Chapter 43
Mr. Bingley was the first person Elizabeth had met, outside of the household, who had known Miss Darcy before her illness.
More, he was the only person who had knew about the foul events that had led to her wretched choice.
He knew details which even Elizabeth was not privy to.
They were cold, wretched facts, spilled like bile from the lips of a drunk and desperate man.
Yet, that man was Bingley’s closest friend, and so he listened with compassion.
Bingley did not encourage Darcy to speak, nor did he ask questions. He was there when Darcy needed to weep and spent long days at his side when he stared blindly into the abyss.
He concentrated on the brother. Bingley cared deeply for Georgiana but was sensible enough to know that he could not help her. He could do far more for Darcy, even with Caroline’s scathing objections. Bingley held Georgiana tenderly in his thoughts, but he held Darcy in his arms.
When Darcy wrote to him of Georgiana’s recent recovery, Bingley was delighted.
He sent a huge box to Pemberley filled with embroidery silks, creamy paper and watercolour paints, ribbons and sheet music, marzipan and an exquisite Indian shawl.
Save for the shawl, the gifts were all pointless, but he had no notion of that.
He only thought of the kinds of gifts an invalid might like.
Darcy had not the heart to tell Bingley the truth.
He was afraid that if he told his friend that the gifts were inappropriate, he would break Bingley’s heart.
After the admission would come the explanation - that recovery, for Georgiana, was of the spirit but not the body.
She could no more use embroidery silks than she could climb a mountain.
Darcy discussed his deception with his wife.
She understood his feelings, but now that she had met Bingley, she suspected that he was stronger than Darcy believed.
He gave off an air of oblivious friendliness, but was a realist, nonetheless.
Jane had confided that Mr. Bingley had been the one to comfort her in London, long after Caroline and Louisa had decided that she should ‘stop sulking and move on’.
His advice was often couched in naivety (he expressed an outrageous opinion, at one point, that Louisa had married Mr. Hurst out of love and not for his fortune), but it was kindly meant.
Still, Elizabeth was nervous about Bingley’s reaction to seeing Georgiana. He expected to see the sweet girl he had known as a wide-eyed child. She had been very young the first time Darcy had invited Bingley to Pemberley and had quickly grown attached to her brother’s ridiculous new friend.
No doubt Bingley’s idea of her convalescence involved a sunny bay window, a high-backed chair and an elegant lace blanket warming an elfin waif.
She would have a dainty sampler in her lap.
Her fingers would be weak on the keys of the fortepiano, but all that would do was make the music more delicate.
The truth was far different, of course.
The music room was long forgotten. Mrs. Reynolds and Elizabeth had repurposed it into a smoking room the moment it was vacated.
But the heavy weight in the air had not been made by the darkness and dust. It followed Georgiana wherever she went.
The ladies had done their best to make her bedroom light and pleasant, but they could not work miracles.
Miss Darcy was like an iron weight on a silk sheet, pulling all creases in.
That was the young lady whom Bingley had asked to see.
Elizabeth asked Darcy if Jane might also be introduced to Georgiana.
She would not have faulted him for refusing; Jane was a comparative stranger, and Darcy had no notion of her kindness.
He had only seen her as a weary victim, with her spirit almost completely extinguished.
During their honeymoon he had told Elizabeth that he did not want Georgiana to be exposed to unhappiness.
Surely, he would want Jane to stay away.
But Darcy agreed at once. He even suggested that Jane met Georgiana before Bingley.
“Bingley is terrible at hiding his feelings. He may upset Georgiana without realising it. Your sister seems far more circumspect and can mediate that.”
“Circumspect?” Lizzie asked in genuine surprise, “She has no talent for deception, Darcy. She is the most honest person I know.”
“That is my meaning exactly. Miss Bennet will not pretend that Georgiana is anything other than herself. She will not think of the past, only the present, and she is patient and gentle. Bingley, on the other hand, tries much too hard. He is like… have you ever seen a spaniel, Elizabeth? They cannot help barking when they are surprised, but even then, they wag their tails as if their lives depend on looking happy.”
It was a patronising comparison indeed! Alas for Bingley, it was very apt.
After a serene morning, where Jane and Georgiana quickly started sharing sweet smiles, there was a knock at the door. Bingley bounded into the room like a puppy.
Georgiana would not raise her eyes from the floor. She did not see the undisguised horror on her old friend’s face or witness the step he instinctively made towards the door.
Bingley had been given a simple, firm instruction: do not lie. He swallowed hard and met Mrs. Darcy’s eyes. She gave him an encouraging smile and then knelt beside Georgiana.
“My dearest,” she murmured, “Mr. Bingley has come to see you.”
“Charles.” Bingley blurted out, stepping forward with sudden courage. After his initial shock he rallied remarkably well, “You always call me Charles, don’t you Puddles?”
“Puddles?” Jane asked, smiling. Bingley looked at her, for a moment distracted by the new softness in Miss Bennet’s expression and then laughed.
“The first time I came here, Georgiana wanted to show me around the gardens. Her governess warned her to be ladylike, but there was a puddle she could not resist stepping in. It was much deeper than she thought! She feared that Miss Channel would scold her, so I convinced the grumpy old bat that I had pushed my new little friend into the mud. She scolded me instead, didn’t she Georgie? I am sure my ears are still ringing!”
Georgiana’s eyes swam slowly up, as lovely and bright as he remembered. Bingley was relieved to see the familiar sparkle in them. His tense shoulders relaxed.
Charles Bingley was a man with two sisters and much tenderness to bestow.
As a child, the girls had used his affectionate nature to manipulate and bully him, and by the time he had grown up he had abandoned any notion of loving them.
