Chapter 8
The next morning Miss Bingley tried to persuade her brother to take her with him to Hertfordshire but to no avail.
Bingley was outraged and in no mood to listen; the excuse that Miss Darcy may then reside with her brother at Netherfield seemed to be of no use.
He was adamant in his decision as never before and Darcy's convenience was the least of his concern.
His countenance showed none of his usual cheer and made his sister fear his next actions.
All her cajoling and pleading seemed to make him even more determined.
“If Darcy wants to reside with his sister, he could well rent a house near Meryton; he definitely has the means. I would frankly prefer it so.” Bingley had angrily answered, causing a horrified reaction from his sister.
As Caroline walked out of his room, Bingley stood looking out of the window, the pleasant weather a contrast to the darkness within him.
How he had suffered all those months, sure that Jane did not care for him while she had been heartbroken.
Darcy had apologised when he admitted his mistake, as though that alone ended the matter.
He was not blind, he had noticed the camaraderie between Miss Elizabeth and Darcy, annoying him further.
He even considered denying permission for Darcy to stay at Netherfield to keep him away from Miss Elizabeth.
It was clear that Darcy cared for Miss Elizabeth and Bingley, unaware of their history, wanted him to experience the same suffering as he did for her older sister.
But he was aware that disinviting Darcy would serve no purpose except for making him look churlish.
If Darcy wanted to be in Hertfordshire, he would be there no matter what Bingley thought or did and that was the crux of the matter, Darcy did what he wanted to do without any consideration for anyone else.
Caroline's entreaties made him even more angry for he hated the fact that his own family was more concerned about Darcy than about him.
Miss Elizabeth, who had always been his champion in Hertfordshire, now appeared to have time only for his friend.
She who had always challenged Darcy, now suddenly, held him in the highest esteem.
He wished that he could say that Darcy's money and position accounted for everything, but he knew that was not true.
The man was decisive and determined; his nature always self-sufficient.
In his frustration Bingley punched at the wall swearing that he would be the anchor that the Bennets needed as soon as he reached Hertfordshire.
******
Despite all her protests, Miss Bingley departed for the north with the Hursts and soon the rest of the party was also ready to depart for the south.
It was when they were boarding the carriages that Elizabeth caught another instance of Mr. Bingley's sullen attitude.
As there were two carriages, Darcy expressed a desire that one of them should travel at a faster pace, for he did not wish Miss Bennet and Miss Mary to remain alone at Longbourn for much longer.
“Lizzy, I know you would like to reach Jane at the earliest but if possible I would prefer to be in the carriage travelling at a slower pace. I do not travel as well as you do.” Mrs. Gardiner added to the discussion.
“Mrs. Annesley, I know you would also prefer to travel at a sedate pace.” Georgiana had then added.
Mrs. Annesley agreed with her charge that she would prefer a slower pace if possible.
“Brother, you know I travel well and can be part of the faster carriage. Mrs. Annesley and I do not need to be together for the journey, for you would be there with me.”
“Yes, you and Miss Elizabeth may travel in the Darcy carriage which will make fewer stops.” Darcy had responded absently when Bingley intervened.
All the discussion about who should reach Longbourn at the earliest had made him even more peevish for should he not be the obvious choice to comfort Miss Bennet. That her dearest sister held more right to that office escaped him entirely and he spoke in a defiant tone.
“I will travel in the faster carriage as well. There is no need for me to travel at a sedate pace.” This caused everyone to look at him in confusion for with only two men in the party, it was expected that they would be escorting the ladies in each carriage.
It was Mrs. Gardiner who finally intervened.
“Mr. Bingley, while you may be able to travel faster, I would request your escort for the journey. It would be unfair to ask Mr. Darcy to travel with us when his sister travels in the other carriage.” To this Bingley had no choice but to accede to the request, which Elizabeth thought he did most reluctantly.
She was surprised by this sullen attitude of the otherwise cheerful man.
Thinking that he just wished to be the one comforting Jane she excused his behaviour for once he and Jane were reunited, she was sure all would be well.
The carriage with Mrs. Gardiner, Mrs. Annesley and Bingley was first to depart and soon after that Darcy, Elizabeth and Georgiana departed.
They stuck to the plan and travelled for longer hours, only breaking their journey to change horses.
Georgiana, it seemed, was quite apt at sleeping for most of the journey but Elizabeth who was now desperate to reach home, sure that some news must have arrived from Brighton was too restless to fall asleep.
The last couple of days at Pemberley had diverted her from her concerns but as they traveled towards Longbourn all she could think of was Lydia.
Her distress did not go unnoticed by Mr. Darcy who took the first opportunity to comfort her. Taking hold of her hand, he said,
“Miss Bennet, I assure you that Miss Lydia will be well soon enough.”
