Chapter 12
Mr Bennet was waiting for his wife’s return with a glass of brandy and a large grin of anticipation on his face, ready to share with her the news she had always dreamed of, only to have his plans slightly delayed.
Mrs Bennet, Kitty, and Lydia entered the house, but his wife was not showing her usual flushed and excited countenance that he would expect after calling on her sister or her friends and partaking in the latest pieces of gossip.
She was instead unbecomingly red with anger, and even Kitty and Lydia were behaving strangely, anxiously keeping some distance from their mother.
It was obvious to everyone an outburst was to come, and Hill stood close by with the smelling salts.
“Well, Miss Lizzy,” spluttered the matron, “not only did you allow that shrewd Lady Lucas to push her daughter into the path and arms of Mr Collins so she could replace me as the mistress of Longbourn, but you forced me to spend an entire afternoon talking about your actions and defending your behaviour which — I may quote — was wild, unguarded, barely proper, unladylike, reckless, and many similar words!”
Elizabeth kept her aplomb, trying to avoid an argument and anticipating with amusement her mother’s mercurial change of disposition which was sure to happen upon hearing the latest news.
“Mama, I am very sorry that you had an unpleasant visit. But I do not believe myself to be guilty of anything.”
“Besides, my dear, you said you were to visit your sister, Mrs Phillips,” Mr Bennet intervened. “Where did you argue with Lady Lucas?”
“What importance has the location? I met Lady Lucas, and she bragged about her daughter’s wedding, how pleased Mr Collins was by Charlotte, and how sure he was that Lady Catherine would approve of the marriage.
She insisted that Mr Collins mentioned that a clergyman must be very careful in choosing a wife and that Lady Catherine de Bourgh specifically disapproved of unladylike behaviour and stubbornness!
” She paused to catch her breath and to take a sniff of the salts Hill kept nearby.
Mr Bennet wrinkled his brow in confusion.
“But madam, all this we have heard countless times in the last month. Why would the repeat of such notions upset you today precisely?”
“Why? Why? You ask why? Because I am convinced she was alluding to Lizzy! I am sure they gossiped with Mr Collins about Lizzy! That is why he proposed to Charlotte! He knew Lady Catherine would disapprove of Lizzy!”
“I see…but in the end, the decision to not propose to Lizzy belonged to Mr Collins alone. It was not her fault, as you suggested a few days ago,” Mr Bennet concluded, still unperturbed.
Mrs Bennet’s eyes widened in confusion as she contemplated her husband’s words, then narrowed again in anger and a new charge followed.
“Of course it was her fault! If she were gentler, more obedient, more demure, more delicate, she would have been married by now. But no, she had to wander alone in the woods — what other young lady does that?”
“If she were all that, she would not be Lizzy, then,” Mr Bennet replied. “She is also cleverer, more widely read, and more knowledgeable than many other young women. But to each, his own.”
“She might be cleverer and more well read, but no man in search of a wife cares about that! Besides, Lady Lucas said that Mr Collins declared it was suspicious to him that Lizzy happened upon Mr Darcy and Mr Wickham and that he would write to ask Lady Catherine’s opinion. But you never censure her!”
“Who do I need to censure, my dear? Lady Catherine de Bourgh?” Mr Bennet enquired, showing the deepest perplexity while Elizabeth had barely time to cover her mouth with her handkerchief to hide her merriment.
Mrs Bennet almost suffocated with indignation, angry at them all but especially at her sarcastic husband and foolhardy daughter. Relenting a bit, Mr Bennet patted the back of her hand, trying to calm her.
“My dear Mrs Bennet, I am very sorry that you suffered so much offence today, but I cannot see why Lizzy could be at fault. Mr Darcy thanked her and expressed his gratitude several times, almost as often as Mr Collins mentioned Lady Catherine de Bourgh. If Mr Collins disapproved of Lizzy, that means he would be contradicting Mr Darcy — and that would surely be a serious matter, only to be solved by a duel.”
“A duel? Mr Bennet! You are incorrigible, and I refuse to speak to you any longer. Or to your daughter. In fact, I refuse to speak to any of you. I will go to my room and stay there until you all come to apologise. I shall never speak to any of you again!”
Mr Bennet finally took pity on her.
“For my part, I am ready to apologise immediately, madam. I did not intend to upset you. On the contrary, I was hoping that you would be happy to hear that our day has been quite pleasant.”
