Chapter 11 #2
“Yes, London was quite deprived during the summer, although I was pleased to meet Mr. Bennet and his brother-in-law, Mr. Gardiner. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, I confess I found them enjoyable companions.”
“Really? I have never heard you speak of Mr. Bennet before.”
“I know. I wasted my time in Hertfordshire, despising the people I met rather than attempting to understand them. I could have spent entertaining moments talking of books with Mr. Bennet rather than listening to the nonsense spouted by Bingley’s sisters and Hurst. My fault and my loss.”
“I would like to meet these gentlemen sometime. By the way, is Miss Elizabeth Bennet still in Town? I would like to renew acquaintance with her too. Hers is one of the lovely faces I would enjoy anytime.”
“No, she is not. They left the day of the wedding. As for Mr. Gardiner, I might invite him to have a drink with us one day.”
“I would like that. What about Bingley? Is he around?”
“He returned to London, then he left…he decided to open Netherfield again.”
“Did he? Well, well, quite a lot of news, indeed,” the colonel said.
Darcy forced a smile.
“I have another bit of news, or better said, an extraordinary coincidence. Georgiana and Aunt Amelia made a surprising acquaintance in the park —someone she quickly came to like and considers a friend.”
“Georgiana made a new acquaintance in the park?” the colonel asked incredulously.
“Yes —without either knowing the true identity of the other. It was a genuine bonding between her…and Miss Elizabeth Bennet. They called each other ‘Miss Anna’ and ‘Miss Lizzy.’”
“What on earth are you talking about, Darcy? Miss Elizabeth? But you said she was not in town anymore. We must have had too much brandy,” the colonel concluded.
“Forgive me; let me try to be more clear because the story is quite astonishing…”
For another quarter hour, Darcy related to the colonel the final piece of news.
He did not conceal his worry as he spoke of his sister’s peculiar preference for choosing a park far from home and keeping her name hidden.
He also confessed his improper reaction and the pain he caused his sister, as well as his eventual approval of correspondence between Georgiana and Elizabeth.
“Bingley invited us to visit him at Netherfield on our way to Pemberley, and both Georgiana and Aunt Amelia are delighted with the prospect of meeting Miss Bennet again,” Darcy concluded. “What is your opinion of all this?”
The colonel appeared disconcerted.
“I am astonished…very strange coincidence indeed. I am not surprised that Georgiana liked Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She is everything lovely and bright, and her manners are pleasing. Such a friendship would benefit Georgiana, I believe. I am still trying to understand why you would first oppose —what you held against Miss Elizabeth.”
“There were many considerations, but I set everything aside and decided to allow Georgiana to do as she wishes.”
“I fully support your decision. My only concern would have been related to Wickham. But since Georgiana knows of the wedding and is not troubled by it, I am willing not to give it more consideration than the man is worth.”
“I was concerned about Wickham too, but now I worry about other things. I do not know what to do, Richard. Georgiana is more restrained every day. She hardly leaves the house. She refuses to go outside or to meet people. She declares she missed you and your parents but is reluctant to join you for dinner tomorrow evening. She agrees with anything I say and seems only to have interest in her pianoforte. I am not capable of understanding what troubles her, and I fear I cannot be as good a brother as she deserves.”
“Darcy, all I can do is to take half your burden on my shoulders and offer you any help you might need. I do not understand Georgiana although I love her with all my heart. But I do know, beyond any doubt, that you are the best brother one could hope for, and you will surely find a way to alleviate her distress.”
“You are too generous with me, Cousin. Now let us go to the ladies. They will be thrilled to see you. You have always been a ladies’ favourite.”
Darcy attempted a joke to dissipate the tension of their previous conversation.
“I shall take that as a compliment although I am not certain it was meant that way,” the colonel answered in mock seriousness.
As Darcy hoped, Georgiana was indeed happy to see her cousin and rewarded his visit with a large, joyful smile while he responded with an affectionate embrace.
