Miss Bennet & Mr Bingley

by Fenella J Miller

  ‘If you mean Darcy, he may go to bed if he chooses before it begins. But as for the ball, I have been telling Miss Bennet it is quite a settled thing. And once Nicholls has made white soup enough I shall send around my cards.’

  He turned back to her with a grin. ‘Darcy does not like to dance; he prefers to talk. Now, Miss Bennet, you must tell me what it is that you most like to do with your time?’

  ‘I like to ride, unfortunately no one else in my house enjoys the pass time, so I take my rides alone.’

  ‘You shall do so no longer, in future we shall go out together. I am sure that no one could object to us riding if we take a groom with us.’

  ‘I should enjoy that greatly; however I cannot make definite plans as I never know when a riding horse shall be available to me.’

  ‘In which case, I shall provide your mount myself.’

  Jane spent a delightful evening discussing the pleasures of the countryside as opposed to town until Mr Bingley was called away to turn the music for his sister. This gave her the leisure to observe her sister. Elizabeth and Mr Darcy were engaged in a lively exchange and she did not understand the half of it, she much preferred to talk of commonplaces or even to sit in silence, if Mr Bingley was beside her.

  The pianoforte was opened and conversation ceased. When she and Elizabeth retired after the tea tray had been circulated, she knew herself to be almost recovered.

  ‘I think it is time that we returned to Longbourn, Lizzy. We must not outstay our welcome here.’

  ‘I agree. We shall send a note asking for the carriage to come and collect us tomorrow.’

  However, the message was returned from home that the carriage was not available until the following Tuesday, which would have meant, Jane realized, her spending an entire week at Netherfield. Elizabeth did not require much urging to ask Mr Bingley if they could possibly use his carriage and return to Longbourn immediately.

  Miss Bingley immediately remonstrated. ‘My dear Miss Bennet, could you not be persuaded upon to stay? We shall be bereft of company when you have gone, and surely your parents could spare you both for just one more night?’

  Jane looked helplessly at her sister who shrugged in resignation. ‘If you insist, Miss Bingley, then we can do nothing but agree.’

  When she met with Mr Bingley in the drawing-room later and told him that she intended to leave the following morning he was dismayed. ‘My dear Miss Bennet, you are hardly recovered yet. I know that you believe that you are, but you are still too pale, it would be much better if you stayed several days longer.’

  ‘I shall do no such thing, Mr Bingley, but thank you kindly for requesting it. It is time that I returned, my sister and I have presumed on your generosity for far too long already.’

  Jane knew that she was right, her every inclination was to agree, there was nothing she could like better than to stay indefinitely at Netherfield in the company of a young man she had come to love. However, she knew where her duties lay, she would not stay a moment longer than the following morning.

  On Sunday, after morning service, they said their goodbyes. Miss Bingley embraced her most tenderly, and promised to come and visit her at Longbourn. When they entered the carriage Elizabeth appeared in the liveliest of spirits.

  As the vehicle pulled away she settled back on the squabs and smiled at her sister. ‘I am sorry to be going home in some ways, Lizzy, but I believe we had begun to outstay our welcome. I do not know why you and Mr Darcy seemed so set on arguing.’

  ‘We are not arguing, my dear, merely exchanging opinions in a lively way. I, for one, am happy to be returning. I do not feel comfortable anywhere else but Longbourn.’

  The coach trundled up the drive and Jane was expecting to be greeted with delight by her mother. In this she was to be disappointed, as her mother thought they should have stayed longer. Mr Bennet, who was usually very laconic in his expressions of pleasure, appeared really glad to see them both.

  ‘I am so glad to be home, Papa. I am still not quite recovered, but it would have been wrong to have stayed at Netherfield once I was almost well.’

  ‘I am happy to have both of you back here. The place has been the poorer for your absence.’

  ‘Come and sit down in the drawing-room, Jane, and tell me everything that Mr Bingley said to you. I am certain that his feelings are engaged, his attentions are so particular whenever he is next to you.’

