Chapter Fifteen
“Bingley, what on earth is this?” Mr Henry Crawford entered the breakfast room and thrust a note at Charles. “Are you throwing us out?”
“Of course not, Crawford, but you must admit, you informed me yourself that your relations are expecting you, and that you did not wish to lose much time on the road,” Bingley rose from his seat and bowed to Miss Crawford as she entered behind her brother.
“When your carriage arrived at dawn, I wasted no time instructing the housekeeper to prepare your trunks, considering the great hurry you told us that you were in when we found you. Did you not need to continue onto Everingham and see to some matters there?”
Mr Crawford frowned. “Well, I did say that, yes, but I hardly think-”
“Well, see then, Bingley only had the best of intentions.” Darcy opened a newspaper.
“I always say, Bingley is a most thoughtful and considerate host. You must wish to travel north with all haste, and complete your travels, Crawford, in case there is unseasonably early snow. Did not Bingley’s tenant just predict that snow is coming very soon, Elizabeth? ”
“Mr Bridges is never wrong.” Elizabeth spread jam on a muffin at his side.
“When Mr Bridges predicts the weather, all of Meryton takes notice. My father’s tenants are all completing their preparations for the spring even now, in case unseasonable weather does arrive, and set in longer than we should like. ”
“Mr Bingley sent word through our steward Mr Kennedy for our tenants to do the same,” Mrs Bingley agreed.
“The entire village will be very busy with such measures for some days, I think. By the way, I had Mrs Nicholls pull out our clay carriage warmer for you. Please consider it a gift from us, to provide you comfort on your journey north. Charles will order us another.”
“How kind of you both to consider the comfort of our journey; you are indeed generous.” Miss Crawford looked mildly disapproving at her hosts.
“For a moment, when I woke to find the dress I requested for today replaced with my second best travelling gown, I feared we had quite worn out our welcome.”
“Miss Mary, I fear I must apologize for the lost opportunity of winning your heart before I depart, for fate has parted us cruelly,” Mr Crawford turned his attention to the third Bennet sister.
Mary had returned to Netherfield with their party last night at Georgiana’s request, and had shared her new friend’s room for the night.
“You ought to apologise, I am sure, for many things, but please, not for that, Mr Crawford.” Miss Mary did not even look up from the small volume that she held in her lap under the table. “I assure you, my pillow shall remain dry.”
“I am wounded.” Mr Crawford put his right fist over his heart. “Bingley, you are not wrong in saying that you won the angel of the Bennet sisters, the rest are quite cruel.”
“I have always thought Lizzy rather cutting as well, but now I think I quite comprehend why, when I see what a lady must sometimes put up with.” Kitty looked down the table at Elizabeth.
“Lizzy, I do hope you shall teach me the art of satire, I must learn some methods of self-preservation before too many more fashionable townsfolk come amongst us.”
“I hardly think that will be necessary, Miss Kitty,” replied Miss Crawford snidely.
“That was an insult, dearest,” Elizabeth advised Kitty.
“Indeed; it sounded like one.” Kitty frowned at Miss Crawford.
“The trick is to laugh at them,” Elizabeth advised. “I recommend imagining frustrating people as if they were speaking publicly in their underdrawers and stockings. Rendering them ridiculous in your imagination makes it so much easier to dismiss their nonsense.”
“Lizzy!” Miss Mary gasped, scandalised, as more than half of the table dissolved into mirth.
“Mrs-Soon-to-be-Darcy, I shall comfort myself that you at least enjoy imagining me without my clothes.” Mr Crawford grinned wolfishly.
“No one was speaking of you, Mr Crawford,” Elizabeth dismissed the man.
“Wounded yet again! You Bennet women are merciless!” Mr Crawford cried.
“Jane, the discussion around your table has become positively barbaric,” Mrs Hurst chided. “When my sister was hostess here, there was civility at the breakfast table.”
“Did you just reference Caroline and civility in the same sentence, Louisa?” Bingley cackled. “Please, do not force us into further hilarity.”
Kitty, encouraged by her eldest sister’s praise regarding her maturity a few nights previous, politely changed the subject.
