Chapter 11
WHERE MR DARCY AND MR BINGLEY ENGAGE IN GENTLEMANLY PURSUITS, AND JANE SAYS HER PIECE.
Several days later, the Netherfield gentlemen set out two hours after sunrise to spend a cold but pleasant morning fowling for pheasants. Bingley’s estate, though not nearly as vast as Pemberley’s grounds, was home to countless species of game birds, deer, and wild boar.
As it often did, engaging in sport provided Darcy with an excellent distraction.
He had begun the morning with a headache, but after shooting six brace he felt much improved, despite the fact his friend had bested him and bagged eight.
They entered the manor house in high spirits, surrendered their fowling pieces, and shed their coats as the clock in the drawing room struck half past two in the afternoon.
Then and only then did Bingley realise he had not only failed to pay his daily call upon Miss Bennet but had forgotten her existence entirely. Cursing, he ran up the stairs and called for his valet.
An hour later, after freshening up and eating a cold lunch before a warm fire, both gentlemen set out for Longbourn.
Guiding their horses swiftly along the Meryton road, they arrived at the pale that marked Mr Bennet’s estate in very good time.
They turned onto the lane, entered the drive, and were greeted with a flurry of activity.
A cart loaded with band boxes and parcels, some quite sizeable, was in the process of being unloaded by Longbourn’s servants.
Beyond that, directly in front of the house, a smart-looking conveyance with a matched pair was parked.
Save for the driver and footman who were seeing to the removal of the luggage, the carriage appeared devoid of occupants.
As the Netherfield gentlemen approached the hustle and bustle, Darcy was afforded a better view of the trunks and valises stacked beside the equipage and realised the Gardiners had come from town for Miss Bennet’s wedding.
Doubtful that paying a call upon the family at this juncture was wise, he tugged on his horse’s reins, intent upon turning back.
While he did not doubt that Mrs Bennet would always be happy to see Bingley, especially now that his boots were polished and free of mud, he was certain the Bennets would be more inconvenienced by their coming at such a moment than they would be pleased.
Bingley appeared to be of a different mind; he bounded up the front steps with his usual exuberance and entered the house. Hoping his presence would not cause any vexation, Darcy consigned his horse to a groom and followed his friend.
They were shown to a small sitting room at the back of the house that Darcy had not previously seen and left to wait for Miss Bennet and her mother before a cheerful-looking fire.
Five minutes later the door opened, and Darcy saw it was not Mrs Bennet who accompanied Bingley’s betrothed, but her sister-in-law, Mrs Gardiner.
His delight upon seeing her again was considerable.
Mrs Gardiner greeted them warmly. “Mr Darcy. Mr Bingley. What a pleasure it is to see you both again.”
“The pleasure is entirely ours, Mrs Gardiner,” said Darcy with a sincere smile as he stepped forward to take her hand. “You are looking extremely well. I trust you have suffered no ill-effects from your recent journey from town.”
“None whatsoever, and may I say that you also appear to be in excellent health, sir?”
“Thank you. I have found the fresh country air of Hertfordshire agrees with me far more so than the stale atmosphere of London. How are Mr Gardiner and the children? I trust they have accompanied you for the wedding as well and are also in good health?”
“They are all extremely healthy as well, though we were wondering whether my husband’s business would allow him to make the journey with us today.
My children are currently being entertained by two of my nieces in the nursery, and I believe my husband is settled at last in my brother’s library, enjoying the benefit of a warm fire and a well-deserved dose of quietude. ”
“Ah, yes,” said Bingley with a winsome grin. “There is nothing I like better after passing many cold and tiresome hours in a carriage than sitting before a fire in the company of good friends. But I am afraid you must be exhausted, Mrs Gardiner. Here, come and take a seat by the fire. I insist.”
“Thank you, sir,” she said, and allowed Bingley to lead her to an upholstered chair situated close to the hearth.
While Bingley was occupied with Mrs Gardiner, Darcy greeted Miss Bennet. “You are looking very well this afternoon, Miss Bennet.”
