Chapter Fifteen #2
Personally, Darcy rejoiced in Wickham’s removal. The commission Darcy purchased for his former friend was under a very strict commanding officer, and Darcy hoped the officer would break Wickham’s insolence.
Mrs. Bennet’s next remark offered Darcy a purposeful cut. “Thank Heavens, Mr. Wickham has some friends, though perhaps not so many as he deserves!” If Mrs. Bennet only knew what Wickham truly deserves, Darcy thought. Hopefully, the lady would never know of the perfidy Wickham regularly practiced.
This time it was Darcy’s turn to lower his eyes.
He could not respond with what he wished to say: How much he loved Elizabeth, how he had rushed to Miss Lydia’s rescue, and how foolish Mrs. Bennet was to consider Wickham a proper match for the lady’s youngest daughter.
Instead, he assumed the characteristically aloof air that had served him well in the past, but which he knew would mark him as a proud, disdainful man in the Bennet family’s estimation.
As he cursed under his breath, he heard Elizabeth ask, “Do you plan to stay long in the country, Mr. Bingley?”
Her words reached Darcy as nothing else could.
Even the simplest phrase added to the image he drew of her.
The words she said did not fascinate him.
It was the way she responded to each situation—how she knew him—had known he required her to deflect her mother’s attention.
She had reacted in a similar manner at Netherfield when Mrs. Bennet had argued about the merits of country life.
Elizabeth had a way of manipulating her family to protect him, and Darcy loved her for it.
Nervousness echoed in Bingley’s response, “I hope to stay several weeks, Miss Elizabeth—for the shooting. Several weeks would be most gratifying.” Bingley hesitated as he shot a quick glance at Jane Bennet.
Both Elizabeth and Darcy observed how Bingley’s response to Elizabeth’s question affected Miss Bennet.
Darcy wondered why he had never previously observed the admiration the lady held for Bingley.
Elizabeth glowed as the spark between her sister and Bingley rekindled.
Darcy wished she would look at him with such persuasion.
Elizabeth had protected him from her mother, but was that because she feared further embarrassing censure of her family or because she held feelings for him?
When Bingley and Darcy rose to take their leave, Mrs. Bennet issued an invitation to Mr. Bingley for supper in a few days’ time.
“You are quite a visit in my debt, Mr. Bingley, for when you departed last winter, you promised to take supper with us as soon as you returned. I have not forgot, you see.” A less civil invitation was also issued to Darcy.
“Of course, you may join us too, Mr. Darcy.”
“That would be most congenial,” Bingley said with a full smile.
The gentlemen were shown to the door. As the Bennet family gathered around, there was no means for Darcy to speak to Elizabeth. His bow and her curtsy were all they could manage.
Returning to Netherfield, Bingley felt ecstatic; his hopes held possibilities.
Miss Jane Bennet had not turned from his attentions, as Bingley successfully engaged her over and over.
Miss Bennet had smiled at him, had laughed lightly at his attempts at humor, and had made eye contact with Charles repeatedly.
Darcy, on the other hand, experienced pure misery.
Elizabeth appeared uneasy from the beginning.
She answered his questions, and her voice became stronger with each response, but she barely looked at him, and she offered him no encouragement.
His hopes plummeted as scenes from previous encounters at Netherfield and Hunsford flashed before his eyes.
You were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry …
I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly …
I have every reason to think ill of you …
Had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner …
All the old insecurities returned. Would he never succeed in making her love him? How was he to judge her sentiment?
He considered simply leaving, but the feel of her hand as he assisted Elizabeth into her uncle’s carriage said otherwise.
The backward gaze as she and her family departed his home said she cared.
Her caress of the petals of the boxwood rose said she believed in constancy.
Which images? Which images should he believe regarding Elizabeth Bennet?
He would wait until after he and Bingley had dined at Longbourn before making his decision.
Possibly, it was the shock of his being in her home.
Possibly, she was embarrassed by her mother’s actions.
