Elizabeth smiled, and a few minutes later, she took her farewell.
The realization that she had lost her dear friend—as she had known her—saddened Elizabeth. She shared with Jane the conclusions of her unpleasant visit, and her sister replied kindly.
“Dear Lizzy, let us not judge Charlotte so harshly. It is good news that she has adjusted to her marriage and she and her husband are alike in thinking. Is this not better than being unhappy?”
“You are right, of course; I would be even sadder to know her unhappy.”
“You know, Lizzy, I wonder what is best: to be as happy as you can in an unhappy marriage or to suffer for what could have been a truly blissful union. I am tempted to say that Charlotte was the wisest of us all and that she chose to make the best she could of what fate offered her.”
“Dearest Jane…I do not know what to answer to this…but I wonder.”
“Lizzy, let us just be grateful that Charlotte has a good marriage and will be blessed with a child soon. Any other thought would be a sign of selfishness on our part.”
“True. How can I argue with your generous heart and your sound judgement, dearest?” Elizabeth embraced her beloved sister.
The Collinses presence in Meryton was the most interesting news for a few days. Sir William and Lady Lucas hosted a dinner party to which the Bennets were invited. Mrs. Bennet complained about the torture of being in the presence of those who would soon throw her out of the house—but still attended.
Mr. Collins spent quite a lot of time with Mr. Bennet, inquiring about the reason for his journey to London. Then he moved to Elizabeth to inform her about the latest news from Rosings.
“Lady Catherine de Bourgh informed me that she was expecting Mr. Darcy to visit her again soon. I have faith that the event everybody is eagerly waiting for will soon happen.”
“I am glad to hear it,” Elizabeth replied with forced politeness although her heart was beating unsteadily.
“Lady Catherine was quite displeased that Mr. Darcy spent time with Mr. Bingley in Hertfordshire,” Mr. Collins continued.
“I am afraid I cannot be of any help in this. Lady Catherine should express her displeasure to the gentleman directly,” Elizabeth said.
“She did so—most decidedly. As soon as I informed her ladyship of Mr. Darcy’s presence at Netherfield, she sent him a long reprimanding letter on the matter.”
Elizabeth breathed deeply to calm herself. So, Mr. Collins was the source of Lady Catherine’s knowledge. She was exceedingly curious to know what reply Mr. Darcy had sent in return. But she knew she could not find in Mr. Collins the answer she sought. As though he guessed her thoughts, he continued proudly.
“It is my duty and my joy to inform Lady Catherine about everything I happen to discover. I am grateful to have her appreciation for my diligence.”
“It seems to be a perfect arrangement, Mr. Collins. Both you and Lady Catherine receive what you wish. How fortunate that you two met!”
“That is true, my dear cousin. I cannot stop praising the Lord for my good luck in my marriage and in my profession. I am truly blessed. If you—my dear cousins—could have only a little of my fortune and bliss, you would be content and grateful.”
“Indeed,” Elizabeth responded sternly then excused herself, joining Charlotte and the other ladies. Conversation with Mr. Collins was as unpleasant and irritating as ever, and the discussion of Lady Catherine made her thoughts fly back to Mr. Darcy. She refused to allow her fears to wonder about the result of Mr. Darcy’s visiting his aunt again. That—if it were true—could have countless meanings, including the worst for her, which she was determined not to consider.
The evening came to an end eventually, for which the Bennets were all grateful. Mr. Bennet declared it was the last time he would accept such an invitation while Mrs. Bennet found reason to criticize the food, the arrangements, Charlotte Collins’s appearance, and much more. Kitty complained about the lack of dancing and Mary about the tiredness of a long evening. Elizabeth and Jane said nothing.
The following day at noon, rumours turned the Collinses into a subject of little interest as another visit captured the attention and interest of everybody in the neighbourhood. At Longbourn, the news was brought by Hill, who had heard from her husband that servants were ordered to open Netherfield Park once more and prepare for the arrival of its master no later than the following day.
This piece of information fell like thunder over the Bennet ladies, throwing three of them into deep turmoil. Mr. Bennet became aware of the extraordinary novelty a few moments later when his wife barged into the library.
