Chapter 2
CONSTANT COMPANY
Elizabeth enjoyed few things more than a long solitary ramble through the countryside.
At first, the fresh open air quickly extinguished any concerns about how her arrival might be perceived by the Netherfield party, but not for long.
In under a mile away, Elizabeth looked down at her hem—six inches deep in mud.
Her untidy attire was hardly a fitting recommendation to the new neighbours.
Is appearing before strangers in such an unsightly state any less of a spectacle than arriving on horseback in the pouring rain?
There is nothing to be done now. With any luck, I shall arrive with little fanfare.
I shall proceed to see Jane without making Mr. Darcy’s acquaintance in such a shabby state as this.
Undeterred, Elizabeth continued on her way, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing over puddles with impatient activity, and finding herself at last within view of the house.
Once Elizabeth was shown into the breakfast-parlour, the gentleman whom she recognised as Mr. Bingley greeted her with kindness and good humour.
“Miss Elizabeth,” said he, “this is indeed a pleasant surprise to make your acquaintance after all this time in Hertfordshire. I have heard so many delightful accounts in your favour.” He stole a glance at the others before looking back at Elizabeth. “Allow me to introduce you to everyone.”
First, he introduced his eldest sister, Mrs. Louisa Hurst, and her husband, Mr. Hurst. The former addressed Elizabeth with an affected smile; the latter barely looked up from his heaping plate of eggs and bacon. He then introduced his sister, Miss Caroline Bingley.
“I concur with my brother,” she said, her voice dripping with honey, but her eyes gleaming with contempt. “It is such a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“The pleasure is all mine, I am sure.” Elizabeth gazed about the room.
Bingley said, “Pardon me, Miss Elizabeth, are you looking for someone? Your sister, Miss Bennet, is resting upstairs.”
Of course, her first concern was her sister’s well-being. It was, after all, the sole purpose of her even being there. She had not expected to see Jane sitting at the breakfast table. However, she had expected someone else. Mr. Darcy. Where is he?
Bingley cleared his throat. “Miss Elizabeth?”
“Pardon me, Mr. Bingley. How is my sister?”
Miss Bingley said, “I am afraid Miss Bennet slept poorly. She is very feverish and not well enough to leave her room.” She stood from the table. “I shall show you to her.”
Elizabeth was glad to be taken to her sister immediately.
Seeing Jane settled and well attended was a source of considerable calm for Elizabeth, causing her to suspect the Bingley sisters were not half as bad as Charlotte had said.
Elizabeth was also glad for having missed seeing Mr. Darcy.
She reckoned he was an early riser, just as she was.
Perhaps he was enjoying an invigorating morning ride before breakfast.
It is just as well, for I am hardly attired to make Mr. Darcy’s acquaintance just now. Elizabeth huffed. On the other hand, if he is half as proud as my mother proclaims, I might make a horrible impression even if I wore my finest gown.
Although Elizabeth was hesitant to impinge upon the Bingley’s hospitality beyond three o’clock, Jane’s anguish over her leave-taking, combined with Miss Bingley’s reluctant insistence for her to remain at Netherfield, compelled Elizabeth to stay.
A servant was dispatched to Longbourn to bring back a fresh supply of clothes.
Elizabeth inspected the gown that had been sent over.
Her mother obviously had a hand in picking her things.
The cut of the décolletage displayed that aspect of Elizabeth’s person no red-blooded man would fail to appreciate.
Rarely had she given much attention to such matters before.
After quickly dressing, Elizabeth looked in the mirror and gave the gown a futile tug.
She arched her brow. Deciding that there was nothing to be done, she made her way downstairs.
Elizabeth entered the room where the Netherfield party was gathered in time to hear Caroline’s commiseration.
“It is such a shame that Mr. Darcy was called away.”
Elizabeth tried to hide her dismay. You mean to say he is not here!
She did not know whether to be exceedingly pleased that she would not be meeting him after all, especially under the given circumstances or extremely disappointed that she would likely have no other opportunity to do so. She remained quiet.
