by Linda Phelps
“In any case, Louisa, we need not think of her feelings in this matter,” said Caroline. “Considering their differences in station, if she is a sensible girl she can never have nourished any hope.”
“As for Bingley,” said Mr. Darcy, “I believe we all recognize that his affection for this girl is caused by proximity. Were she not here, he would have settled on another young lady. One is the same as the other to him.”
Caroline looked at him. “But what must we do, Mr. Darcy? I cannot tell you how disturbed I am by the thought of common gossip about our brother entertaining the entire area at our expense. Surely, in their eyes, it must bring us down to their level.”
“So what must we do, Mr. Darcy?” asked Louisa.
“I think our wisest course is to follow Bingley to London and find means to keep him there. Once away from here and from the lady, he will forget her.”
The sisters contemplated this plan. Immediately it struck them as sound. “But what can be our reason for leaving Netherfield so unexpectedly,” asked Louisa.
“I know!” cried Caroline. “We are concerned that he will not have a proper family situation without us. We wish him not to be lonely.”
“Exactly!” cried Louisa. “He cannot be happy there away from all his friends. He needs us to order his days and amuse him.”
“I’m sure he will not have a decent dinner while he is alone,” said Caroline. “We must find a respectable cook.”
“I beg your pardon!” said Louisa. “He is staying at our home in town, and I promise you we have as fine a cook there as can be found here.”
“Ladies,” said Darcy, “your plan is perfection. It need only be carried out with great haste to be successful. My sole suggestion of an alteration is that Bingley stay at my house where there will be less to remind him of what he has abandoned. I urge you immediately to begin your preparations that we may travel tomorrow at the latest.”
Louisa said doubtfully, “But can we be sure that he will not decide to return here to see Jane Bennet?”
Darcy said, “We must all avoid speaking of her, but since he may himself mention her name, we must convince him when he does that she thinks nothing of him. We can mention how casually she accepted his addresses.”
“We can suggest she is partial to someone in the neighbourhood!” cried Caroline.
Louisa said scornfully, “Can anyone believe that a girl such as Jane Bennet, without name or fortune, would prefer a local man to Charles Bingley?”
“If it were any man other than your brother,” said Darcy, “such a plan could have no success, but your brother is so uncommonly without pride that it will be simple to convince him that he made no lasting impression on Miss Bennet.”
“That is true,” said Louisa. “Come, Caroline, if we hope to avoid having dear Jane as our sister, we must prepare at once to abandon Netherfield.”
Accordingly all summoned their servants and saw that the items they would need were packed, a wagon to come later with less essential possessions.
Fortunately the Granger and Longstreet families intended to leave once the sun was high. It would not be necessary to hint that they were no longer welcome.
When the sisters were alone, Louisa said, “I am not so sure as Darcy is that Jane Bennet’s heart was not lost. She may suffer. She must realize that another such as our brother is extremely unlikely to appear again in her life.”
“You are correct. I am certain she harboured dreams of becoming the mistress of Netherfield.”
“So she is in the unhappy position of one who hoped a man would make her an offer, and he has not,” said Louisa. “It must seem a bit of a tragedy, but it happens to many people.”
“But not to Charles,” said Caroline. “We must be thankful for that.”
“And of course the entire neighbourhood will be watching to see how she responds to being abandoned in this fashion.”
“I’m sure she will bear her ills with courage,” said Caroline.
Louisa thought of another concern. “What if she should come to London during the winter?”
“She?” said Caroline. “She has not the means. Where would she stay? What money would she have to spend? How could she dress suitably for the opera?”
“How could she travel the streets?” said Louisa, beginning to see that there was little to worry them. “As we have learned, the horses are needed at the farm!” They laughed, remembering the girl, dripping with storm water, who had not been able to ride in a carriage to come to dine with them.
“Furthermore, to preclude her chasing after Charles, said Caroline, “I have written this letter. She will be shameless indeed if she comes to town after reading this.”
My dear friend,
I write to inform you that my sister and I and Mr. Darcy are abandoning Netherfield for town. When you receive this letter, we will have already begun our journey.
When my brother left us yesterday, he imagined that the business which took him to London might be concluded in three or four days, but we are certain it cannot be so, and at the same time convinced that when Charles gets to town, he will be in no hurry to leave again, we have determined on following him thither that he may not be obliged to spend his vacant hours in a comfortless hotel.
“Well said, Caroline,” said Louisa. “There is no hint of our actual motive in this sudden exodus.
“And I have not said a word that suggests that Jane Bennet has any interest in this subject.”
Many of my acquaintance are already there for the winter. I wish I could hear that you, my dearest friend, had any intention of making one of the crowd, but of that I despair.
Louisa clapped her hands in appreciation. “How indeed could Jane Bennet come to town? Where would she stay? How could she amuse herself with no money? Yet you have given her reason to think your affection for her is genuine. Well done, Caroline.”
“Imagine Jane Bennet in London!” cried Caroline. “She would have no worthwhile acquaintance, no coach. How would she spend her days?” The sisters gazed at each other in delight.