  Jane glanced despairingly at her sister. She had no wish to be interrogated on this subject; she was not going to build up her hopes or encourage her mother’s aspirations to have a rich son-in-law.

  ‘Jane, you do not look at all well. I believe the carriage ride has caused you to start a megrim.’

  ‘It has, Lizzy. I had much better go to my bed and lie down for a few hours.’

  Not allowing her mother to argue she was willingly bundled upstairs and into the bed chamber she shared with her sister. ‘Do I have to actually retire to bed, Lizzy? I should much rather remain as I am.’

  ‘I shall close the shutters and the door; that should be sufficient to keep out unwelcome visitors.’

  Jane removed her slippers and pelisse and settled comfortably on the bed whilst the shutters were closed. ‘I am sorry to leave you to our mother’s questioning, but…’

  ‘I understand exactly; I am quite capable of resisting the most strenuous of interrogations. I promise she will not hear anything you would not like from me.’

  Left alone in the gloom Jane closed her eyes and let her mind drift back over the private conversations she had had with Mr Bingley. She sensed that his friend, Mr Darcy, did not approve of their intimacy. She prayed that this formidable gentleman would not influence Mr Bingley against her. She smiled; at least she knew that both Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst would take her side, they had shown themselves to be good friends to her. Had they not given her a pretty scarf as a parting gift?

  She knew that she loved him, she was almost sure that he returned her affection, but until he made it clear she must keep her feelings to herself. There was nothing she disliked more than a young lady who wore her heart on her sleeve. If her mother had the slightest inkling that she might become Mrs Bingley the news would be all over the village and into Meryton in no time.

  This would not happen. Until Charles…she believed she could call him that to herself now… until Charles made an offer, or at least spoke of having a future with her she would insist that she was merely a friend of his sisters and nothing more. It would be easier that way.

  Chapter Seven

  Jane went down for breakfast secure in the knowledge that her sister had answered all her mother’s questions about their visit to Netherfield. She took her place at the table, about which the rest of her family were gathered, glad that no one remarked on how little she had put on her own plate.

  Mr Bennet rested his arms upon the table and gazed at his wife. ‘I hope, my dear, that you ordered a good dinner today, because I have every expectation there shall be an addition to the family party.’

  ‘Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming I am sure, unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in, and I hope my dinner is a good enough for her. I do not believe she often sees such a thing at her own house.’

  ‘The person of whom I speak, is a gentleman and a stranger.’

  Mrs Bennet’s eyes sparkled. ‘A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr Bingley I am sure. Well, Jane, you never dropped a word of this; you sly thing! Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr Bingley. But, good Lord! How unlucky! There is not a bit of fish to be got today. Lydia, my love, ring the bell. I must speak to Hill this moment.’

  Jane put down her knife and fork leaving her coddled egg and slice of ham untouched. She knew it was not to be Mr Bingley, for he would have mentioned it when they were talking last night. She waited, as eager as the others, to know to whom her father was referring.

  ‘It is not Mr Bingley. It is a person I never saw in the whole course of my life.’
Eventually her father explained that he had received a letter a fortnight before from his cousin, one Mr Collins, who would inherit Longbourn after his death. Jane knew, as did they all, that Longbourn was entailed, but this was the first time she had heard mention of the man himself.

  Both she and her sister had attempted to explain to their mother the nature of an entail. However, it was a subject upon which Mrs Bennet was beyond the reach of reason; she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling the estate away from a family of five daughters, in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about.

  Her father then proceeded to read out a very long letter from Mr Collins, who it seemed was a clergyman who had just moved to a living under the patronage of someone called Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Jane was relieved when the letter came to an end.

  ‘At four o’clock, therefore, we expect this peacemaking gentleman to arrive. He seems to be a most conscientious and polite young man, upon my word; and I doubt not will prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady Catherine should be so indulgent as to let him come to us again.

  There is some sense in what he says about the girls however; and if he’s disposed to make many amends, I shall not be the person to discourage him.’

