Chapter XI #2
Mrs. Hurst’s eyes flicked to where Elizabeth was speaking to several other ladies, and then to her sister, who was next to Mr. Darcy. Then her eyes found Jane again.
“My sister was excited to welcome you to London,” said she, not revealing anything.
Jane did not want to get into a back and forth about who was more excited, but before she could summon a response, Mrs. Hurst spoke again.
“How have you and Charles been getting on?”
It was more direct than Jane had supposed, though the question was not a surprise.
“Do not suppose that I ask with ulterior motives, Miss Bennet,” said Mrs. Hurst. “Nor do I ask to censure. I know my brother, yet what I see in him appears to be at odds with Caroline’s interpretation, and I would know the truth.”
Jane considered how to respond, then decided the absolute truth would serve. “I esteem Mr. Bingley very well, Mrs. Hurst, but I do not believe he is mine.”
“Yet Caroline would have you for a sister regardless.”
“Would you?” asked Jane pointedly.
It was Mrs. Hurst’s turn to consider her answer. “If it is the wish of you both, I would not oppose it.”
For a moment, Jane reflected on the benefits of saying what she knew of Miss Whitcombe. In the end, she decided against it. But Mrs. Hurst had made her sentiments clear, so Jane elected to return the favor.
“Then we are aligned in spirit, Mrs. Hurst. However, I would like you to know that I will not accept Mr. Bingley unless I have his assurance that it is his choice, because of his attachment to me. No other consideration will induce me to accept.”
Mrs. Hurst’s gaze never wavered. “When we departed from Hertfordshire, there was some . . . suggestion that your mother would have more influence in your decision than you suggest.”
“My mother’s character is not a mystery to me,” replied Jane. “Yet my opinions are not the same. Mama worries about the future—I am not insensible to the realities of my situation, but I will not compromise my principles. The choice is mine, and my father will support me.”
That was all Mrs. Hurst needed to hear. She nodded and squeezed Jane’s hand. “Please understand that should my brother choose you, I will welcome you, and not for the same reason as Caroline. If he does not, then I wish nothing but the best for you.”
It was a statement of friendship Jane had never heard from Mrs. Hurst, and far more sincere than anything Miss Bingley had offered. Moved, Jane could do nothing but return the sentiment.
“We must wait and see what happens. Should Mr. Bingley choose against me, I hope to keep your friendship.”
“I would like that.”
Jane did not have long to reflect on what had just occurred. The moment Mrs. Hurst stepped away, another approached, bowed, and engaged her in conversation.
“This is a most interesting evening, Miss Bennet,” said Mr. Harrington.
“Why is that, sir?” asked Jane, though she had an inkling of his meaning.
The gentleman regarded her over the rim of the glass he held, sipping from it in apparent thought. “Why, only that the conductor of recent events seems content to pull back and witness rather than control.”
“It is no surprise you have seen something of it, I suppose,” replied Jane. “But I am curious about how much.”
Mr. Harrington did not vacillate. “Miss Bingley is determined to match you with her brother. The extent of your interest and Bingley’s in obliging her is less certain—in fact, Bingley seems torn between two worlds.
While this is going on, however, your sister and Darcy have been orbiting each other in ever closer circles.
It seems Miss Bingley has finally taken notice. ”
Jane followed his gaze to where Miss Bingley still stood with Mr. Darcy.
Unlike before, however, she had taken notice of Jane’s position with Mr. Harrington, though Jane could not say if she had seen anything of her conversation with Mrs. Hurst. Miss Bingley had not chosen to move just yet, but the threat of it hung in the air.
“That last is more curious than anything,” continued Mr. Harrington, capturing her attention once again. “Though I have never counted Darcy a close friend, our circles overlap, and I have been acquainted with him for many months. Darcy has never so much as glanced at a woman twice.”
“Then this is even more curious than I supposed,” said Jane, stifling a laugh. “For you see, when Mr. Darcy came to Hertfordshire he acted as if everyone was beneath him, and my sister did not like him at all.”
Mr. Harrington chuckled. Another man was moving through the room, brushing past him, murmuring an apology, but Mr. Harrington took no notice.