Mrs. Hurst nodded. “Mr. Darcy’s presence was the perfect addition to our country party. Whatever shall we do in his absence?”
“I fear unless we are able to persuade him to return and in the absence of an invitation to Pemberley at Christmas, it will be months before we are all in company again.” Miss Bingley turned to her brother.
“Charles, you must write to Mr. Darcy to ascertain his plans. I should enjoy nothing more than to spend Christmastime at Pemberley.”
The silence in the room encouraged her to continue. “Indeed, it is most divine.” She looked at Elizabeth. “Should you ever have an opportunity to visit Derbyshire, Miss Eliza, you must go to Pemberley and petition the housekeeper for a tour. I dare say you have never seen anything like it.”
“Actually, Miss Bingley, I have visited Pemberley. I agree. The house is beautiful, and the grounds are the most spectacular I have ever seen.”
Miss Bingley’s mouth fell open. “Of course, having a tour of Pemberley hardly compares with residing there as a guest. I do not mind boasting of what intimate friends the Darcys and I have become. How I long to see Miss Darcy again! I never met with anybody who delighted me so much. Such a countenance, such manners! And so incredibly accomplished! Her performance on the pianoforte is exquisite.”
Elizabeth had never heard Georgiana play what with their limited time together in Derbyshire, but from her friend’s many accounts of spending long hours practising, Elizabeth suffered no doubt over the veracity of Miss Bingley’s proclamations. “I confess not to have met all the Darcys, however—”
“Surely you do not claim an acquaintance with Mr. Darcy himself! Why, he said nothing of having Hertfordshire acquaintances. Surely were that the case, he would have said something.”
“No—I have never met Mr. Darcy.” Staring at his likeness in his own home; still more, dreaming of what it must be like to meet him someday does not count. “I can, however, boast of a connection with Miss Darcy. She and I regularly correspond.”
“You and Miss Darcy correspond regularly? I scarcely believe it.”
“It is not my intention to persuade you one way or the other; however, I would have no reason to lie.”
The ensuing conversation did not bode well for the future of Elizabeth and Miss Bingley’s friendship, and just when Elizabeth had begun to suspect she had been too harsh in her initial assessments of the Bingley sisters.
Why they would appear jealous of her connection with the Darcys, such that it was, disconcerted her.
How happy Elizabeth was when dinner was over, and she returned directly to Jane.
There, Elizabeth passed most of the night attending her sister.
Settled in her own room hours later, one thing was perfectly clear to Elizabeth: the chief part of her evening in Miss Bingley’s company had taught her the young lady had designs on the elusive Mr. Darcy.
By all accounts and even her own eyes, he was handsome.
He was also rich. Given the professed intimacy of their acquaintance, why would Miss Bingley not be fascinated with the gentleman?
She is every bit as pretentious as he is purported to be.
The question in Elizabeth’s mind was how he regarded Miss Bingley.
Did he return her affection? Had she passed the bulk of the evening in the presence of the future mistress of Pemberley—a place she longed to see once more?
Elizabeth squeezed her eyes tight. Sleep was determined not to come easily. She sat up in the canopied bed and fluffed her pillow. What does it matter to me how Mr. Darcy feels? I have never even met him!
Soon after breakfast the following morning, the Netherfield party was surrounded by an army of Bennet women.
Having found her daughter Jane in no actual danger and receiving repeated assurances from the Bingleys that all that could be done on Jane’s behalf would be done, Mrs. Bennet was at liberty to admire the size of the rooms and the elegant furnishings.
She remarked on what good taste was evident throughout the hall leading to the drawing room.
She was even curious enough to enquire on the well-being of the rest of the Netherfield party.
“Where is your friend, Mr. Darcy? I half-expected to see him this morning.”
“I am afraid Darcy has returned to town, Mrs. Bennet.”
Mrs. Bennet’s face attested to her delight. “Indeed. I pray all is well with his family.”