“Mr. Bennet! Mr. Bingley is coming back! He is coming back!” she cried.
Mr. Bennet rolled his eyes and replied calmly, “Is he? Well, then I had better return to my reading in case Mr. Darcy joins him and wants his books back.”
The astonishing notion that Mr. Bingley might return turned Jane pale with astonishment; Kitty and Mary looked at her with restraint, not knowing how to react. Neither of them noticed the slight blush on Elizabeth’s face, as neither of them could imagine there was another sister equally affected by the news.
A few moments later, Jane excused herself and hurried to her room, followed by Elizabeth. Inside, the eldest Miss Bennet moved to the window and stared outside absently.
“It seemed Mr. Darcy was right, Lizzy.”
“Yes…”
“As I said before,” Jane spoke in a less certain voice, “I am not afraid of seeing Mr. Bingley again, for I feel nothing for him anymore—not pain or anguish. I am as strong as I was before I knew his name. And I hope he will come unaccompanied, for we are to see less of him and be spared other people’s comments.”
A short silence followed, and then Jane continued.
“I wonder whether Mr. Darcy will come too. Would you like to see him, Lizzy? Since you parted on friendly terms, Mr. Darcy might come to greet you and Papa. And perhaps he will bring Mr. Bingley too…I wonder how long it will take for them to run away from Longbourn again.”
“Dear Jane, you trouble yourself too much. I can only imagine how disturbing this news is for you. We can do nothing but wait and see what happens. But dearest, of one thing I am certain: if Mr. Bingley wished to run away from any of us, he would surely not return. He could easily give up Netherfield and rent another property if he desired.”
“Yes, you are right, Lizzy. We can do nothing but wait and see…”
The rest of the day, Jane was lost in her silence and barely answered any questions. Elizabeth felt her sister’s torment, together with her own. She too wondered whether Mr. Darcy would join his friend. If so, it appeared Mr. Collins’s statement about another visit to Lady Catherine was a falsehood.
And if he did come, how would he behave—as he previously did in Hertfordshire, or as in London? She shivered as she remembered their dance together, their fingers touching, their private conversation, the glances and smiles they exchanged at Crampton’s Ball. Was that real, or did she only dream it? And what were his feelings for her? Was his declared admiration still alive? If so, where would all these lead? Would he even consider bonding himself to her—and to her family?
And— even more important—did she truly desire to be bound to him for life? To this last question, both her heart and her mind answered “yes” in complete harmony. She admitted what she had realized a long time ago: that Mr. Darcy, against all odds, and even against her own prejudices, for there had been many such prejudices, was the perfect match for her. Mr. Darcy made her feel equal as a human being, not only as a woman. She had confronted him, debated with him, opposed him in every way she had thought appropriate on more than one occasion, and not once he had belittled her or even made her feel less deserving for doing so.
Elizabeth recounted the times she heard him speak about subjects of life, or general or particular impressions, and realized now how fortunate she had been to know him—and even more so to have retained Mr. Darcy’s attention and affection.
He was bold enough to declare it, even if the moment he chose was not the most inviting one. And now, when the situation of her family was resolved, Elizabeth hoped that she would have another chance to express herself as well.
But was such a union even imaginable, or was it only her foolish dream? Was he not expected to accomplish his duty by marrying his cousin? And if he was truly engaged to Miss de Bourgh, how could he dare to mention his high opinion of her or dance with her in such a familiar manner in London?
Doubts and fears overwhelmed her again, and the more she understood her own wishes, the more her hopes evaded her. Finally, she demanded of herself to show a little reason and to do what she had recommended to Jane: wait and see what fate had prepared for them.
At the dinner table, all conversation concerned the upcoming visit of Netherfield’s master.
“My dear Mr. Bennet,” said Mrs. Bennet in a state of great agitation, “you must call on Mr. Bingley no later than tomorrow. You must ask him what his plans are. I am sure he plans to remain here at least until winter! And you must invite him to a hunting party for the day after tomorrow before anyone else does that. And—”
Her tirade was interrupted by Mr. Bennet’s pounding on the table with his hand, making the dishes tremble with a frightening noise, and all the ladies started and gasped in surprise. He then thundered in a manner nobody had heard in the last twenty years.