“Miss Darcy, I have spoken to Father, and he says that I might have the carriage on Monday, if you would like to make a sketching expedition to Scott’s Grotto at Amwell House.
My father will accompany us there, for he is friends with Mr Hooper, the son-in-law of the poet, John Scott.
Being December, the gardens are not in bloom, but if we dress warmly, we might see the grotto and the summer house while my father visits his friend. ”
“Oh! I have heard of Mr Scott’s Grotto! I hear it is like a fairy hall. I would love to accompany you, if my guardians agree.” Georgiana looked at her brother hopefully.
“Of course you may go, it is very kind of Mr Bennet to arrange such a treat. You and your father are welcome to use the Darcy carriage for your excursion, Miss Kitty, if it leaves your carriage available for your mother,” Darcy offered.
Elizabeth suddenly cleared her throat delicately and shook her head imperceptibly from beside him.
“No?” he asked curiously.
“I believe that if my father takes his own carriage, it might do my sister good to have an afternoon to accept her callers without my mother’s supervision,” Elizabeth explained in a low tone.
“I am certain that my Aunt Gardiner intends to visit a friend in St Albans on Monday, so the Gardiner carriage will not be available either.”
“Thank you, Lizzy. You are so good to my Jane.” Bingley grinned at Elizabeth. “I am certain that I can think of an obligation for my carriage as well.”
“May I escort you young ladies, and be your protector while Mr Bennet visits with his friend?” Colonel Fitzwilliam begged.
“Of course you may, but then we might need my brother’s carriage anyway,” Georgiana told him.
“You can invite anyone you like to accompany us, Georgie, my father and our host will not mind,” Kitty assured her.
“We may explore the grounds at our leisure, then the housekeeper will give us a tour of the house if we like. Mr Hooper promises our father that there will be a comfortable parlour and refreshments at our disposal as well. If she is at liberty, the mistress of the house might join us for tea. Miss Jane, my father says to tell you that you should accompany us. Staying at Netherfield and in Meryton all of the time cannot help you recover your memory; you ought to move about, and perhaps new sights will stimulate your memory.”
“And if nothing else, a charming hour spent with Mrs Hooper discussing her father’s work is very agreeable,” Elizabeth said to Jane.
“Do you not wish to join them?” Darcy asked his betrothed curiously.
Elizabeth shook her head. “Only if you wish to see the grotto with the others. I have been my father’s guest many times.”
“I have seen the grotto myself while traveling nearby as a youth with my father,” Darcy informed her.
“I believe this is a delight my sister may enjoy with her friends and her other guardian. He is little enough available between his army duties. I shall instead accompany you on your visit with Mr and Mrs Collins if you will have me. I am surprised to hear myself say this, but I am interested to hear more about a programme of assistance that Mr and Mrs Collins are implementing in Hunsford for members of their parish. Mr Collins mentioned it last night, and I would like to learn more about it.”
“This is my first time being invited by Papa, and he says that Mr Hooper encourages me to invite whomever I wish.” Kitty’s cheeks glowed with pleasure. “I do hope you will join us, Miss Jane.”
“Of course I will join you,” Jane said agreeably. “It sounds like a very pleasant afternoon.”
“What a shame we must miss such a charming expedition, but I believe that is our carriage I hear in the drive; Sister, have you eaten your fill?” Mr Crawford asked his sister sourly.
His sister had grown tired of Mr Rupert Hurst and had received no notice worth mentioning from Colonel Fitzwilliam or Darcy. Unused to being in the company of young ladies who dismissed him so cavalierly, Mr Crawford’s enjoyment of Netherfield was spoiled, and he was obviously quite put out.
“I have, and our sister awaits us north of here,” Miss Crawford answered.
“I cannot wait to arrive in Northamptonshire. My sister informs us that our brother-in-law’s patron is a baronet, with the most charming daughters and two handsome sons!
I am told the family is very agreeable, and I cannot wait to be in company with the Bertrams.”
Bertram! Jane thought excitedly as the rest of the party disregarded this last effort to inspire envy or regret in them. I knew they had not appeared here for nothing!
