Chapter 9
Dinner proceeded with an ease that astonished Elizabeth more with every passing moment.
She and Mr. Darcy exchanged frequent glances across the table — glances full of the memory of their last conversation in the grove yet softened by the warmth of the candlelight and the genial company.
She was both pleased and surprised to observe how readily he conversed with her aunt and uncle, his usual reserve giving way to quiet civility that bespoke genuine interest rather than mere obligation.
How different this Mr. Darcy appeared from the proud gentleman she had once known!
Jane, ever gentle and sincere, seized a moment when the conversation turned towards recent events.
“Mr. Darcy,” she said, her voice soft, “I must thank you most sincerely for informing Mr. Bingley of my presence in town. We were all so very happy to receive his visit!”
The gentleman inclined his head, a touch of colour rising to his cheeks.
“You are generous in your thanks, Miss Bennet, but I do not deserve them. Indeed, I must confess I was one of those who did not encourage Bingley to return to Netherfield. Seeing his present felicity, however, I understand full well how mistaken I was. A friend’s happiness should never be sacrificed to another’s judgment, however well-intentioned. ”
Mr. Bingley looked slightly uneasy, then he said, “Darcy is not always right, but he always makes amends for his errors. I cannot blame anyone for my decision not to return to Netherfield except myself, and I shall remedy that fault soon. I shall reopen Netherfield! I have already written to my solicitor and my housekeeper. Darcy has promised he will instruct me in the business of estate management. I could not hope for a better friend.”
Elizabeth’s heart swelled with restrained joy, touched beyond measure and deeply impressed by such candid humility. She met Mr. Darcy’s eye with a look of warm approval and offered a little smile, which he readily returned.
Emboldened by the cordial atmosphere, she ventured, “And how fare your family, sir? I hope Miss de Bourgh continues to improve and that Miss Darcy and the colonel are well?”
Mr. Darcy’s expression softened.
“The colonel is away on regimental business, but Georgiana is very well, I thank you. As for Anne, she improves daily. She even took a carriage ride in the park with Lady Matlock and Georgiana yesterday — a most encouraging sign.”
“I am glad to hear it,” Elizabeth replied sincerely.
“By the by, I was surprised to learn Mr. Collins had come to town,” Mr. Darcy said.
“Indeed,” replied Elizabeth with the faintest hint of amusement. “He offered to convey me and Maria here, a decision his wife did not approve of. But who can change Mr. Collins’s mind? Especially when he is determined to offer support to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, even if she rejects it.”
“Mr. Collins seems the perfect companion for my aunt,” Mr. Darcy said. “She might need his support soon when she returns to Rosings since Anne will stay in London for at least a few months.”
“So, is her ladyship still in London?”
“She is, residing in Anne’s house. She visits Lady Matlock every day without reaching an agreement. Just like Mr. Collins, nobody can change Lady Catherine’s mind.”
“Oh…I did not realise Miss de Bourgh owned a house in London too,” Elizabeth continued, mostly from the pleasure of conversing with Mr. Darcy.
“Anne has a comfortable home on Grosvenor Street and a cottage about a mile away, which has stood empty for almost twenty years. She prefers to live with Lady Matlock, though, where she is under the care of several excellent physicians.”
Elizabeth’s curiosity stirred. “And Dr Rease? Does he attend her still?”
“He visits regularly, though he is also much occupied with other patients. His dedication does him credit.”
The conversation paused until Mrs. Gardiner turned to Mr. Darcy with a hint of shyness.
“I hope you will forgive my mentioning it, sir, but I grew up near Lambton and remember your parents with great affection. I have always believed Pemberley to be the most beautiful place I have ever seen.”
Mr. Darcy’s countenance brightened with evident pleasure.
“You are very kind, Mrs. Gardiner. What a wonderful surprise to meet a former neighbour. Pemberley is indeed the place of which my sister and I are most fond. We spend most of the summer there. Do you still visit Lambton?”
“Sometimes. We hope to travel that way later this year, but our plans are not yet fixed.”
“If you do happen to be in Derbyshire, please call at Pemberley. My sister and I should be delighted to welcome you,” he said, bringing Elizabeth equal pleasure and amazement.
Mrs. Gardiner also seemed stunned by such an invitation, and she could only respond with a joyful, “Thank you, Mr. Darcy!”