  Jane had heard this part of the letter without understanding exactly what Mr Collins had meant. ‘It is difficult to guess in what way he can mean to make us the atonement he thinks our due, but the wish is certainly to his credit.’

  Elizabeth was disgusted by the manner in which Mr Collins deferred to Lady Catherine. ‘He must not do, I think, I cannot make him out. There is something very pompous about his style; what can he mean by apologizing for being mixed up in the entail? We cannot suppose he would help it, if he could. Do you expect him to be a sensible man, sir?’

  ‘No, my dear; I think not, ‘ Mr Bennet replied. ‘Upon my word I find him quite the reverse. There is instability and self-importance discernible in his letter which promises well. I am impatient to see him.’

  Later on that day she and Elizabeth escaped the chaos of preparation for this unexpected, and unwanted visitor, by taking a walk in the park. ‘Lizzy, why do you think that Mr Collins has come at this time? Papa is still in the prime of his life, I do hope he is not coming in the expectation of moving into Longbourn at any time soon.’

  ‘Of course he is not, but I have no idea why he is coming today. We must wait until he arrives and then no doubt he will tell us at great length and in interminable detail. I am as eager as Papa to see if he is as ridiculous as his letter.’

  At four o’clock Mr Collins duly arrived at their door. Jane was introduced after her mother, and Mr Collins seemed to take a particular interest in her which she found decidedly uncomfortable. He was a tall, heavy looking young man of five and twenty. His manner was grave and stately and his speech very formal.

  He had not been sitting long with the family before he began to praise Mrs Bennet for having so fine a family of daughters. Jane exchanged a glance with her sister who raised an eyebrow and hid her smile behind her hand.

  During dinner her father scarcely spoke at all, but when the servants were withdrawn he turned to their guest. ‘Mr Collins, it would seem from your letter that you are very fortunate in your patroness, Lady Catherine De Bourgh.’ He could not have chosen a better subject, Mr Collins was eloquent in her praise. In fact by the time he had finished his discourse, Jane felt she knew as much about his patroness as he did.

  Lady Catherine had a sickly daughter, her estate was called Rosings, and a great deal more that she had already forgotten. When it was time for tea her father seemed glad to take his guest into the drawing-room again and when the tray was removed he invited Mr Collins to read aloud to the ladies. Their guest immediately said that he never read novels, much to the disgust of Kitty and Lydia. Other books were produced and after some deliberation he chose Fordyce’s sermons. She saw her younger sister’s horror as he opened the volume and before he had, with monotonous solemnity read even three pages Lydia interrupted him.

  ‘You know, my Uncle Philips talks of turning away one of his men. My aunt told me so herself on Saturday. I shall walk into Meryton tomorrow to hear more about it, and ask when Mr Denny comes back from town.’

  Jane was scandalized by her younger sister’s incivility. ‘Lydia, hold your tongue, have you no manners at all?’

  Lydia seemed almost surprised by Jane’s reprimand. However, Mr Collins was very offended, and laid aside his book with a heavy sigh. Then followed a homily about poor manners and everyone was much relieved when their guest agreed to play backgammon with their father. Even her mother apologized most civilly for Lydia’s rude interruption and promised that it should not occur again, if he would resume his book. Jane was delighted that he preferred to play backgammon.

  That evening, as she and Elizabeth were preparing to retire, Jane finally had time to discuss her sojourn at Netherfield. ‘I am glad to be home, Lizzy, but I must say that I did enjoy being with Mr Bingley. Did you not think he is so good-natured, so affable, with all his staff? I do believe I never heard him say a cross word the whole time we were there.’

  ‘Which is more than I can say for his friend. Mr Darcy had nothing good to say about anyone, he is so high in instep I am surprised he can walk at all.’

  ‘I cannot imagine two men so dissimilar; I wonder how they first came to be friends.’

  ‘Perhaps Darcy is so proud he has made no friends and therefore when Mr Bingley came his way he snatched at the chance of having someone so affable to talk to.’

