Chapter 16
That night, Darcy slept well for the first time in many months and felt rested when the sun shone into his room.
His valet woke him, inquiring after his health.
“I am well, perfectly well indeed. It is a beautiful day, is it not?” He walked to the window as his valet watched him with increasing concern.
Darcy smiled to himself. Yes, he was completely different from the day before; he was fully aware of that. Even his image in the mirror as he was shaved looked different.
The dinner party went better than he could have hoped—first, because Bingley easily reconciled with Miss Bennet, making Darcy wonder whether he had been a complete fool or just biased and disdainful when he presumed her indifference towards Bingley; second, because Elizabeth also had taken the first timid steps towards reconciling with him.
Although he was still afraid to assume too much, her brief statements, little smiles, serene smiling eyes holding his, and—most of all—her immediate agreement to visit Pemberley left no room for misunderstanding.
He did not dare guess the nature of her feelings, but hatred and anger were long gone. At least, she was willing to accept his company—and perhaps even his friendship.
However, that was not enough for him, and it only left his soul dissatisfied and wanting more, much more.
But he would not allow himself to hurry and ruin everything once again.
He resolved to dedicate his energy and time to accomplish what he felt was unnecessary to do before: to slowly conquer her heart, show her his admiration and affection, and let her sketch his character—as she intended last year during their dance at the Netherfield ball.
Strangely, despite her obvious closeness with his cousin, he was not jealous of the colonel.
Richard’s manners towards Elizabeth appeared different from those with other women.
And having the chance to see Elizabeth’s interactions with Bingley, Darcy could see the similarity.
He understood there was no danger from that quarter.
The only danger lay in his manners and behaviour that still needed improvement. But he hoped he had made a few steps in the right direction—towards Elizabeth.
“Sir, Mr Bingley is here,” a servant informed him.
So early?” he replied and then smiled, his gesture disconcerting the poor man completely. “I shall go and meet him. I shall have breakfast in the library.”
“Very well, sir.”
Bingley’s presence was as fresh and joyful as the previous night. He looked rested and serene, a large grin spread over his face.
“You are early,” Darcy said as they walked together to the library. “Will you have breakfast with me?”
“Yes! I am early, and I shall have breakfast! I have not eaten today, and I am starving. I left home before Caroline woke up. I had a terrible fight with her last night, and I am still angry with her. She has been rude to the Bennets since she first met them. Then she did everything in her power to separate me from Jane and still does so. She lied to me and to Jane! She has behaved horribly. I cannot accept that!”
“I was no better. I also did everything I could to separate you from Miss Bennet.”
“Yes, but you were never impolite to her. And you admitted your error and tried to correct it. And even if you had not, your errors do not make hers less reprehensible. I blame you too, you know! But at least you do not persist in a despicable attempt to impose your will!”
“You must not allow anyone to change your mind, Bingley. You should trust your own judgement and feelings and do what is best for you.”
“I shall do just that! Now, let us eat. I am going to open Netherfield. Do you approve?”
Darcy laughed. “Do I approve? Have we not just said that you should trust your own opinion? And if I do not approve, will you stay away from Netherfield?”
Bingley hesitated a moment then laughed too.
“Well, it is hard to change old habits. I intend to open Netherfield, but that means I shall not come to Pemberley this summer.”
“As you please, Bingley. Or, you may open Netherfield and then convince Miss Bennet to join Miss Elizabeth on her trip.”
Bingley filled his plate then stared at Darcy. His face suddenly brightened.
“That is an excellent suggestion. It seems I still need to ask your opinion from time to time. Your ideas are much better than mine most of the time; I admit that.”
“Well, you must use your charm to convince both Miss Bennet and her father.”
“Or, I can convince Mrs Bennet as soon as I arrive in Hertfordshire.” Bingley grinned mischievously.
“I am pleased that you have your own excellent ideas,” Darcy mocked him, and Bingley laughed.
“And I am pleased that you are in such good humour, Darcy. It was a relief to see you get along with the Bennets and the Gardiners, including Mr Wilson. You have improved your manners considerably since we last met. This friendlier approach suits you very well. Not even Miss Elizabeth seems to hate you anymore.”
“You know she hated me?” Darcy raised his eyebrow in challenge.
