Chapter 30 Mr. Bingley
The sisters put aside their needlework when Mrs. Hill hurried into the room, her eyes bright with news.
“Miss Jane, I have learned something of the goings on at Netherfield Park.”
She had their full attention.
“Yes?”
“Cook’s niece has secured a position in the kitchens. The larder and pantries are being filled, for they expect the master, a young gentleman from the north by the name of Mr. Bingley, and his family, to take possession of the house within a fortnight.”
Jane reached over and took Elizabeth’s hand in her own as Hill continued.
“The house has been scrubbed and cleaned, the park mown, and the gardens put in order. The portion of the roof requiring repair is to be completed within two weeks, and the master is expected thereafter. They look for his arrival by the fifteenth of June.”
Mrs. Hill continued. “They say he intends to give a ball to mark the occasion of his becoming a landed gentleman.”
The sisters exchanged a glance of mingled pleasure and regret.
“He cannot yet have heard of our loss, Jane,” Elizabeth observed.
Mrs. Hill looked between them in surprise. “Do you young ladies know Mr. Bingley?”
Jane was too affected to reply, but Elizabeth answered simply. “Yes. We made his acquaintance in London and are a little acquainted with him, his two sisters, and Mr. Hurst, his brother-in-law.”
“And is he as amiable and gentlemanly as they report?”
“He is indeed. Very amiable and a true gentleman. He is nothing like Mr. Goulding.”
Elizabeth’s expression lightened, and Mrs. Hill could not forbear a smile in return.
“It is a pity you are both in full mourning and cannot attend the ball,” Mrs. Hill remarked.
“Yes, it is unfortunate,” Jane replied, “yet if he is to reside in the neighborhood, I have little doubt he will give another in time, and we shall attend then.”
Mrs. Hill withdrew, and the sisters spoke at length of what such an arrival might portend. At last, Jane looked at Elizabeth with a mixture of hope and restraint.
“Lizzy, he is coming, and I believe in my heart that he is coming for me. It is a beautiful dream, and for today at least, I shall permit myself to cherish it.”
After dinner, Mr. Bennet excused himself and withdrew to his chamber for the night. Elizabeth supported him upon her arm as he ascended the stairs, yet her thoughts were wholly engaged elsewhere. She was thinking of Mr. Darcy.
Surely, he would be invited to the ball in celebration of Mr. Bingley’s establishment as a landed gentleman. In that case, he would accompany his friend into the neighborhood and make a call at Longbourn in the course of ordinary civility.
The prospect was slender, yet it sufficed. Elizabeth felt her spirits revive, and she permitted herself, for the moment, to look toward the future with something of her sister’s anticipation.
Two weeks had passed slowly for the sisters. On this lovely morning, they sat in the rose garden, enjoying the season’s blooms. Elizabeth was arranging freshly cut roses in a vase when Jane noted, “Those, and the damask roses, were among Mamma’s favorites.”
Elizabeth answered sadly. “It is a pity that I possess so few kindly recollections of our mother. I am more disposed to resent her contrivances than to dwell upon her virtues.”
She studied her sister’s countenance. “Has Mr. Goulding been importuning you again, my dear?”
Jane groaned. “I believe that man has nothing in the world to occupy him but to linger about Meryton, waiting for unsuspecting young ladies to stray within his reach.”
Elizabeth grimaced. “The man is off-putting. What did he do?”
“He approached me and offered his escort to whatever establishments I might have occasion to visit. This is the first time he has actually approached me. Until now, he has watched me from a distance, but he is emboldened, and I could scarcely command myself. I wished to declare that he was nearly thirty years my senior and must see that a woman of my age could not possibly find him eligible, yet I merely declined, saying I was on my way to call upon Uncle Phillips, and I fled. Though I had intended to procure fabric for the kitchen towels Cook requested, I abandoned the errand and went directly to our uncle.”
“And what passed there?”
“He was surprised to see me, and inquired whether Papa’s health had declined.
I assured him Papa was well, and explained that Mr. Goulding had addressed me.
Lizzy, you should have observed Uncle’s expression.
He said, ‘I believe I comprehend the matter. Your mother informed Clara that she intended to write to Mr. Goulding offering your hand. She must have dispatched the letter before her death.’”
Anger rose in Elizabeth’s breast. “Oh, how could she?”