The evening proved even better than Elizabeth’s highest expectations. She found herself content in a manner she had not anticipated. Hope, delicate yet insistent, bloomed within her as she observed Mr. Darcy’s easy manners and the warmth in his occasional glances towards her.
When at length the gentlemen took their leave, Mr. Darcy lingered a moment.
“If I may beg the favour,” said he, addressing the room but with his eyes resting particularly upon Elizabeth, “I should like to introduce my sister Georgiana to your acquaintance in the coming days.”
The invitation was met with universal delight and honour. “We should be most pleased,” replied Mrs. Gardiner warmly, while Elizabeth’s soul was filled with a mixture of anticipation and joy.
That night, Elizabeth’s heart remained full of more hopes and dreams than ever before, until sleep finally enveloped her. She dreamt of Mr. Darcy, but in the morning she could not — or dared not — remember the particulars of that dream.
***
A whirl of unexpected and most fortunate events overwhelmed Elizabeth and Jane in the next week.
Loyal to his word, Mr. Darcy indeed introduced his sister to them, but he did not bring her to Gracechurch Street.
Instead, Mr. Bingley appeared one morning, bearing a note from Mr. and Miss Darcy.
The invitation was for Mrs. Gardiner and her nieces to take tea at Darcy House, an honour that pleased them beyond measure.
Mrs. Gardiner accepted with gracious warmth, and Mr. Bingley, ever obliging, offered to escort them himself.
The appointed day arrived, bright and fair.
Elizabeth, though she endeavoured to appear composed, was inwardly nervous as they entered the elegant halls of Darcy House.
She wondered, with a humility newly awakened in her, whether she truly deserved to stand there, after she had abominably abused its master.
Yet Mr. Darcy received them with perfect politeness, performing the introductions with a quiet dignity that put the party at ease.
Miss Georgiana Darcy proved all that was modest and amiable, her shyness soon giving way to genuine friendliness as she conversed with Jane, Elizabeth, and their aunt.
Before long, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley excused themselves to the library on some matter of business, leaving the ladies to their tea and conversation.
Elizabeth found herself immediately drawn to Miss Darcy’s gentle manners, and the acquaintance blossomed with surprising ease.
They spoke of music and books, of the pleasures of the country and the bustle of town, and Elizabeth could not but admire the young lady’s sweetness of temper.
Their harmonious visit was suddenly interrupted, however, by the unannounced arrival of Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. The two sisters entered with all their accustomed airs, only to halt in evident shock at the sight of Mrs. Gardiner and the Bennet sisters.
Miss Darcy rose politely but did not extend any invitation to sit, while Mr. Bingley, who had stepped out of the library at the sound of their voices, spoke with uncharacteristic firmness.
“Louisa, Caroline,” he said, “you might have sent word of your intention to call. As you see, we are engaged with company at present.”
The sisters, their faces colouring with mortification, offered a few stiff civilities and were obliged to withdraw almost as quickly as they had come.
Elizabeth could not suppress a small, satisfied smile at this little act of justice.
The slight they had once given Jane was not so easily forgotten, and to witness their discomfort brought a measure of quiet revenge that pleased her more than she cared to own.
Scarcely had calm been restored when another unexpected visit occurred. Lady Matlock and Miss de Bourgh were announced.
Elizabeth was delighted to see Miss de Bourgh, who appeared genuinely pleased to see her too. Introductions were performed with all due ceremony to Lady Matlock, who, surprisingly, accepted the invitation to join them for tea.
The countess was impressive in appearance and manners, yet polite. She asked questions and engaged in conversation, which flowed with increasing ease.
“Miss de Bourgh, please allow me to tell you how happy I am to see you so well recovered. Indeed, you look exceptionally well,” Elizabeth said.
“Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. I do feel exceptionally well. My aunt’s care and the new medicine I am taking seem the perfect remedy.”
Miss de Bourgh spoke with more animation than Elizabeth had ever observed in Kent, and she understood how much Lady Catherine’s influence had hurt the young woman.
Yet the sequence of surprising occurrences was not at an end. With all the force of a summer storm, Lady Catherine de Bourgh burst into the room, declaring that she had been informed her daughter was present. Her eyes widened in astonishment upon beholding Elizabeth and her relatives.
