Chapter IV #3
For her part, Jane responded with her usual even demeanor, though Elizabeth could see at once that she was more at ease than she had been at any other time in the evening.
As Elizabeth noticed this, so too did Miss Bingley, perhaps more quickly than Elizabeth did herself.
Miss Bingley did not insert herself at once, but when she did, it was with more authority than she had ever used before.
“Dear Jane,” said Miss Bingley, approaching a moment after Mr. Harrington moved away, “it is wonderful to have you among us again.”
“Thank you, Miss Bingley,” said Jane, ignoring the sentiment that Miss Bingley had repeated several times already. “Lizzy and I appreciate your invitation.”
“Charles!” said Miss Bingley, catching the attention of her brother who had moved closer by chance. “Jane and I were just discussing how fortunate it is when early attachments are renewed, when misunderstandings are set aside, and when constancy has its reward.”
“That is curious, Caroline,” said Mr. Bingley, “for I was not aware of any such mistakes. Do you speak of something in particular?”
Miss Bingley smiled, unbothered by her brother’s response. “I speak in generalities, Charles, not specifics.”
“Of course,” replied Mr. Bingley, though Elizabeth could see he did not believe a word of what she said.
Then he turned his attention to Jane, and his smile softened. Jane sensed this and returned the gesture, though Elizabeth could easily see that her sister had withdrawn, her dignity asserting itself where Miss Bingley had tried to impose expectation.
“It is agreeable to be reunited with friends, Miss Bennet.” He paused, taking care to say what he meant. “I hope we can continue in this fashion as friends.”
Though Miss Bingley’s face fell at the word friends, Jane nodded, appearing relieved. “My sister and I both welcome your friendship, Mr. Bingley.”
“That is interesting, to be certain,” said Mrs. Gardiner the next morning when they related the previous evening’s events. “The picture you paint of Mr. Bingley’s behavior does not match what you told me of him at Christmas.”
“It does not,” said Elizabeth. “That Miss Bingley would push her brother’s interest in Jane was so beyond what I might have expected as to be farcical.”
Though Mrs. Gardiner looked to Jane for her opinion, her sister did not respond at once. That spoke volumes. When Jane noticed their matching looks, she did not hesitate to reply.
“Do not tease me, Lizzy. There seems to be something more happening than Miss Bingley wishing to promote me to her brother. I cannot deny what appeared incontrovertible.”
“Then what do you suppose it is?” asked Aunt Gardiner.
Jane sighed and pressed a weary hand to her temples. When she dropped it, she stared out the window, perhaps not knowing what she wished to say, though it was possible she knew but did not wish to say it out loud.
“What Miss Bingley’s objectives or motives are, I cannot say,” replied Jane. “Her words last night, however, are not open to interpretation: she means Mr. Bingley and me to resume where we left off.”
“That may be the truest thing you have yet said about Miss Bingley,” said Elizabeth.
Mrs. Gardiner regarded them. “If she attempts to force a conclusion that is as yet unearned, what do you mean to do about it?”
“At present, I do not know,” confessed Jane. “Seeing Mr. Bingley again was a comfort, but it has not been the resolution I imagined. Mr. Bingley is much the same as ever: kind, attentive, engaging, and estimable.”
“But?” pressed Mrs. Gardiner.
“But there is no clarity,” said Jane.
“No, there is not,” agreed Elizabeth. “If he were the Mr. Bingley from Hertfordshire, there would be no question of him resuming his attentions. Mr. Bingley is holding himself back, though whether that is from confusion, obligation, or something else, I do not know.”
It was several moments before Mrs. Gardiner offered a response.
In that time, Elizabeth watched Jane, who continued to peer out the window, though she knew her sister was seeing nothing—not the sky heavy with clouds or the passing carriages in the street below.
In those gloomy weeks wishing for Mr. Bingley’s return, Jane had built an image in her mind about how their reunion would proceed.
By Jane’s own confession, it was nothing like she had expected, though Mr. Bingley was still everything she had seen in him before.
“If I were to advise you,” said Mrs. Gardiner at length, “it would be to take care and remain observant. Mr. Bingley’s affection may remain, but something else is at work.
You must understand what that is before you allow yourself to hope again, Jane.
If you surrender to hope too soon, you may find yourself disappointed again. ”
“Thank you, Aunt,” said Jane, summoning a smile. “For advice given most hesitantly, it is excellent.”
Mrs. Gardiner smiled and pressed Jane’s hand. “I am glad you are being so sensible about this. Sometimes the heart rules in such matters. Having a clear head will do you good.”
“And she has me to provide the cynicism,” joked Elizabeth.
They laughed together, dispelling the heavy atmosphere.
“Yes, you will,” said Aunt Gardiner, fixing them both with unmistakable affection. “I have every confidence in your abilities, Lizzy.”