Chapter XI #2
“Please do not assume I will take it in such a way.”
The promise heartened the gentleman, such that he did not hesitate to speak. “The reason for my journey to London was simple—there were some matters of business I needed to attend to.”
Jane nodded. “As I recall, you mentioned something about it, though I do not think you said anything about going the next day.”
“That was an error on my part. I had thought to mention it, but the sight of you that night pushed the thought from my mind. My family was to stay at Netherfield, as was Darcy, though I knew he would not stay much longer. Imagine my surprise, therefore, when they all returned to London two days later against my wishes. Then, they set about trying to convince me against returning for you.”
This was not a surprise—Lizzy had proven accurate in her assertions of what had happened. “To be clear, Miss Bingley, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, and Mr. Darcy all disapproved of me?”
Mr. Bingley appeared embarrassed, but he did not hesitate to continue.
“The primary opponent was Caroline, though Louisa supported her. Hurst said nothing—his only counsel was that I should be certain of what I wanted before taking the next step. Darcy’s opinion was more nuanced than that.
He confined his arguments to his certainty of your indifference. ”
Shocked, Jane’s eyes found Mr. Darcy. The gentleman was across the room, speaking with Elizabeth. Jane was not angry, but she wondered how the gentleman could be so confident in claiming to understand feelings that were not his own.
“I see you are confused.” Mr. Bingley sighed. “Darcy is an excellent man, but he is rather rigid. He observed you, saw nothing of your regard for me, and determined that you did not care for me.”
“Did he not consider that I am as reticent as he is?”
“It seems a character so like his own was a bit of a blind spot for Darcy.”
The comment, dry and amusing, struck Jane as humorous, but she did not allow it to distract her. “Then your family offered honest assessments of the situation.” Jane sighed. “Though Mr. Darcy was in error and I do not agree with your sisters’ convictions, I cannot blame them.”
Mr. Bingley appeared pensive. “That was not all, Miss Bennet, though your assessment of Darcy is correct. I believe you are also correct about Louisa, though I have no direct proof of that opinion. Caroline, however, . . .”
Heart icing over at Mr. Bingley’s words, Jane regarded him. “Lizzy insisted your sister was not a friend to your pursuit of me.”
“Your sister shows an uncommon greatness of mind,” said Mr. Bingley with a tight nod. “Though I care little for society and its trappings, Caroline’s ambitions are much higher than mine. She wishes for societal advancement, but I only wish to find a good woman to share my life.”
Again, Jane’s eyes found Mr. Darcy. “She wants to attract Mr. Darcy’s attention.”
Mr. Bingley snorted. “That she does, and anyone can see it. Darcy does not say much, but I have always understood that he has no wish to have Caroline for a wife. I introduced them three years ago—if he meant to offer for her, he would have done so already.”
“Yet your sister continues to hope.”
“She does, little good though it will do her.” Mr. Bingley grimaced. “But Caroline went further than you know. Not only did she claim she had received no letters from you, but she insinuated knowledge of your heart, that you had expressed disinterest in my suit.”
Surprise overtook Jane, though anger replaced it soon after. “I sent two letters to Caroline, the second because I received no reply to the first. Nothing I wrote suggested I did not welcome you.”
“That is what Hurst informed me in his letter.”
“Lizzy must have told him,” said Jane, understanding at once.
Mr. Bingley nodded, but he did not dwell on it. For several long moments, he looked at her before saying in a quiet voice: “I hope this does not affect how you see me, Miss Bennet, though I will not blame you if it does.”
“Mr. Bingley,” said Jane, heart filled with affection for this man, “I do not blame you. In this matter, I think we have both been more trusting than we should have been. Lizzy has seen more clearly than either you or I have.”
“Yes, she has,” said Mr. Bingley, brightening at Jane’s lack of blame for his actions.
“However,” continued she, “if we are to survive this, we must both change. If you are to recommend yourself to me, you must learn to be more assertive, especially as regards your sister. A woman must know that a man will put her before all others if she is to accept his proposal.”
“That is what I have learned from this,” agreed Mr. Bingley. “I shall not allow my sister to dictate my life or mislead me, and certainly not in my choice of wife.”
