Miss Bennet & Mr Bingley

by Fenella J Miller

  Even Jane noticed the difference in Meryton now that the regiment had left. Their parties abroad were less varied than before and the constant complaints of Mrs Bennet and Kitty about how dull everything had become cast a real gloom over their domestic circle. It was a full three weeks before health, good humour and cheerfulness began to reappear at Longbourn.

  ‘It is going to be very odd here when you are away,’ said Jane. ‘It is a great shame that your plans had to be altered, but my uncle must, of course, put his business engagements first. I know how you were looking forward to going as far as the Lakes, but I am sure Derbyshire will be just as pleasant. I know what you are thinking, that you might run into Mr Darcy, but Derbyshire is a large place and I am sure you will not see him.’

  ‘I pray that you are correct. Jane, I do so wish you had been included in the invitation. But I believe that our aunt is relying on your taking care of the children for her. I am quite certain I do not have the patience that you do.’

  ‘I spent many months in London with them; it is only right that you should have your turn. I love the children and cannot wait to see them running about at Longbourn.’

  The time fixed for the beginning of her sister’s Northern tour was fast approaching; Jane in spite of her protestations that she had no wish to accompany them, would be perfectly happy at home, was rather dreading the separation.

  Although they never spoke of Bingley, or indeed of Mr Darcy and his refused proposal, Jane was aware that Elizabeth knew how much she was suffering and made every effort to keep her cheerful and take her mind off what she had lost. It was not her intention to reveal her distress, but when one was so close, it was impossible for the other not to know that her high spirits and smiles were often forced.

  She had taken to riding every morning and sometimes her excursions took her past Netherfield. It was little comfort to see the handsome building empty; she wondered what would become of it. Would he sell the lease? It was not her concern any more what he did; she must get on with her life and learn to be happy again.

  * * * *

  Four weeks passed before the arrival of their uncle and aunt and their children. Jane was fully occupied settling her young cousins and Elsie into the nursery. Elizabeth was to depart the following morning and she was dreading the separation. She kept her disquiet to herself and was able to embrace her sister lovingly and wish her a happy holiday. They promised to exchange a frequent correspondence; Elizabeth vowed she would write as soon as they were settled and left her with an address in Lambton to which she could send her first missive.

  She had no time to dwell on her sadness at being parted from her favourite sister as the children demanded her full attention. Mrs Bennet had declared she was far too old to be bothered with them, that her nerves could not take the strain. Mary and Kitty had no interest in their young cousins and her father was, as usual, closeted in his library.

  It had been her intention to devote the morning hours to lessons but seeing a row of expectant faces, all eager to get outside and run about, she had not the heart to insist that they studied their books that morning.

  ‘I believe that I shall allow you one week without school work; and after that you must promise to apply yourselves every morning. I have given my word to your parents that I shall not neglect your studies in their absence.’

  Within twenty minutes they were clattering down the stairs and heading for the garden. She had no leisure to think about her own problems, or even to miss her sister very much. She threw herself enthusiastically into the entertainment of the children and was frequently as wet and muddy, after one of their excursions, as they were.

  When the children were safely installed in the nursery she had to bathe and change and be ready to attend a variety of little parties and social engagements. Her days were full and so were many of her evenings. The letter she had promised to send to Elizabeth was started and then put by until she could find the time to complete it.

  The house was quiet, everybody asleep when Jane was awakened by a thunderous knocking at the front door. She scrambled out of bed, fumbling with a tinderbox in order to light a candle. She slipped into her robe and held the candle aloft to see that the mantel clock said it was midnight.

  Had no one else heard the knocking? Should she go down herself and see who it was? No, she would go to her mother’s apartment and rouse her. Mama could wake Papa and he could go down and deal with whoever was outside the door.

  Jane was halfway along the passageway when she heard a door open at the far end and her father appeared, nightcap askew, his bed robe hastily tied.