“It just seems so unfair, she is so young, hardly an adult. She was not even supposed to be out. But you have seen her, she pestered Papa and he gave in.” Elizabeth responded as silent tears made their way from her eyes.
“You are right, she is too wilful a young girl to be cowed by one fall.” Darcy responded, bringing a small smile to Elizabeth. Seeing Miss Darcy shift to a more comfortable posture without awakening, she turned and adjusted the pillow under her head.
“Lydia has always been wilful, too apt to get her own way and too quick to throw a tantrum if denied. I would always chastise her for her wild ways and Kitty for following her. What I would not give now to see her back to her loud, brash self, even if she embarrasses me at every gathering flirting with anyone and everyone.” Elizabeth spoke as she looked out towards the darkening sky, thinking that they would soon have to stop for the night.
“We all have embarrassing relatives, Miss Elizabeth, and though they may annoy us, it does not mean that we do not love them. I know I have given you reason to think I judged them quite harshly, but the truth is I am no better than anyone else. You have met Lady Catherine and my cousin Anne and while one is supercilious and overbearing the other barely has any personality. That does not mean I would not be devastated if anything were to happen to them.”
“Your Aunt is lucky to have you, given your care for Rosings. I understood from Colonel Fitzwilliam that you did not just review the books once a year but also made all important decisions throughout the year.”
“Richard can gossip more than a bored matron.” Darcy sarcastically responded. “What else did the two of you talk about? You were both quite friendly in Kent.”
“Jealousy does not suit you, sir, and as it so happens, he tried his best to promote your interest, though I was insensible to it at the time.”
At Darcy's inquiring expression she continued.
“He was quick to let me know that he needed an heiress with at least fifty thousand pounds. That you were the very best of companions always looking out for your friends and had recently helped a dear friend avoid an imprudent attachment.” The last part she said with a raised eyebrow and impudent smile, causing Darcy to flush with embarrassment.
“I am going to make Richard suffer when I see him.” He replied in a deadpan voice.
“To be fair, I already expected your interference, he just confirmed my suspicion on that fateful day when you visited the Parsonage in the evening.” She explained to a shocked Darcy.
“It seems that destiny itself was against me that evening. You must have stayed away from Rosings to avoid me and to have me present myself must already have annoyed you.” To this Elizabeth just smiled.
Later Darcy asked her about his letter, “You mentioned objecting to Miss Lydia's visiting Brighton on account of Wickham. Did you then trust my account of him?” The insecurity in his tone touched her and she contrived to give him an honest account.
“The first time I read the letter, I was angry at the way you brushed aside your role in Jane's heartache and was not ready to give credence to anything you had mentioned after that. But soon reason prevailed. You would never implicate your sister in such a scandal without a just cause and it struck me that I knew no actual good of Mr. Wickham except his happy manners. The truth, Mr. Darcy, is that you had insulted my looks and injured my pride while he was charming and spoke to my vanity.”
“I had asked Richard to speak to you before leaving Kent but when he returned without having met you, I was devastated. I believed that without his account you would never trust me.”
“Did my good opinion matter so much?" She spoke softly wondering at how she had managed to inspire so much devotion in such a man.
“It still does Miss Elizabeth. When I had no hope, it was only the idea of becoming a man worthy of your respect that kept me going.”
“One day I hope to understand all you mean to convey.” She responded with a trembling voice thinking that though it had only been a few days that she had expressed a desire to know him, she may well fall in love with him before she even realised.
The carriage jolted, bringing them out of the moment and waking Georgiana. Darcy was quick to steady his sister and soon they were settled again.
“It looks like I slept a long while, it is nearly dark.” Georgiana commented as she looked out of the window.
“Yes, we will stop for the night shortly. There is a trusted inn a few miles ahead that the coachman knows.” Darcy responded absently still thinking about Elizabeth's response and all that it had conveyed.
The next day was much the same, they spent a few hours playing silly games to pass the time when around mid-day Georgiana again fell asleep.
“Miss Darcy has perfected the art of travelling. I wish I could sleep so easily in a carriage.” Elizabeth commented as she covered the young girl with a blanket.
“She has always been this way and can sleep at will. For all our similarities we are very different in this for I always keep country hours and Georgiana even at Pemberley would get up after noon.” Darcy commented.
The rest of the journey passed in lighthearted conversation, where they discussed their past interactions and laughed at the erroneous understanding of the other.
Elizabeth was mortified to understand that most of what she had taken as censure had been genuine compliments from the gentleman.
It reminded her of a discussion between her and Charlotte where she had lamented that Bingley being unaware of Jane's reticent nature was ill equipped to understand her preference for him.
She had at that time confidently declared that he must be a simpleton if he could not understand what was so plain to see.
But now it seemed she had been the simpleton for another reticent person's preference had completely escaped her.