by Bella Breen
Elizabeth shared a wide-eyed look with Jane. “Mama, I do not think this is an appropriate topic of discussion!”
Mrs. Bennet flattened her lips, looked at Mr. Darcy, and then turned away to look out a window. Elizabeth closed her eyes in mortification.
Chapter 36
Mrs. Bennet resettled her skirts and then turned back to Elizabeth. “So much as changed since you left, Elizabeth. The Bingleys have returned to Netherfield Hall. They are good friends of yours Mr. Darcy, are they not?”
Mr. Darcy nodded. How long would they have to stay for propriety’s sake? She did not want to leave so soon after their arrival but if she was finding this unbearable. Mr. Darcy had to be suffering immeasurably.
“I always knew Mr. Bingley would return. He could not stay away from my beautiful Jane.” Mrs. Bennet beamed at Jane who flushed and glanced at Mr. Darcy. “I told him that he had left last year before attending my dinner he had accepted an invitation to! He is such a gracious man, he told me to name the date and he would be there. And do you know, Elizabeth, he has been back every day since!” Mrs. Bennet beamed again at Jane.
Elizabeth glanced at Mr. Darcy. She could not believe her mother. First she spoke of Lydia’s wedding, completely ignoring the fact that she had to be hunted down and forced to marry. Then she brought up Mr. Bingley moving back to Netherfield. She completely ignored Elizabeth’s wedding with her and Mr. Darcy sitting right in front of her. Elizabeth sighed.
Jane thankfully changed the subject. “Tell us about Pemberley. I have heard it referred to as the grandest estate in Derbyshire, possibly all of England. I should love to visit someday.”
Mr. Darcy spoke first. “You are welcome to come at any time, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth squeezed Mr. Darcy’s hand. She noticed that Mr. Darcy had only included Jane in that invitation. After the past several days’ events and the lack of propriety shown by Lydia and her father, Elizabeth did not begrudge Mr. Darcy that solitary invitation.
Mrs. Bennet realized that she had been excluded from that invitation. She stared at Mr. Darcy with wide eyes. Elizabeth quickly spoke. “Tell me, Jane, is there anything new in Meryton?”
That was enough for her mother to speak up. “Just that Mr. Bingley is back. He is the best of men. So kind and genial. He has come over every day to call upon Jane.” Mrs. Bennet looked directly at Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth closed her eyes again. Her mother had just insulted her husband, who was sitting right next to her. If only her mother knew what Mr. Darcy had done for their family regarding Lydia. Elizabeth opened her eyes and glanced at Mr. Darcy. He gazed back at her with a very telling look, then stood and walked over to look out one of the windows.
Elizabeth looked at Jane pleadingly. She had just arrived at her family home and already she was ready to leave. She could not leave yet though; she had not spent time with Jane yet. “I think I would like to walk upon my favorite path here.”
“Oh Elizabeth, all that walking is so unseemly for a lady. I would have thought that as a married woman now you would have grown out of that.”
Elizabeth stared at her mother. Mrs. Bennet had finally mentioned her recent marriage but only to criticize her.
Mr. Darcy turned and approached the gathering. “I believe exercise does much for the body of a person as well as the mind. I would like to take a turnabout the grounds, Elizabeth. I believe Miss Bennet would also enjoy a good walk?”
“I would. Let me get my walking shoes on.” Jane curtsied and left the drawing room.
Elizabeth stood as well. She felt like a stranger amongst her family. She could not believe how much had changed since the last time she had been at Longbourn. All the change had happened inside her though.
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth waited in the entry for Jane. Then they exited for a walk around the grounds of Longbourn.
“I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have come, Lizzy. It has been difficult since you left but especially since Lydia left for Brighton.”
“I am sorry, Jane, for what you have to endure. I must confess that Lydia’s debacle opened my eyes as to... some failings in our parents.”
Jane nodded. “You can not imagine my surprise when Papa came back from London after just a few days. When you wrote to me of all that Mr. Darcy was doing for the crop planting and how well he took care of his tenants,” at this Elizabeth glanced at Mr. Darcy who looked at her with appreciation, “I realized how badly managed our own estate was by Papa.”
“I am sorry, Jane, I did not write that for a comparison. It was new to me how much work Mr. Darcy did for his estate and tenants and I wanted to share that.”
Jane squeezed Elizabeth’s hand. “Do not worry. I appreciated the news.”
They walked companionably in silence. Then Elizabeth spoke. “How is Mr. Bingley? Has he made his daily visit to Longbourn yet today?” Elizabeth looked at Jane with a grin.
Jane smiled at Elizabeth. “I know what you are doing. He has visited already today. I believe he is at Netherfield awaiting your arrival.”
Their welcome at Netherfield Hall was much different from what they had received at Longbourn. Mr. Bingley was overjoyed at seeing his good friend Mr. Darcy again. He was also happy to see Elizabeth, whom he had always liked. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. My that does have a nice ring to it, does it not?”
Mrs. Hurst was polite but glanced at Miss Bingley quite often. Miss Bingley nodded to them and hoped they had safe travels from London. Elizabeth was glad Mr. Darcy was able to be with his good friend, but she was now at the mercy of having nothing to do and in the presence of the Bingley sisters. Mrs. Hurst and Elizabeth politely discussed the latest fashions Elizabeth had seen in London. At least Mrs. Hurst was making an effort, unlike her sister.
