by Linda Phelps
I trusted her immediately. Finally I ventured a comment. “You were, Miss Bennet, at Rosings Park when my brother stayed with our aunt, I believe.” Both she and Brother turned crimson and refused for a moment to meet anyone’s eye. The aunt and uncle were watching them both with great interest. I had brought up some memory embarrassing to both!
“Yes,” said Miss Bennet, “I stayed with my friend who is now married to the rector of Hunsford parish.” She paused for thought. “Mr. Darcy and I met occasionally while walking on the beautiful grounds.”
“Yes,” said Brother. “That is so.” Brother speaks concisely by habit, but this was a brief remark, even for him. The topic was dropped instantly.
After a pause, Brother said to Miss Bennet, “You may remember Mr. Bingley, He comes to call here shortly,” and indeed Mr. Bingley was announced a few minutes later. He has a giftfor making friends with everyone he encounters, and I could see that the Gardiners were pleased to meet him. Then he asked about Miss Bennet’s family, and she answered that all were well. He seemed not quite satisfied with this reply, but I cannot guess why.
Brother looked at me, an eyebrow raised. “We have taken too much of your time,” said he. He nodded his head in my direction. “Oh!” said I, rising, “my brother and I pray you will honour us with your presence for dinner at Pemberly before you travel on.” Brother seconded this invitation, and then we left, Bingley almost unable to tear himself from Miss Bennet. He spoke of his desire to see her again. Are they lovers? Is his affection for her what kept him from making overtures to me as he was expected to do? If so, they will make a fine couple, but I suspect that Brother is not entirely happy with this possibility. I think he wants Miss Elizabeth for himself but is prevented by his sense of honour from approaching her. That is too bad. I would much rather have Miss Elizabeth for a sister than Miss Bingley.
“Where have you been?” Louisa asked her brother. “Do you have an acquaintance in Lambton?”
“Yes,” said Bingley, settling into a chair. “And so have you. Miss Elizabeth Bennet is staying at the inn, along with an aunt and uncle, the Gardiners, very pleasant people. When you call, you will like them.”
His remark was greeted with silence. Finally Louisa said, “Miss Elizabeth Bennet is at Lambton? Is that what you tell us?”
“Of course,” said Bingley. “I think it is a delightful coincidence to find her so near. She and I spoke of friends we knew when we stayed at Netherfield. I could not take up much of their morning on such a call, for they had made plans to walk out, but they are all three invited to dine here someday soon. We can hear the news of the Meryton folks. You will enjoy learning what they have doing since we left last November.”
Caroline found her voice. “How does this ‘coincidence’ come about? How, of all possible places, did Lizzy Bennet come to be in Derbyshire? How does she happen to be within such an easy distance of Pemberly?”
“Darcy says she has been traveling with the Gardiners, who are her aunt and uncle. They have been touring the area for some days. Mrs. Gardiner was actually born in Lambton, and she took this opportunity to reacquaint herself with old friends. As people say, it is a small world. How fortunate for us that we have been in time to greet them. Suppose we had waited a day or two to come from London. They might have been gone.”
“How fortunate indeed,” said Louisa, seeing that her sister had lapsed again into silence. “So Mr. Darcy knew Lizzy was nearby but never mentioned it. That is somewhat peculiar. And he took Georgiana to call upon them but did not invite us to come along.”
“Their lodging at the inn is not large,” said Bingley. “It is better if we do not try as a group to meet them there. But I know how these things are done. Now that we have called, they must do likewise. I think you can expect them tomorrow. You will enjoy the aunt and uncle, and as for Miss Elizabeth herself, she is always a delight.”
“Yes,” said Louisa. “We have met Mrs. Gardiner previously. We will be pleased to meet them. Now Caroline, I believe we were going to show the maid where your white muslin needs repairs. Let us go upstairs and tend to that now.”
Miss Bingley’s Journal (Pemberly)
“Keep your voice low!” says my sister. “They will hear you.”
“I don’t care if they do hear me!” say I. I am shaking with anger. “This is an outrage. I will not be treated in this fashion.” Louisa gives me a glass of wine into which she has sprinkled powder from a paper.
