Chapter 37
It had been a fortnight since Jane and Lydia had arrived at Pemberley with Georgiana.
Elizabeth had already started to take care of her duties as the Mistress and by the time her sisters had arrived, she was familiar with most of the tasks.
Lydia was, surprisingly a great help to her with the tenants.
She accompanied Elizabeth on her weekly visits and would play with the children who seemed to adore her energy.
She would also help with the baskets for the sick and would deliver them herself.
Elizabeth was astonished by her younger sister’s behaviour but decided to stay silent so as not to embarrass her.
She was still outspoken and was wont to blurt out her thoughts without any consideration for decorum. Elizabeth could see the pained expression on her husband’s countenance every time Lydia made a brash comment, but he never did reprimand her.
“La! Lizzy, how droll neighbours you seem to have. Had she stayed for five more minutes I would have fallen asleep,” she had commented after a particularly tiresome visit by Mrs. Crudgington from the neighbouring estate.
The lady had spoken almost non-stop about her knitting patterns alternating only with praises for her son who had just returned from Cambridge while she looked meaningfully at Georgiana.
“Miss Darcy, I hope for your sake that you do not fall for her perfect son for then you will be saddled with the most tiresome mother in the country,” she had continued to Georgiana’s utter embarrassment.
“Lydia!” Elizabeth had reprimanded while her husband had just smiled and walked away to her utter amazement.
“Fitzwilliam, whatever is the matter with you? You seem to be encouraging Lydia’s inappropriate comments,” she had asked him once they were alone.
“There is nothing inappropriate about her comments when spoken amongst family, dearest.”
“I still remember a time when you abhorred such speech from her,” Elizabeth reiterated.
“I was not her family then. Elizabeth, I would be overjoyed if my sister had even half the boldness of Lydia. Her outspoken personality could be her biggest advantage if used with correct judgement.”
“And who is going to be responsible for teaching her judgement?” Elizabeth asked petulantly.
“You did mention receiving a letter from Miss Bingley, regarding her imminent arrival in Derbyshire, did you not? I think there could be no better teacher than her,” Darcy responded playfully as Elizabeth threw a cushion at him. He then pulled her in an embrace as he whispered,
“You do realise that Lydia is closest to you in personality of all your sisters once her behaviour is tempered,” Elizabeth groaned as she pulled away and then with a mischievous glint replied.
“Mrs. Ashcombe has been very interested in us Bennet sisters, since she is to spend the summer with us, I think I will let her be Lydia’s mentor.”
It was Darcy's turn to groan. His aunt had always been meddlesome and domineering and used her age as a shield against polite behaviour.
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Jane had finally found some peace at her sister’s home.
The clergyman of the Kympton parish was a learned person and enjoyed serving his community.
His wife was with child and as such was unable to go out much among the parishioners.
Jane as the elder sister of Mrs. Darcy already commanded respect, and with her gentle and caring nature soon became indispensable.
She had been delighted to see the amount of charity her new brother supported.
There was a well-run school for the tenants' children, and she had soon started devoting her time there, teaching the girls to read, write, and sew.
It was rewarding work and fulfilled her days.
She had also been receiving a lot of attention from the gentleman in the neighbourhood.
With her ethereal looks and her connection to Pemberley she had become quite sought after.
The problem was that she still compared every person to Mr. Bingley.
It was not that she thought Bingley perfect; his behaviour during his second sojourn to Hertfordshire had completely disillusioned her.
Yet she still craved his company, still remembered his smiles and easy laugh.
She understood his faults but did not love him any less for them.
Miss Bingley had written to her a few times and from her she understood that Mr. Bingley was truly remorseful for his behaviour, but she was still wary of trusting him again.
Her new brother was an estimable gentleman and had been quick to recount to her the details of any person who paid her even the slightest of attention. But no matter how perfect the gentleman was, she still wished for the easy company of Mr. Bingley.
Lizzy had always been her closest sister and Jane was sure she understood her heart.
She and Mr. Darcy were still newlyweds and Jane had no wish to burden them with her troubles and hence she avoided any conversation regarding Mr. Bingley.