Jane nodded. “I appreciate your assurances, Mr. Bingley. For my part, Miss Bingley must prove herself to me.”
“As she should,” agreed Mr. Bingley.
“As for Mr. Darcy,” continued Jane, “I shall not hold a grudge, for I know he was acting in what he thought was the best interest of a friend.”
Mr. Bingley’s lips curled into a grin. “To own the truth, I suspect Darcy was motivated as much by the desire to escape your sister’s allure as by his concern for me.”
“It has done him little good,” said Jane with a laugh.
“I shall tease him forever for his failure.”
“Then let us talk of this no more.” Jane looked at Mr. Bingley with frank appraisal. “I know something of what my father told you. The question is, will you act of your own accord or because he requires it of you?”
The boyish Mr. Bingley was now back. “I do not need your father’s encouragement. I am ready to proceed now, if you are willing. If not, then we shall move at your pace.”
“Perhaps a little longer would be advisable.”
“That is agreeable to me. After all, the chase should be as enjoyable as the catch, do you not think?”
Jane gave him a bright smile. “Without a doubt, Mr. Bingley.”
IT WAS NOT LONG BEFORE Elizabeth determined that Miss Georgiana Darcy was a dear, sweet creature.
The knowledge was the final nail in the coffin of any respect she had for Mr. Wickham—the man had called her “insufferably proud” just like her brother, when even the most cursory examination of her would reveal she was only shy, not proud.
With this understanding came the knowledge that she had misjudged Mr. Darcy; even if he was proud and disagreeable, he had not deserved her denunciation as a man lacking any good qualities.
There would come a time, Elizabeth knew, that she would need to apologize to the gentleman, and that time came that afternoon.
The young girl in their midst had intrigued Kitty and Lydia; they had been trying to pull Georgiana away from Elizabeth, succeeding about a half hour after she arrived.
As Elizabeth watched them, she noted Miss Darcy’s astonished expression at the girls’ excesses, but she did not appear to be unhappy with her position. That was when Mr. Darcy approached her.
“Miss Elizabeth,” said the gentleman, his usual gravity in evidence, “thank you for welcoming my sister. She is shy and does not make friends easily.”
Elizabeth discovered the smile came to her lips without hesitation. “It is no trouble, Mr. Darcy. She is an excellent girl.
“Of course,” added she with a mischievous glance at the three girls, “you may wish to limit her interaction with Kitty and Lydia—there is real danger they might corrupt her.”
Mr. Darcy understood it as a jest and responded in like fashion. “Perhaps she will induce them to moderate their behavior.”
“If she can do that, then I shall commend her. My youngest sisters have determined to go their own way—nothing their elders say has any effect on them.”
“Ah, but you are mere sisters, whereas Georgiana is the scion of a society family.” Mr. Darcy shrugged. “You know me well enough to apprehend that I care little for society, but my family is prominent. Misses Kitty and Lydia may find her behavior worth emulating.”
“I shall hope you are correct, Mr. Darcy.”
Though knowing the moment had come, Elizabeth paused, then spoke before her courage failed her.
“Mr. Darcy, I wish to extend my regrets for believing Mr. Wickham and misjudging you. We heard he absconded from the regiment and abandoned his responsibilities. I should have taken greater care and not accepted his lies on so short an acquaintance.”
“You could have known nothing about Wickham,” said Mr. Darcy without hesitation.
“It does not absolve my responsibility to remain skeptical of others until they have proven themselves.”
Elizabeth thought Mr. Darcy would continue to absolve her, but he seemed to think better of it. “That is sage advice for us all, Miss Elizabeth.”
“The worst part of it,” said Elizabeth, “is that Mr. Wickham will move on to some other unsuspecting town and continue his wicked ways.”
“Oh, you never know,” replied Mr. Darcy, his manner mysterious. “This time Wickham has deserted from the militia—the militia is not the regular army, yet they still take a dim view of desertion.”
There was something knowing about Mr. Darcy’s manner, though Elizabeth could not put her finger on it.
It was as if he thought Mr. Wickham would not escape punishment for his deeds, though Elizabeth could not understand how he could be so confident.
As the gentleman changed the subject before she could ask him, she remained ignorant of his meaning, though her curiosity hovered about her until their subsequent conversation pushed it from her mind.