“We could take her under our wing!” cried Louisa. “We could introduce her to our friends.”
“And make a spectacle of ourselves,” said Caroline. “Can you picture Jane Bennet in the drawing room of Sir George Lipton? What a scene!” They burst into laughter as they imagined the incongruity of such a meeting. “But see how I have endeavoured to dash any hopes she may have unwontedly formed.”
I sincerely hope your Christmas in Hertfordshire may abound of the gaieties which that season generally brings, and that your beaux will be so numerous as to prevent your feeling the loss of the three of whom we shall deprive you.”
“That will surely convince her that she cannot expect to see Charles—or us—back at Netherfield in months, if ever,” said Caroline in satisfaction.
“How excellent that you do not suggest that Charles will be missing her, for surely if we thought as much, we would mention it.”
“See if you think what follows is of equal excellence,” said Caroline.
Mr. Darcy is impatient to see his sister, and to confess the truth, we are scarcely less eager to meet her again. I really do not think Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance, and accomplishments, and the affection she inspires in Louisa and myself, is heightened into something still more interesting from the hope we dare to entertain of her being hereafter our sister. I do not know whether I ever before mentioned to you my feelings on the subject, but I will not leave the country without confiding them, and I trust you will not esteem them unreasonable. My brother admires her greatly—”
“Ah, Caroline, that is inspired!” cried Louisa, “and so he does, although not quite in the way you indicate.”
“And that may have changed by the time we have seen them together over a season,” said Caroline. “Surely Georgiana would make a more suitable wife than Miss Bennet, who can resign herself to a fate less illustrious.”
“Perhaps that Bennet cousin wil
l have her,” said Louisa. “You know, the officious one who intruded himself upon Mr. Darcy during the ball.” The recollection of this unseemly occurrence brought smile to their faces. “She is more than fit to be the wife of a poor cleric.”
My brother admires her greatly already; he will have frequent opportunity now of seeing her in the most intimate footing, her relations all wish the connection as much as his own, and a sister’s partiality is not misleading me, I think, when I call Charles most capable of engaging a woman’s heart.
“Caroline, that is almost evil,” said Louisa. “I congratulate you!”
Caroline smiled. “You will double that sentiment when you hear my final words.”
With all these circumstances in favour of an attachment and nothing to prevent it, am I wrong, my dearest Jane, in indulging the hope of an event which will secure the happiness of so many?
“’My dearest Jane’!” repeated Louisa. “Perfect. If Jane Bennet has ever had hopes of charming our brother, they cannot now continue.”
“I believe I have made the situation unambiguous.”
“And of course you need not mention your own hope that a winter in affable proximity to Mr. Darcy might bring you to ‘indulge the hope of an event which will secure the happiness of so many!” cried Louisa.
“One does not know what might happen,” said Caroline, and summoned a servant with instructions to deliver the missive directly the sisters were on their way.
“I can think of only one thing that might threaten our happy time in town,” said Louisa. “Suppose Charles mentions Jane Bennet. Suppose he says he means to return to Netherfield so as to enjoy her company?”
“Should that happen, we must profess to believe that she has no feelings for him. He would be wasting his time.”
“How can he think that, when she favoured him with her company so often?”
Caroline pictured the couple, heads together in private talk, oblivious to others. The small society in Hertfordshire rejoiced openly on the attachment. “If it were anyone but Charles, we could not convince him that she does not love him, but Charles is so unsure of his own merits. It will not be difficult to convince him that Jane is indifferent to his presence.”
“Indeed she should marry that cousin, the clergyman,” said Louisa. “As I have been told by many of our neighbours, the Bennet property is entailed upon that very person.”
“Then it is her clear duty to marry him,” said Caroline, “and even if she does not, we can tell Charles that she is intended for him.”
The sisters laughed in satisfaction. They had prepared for all possibilities. They fell to discussing their London friends, and not again on this journey did they think of Netherfield or those who lived near it.
CHAPTER TWO
Miss Bingley’s Journal (London)
How delightful to be back in town! Louisa’s house is, as always, very comfortable. (Darcy’s is rather more so. Dare I hope that I will be in residence there when the Season begins next year?)
We have already made two journeys to the warehouses. Fashions change so quickly these days that one must be constantly learning what is la mode. I do not think the new sleeves to be as attractive as the old, but perhaps they will themselves shortly become the sleeves of yesterday.
We have received invitations from all our friends to dine and attend the theater. Further, two private balls are anticipated. How different from Netherfield! Here we need not submit ourselves to entertainments such as Assembly Balls and evenings at the home of Sir William Lucas. I feel rather as if I have been released from prison!
Charles was extremely surprised to see us. He had anticipated being without friends the entire time he conducted his business; thus he was pleased to find us back in residence. We reminded him that he is too fond of company to have stood the winter in the country where the roads might often be impassable and he would be denied the companionship of friends.
