Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice Sequel Bundle: 3 Reader Favorites

by Linda Berdoll

  ‘…but she ignored my warning and leapt to his defence in the wildest way.’

  I was about to put an end to her conversation, as it was causing me no small degree of pain, when another voice penetrated the chatter. I recognized the strident tones at once. They were those of Mrs Bennet. I had no wish to listen to her conversation, but it was impossible not to hear what she was saying.

  ‘Ah! She is so beautiful I knew she could not be so beautiful for nothing. My lovely Jane. And Mr Bingley! What a handsome man. What an air of fashion. And such pleasing manners. And then, of course, there is Netherfield. It is just the right distance from us, for she will not like to be too close, not with her own establishment to see to, and yet it will take no time at all for her to come and visit us in the carriage. I dare say she will have a very fine carriage. Probably two fine carriages. Or perhaps three. The cost of a carriage is nothing to a man with five thousand pounds a year.’

  I found myself growing rigid as I listened to her running on.

  ‘And then his sisters are so fond of her.’

  I was glad that Caroline’s attention had been claimed by a young man to her left, and that she did not hear. Her fondness for Jane would evaporate in a moment if she knew where Mrs Bennet’s thoughts were tending. But it was not just Mrs Bennet’s thoughts. Sir William’s thoughts had been running in the same direction.

  I looked along the table, and saw Bingley talking to Miss Bennet. His manner was as open as ever, but I thought I detected something of more than usual regard. In fact, the longer I watched him, the more I became sure that his feelings were engaged. I watched Miss Bennet, and although I could tell that she was pleased to talk to him, she gave no signs that her feelings were in any way attached. I breathed more easily. If I could but remove Bingley from the neighbourhood, I felt sure that he would soon forget her, and she would forget him.

  If it had only been a matter of Miss Bennet, I might not have been so concerned at the thought of Bingley marrying her, but it was not only a matter of Miss Bennet, it was a matter of her mother, who was an unbridled gossip, and her indolent father, and her three younger sisters who were either fools or common flirts, and her uncle in Cheapside, and her uncle the attorney, and on top of all this, her strange connection, the obsequious clergyman….

  As I listened to Mrs Bennet, I felt the time was fast approaching when I must take a hand. I could not abandon my friend to such a fate, when a little effort on my part would extricate him from his predicament.

  I was sure that with a few weeks in London, he would soon find a new flirt.

  ‘I only hope you may be so fortunate, Lady Lucas,’ Mrs Bennet continued, though evidently believing there was no chance of her neighbour sharing her fortune. ‘To have a daughter so well settled – what a wonderful thing!’

  Supper was over. It was followed by a display from Mary Bennet, whose singing was as bad as her playing. To make matters worse, when her father finally removed her from the pianoforte, he did so in such a way as to make any decent person blush.

  ‘That will do extremely well, child. You have delighted us long enough. Let the other young ladies have time to exhibit.’

  Was there ever a more ill-judged speech?

  The evening could not be over too soon, but by some coincidence or contrivance, I know not which, the Bennet carriage was the last to arrive.

  ‘Lord, how tired I am!’ exclaimed Lydia Bennet, giving a violent yawn that set Caroline and Louisa exchanging satirical glances.

  Mrs Bennet would not be quiet, and talked incessantly. Mr Bennet made no effort to check her, and it was one of the most uncomfortable quarter-hours of my life. To save Bingley from such company became uppermost in my mind.

  ‘You will come to a family dinner with us, I hope, Mr Bingley?’ said Mrs Bennet.

  ‘Nothing would give me greater pleasure,’ he said. ‘I have some business to attend to in London, but I will wait upon you as soon as I return.’

  The knowledge delighted me. It means I will not have to think of a way of removing him from the neighbourhood, for if he happens to remain in London, then the contact with Miss Bennet will be broken and he will not think of her any more.

  I intend to speak to Caroline, to make sure that Jane’s affections are not engaged, and if I find, as I suspect, that they are not, then I shall suggest that we remove to London with Bingley and persuade him to remain there. A winter in town will cure him of his affections, and leave him free to bestow them on a more deserving object.

