Chapter 6 #2
They walked for several minutes without saying anything; it was hard to know what to think, let alone what to say. Finally, Elizabeth asked, “On another topic, did you notice that Georgiana seems rather unhappy today?”
William looked surprised, but he was quiet for a few moments, and Elizabeth was certain he was thinking back on the day. He slowly said, “From what I remember, she seemed quite cheery, her usual self, this morning, but at luncheon she was very quiet and less smiley than she has been of late.”
“I gave her an opportunity to share,” Elizabeth said, “if she wished to tell me, but she just claimed she was well and ended the conversation.”
“I have to admit that whenever I sense unhappiness in Georgiana, it rectifies itself pretty quickly. Of course, I wish her to know that she can confide in me, that she can ask me anything, tell me any secrets. But I suppose it is also appropriate, in many situations, for her to keep her own counsel. Do you agree?”
“Yes, of course, But my advice is what it always is: I think that when you talk to Georgiana, you should not only ask her what is concerning her but also confide to her what is concerning you.”
“Thank you for the advice; I am certain I would do well to follow it. As to what has been worrying me, I am still convinced that Johnson is honest and capable enough that the explanation cannot lie in his mistake or mendacity.”
Elizabeth nodded, silent and thoughtful. Finally, she asked, “I do not suppose that the Hursts or Miss Bingley left Netherfield?” She shrugged and explained, “I would think that they, too, would have to quickly rid themselves of the evidence of their crime, just as a servant would.”
“Nobody has left,” William confirmed. Then he shook his head once and said, “I have to stop thinking about this. I will confer with Richard when he comes, but in the meantime, I am ready to concentrate on my two favourite ladies. And since I will be speaking to Georgiana this evening, I choose to focus on the other of my favourites: what can I do for you?”
Smiling as she arched one eyebrow, she said, “Hmm, I am certain that I will think of something. But I imagine my something will have to wait for tomorrow morning—we are far too easy to observe here.”
“Oooh, you knew you were going to provoke me with that one. At least you have cheered me.”
“I am so glad. Georgiana asked me to cheer you. And now I have asked you to cheer her.”
He smiled. “I love that you worry about my sister every bit as much as your own.”
“I consider her my sister already.”
“I do not know your sisters nearly as well as you know Georgiana, that is certain, but I have said several times to Bingley that I consider your elder sister my own, so I suppose that I do the same.”
“Speaking of Mr Bingley, how do you view his relationship with Jane right now?”
“Honestly, I feel a little bit uncomfortable with him of late, and it may be in part because I am not certain of his ability to be a satisfactory husband to my soon-to-be sister. But another part is that he teased me a few times too often about…me behaving improperly with you. Or behaving too properly. I am not certain what I was accused of, because I insisted I did not wish to speak of any aspect of that topic. I still feel protective of him, almost brotherly, but I do not feel nearly as close to him as I am with other friends—like Johnson, Wright, Richard….”
“Why do you feel uncertain that he will be a good husband? Is it still his flightiness in the past that makes you feel Jane cannot yet trust him?”
“I suppose in part. There are other little puzzling things. I have noticed him frowning at her occasionally. I believe he referred to his own feelings when he spoke of being indecisive. He said something about envying us; once again I interpreted his words to mean that he feels unsure of Jane and envies our constancy.”
“I am disappointed. Originally I thought that Jane and Mr Bingley were as swift to discover each other as their perfect fit as we were with one another. When you told me of Mr Bingley’s many other angels, I worried that I was wrong, but more recently I felt that they were doing very well together, and that they would do well as a married couple starting a family. ”
“You may be right. And I need not point out that the course of their relationship will be determined by them, not by a vote from a committee.”
“Just as our relationship will never be guided by our families and friends, but will be crafted by we two.”
“Just me and you,” William agreed.
And even though they were on a path through Longbourn’s land, not atop Oakham Mount, not necessarily safe from the prying eyes of their sisters, nor of Bingley, William dipped his head and gave Elizabeth a short, sweet kiss on her lips.
As he stood straight again, Elizabeth reached one of her hands to lovingly stroke his cheek.
No voice of outrage nor high-pitched giggles rang out. Elizabeth laughed, delighted by their growing comfort in showing each other their mutual love.
Now, if only she could help her intended with his mountains of responsibilities.
As the Darcys and Mr Bingley were leaving an hour later, Mr Bingley surprised everyone by inviting Jane and Elizabeth to dinner the following evening.
“Darcy’s cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, will be at Netherfield at that point, and he is good company—always ready with a story and a laugh. What say you?”
Jane accepted readily, and Elizabeth remembered that, just as she had not shared with Jane most of what she and William did and said and felt, she had also never shared with her dearest sister the complication of the colonel’s infatuation with her.
Or, she hoped, his former infatuation. She certainly did not wish to speak about it now, in front of Georgiana and Mr Bingley, as well as Jane!
She glanced at William, who was looking at her with evident surprise at Mr Bingley’s invitation and also concern for her.
She said, “That is very kind of you to include us in his first evening with you. Thank you, Mr Bingley.”
“We will eat at five, but come any time after two. Having said that, if I know Darcy, he will want you to come just one minute after two.”
Elizabeth smiled and thanked him again for his welcoming attitude.
She felt a bit better again about Mr Bingley and Jane.
He seemed to want to spend as much time as possible with her, and she, him.
As for being near Richard again, Elizabeth was hopeful that his feelings for her were long over and done.
“I will see you tomorrow,” William said, his dark eyes almost burning in their intensity. His gazes always warmed her, and that night she felt warmer than ever.
Oh, how she wished that they could marry sooner than planned!