Chapter 6
Mr Bingley arrived for dinner at the perfect time and was received by at least two overjoyed ladies.
Elizabeth admitted to herself that she was deeply disappointed by Mr Darcy’s absence.
The excuse offered by Mr Bingley that his friend was too busy was easily accepted by Mrs Bennet and her other daughters, who cared little for the gentleman.
To Elizabeth, it was just a poor excuse to justify his unwillingness to be in their company again.
It all became clear to Elizabeth: Mr Darcy could amend his manners to be civil if and when he chose, but in essentials, his feelings remained the same.
She was determined to cease thinking of him and abandon any expectations in regard to him.
If she wished to find out more about Miss Darcy, she could ask Mr Bingley, who must have some knowledge about his friend’s sister.
Miss Bingley had mentioned Georgiana’s name several times, praising her accomplishments, so they must be on friendly enough terms to provide her with sufficient details.
For Mrs Bennet and her daughters, Mr Bingley was a most delightful presence, and the dinner was a success. The gentleman showed his admiration for Jane quite obviously, causing Mrs Bennet to treat him with excessive amiability and Jane and Elizabeth to blush with embarrassment.
“I hope you do not intend to return to London soon, Mr Bingley.”
“No indeed, Mrs Bennet. I have no plans to leave Hertfordshire at present.”
“Then perhaps you might give a ball soon!” Lydia suddenly intervened, paying no attention to her eldest sisters’ reproachful glares.
“A ball would be lovely!” Kitty supported her. “Especially with the regiment in Meryton and so many officers we might dance with!”
“Do you think the neighbourhood would approve of a ball?” Mr Bingley enquired, mostly of Jane.
“Certainly, if it is not too bothersome for you,” Jane answered shyly.
Mr Bingley’s smile broadened even more. “Not bothersome at all, I assure you. We shall have a ball as soon as my cook can make enough white soup!”
“You must invite all the officers,” Lydia continued.
“Of course, Miss Lydia. In fact, since I am not so well acquainted with the neighbourhood, I would appreciate it if Mrs Bennet and Miss Bennet would suggest a list of guests.”
The compliment did not go unnoticed, and Jane’s cheeks crimsoned with delight.
“We would be happy to,” Jane whispered.
“Very happy, indeed!” Mrs Bennet exclaimed. “We know all our neighbours, and we could write a guest list in no time.”
“But I am sure your sisters will wish to look over the final list, Mr Bingley,” Jane added.
“How considerate of you, Miss Bennet. However, I doubt my sisters will have much interest in the ball. But I shall ask their opinion, of course.”
“What about Mr Darcy?” Mr Bennet asked with a glimpse of amusement in his eyes.
“Darcy?” Mr Bingley shrugged. “He never has much interest in balls. I doubt he will even attend. He might choose to spend that time in the library, so do not worry about him.”
“Well then, perhaps I could join him in the library during the ball. There is nothing I would like more,” Mr Bennet declared.
“My dear Mr Bennet, you may do whatever you please, and so may Mr Darcy. It is fortunate that Mr Bingley does not resemble either of you,” Mrs Bennet concluded.
Elizabeth remained silent for most of the evening.
So, Mr Darcy had no interest in balls, dinners, or generally in anything that most people found entertaining.
Well, very likely he would not be missed.
But she could not help thinking of Georgiana, wondering how difficult it must have been for her to grow up with such a haughty and aloof brother.
Around her, there was lively conversation and laughter; however, for some reason, she could not enjoy the meal as much as she might have.
Their guest left at a rather late hour, but the thrill of the evening kept Mrs Bennet awake — and her daughters around her — for another hour. She repeated many times that his request for help with the guest list for the ball was further proof of Mr Bingley’s partiality for Jane.
As much as Jane tried to temper her mother’s hopes and expectations, she failed, and Mrs Bennet went on until Mr Bennet declared it was late and they should retire for the night.
“You should rest and prepare for the arrival of my cousin Mr Collins. He might not be as handsome or amiable as Mr Bingley, nor worth five thousand a year, but he is certainly of equal importance, since your comfort may depend on him one day,” the gentleman concluded in his usual mocking tone.
“I do not care much for your cousin, dear husband, since I have reason to believe our comfort will be well taken care of soon. I am sure Mr Bingley will not wait much longer before he secures his happiness!”
“Mama, please!” Jane interjected. “We should not expect anything from Mr Bingley simply because he has been so amiable and kind. It makes me uncomfortable to hear you speaking in such a manner.”