They spoke for half an hour, and Georgiana even laughed a couple of times. However, at the colonel’s invitation, she declined to take a walk with him, but she promised they would have dinner together at the Matlocks in two days.
∞∞∞
Darcy spent the next morning in the library as was his habit. It was too early for breakfast, but he was already on his second cup of coffee.
To his contentment, preparations for travel were complete: luggage packed, horses and carriages prepared. Their journey was scheduled to begin in three days, and he decided not to allow anything to interfere with his plans.
On one of the remaining days, Darcy intended to pay another call to the Gardiners, together with Georgiana. The second day was dedicated to dinner with their relatives, and the last day was meant for rest.
The prospect of moving to Pemberley suddenly became the solution to all the problems they had faced lately. Pemberley meant peace, calm, and shelter. It meant home. He had been away too long and was eager to return.
Nothing would delay them any longer.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door, and a servant entered before Darcy was able to dismiss him.
“Sir, I apologise for disturbing you, but an express has just arrived.”
“An express? At this hour? From where?”
“From Hertfordshire,” the servant answered, handing him the paper.
Darcy easily recognised Bingley’s handwriting. Concerned about the nature of the urgency, he opened the letter eagerly and read, a smile growing with each word.
Darcy,
Today I proposed to Miss Bennet, and she accepted me. Mr. Bennet gave us his blessing, and we will marry in four weeks, the first Thursday after Michaelmas. Yes, so soon. I feel like the Heavens embraced me and God put his hand on my shoulder.
My sisters are upset and angry, and I hear only that I ruined our family name. But I could not care less. Jane’s smile gives me strength and patience.
I am only sorry that I have nobody to drink with to celebrate my bliss.
If your plans are not yet fixed, I would like nothing better than for you to come to Netherfield a few days before my wedding and be at my side when I wed Jane. If you cannot, I will understand —I do not wish to interfere with your schedule. But I hope to see you soon nevertheless.
C. Bingley
Darcy read the erratic writing twice while his stomach tightened with excitement. Yes, it was an urgent matter indeed, one that his generous friend could not refrain from sharing with him.
As he read the news for the third time, two thoughts spun in Darcy’s head. The first: How would he ever deserve Bingley’s forgiveness for almost destroying his felicity? And second: Would he ever be granted just a small portion of such bliss?
Bingley deserved to be happy just as he deserved people around him to share his happiness, to support him, and to encourage him at the beginning of his new life. Bingley wanted his friend to be by his side, and he deserved to have his wish granted.
Darcy had asked for the express messenger to wait, so he quickly took a pen and answered.
Bingley,
I congratulate you and Miss Bennet for such wonderful and well-deserved news.
I have no plans that cannot be changed to be at your side on such an important day.
I am sending you this letter immediately so you know you can count on my presence.
I shall inform you further about the specific date of our arrival at Netherfield once I discuss the travel details with Georgiana and Lady Hardwick.
Have trust that I am drinking a glass of brandy to your bliss.
F. Darcy
He sealed the paper, handed it to the messenger, then filled a glass and emptied it with one gulp, just as he promised.
When the time for breakfast arrived, Darcy went to the countess’s house, wearing a smile on his face. He imagined Bingley’s merriment and his attempt to hide from his sisters, Mrs. Bennet’s excitement, and Mr. Bennet, surely in his library, hiding from the din.
What was Elizabeth doing? She was certainly relieved that he had failed to ruin her sister’s happiness. But he had been close to doing so, and now he could admit that her accusations were correct.
His smile was soon washed away by another thought that only increased his sense of guilt.
What if Bingley had not visited them that day?
What if his aunt had not questioned Bingley and given him her honest opinion?
What if the countess had not given Bingley the idea to return to Netherfield and try to win Miss Bennet’s affection?
Would he have confessed the entire truth to his friend before it was too late?