  Wednesday 27th November

  Bingley left for London today.

  ‘Caroline, I wish to speak to you,’ I said, when he had departed.

  Caroline looked up from her book and smiled.

  ‘I am at your disposal.’

  ‘It is about Miss Bennet that I wish to speak.’

  Her smile dropped, and I felt I was right in thinking that her affection for her friend was on the wane.

  ‘There were several allusions made at the ball, suggesting that some of Bingley’s new neighbours were expecting a marriage to take place between him and Miss Bennet.’

  ‘What!’ cried Caroline.

  ‘I thought it would distress you. I can see nothing in Miss Bennet’s manner that makes me think she is in love, but I want your advice. You know her better than I do. You have been in her confidence. Does she entertain tender feelings for your brother? Because, if so, those feelings must not be trifled with.’

  ‘She has none at all,’ said Caroline, setting my mind at rest.

  ‘You are sure of this?’

  ‘I am indeed. She has talked of my brother a number of times, but only in the terms she uses for every other young man of her acquaintance. Why, I am sure she has never thought of Charles in that light. She knows he does not mean to settle at Netherfield, and she is simply amusing herself whilst he is here.’

  ‘It is as I thought. But Bingley’s feelings are in a fair way to being engaged.’

  ‘I have had the same fear. If he should be foolish enough to ally himself with that family, he will regret it for ever.’

  ‘He will. I think we must separate them, before their behaviour gives rise to even more expectations. If it does, there will come a time when those expectations must be fulfilled, or the lady’s reputation will suffer irreparable harm.’

  ‘You are quite right. We must not damage dear Jane’s reputation. She is such a sweet girl. Louisa and I quite dote on her. She must not be harmed.’

  Mr Hurst interrupted us at that moment.

  ‘Coming to dine with the officers?’ he asked. ‘They invited me to go along. Sure you’d be welcome.’

  ‘No,’ I said. I wanted to finish my conversation with Caroline.

  Hurst managed an idle shrug and called for the carriage.

  ‘I propose we follow Bingley to London. If we stay with him there, he will have no reason to return,’ I said.

  ‘An excellent plan. I will write to Jane tomorrow. I will say nothing out of the ordinary, but I will let her know that Charles will not be returning this winter, and I will wish her enjoyment of her many beaux this Christmas.’

  Thursday 28th November

  Caroline’s letter was written and sent this morning, shortly before we departed for London.

  ‘Heard the damnedest thing in Meryton last night,’ said Mr Hurst as the coach rattled along on its way to London.

  I did not pay much attention, but on his continuing I found myself attending to him.

  ‘The Bennet girl – what was her name?’

  ‘Jane,’ supplied Louisa.

  ‘No, not her, the other one. The one with the petticoat.’

  ‘Ah, you mean Elizabeth.’

  ‘That’s the one. Had an offer from the clergyman.’

  ‘An offer? From the clergyman? What do you mean?’ asked Caroline and Louisa together.

  ‘An offer of marriage. Collins. That was his name.’

  ‘Mr Collins! How delicious!’ said Louisa.

  ‘
It seems that Mr Collins is another admirer of fine eyes,’ said Caroline, looking at me satirically. ‘I think they will deal well together. One is all impertinence, and the other is all imbecility.’

  I had not known, till I heard this, how far my feelings had gone. The idea of Elizabeth marrying Mr Collins was mortifying, and painful in a way I had not imagined. I quickly rallied. Hurst must be mistaken. She could not lower herself so far. To be tied to that clod for the rest of her life…

  ‘You must be mistaken,’ I said.

  ‘Not mistaken at all,’ said Hurst. ‘Had it from Denny.’

  ‘It is not a bad match,’ said Louisa, considering. ‘In fact, it is a good one. There are five daughters, all unmarried, and their estate is entailed, I believe.’

  ‘Entailed on Collins,’ said Mr Hurst.

  ‘All the better,’ said Louisa. ‘Miss Eliza Bennet will not have to leave her home, and her sisters will have somewhere to live when her father dies.’

  ‘And so will her mother,’ said Caroline gaily. ‘How charming to be confined with Mrs Bennet for the rest of their lives!’