“I understand your youngest sister has recently married as well? To George Wickham?” Elizabeth stared at Miss Bingley and glanced at Mr. Darcy, who was far enough away and conversing with Mr. Bingley that he had not heard Miss Bingley. “I am sure you must not have heard, just arriving to Meryton, but Mr. Wickham left many debts unpaid. I am not sure Mr. Darcy would want to be associated with that man for long.”
Elizabeth stared at Miss Bingley. Could she have heard correctly that Miss Bingley suggested Mr. Darcy would leave her because George Wickham was unfortunately now his brother-in-law? Elizabeth did not want to provoke a fight especially when they had just arrived. But she also would not stand for this insolent treatment by Mr. Bingley’s sister.
Elizabeth stood and did not excuse herself. She walked across the room to where a stack of books sat on a side table. Elizabeth found the most appealing of the lot and walked to a different sitting arrangement to sit by herself. She hoped Mr. Darcy would not end his visit early when he saw Elizabeth sat by herself reading. She knew how much Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley enjoyed each other’s company.
Elizabeth wished they had brought Jane with them but Mrs. Bennet had told Jane she could not go. Mrs. Bennet was quite convinced that absence made the heart grow fonder and if they brought Jane to Netherfield to visit Mr. Bingley, he would not call upon her anymore.
Elizabeth was not of the correct temperament to sit and read for long periods of time. She fidgeted, changed position, stood up and sat in a different chair. Mr. Darcy walked over to her. “Elizabeth, do you want to leave?”
Elizabeth looked up at her husband. “No. You know me, I cannot sit still for long without fidgeting. I do not begrudge your happiness at seeing Mr. Bingley again.”
Mr. Bingley walked over to them. “It is quite all right. I shall come to Longbourn on the morrow and will see you both then.”
Elizabeth closed her book and stood, relieved that they could leave. She offered a quick hug for Mr. Bingley, who beamed much to Elizabeth’s wonder. The Darcys said their goodbyes and climbed back in the carriage for the quick trip to Longbourn.
“Mr. Bingley was in high spirits when we left. He looked happier than when we had arrived.”
Mr. Darcy would
not reveal his confidence though and just smiled at Elizabeth. She put her arm through his and leaned into his side as she rested her head on his shoulder. She fervently hoped Mr. Bingley would offer for Jane on the morrow. She also hoped that Mr. Bingley found an estate near Pemberley to buy or lease. It would make the trip much shorter to see her favorite sister.
Chapter 37
Elizabeth was indeed happy to find her wish granted the very next day. Mr. Bingley arrived early in the morning to Longbourn for a visit. Mrs. Bennet called each daughter out of the drawing room one by one on trifling errands. Of course she could not call Elizabeth or Mr. Darcy out, but that was quite all right as the two couples decided to take a walk on the grounds. One couple quickly outstripped the other and by the time they joined up again Jane and Mr. Bingley were engaged.
“Oh, Elizabeth, I am the happiest woman ever. I cannot believe that he has offered for me even after what Lydia did.”
Elizabeth was so happy for Jane. “Of course you are surprised, though none of us are. We could see how much Mr. Bingley cared for you. I am truly happy for you.”
Jane then paid her the greatest compliment. “I hope that Mr. Bingley and I can be as happy and comfortable in love as you and Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth’s eyes could go no wider at hearing that. “I know you did not like him at first and were forced into marriage, but it truly is a love match.”
Elizabeth hugged Jane and believed her sister was correct. Theirs was indeed a love match. From such a rocky and horrible beginning to now, Elizabeth could never have imagined how happy they would be with each other.
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy returned to Pemberley after a sennight. Elizabeth would have liked to spend more time with Jane and Mr. Bingley, but it had been past time for them to leave Longbourn. There was only so much of Mrs. Bennet anyone could handle.
They came back to Meryton for the wedding of Mr. Bingley and Jane. The newly married Bingleys honeymooned in Derbyshire. As luck would have it, they found an estate for sale just twenty miles from Pemberley. Mr. Bingley was now a proud landowner and the sisters were not far apart.
Kitty’s behavior had improved without Lydia’s influence, but she still needed refinement. Mrs. Bennet was fine with Kitty spending time with her two older sisters. Mr. Bennet would accompany Kitty. He would deliver her to whichever sister she was staying with and then stay himself for several weeks.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh wrote Mr. Darcy often, but he knew not what she said because the letters were immediately thrown upon the fire. The letters from Lydia to Elizabeth asking for money and to come live with them at Pemberley were also thrown upon the fire. Elizabeth accepted that Lydia would never grow up. It was unfortunate that she now realized the poor choices she had made in her life.
Elizabeth was still fervently in love with Mr. Darcy and likewise Mr. Darcy with her. It was hard to believe that their marriage had started off so badly considering the love that was forever in bloom for them.
Also by Bella Breen
Pride and Prejudice and Poison Book 1 The Poison Series
Pride and Prejudice and Secrets Book 2 The Poison Series
Forced to Marry
The Rescue of Elizabeth Bennet
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