  ‘Go back to your rooms, Jane. I shall deal with this. If it is anything that requires Mrs Bennet to be told, I shall send word to you.’

  ‘Yes, sir. I shall wait in my sitting room.’ Jane knew that it had to be bad news; no one would send good tidings with such urgency.

  Chapter Sixteen

  It was some time before Jane received her summons. Hill, had appeared at her sitting-room door, her hair stuffed higgledy-piggledy under her cap and her bombazine dress pulled on over her nightgown.

  ‘The master asks that you come down and join him in the library directly, if you will, Miss Bennet.’

  Jane’s heart plummeted. He must require her to speak to Mama; the news must be dire indeed to consider waking her. The housekeeper led the way through the darkened house and along the corridor to the library.

  Her father was standing, a letter in his hand, and his expression filled her with foreboding. ‘Jane, I am relieved that you are here. This is an express come from Colonel Forster. Your sister has run off with Wickham. She left a note for Mrs Forster informing her of their intention. They are on their way to Scotland in order to get married.’

  ‘That is the most parlous news, sir. Poor Lydia! Whatever could have possessed her to do something so disastrous?’

  ‘I have no idea; I had no inkling that Wickham was interested in Lydia. For if I had, I certainly would not have allowed her to go to Brighton.’ He rubbed his eyes and stared again at the letter as if he could not believe what was written there. ‘Colonel Forster is on his way to Longbourn and it is up to you, my dear girl, to go and break the news to Mrs Bennet. I think we shall have to rouse Kitty and Mary. It is possible that one of them knows more about this business than we do.’

  ‘I shall go up at once; I must stay with Mama, I am certain that she will be prostrate at this news. Do you think it might not be better to leave the girls in ignorance until morning? Mama will be suffering from her nerves, and Kitty and Mary’s distress will not help.’

  He shrugged, as if indifferent to the anxiety of his wife. ‘Do as you think best, Jane. If you are not to get the others up then I shall retire to my chamber. We shall all need our wits about us to face the morning.’

  As Jane ran back upstairs her immediate thought was that it was fortuitous she and Elizabeth had decided not to inform the rest of the family about Wickham’s true character. If they knew what sort of man Lydia was to marry it would make matters so much worse.

  She paused for a few moments to compose herself, before quietly knocking on her mother’s door. There followed half an hour of noise and hysterics, after which Jane felt able to leave her mother with the housekeeper and go down to the kitchen and make herself a drink of hot milk. The room was once more in darkness, the tea, for her mother’s nerves, having already been made and taken up. Placing her candlestick on the dresser she busied herself finding milk from the slate shelf in the pantry and a copper pan from the rack on the wall.

  Taking her drink, she returned to her apartment. She would write to her sister before she went back to bed; no one else would think to do so, she was sure. This information was going to spoil Elizabeth’s trip, but although it pained her, she knew Lizzy would want to know immediately what had taken place.

  She found the half written letter she had started the previous night and decided she would continue on the same sheet of paper. Her thoughts were in a jumb
le; she was bewildered by what had happened. It was so imprudent a match on both sides, but she was willing to hope for the best, and that somehow Wickham’s character had been misunderstood. He was thoughtless and indiscreet, but she did not think that this elopement indicated anything bad at heart.

  She found it difficult to compose herself sufficiently to write without alarming her sister. The letter was blotted, with many crossings out and she feared Elizabeth would not be able to decipher it. Quickly folding it she wrote the address, hoping it would arrive without delay at its destination.

  The night was warm, her windows open to let in what little breeze there was. Jane removed her night robe and climbed back into the bed she usually shared with her sister. It was impossible to sleep. Whatever reassurances her father had given to the contrary, it did not seem to be a satisfactory conclusion to Lydia’s impulsive behaviour. How could a girl so young and inexperienced make a success of married life? And Wickham? Although his choice had been disinterested at least, he must know Lydia brought nothing with her.

  The runaways must have passed within ten miles of Longbourn. If only they had stopped to consider how wrong were their actions, her poor parents would not have to endure the worry of having a daughter missing.