“You cannot believe that this ‘coincidence’ was planned by the two of them, can you?” says Louisa.
“I cannot believe Mr. Darcy would acquiesce to anything so unseemly,” say I, “but I will put nothing out of reach when it comes to Lizzy Bennet.”
“Remember,” says Louisa, “if Darcy did happen upon her, he could hardly deny the acquaintance. None of this is his fault.”
Louisa sees me into my bed and leaves. My shaking stops but I do not sleep. Lizzy Bennet! It is as if she is a hunting dog, following Darcy’s scent wherever he goes. First she ‘happens’ to be at Rosings Park when he is there, and now she ‘happens’ to be in Lambton. I am astonished she did not join her shameful sister in London and ‘happen’ to run across him several times. Has there ever been so immodest a woman? How dare she reach above her station in this fashion? One should have more pride!
I suppose the wretched Lizzy will come to Pemberly to call upon us. That is like her, coming where she is not wanted. Once she has seen this house and its lawns and forests, she will realize that she is beyond her station. Only a fool would continue to pursue Darcy once she sees how he lives. With her country breeding she can never measure up to Pemberly. Back to Longbourn she will go! I will look my best, so she will see that I am much more handsome than she can ever hope to be, and she will see that Georgiana and I have a relationship very like that of the sisters we expect to become. Louisa and Darcy and I will be very cool to her, that so she will know that she is unwelcome.
I find it incomprehensible that Darcy took our brother to call upon her. It will be sure to remind him of Jane Bennet. We were agreed that none of the Bennets should ever be mentioned in his presence.
“So you have met Miss Lizzy Bennet,” said Louisa, her tone indicating none of her thoughts about that young woman.”
“Indeed I have,” said Georgiana. “She is staying at the inn at Lambton. She seems very amiable and quite handsome.”
“Let me advise you, dear Georgiana, to withhold your admiration. I am sorry to say that the Bennet sisters –there are how many, Louisa? Six? Five! The five Bennet sisters a are in poor repute even in the small society from which they emerge. They are known to be ill-educated, flirtatious, and untrustworthy. I pray you will not be taken in by their pretenses and airs.”
“Sister, do not alarm dear Georgiana,” said Louisa. “Once Lizzy Bennet has left Lambton, there will be no necessity that she see her again.”
Georgiana was puzzled. Why did the sisters speak so of the woman they expected their brother to marry? Were they not aware that she was his choice? “My brother expects them to call today,” said she. “But at this moment he joins the other men in fishing. They have a fine day for it.”
“Yes,” said Caroline, denying her listeners an extension of her remark. Georgiana seemed surprised by her unusual brevity.
“My brother thinks that Miss Bennet and the Gardiners are sure to call this afternoon,” said Georgiana. “I am amazed the men choose to be out.”
“Perhaps Darcy will return to the house once he is informed they are here,” said Caroline, “or perhaps he wishes to avoid them and leaves it to the women to receive them.”
“Oh, I do not think he wishes to avoid them,” said Georgiana.
“Perhaps as master of Pemberly he feels a certain obligation to make them welcome,” said Louisa
“I understand your concern, “said Caroline to Georgiana. “You have little knowledge of people of their class. You wish us to advise you how to behave in their presence. I would say
you should greet them pleasantly, but not quite as if they are equals. And if ever your silence could prove useful, it is now. There is no need for you to speak except for greeting them and wishing them farewell. Louisa and I will ask the right questions and make the correct descriptions of the weather. You may keep your eyes cast down throughout.”
“One and all,” said Louisa, “the sisters are famous for making improper overtures to the officers who are quartered near them.” You would do well not to display any familiarity with Miss Lizzy Bennet!
“Yes,” said Caroline. “Even a young woman so delicately raised as yourself might find herself a subject of gossip should she be known to have been in company with any of the Bennet sisters.”
Georgiana thought of her romance with Mr. Wickham, her shameful plan to run off with him to be married, and the narrowness of her escape. Has any Bennet daughter been equally tempted by a man to such folly? In what way could she be thought in any way superior to them?
