by Kay Bea
Anne smiled her approval. “Excellent! What will you do when you arrive?”
“Give her my mother’s ring and pray she accepts me.” Darcy reached into his pocket and retrieved the ring he had carried with him for so long.
Anne made all the appropriate noises over its beauty then reassured her obviously nervous cousin. “She will, Darcy. She will. Go. See to your arrangements and do not fail to write and inform me of your progress.”
Darcy and Georgiana left London two days later. When they arrived at Netherfield in the afternoon, they were disappointed to learn Elizabeth was out walking. As they could not see Elizabeth, Darcy decided they would call at Longbourn. Georgiana went immediately to Miss Mary and Miss Catherine, and the girls were soon speaking quietly together. Darcy greeted Mrs Bennet with civility but was relieved when Mr Bennet did not wait long before inviting him to the book room.
Once they were inside, Mr Bennet said, “I dare say, upon receiving your letter, I was not inclined to grant absolution, Darcy, no matter that I am in your debt.”
“You are nothing of the sort, I assure you.”
“Nonetheless, you made many wonderful promises, but then you vanished, leaving a broken-hearted Elizabeth in your wake. I see now that your intentions, though certainly misguided, were good, and there is nothing that cannot be forgiven with time,” said Mr Bennet.
“I hope your daughter shares your sentiments, sir. I had planned to speak with her when I arrived at Netherfield this morning but was told she was out walking.”
The older man soon asked for details regarding the hunt for the Wickhams, and Darcy’s story was met with all appropriate concern. In turn, Darcy learned what happened in Hertfordshire while he was away. He was appalled by the reports of Mrs Bennet’s behaviour even as he was comforted by repeated assurances of Elizabeth’s relative health. He returned to Netherfield with more hope than he possessed on starting the day.
The Darcys did not see Elizabeth until the family gathered for dinner. Darcy thought Elizabeth looked pleasantly surprised when she saw Georgiana enter the parlour with him. Georgiana went directly to Elizabeth, wrapped her in a fierce embrace, and whispered something he could not hear. Elizabeth whispered something in return then greeted him, if not warmly, then at least with a good deal of politeness. Dinner was announced and Darcy was pleased to find himself seated near Elizabeth. However, their first encounter did not bear out Darcy’s hopes. Though he had not thought there would be declarations of love over the roast beef, he had hoped for at least passable conversation. It was not to be. Darcy was too overwhelmed at seeing her to think of anything sensible to say. His heart stuttered, and he wondered how she could be even more beautiful than he remembered.
“I hope you are well, Miss Bennet,” Darcy said as they were seated.
“I am, Mr Darcy. I thank you for your concern.” Darcy wanted to say he would always be concerned for her, but the table hardly seemed an appropriate place to begin such a conversation, and he settled for a nod of acknowledgment and another sip of wine.
“I am given to understand you and Miss Darcy visited Longbourn today.”
“We did.”
“And how was your journey from London?”
“The roads were unremarkable, and we made it in good time.”
Their conversation, or lack thereof, continued in this manner until Elizabeth seemed to surrender and devoted herself to conversation with Georgiana. Darcy felt increasingly foolish with each passing moment. His head was too filled with apology to speak of travel and visiting, but he was not insensible to Elizabeth’s building frustration. He told himself he would make amends for his foolishness as soon as the opportunity was presented.
His chance would not come that night. When the party retired to the drawing room, Elizabeth engaged herself with Georgiana until Jane called upon her to perform. Elizabeth persuaded Georgiana to join her at the instrument, and she sang as Georgiana played. His assistance was not needed. It seemed she was determined she would behave as she always had, except she would not even attempt to draw Darcy into conversation.
The following day while Georgiana was resting, Darcy found Elizabeth sitting in the library. “I beg your pardon, Miss Bennet, I did not mean to intrude on your privacy.”
“It is a large enough room, Mr Darcy. I dare say it can accommodate us both.”