Possibly, she was more concerned with Miss Bennet’s welfare.
All of these possibilities were characteristic of Elizabeth.
I must remain calm and permit life to take its course, he cautioned his bruised heart.
However, only if Miss Elizabeth offers me proper encouragement will I remain in Hertfordshire.
Moreover, I must assess Jane Bennet’s estimation of Bingley’s affections before I confess my previous deceit.
Darcy told himself all these things. Surely, if Elizabeth cared for him as he hoped she did, their hearts would find each other before long.
Several of the Bennet sisters welcomed Bingley and Darcy upon their entrance to Longbourn.
Elizabeth took their greatcoats and briefly greeted Darcy with a hint of a smile and an obligatory curtsy.
When they retired to the dining room, Darcy hoped to be seated near Elizabeth, but finding himself seated instead beside Mrs. Bennet dashed those hopes.
Bingley earned a seat beside Miss Jane Bennet.
Oh, for such pleasure with Elizabeth! Darcy could hear nothing of what she said.
Only once did he notice Miss Elizabeth’s attention directed towards him.
It was when Bingley placed himself beside Miss Bennet; Elizabeth gave Darcy a triumphant look, and he bore it with presumed indifference.
The meal included venison and a white soup.
Darcy attempted to make conversation with Mrs. Bennet, “I extend my compliments on both the venison earlier and now the partridge, ma’am,” he said a bit awkwardly.
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy,” the house’s mistress said with equal awkwardness. However, Darcy noticed his words obviously pleased Elizabeth’s mother.
She clearly had made a statement with the menu, and his good breeding required he take notice, but he would rather have taken notice of her second daughter’s eyes. Generally, though, Darcy spoke very little to anyone at the table.
He hoped for the opportunity of some conversation with Elizabeth as the evening progressed.
All he required was a few moments alone.
He would ask her to meet him privately, and then he would offer her his hand again.
Useless and mundane time was spent in the dining room with the gentlemen.
He was most intent upon returning to the ladies.
When the gentlemen entered the drawing room, Darcy planned immediately to approach Elizabeth, but she served coffee to the guests and was surrounded by ladies who appeared to be protecting her, for they stood close.
He moved towards her, but one of the girls stepped closer, taking on a conspiratorial stance.
Therefore, he walked away to another part of the room.
The evening went badly, but, eventually, Darcy returned with his coffee cup. Elizabeth, thankfully, seized the opportunity of saying, “May I inquire of Miss Darcy?”
“Georgiana is at Pemberley with Mrs. Annesley. She will remain there until the Festive Season.”
“Then her friends have gone to Scarborough?”
“They have, Miss Elizabeth.” Darcy was lost in looking upon her.
“I am sorry we could not dine at Pemberley as we had planned.” She struggled to express her regrets.
“Georgiana and I both regretted your sudden departure. We hope to see you at Pemberley again.” Did she understand the double meaning of his words?
The conversation stalled at that point. Searching for something more to say, he stood by her, but what he wished to tell her could not be done in public.
He wanted only a few minutes’ conversation with Elizabeth again, and he would be satisfied if only the opportunity occurred.
Noting the girl still listened in, Darcy eventually walked away.
That was the last of their conversation, for he was relegated to a table of whist. Elizabeth sat at a different table.
Darcy’s mind searched for her rather than paying attention to the game, causing him to play poorly.
When the others took their leave, Mrs. Bennet attempted to keep them longer, but their carriage had been ordered, and Bingley and Darcy were soon on their way to Netherfield.
Although he guarded his feelings from Darcy, Bingley appeared to rejoice in the progress he made with Miss Bennet.
Memories of Darcy’s censure of Jane Bennet required Bingley to be cautious.
Obviously, his friend wanted to retain Darcy’s regard, but Bingley also desired Miss Bennet’s affection.
Despite his own misery, Darcy knew the time for telling Bingley the truth had arrived, but he could not do so this evening.
His own heart was breaking as he wrote a quick message to his sister.
22 September
Georgiana,