At that moment, the expected guests were announced. Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth Bennet entered the room and bowed to their three hostesses.
“Miss Bennet!” cried Louisa. “How wonderful to find you here, and you also, Mrs. Gardiner. My sister and I think fondly of the time we called on you in Cheapside.”
Mrs. Gardiner spoke of the great pleasure she and Miss Jane Bennet had received on that occasion. “I only regret that we did not see more of you.”
Georgiana’s mind began to solve the puzzle. There was more than one Miss Bennet! She had forgotten the Miss Bennet who had become ill at Netherfield. Why had her few questions never received clear answers? She, as actual hostess, had the task of welcoming her guests, but in fact she was left no occasion to do so. The sisters spoke the proper words with an air of formal coolness.
The room which faced north was exceptionally pleasant. The open windows allowed fresh air to circulate, while they presented a view of a lawn shaded with oak trees. “How lovely!” said Elizabeth Bennet.
“Yes,” said Caroline. “There is certainly nothing to equal it at Longbourn or Meryton. Even Netherfield had nothing of the sort. Is that not so, Louisa?”
Georgiana became pale. Meryton! Surely that was the town in which Wickham’s regiment was to have been quartered. He had spoken of it many times. And this was the town where the Bennet family lived?
“Most certainly,” said Louisa. “You have been to Longbourn, Mrs. Gardiner.”
“Many times,” said she. “My husband’s sister and my nieces live there, of course, and by custom we pass Christmas with them. Then we often play host to one or more of our nieces at our home in London. This last winter we enjoyed having the eldest, Jane, stay with us”
“How splendid!” said Georgiana, then catching Caroline’s eye, she sat up a bit straighter and became silent. So the sister’s name was Jane Bennet.
“We are always delighted to be in company with Aunt and Uncle Gardiner,” said Elizabeth Bennet.
The conversation did not proceed in any amiable manner. Mrs. Gardiner introduced topic after topic, but none proved to be worthy of general discussion. The sisters demonstrated their lack of interest in what she said by ignoring her words or responding in short, cold sentences. Mrs. Gardiner, having seen their similar behavior when they had called on Jane Bennet at her home, understood they expected their guests to feel unwelcome. Georgiana, busy with her thoughts, remained silent. Miss Bennet appeared also at a loss for words. There seemed nothing for it but that the guests rise and leave.
“Oh!” said Georgiana. She rang a bell, and soon a delightful tea was brought in, consisting of the best fruits from the estate and other tempting items of refreshment. Thus all were provided with a few minutes in which silence was not entirely uncomfortable. Georgiana watched Miss Bennet from beneath her eyelashes, aware that Miss Caroline was more openly doing the same. What was the cause of this great antipathy? Did Miss Bennet share it?
Darcy entered the room, having abandoned the other men to their sport. Once he was present, the room came alive with conversation. Caroline asked him question after question about the fish he had caught. “I am positive you out did all of the other men,” said she. “It is impossible that you should not succeed at anything to which you put your hand here at Pemberly.”
“Many things are possible,” said he, smiling at her. “We will discover how Mr. Gardiner and Bingley have done when they return to the house.”
“We have been speaking of our days at Netherfield,” said Louisa, “and of how fondly we remember them.”
“But there have been changes,” said Caroline. “Pray, Miss Eliza, has not the regiment moved from Meryton?”
“It has,” said Elizabeth. “They are presently stationed at Brighton.”
“That must be a great loss to your family,” said Caroline. She knew at once that she had made a wound. Elizabeth sat back in her chair in apparent distress. So she had come upon this journey with the Gardiners in order to ease her heart from the loss of Wickham!
Turning her eye to Darcy in order to see his reaction to his words, she had the satisfaction of noting that his colour had heightened. If he had ever, as Caroline feared, had an interest in Lizzy Bennet, this reminder of her low taste in men would cause him to abandon it.
Mrs. Gardiner rose. “Come, Lizzy. We must be getting back to Lambton. We are expecting callers.” Elizabeth rose without once looking at Mr. Darcy. Caroline congratulated herself on the success of her ministrations.