“Mrs. Bennet!!! I MUST do nothing! And you will most certainly not do anything and speak very little to Mr. Bingley! I shall not allow any of us to look ridiculous in the gentleman’s eyes ever again. The shameful situation of the picnic will not be repeated! We shall not make a single gesture or say a single word that trespasses the limits of decorum and propriety! I shall not seize the man to trap him into a marriage with any of my daughters! Enough is enough! Do I make myself understand clearly enough?”
Mrs. Bennet stared at her husband with her mouth and eyes wide, blinking repeatedly several times, apparently struggling to comprehend his demands. Never in her life had she had to bear such a severe censure, and she was lost for an answer. Finally, Mr. Bennet repeated his question, and his wife nodded in approval while their daughters watched them, completely dumfounded.
“Very well! Now it seems we are finally ready for dinner. I confess I am quite hungry,” the master of the house declared, and nobody contradicted him.
Chapter Twenty-Three
That evening and night passed with great distress for both Elizabeth and Jane. They startled at every entrance of a servant, glanced outside at every noise of carriage or horse, and barely held any conversation with their family. However, the hours passed, and nothing special happened.
Eventually, all retired to their chambers, and once alone, Elizabeth watched her eldest sister intently. Neither of them dared to approach the subject that held their interest.
“I wonder how Lydia is,” Jane asked.
Elizabeth was surprised by the topic. “I hope she is enjoying her time…and behaves properly enough to avoid disapproval and gossip.”
Jane waited for an instant and then spoke again. “Lizzy, what do you think of Papa? These last days, he has been unlike himself, as though he is upset about something…”
“I believe he was only tired of the din. I can well understand him.”
“Yes, so can I.” Elizabeth hoped to encourage Jane to go to sleep. But she did not.
“I wonder whether Mr. Bingley has arrived…I mean—travelling at night can be dangerous…” Jane whispered.
“I trust he arrived safely. He is a responsible gentleman and knows how to take care of himself. I am certain he does not travel alone,” Elizabeth replied.
“He must have several servants with him,” Jane added.
Elizabeth said nothing more, though she was thinking of completely different company to ensure Mr. Bingley’s safety.
Long after midnight, silence fell on the room. Though sleep was still far away, the two young women remained trapped in their thoughts, and no other words were spoken until the sun rose.
Around noon, as the young ladies of the Bennet house were busy with needlework or reading, Hill entered the drawing room hastily with intense whispers to her mistress.
“They are here, ma’am! They are here!”
“You mean—he is here? Mr. Bingley? Oh, dear Lord!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed while Hill only nodded, trying to catch her breath.
Elizabeth lifted her eyes from a book—the one borrowed from Mr. Darcy that she had already enjoyed a couple of times—felt her cheeks burning, and immediately directed her gaze towards the window. A heartbeat was enough for her to recognize Mr. Bingley at the main gate, followed only a few steps behind by his friend. Cold chills ran along Elizabeth’s spine while Jane turned pale and put down her needlework.
“It is Mr. Bingley and his friend, ma’am,” Hill continued. “That tall and proud gentleman—”
“Mr. Darcy is with Mr. Bingley? And they have come unannounced! How can this be? Oh, my dear! What are we to do?”
She turned to her eldest daughter and quickly brushed her gown and hair, whispering to her to smile nicely.
“Who has come?” Mary asked in frustration at not hearing the source of such agitation.
“La, Mary! It is Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy. That ‘never say a good word about anyone’ gentleman!”
“Mama!” Elizabeth stopped her mother with a low, scolding voice. “Please try not to offend them even before they set foot in the house.”
“I shall not—do not worry! But I cannot be stopped from feeling as I do!”
Hill announced the two guests, and they entered the room. Mr. Bingley came in first, smiling yet obviously embarrassed with his eyes directed at Jane as he bowed ceremoniously to Mrs. Bennet. Jane became flushed, and she clasped her hands together in front of her, rubbing them nervously.