Then there was the fact that Mrs. Ashcombe and Judge Darcy’s family were to summer at Pemberley.
When old Mr. Darcy was alive, it had been a tradition for his siblings to be together during summer.
Elizabeth had decided to bring back the custom and hence her first guests were to arrive in a month's time. Jane wanted her sister’s first gathering to be a triumph and hence had affected as pleasant a facade as possible.
Her time with the parish school had been of great help as she genuinely enjoyed the children’s company and as the days passed, she had become more and more involved.
It was for some errands related to the school that Jane had gone to Lambton with one of the ladies from the neighbourhood.
They were at the milliners when she felt that she was being watched and turned to look out.
She was transfixed for a moment for she could have sworn it was Mr. Bingley but then the person was gone, and she was sure she had imagined the whole thing.
The rest of the day she kept thinking about the person.
She had not gotten a good look at him, but her heart kept repeating that it was Mr. Bingley.
The very next day she had gone to visit the physician regarding some sick children of the parish, when she again saw the same man.
He was standing at a distance and his hat did not allow her to see his face, but he was definitely there.
Jane’s heart started beating rapidly. She finished her discussion as soon as possible and rushed home.
As she entered the house, she was surprised to see Lizzy waiting for her in the foyer.
“Jane, would you come with me to the parlour?” Elizabeth said as she quickly walked ahead. Following her sister Jane reached the parlour and sat down with trepidation.
“Whatever is the matter?” she asked worriedly at her sister’s anxious expression.
Elizabeth sat down next to her and whispered. “Dearest, Mr. Bingley is here. He came half an hour ago and is with Mr. Darcy in his study.”
“Oh! I thought I was going mad, imagining him on the streets.” Jane responded as she covered her face.
“You saw him! Why did you not say anything?”
“I did not see him properly and could not be sure. I did not want to bother you with something I was not even certain about.”
“Oh! Dearest. I did not tell you because I did not want you to be uneasy, but Miss Bingley had written to me a couple of weeks back. She had told me about a few estates they were planning to investigate in the neighbourhood. I had expected them to arrive in Derbyshire sometime next month. I was completely unaware that Mr. Bingley had already arrived.”
“Is he planning to settle in the neighbourhood then?” Jane asked tentatively.
“I am not sure of the details. We will know more once Mr. Darcy is done talking to him. I just did not want you to be taken by surprise, but it seems I am already too late for that.”
“No, no, it is good to be aware. I have been so confused since yesterday,” she replied as a maid walked in with tea followed by Mr. Darcy.
Jane smiled inwardly in spite of her anxiousness at the myriad expressions that passed her brother’s face without a single muscle moving.
As soon as he saw her, he looked at Elizabeth and apparently without a word spoken between them, a full conversation seemed to pass.
He then turned towards Jane with a gentle smile.
They were genuinely made for each other Jane thought, as Mr. Darcy came and sat next to her and spoke,
“Jane, Bingley has made a request to speak to you.” At this she instantly looked towards the door.
“He is not here. I told him that I will talk to you and send him a note. I want you to do as you wish. If you need time just say so and I will tell him the same.”
“How long will he be in the neighbourhood?”
“He is looking at some estates with the intention of making a purchase and will remain for some time. He has asked for my help and has genuinely apologised for his recent behaviour.”
“And you forgave him? So easily,” Jane asked, surprise evident in her tone. She had always considered Mr. Darcy a difficult gentleman to please. Though she had respected his meticulous planning in all endeavors but had always considered him intimidating.
“I do not have many friends I can rely on. Bingley is one person I was always certain did not befriend me for any advantage of his own. Then it is not as if I have been a model of good behaviour, where would I be if your sister had not forgiven me,” he said with a bemused smile towards Elizabeth.
“Jane, I will tell you not to listen to either of us, just act as you think best. If you care for Mr. Bingley, you should give him a chance notwithstanding his boorish behaviour to my dear husband,” Elizabeth said with a laugh as was always her way.
For the first time in months Jane’s heart felt light as she responded. “I think I would like to talk to him.”