Mr. Darcy nodded meaningfully as his sister. She also rose and said, “Oh. I hope you will be our guests at dinner tomorrow evening. And Mr. Gardiner too, of course.”
“We should be delighted,” said Mrs. Gardiner. With a final bow, she and her niece quit the house and escorted by Mr. Darcy, found their carriage. Only when it was in motion did Mrs. Gardiner sigh in relief that her ordeal by incivility had come to an end.
Georgiana regained her seat in the room reluctantly. She longed to be alone to think of all she had heard. However, the sisters forced her attention by speaking of Elizabeth.
“I should not have known her,” cried Louisa. “How much older she looks than she did in the autumn!”
“Indeed! And her skin! So brown! Remember that day she came to Netherfield covered with mud? Georgiana, if you had seen her you would have been quite shocked. She does like to make a spectacle of herself.”
“You behaved perfectly,” said Louisa to the girl. “You made it clear by your silence that you did not wish to develop a friendship with such a woman.”
Darcy returned. “What are you saying?” said he.
“We were speaking of Eliza Bennet,” said Louisa.
“How very ill she looks this morning, Mr. Darcy,” cried Caroline. “I never in my life saw anyone so much altered as she is since the winter. She has grown so brown and coarse! Louisa and I were agreeing we should not have known her again.”
“She is somewhat tanned, no miraculous consequence of traveling during the summer,” said Darcy.
“For my own part,” said Caroline, I must confess that I never could see any beauty in her. Her features are not at all handsome. As for her eyes, which have sometimes been called so fine, I never could perceive anything extraordinary about them. They have a sharp and shrewish look. In her air there is a self-sufficiency without fashion, which is intolerable.”
“Oh!” cried Georgiana, “Miss Caroline, you cannot mean that. I found her to be both amiable and handsome.”
“Tell your sister, Mr. Darcy, what we thought of her when we were in Hertfordshire,” said Caroline. “We were amazed to find her reputed a beauty; and I remember you saying one night, ‘She a beauty! I should as soon call her mother a wit!’” The sisters laughed at this recollection. “But afterwards she seemed to improve on you, and I believe you thought her rather pretty at one time.”
“Yes,” replied Darcy, “but that was when I first knew her, for it is many months that I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquainta
nce.” He did not speak loudly, but everyone in the room recognized the sincerity of his words.
Miss Georgiana Darcy’s Journal (Pemberly)
Brother is in love with Elizabeth Bennet! This is how I know. First, there was no unpleasantness when Mr. Bingley and Miss Elizabeth met at the inn. Mr. Bingley was in no way unhappy to be in her presence. Therefore she is not the one who broke his heart.
. Now this is what I understand of the matter: There are two sisters, and the elder is named Jane Bennet. I believe she was the object of Mr. Bingley’s affections, although why he did nothing about it is impossible for me to guess. As companion to this romance, Brother has been in love with Miss Elizabeth Bennet since they met again at Rosings Park. She was the ‘delightful surprise’ he promised to bring me when he returned to London. Something came between them, for they are today very subdued when in company with each other. Perhaps she was expected to marry someone else. In any event, she seems free at present. She will make me a wonderful sister! I am positive she will not worry me about my clothes and my conversation as Miss Caroline does.
I feel as a prisoner must feel when he is released from his cell. What happy times Miss Elizabeth and I will have!
I will spare a bit of sympathy for Miss Bingley, for surely she now understands that her pursuit of Brother has not ended with a capture. To be frank some of my joy stems from the likelihood that I will not have to spend every minute with her as I have these last few months I like Mr. Bingley very much, but he will have difficulty finding a wife if his sisters are known to the woman.
Miss Bingley’s Journal (Pemberly)
Lizzie Bennet has come to call, with her aunt, the shopkeeper’s wife. Their presence insults this wonderful house. I feel much admiration for dear Darcy, for not only did he leave the men with whom he was fishing to welcome them, he was able to seem to accept them as if they were people equal in quality to himself. Georgiana stayed silent, as I had advised her to do. She assumed the pose of a young girl whose thoughts were elsewhere.