Would he have struggled to remedy his mistake, or was it only fate that repaired his wrongs?
Had he done anything right in the last couple of years? Was there anyone around him that he had not hurt with his proud and inconsiderate manners? Since his own sister preferred to live away from him, did anyone truly enjoy his company?
He tried to regain his lost smile when he entered the countess’s house and to appear cheerful when he greeted his aunt and sister.
“Good morning, Brother. Please take a seat by me. Have you eaten?”
“Dearest, I bring news. I just received an express from Bingley this morning. He has proposed to Miss Bennet, and they are to be married after Michaelmas.”
Georgiana’s eyes brightened with joy.
“That is wonderful indeed. Mr. Bingley must be so happy. And Miss Bennet too. I am sure Miss Lizzy is also exceedingly delighted. There must be such joy in their family.”
Lady Hardwick laughed. “I have always admired a decided young man, but I did not hope for such a sudden resolution when we last spoke. Miss Bennet must be less indifferent towards him than he feared.”
“Are you pleased with the news, Brother?” Georgiana inquired. “I know you had objections to the Bennet family.”
“Yes, I am very pleased as long as Bingley is content with his choice. It is not for me to raise objections if they do not bother Bingley.”
Lady Hardwick laughed again. “If Miss Bennet is as beautiful as I was told, any objections to her family are of no consequence. When one marries for love, few things matter except the spouse. After all, nobody shares their marriage bed with the in-laws.”
Darcy cast a reproachful glance at his aunt while Georgiana blushed with embarrassment. The countess patted the girl’s hand.
“Forgive me, my darling, it is not a proper subject for a young girl, but I know my point to be correct, as I discovered myself.”
“Dear Aunt, I agree with you; it is not a proper subject for a young girl,” Darcy answered in earnest. “But there is something else we must discuss. Bingley mentioned that he would like for us to attend his wedding.”
“That would be lovely,” the countess said.
“Yes, I already sent my acceptance. But I must know your opinion because we need to change our plans again and to postpone our departure for another fortnight. We should be at Netherfield no sooner than four days before the wedding. I expect both Netherfield and Longbourn will be rather crowded with the Hursts, Caroline Bingley, and the Gardiners. What do you think?”
As he spoke, he watched Georgiana carefully. Distress shadowed her eyes, and she hesitated to answer him. She glanced at her aunt then back at her brother.
“What do you think we should do, William?”
He kissed her hand and answered as gently as possible.
“I think we cannot refuse Bingley. We can stay a couple of weeks more in Town. We can have dinner with our relatives a few times —perhaps attend the opera one evening —then leave for Hertfordshire a day before Michaelmas, stay at Netherfield until the wedding, and depart for Pemberley after the wedding breakfast.”
“It seems an excellent plan,” the countess agreed.
“How many sisters does Miss Bennet have?” Georgiana continued her inquiry.
“There must be altogether four sisters remaining at Longbourn,” Darcy replied.
“And what are they like?”
“I do not know them well enough to say. I remember Miss Mary Bennet plays the piano. Of Miss Kitty I hardly recollect anything, but I believe she is close to your age.”
“My dear girl, it should be enough that you know Miss Elizabeth, and you will have me and your brother with you. I am confident that you will enjoy your time there,” the countess added.
“I believe so,” Georgiana agreed reluctantly.
“Besides, Netherfield is large; you may have privacy whenever you wish,” Darcy concluded. “Shall we do this for Bingley?”
“Yes…of course. I wonder what Caroline and Louisa have to say about this marriage.”
“We do not know, but I am confident it will be amusing to discover,” Lady Hardwick replied. “Oh, the fun we will have at Netherfield.”
The more diverted the countess acted, the more hesitant Georgiana became. Darcy kissed his sister’s hand again to comfort and reassure her, wondering how he would bear four days in Hertfordshire only three miles from Elizabeth. Why was he exposing himself to such torture?