“I thank you, sir,” she said, stepping neatly around him. She settled herself upon a small velvet sofa located to the left of her aunt’s chair and arranged her skirts over her lap. Bingley claimed the vacant seat beside her.
Darcy settled into the chair opposite Mrs Gardiner’s as the flustered housekeeper entered the room bearing a large tray laden with an assortment of biscuits and cakes and a steaming pot of tea. She arranged it all upon a low table before the fire, curtseyed, and bustled out of the room.
Jane proceeded to pour the tea.
“I hope,” Darcy said to Mrs Gardiner, “you have arrived at Longbourn to find all of your family in residence here in good health.”
“I did, sir,” she replied. “They are all very well, though perhaps a little harried today.”
“Yes. It has not escaped my notice. I believe I have never seen so many band boxes in my life, not even on Bond Street before a ball.”
Mrs Gardiner laughed good-naturedly while Bingley turned to Jane with a twinkle in his eyes.
“If I had not already been privy to the vast amount of frippery my sisters absolutely insist is necessary for a lady of fashion, I confess I might have become downright alarmed upon seeing the number of items paraded through Longbourn over the last several days. You may rest easy, Miss Bennet. Netherfield has more than enough closets and wardrobes to hold your new acquisitions. If I show any cause for concern, I swear it is born solely out of the possibility that Caroline may feel a sudden inclination to buy more, so as not to appear to disadvantage when you are seen together in town next Season.”
“I would not wish for my future sister to suffer from such a misapprehension. You must put Miss Bingley’s mind at ease and inform her at once that the remainder of my trousseau was delivered yesterday. Most of the items you have seen come through today are not mine. They are Lizzy’s.”
Jane handed her future husband a delicately painted cup and saucer while Bingley chuckled. “Well, that is very good news indeed, especially for my pocketbook!”
After handing her aunt an identical cup and saucer, she turned to Darcy. “Tea, Mr Darcy?”
It took him a moment to answer her, so startled was he to hear the various parcels and new finery coming into the house at that moment were intended for Elizabeth and not the future Mrs Bingley.
“Pray forgive my curiosity, but is there a particular reason Miss Elizabeth has purchased so many new gowns?”
“Of course,” she said sweetly as she handed him a cup of tea. “As a favour to me, Elizabeth will join us in London after the wedding. My mother was adamant that she has new things as well. But I do not believe you were privy to our plan, Mr Darcy, for it is not generally known.”
“As it happens, I do know of it,” Darcy replied, accepting the proffered teacup and saucer. “Miss Elizabeth informed me herself the other evening after we had dined together.”
“I confess I am surprised to hear it.”
Darcy’s lips lifted infinitesimally. “No more surprised than I, Miss Bennet, I assure you.”
“My mother,” she continued with a shrug of her shoulders, “is determined Elizabeth shall be presented to her very best advantage. As you once observed yourself, sir, society in town is far more varied than one often finds here in the country. Far be it from us to forget your remarks on the subject. None of us would ever wish to appear so terribly out of place in so grand a locale as someone of your consequence is used to frequenting.”
Darcy blinked at her in astonishment, then looked to Bingley and Mrs Gardiner.
If Miss Bennet had not insulted him, he would have found their identical expressions almost comical.
Both appeared incredulous, as incredulous as he.
“I believe you are mistaken, madam. I cannot think of any reason why you and Miss Elizabeth would appear out of place in any setting. Certainly, wherever you are known you must be respected and valued and, if I may be so bold as to say so, much admired.”
“I thank you for saying so, Mr Darcy, but such pretty sentiments are precisely that—sentiments and little else. You may have lived in the world, but you have never met with us in any other setting, only here in Hertfordshire among our own small sphere of acquaintance, where we are known and have been welcome our entire lives.”
“I must disagree,” Darcy replied in earnest. “You forget I encountered Miss Elizabeth at my home in Derbyshire over the summer and in Kent last April. In Kent, I spent some weeks in her company and could not help but admire her natural way with people. I found Miss Elizabeth even more charming and lovely than she was in Hertfordshire and her manners just as easy and unassuming in my aunt’s drawing room, where she could claim a prior acquaintance with no one except myself and Mrs Collins. ”
“Yes,” Bingley said. “Yes indeed.” His eyes darted uneasily between his friend and future wife much like a pendulum on a clock.