  Jane smiled. ‘Well, Mr Darcy cannot be all bad if Mr Bingley holds him in such high regard. And do you not think that both Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst are kind as well? Think how they looked after me when I was ill, and they are so experienced in the ways of the world we could both learn a lot about society from being in their company.’

  ‘What those two ladies could teach us is something I would rather not learn. I know that you like them both, but I think they are shallow. Their only good points are that they appear to enjoy your company and wish to be on intimate terms with you.’

  * * * *

  The following day Jane and Elizabeth decided to accompany Lydia into Meryton. Unfortunately Mr Collins was also to attend at the request of their father who appeared most anxious to get rid of him and regain his library for himself. Jane had only agreed in the hope that she might meet Mr Bingley; she had no idea why Elizabeth came unless it was to accompany her.

  They walked together, Kitty and Lydia in front, Mr Collins, with herself on one side and Elizabeth on the other, continuing to talk at great length of nothing in particular. All that was required of her was to answer civilly when he paused for breath.

  Every time she heard the sound of a horse approaching she looked up hoping it might be Charles. No sooner had they arrived at the High Street then she was dismayed to see both Lydia and Kitty were immediately staring ahead in their quest for officers, and nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop window, could recall them. She looked in despair at her sister who raised her eyebrows and shook her head, nodding towards Mr Collins. It would not do to point out their sisters’ immodesty when he was with them.

  They had not been walking far when Jane saw a young man, a stranger to them, but with the most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an officer on the other side of the way. This officer was the very Mr Denny, concerning whose return from London Lydia came to enquire, and he bowed to them as he passed.

  ‘I wonder who that other officer is, Lizzy? No doubt, Kitty and Lydia will find out, we shall not be obliged to wait to be introduced by Mrs Phillips.’

  Mr Collins was slightly ahead of them, and they were able to confer privately for a moment. ‘Look, Kitty and Lydia are already across the road, and the gentlemen are turning back to speak to them. I must admit he is prodigiously handsome, he will be a definite asset to social occasions.’

  Jane pursed her lips. ‘I thought you h
ad no time for military men, Lizzy?’

  Elizabeth laughed at her sally. ‘In the normal way, I do not. But I am prepared to make exceptions for someone as pleasing as that gentleman.’

  The girls led the two officers over and introductions were effected. Jane found the young man to be charming, and have a happy readiness of conversation, but at the same time was perfectly correct and unassuming. She liked him immediately.

  The sound of horses approaching made her look up and she felt her cheeks colour. This time it was Charles and Mr Darcy riding down the street. She glanced towards the new officer talking so animatedly with her sister, he was handsome, but no comparison to Charles. For he rode his horse as if born to it, looked so good-humoured, his eyes as blue as the sky.

  She stepped away from the group hoping that Mr Bingley would see her and she smiled as he approached. Both gentlemen dismounted.

  ‘Good morning, Miss Bennet, we were on our way to Longbourn to enquire how you did.’

  ‘As you see, sir, I am fully recovered.’ It was her intention to ask after the health of his sisters when she noticed Mr Darcy staring at Mr Wickham. Both men changed colour, one white, the other red. Mr Wickham after a few moments touched his hat, a salutation which Mr Darcy just deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it? It was impossible not to long to know.

  She glanced up at Charles, but he appeared not to have noticed what had just occurred. ‘I must bid you good day, ladies, I shall look forward to seeing you again, Miss Bennet.’ Mr Darcy nodded and they regained their saddles and rode away. She heartily wished she had been walking only with her sister Elizabeth, and not surrounded by officers and Kitty and Lydia’s chatter.

  If that had been the case then Charles might well have walked along with them. It seemed an age since she had spent any time alone with him. Perhaps she was making too much of his particular interest; perhaps she was imagining his attention. She couldn’t bear to think of it; she must harden her resolve, must never let her family know that her feelings were engaged. For if he did not feel the same way and moved on, she would not have them distressed on her account.