I do miss seeing dear Darcy every evening at dinner as I did at Netherfield, but he has his own circle of friends and invitations to which he must attend. I had not thought of how little I would see of him when our plan to abandon Netherfield was formed. I suspect that he, in his desire to be of use to Charles, did not consider that he and I would also be absent from one another. Fortunately, we meet at many gatherings, where he is as attentive to me as he was in Hertfordshire.
In truth, I find it rather easier to see him less constantly. I tired of the responsibility to initiate and direct any conversation between us.
Louisa and I expect callers this morning. We have scarcely an hour to ourselves during the day.
Darcy’s Journal (London)
We have successfully escaped from Netherfield. Bingley was surprised to see us, and not entirely pleased. To his mind, Netherfield is his home, albeit leased. He would rather be staying there than enjoying the hospitality of his brother Hurst. I have assuaged his unhappiness by insisting he stay at my house. Easy as he is, he will shortly have forgotten everything that attracted him to the country.
I take a certain pride in having rescued him from his own foolishness.
“Darcy, I confess I am not easy in my mind about this sudden return to London,” said Bingley,
“Are you not?” said Darcy. “And why is that?”
“I feel I did not make proper farewells to our neighbours.”
“I am sure they will not hold you to such civilities,” said Darcy. “Although you were at ease with them, and they with you, there is no need of a formal leave-taking.”
Bingley stared out a window. “There is one particular neighbour that I wish I had seen to speak to,”
“Oh? And who is that?”
“Jane Bennet,” said Bingley. When Darcy did not speak, he added, “Perhaps you noticed that she and I were often in each other’s company. I sought her out many times.”
“I did notice that you favoured her to a degree,” said Darcy. “But I know your tendency to fall in love with every pretty girl with whom you share a dance.”
“This is not the same,” said Bingley. “She is not like the others. She has a sweetness I have not seen in the general run of women.”
“And so it seems to you with each woman you come to know. The next one will be sweeter than all the rest, I promise you.”
Bingley began to pace the floor. “Here is what concerns me. Suppose my attentions to her aroused hopes of—further intimacy between us. If so, am I not bound by honour to respect the feelings I have caused?”
“If that were the case,” said Darcy, “you might have some obligations, but certainly not more than you have felt for any other woman.”
“I believe I may have imposed upon her affections, that she is this minute wondering how I left Netherfield without a word of farewell.”
“If so,” said Darcy, “and I do not say it is so, she will be the happier for having you gone now rather than later.” When Bingley did not reply he continued, “But I saw that you felt a bit of affection toward her. Therefore I made it my business to observe her, to see if perhaps she was falling in love. I assure you that, while she enjoyed your company, she was not at all consumed by these feelings. She saw you as a friend, but not as more than that. You need not feel indebted to her.”
“Only as a friend?” said Bingley.
“Another thing to consider. You know how country neighbours are. Had they suspected she felt affection toward you, the entire parish would have spoken of nothing else, but I never heard that anyone expected a future for your relationship.”
“So you think she never cared for me?” said Bingley. “I have been mistaken.”
“I heard some talk that she might be matched with that cousin, the clergyman.”
“Good lord!” cried Bingley. “I would not wish such a fate on any woman so lovely as Jane Bennet.”
“Come, Bingley,” said Darcy. “Soon one of our friends will host a dinner, and at that dinner there will be a sweet girl who will make an effort to charm you. That is all that is n
eeded to relieve your mind.”
“I expect you are right,” said Bingley, and managed to smile.
“How good of you to call,” said Caroline to her brother. “We do not see enough of you now that we have settled for the winter.”
“Charles,” said Louisa. “You look very serious. Is there something the matter?”
“I have a mind to return to Netherfield for a few days,” said Bingley. “You need not come. I understand you are expected at various evening events here.”
The sisters exchanged glances. “Why, Charles,” said Caroline. “Would you leave this,” she gestured at the breakfast room in Louisa’s house, “to ride in the cold back to a cold and lonely house? You had much better stay here, now that we are settled.”
“I have obligations,” said Bingley. “I had promised Sir William and some others that they might hunt with me, and I had promised Mrs. Bennet that I would dine with the family. So had you, as I remember.”
“I am quite sure that none will bear you ill will for having escaped from such activities,” said Louisa. “You need not think on it.”
“Escaped?” Bingley said. “That is not the word I would use. I have quite enjoyed our time in the country. We have fine neighbours who have greeted us in a more than amiable fashion.”
So seldom did Bingley suggest that he disagreed with his sisters that they were surprised. Perhaps he was not so delighted to see them as he had claimed upon first realizing they had followed him.
“Yes, but Charles,” said Caroline, “think of your obligations here. There is scarcely a night from now until Christmas when we are at leisure. You have obligations to your older friends to enjoy their hospitality. The Hertfordshire friends will have their own entertainments. You will not be missed.”
“There are several balls in the next weeks,” said Louisa. “Think of how much you like dancing. Think of how much Caroline and I like dancing. It is much better here.”
“Still, I think to go for just a few days to take leave of our neighbours in a more formal fashion, and I must see that Netherfield itself is being properly cared for. Are the groomsmen exercising the horses? Are the maidservants keeping the house in order?”
