Miss Bennet & Mr Bingley

by Fenella J Miller

  Charles was beginning to have doubts. Darcy was a shrewd fellow; if he had studied Jane Bennet and not seen what he thought was there, then maybe he had been mistaken in believing that she returned his affection.

  ‘I know that she does not love me as much as I love her, but that will come. We have so much in common, I had never met a woman I liked half so much.’

  ‘Charles, you have fallen in and out of love on several occasions these past few years. How do know that this is not another fleeting romance?’

  He stared hard at his sister; she must be a fair weather friend if she could disregard Jane in this way. No, his mind was made up, he would not let them persuade him not to chance his luck.

  ‘I am determined to ask her, you shall not make me change my mind on this matter, my friend.’

  ‘But would you wish her to accept you out of duty? Her mother is set on the match, can you imagine the pressure that will be brought on the poor girl to agree even if she is not in love with you?’

  ‘Darcy, I have no wish to embarrass her by asking her to marry me if she has not been thinking of the future as I have.’ He dropped into a chair, unable to believe that he could be wrong in his assumptions. ‘However, I shall go over and speak to her myself, try and ascertain her feelings before I speak to Mr Bennet.’

  ‘Why not leave it until you return from London? I know you have to go tomorrow, leave it until you return. This will give you time to consider your feelings.’

  ‘I know how I feel, I love her and I intend to marry her whatever you say. But I will compromise, a few days can make no difference either way. I shall go to town, that way I will be back all the sooner.’

  ‘I feel that I must warn you that everyone is expecting you to make an offer, Mrs Bennet was talking as if it was a certain thing. That odious woman made it perfectly clear to anyone who would listen last night that she expected Miss Bennet to be installed at Netherfield by the New Year.’

  ‘In which case Jane would feel obliged to accept me whatever her own feelings on the subject, just to please her parents. I could not do that to her; I love her far too much to bring pressure on her to accept me. I shall let the rumours cool for a few days and then return to see how the land lies.’

  He pushed himself upright feeling he had aged ten years in the past ten minutes. He looked across at his sister, but saw nothing but sympathy in her expression. If it had just been she who was against the match he would have totally ignored it, but Darcy would not willingly misdirect him. He did not want his friends. What he wanted was Jane Bennet to love him as much as he loved her and now he was committed to travelling to town before he could speak to her.

  * * * *

  When Charlotte Lucas came to visit later in the day she was asked for her opinion on the matter of Mr Collins and Elizabeth. Like Jane, she declined to comment on the subject. When Elizabeth passed quietly out of the room Jane followed as did Kitty. She was surprised that Charlotte remained behind, but not that Lydia did. Her youngest sister would be determined to hear all she could on the matter.

  Fortunately this was to be the end of the discussion. All they had to endure over the next two days was the occasional peevish allusion from Mrs Bennet. As to the gentleman himself, he appeared neither embarrassed nor dejected, but made every effort to avoid Elizabeth. When they were obliged to meet he was silent and resentful in her presence.

  After breakfast Jane was pleased to accompany Elizabeth and her other sisters on a walk into Meryton. The primary purpose of this was to enquire if Mr Wickham had returned. He joined them as they were entering the town and attended them to their aunt’s house, where his regret and vexation and his concern for everybody was well talked over.

  * * * *

  Darcy had decided to travel back to town with him leaving the ladies in residence alone at Netherfield. As the carriage was approaching Meryton, Bingley saw Jane and decided to ask the driver to pull over so that he could make his farewells.

  As he lowered the window to lean out he saw a group of officers surround her and watched her laughing and talking as if she had not a care in the world. Indeed, she looked as amiable and happy as when she spoke to him. He sunk back on to the squabs and the carriage bowled past the group.

  Perhaps Darcy had been right all along, Jane was an open affectionate girl and responded to all in the same way. He had read too much into it; he must think about what he should do next.

  He would not give up so easily, he had enough love on his side of both of them.

