Chapter 14
Dinner conversation at Longbourn that night was entirely about the visit Mrs. Bennet chose to take as a compliment paid by the illustrious guests to Jane and personally to her.
She even sent a note to her sister Mrs. Philips, informing her that Mr. Darcy, his sister, and his aunt —a countess —had called on them just as they arrived from London and spent about three hours at Longbourn, complimenting her food and the efficiency of her staff. Others in the family wrote to no one.
Elizabeth had been pleased to see Lady Hardwick and especially Miss Darcy again as if they were part of her family.
As for Mr. Darcy —his presence, his manners, and his behaviour were equally surprising and, therefore, distressing.
She had known for some time that he would come to Hertfordshire, and she thought she had reconciled herself to the idea.
But she was proved wrong from the moment she met him in the grove until he left Longbourn.
And when he was gone, she found herself trying to remember his words, his gestures, and his gazes, and she wondered whether there was something else hidden behind them.
Although his manners were amiable, her distress in his company was more intense than in the past. The visible change in him was certainly not due to her —she was well aware of that —but to his relationship with her father as well as to the presence of his sister and aunt.
So she tried to guess his true opinion of her, hoping the passage of time had softened his anger and resentment.
Even though she had come to recognise better qualities in him, she did not regret refusing his marriage proposal or censuring his manner in addressing it.
At that moment —given the information she had and his pride in being responsible for separating Jane and Bingley —she felt her answer was the only choice.
But sorrow for her unjust offenses and her reckless gesture of destroying the letter grew stronger, along with her self-reproach.
She still hoped that someday they would be able to have a sincere, unbiased discussion and clear up everything so she could ease the weight she had carried for many months.
Elizabeth found sleep long after midnight, and she was startled by the sound of rain against the window. Autumn had demanded its due, and she worried that the weather might affect their plans for the next days and Jane’s eagerly awaited wedding day.
Her night was restless, but by morning, the rain stopped and the smell of fresh air was intoxicating.
The family did not gather for breakfast. Mr. Bennet requested coffee and cold meat in his library, and Mrs. Bennet kept to her room until late, declaring she needed to rest in order to gather her strength for supervising dinner.
The sisters ate very little; then Mary turned to her study, Jane to the packing of her luggage for the upcoming move to Netherfield, and Kitty to complaints of boredom from one sister to the other.
Elizabeth chose to take her usual morning walk before anybody needed her help in any way.
Darcy woke abruptly to the sound of wind. The window was wide open, and it was still dark, but no star lit in the sky.
He shivered as the breeze cooled the sweat on his skin. Half asleep, he brushed his fingers through his hair and looked for water to ease his thirst.
He had barely slept a whole hour, and his mind was foggy.
Then he realised it was not the wind that woke him but rather a dream filled with Elizabeth’s image.
He did not remember the details, but he imagined himself holding Elizabeth tightly in his arms, her body brushing against his, her soft lips yielding to his kisses, and her skin shivering under his touch.
His senses were alive to her scent, her warmth, her softness, and her whispers.
Ashamed of his own weakness, he stood in front of the window and allowed the chilling breeze to calm his fevered body.
He then filled a glass with water, emptied it in one gulp, wet his hands, and wiped his face.
Finally, he lay back in bed, hoping for the dawn.
Eventually, he fell asleep with the window wide open in an attempt to calm the heat inside him.
Two hours later, sunlight, voices in the back yard, and a strange headache woke him again. He was neither more rested nor calmer —but at least the rain had stopped.
Darcy hurried downstairs and was pleased to see Georgiana and Lady Hardwick gathered around the table, chatting with Bingley. The other two ladies, however, barely answered his greetings and then kept a grim silence that proved the previous evening’s arguments were not forgotten.
“Darcy, welcome! Did you sleep well? What would you like to eat? Come, take a seat.” Bingley’s enthusiasm, though well meant, increased Darcy’s headache.
“I will only have coffee. What were you discussing if I may ask?”
“We were speaking of our plans for today. I usually go to Longbourn immediately after breakfast, but now I cannot abandon you, so I shall settle my schedule according to your wishes.”
“The Bennet family is waiting for the Gardiners today, so I imagine they will be very busy,” Darcy replied. “So I am not certain we should disturb them until dinnertime.”