“I do not care — I wish to hear nothing! I shall go upstairs to calm down. And I shall not come to dinner either, I cannot eat with my nerves. Indeed, I could not swallow the smallest morsel. Oh, my nerves! Lydia, Kitty, bring me some tea and those cakes Cook always has for tea.”
“This is disappointing, indeed,” Mr Bennet spoke further. “But perhaps it is better for you to rest. There will be enough time tomorrow morning to discuss Mr Bingley’s long visit and his private conversation with Jane in the garden.”
Mrs Bennet was already turning to the door, but she stopped, frozen in the middle of the room.
She remained still for a moment, then she turned slowly, staring at her husband.
He looked as unruffled as ever, so she looked at Jane, who blushed shyly, averting her eyes for a moment, but then her entire face brightened into a smile and she nodded slowly.
Mrs Bennet’s eyes and mouth opened comically but no sound came out, and she pressed her palm to her chest to calm her fluttering heart.
“Do you mean…? Could it be…? Is it possible…?”
Jane hurried to her, took her hands and helped her to sit.
“Yes, dear Mama,” she said, her eyes shining with joyful tears. “Mr Bingley proposed today…he spoke to Papa too. He said he wished to have everything planned before he left for London.”
“Oh, dear Lord! This cannot be! Could my prayers have been listened to? Could I be so fortunate? Mr Bingley proposed! What joy! My dear, dear Jane, I knew you could not be so beautiful for nothing! Dear Lord, this is the best day of my life so far! Hill, Hill did you hear? Miss Jane is to be married!”
“I am glad that your day has suddenly improved,” Mr Bennet said. “You may retire to your rooms and rest now after all this commotion. I hope your nerves have calmed down a little and will allow you to sleep till morning.”
“Sleep? My dear Mr Bennet, how silly you are and what nonsense you speak,” she said with tender reproach and a large grin. “My dear Jane, you must tell me everything! How did it happen? What did you say? Where were you?”
Overwhelmed by emotions, Jane tried to gather her thoughts and her words.
“Dear Mama, we were walking in the garden, accompanied by Lizzy and Mr Darcy. Mr Darcy said he wished to thank Lizzy privately — for her confession — and they took a few steps away and then Mr Bingley started talking to me. He said he had wished to speak to me for some time. He said he could not bear to leave Netherfield without being certain of my feelings…and he proposed! I do not remember what I said, only that I accepted him. I was not expecting him to propose then, and, to be honest, it was Mr Darcy thanking Lizzy which offered us the opportunity.”
“Oh, dear Lord! What a joy! What a blessing! Wait until I tell Lady Lucas tomorrow! And Mr Darcy — what a nice man! So tall and handsome! And so clever! And Mr Bingley will still leave? When will he return?”
“He said he would return in a week. And he said…he mentioned that he would ask Mr Darcy to help him procure a licence so we could marry whenever I want,” Jane explained with a blush.
“A special licence, perhaps? Really? ‘Tis as good as an earl’s wedding! And Mr Darcy will help him, I am sure! After all, Lizzy helped him clear his name, this will be the best way to show his gratitude. How fortunate that Lizzy goes walking and was there that day. Mr Bennet was right — I shall tell Mr Darcy what Mr Collins said about Lizzy and ask him to call him out. He deserves as much!”
“Mama, please…!” Jane tried to calm her, but Mrs Bennet was not to be stopped. Her happiness made her as volatile and her thoughts as rambling as the anger had earlier.
“Well, I shall leave you now — all this joy is too much for me,” Mr Bennet managed to put in. “I believe I have accomplished my duties for today. Send for me when dinner is ready.”
He left the ladies, and the uproar of voices increased.
Mrs Bennet continued her exclamations, Lydia and Kitty were already making plans to spend time in London, while Mary asked to be allowed to use the Netherfield library and music room.
Elizabeth watched the scene from a chair, content and relieved that her mother’s resentment towards her had given way to contentment and excitement.
As she was not required to contribute to the conversation, she allowed her mind to drift away and recollect her own conversation with Mr Darcy.
Delighted by Jane’s elation, she had no time for any other considerations.
Jane was happy, and the future looked bright and blissful for her and Mr Bingley — and nothing was more important than that.
Yes, Mr Darcy had brought about the opportunity for the proposal, and apparently he encouraged and was willing to support his friend.
She had not expected so much involvement on his part; perhaps some complaisance, but nothing more.
Astonishingly, many of Mr Darcy’s actions and statements were unexpected, as was the sudden softening of his manner and the total absence of his stern reserve and haughtiness. Since the tragic passing of Mr Wickham, Mr Darcy seemed altered too.