  * * * *

  Mr Wickham and another officer walked back with Jane and her sisters, but they were fully occupied by Kitty and Lydia and she was able to talk privately with Elizabeth.

  ‘Mr Wickham said, Jane, that it was better that he did not meet Mr Darcy, that to be in the same room, the same party with him, for so many hours together might be more than he could bear, and scenes might arise unpleasant to more than himself.’

  Jane nodded sympathetically. ‘That was good in him, Lizzy. You must know that I am still puzzled by the whole thing. Mr Bingley has assured me Mr Darcy is not the guilty party, but when I see Mr Wickham I cannot believe that he can be the villain of the piece.’

  The gentlemen were invited in, but she could not concentrate on the conversation, was waiting, watching the drive, starting at every sound, hoping Charles would come to speak to her father that morning. He did not come, but not long after they returned to Longbourn a letter was delivered.

  It was addressed to her. She opened it reading the contents with dismay. She could not believe what was written there. Jane became aware that her sister was watching her closely. It would not do to reveal her disquiet now and distress the rest of the company. Pinning a false smile on her face she pushed the letter into her pocket.

  It was difficult to participate, but she believed no-one, apart from Elizabeth, realized there was anything amiss. Somehow she remained composed until the officers took their leave. Once they had departed Jane excused herself and, with a quick glance at her sister, left the room and ran upstairs. As soon as they were inside their own apartment she removed the letter.

  ‘Lizzy, this is from Caroline Bingley; what it contains has surprised me a good deal. The whole party has left Netherfield by this time, and are on the way to town without any intention of coming back again. You should hear what she says.’

  Jane read an extract from the letter and Elizabeth was astonished.

  ‘They are going to Grosvenor Street, where Mr Hurst has a house? They have all followed Mr Bingley to town? It hardly seems possible, Jane.’

  ‘There is more, Lizzy. Let me read it to you.

  ‘I do not pretend to regret anything I shall leave in Hertfordshire accept your society, my dearest friend; I will hope that at some future period we shall enjoy many returns of the delightful intercourse we have known, and in the meanwhile may lessen the pain of separation by very frequent and most unreserved correspondence. I depend on you for that.’

  Elizabeth was not convinced. ‘The fact that Miss Bingley and her sister wish to remain in London, is nothing to the gentleman, Jane. I do not suppose that their absence from Netherfield will prevent Mr Bingley’s being there. And although I know you will miss their society, as long as you have his, that is all that matters, surely?’

  Jane was not so sanguine. ‘But Lizzy, Mr Bingley will not wish to be apart from his family at Christmas time. He must stay in London with them at least until the New Year.’ She stared down at the letter still not quite comprehending how things had come to such a pass. Had she imagined the closeness she and Charles had shared over the past few weeks?

  ‘You must not fret about it, Jane. I am sure that Bingley will not be detained in London by his sisters, it is only a short drive after all.’

  ‘Caroline is quite clear that none of the party will return in to Hertfordshire this winter. I shall read that part to you.

  ‘When my brother left us, he imagined that the business which took him to London might b
e concluded in three or four days, as we are certain that cannot be so, and at the same time convinced that when Charles gets to town he will be in no hurry to leave it again, we have determined to follow him there so that he may not be obliged to spend his vacant hours alone. I sincerely hope your Christmas in Hertfordshire may give you the gaiety this season generally brings, and that your beau will be so numerous so as to not allow you to feel the loss of the three, of whom we shall deprive you.’

  Jane looked at Elizabeth. ‘It is evident by this that he comes back no more this winter.’

  ‘No, Jane, it is only evident that Miss Bingley does not mean that he should.’

  ‘Why would you think so? It must be his own doing. He is his own master after all. But you still do not do not know all of it. I will read a passage which particularly hurts me. I will have no reserves from you.’