“I agree with Mr. Darcy,” Caroline finally spoke. “These days we purposely try to avoid Longbourn as it is quite disorderly there —much more than we can bear.”
“I believe this happens to any family when a wedding is planned,” Lady Hardwick said. “But it is understandable that not everybody is comfortable with it.”
“I fear my sisters are generally not comfortable with anything related to the Bennets,” Bingley declared.
“Charles, let us not discuss our family affairs in the presence of our guests,” Louisa insisted.
“We will not; however, some things are obvious.” Bingley addressed his sisters sternly. “We will have dinner at Longbourn tonight. From your statement, I take it you do not want to join us.
“I am sure there will be more people than the Longbourn dining room can accommodate,” Caroline answered.
“Then it is best that you stay home,” Bingley concluded. “As for now, Miss Darcy, would you not like to take a ride around Netherfield? Perhaps visit Miss Elizabeth briefly? I am sure she will be happy to see you, and I will be delighted to keep you company.”
Georgiana’s face brightened.
“Yes, I would like that very much. I mean —if my brother and my aunt approve.”
Darcy hesitated a moment, long enough for the countess to reply.
“My dear, I would rather stay in my room and rest a little longer. But I promise to be ready in time for dinner. Until then, I will stay with Didi and Mist.”
“Are you well, Aunt?” Darcy inquired with concern.
“Yes, I am very well, my dear; do not worry about me. Just arrange your plans so you can enjoy your time here as much as possible.”
Darcy watched his aunt carefully; she appeared to be well indeed. Then he looked at his sister and Bingley.
“Very well —let us do as you two want. We can take a ride around the estate, call at Longbourn briefly, and then return home and prepare for dinner.”
“I will change my clothes for riding immediately,” Georgiana said enthusiastically and rushed to her room.
Shortly thereafter, the three of them left on their horses, and Lady Hardwick walked back to her chamber.
Caroline and Louisa watched through the window, speculating about the strange relationship between Eliza Bennet and Georgiana Darcy, whom they had tried for years to befriend. Mr. Hurst offered no opinion.
The riders were led by Bingley, who directed them towards the main path to Longbourn. Darcy observed, smiled to himself, and said nothing.
“It is still cloudy, but the weather is very pleasant. I love the smell of the trees after a rain,” Bingley said.
“It still might rain again,” Darcy added.
“Maybe later, but the clouds have dissipated for now. And we will reach Longbourn very soon. Miss Darcy, if you look to your right, there is a lovely view of Netherfield. Of course, it is nothing compared to Pemberley.”
“It is very lovely, Mr. Bingley. The colours of autumn are beautiful.”
“It has been one year since we first came to Netherfield. Do you remember, Darcy?”
“I do remember.”
“It has been a long year, has it not? So agonising…I cannot believe how perfectly well everything has turned out.”
“Indeed…” Georgiana whispered, staring absently in front of her. Suddenly, she spurred her horse, then reined it in after a short distance, and dismounted to Darcy and Bingley’s puzzlement.
“Miss Lizzy!” she called, and only then did the gentlemen observe Elizabeth walking through the trees.
“Miss Darcy! Oh, and the two gentlemen. Good morning!” Elizabeth greeted them with spirit.
“Are you walking alone in the wood?” Georgiana asked with apparent surprise.
“Yes, I do so quite often. It is my preferred spot when I wish to take a stroll. I am as familiar with these paths as I am with my own room,” she said with a smile.
Both gentlemen dismounted and bowed to Elizabeth. Darcy immediately added the reins of his sister’s horse to his own.
“What a happy coincidence to meet you here,” Bingley said.
“Not really.” Elizabeth’s smile was slightly nervous as she felt Darcy’s gaze upon her. “I am here almost daily if the weather is reasonable. So anyone who might pass by here would meet me.”
“It is fortunate that we did,” Georgiana answered. “We intended to come and see you a little bit later…only for a moment…we know you are waiting for Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner today, so I imagine you are busy. We did not want to disturb you.”
“Your presence is never a disturbance, Miss Darcy. We are happy to have you at Longbourn whenever you wish. And Lady Hardwick? Her ladyship is well, I hope?”
“Yes she is. She is not fond of cloudy days, and she was still a little tired, so she preferred to rest. Didi and Mist are happy to keep her company.”