Chapter 11
The carriage bearing Mrs. Gardiner, Mrs. Annesley and Bingley arrived later in the day.
Jane had decided to stay in the parlour with Miss Darcy while Lizzy, Mary and the Gardiner children stood at the entrance.
She had been uneasy about receiving Bingley and feared showing too much eagerness.
As the servants had informed them of the carriage sighting, Jane had been so skittish that Elizabeth had considered asking her to remain upstairs.
It was agreed, as a compromise that she would remain in the parlour not forcing her company upon Mr. Bingley as he arrived.
If he chose to come in, it would be with full awareness of being in her company.
Darcy had decided to wait for Bingley at Netherfield.
He had thought it better that the reunion between Jane and Bingley took place without him present.
The carriage stopped and the children were soon running and hugging their mother.
Mrs. Gardiner pulled each one of them up in her arms and peppered them with kisses.
The youngest, a girl of five, was picked up by her mother and tickled till she laughed out loud in joy.
It was a heartwarming scene and Mrs. Annesley and Bingley watched with delight.
The children were introduced to them, and the boys were much taken with this new gentleman with a ready smile.
Elizabeth came forward to greet everyone, mentioning that Jane was waiting inside with Miss Darcy.
She then turned and invited Mr. Bingley to accompany them for some refreshments before going to Netherfield which he accepted with alacrity.
Elizabeth was happy to see Bingley back to his usual cheerful self, confident that once he was united with Jane all would be well again.
Soon the guests arrived in the parlour and Jane’s anxiety was too much to allow her to meet Bingley’s eyes. The gentleman made his way to her and was quick to claim her attention.
“Miss Bennet, how are you?” Bingley greeted the moment he was seated.
He had always been a man of action and would have proposed on the spot, if at all possible, but Jane was of a more restrained nature and having no knowledge of Bingley’s intentions was much more guarded.
She was more than a little embarrassed to be in his company and found it difficult to meet his eyes.
Mumbling a quiet response, she fidgeted with the tea tray as she poured for everyone.
The general inquiries about Lydia’s health were mentioned and Elizabeth was quick to thank Bingley for reopening Netherfield and agreeing to stay in Hertfordshire while her family was away.
The whole journey, Bingley had spent dreaming about his reunion with his beloved.
He had imagined Jane’s blushes and sweet smiles and her soft responses to his inquiries; what he had not anticipated was for her to be so nervous and skittish with him that she failed to even look at him.
The more hesitant Jane seemed, the more petulant Bingley became.
By the time he took his leave he was so visibly agitated that Jane, who had no insight to his thoughts, lost all hope of any reconciliation.
******
Darcy had been waiting for Bingley in Netherfield’s front parlour, hoping that his friend would be in a better mood than when he had departed Pemberley.
Bingley's arrival put an end to any such hope.
He was so visibly annoyed that for a moment Darcy thought he may have been denied entry to Longbourn.
Once he had settled down and had some brandy, Darcy tried to reason with him.
“It is not a surprise that Miss Bennet is reticent. You just need to be patient.”
“I will thank you for not giving me any more advice on women, Darcy.” Bingley responded irritably.
“I am not advising you, just asking you to be patient. Your relationship with Miss Bennet is your own to manage.”
“Thanks to you, I do not have any relationship with Miss Bennet.”
Seeing that Bingley was in no mood to reason Darcy removed himself from his presence.
He had no intention of antagonising his friend and hoped that he would soon return to his normal cheerful self.
He understood that much of Bingley's frustration was from the fact that Elizabeth received him with warmth. Darcy had no intention of ever discussing his and Elizabeth’s interaction in Kent just to assuage his friend’s bruised ego.
The next morning Darcy set off for an early ride and found himself at Longbourn for breakfast. With Georgiana residing there he had an open invitation to call as early as he wished.
Though it was not his sister for whom this visit was made, the excuse served him well.
Elizabeth had just sat down for breakfast when Darcy was announced.
Taking advantage of the privacy he mentioned Bingley’s frustration to her.
“I do not understand him at all. Why would he expect Jane to be the same after he abandoned her last year? Jane is unsure of his feelings and will naturally be reticent.”
“I do not think that Bingley is using rationality, and it does not help when he sees me so welcome.” Darcy responded as he wiped his face.
“Whatever do you mean? Why should you be unwelcome for his transgressions?" Elizabeth exclaimed.
Darcy just raised a single eyebrow with an amused smile making her blush.
“I am hardly complaining. That you welcome me after all that has happened is most gratifying.” Darcy spoke softly, trying to reassure her.
“Mr. Darcy, I do not just welcome your presence, I look forward to it.” Elizabeth responded as she blushed and looked away.
Darcy could not help the giddiness that spread through him at this admission. That Elizabeth had warmed to him had been apparent, but this admission was more than what he had anticipated.
“Miss Elizabeth, would you accompany me on a walk in the garden?” Darcy replied, trying to control his feelings. All he wanted was to converse with Elizabeth for a few minutes where he would be assured of their privacy.
Elizabeth, still surprised at her own boldness, was unable to meet his eyes and just nodded as she stared at the floor blushing to her roots.
Darcy immediately got up and offered her his arm and soon they were both ambling in the garden.
Once Darcy was assured of their privacy from any prying eyes at Longbourn’s windows he took Elizabeth’s hand in his and spoke.
“Miss Elizabeth, I feel the biggest hurdle in our acquaintance has been each of us misunderstanding the other. I no longer want there to be any confusion in your mind. I admire you more than words can express. My regard for you has only grown in the months between our meeting in Kent and now, but I do not want you to ever feel obliged towards me. I will unfailingly do whatever is essential for your happiness, my own peace of mind depends on it. I do hope that you may come to return my regard in the future and if you are ever amiable to accepting my hand in marriage, I would consider myself the luckiest of men, but I do not ever want you to do so out of some misplaced gratitude.”
This frank conversation by the usually reticent man surprised Elizabeth and forgetting her own embarrassment she sought to reassure Darcy.
“Kent seems so long ago and my feelings since then have changed a great deal. Every day I feel I know a little more of you and the more I know you the more I admire you. If we are to be completely honest, I would say that I cannot imagine a better partner in life than you. But your devotion towards me scares me sir, for I do not want to ever hurt you even unintentionally.”
“Miss Elizabeth, are you saying that if I were to ask, you would accept my proposal?” Darcy asked in wonder.
“Well sir, you cannot know the answer till you ask the question.” Elizabeth answered, resuming her playful manner much to Darcy’s delight.
“It seems we are at an impasse for I am scared to put my heart on the line before I am assured of your acceptance.” Darcy responded in the same spirit.
“Well then I think we will both have to wait, but it may happen, that in the meantime some beautiful, accomplished lady may capture your heart.” Elizabeth joked.
“That is not a possibility, believe me when I say that I have tried.” Darcy responded with a self-deprecating smile.
“Whatever do you mean?”
“One day I will explain it to you but not before we are married.” Darcy responded as he resumed their walk with Elizabeth on his arm.
“So, it seems Mr. Darcy that we have agreed that we both will be getting married one day to each other, but we are in no way engaged at the moment.” Elizabeth playfully commented. To which Darcy expressed his emphatic agreement.
The rest of the conversation continued in the same vein as Darcy walked Elizabeth back to the house his mind full of possibilities for the future.