  ‘Mr Darcy is impatient to see his sister, and to confess the truth, we are scarcely less eager to meet her again. We do not think Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance and accomplishment; and the affection she inspires between Louisa and myself is heightened into something still more interesting, in the hope that we dare to entertain of her being hereafter our sister. My brother admires Miss Darcy already, and he will have frequent opportunity now of seeing her on the most intimate footing; her relations all wish the connection as much as I. And a sister’s partiality is not misleading, I think, when I call Charles most capable of engaging any woman’s heart. My dearest Jane, in indulging the hope of an event which will secure the happiness of so many, I am sure you will concur.’

  Jane lowered the letter; her eyes filled, how could she have been so mistaken as to believe that he returned her regard? She swallowed and attempted to regain her composure.

  ‘What think you of this sentence then, my dear Lizzy? Is it not clear enough? Does it not expressly declare that Caroline neither expects, nor wishes me to be her sister; that she is perfectly convinced of her brother’s indifference, that she suspects the nature of my feelings to him? She means most kindly to put me on my guard. Can there be any other opinion on the subject?’

  Elizabeth leant over and removed the letter from her slack fingers and read the contents for herself. This gave Jane time to recover, but she was aware that the letter did not please Elizabeth any more than it had done her.

  ‘Oh, Jane, I think you are reading too much into this. I have a totally different opinion. Do you wish to hear it?

  Jane nodded. ‘Most willingly.’

  ‘You shall have it in few words. Miss Bingley sees that her brother is in love with you, but wants him to marry Miss Darcy. She follows him to town in the hope of keeping him there, and then tries to persuade you that he does not care about you.’

  Jane shook her head. Caroline Bingley was her friend, she could not be so devious.

  ‘Indeed, Jane, you must believe me. No one who has ever seen you together can doubt his affection. Miss Bingley, I am sure, cannot. She is not such a simpleton. Could she have seen half as much love from Mr Darcy for herself, she should have ordered her wedding clothes already. But the case is this. We are not rich enough, or grand enough for them; she is the more anxious to get Miss Darcy for her brother from the notion that when there has been one intermarriage, she may have less trouble in achieving a second.

  But, my dearest Jane, you cannot seriously imagine that because Miss Bingley tells you her brother greatly admires Miss Darcy you are the smallest degree less certain of your merit? When he took leave of you on Tuesday I cannot believe it was within her power to persuade him that, instead of being in love with you, he is very much in love with her friend.’

  ‘If I viewed Miss Bingley as you do then your supposition might make me quite easy. But I know the foundation is unjust. Caroline is incapable of willfully deceiving anyone; all I can hope in this case is, that she is deceived herself.’

  ‘That is right. You could not have started a more happy idea, since you are not to take comfort in mine. Believe her to be deceived by all means. You have now done your duty by her, I must fret no longer.’ Elizabeth tossed the letter to one side and began to pace the room.

  ‘Lizzy, my dear sister, can I be happy even supposing the best, accepting a man whose sisters and friends are all wishing him to marry elsewhere?’

  ‘You must decide yourself, and if upon mature deliberation you find that the misery of disobliging his two sisters is more than equivalent to the happiness of being his wife, then by all means you must refuse him.’

  Now Elizabeth was being nonsensical. Jane found herself faintly smiling. ‘Lizzy! How can you talk so? You must know that though I should be exceedingly grieved at their disapprobation, I could not hesitate to accept him if he offered.’

  ‘I did not think you would not; and that being the case, I cannot consider your situation with out compassion. It shall all come out the way you wish, my dear Jane. You must not despair.’

  ‘As Mr Bingley is not to return any more this winter, my choice will never be required. A thousand things may arise in six months.’

  ‘Now you are being nonsensical, Jane. If Bingley cares for you as much as I believe he does, then it would take considerably more than six months for him to change his mind. Good heavens, Jane, he is a man of independent means. He has no need to listen to his sisters or to take their advice, he can follow his own wishes in this matter.’

