Chapter 18
Bingley offered Jane his arm while leading her outside.
Behind them, Elizabeth and Darcy walked side by side but they seemed distant, neither finding anything to say.
When they entered the carriage, an awkward silence enveloped them, as the nearness in such a confined space unnerved their senses but made them less voluble.
“Miss Elizabeth, thank you for coming to assist Miss Bennet…Jane…” Bingley said eventually.
“There is no need to thank me, sir, it is my pleasure. Especially since it is for a party,” Elizabeth smiled. “In all seriousness, please know you may depend on me for anything you need.”
“Yes, yes, I know. I am happy to have you as my sister, Miss Elizabeth.”
“And I am happy to finally have a brother, Mr Bingley. Especially you.”
“As we are to be brother and sister, perhaps you could call me Charles? And you too, Miss Bennet. I mean Jane. You know, everybody at Netherfield is thrilled about our engagement. I mean the servants. You should expect many congratulations from them after you are formally introduced as my betrothed.” Bingley happily stopped his excited babbling.
Jane’s face showed a mix of shyness and joy. “I am very happy to hear that, Mr B-Charles.”
“And perhaps, if you have time, we could discuss the wedding date today too? I mean…what would be your preference?”
“Yes, certainly…I have no preference…I mean, I am happy to marry you whenever you wish,” Jane replied, then blushed, unsure of how her words would be interpreted.
“Now that I have the licence, we may set the day whenever we please,” Bingley continued.
“It was so kind of Darcy to help me…and Miss Darcy — she looks forward to meeting you. She is the kindest person I know…except for you, Jane. Oh, I did not mean to say that you are not kind, Elizabeth,” Bingley mumbled, stumbling more and more over his words.
Elizabeth meant to hide her smile by pressing her lips together, but she started to laugh gaily at that, then covered her mouth with her hand when she noticed Darcy looking at her as intensely as was his habit.
“Charles, I promise I take no offence. Please feel free to praise my sister and Miss Darcy as much as you like — I am sure it is all well deserved.”
“But Mi-Elizabeth! Do not mistake me, we think very highly of you, too. Darcy and I both.”
Elizabeth laughed again, and this time she blushed as well, glancing shyly at Darcy again. “Thank you, but it is really not necessary.”
“Yes, it is, Miss Elizabeth. Both necessary and well deserved,” Darcy interjected in a serious tone but with a little smile — one that Elizabeth remembered only too well — in the corner of his mouth.
Then he continued, somehow uncertain, “We…my sister and I…decided in a rather impromptu manner to join Bingley on his return to Netherfield. I hope our return is not an inconvenience for anyone.”
Elizabeth felt his gaze weighing heavily on her as well as the unasked question.
“It might be inconvenient for your friends in London who will miss you,” Elizabeth answered playfully. “But your friends in Hertfordshire are happy to have you back, Mr Darcy. And we shall be happy to make Miss Darcy’s acquaintance too.”
“Thank you, Miss Elizabeth,” he replied with apparent emotion, just as the carriage stopped in front of the house.
Bingley immediately jumped out and offered Jane his hand, leading her towards the steps.
Darcy followed him, stretching out his hand for Elizabeth.
She hesitated for a moment, then placed her gloved hand in his palm, and his fingers closed upon it.
It was cold, the wind was blowing, and it had started to snow again, but the heat growing from inside her left Elizabeth unsteady on her feet.
The four of them entered Netherfield with utterly different emotions.
The first step was to meet Miss Darcy and Mrs Annesley in the drawing room where the formidable introductions were performed.
Elizabeth and Jane were both anxious to meet the young woman whom they had heard so highly praised.
However, they immediately observed that the girl was shy and at least as nervous, if not more, as them.
Flanked by Mrs Annesley and Darcy, she expressed her pleasure in making their acquaintance.
She curtseyed to them elegantly, but while her voice was timid, her big blue eyes conveyed intelligence and gentleness.
Elizabeth noticed that she regarded them with curiosity, but her expression was utterly genuine.
They all sat and soon started a conversation. Mrs Annesley was a pleasant lady of some forty years, polite and well-mannered, self-confident and voluble, but composed and very attentive to Miss Darcy. The conversation moved slowly, as too many emotions were involved.
“If you would excuse us — Miss Bennet and I,” Bingley asked after a short time.