“As you may imagine, Lizzy, I was struck silent, but finally asked what I ought to do. I confessed that Mr. Goulding’s attentions were unwelcome. Uncle declared he would speak to him and make it plain that Papa would never sanction the match.”
Jane’s composure gave way, and tears fell unchecked. “Lizzy, what if my reputation is injured by this affair?”
Elizabeth rose and said firmly, “I do not believe your reputation will suffer, Jane. It was never an engagement. He did not make you an offer, you did not accept one, and therefore you have not broken faith nor cried off from any understanding.”
Jane’s tears subsided, and she looked at her sister with returning composure.
“Yes, that is true. This must have taken place soon after I departed for London, else she would have proclaimed it in triumph. She acted while I was absent, knowing full well the reason for my escape. Lizzy, Mamma was shameless. How is it possible for one to remain so angry with a woman who is no longer among the living?”
Elizabeth grimaced. “She was no different from many a mother anxious to see her five daughters advantageously settled. We must endeavor to forgive her anxiety for our welfare. She believed she was acting for the best.”
Jane conceded reluctantly. “She was sorely pressed, with five daughters without dowries and a husband who was on the brink of death. But she was encouraging the attentions of a man, whom half the world suspects of having hastened the deaths of his two former wives. I confess I am sorely tried.”
They were still commiserating when Hill appeared at the turn of the path.
“Mr. and Miss Bingley, and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst.”
The sisters rose at once and made their curtsies. Miss Bingley regarded Elizabeth with an expression of marked displeasure.
Mr. Bingley bowed with warmth, then, observing Jane more closely, said, “Miss Bennet, from your dress I am led to conclude that you have sustained a loss within your family.”
Jane motioned toward the chairs and invited their visitors to take a seat. “Yes, sir. Our mother passed away in April.”
“I am grieved to hear it. Having myself been deprived of both parents, I know how severe such a loss must prove. I hope you are supported by your friends. How do you go on?”
A faint color rose in Jane’s cheeks, yet she met his gaze with composure. “I am very well, sir. I did not expect to recover so quickly, yet because I have my sister Lizzy beside me, we go on very well.”
“I am heartily glad to hear it.” He took her hand.
“Miss Bennet, I had intended to give a ball in July to mark my purchase of Netherfield. Yet if I defer it until October, you will be six months advanced in your period of mourning. Perhaps you might attend my ball in half mourning. You need not dance, but only favor us with your presence.”
Jane's eyes glowed with pleasure. “I should like that very much, sir.”
The Bingleys and the Hursts remained for half an hour before rising to depart, prompted by Miss Bingley, who declared to her brother that they had trespassed long enough upon the sisters’ hospitality.
Mr. Bingley’s gaze sought Jane’s, and she returned it with a look of encouragement.
“Miss Bennet, may I have the honor of calling again tomorrow? Perhaps you and Miss Elizabeth might walk with me in this delightful garden. The scent of your roses is intoxicating.”
“I should like that very much, sir. You will especially enjoy the Damask roses, for they are very fragrant.”
“Then you must instruct me when I design my own rose garden at Netherfield.”
A delicate color rose in her cheeks. “It would afford me great pleasure, sir.”
He bowed again, and with renewed civility from the others, the party from Netherfield took their leave.
As the sisters accompanied their guests to the front of the house, Miss Bingley paused beside Elizabeth and surveyed her from head to foot.
“Miss Eliza, you are much altered since I saw you last.” She shook her head in commiseration and clucked her tongue. “Your countenance is drawn, and you are quite pale. You have lost your bloom. Were Mr. Darcy to behold you now, he would scarcely know you, for I confess I hardly know you myself.”
She sniffed and turned away, extending her hand to be assisted into the carriage.
The moment they were alone, Jane clasped her arms about Elizabeth’s neck. “Oh, Lizzy, he is as handsome as ever I remembered him.” She caught her sister’s hands and twirled her about the garden path in unrestrained delight.
“I did not embellish his beauty in my imagination, and he is so exceedingly amiable. I have never known a gentleman of more pleasing temper.”
Elizabeth laughed. “My dear sister, I believe you are besotted by your Mr. Bingley.”
“Oh, Lizzy, I fear that I am.”
Elizabeth sobered. “Yet tell me, why did he not call upon us to take his leave? Why did he absent himself for so many weeks without any notice? We have not seen him, I believe, since the fourteenth of March, when we attended the theatre.”