“I believe we met here once before, Miss Bennet.”
“Only now I need not worry over beginning a book I have no time to finish.”
“Ah, of course. Now you may read at your leisure.”
She gave a small smile at the reminder, and he considered he was scarcely less apprehensive in her presence now than he had been before, if for very different reasons. Silence reigned for several minutes before Darcy said, “Shall we speak only of books, Miss Bennet?”
“We are in a library, sir. It seems fitting.”
He could not determine if she was again teasing or not and made no reply. When the silence became awkward, he selected a book of his own and pretended to read.
Their conversation did not immediately improve although he saw that Elizabeth was happy enough to engage with Georgiana whenever the two were together. He was observing them from his place in the drawing room when Jane sat in the chair nearest him. “I cannot imagine any two people with so much to say to one another being as resolutely silent as you and my sister.”
“Perhaps I could speak more if I felt less.”
Jane decided to intervene on Darcy’s behalf. She scratched lightly at her sister’s door after the rest of the household had retired.
“Lizzy, I wish to speak to you about Darcy.”
“I wish you would not. ’Tis not a subject I find in the least enjoyable,” Elizabeth answered plainly.
“Please, hear what I have to say. When I am finished, perhaps we will be able to make sense of things.”
“What is there to make sense of, Jane? He knows of the events in Brighton and his continued silence on the matter has made clear he does not wish to renew our connexion. It is all very simple,” Elizabeth stated with a good deal of agitation.
“Yet, he is here,” Jane replied.
“Because he is a friend to Bingley, that is all.”
“He did not bring his sister along for the sake of my husband’s friendship.”
“Who can understand the whims of another?”
Jane tried a different approach. “We have never spoken of what happened here when we all learned of Brighton.”
“I have never asked. Once I returned, it did not seem relevant.”
“You know, of course, that Darcy was with my father when the news was delivered,” Jane began. “What you were never told was that when he left Longbourn, it was to purchase a licence. He said he would return and ask you to marry him, and that if you did not wish to marry, he would still find a way to protect you.”
Elizabeth seemed startled by Jane’s intelligence. “Why did no one tell me?”
“At first we were too engaged with Lydia’s situation. Then, as time passed and we did not have news from that quarter, we did not wish to excite your hopes.”
“Perhaps events have altered his desires, and I do not blame him. He cannot want to be so closely related to Wickham.”
“We do not believe so. It was Darcy, you know, who found them, saw them married, and arranged for their employment.”
Elizabeth could not contain her shock. “I did not know.” She could not find the words to say more.
Jane continued. “Why would he do that, if not for you?”
“His reasons are his own. He has a long history of righting Wickham’s wrongs.” Even as she spoke the words, Elizabeth’s own heart revolted against them. He had not communicated with anyone in those weeks. Still, once he returned, why had he not acknowledged their kiss, and why could he not speak to her now they were in the same house? “He is here now. Why have you not asked him the reason for his long silence?” Jane asked.
Elizabeth took a
shaky breath and sat on the edge of her bed. “Because his answers are the only thing I fear. I saw him in Brighton. Did you know?” Elizabeth related all she had heard and seen the night Darcy spoke with Colonel Forster. When she reached the end, Elizabeth was struggling against the tears that threatened to rain from her eyes.
“He kissed you! Then he must love you, and surely, he was speaking of Lydia. You must know that by now. Why have you not given him the chance to explain?”
“You witnessed my attempts to talk to him over dinner, and even today I tried to tease him into conversation but still he would not speak. It is as if we are strangers. But even before he came here, I begged him to give me some explanation.” At Jane’s confused look Elizabeth continued, “I wrote to him. The night I saw him, I wrote and enclosed it in a letter to Georgiana. But it no longer signifies. His continued silence on the subject confirms what I have long feared. His kiss was one of regret and farewell. Our love was too new, too recent to withstand such scandal. I do not bear him any ill will.”