“Indeed. His reasons for returning to town are of a personal nature. I assure you his family is quite well.”
“Well, I do not mind telling you that your friend’s absence from the neighbourhood will be met with great pleasure.”
Bingley’s mouth flew wide open. He coloured.
“Mama!” cried Elizabeth. As shocked as she was, Elizabeth was glad for Mr. Darcy’s absence as well. She had no doubt that were he present, her mother would have found another manner of insulting him.
“You need not be offended, sir. Everyone who has made your acquaintance is pleased to have you remain here in Hertfordshire; perhaps choose a bride from many of the eligible young ladies and make her the mistress of Netherfield. My Jane has always been envied for her great beauty. Lady Lucas herself has often said so, although I cannot say the same for her eldest daughter, Charlotte.”
“Mama!”
“Why, Lizzy, even Charlotte will allow for her plainness.” Returning her attention to Mr. Bingley, she said, “I do not like to boast of my own child, but to be sure, one does not often see anybody better looking than my Jane. It is what everybody says. I do not trust my own partiality. When she was only fifteen, there was a man at my brother Gardiner’s in town so much in love with her that my sister-in-law was sure he would make her an offer before we came away.
However, he did not. Perhaps he thought her too young.
Though, I must say, he wrote some very pretty verses for her. ”
Miss Bingley pursed her lips. “My brother is of an age where his acquaintances are always increasing. He is unlikely to settle for the country for very long. Here, one tends to move in a rather confined and unvarying society.”
Elizabeth never supposed she wished to hear Miss Caroline Bingley, of all people, give voice to the conversation.
Still, she was thankful for the reprieve.
Mrs. Bennet would not be dissuaded. Offended by the elegant lady’s manner of mentioning a country neighbourhood, she said, “I assure you that goings-on in the country is as varied as in town.” She huffed.
“I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country, for my part, except the shops and public places. But allow your brother to speak for himself. The country is a vast deal pleasanter, is it not, Mr. Bingley?”
“When I am in the country, I never wish to leave it, and when I am in town, it is pretty much the same. They have each their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either.”
“Aye—that is because you have the right disposition.”
“Shall I call for more tea and cake,” said Mrs. Hurst upon espying the empty tray.
She had directed her inquiry to Elizabeth’s youngest sister, Lydia.
If she had been paying attention, she would have been better served by addressing the question to her husband.
Having enjoyed his fill of small sandwiches arranged on the sideboard, he stole a seat beside the two youngest Bennet daughters and partook of the delectable morsels on the table before them.
Miss Bingley silently admonished her sister for extending a courtesy that must surely impede the guests’ quick departure.
All this Elizabeth observed, yet she could not take offence for she, too, was eager to see her mother and sisters take their leave.
It always pains me to see my loved ones being mocked or ridiculed, regardless of the impropriety of their behaviour.
Thus, when Kitty quietly asked her sister if she might request a tour, a simple act that someone of Miss Bingley’s temperament would consider more of a burden than an honour, Elizabeth hushed her.
Talk of the weather soon took precedence, and, before long, Mrs. Bennet began repeating her thanks to Mr. Bingley for his kindness to her Jane. She apologised again for troubling him with Lizzy and soon afterwards ordered her carriage.
Elizabeth’s eagerness to return to Jane’s side lessened when her youngest sister begged Mr. Bingley to give a ball.
Bingley did not seem of a mind to refuse the request in spite of the poorly disguised disgust in his sisters’ voices subtlety questioning Lydia’s audacity.
Elizabeth read in Bingley’s voice as well as his countenance the reason for his ready acquiescence.
Within minutes it was decided that once Jane was fully recovered, the date would be set, the invitations sent, and a ball, the likes of which Hertfordshire had never seen, would be held.
Somehow, this did not sit well with Elizabeth.
What good could come from such easy manipulation of the scheme?
On the other hand, what if Mr. Bingley prevails upon his friend Mr. Darcy to return?