously.
“You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure,” said Miss Bingley; “and I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition.”
He turned back to Miss Bingley. “Certainly not.” His voice quivered slightly, to which I attributed his likely contemplation of the harm that might befall Georgiana from one rakish lout if she were to encounter him whilst out on a walk unaccompanied.
“To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! What could she mean by it? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country-town indifference to decorum.”
“It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing,” said Bingley, coming to her defence, for which I was most grateful.
My head turned from one to another as she was at first criticized by Miss Bingley and then defended by her brother. I could barely conjecture what my master was contemplating through all this as he remained for the most part silent.
“I am afraid, Mr. Darcy,” observed Miss Bingley, in an eager half-whisper, “that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes.”
I waited, my heart beating expectantly, to hear what he would say.
“Not at all,” he replied. “They were brightened by the exercise.” Though his response was mild in tone, there was no mistaking the defiance flickering in his eyes to Miss Bingley’s challenge.
Hurrah! I thought to myself. We are making progress! My tail thumped in exuberance at his open and honest admiration.
Whether she actually heard and understood the significance of his words, I know not, but it did not lessen the enjoyment between the sisters of issuing more derisive remarks and for the most part, I ceased listening. I have found the workings of human relationships to be needlessly complicated. It was evident that Mr. Bingley esteemed Miss Bennet. To me, that should be the end of the matter, but his sisters were determined to dissuade his affection.