  I had never liked Caroline less. I would not wish such a fate on anyone, and certainly not on Elizabeth. She suffers for her mother. I have seen it. She blushes every time her mother reveals her foolishness. To be forced to endure such humiliation for the rest of her life…

  ‘But I wonder why he did not ask Jane,’ said Louisa.

  ‘Jane?’ enquired Caroline.

  ‘Yes. She is the eldest.’

  Caroline looked at me. I knew what she was thinking. Mr Collins had not asked Jane, because Mrs Bennet had led him to believe that Jane was shortly to be married to Bingley.

  ‘I dare say, with the estate entailed, he thought he could have his choice,’ Caroline said. ‘Miss Eliza Bennet’s pertness must have appealed to him, though I am not sure she will make a suitable wife for a clergyman. What say you, Mr Darcy?’

  I said nothing, for fear of saying something I should regret. I could not possibly allow myself to admire Elizabeth, so what did it matter if another man did? But I found that my hands were clenched and, looking down, perceived my knuckles had grown white.

  She looked at me, expecting an answer, however, and at last I said, more to satisfy my own feelings than hers: ‘It might come to nothing. Denny might be mistaken.’

  ‘I do not see how,’ said Caroline. ‘He is as thick as thieves with Lydia. He knows everything that goes on in that household I dare say.’

  ‘Lydia is a child, and might have been wrong,’ I heard myself saying.

  ‘Denny did not have it from Lydia,’ said Mr Hurst. ‘Had it from the aunt. Aunt lives in Meryton. Told Denny herself. Whole house was in an uproar, she said. First Mr Collins offers for Elizabeth, then Elizabeth tells him she will not have him.’

  ‘Will not have him?’

  I heard the hope in my voice.

  ‘Refused him. Mother in hysterics. Father on her side,’ said Mr Hurst.

  God bless Mr Bennet! I thought, prepared to forgive him every other instance of neglect.

  ‘If she doesn’t change her mind and have him, he will have the Lucas girl,’ said Mr Hurst.

  ‘How do you know?’ asked Caroline in surprise.

  ‘Aunt said so. “If Lizzy doesn’t look sharp, Charlotte will have him,” she said. “He has to marry, his patroness has told him so, and one girl is as good as another in the end.” ’

  I breathed again. It was only when I did so that I realized how deeply I had been attracted by Elizabeth. It was a good thing I was going to London. I had saved Bingley from an imprudent match, I could do no less for myself. Once out of Elizabeth’s neighbourhood, I would cease to think about her. I would engage in rational conversation with rational women, and think no more of her saucy wit.

  We arrived in London in good time. Bingley was surprised to see us.

  ‘We did not want you to be alone here, and to have to spend your free hours in a comfortless hotel,’ said Caroline.

  ‘But my business will only take a few days!’ he said in surprise.

  ‘I hope you will not go before seeing Georgiana,’ I said. ‘I know she would like to see you.’

  ‘Dear Georgiana,’ said Caroline. ‘Do say we can stay in town for a week, Charles.’

  ‘I do not know why I should not stay an extra day or two,’ he conceded. ‘I should like to see Georgiana myself. Tell me, Darcy, is she much grown?’

  ‘You would not recognize her,’ I said. ‘She is no longer a girl. She is well on the way to becoming a woman.’

  ‘But still young enough to enjoy Christmas?’ Caroline asked.

  I smiled. ‘I believe so. You must stay and celebrate it with us.’

  ‘We will not be staying so long,’ said Bingley.

  ‘What, and miss Christmas with Darcy and Georgiana?’ asked Caroline.

  ‘But I promised to dine with the Bennets,’ he said. ‘Mrs Bennet asked me particularly, and in the kindest manner.’

  ‘Are you to abandon old friends for new?’ cried Caroline. ‘Mrs Bennet said you could dine with her family at any time. I heard her say so myself. The Bennets will still be there after Christmas.’

  Bingley looked uncertain, but then he said: ‘Very well. We will stay in town for Christmas.’ He began to look more cheerful. ‘I dare say it will be good fun. It is always better to celebrate Christmas when there are children in the house.’

