Mrs. Bingley’s Sister (The Austen Novels)

Chapter 34

Fitzwilliam could see that Darcy was still very much in love with Miss Bennet, but not bold enough in his behavior toward her to make it clear; and he could see that Darcy was very little interested in Miss Llewellyn, but so polite in his behavior toward her to make it seem like they had an understanding.

This was not going to end well.

Days before the Bingleys ever arrived, Georgiana had practically thrown Miss Llewellyn at Darcy every moment she could. They walked together, they sat next to one another, they were much in each other's company (and why his wife Isabella insisted on seeing Darcy as having some kind of preference for her sister Henrietta in the midst of all this was completely beyond Fitzwilliam). While Fitzwilliam himself gave no encouragement of the match between his cousin and Miss Llewellyn, this didn't stop any of the speculation amongst the other guests. Many a time he overheard someone noticing Darcy and Miss Llewellyn, and it had even been alluded to around Darcy himself, when the men separated from the women:

"I do think it was right to invite my younger sister," Llewellyn had said one night, puffing on his cigar, "Do you not agree, Darcy?"

Chuckles from some of the other men, Darcy merely shaking his head. "Miss Llewellyn is charming. I'm pleased for Georgiana to have such a sister."

Darcy, what a dolt he was. He missed any and all references to his and Miss Llewellyn's "understanding," especially after the arrival of Miss Bennet. He only had eyes for Miss Bennet, but this was in a more subdued way, to be sure. Fitzwilliam did not think any of the other house guests would pick up on it—and why should they?

Miss Bennet was a spinster, a help mate for the Bingley household, and from a lower social background than the Llewellyns and the Swanns. It would make perfect sense for nobody to suspect any such attachment on Darcy's side in respect to Miss Bennet: Miss Bennet seemed so far below Darcy when compared to the other guests. She was of little consequence. Her sister, Mrs. Bingley, was a beauty, to be sure; Miss Bennet's beauty, however, was a far more plain, less eye-catching kind than her sister's. So it was little wonder that nobody suspected a thing at all.

And Fitzwilliam had to wonder—did Miss Bennet herself even know that Fitzwilliam Darcy had been pining after her for all these years?

A day came, sometime in the week following the Bingleys' arrival, when the party decided to visit Faringwell Abbey, Swann's estate, as it was just ten miles away and a nice piece of property, very much like a small castle. The Llewellyns wished to see it, and Darcy had no issue with such a diversion, so the entire house party—except for Mr. Cole, who had to travel back to the village for business matters—traveled that way on a bright and sunny but cold and wintry day. Unsurprisingly to Fitzwilliam, Darcy had Miss Llewellyn upon his arm most of the excursion, throughout the home as well as the grounds; while Miss Bennet was escorted by Swann himself, and to be sure, the good lady seemed well entertained by the man. Fitzwilliam watched with an observant eye as Swann made Miss Bennet laugh, and she made him laugh, too.

Meanwhile, where was Darcy? What was this man, supposedly so in love with Miss Bennet, busy doing? Oh, that's right—he was entertaining Miss Llewellyn with endless politeness.

Fitzwilliam knew it was politeness and only politeness, but to the others, it looked like rapt attention, and expectations were certainly being raised, especially for the Llewellyn family. Georgiana was ecstatic, talking about the match constantly; her husband was equally anticipatory of a wedding in the near future (and he was certainly congratulating himself for being the means of uniting his family with the illustrious Darcys); Isabella was disgruntled, still very much clinging to the small but obviously dwindling chance that young Henrietta might catch Darcy's eye; and even the Bingleys noticed Darcy's attentions.

"I daresay, is there an understanding betwixt the two?" Bingley had asked as they were strolling along the grounds. His wife cut him a look, and he sheepishly shrugged and said, "Jane, you cannot deny Darcy seems to be giving the lady an exceeding amount of attention."

Fitzwilliam merely laughed. "I know my cousin. He normally shows very little attention to any lady, it is true. But she is indeed a close friend of his sister's. I am sure he is merely doing well by Georgiana, that's all."

He didn't answer Bingley fully, not wanting to tell his honest opinion of the matter (which might reveal Darcy's feelings toward Bingley's sister-in-law), but not wanting to fully contribute to the rumors of attachment, either. But one thing was clear: Fitzwilliam needed to say something to Darcy in plain language, before things got so far out of hand that the man would be expected to make an offer.

The opportunity finally came, but not until after a chaotic event occurred.

Miss Llewellyn, spirited as she was, found it to be quite fun jumping down from the brick wall bordering the garden; she would jump down and have Darcy catch her in his arms—a vast flirtation if Fitzwilliam ever saw one—and this occurred once, then twice. Finally, though Darcy advised her against it, she smiled and said, "I am determined, I will!"

Darcy put out his arms to catch her, but she was too precipitate by half a second, and she fell with a loud thud onto the stone pavement of the lower path, her body now still and unmoving like a corpse. Her eyes were closed, she didn't seem to be breathing, and her face was like death—everyone began to panic.

