Chapter 12
Since the engagement, Longbourn had become the centre of the neighbourhood.
Mrs. Philips and Lady Lucas called almost daily on Mrs. Bennet; the courses for the wedding breakfast were discussed, agreed to, and changed just as frequently.
Mary was at her mother’s disposal, writing down every decision to avoid missing anything important.
Letters to Mrs. Gardiner were written with details for purchasing Jane’s trousseau.
The betrothed couple bore everything bravely. As long as they could be together, take a stroll in the garden, or simply gaze at each other, their blissful serenity remained untouched.
Bingley was a regular guest for dinner at Longbourn, unlike his sisters who never visited the family after the engagement was announced.
Bingley struggled every day to find a reason for his sisters’ rudeness; therefore; either Miss Bingley or Mrs. Hurst appeared to be ill every day while the other was attending her.
One evening, as Mrs. Bennet described the degree of her nerves’ wretchedness, the soon-to-be groom said happily,
“Darcy just sent me a note that he will come for the wedding with Miss Darcy and their great aunt, the countess. They will stay at Netherfield a few days. I look forward to seeing them.”
Elizabeth startled and felt her face colour while she tried to remain calm and sip her tea.
She cast a glance at Jane, who responded with a sympathetic look.
Both knew of Darcy’s plan to stop at Netherfield on the way to Pemberley, but his residing in the neighbourhood several days was as distressing for one as it was pleasant for the other.
Mrs. Bennet dropped her fork.
“Mr. Darcy will come for the wedding? And a countess? Here? Mr. Bingley, do you want me to die in anguish? I hoped you would have more concern for my poor nerves, considering I am the mother of your future mistress of Netherfield!”
Bingley dared not move or even breathe.
“I apologise, ma’am…I did not imagine that…have I done something wrong? Are you displeased with their arrival?”
“Displeased? I am indeed! How could you inform me only now? A countess in my house? And the most demanding and pretentious of all men! Now I have to change the entire menu! We must have at least ten courses! What am I going to do? Mary, fetch your notebook and read to me what we have so far! Oh, dear Lord, I must go speak to Hill at once.”
“Mrs. Bennet, would you be so kind as to allow us to finish our dinner before you drive our cook completely out of her mind?” Mr. Bennet pleaded. “You have three more weeks to torment yourself and us. I see no reason for such haste.”
“Mr. Bennet, you are mocking me although I am only struggling to honour our family name. How could you possibly be so insensitive?”
“I praise your efforts and struggles, Mrs. Bennet, rest assured of that. However, I can safely assure you that, unless they are not allowed to eat from now until then, neither Mr. Darcy nor any countess would be capable of handling ten courses for breakfast, even a wedding breakfast.”
“Oh, Mr. Bennet, you do not know anything about weddings or countesses. You must keep in mind that it could be our only chance to make an excellent impression, as it is likely none of our other girls will marry so well.”
“Mama!” cried all four of them, some in embarrassment, some in disagreement, and some in frustration.
“I must talk to Hill; I cannot bear this by myself. Mr. Bingley, do tell me, is there anything else I should know before it ruins the entire wedding?”
Bingley turned pale at the prospect. “No…not from me…nothing else…I apologise…”
Mrs. Bennet dismissed Bingley with a wave of her hand, and he gazed around silently, still wondering what he had done wrong. Fortunately, he met Jane’s tender eyes and her sweet, enchanting smile and forgot about the incident the next instant.
A day before Michaelmas, Lady Hardwick’s carriage travelled steadily towards Hertfordshire.
Inside were Darcy, the countess, and Georgiana.
Behind them, Darcy’s carriages followed, filled with their personal belongings as well as the ladies’ maids and the master’s valet.
Two other carriages took the direct road to Pemberley.
“I say, Lady Matlock is correct. Everybody is returning to Town for the Season; only we are leaving. There must be something wrong with us Darcys,” Lady Hardwick declared.
Didi was resting on her lap, and Mist was within his basket held tightly by Georgiana.
“I am glad we will finally see Netherfield. I wonder whether they know we are to arrive today,” Georgiana said absentmindedly.
“I would hope so,” Darcy replied. “I gave Bingley all the details.”
The countess laughed. “A man marrying for love in a few days surely does not care about his friends’ travel plans. But we can be certain he is at home.”