“Hush, child. Let me worry about all that. We should go to bed now. Your father is right. We need rest to receive that despicable man tomorrow.”
“Poor Mr Collins. Since he is the heir to Longbourn, he must be in possession of every flaw of character,” Mr Bennet said, rolling his eyes and winking at his favourite daughter.
Elizabeth smiled at him and replied, “Papa, could it be possible that Mr Collins is a reasonable, witty man? Perhaps we shall come to like him, and he will become a friend to our family.”
“Based on his letters, I doubt the part regarding his reason and wit. But he might very well become a friend to our family. After all, we have plenty of silly friends already, and there is always room for more.” After that, he left before his wife had time to protest such a statement.
It was already late, and the day had been too eventful for further arguments.
***
As had happened many times before, the following days proved the correctness of Mr Bennet’s estimation.
Mr Collins arrived at four o’clock in the afternoon, precisely at the stated hour.
He was a young man with plain features and irritating, pompous manners that mirrored his long tirades and sermons.
He bowed too often and too low, paid ridiculous compliments to his ‘fair cousins’, which at times sounded like insults, and mentioned his noble patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, in every other sentence.
He had been at Longbourn for two days, and the entire family was already exasperated.
Mrs Bennet, however, started to warm towards him when he declared that he had travelled to Hertfordshire to tighten his bond with the Bennet family and also to search for a wife, as Lady Catherine had suggested.
When he indicated that he would like to choose his future spouse from among his cousins, Mrs Bennet’s affection for him grew.
Of course, his attention immediately turned towards Jane, but Mrs Bennet informed him that she was expected to become engaged soon.
From that moment, Mr Collins moved his interest to Elizabeth, succeeding in challenging her patience and even her manners and civility.
Mr Bennet was exceedingly entertained by watching his cousin chasing his favourite daughter, as he declared to Elizabeth several times, but unlike in other circumstances, she did not share his amusement. In fact, quite the opposite.
Mr Bingley called at Longbourn again and was introduced to Mr Collins. Despite his amiable disposition, even Mr Bingley became uncomfortable when faced with one of Mr Collins’s long speeches, and he was barely able to say more than a few words himself.
“I was telling my cousin Mr Bennet how happy I am to have finally become better acquainted with his family. As my noble patronesses, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, often says, family must support each other. I trust the bond between us will strengthen even more if a certain event I am hoping for occurs.”
Mr Bingley seemed lost as to the gentleman’s meaning and glanced around, while Elizabeth averted her eyes in mortification, and Mrs Bennet displayed a broad grin of approval.
“Lady Catherine de Bourgh? Of Rosings Park?” Mr Bingley finally enquired in a desperate attempt to carry on the conversation.
“Yes, the very one. The most remarkable lady to ever live,” Mr Collins said.
“What a coincidence! She is the aunt of my friend, Mr Darcy. He will be interested to know you are acquainted with his aunt.”
Mr Collins seemed to stop breathing momentarily.
“Are you acquainted with Mr Darcy? Of Pemberley?”
“I am. He has been my friend for several years. More than that, he is currently my guest at Netherfield.”
Mr Collins’s face changed colour, and his mouth fell open in a most unbecoming way.
“Mr Darcy is here in Hertfordshire? And you believe I might be introduced to him? This is most extraordinary! I am in the happy position to be able to inform him that her ladyship was in excellent health only three days ago. If only you would do me the honour of introducing us.”
The clergyman’s enthusiasm seemed to leave Mr Bingley disconcerted once more, and again he cast a helpless look at Jane. But Mrs Bennet intervened energetically.
“I am sure Mr Bingley can introduce you to Mr Darcy. Just be warned that he is aloof and haughty and barely speaks at all in company!”
Mr Collins’s eyes widened. “Lady Catherine always says that her nephew is an exceptional young man. If I had the good fortune of meeting him, I would never dare judge his manners, which I am sure must be the epitome of decorum.”
“Mr Bingley, would you do us the honour of dining at Longbourn again tomorrow?” Mrs Bennet proposed. “And perhaps you may convince Mr Darcy to join you, so you can introduce Mr Collins to him.”
The request obviously took Mr Bingley by surprise, and he needed a moment to recover.
“Indeed, sir, I would be exceedingly grateful to you for such a generous favour. I would beg you, if necessary,” Mr Collins insisted.