Darcy knelt with her in his arms, his face white. Isabella, for goodness's sake, began screaming, "She is dead! She is dead!" which alarmed all those who could hear her. And in another moment, Henrietta lost her senses too and nearly fainted onto the pavement, but for Swann and Miss Bennet, who caught and supported her between them.

"Is there no one to help me?" Darcy said desperately.

"Go to him, go to him," Miss Bennet cried to Swann, "For heaven's sake, go to him, I can support her myself. Leave me and go to him. Rub her hands, rub her temples; here are salts—take them, take them!"

Fitzwilliam found that Miss Bennet was like a commanding officer, and all the men obeyed. He, Swann, Bingley and Llewellyn were all with Darcy over the lady in an instant. Miss Llewellyn was raised up and supported more firmly between them, and everything was done that Miss Bennet had prompted, but in vain; while Darcy, staggering against the wall for his support, exclaimed in the bitterest agony, "Oh god!"

"A surgeon!" said Miss Bennet, seemingly snapping Darcy out of his temporary upset.

"True, true; a surgeon this instant!" Darcy said, and he then started to rush off, but was stopped by Miss Bennet.

"No, Mr. Darcy, let Mr. Swann,” she said, “This is his estate—he knows where a surgeon is to be found."

In a moment (it was all done in rapid moments), Swann had resigned the poor corpse-like Miss Llewellyn to her brother's care, and was off with utmost rapidity.

Fitzwilliam saw that Llewellyn was suffering a great deal. He was obviously a very affectionate brother, hanging over Miss Llewellyn with sobs of grief, and he could only turn his eyes from his sister to see the other such women in varying states insensible—Henrietta nearly fainting, Isabella hysterical, and Georgiana exclaiming her own cries of anguish, too.

"Elizabeth," Bingley asked anxiously, "What, in heaven's name, is to be done next?"

Darcy's and all the other men's eyes were also turned on her.

"Had not she better be carried inside?” she answered, “Yes, I am sure—carry her gently in."

"Yes, yes, carry her in," Darcy repeated, collected and now seemingly very eager to be doing something. "I shall carry her myself. Fitzwilliam, Bingley—take care of the others."

The matter was settled, Fitzwilliam and Bingley attended to Llewellyn and the hysterical ladies, save Mrs. Bingley and Miss Bennet—clearly made of sterner stuff than the other women, was Fitzwilliam's thought—and the surgeon was with them almost before it seemed possible. Miss Llewellyn's head had received a severe contusion, but the surgeon had seen greater injuries recovered from. Darcy seemed to be the most relieved of everyone, as he had presumably been the most horrified by the accident—Fitzwilliam assumed Darcy blamed himself for not catching the overzealous girl, because it was always Darcy's way to take responsibility for other people's foolish actions.

It now became necessary for the party to settle the matter of what to do from then on. Miss Llewellyn was not to be moved, and Swann assured the Llewellyns she would be well kept at his estate, offering for the Llewellyns to reside there as well for the remainder of her recuperation. They were at first troubled by causing such a disruption, but there was no way around it: she could not be moved, not even back to Pemberley. Fitzwilliam was the first to assure his cousins Georgiana and Darcy that Swann would take good care. His brother-in-law was a good man and a good master.

So the Llewellyns and the Swanns remained behind, sending for their things and their children to be gathered and brought back from Pemberley. Isabella also no longer wished to be at Pemberley, if her siblings were no longer returning, so the Fitzwilliams would send for their children and things to be brought from Pemberley as well.

Fitzwilliam spied his chance: he stopped Darcy before he departed with the Bingleys, pulling him off to the side.

"Darcy, tell me: what are your intentions with Miss Llewellyn?"

His cousin looked at him, confused. "My intentions? With Miss Llewellyn?"

"Yes, Miss Llewellyn."

Darcy frowned. "I do not know what you mean."

Fitzwilliam gave a sigh in some annoyance. "The entire house party has noticed your attentions to her. The Llewellyns think you have an understanding."

Darcy paled upon hearing this. "I do not care for her in such a way as that."

Fitzwilliam just looked at him. Darcy rubbed a hand through his hair in agitation before speaking again.

"What should I do?" he asked Fitzwilliam earnestly, "Am I really expected to offer for the girl? I cannot—I do not—"

"Depart from here,” Fitzwilliam cut him off, speaking in a low voice, “and do not come back. Provide space, while she is recovering. Get away and stay away. Then, maybe the expectations will fall, and nothing shall have to come of this."

Darcy listened and said not a word. Then, after a moment, he nodded in understanding and sighed. Then he clapped a hand on Fitzwilliam's shoulder, a silent thank you, before he turned to go to the carriage, where the Bingley party was waiting.

As the carriage pulled away, Fitzwilliam sighed and shook his head. He could only hope his cousin might figure out what he is about, if winning Miss Elizabeth Bennet was his aim.