“Mrs Nicholls and Mrs Dunn, my housekeeper and cook, are waiting for us. We shall return as soon as may be. Miss Darcy, do not hesitate to ring for refreshments.” He offered his arm to Jane again, who took it with confidence and less blushing than usual, much to the others’ amusement.
When the door had closed behind them, the group of four sat momentarily overcome by an awkward silence, each of them searching for a topic of conversation.
“Dearest, you will never guess what a wonderful surprise I had earlier,” Darcy started, addressing his sister. “Miss Bennet’s aunt, Mrs Gardiner, hails from and grew up in Lambton! She knows Pemberley very well, and, as a child, she was acquainted with our parents.”
Georgiana’s cheeks turned crimson by being directly spoken to, but she answered in astonishment and delight. “Truly? How wonderful!”
“Quite. I look forward to speaking more to her,” he said animatedly, and Elizabeth wondered whether he was aware that the Gardiners were her relatives from ‘near Cheapside’.
“So do I!” Georgiana agreed. “Miss Elizabeth, forgive me, would you like some tea? Of course you would, I shall ring for it immediately. I apologise, I am not good at entertaining.”
“Please allow me to take care of the refreshments,” Mrs Annesley offered.
“Miss Darcy, I hope you are enjoying Hertfordshire?” Elizabeth decided to carry on the conversation while Mrs Annesley busied herself with the servants, and Mr Darcy seemed pleased to observe the conversation between his sister and Elizabeth.
“Very much, but I have seen very little of it so far. In fact, I have barely seen Netherfield Park at all. My brother said we shall take a long ride tomorrow, if the weather allows, to see it properly.”
“It is a lovely estate, but riding might be difficult if it is snowing or the ground is frozen. You should be careful.”
“Thank you, I shall. My brother will accompany me, so I trust I shall be safe.”
“My sister is an excellent horsewoman,” Darcy said proudly.
“Because my brother taught me,” the girl replied.
“I heard you are accomplished and excel at many things, Miss Darcy. Riding and playing the pianoforte are only two of them. I hope we shall have the privilege of listening to you perform.”
The girl’s face and neck became flushed.
“I am not sure if I am excellent at anything, but I do love music and practise daily. And I love riding. My brother taught me when I was very young.”
“I love music too, but I play rather ill,” Elizabeth responded.
“As for riding, I did learn when I was young, but I lack both the skill and the pleasure in the exercise, as much as I like horses. Perhaps because I did not have a brother to encourage me.” She tried to sound light, but for some reason, she felt emotional.
“Miss Bennet plays very well, and it is a delight to listen to her, especially when she sings,” Darcy said. “As for riding, I have never seen her attempt it, but it must be one of the very few things in which she lacks skill.”
It was Elizabeth’s turn to feel her cheeks flush as she replied, “You are too generous with your praise, Mr Darcy, and I fear you will raise Miss Darcy’s expectations. I would not want her to be disappointed later on.”
“I am sure that will not be the case,” Georgiana said. “My brother always speaks the truth.”
“That, I do not doubt,” Elizabeth admitted. “I forgot to enquire — I hope Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst are in good health?”
“They are, as far as I know,” Darcy responded after a brief hesitation. “But they decided to remain in town for some reason.”
“Yes, I can imagine their reasons. I hope Mr Bingley is not too disappointed by their absence.”
“I dare say he is not, Miss Elizabeth. Quite the opposite,” Darcy declared, and the smile and dimples appeared again.
Elizabeth nodded, fighting with the shivers running down her spine and the sensation of her face burning.
With each passing minute, the conversation became more congenial and more engaging.
New subjects arose, and an hour later the new acquaintances were already perfectly comfortable in each other’s company.
When Bingley and Jane eventually returned, everyone enjoyed fresh refreshments, and plans for the next day were settled.
As the sun started to set, it was time for the Bennet sisters to return home, escorted by Bingley and Darcy.
They took a warm farewell from Miss Darcy and Mrs Annesley and left somewhat regretfully, as happens when one parts with good friends after a wonderful time spent together.
This time, Jane took Bingley’s arm even before he offered it.
Elizabeth waited for Darcy’s arm to be offered, and she placed her hand under it with no hesitation, although her heart was still racing at the touch.
His gaze, the gentle touch of his hand on hers, and the slight squeeze of her fingers in his — slightly more than necessary to help her enter the carriage — told her she need have little doubt about his continuing feelings.
But she was too exhausted after the emotions of the day to dare explore that matter.
But one thing she knew: after only one day in his company, she was already certain that she felt happy and grateful — and hopeful — for his return.