  Jane joined her and they walked to the window to stare out across the park in companionable silence. Could Elizabeth be correct? Would it make no difference if Charles was away from home for a few months? Perhaps she was dwelling too much on the matter.

  She must remember how she had felt when in his company, how much he had said to her, how his eyes had looked into hers in such a way as to make their meaning clear. ‘I am not sure, Lizzy. But maybe you are correct that Caroline is mistaken about Miss Darcy. I shall not despair of seeing Bingley here again. After all, as you say, it is only a short drive from London to Netherfield.’

  ‘Of course it is, Jane. Mr Bingley shall be here before Christmas and shall answer every wish of your heart. However, I think it might be wise in the present circumstances not to tell my mother of the true contents of this letter. She has not yet recovered from my refusal to marry Mr Collins. A further setback in her matrimonial plans might be disastrous for her nerves.’

  Jane was forced to smile. She knew exactly to what her sister referred. They would all have a wretched time of it, if that was the case. ‘Well, she knows that I have received the letter, I had better tell her that they have gone to London for the Christmas period, but Mr Bingley should be back in the New Year and living at Netherfield.’

  She did not like to deceive her dear mother; but she had no wish for any other member of her family to be distressed by what had happened. It was going to be wearisome, waiting for him to return. She walked back to pick up the letter but Elizabeth was there before her.

  ‘I am going to burn this, Jane; you do not wish to keep re-reading it and making more of it than it rates.’ Before she could protest, the paper was on the fire. As it turned into ashes she hoped that her love for Charles would not suffer the same fate.

  Chapter Eleven

  The days dragged miserably. Jane was determined to keep her distress hidden from the rest of her family. Even Elizabeth should not know how much she feared she had been mistaken, that Caroline’s interpretation of the situation was the correct one, that Charles was not returning to Netherfield and would not be making her an offer.

  They were sitting together in the drawing-room when Sir William Lucas arrived for an unexpected visit. Jane listened in astonishment to him telling her mother that Charlotte was to marry Mr Collins.

  Lydia, always unguarded and often uncivil, boisterously exclaimed. ‘Good Lord! Sir William, how can you tell such a story? Do you not to know that Mr Collins wants to marry Lizzy?’

  Sir William did not respond angrily to her sister’s rudeness but took it in good part and merely repeated
that he had just given his permission for Charlotte to become betrothed to Mr Collins. It was then Elizabeth spoke up.

  ‘I beg your pardon, ma’am, but Charlotte told me this herself. It is the truth, she and Mr Collins are to be married.’ Elizabeth turned to Sir William. ‘I must offer my congratulations to you, Sir William. I am delighted that Charlotte is to marry Mr Collins. I honestly hope that they shall be happy together.’

  Jane had now recovered from the shock and knew that she must add her good wishes. ‘And I, Sir William, I wish them every happiness. Mr Collins is a man of excellent character, and Charlotte will be happy in the union, I am sure.’

  It wasn’t until Sir William had left that her mother gave vent to her feelings. It took a considerable time to convince her that the information was indeed correct, that Mr Collins had indeed changed his allegiance from Elizabeth to Charlotte within three days. Next Mrs Bennet declared that she hoped they would never be happy together and that the match might be broken off.

  ‘It is entirely your fault, Lizzy. If you have not refused him in the first place, then it should be we that are celebrating. I cannot bear to think of it. I shall not forgive you for your part in this, do not think I shall.’

  Later, in the privacy of their sitting room, Jane was able to discuss the matter with her sister. ‘I am a little surprised at the match, Lizzy, but I do hope they shall be happy. Did not Charlotte say to us a few weeks ago that she viewed matrimony quite differently? That as long as she was comfortable then she should be happy without having her affections engaged.’

  ‘I cannot accept that someone I considered to be a good friend could make such a poor choice in a husband. She is not lacking in sense, Jane, how could she bear to be in permanent contact with that man? He is a pompous conceited…’