Mrs. Bingley’s Sister (The Austen Novels)

Chapter 19

Elizabeth made her way into the drawing room before dinner, where both Mr. Bingley and Jane were already occupying the space. Mr. Bingley hopped up and greeted Elizabeth, saying, "Do you not think you could play for us this evening after dinner? You play very well, and I am sure our guest would enjoy such an exhibition."

Elizabeth colored a little at the mention of Darcy, even if not by name directly, and she smiled with a slight nod.

"Of course, I should love to play for everyone," she answered. She went to sit next to Jane, who was relaxing on the sofa nearest the window.

"Jane, are you well?" Elizabeth asked, noting the fatigued expression on her sister's face.

Elizabeth was not unused to this in those final weeks of pregnancy. Jane always seemed more tired, more weary, more in need of rest and sleep in those last few weeks. That is how it was with the first babe and the second one, too, so Elizabeth was expecting it with this third babe also.

Jane was nearing eight and twenty, however, and even she had admitted to Elizabeth that this babe felt more wearisome than the first two. Their mother, too, confirmed that the pregnancies could become more taxing and tiring as a woman ages.

"I was near six and twenty when Lydia came along, you know," Mrs. Bennet had warned, "and it was a sore trial, that last time. Jane, dearest, you're getting too old, and you already have a son, so it's best not to have any more if you can avoid it!"

The memory of this faded away as Elizabeth blinked while watching her sister take a deep breath, in and out. Then Jane smiled tiredly but still as serenely as ever and said, "Oh, no, Lizzy, dear, I am rather well, thank you, just a little tired, is all."

"Do you need anything?"

"No, no, I am happy and content here. Seeing how pleased Bingley is with the coming of Mr. Darcy—"

"Indeed!" Bingley said jovially from across the room, "if only the man would come down here and join us, then I shall be perfectly content."

Nearly as soon as the words were out of his mouth, the drawing room door opened once more and none other than Darcy was let into the room, looking very fine in a green colored jacket, his posture tall and his gait admirable. He came to Bingley and bowed, and Bingley accosted the man with such joviality and amicability, the likes of which Elizabeth hadn't seen since Bingley was courting her sister. She leaned over to Jane and whispered, "Your Bingley is practically in love with the man!"

Jane let out a laugh and nodded with a smile. "Indeed, Mr. Darcy is like an older, most esteemed brother to him. He has missed him these past many years, I daresay. I do hope Mr. Darcy can stay for a while. Bingley is so happy he is finally here, after many invitations sent."

Elizabeth looked on after the men, who were engaged in a mostly one-sided conversation, with Bingley dominating in a good-natured, happy sort of way. Darcy merely kept a reserved yet interested look upon his face while he listened to all Bingley had to say, and soon enough, Bingley turned to his wife and sister-in-law and said, "Well, are we not so very glad Darcy could make it to us? Darcy, as a treat, I asked Elizabeth to play for us after we dine. I know very well how you have always enjoyed her playing on the pianoforte—"

Elizabeth watched the man himself as he reddened and looked right at her—now she was the one blushing and averting her eyes—all while Bingley went on without missing a beat. She slowly brought her eyes back up to Darcy and only found him still looking directly at her. She felt chill bumps rise up over her skin, and she held his gaze for a mere moment before his attention was captured yet again by Bingley's addresses.

Dinner was finally called, and they started to make their way in.

"Darcy, you'll excuse me for escorting my wife," Bingley said, "as she is in a tiring way much of the time these days and often needs my arm for support. I do hope you'll understand. Why, Elizabeth, will you allow Darcy the honor?"

Elizabeth colored and nodded, avoiding glancing at Darcy. She wondered how he felt to be offering his arm to her, but she took his arm nonetheless and stole a glance at him as they made their way into the dining room together.

She had often thought about what it would be to be on the man's arm again, and here he was, not even here an entire day, escorting her once more. She liked how strong he felt and how they moved together as they walked. Her glance up at him caught his elegant profile—dark hair, a good nose and pleasing lips, eyes slightly green—and then his eyes moved to catch hers, and she quickly looked away and said, "You shall have to forgive the impropriety here, sir; in Jane's condition we often have to make adjustments to what might be normally expected. I do apologize she was not feeling well enough to be on your arm as we enter for dinner."

"It is no matter to me at all," he said in a low voice, "as I consider it a privilege to escort you , Miss Bennet."

This made her blush and silenced her, and he escorted her to her chair, which she soon realized was directly across from Darcy, as he sat at Bingley's right, and Jane sat on Darcy's other side.

"The children might be brought out of the nursery to see us after we finish," Bingley said enthusiastically, "How pleased I am for you to see how your little goddaughter has grown, Darcy. She is three and a half years old, but already trying to run the entire household, I daresay!"

Elizabeth laughed and nodded, "Indeed, she has a rather bold personality. Very impertinent."

At this, Darcy looked at her, and there was something of a smile upon his face at her words. She smiled back slightly and colored a little, she was sure. She moved her eyes back down to her dish, suddenly very unsure of how she would sit through an entire meal without looking up and catching Darcy's eye—he was so very handsome, yet so very taciturn and quiet. She glanced back up and was relieved to see Darcy giving Bingley his full attention. Now she could steal more looks at his countenance, all hopefully without any detection from the man in question.

She noticed his face made subtle expressions as he listened to Bingley speak, and when Bingley asked Darcy for advice on new horses and a carriage, the man looked very pensive and thoughtful before answering. He did not look at Elizabeth, so she was able to observe without anyone noticing, and she readily decided he was so very handsome, possibly the handsomest man of her acquaintance.

Oh, how wrong she had been about the man when she refused his proposal. So very wrong, indeed. And now, years later, she had to sit directly across from him and realize she said no to the only man she could ever be prevailed on to marry.