While the ladies welcomed Mr. Bingley, Elizabeth dared a glance towards the door where Mr. Darcy appeared. He stepped in, bowed with restrained politeness, greeted the ladies properly, and then remained still.
Elizabeth averted her eyes then turned them to him again, meeting his. He appeared very much his old self—barely speaking to anyone, barely looking at anyone.
Elizabeth struggled to keep her composure. She felt disappointed, although she barely knew what she expected from him. It was odd enough that he was at Longbourn again, supporting his friend. Could she demand more?
Their eyes met, then he lowered his to her hands—where the book was resting. Suddenly, a tentative, hidden smile twisted his lips. Her heart beat faster, and her skin shivered—and she smiled back at him.
The rest of the party were too distracted by the loud conversation between Mr. Bingley and Mrs. Bennet—who kept asking the gentleman questions without allowing him time to respond—to notice either Elizabeth or Mr. Darcy.
In the midst of the din, the master of the house entered. His wife suddenly quieted while the gentlemen bowed to Mr. Bennet, who responded with a warm welcome.
“I am quite pleased do see you in the neighbourhood again, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley. Would you like to join me in the library for a drink?”
Mr. Bingley looked puzzled, glancing from Jane to her father.
“Yes, of course…I…”
“We would enjoy that very much, but perhaps we could have refreshments here so we enjoy the ladies’ company as well?” Mr. Darcy addressed the host.
Both Elizabeth and Jane blushed, and Mrs. Bennet felt a sudden partiality for the proud man as Bingley nodded in support.
Mr. Bennet dared not refuse his guest’s request. “Of course, as you wish, sir.”
Seats were taken, and that meant another moment of confusion for Mr. Bingley, who could not decide whether he should sit close to Jane so he could speak to her or farther away so he could admire her.
Finally, Mrs. Bennet invited him next to her while Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet took chairs in the corner of the room.
Elizabeth’s torment grew with every pass
ing moment. She held the book tightly and watched carefully for any small gesture or glance that could have a hidden meaning.
The conversation between her father and Darcy seemed easy, even friendly. More than once, she met the blue eyes looking at her, and each time she flushed but held them. As for Jane and Mr. Bingley, in a little while, it became obvious that time and separation had not weakened their bond. Mr. Bingley mentioned several times that he had missed Netherfield dearly and regretted leaving it. He declared he was encouraged by his friend to return rather sooner than later—a revelation that increased Mrs. Bennet’s instant affection for Mr. Darcy. She admitted that one must always listen to an older and wiser friend and that Mr. Bingley was quite fortunate to have such an advisor.
Elizabeth’s heart beat unsteadily during the entire visit. The confirmation that he had kept his word and had brought Mr. Bingley back—close to Jane—and passed over his disapproval of her family behaviour melted her heart. A shy hope flourished in her mind that perhaps it was also his desire to see her again. Why else would he have come too?
The afternoon of renewed the joy at Longbourn passed quickly, and the guests eventually took their leave.
Mrs. Bennet insisted the gentlemen return for dinner the next day. Mr. Bingley looked at his friend—who nodded silently—then accepted enthusiastically to everyone’s mutual happiness.
As soon as they left, Mr. Bennet returned to the library, while Elizabeth moved near Jane and took her hand. Mrs. Bennet pushed her eldest daughters apart and sat between them.
“Oh, dear Lord, what a relief! What a joy! Mr. Bingley is here again! Dear Jane, did you see how much in love he seemed? He could not take his eyes from you! Oh, and Mr. Darcy—how kind of him to advise Mr. Bingley to return! He is such a handsome gentleman—is he not? And your father was so smart to keep Mr. Darcy busy. Oh, dear Lord, why on earth are we wasting time talking? I must decide what dishes we will have tomorrow night! Would seven be appropriate, do you think? If I could see my eldest daughter as mistress at Netherfield, I would wish for nothing more! That would certainly silence Lady Lucas’s tedious talk about her daughter and her heir! Kitty, Mary, come with me! Lizzy, help Jane choose a most charming dress for tomorrow night!”
Meant to Be: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Page 29