“Really, Darcy? The entire county knew she hated you—and probably half of London too.”
“That is very comforting to know.” Darcy rolled his eyes as he drank some coffee.
“I wonder: Did any other woman ever hate you as much, Darcy?” Bingley asked with his mouth full.
“I am sure they did, but nobody ever told me so clearly,” Darcy admitted stoically.
“You are brave enough to take it reasonably well. You even invited her to Pemberley; that is very generous of you. Now, shall we go and call on Mr Wilson?”
“Call? At this hour? What on earth for, Bingley?”
“Not at this hour. A little later. Perhaps we can thank him for dinner.”
“For that, we should write a note, Bingley.”
“Well, you may write one, and I shall deliver it.”
Darcy emitted a mocking laughter. “You have lots of good ideas today, Bingley. Let us finish breakfast, and then we shall see. We must be careful not to breach propriety. Do not forget Mr Bennet is there too.”
“I know. But perhaps the Miss Bennets would like a walk in the park, and we may keep them company—all of them, I mean.”
“Perhaps, but did Miss Lydia not mention something about a modiste coming today?”
“Did she? I forgot.”
“You paid attention to little else except Miss Bennet, so your lack of memory is not surprising.”
“I shall not even contradict you, Darcy. But she deserves all my attention, especially after I abandoned her last November.”
“I agree. But the matter remains, so I suggest we should send a note and see what Mr Wilson says.”
Bingley hesitated and then reluctantly agreed as he filled his plate again.
“Very well. Let us do as you suggest. So, Darcy, do you think Miss Bennet will be convinced to travel to the north with her uncle and aunt? I wonder whether her father would approve. That could be an excellent opportunity.”
“Of course, there is also the possibility that her father will have little to say on the matter,” Darcy mentioned with apparent carelessness.
Bingley looked at him puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing special. But the journey is two months away. Many things might occur before then.”
“I still don’t understand,” Bingley insisted. He continued to eat and then suddenly stopped. “Oh, you mean…? You think I might? So soon?”
“Bingley, what I think and I mean should be of little importance to you. It depends on what you think and want.”
“Yes, yes…” Bingley filled his coffee cup again. “Should we send the note now?”
“It is too early even for a proper breakfast, and even less so for notes or calls. You look impatient. Shall we take a stroll in the park after we finish breakfast? It might calm your nerves. And some exercise would do for me too.”
“A stroll in the park sounds like an excellent idea. Some exercise would help indeed,” Bingley replied eagerly while Darcy watched him with friendly affection. Bingley’s entire being emanated joyful anticipation, and he certainly knew what he wished to accomplish.
“Darcy, I was wondering…I only returned a few days ago, and I have seen Miss Bennet twice—rather, in two different circumstances. Do you think she would agree to speak to me…privately? Soon? What if she refuses to even listen to me? How long should I wait?”
“You should wait until you are certain she would welcome your addresses. But you can only know if you try. Is she worth the risk of being rejected?”
“She is worthy of all that is best in the world.”
“Then go for it, man, and bear whatever the final result might be. When the perfect time arrives, you will know.”
Darcy’s heart ached at those words. He was in no position to give advice on the matter since no other man had ever been so wrong in estimating his reception and the perfect time for his addresses.
But, from what he had observed in the last days, Bingley was in no such danger.
Miss Bennet’s affection for him was obvious once Darcy’s eyes had been opened by Elizabeth’s rebuke.
An hour later, they left the house to walk towards Hyde Park.
It was not a great distance, but they took a turn so they could study Mr Wilson’s house.
Neither one spoke about it, but their curiosity was mutual.
They did not notice much at the house, but to their surprise from the opposite side of the street, they saw Mr Wilson and Mr Bennet preparing to enter a carriage.
As their presence was also noticed, they crossed to properly greet the gentlemen.
“Are you leaving already? I hope the ladies are well this morning?” Bingley asked.
“They are very well—in the full process of ordering new gowns. Despite the fact that the house is large, we do not feel safe hearing such conversations,” Mr Bennet said with apparent distress.
“My brother Gardiner pretended he had some business, so we, too, are looking for someplace to spend the morning away from lace and bonnets and satin.”
Wilson laughed, and Darcy smiled.