Mrs. Bingley’s Sister (The Austen Novels)

Chapter 30

March 1817

Netherfield Park

Hertfordshire

Bingley could not help but notice Mr. Ellison's attentions to his sister-in-law, and he said as much to Jane one day that spring.

"Jane, do you not think Mr. Ellison is giving Elizabeth much attention? Do you think he means to court her?"

Jane had frowned at the thought. "I had only thought they were mutually interested in poetry and reading."

Bingley nodded thoughtfully. "He calls often, I daresay. I suppose it could be just mutual interest in books."

"My dear, the man lost his wife only little more than a year past. I think he is hardly looking for another. Sir William described him as so attached to her, I find it unlikely he would move on so soon."

Bingley nodded and said, "Of course, my dear."

But he didn't actually agree, and he kept his observations to himself. He liked Mr. Ellison well enough, he supposed. The man was quiet and melancholic, but of course, he ought to be that way. But he did seem to alight upon meeting Elizabeth, and Bingley knew that Elizabeth was indeed a lady to be admired.

He supposed Darcy was finally past his love for the lady, seeing how he never returned to Netherfield after Bingley had inadvertently left the two of them alone together. Bingley figured, by how strange their expressions on countenances were when he walked back in on them, that it had been an uncomfortable situation between them. Darcy perhaps wanted to avoid seeing her again, and Bingley could concede the point, if that were the man's aim in not resuming the business of coming to Netherfield. But, Darcy had also said he was very busy, now that Colonel Fitzwilliam—or rather, Mr. Fitzwilliam, since he had retired—was taking over as master of Rosings Park.

Bingley shrugged to think about it all. He had long harbored some hope that Darcy would come back for Elizabeth after all these years, that perhaps Elizabeth had warmed to the man. Indeed, she had seemed so friendly with him when he was here that brief time, but perhaps Bingley had misread the situation. It was quite typical of himself, he thought; reading people was not so natural for Bingley, which is why he rarely put himself up to the task of doing so.

And now he might be starting to doubt himself as far as Mr. Ellison was concerned—perhaps Jane was right. He needn't think too much on it. The man was just lonely and a new neighbor. Why couldn't he and Elizabeth have mutual interests? She was quite a bookish woman—always poking fun at Bingley for having such a small library, always going to Meryton and purchasing a book, and especially purchasing a few volumes when they visited Town every other year or so.

It made sense; therefore, Bingley resolved to dwell upon the matter no longer.