“That first does not surprise me, though the last is interesting. Most ladies in society will forgive almost anything once they learn of Darcy’s position.”
“Lizzy is no typical lady,” replied Jane. “My sister is far more concerned with character than wealth.”
“Ah, then that explains it,” said Mr. Harrington.
“What does?”
The gentleman glanced at Mr. Darcy and Miss Bingley again. “If she does not abandon Darcy and make her way to us within five minutes, I shall eat my hat.”
“Perhaps you should explain your comment,” pressed Jane.
“I have no objection.” Mr. Harrington paused, reflecting on his knowledge of Mr. Darcy.
“Darcy has long resisted the advances of many women. A woman who thinks nothing of his position, cares little for his wealth, and demands good behavior is outside his experience. Add to that your sister’s intelligence, her wit, and her fire, and I suspect he found her irresistible. ”
The notion amused Jane. The unflappable Mr. Darcy and the uncompromising Elizabeth Bennet. It explained their behavior in a way she had not considered before, but now made more sense than anything else she’d pondered.
“You make a study of characters, it seems,” said Jane to the gentleman before her. “I have rarely heard such an accurate estimation of my sister’s behavior. To own the truth, I doubt either of them understands it themselves.”
Mr. Harrington grinned. “I may be incorrect, but the signs are all there. Whether Darcy will take the acquaintance further I do not know, but I have never seen him pay any woman a tenth of the attention he offers your sister.”
“That is most diverting, Mr. Harrington. I shall watch the coming weeks with keen interest.”
With a nod, the gentleman said: “While it is amusing, the state of Darcy’s interest in another woman is not of concern to me. Miss Bingley’s efforts do not appear to be bearing fruit. If Bingley was enamored with you, I would step aside and not interfere. But I sense you are not committed either.”
“For my part, I am not,” said Jane, her cheeks warming just a little. “I cannot speak for Mr. Bingley, but I suspect his affections lie in another direction.”
“Excellent,” said the gentleman. “With that clarified, I should like to come to know you better. As we only have a few minutes until we are interrupted, we should get on with it.”
That interruption came only a few moments later, exactly as Mr. Harrington said.
When Miss Bingley stepped into their circle, engaging Jane in conversation, throwing a few covert glances at Mr. Harrington, showing him how unwelcome she found his presence, Jane caught the gentleman’s eye; understanding passed between them.
He did not resist, and drifted away a few moments later, though his look promised their conversation was not at an end.
Miss Bingley noticed nothing of this, and soon she directed Jane back to Mr. Bingley. The satisfaction in her expression was far more confident than she had any right to be, but Jane kept her own counsel.
The dance was becoming most diverting, and Darcy watched it with keen interest. Miss Bingley had seemed determined to keep his attention to herself, but this had only persisted until she caught sight of Miss Bennet with Harrington.
Any expectation he might have that she would intervene at once evaporated when she turned to him.
“What do you think of my brother, Mr. Darcy?”
It was a clumsy delivery, and amused Darcy even more. “As you know, Bingley has been my friend these past five years. That has not changed at all.”
Miss Bingley regarded him, a hint of exasperation escaping through her composure. “You are not blind, sir. You are not unaware of Charles’s attentions to Miss Bennet.”
“Yes, I am aware of it,” replied Darcy, “though I have noticed it is not as focused as it was in Hertfordshire.”
Bingley, he noted, was standing across the room and was now speaking with another lady with whom Darcy had only the most superficial acquaintance.
Unlike his demeanor Darcy had seen so many times with other women, the conversation appeared restrained, almost perfunctory.
Miss Bingley did not appear bothered by it all—Darcy knew if it had been Miss Whitcombe, she would have been across the room in an instant.
“Yet I have every expectation of them making a match,” said Miss Bingley.
“That is most curious, Miss Bingley,” replied Darcy, wondering if she would reveal something if he nudged her just a little. “When we returned from Hertfordshire, you were adamant that your brother avoid Miss Bennet altogether. As I recall, you contended she was most unsuitable.”
“And you suggested she did not look on my brother with unusual favor,” said Miss Bingley.
“Nothing has happened since then to alter that perception.”