“I have rarely met with any lady who has a pleasanter disposition than Miss Elizabeth.” He cast a hasty glance at Miss Bennet and Mrs Gardiner and cleared his throat. “Present company excluded, of course.”
Grateful for Bingley’s intervention, Darcy looked to his friend with an appreciative smile and took a sip of tea, hoping to put his thinly veiled argument with Miss Bennet behind him.
Miss Bennet had other plans. “I am aware of a great many things that occurred in Kent, Mr Darcy, and while I cannot disagree that my sister may have appeared easy in your company, only one who is privileged enough to know her intimately would fully comprehend her innermost feelings and wishes with any degree of accuracy.” She held Darcy’s astonished gaze with a wilful determination few had likely witnessed in her.
“As a matter of fact, after passing several weeks in Elizabeth’s company I would wager a great deal that you, sir, more than anyone else, can imagine how my sister might react should someone dare to treat her with an air of arrogance and presumption and so wholly misinterpret her cordial sentiments as something more than what they are, especially when her preference has always been perfectly clear to those of us for whom she cares. ”
“Jane,” Mrs Gardiner admonished sternly. “You have said quite enough!”
Darcy paled, then coloured deeply. Knowing that Elizabeth and her eldest sister were close, he was not altogether surprised to learn that Elizabeth had told her of his proposal.
Despite his love for her, he had deeply upset Elizabeth with his insensitive description of her situation in life and his unsolicited opinion of her family.
Who else would it have been more natural for Elizabeth to turn to for solace than Miss Bennet?
With a sinking heart, Darcy wondered whether Miss Bennet also knew of his interference in her own affairs with Bingley.
For the sake of any future relationship with Elizabeth, he silently prayed that she did not.
That Jane Bennet would not only bait him but dare to expose him in such a manner was as cruel as it was inappropriate. Darcy hardly knew how he would contain his anger and embarrassment and, without quite knowing what he was about, abandoned his chair.
Miss Bennet stiffened, coloured, and quickly lowered her gaze to her lap as Darcy stood before her in furious indecision. His eyes alighted on the other occupants of the room, both of whom were openly staring at him in shock, and he sobered.
With as much civility as he could muster, Darcy addressed Miss Bennet. “Pray, excuse me, madam. I have recalled a pressing matter of business that requires my immediate attention.”
Without raising her eyes, Miss Bennet solemnly proclaimed, “I would not dream of keeping you from your important matter of business, Mr Darcy. My mother, however, will no doubt be disappointed to hear of your leaving us so suddenly.”
“It is not my intent to cause offence. I thank you for your hospitality.” He performed a stiff, perfunctory bow before turning his attention to Mrs Gardiner, who appeared horrified by their exchange.
Darcy’s mien softened considerably, as did his tone. “I hope we will meet again soon, Mrs Gardiner. Please convey my warmest regards to all your family, and my sincerest regrets. Indeed, I am…I am very sorry. Pray excuse me.”
Bingley stood at once, his expression a mixture of distress and confusion. He opened his mouth, clearly intending to speak, but Darcy spoke first.
“There is no need to trouble yourself, Bingley. Enjoy your visit with your betrothed and her family. If you would be so generous as to make my excuses to Mrs Bennet, I would be most appreciative.”
He performed a perfunctory bow and strode from the room into the hall, livid, as much with himself for his inability to rein in his temper as he was with Jane Bennet for her ill-contrived effort to take him to task and humiliate him publicly for a matter that was certainly no concern of hers.
As he entered the main foyer, the Bennets’ butler spied him and quickly retrieved his greatcoat and hat. “I shall have your horse saddled directly, sir. It will be the work of a moment.”
“There is no need, Hill. I believe a long walk will be preferable. Good day to you.” With that, Darcy threw open the door and quit the house.