“Lizzy, you cannot believe that.” Jane clutched her sister’s hand as she spoke.
“I can and I do. The tragedy of it is that I love him still. Every time he enters a room, I feel as though I might die from wanting to be with him. I cannot bear to know that I have lost him.”
Jane resolved she would speak to her husband the next day and together they would find a way to unite her sister and Mr Darcy.
Caroline Bingley had grown decidedly tired of her aunt’s company and, after a brief but informative visit to her friend Lady Winslow, took advantage of what she knew to be her brother’s good nature and arrived unannounced and uninvited to Netherfield Park. “Charles, I could not spend one more moment my aunt! I could not! I know we have not been the best of friends recently, but surely you can forgive me? After all, you are married, and everything has worked out for the best,” she cried when confronted by her incensed brother.
“Caroline, you may stay only because I have already received a letter from my aunt entreating me to allow you for a time. It seems you have nearly worn out your welcome there. But let me caution you, Caroline. Jane is my wife and the mistress of this estate. I will tolerate no disrespect from you towards her or any of her family. Do you understand?”
Caroline affected an air of contrition. “Of course, I shall be a model of decorum.”
Bingley gave her a glance but only said, “See that you are, Caroline. If you cannot be gracious, at least be silent. You shall not be given another chance. If you cause any trouble this time, I will have no choice but to release your dowry and you will obtain an establishment of your own.”
“Do not be ridiculous, Charles. How shall I ever marry if I am forced from your protection?”
“That is not my concern. If it is not the future you desire, I suggest you behave.”
His unyielding tone came as a surprise to Caroline, and she waited until her brother left the room before allowing her doubt to show on her face. She did not believe her brother would truly cast her off. She would not admit, even to herself, that she might no longer be able to manipulate him. She was not long alone before Jane joined her.
Her hostess did not bother with formalities. “I have had your belongings removed to the yellow room. You must wish to refresh yourself after such a long journey.”
Affronted and having already forgotten her promises to her brother, Caroline let loose all her feelings. “Is this all the welcome I am to expect? You have sent my things to the wrong room. I will see to it myself. Why, you have not even offered tea. Or perhaps you do not realise it is the accepted social practice to offer sustenance to one’s guests!”
“It would seem, Miss Bingley, there are many social forms with which I am unaccustomed. For example, I did not know it was the practice of accomplished ladies to arrive uninvited with all their worldly possessions.”
Caroline sniffed and tried again. “Jane, dear, we are sisters now, are we not? I know I should not have come unannounced. But we can get past this. I can help you learn to run a house of this size.”
“I am Mrs Bingley to you, and I am the mistress of this estate,” Jane said firmly.
“I did not mean—”
Jane continued as if she did not hear. “It is my understanding that your education included decorum, languages, music, and art. Is that correct?”
Caroline was not certain Jane truly wished for an answer but gave hers with the air of one bestowing arcane knowledge on an initiate. “Why yes. As you no doubt remember from my past performances, I am very accomplished in all the arts deemed necessary for a gently born lady.”
“Tell me, Miss Bingley, who are your people? In all your learning, were you taught anything of visiting tenants, maintaining a household budget, or managing servants?”
Caroline flushed and started, “Why, I—”
Jane silenced her with a raised palm. “These are the skills with which I was raised as the daughter of a gentleman, Miss Bingley. If I require someone to perform after dinner, I will call on you. In other matters, your assistance is unnecessary.”
Again Caroline attempted to speak over her sister-in-law and again she was silenced.
“Let me be clear. We are not friends. You are my husband’s sister, and as such I will treat you with civility, but that is far more than your due. Do not think me unaware of your role in our unhappiness of last winter, nor of your displeasure in your brother’s choice of a wife. You have arrived at this house without invitation, and your presence is not wanted. How long it will be tolerated is entirely in your hands. Mrs Nicholls will show you to your rooms.”