  * * * *

  Pemberley in July was the perfect place to be, Charles decided, as his carriage rolled to a halt outside the magnificent edifice. There were no importunate young women hoping for a smile from him and with his closest friend on hand to entertain him, he was as content as he would ever be without Jane at his side. Since the duel his admiration for his friend had grown. He was a man of many parts, able to extract himself from difficult situations and enjoy so doing.

  Liveried footmen raced to let down the steps and his friend strolled round from the stables to greet him in person. ‘Did you have an uneventful journey down? Miss Bingley and the Hursts arrived earlier today, they are already making themselves at home.’

  ‘I am glad to be here, and to see you looking so relaxed, my friend. Indeed, I can safely say I have never seen you look so well.’

  Darcy smiled. ‘We are not the only ones in Derbyshire, Bingley. Elizabeth Bennet and her uncle and aunt, Mr and Mrs Gardiner are staying at Lambton. I am taking Georgiana to meet her tomorrow.’

  Charles thought that his friend’s buoyant mood was quite out of proportion to his having a chance encounter with a mere acquaintance. Were his earlier suspicions correct? Did Darcy have an interest in Elizabeth after all? He hoped that might be so. Whatever the outcome of that relationship her unexpected appearance in Derbyshire would give him the opportunity to enquire how Jane was doing.

  If he could manoeuvre the conversation in the correct direction he would ask Elizabeth why Jane had not replied to his letter, perhaps he might discover there was an innocent explanation.

  Charles felt happier than he had in months. To be able to talk about the woman he loved to someone who loved her too! He was overjoyed at the prospect.

  The next morning he waited until Darcy and Georgiana had left and then followed on horseback. His subterfuge was pointless as his friend saw him arrive at the inn; at least his arrival would not be a surprise to anyone.

  He hurried up the stairs and into the room. He could not help greeting Elizabeth with warmth, he had grown fond of Jane’s sister the few times they had met last year. However he could not ask the questions he most desired the answers to, at least not yet, but he was determined to speak to her in private as soon as possible and find out more about Jane.

  ‘Miss Elizabeth, how is everybody at Longbourn? I do apologize for not having returned to Netherfield; I have been much involved with business and other things. You know how it is, when in town and involved in society the months fly by.’ He hoped he sounded like a man who had not been pining for an unrequited love.

  ‘My family are well, thank you for your kind enquiry, Mr Bingley.’

  ‘I hear that Miss Lucas is now married to Mr Collins and residing in Hunsford?’

  ‘Yes, I spent some weeks with her and am pleased to report that she is happy in her new life.’

  ‘Are you staying long in Derbyshire?’ Miss Elizabeth answered that they were to return in two weeks as Mr Gardiner had urgent business in town. He had no opportunity to ask directly how Jane was, if she still remembered him with kindness, until just before they left.

  ‘I am very sorry that it has been so long since I have had the pleasure of seeing you. It is about eight months. We have not met since the 26th of November, we were all dancing together at Netherfield.’

  The mere mention of that evening reminded him how lovely Jane had looked, their shared amazement at their extraordinary supper and the way she had felt in his arms when they had danced. That night he had been so happy believing the next day she would agree to be his wife. Was it possible he could start to hope again? He did not allow her to comment but continued, hoping she would understand his meaning.

  ‘Are all your sisters at Longbourn at present, Miss Elizabeth?’

  ‘Lydia is in Brighton with Colonel and Mrs Forster, Kitty and Jane are at Longbourn looking after my little nieces and nephews whilst my aunt and uncle are here with me in Derbyshire.’

  Charles felt his heart swell inside him at the mention of the woman he loved. He knew that Jane would be affectionate with children, she was the sweetest girl imaginable.

  Darcy came across to interrupt their conversation and Charles had never been less pleased to see him. He could have sat and talked to Elizabeth about Jane all day. ‘I have invited Mr and Mrs Gardiner and yourself to dine with us at Pemberley, ma’am. I hope that is acceptable?’