“Miss Bennet!” she cried, her voice sharp with indignation. “What, pray, are you doing here? I demand an explanation at once!”
“Oh, stop yelling, Catherine,” Lady Matlock scolded her. “Why on earth are you always shouting? Can you not use a proper tone? It is even more embarrassing since we are in company.”
Lady Catherine’s face coloured with increasing rage.
“I would not yell, Elinor, if you would not interfere in my affairs and would not steal away my daughter! And I must know what Miss Bennet is doing here! How does she know Georgiana? By the way, Miss Bennet, you should know I sent your cousin home. He was wasting his time in London instead of attending to his duties in Hunsford. How can he imagine I need his help? That man annoys me exceedingly!”
Before Elizabeth could frame a reply, Mr. Darcy appeared from the library, his countenance composed yet resolute.
“Aunt,” he said with quiet authority, “as you see, my sister is entertaining guests. You are welcome to take a seat and enjoy a cup of tea with us, or to excuse yourself and return at a more convenient time for further discussion. But I must beg you not to disrupt the party.”
Lady Catherine’s face flushed with violent anger. She burst forth in a torrent of reproaches and demands, decrying the impropriety of the company and the insolence of her nephew.
Miss Darcy and Miss de Bourgh both turned white with mortification, and Lady Matlock interjected again.
“Dear Lord, you are insufferable, Catherine, even more so than your clergyman. We must find a way to send you home, too, before you expose the whole family to ridicule in front of the entire town.”
“This is…how dare you? I shall tell my brother, your husband, with what unyielding incivility you treated me in front of strangers! This is not to be borne, nor forgiven!”
“You may find your brother, my husband, at home, in a meeting with his solicitor. I am sure he would be delighted to hear your complaints at this very moment,” Lady Matlock said, while Lady Catherine quitted the room in high dudgeon, the door closing behind her with a decisive sound.
“We are so very sorry,” Miss Darcy whispered to her guests, her voice trembling. Her brother joined her in apologising, but Elizabeth quickly put them at ease.
“Pray, do not distress yourselves. We are honoured and delighted to be in the company of you and Lady Matlock. As for Lady Catherine, I have known her long enough to expect nothing less when her will is crossed.”
“Miss Elizabeth was never afraid of Mama and always stood up for her opinions,” Miss de Bourgh whispered.
“So I heard, Miss Elizabeth,” Lady Matlock said. “My son and my niece Anne have praised you more than once. I was quite curious to meet you, and I am not disappointed so far.”
“Your ladyship is very kind,” Elizabeth replied, glancing at Mr. Darcy, whose stare was fixed upon her.
Thus, despite the scandals created first by the Bingley sisters and then by Lady Catherine, the little tea party ended on a pleasant note.
Laughter returned, conversation resumed its agreeable course.
As they took their leave, Elizabeth stepped out of the house with a growing tenderness in her heart.
Being invited into Mr. Darcy’s home and introduced to his sister and aunt proved that he still held her in high regard and was willing to preserve at least a friendship with her.
And since Mr. Bingley would soon reopen Netherfield and a certain event was expected to happen any moment now, Elizabeth could at least be sure she would meet Mr. Darcy again in the future.
Only two days later, Mr. Bingley called again and asked Jane to take a walk with him in a nearby park, together with Elizabeth and the children.
The gentleman seized that opportunity and finally acted according to his feelings and desires, proposing to Jane.
Hours later, Mr. Gardiner wrote to Mr. Bennet to convey the happiest of news, and Mr. Bingley attended another dinner in Gracechurch Street to celebrate the long-awaited engagement.
Less than a fortnight in London brought Jane and Elizabeth enough joy and happiness to compensate for all the suffering of the last six tormenting months.
As Elizabeth said many times, there were to think only of the past as its remembrance gave them pleasure.
The rest of it should be forgotten by both Jane and Elizabeth — and hopefully by Mr. Darcy too.
Once the engagement became public, the Bennet sisters, in the company of Mr. Bingley, returned triumphantly to Longbourn.
Elizabeth had no opportunity to meet Mr. Darcy again before she left London, so throughout the journey back home, her heart was torn between joy for her sister’s blissful future and concern and uncertainty in regard to her own.