“Yes, about my rooms”—Caroline attempted to maintain a superior air—“I do not see why I may not stay in my old rooms.”
“Those rooms now belong to my sister. You will remain in the guest wing for the duration of your visit. You have missed tea, but dinner will be served at five. We keep country hours. I trust you have adequate time to prepare.” With that, Jane swept from the room, leaving her sister burning with anger.
As she prepared for dinner, Elizabeth considered remaining in her rooms rather than enduring Miss Bingley’s poisonous tongue. Then she reminded herself that this was her home and while Miss Bingley might be a blight on polite society, she was Bingley’s sister as well as a guest in her sister’s house.
Elizabeth entered the drawing room to find only Miss Bingley within. Years of good breeding triumphed over her reservations, and she greeted the other woman cordially, “Good evening, Miss Bingley. Are you refreshed from your journey?”
“Why Miss Eliza! How surprised I am to see you here.”
“I am Miss Bennet now, Miss Bingley, as my sister has married.” Elizabeth tried not to enjoy the chagrin in Caroline’s eyes.
“Of course, Miss Eliza, but I had thought there were hopes for you in marriage as well.”
Elizabeth found that despite the pain of being reminded of Darcy, she could only laugh. She smiled and said, “As you see, Miss Bingley, such reports were highly inaccurate. I am content to remain as I am.”
“You know, he never would have offered for you. You are too far beneath him.”
“In that, Miss Bingley, I believe we are equals.” Elizabeth smiled.
The woman stood with her mouth agape. “Pardon me? You and I are not equals!”
Elizabeth laughed. “No, we are not. I am a gentleman’s daughter. If you think he would not marry the daughter of a country gentleman, how do you suppose he would offer for the daughter of a tradesman?”
The rest of the party entered then, and dinner was announced only a few moments later. Elizabeth noted that Miss Bingley restrained herself in the presence of her brother and his wife. She attempted to draw both Darcys into conversation but was finally forced to limit her remarks to her stay in Scarborough, the few entertainments to be had in that country, and the lack of fashionable companionship.
As Miss Bingley finished a lengthy soliloquy on the final subject, Elizabeth spoke. “If it was
fashionable companionship you desired, I wonder why you did not visit the Hursts in London. I do not recall Hertfordshire being to your liking.”
Darcy looked quickly away, and Jane choked a little on her wine as she suppressed a laugh. Caroline replied, “They are away from home. Visiting Hurst’s family.”
Elizabeth murmured in agreement though she knew this to be untrue. Mr and Mrs Hurst had visited earlier in the month and made plain they would not be leaving the city again for some time. After Bingley had informed Hurst he would have to find his own London home the previous spring, Hurst had roundly chastised his wife for her part in the deception and its potential social consequences. Louisa had quickly determined her husband had far more to offer than her sister and placed her loyalty accordingly.
“When they are returned to town, I will go to them as soon as may be.”
Bingley spoke then. “Do not depend upon your welcome there, Caroline.”
“You are everything that is considerate, Brother. But allow me the knowledge of my sister’s heart in this.”
Jane changed the subject to Caroline’s travels. The remainder of the meal passed without incident and they moved to the drawing room after dinner. Jane asked then if anyone would like to play. Miss Bingley, who always seemed eager to display her talents, moved quickly to the instrument and began playing a lively tune. Elizabeth could not help but reflect on the last time they were all at Netherfield together.
Miss Darcy took the seat next to her and said, “What amuses you, Miss Bennet?”
“I feel as though I have witnessed this scene once before, only then we were joined by the Hursts. I suppose I am waiting to hear Mr Hurst ask if we are to play cards or not.”
Before Miss Darcy could reply, Mr Darcy stood before them. “Would you do me the honour, Miss Bennet, of dancing a reel with me?”
Elizabeth blinked back her surprise, smiled, and took his hand. Perhaps, she thought, we might still be friends.