  This did not bode well for his feelings towards Georgiana, but I comforted myself with the fact that he had not seen her for a long time, and that although she might have seemed like a child the last time they met, she was now clearly becoming a young woman.

  ‘And once it is over, we will go to Hertfordshire for the New Year,’ he said. ‘I will write to Miss Bennet and tell her of our plans.’

  ‘There is no need for that,’ said Caroline. ‘I will be writing to her today. I will tell her so myself.’

  ‘Send her my best wishes,’ said Bingley.

  ‘Indeed I will.’

  ‘And tell her we will be in Hertfordshire in January.’

  ‘I will make sure I do so.’

  ‘Commend me to her family.’

  ‘Of course.’

  He would have gone on, but I broke in with: ‘Then it is settled.’

  Caroline left the room in order to write her letter. Louisa and her husband went, too, and Bingley and I were left alone.

  ‘A Christmas to look forward to, and a New Year to look forward to even more,’ said Bingley.

  ‘You like Miss Bennet,’ I observed.

  ‘I have never met a girl I liked half so well.’

  I sat down, and Bingley sat down opposite me.

  ‘And yet I am not sure she would make you a good wife,’ I said pensively.

  ‘What do you mean?’ he asked, surprised.

  ‘Her low connections – ’

  ‘I do not intend to marry her connections!’ said Bingley with a laugh.

  ‘An uncle who is an attorney, another who lives in Cheapside. They can add nothing to your consequence, and will, in the end, diminish it.’

  Bingley’s smile faded.

  ‘I cannot see that it matters. What need have I of consequence?’

  ‘Every gentleman needs consequence. And then there are the sisters.’

  ‘Miss Elizabeth is a charming girl.’

  He had hit me at my weakest spot, but I was firm with myself and rallied.

  ‘Her sisters are, for the most part, ignorant and vulgar. The youngest is a hardened flirt.’

  ‘There will be no need for us to see them,’ said Bingley.

  ‘My dear Bingley, you cannot live at Netherfield and not see them. They will always be there. So will her mother.’

  ‘Then we will not live at Netherfield. I have not yet bought the estate. It is only rented. We will settle elsewhere.’

  ‘But would Jane consent to it?’

  His face fell.

  ‘If she felt a strong attachment to yo
u, perhaps she might be persuaded to leave her neighbourhood,’ I said.

  ‘You think she does not feel it?’ asked Bingley uncertainly.

  ‘She is a delightful girl, but she showed no more pleasure in your company than in any other man’s.’

  He chewed his lip.

  ‘I thought…she seemed pleased to talk to me…seemed pleased to dance with me…I rather thought she seemed more pleased with me than any other man. When we danced together – ’

  ‘You danced but twice at each ball, and she danced twice with other men.’

  ‘She did,’ he admitted, ‘but I thought that was just because it would have been rude to refuse.’

  ‘Perhaps it would have been rude of her to refuse you.’

  ‘You think she only danced with me to be polite?’ he asked in consternation.

  ‘I would not go so far. I think she enjoyed dancing with you, and talking to you, and flirting with you. But I think she enjoyed it no more than with other men, and now that you are not in Hertfordshire – ’

  ‘I must go back,’ he said, standing up. ‘I knew it.’

  ‘But if she is indifferent, you will only give yourself pain.’

  ‘If she is indifferent. You do not know that she is.’

  ‘No, I do not know it, but I observed her closely, and I could see no sign of particular regard.’

  ‘You observed her?’ he asked in surprise.

  ‘Your singling her out was beginning to attract attention. Others had noticed besides myself. If it had been gone on much longer, you would have been obliged to have made her an offer.’

  ‘I would have liked to have made her an offer,’ he corrected me, then faltered. ‘Do you think she would have accepted?’

  ‘Of course. It would have been a good match for her. You have a considerable income, and a beautiful house. She would have been settled near her family. There is no question of her refusing. But should you like to be married for those reasons?’

  He looked doubtful.

  ‘I would rather be married for myself,’ he conceded.

  ‘And so you will be, one day.’

  He sat down again.