When he met little Georgiana Darcy for the first time, she had been delightful.
After a few shy hours she had ventured an impish joke which made Bingley realise how much fun sisters could be.
All of his brotherly playfulness was hers to enjoy.
Goodness knows it had nowhere else to go.
So, he did not smile at her when she met his eyes. He pulled a face.
“I know you don’t like going to balls, Puddles, but isn’t this an extreme way to escape dancing with me?”
“Bingley…” Darcy growled warningly. With the nerve of a salmon leaping upstream past a hungry bear, Bingley ignored him.
“You still owe me a duet too, you lazy girl. I bet you haven’t even practiced your scales this morning. Miss Channel would be ashamed!”
“She can’t…!” Elizabeth protested, rising to her feet. Jane grabbed her elbow, stopping her, and raised her eyebrows towards Georgiana.
There was a broad smile on the young woman’s face. Even better, her chest hitched and she let out a snort that sounded remarkably close to laughter.
“My goodness.” Elizabeth breathed and sat back down with a bump.
She looked wonderingly up at her husband. His face was a mixture of delight and exasperation. After months of fighting for the smallest smile, he had been bested by Mr. Charles ‘Spaniel’ Bingley and a stupid joke.
They spent the afternoon in excellent spirits.
Jane had immediately warmed to Georgiana and seemed to understand her with uncanny ease.
Before the others could work out why Georgiana’s smile was fading, Jane was already tucking a warm shawl around her shoulders or holding a drink to her lips.
When the servants brought up some food she declined Mrs. Reynolds’ offer of assistance and helped Georgiana to eat as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Darcy watched this tableaux with rising frustration.
He still could not look at Jane without thinking about Mr. Collins.
He knew that the rector had seen this tender, sweet side of the young lady.
How could he miss it? Love seemed to infuse every part of Jane’s slender body.
It should have been nurtured, cherished for the treasure it was.
But Mr. Collins only wanted to own it. Jane would be his possession, and all of her miraculous light would be dimmed forever.
And Mrs. Bennet was determined to let him do it.
Darcy turned away before Jane could see his rising disgust, but he was not quick enough to hide his expression from Elizabeth. She frowned at him and crossed the room at once.
“What is wrong?” she asked, “Would you prefer it if Jane was less familiar with Georgiana? I know you cherish your sister’s privacy, but Jane does not mean any harm by it…”
“No… I am not upset, Elizabeth. I am grateful. I have never seen anyone form an attachment so quickly before, but I think your sister is genuine. She seems to love Georgiana already.”
“Jane thinks the best of everyone! She gives her heart long before common sense can intrude.” Elizabeth said fondly, “Do you think Georgiana will like her?”
“I suspect that she already does! Georgie forms her own opinions just as quickly. They are much alike.”
“Then why did you look so disapproving, sir?”
“I was thinking of your mother. I imagine that she would not approve of her daughter spending her time in this manner. To be caring… to be generous… must be quite inconceivable notions for a woman such as her. Forgive me for thinking it, Elizabeth.”
Lizzie chewed her lip, looking down at the floor. Her voice came out thinly, and to her amazement she heard it defending her mother. “She was not always so selfish, but when my father had his first attack… when he fell ill…”
“Mr. Darcy?” Jane interrupted them, “May I please call on Miss Darcy tomorrow, as well? Or does she need to rest? I think she wants me to return - indeed, look how she smiles! But I would not like to risk her health for my sake. No, Georgiana, do not look so annoyed, we must ask!”
“As long as you two do not go riding or run foot races together, Miss Bennet, I cannot see you taxing my sister overmuch.” Darcy’s voice was wry, but his smile was genuine, “Come as often as you please.”
“Lizzie, could we have some more chairs in here, and perhaps a card table? It would be nice to make this little space feel like a parlour, don’t you agree?”
“Of course. I am ashamed I did not think of it myself.” Elizabeth agreed at once and then teased: “Soon there will be no need for us to go downstairs at all!”
“Only until Georgiana is strong enough to join us.” Jane said innocently, then frowned at the sudden tension in the air. “What is wrong?”
“Caroline is here.” Bingley said in a low voice.
“What does that signify?”
“Recall her behaviour towards you in London, Miss Bennet. You were faultless in all respects! Still, she found ample cause to criticise you.”
“She did?” Elizabeth looked sharply at her sister, “You did not tell me that!”
“I am not without fault.” Jane replied mulishly, “Caroline had good reasons to challenge my manners and customs, as they were rather lacking! She was trying to help me.”
“Very well, Miss Bennet. If you must make excuses for her, then we shall not argue. But only consider, how would you feel if she acted like that towards my sister?” Darcy countered. Jane looked away, blushing, and shook her head.
Bingley shook his head, “Even were she a saint, she is also fond of gossip. Nobody outside of this room knows what happened to Georgiana. For her own protection, we must keep it that way. Caroline tells everything to Louisa, and once she knows, we may as well shout it from the roof of St. Paul’s.
While my sister is in residence, Miss Bennet, Georgiana cannot be seen. ”
Jane sighed. “I wish we did not have to lie.”
Bingley gave her an encouraging look, and she answered it with a shaky smile. Her lip trembled, but gradually stilled. Elizabeth saw something pass between Bingley and her sister, then. A camaraderie against a common foe, a shared love for Georgiana and… something else. Something more.
Aware that she was staring and that the room had become dim, she rang the bell for the servants to light the candles and ready the table for dinner.
Like sleepers waking from a witch’s spell, every soul in the room arose, reluctantly summoned from the peaceful afternoon into the beckoning world beyond it.