Mrs. Bingley’s Sister (The Austen Novels)

Chapter 15

July 1816

Netherfield Park

Hertfordshire

"Lizzy, I don't know how to tell you this, but please sit down," Elizabeth heard her sister say, and she looked at Jane rather inquisitively.

"I daresay, Jane, whatever is the matter?" she replied, curious as to what could have Jane so grave.

"I'm afraid Bingley sent a invitation to Mr. Darcy to come visit us this summer," Jane said slowly, her face blank, waiting for a response.

"Oh," was all Elizabeth knew to say. Then she shook her head and shrugged. "Is that all you have to tell me?"

Jane simply looked at her, the corners of her eyes displaying a sense of concern, which Elizabeth decided to dismiss with a laugh.

"Oh Jane, I am sure it shall be delightful having Mr. Darcy visit," she said lightly, "I think this is no matter at all."

Jane tilted her head slightly before saying, "Truly? You are unbothered by the man coming to reside here for a time?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "I do not see why I should be bothered."

Jane sighed and simply said, "I see. Well, then, let us not dwell on it—"

"Do you know when he shall arrive?" Elizabeth tried to ask nonchalantly before the subject changed completely.

Jane shook her head. "No, all I know is that Bingley sent him an invitation to come and visit before the end of the summer. You know, he may not even come at all—I simply wanted to forewarn you, in case..."

"Jane, there is nothing to forewarn me of. I have no qualms with seeing the man, as you know."

To this Jane said little, and soon she smiled, and they talked of other things. Meanwhile however, Elizabeth's mind was all aflutter. Her heart had been pounding since Jane uttered Darcy's name, and of course it slowed a bit when she realized that Darcy might not even arrive at all. She was not entirely convinced the man would want to visit, but then Bingley announced cheerily at dinner:

"Darcy's coming at last!"

Jane hastily glanced at Elizabeth before looking back at her husband and saying, "You have heard from him, then?"

"Indeed!" the man replied with a broad grin on his face, "We would have certainly seen him again at Miss Darcy's wedding—or should I say, Mrs. Llewellyn's wedding—but you know very well we were unable to travel so far in your condition, my dear. So I was hoping he might stay for a spell, before our baby boy arrives—"

Elizabeth and Jane laughed as Jane interrupted and said, "You do not know it will be a boy—"

He waved a hand dismissively with a smile. "On the contrary, I do know! I have a veritable feeling on it! But that is beside the point—Darcy shall be here within a fortnight! Isn't this grand? He hasn't been here at Netherfield since Lizzy's christening, and that was less than two days. He shall join me for shooting until the summer's end. It shall be a diverting time!"

So that was it, Darcy was coming after all. For a moment, Elizabeth reddened and knew not what to say, what to think, or what to feel. All she knew was that she was suddenly anxious and nervous at the thought of seeing him again.

She hadn't seen him in just over three years—had he changed so very much in that time? She never forgot how well he looked holding little Lizzy when she was a mere babe—now the girl was three and a half, walking and talking, a very demanding, yet adorably impertinent little girl.

As if reading her mind, Bingley said, "I can't wait for my friend to see his little spitfire of a goddaughter. She looks like you Jane, but she veritably has all of Elizabeth's spirit!"

Elizabeth was shaken from her reverie at the words, and she smiled and said, "Yes, how fortuitous it was you chose to christen her with my name."

Jane smiled at her. "You know what Mama says, that she acts just as you did when you were that age, Lizzy."

They all laughed and shared anecdotes of little Lizzy Bingley's impertinence, and dinner conversation eventually moved on, but Elizabeth still thought very much of Darcy. Her heart was alive at the very sound of his name, yet the thought of his coming here? To Netherfield? To stay for many weeks?

She wondered at what possibility there might be, if he might have softened his view of her in the slow passing of time. She couldn't fight the fluttery feeling deep in her belly as she thought on this and hoped, very much, that he had.