  Bingley saw her cheeks colour as she answered in the affirmative. The party were taking their leave, but he bowed and spoke quietly to her. ‘I am delighted that you are coming to Pemberley the day after tomorrow, I have many enquiries to make after all my Hertfordshire friends.’

  He was satisfied that she understood his oblique reference to Jane; when they met next he would make his questions more direct. He wanted to know which friends Jane had been staying with in January when he had visited Meryton and found her absent.

  He rode home in high spirits and was pleased to see Darcy as happy as he had ever seen him. Was there a romance in the wind between Elizabeth and his friend? It would be interesting to study them when they were together at dinner in two days time.

  Charles spent a restless night, unable to sleep, his head full of images of Jane. His life had taken on a new purpose, he had began to hope again. He dressed in good spirits and was downstairs breaking his fast when his sisters came in.

  ‘Good heavens! I did not expect to see you two down so early.’

  ‘Good morning, Charles. We intend to take the barouche into the village and wish to be there before it gets too hot.’ Caroline helped herself to a tiny portion of mushrooms and tomatoes and took it to a place at the table.

  ‘The village? What can be there be in such a tiny place to get my two sisters out of bed before noon?’

  Louisa laughed. ‘The housekeeper informed us there is to be a fair on the green this morning and there will be a fortune teller. I have always wanted to visit such a person and now have the ideal opportunity.’

  The very idea of either of his elegant sisters allowing a gypsy lady to touch them made him smile. ‘In which case I shall accompany you, I should very much like to know what fate has in store for me.’

  His sisters returned vastly disappointed by the excursion as the promised clairvoyant had failed to appear. Nothing could dampen his enthusiasm for the day. Darcy met him in the entrance hall his face white and strained.

  ‘Bingley, thank God you are back at last. I have to go to London immediately but I did not wish to leave until I had spoken to you personally.’

  ‘Can it not wait until Miss Elizabeth and her relatives have dined tomorrow?’

  ‘Mr Gardiner has been called back on urgent business so they would not have been able to come anyway. You are very
welcome to remain here in my absence and keep Georgiana company.’

  Charles heard the travelling carriage pulling up outside and then noticed Darcy’s trunk was packed and waiting by the door. ‘Take care, and do not worry about us, we shall entertain ourselves quite happily.’

  However his pleasure in the day had vanished now he knew he was not going to be able to talk to Elizabeth about Jane. It was curious that both she and Darcy had been obliged to leave so suddenly, but it was none of his concern. He decided to go out for a ride, it would give him time to think about his next move.

  On his return he was met by Caroline. ‘Charles, did you know that Darcy has deserted us? It is the outside of enough to invite us here and then abandon us to our own devices.’

  ‘He had to go to London, but you have Georgiana here to entertain you. I thought you loved being at Pemberley.’

  She scowled at him. ‘I do hope Miss Elizabeth and her dreadful relatives shall not turn up to dine tomorrow. I could not bear it, not without Mr Darcy to deflect their common behaviour.’

  Charles stared at his sister with dislike. Had she always been so supercilious and he had never noticed? ‘As it happens Mr and Mrs Gardiner have also returned to town and Miss Elizabeth has obviously gone with them.’

  Her mouth pinched. ‘Good, that, at least, is something I can be pleased about. And you are quite right, I do love Pemberley, I wish I could live here always. I shall go at once and tell Georgiana that I am to take charge of her in her brother’s absence.’

  This was the last thing Darcy would want. He had no intention of staying at Pemberley himself, he would ride to London and see if he could find the courage to visit Longbourn and try to persuade Jane to reconsider.

  * * * *

  Jane did not close her eyes all night, she could think of nothing else but the disaster that had overcome the family. If only Wickham’s character had been revealed this would never have happened. The next morning was no better, it was her duty to tell her sisters what had happened.