“I am worried we might disturb them…I would not want to intrude,” Georgiana continued. “I wonder whether Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner have arrived at Longbourn. I truly like Mrs. Gardiner.”
“As do I,” Darcy agreed.
“And I look forward to making their acquaintance,” Lady Hardwick said.
“I have heard so many positive things about them, Georgiana, that I might be jealous that you like them better than me.
“I have argued with your aunt Fitzwilliam for the privilege of spending time with you. In a family filled with insensitive men, you are our sunshine.”
“Dear Aunt, you are too kind, and so is Aunt Matlock. I am happy we delayed our departure from town so that I could spend more time with them.”
The countess caressed the girl’s hair.
“And they were delighted to enjoy your company, as we all are. You must know how much joy you bring us with your sweetness, your gentleness, your generous nature. We all love you so much, Georgiana.”
“And I love you,” she whispered. “I wish nothing more than to be worthy of my name, of my family, and to deserve your affection. I cannot bear to know that I disappointed my relatives. Especially you and William,” she ended, her voice trembling with grief.
The countess was overwhelmed with tenderness and embraced the girl, kissing her forehead.
“Oh, my sweet thing, let me kiss you. I love you too, dearest. You two are my children and heirs. Everything I have will be yours one day.”
Georgiana turned pale, and her eyes became heavy with tears.
“Dear Aunt, please do not ever speak of this. I do not wish to hear the word ‘heir’ again! I want to think I will have you with me forever.”
“And so you shall, dear girl. Now, how did we come to talk of distressing things when we are going to a household that prepares for a wedding? And speaking of distress, let us gather our strength for meeting Louisa and Caroline.”
Georgiana smiled through her tears. “I cannot speak other than kindly about them. They have always been nice to me, but I know that is partially due to their admiration for William.”
“I have reason to suspect Miss Bingley’s admiration for me has diminished,” Darcy responded mockingly in a poor and unsuccessful attempt to amuse his sister.
They were only a half hour from their destination, and their eagerness, as well as their fatigue, increased.
“William, which comes first on our journey? Longbourn or Netherfield?” Georgiana asked a few minutes later.
“First Meryton, then Longbourn, and Netherfield is the last. Would you like to stop for a time in Meryton?”
The girl seemed to panic. “No! But perhaps we might happen to see Miss Elizabeth…”
Darcy’s loving gaze rested on his sister —too shy to make new acquaintances, now suddenly excited to meet someone she considered a close friend.
To his usual concern was added the fear that his sister might suffer another disappointment.
It would be understandable that Elizabeth Bennet, reunited with her family and caught up in the middle of the happiest event, might not be equally enthusiastic about seeing Georgiana again. For his sister, that would be another blow to her fragile self-confidence.
He turned to his companions, trying lighten his tone.
“Would you ladies mind if I make the last part of the journey by horse? Watts can lead you in my absence. Thus, I will arrive a little sooner and discover Bingley’s precise whereabouts so that we can determine our schedule. I will wait for you on the road; you cannot possibly miss me.”
They were surprised, but they accepted his proposal without hesitation.
Therefore, a few minutes later Darcy was galloping ahead, defying the warmth of the noonday sun.
He passed Meryton, briefly recollecting his first arrival in the area, which began the most painful year of his life.
There was no trace of officers, and there were few people on the streets, but curiosity turned several eyes towards him, and he responded with a brief nod.
With each minute —each step —that brought him closer to Longbourn, the turmoil inside him increased, and he reluctantly admitted that concern for his sister was only a part of the inducement for his haste.
He hoped —and dreaded —to see Elizabeth before the others.
He wished to see her expression the moment she laid eyes on him.
Was she expecting them? Surely, Bingley had informed the Bennets of their arrival, so she could not be surprised.
But would he ever know what she truly felt, or would her behaviour be tempered by gratitude?
Even were she not aware of the extent of his involvement in the Wickham affair, he expected her to be thankful for his assistance.
So she would likely be polite, perhaps silent, not daring to contradict him, welcoming him even if her true inclination was to avoid him.
Of course, he should not give consideration to such thoughts. As long as she was kind to Georgiana, nothing else should matter to him. If he could only command his mind and his heart to obey his demands…