Mrs. Bingley’s Sister (The Austen Novels)

Chapter 24

Darcy entered the sitting room before dinner, where all of the house guests were gathered. There was Georgiana and her husband Llewellyn, along with his younger sister, Miss Llewellyn. There was Fitzwilliam and Mrs. Fitzwilliam, along with Mrs. Fitzwilliam's elder brother and younger sister, Mr. and Miss Swann. Mr. Swann had invited a friend of his, Mr. Cole. Everyone was sitting around quite comfortably, awaiting the Bingley party, who had been the last of the house guests to arrive.

"Who is with Mr. Bingley, you say?" he heard Georgiana ask.

"It is Bingley, Mrs. Bingley, and Mrs. Bingley's sister," he heard Fitzwilliam answer, “Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

"I know that name, Elizabeth Bennet. She is a great walker."

Darcy grinned to himself at Georgiana's sharp recollection.

"A great walker?" he heard Llewellyn question, and Darcy turned to see the man looking at Georgiana with an amused raised eyebrow. Darcy's sister lit up, nodding and smiling as she answered.

"Yes! When William stayed in Hertfordshire with Mr. Bingley so many years ago, he wrote of a lady who walked three miles through the mud just to come and nurse her sister, who was unwell. Her sister is now Mrs . Bingley, of course."

Fitzwilliam chuckled at the story (and gave Darcy a certain knowing look, which he ignored), while Llewellyn said, "How peculiar.”

"I would agree it is singular, but only in the most advantageous way,” Georgiana countered, “What does that speak to her character, to care so much for a sister as to endure such a trek? As you know, I had often wished I had a sister, and a sister who would do as much for me as Miss Elizabeth Bennet clearly would do for hers, why, that would have been my ideal choice of a sister, indeed.”

Darcy reddened at the words his sister said, as he thought about how Elizabeth very well could have been Georgiana's sister.

"Dearest Georgiana, am I not that to you?" Miss Llewellyn asked, winning an apologetic smile from Georgiana.

"Of course—you have been the best of sisters to me."

Right then, the Bingley party entered, and all eyes in the room turned to observe them. Elizabeth looked radiant: her hair was up in a different style, her eyes were fine and sparkling, and her face glowing in some imperceptible way, a small modest but lovely smile upon her lips. He couldn't take his eyes off of her, until they came to a slow halt, and Darcy was reminded of his duties. He stepped forward to make all the formal introductions, which took some bit of time, as nobody but Fitzwilliam and Georgiana knew Bingley, and only Fitzwilliam had been introduced to the rest of the party just earlier that day.

As everyone gathered around the room and took their seats once more while awaiting dinner, Darcy moved to be nearer Elizabeth, but unfortunately, he was overtaken by Georgiana and Miss Llewellyn.

"Brother, I was just telling my dear sister here about the ice pond..."

Darcy was captured into a vague conversation he paid little attention to, despite it being initiated by his sister. Georgiana and Miss Llewellyn seemed happy enough to do most of the talking, however, leaving Darcy to occasionally nod and say things of no import here and there; all the while he kept an eye upon Elizabeth as she sat with Mrs. Bingley and spoke to the Fitzwilliams. She seemed to be smiling in a rather friendly manner and was, as usual, open and gay in her temperament, an aspect about her person which he had always been drawn to.

She looked remarkably pretty tonight. While most people thought Mrs. Bingley to be superior in looks, having a light coloring, Darcy always preferred Elizabeth's beauty, as it was more subdued and greatly informed by her subtle wit and liveliness. He had had their earlier conversation (or was it a flirtation?) in mind as his eyes kept wandering to her, only to be called back to Georgiana or Miss Llewellyn from time to time.

Unfortunately, the two ladies took up his time until dinner was called. Since Darcy's sister was playing the hostess, she was escorted in by Fitzwilliam, and Darcy escorted Mrs. Fitzwilliam. Everyone else had paired off, and Darcy noticed with no little jealousy that it was Mr. Swann who escorted Elizabeth into the dining room. But what could he do? For now, he had to escort the lady of highest significance, which was Mrs. Fitzwilliam.

They went in and took their places: Darcy at the head of the table with Mrs. Fitzwilliam at his right and Miss Llewellyn at his left, and Georgiana at the foot, with Fitzwilliam at her right and Bingley at her left. Beside Bingley was Miss Swann, beside her was Mr. Cole, then Mrs. Fitzwilliam. On Fitzwilliam's other side sat Mrs. Bingley, then Llewellyn, then Elizabeth, then Mr. Swann who sat next to Miss Llewellyn. Unfortunately, Elizabeth sat too far away from Darcy for him to really converse with her. There was a moment, however, when he was looking down the table, that he happened to catch Elizabeth's eye. She smiled, and he smiled back, but then her attention was captured once more by Mr. Swann. They seemed to be having a rather animated conversation, of which Darcy was jealous and wished he could hear; but alas, he could not.

Dinner continued on until it concluded. The ladies departed for the drawing room while the men stayed behind, with Darcy providing cigars and port for the gentleman. The men filled the room with smoke and talk of sport, of women, of masculine things such as business and estate management.

All the while, Darcy let his mind wander back to the only woman he ever thought about: hopefully he would be able to speak to Elizabeth again, soon.