“We congratulate you on all the delights of your anticipated acquaintance, Miss Crawford, and wish you every good fortune in Northamptonshire.” Mrs Bingley stood and, with her husband, accompanied their departing guests to the hall.
Later that morning, Mrs Bennet was announced to the drawing room. The ladies were to take tea together and then go to Meryton.
“Miss Jane! How lovely it is to see you again!” Mrs Bennet swept into the room.
“Is it?” Jane looked up from the infant gown that she was sewing for Mrs Bingley’s poor box.
Mrs Bingley was in deep discussion with Elizabeth about the wedding and the ball, as usual, and Miss Darcy, Mary, and Kitty had claimed the opportunity to learn how to plan such events, and were observing the efforts intently.
Mrs Hurst had retired to her room an hour ago, something she did more often since her sister’s departure.
None could repine her absence; everyone suspected her of having knowledge of Miss Bingley’s misdeeds in Derbyshire.
“Of course it is! How are you feeling?” Mrs Bennet took a seat near Jane on the sofa and very forwardly felt her forehead in a motherly fashion.
“Is your head quite well today? Have you had any more faintness or dizziness? I cannot bear to think of you unwell. There is nothing so hard as being ill or injured! But of course, you are so well-bred and genteel, you bear it with such refinement! Nary a complaint! And to be without your memories in addition! It is obvious to me that your origins must be very grand indeed, to have produced such elegance of spirit. Your family must be of the nobility! I am certain that you are the daughter of a viscount at the very least! Do not you agree, Lizzy?”
“Quite,” Elizabeth choked out. “What brought on this change of heart, Mama?”
“Well, how could I feel otherwise, Lizzy, when Miss Jane is so accomplished and intelligent! Indeed, I would say that she has all the sophistication of Mrs Goulding’s nieces, and they are the daughters of a baronet, and were educated in Bath!
And so helpful and considerate to her friends!
” Mrs Bennet turned to her fourth daughter.
“Why Kitty, has not Miss Jane been of the greatest service to you?”
“Oh yes! Miss Jane was very kind to help me select some reading material, and helped me see that I was silly to be apprehensive of asking Lizzy for advice choosing books.” Kitty turned to Lizzy.
“Papa was not helpful when I asked him when I was fifteen, and I feared you might make fun of me as well, since your humour is like his so often. I should have known you would never do that.”
“Oh Kitty, I am so sorry you felt that way. I hope all my sisters know now, at least, that they can come and ask me for help with anything.”
“And poor Mary, well she was such a dull girl before, but she listens to Miss Jane as she would a bishop, and now she even has a new friend in Miss Darcy.” Mrs Bennet gestured absentmindedly at her third daughter.
Mary drew herself up in indignation. “I would hardly say-”
“And of course dear Lizzy and Mr Darcy owe everything to Miss Jane, do you not, Lizzy?” Mrs Bennet plunged on.
“Why, had not Miss Jane been so sensible, Lizzy and Darcy might never have come to an understanding! My poor girl’s life would have been ruined, just ruined!
But you saw the truth right from the start, Miss Jane, and set everything to rights!
I shall never forget it. Indeed, our family will be in your debt forever. ”
Elizabeth raised a brow but wisely remained silent as Jane stammered, “I am certain I am very well pleased to be of assistance to the dear friends who have taken me in and cared for me as if I were their own. I assure you, Mrs Bennet, no further thanks is required.”
“Miss Jane, would you care to be my guest next week at a meeting of the parish charitable society?” Mrs Bennet asked.
“A number of matrons in the village organise boxes for the children in the squatter’s cottages for Christmas.
My Jane is so newly married, and with so many guests at Netherfield, she will not attend this meeting, but she has made a generous donation allowing us to make the boxes very nice this year.
If you would like to accompany me, I will pick you up in my carriage. ”
“It would be a privilege to participate in such an endeavour.” Jane smiled at the other woman. “Thank you for the invitation.”
Now we know what Mr Darcy was whispering to his future mother-in-law last night at dinner, Jane thought as Mrs Long and her nieces were announced to the room. I shall have to thank him, for I hope it will be far pleasanter to be admired by Mrs Bennet than mistrusted.