Chapter 18
All of Mrs. Bennet’s ambitions had come true with the engagement of her eldest daughter.
Jane was paraded throughout the neighbourhood and Bingley happily accompanied them.
Darcy would normally call on the Bennets with Bingley but would remain at Longbourn instead of accompanying him around town.
Elizabeth was more than grateful for her mother’s preoccupation with Jane’s engagement.
Her understanding with Darcy was still very sacred in her heart and she was not prepared for her mother to announce it throughout the town.
While her father may have declared that he would withhold his consent till she came of age, she knew that Darcy was the only man she would ever marry.
She was unsure how her mother was going to react once she understood the situation.
All she knew was that she would not be silent, and Elizabeth was too concerned about Darcy’s comfort to expose him to her mother’s vulgarity.
What she did not understand was that every time she protected Darcy from an embarrassing situation her father would hold it against the man.
Mr. Bennet had always amused himself at the expense of others including his own family.
He found their silliness and vulgar manners diverting.
Elizabeth had been his intellectual partner, laughing with him.
When he saw her getting embarrassed at the behaviour of her family, he was quick to attribute it to Darcy’s disapproving demeanour and his daughter’s compulsion to please the haughty man.
He conveniently forgot that even last year at the Netherfield ball, Elizabeth had been equally if not more so embarrassed by her family though she had disliked Darcy with a passion then.
He was so determined to find parallels between his own failed marriage to that of his daughter that he forgot to consider the most essential aspect: Elizabeth and Darcy were both intelligent and decisive and in no way inclined to suffer fools.
More than a month had passed since Mr. Bennet’s stricture, Jane and Bingley had been engaged for a fortnight and Mrs. Bennet had finally exhausted her desire to parade her daughter.
She was now completely diverted by making wedding plans.
It had started as all her plans did with outrageous prospects and impossible budgets.
Only when Mr. Bennet, tired of hearing her elaborate ideas, finally called Jane into his study and spoke to her about her preference that Jane’s opinions were considered.
“I do not want a lavish ceremony, Papa. Neither do I care much about the wedding breakfast as long as we are having one. All I would request of you is to grant me sufficient funds for a trousseau that upholds the Bennet name. I will be entering a new society and while I am sure Mr. Bingley will be happy to provide for me benefiting my new status, I would not like to embarrass myself until then.”
“You are a good girl, Jane. I am sure you will be much admired wherever you go. I will talk to your mother and rein her in. As for your trousseau, you may go to London where your Aunt Gardiner would be better equipped to help you.”
Jane politely thanked her father and joined the ladies, when another matter had dawned on Mrs. Bennet.
She had finally realised that no wedding date had yet been set and was frantically trying to decide the best possible day for her daughter's wedding.
Elizabeth and Bingley were both trying to calm her, but to no avail.
It was Jane's firm voice that finally silenced her.
“Mama, I think Mr. Bingley and I will go out in the gardens. We can talk about the wedding date as we take a walk and will let you know once we are decided. I promise that you will have enough time for whatever preparations are required.”
Bingley immediately got up and followed Jane outside. They had not gone far when he spoke.
“Dearest Jane, we have already been separated for a long time due to my own foolishness. Let us not increase our separation any longer. Can we not get married as soon as the banns are called?”
Jane bit her lip, looking ruefully at him. She knew what she was going to say would not make him happy.
“Charles, Lizzy is not just my sister, but also my best friend. She was my only support in those months when we were apart. I do not want to abandon her now.”
Seeing his frown, Jane understood that Mr. Darcy had not been as forthcoming with his friend as Lizzy had been with her.
Then, too it had only been after her own engagement when she had blurted that she hoped Lizzy would also be soon happily engaged that her sister had started sobbing and finally confessed all to her. Her words had been excruciating.
“How can Papa be so cruel, Jane? I love him, I love him with my entire being.”
She had sat with her knees drawn up to her chest and sobbed uncontrollably as she had finally let out her frustration. Jane had finally pulled her in a tight hug and slowly they both had drifted asleep. The next morning when Jane had tried to talk to her again Lizzy had waved her off.
“We will muddle through. Do not worry about us, Jane. We are both too stubborn to do anything else. You enjoy your own engagement dearest sister.” So saying, she had kissed Jane on the cheek and not spoken of her feelings again, but Jane knew her sister better.
Lizzy had always been much more passionate than Jane herself.
If she had been despondent at Bingley’s absence last year, she could only imagine Elizabeth’s heartache.
Finally, she spoke to Bingley telling him about the situation. “I do not want to abandon her now when Papa is being so unreasonable. We can marry together in a double ceremony once Mr. Darcy also gets Papa’s consent. You are both such good friends, it would be a wonderful start to our new life.”
Bingley could not believe his ears. This time when he had been the one ahead of Darcy it seemed that he would have to wait till Darcy caught up to him.
His jealousy with Darcy had resurfaced and he was filled with rage.
He could not very well deny Jane when she pleaded on her sister’s behalf, but why should Darcy ever be allowed to marry a Bennet sister when he had such a low opinion of the family.
He was sure that Mr. Bennet would never give his consent and then what, he would have to keep postponing his own wedding as Jane consoled her sister.
That Jane had clearly spoken about Lizzy's preference for Darcy had completely escaped him.
So focused was he on Darcy that he did not realise the hypocrisy of his own thoughts.
“I cannot in good conscience refuse your desire to stand by your sister. I will take my leave for now, but I hope we may be joined in matrimony much earlier than the stipulated six months.” With these words Bingley asked a groom to retrieve his horse and then rode away.
Jane knew that she had disappointed him but hoped that he would soon understand how impossible it was for her to be happy in matrimony as her sister pined for her love.