Chapter 5
The rain stopped around noon, and the gentlemen arrived soon after. There were only two of them as Colonel Fitzwilliam had letters to write.
“Mrs Bennet, unfortunately we shall not be able to dine at Longbourn this evening,” Mr Bingley said the moment he entered. “I have some arrangements to take care of, and my sisters insisted we should discuss them tonight.”
“I am very sorry to hear that,” Mrs Bennet said, and Miss Bennet’s expression showed even greater regret.
“But I came to accompany Miss Bennet to have tea with Louisa and Caroline. Please rest assured that I shall also return her home safely.”
“Lizzy, will you join me?” Jane begged her sister. Her sister’s desperate look amused Elizabeth and left her disconcerted for a moment. The invitation had been issued only for Jane. Tea with the Bingley sisters would give no pleasure to either them or Elizabeth. But how could she refuse Jane?
“Miss Elizabeth, you must come of course. I do not think my sisters would mind. I mean—they will be pleased to see you, I am sure.”
As if reading her thoughts, Darcy intervened, addressing Elizabeth with a deep voice and intense gaze. “Miss Elizabeth, I hope you know how delighted we would be with your company. As I am sure you know: you need no invitation to visit your sister’s future home whenever you please.”
“True, true…Jane will soon be the mistress there…you must come,” Bingley seconded him.
Elizabeth concealed her laugh at Bingley’s indecision in calling his betrothed either Jane or Miss Bennet and his embarrassment every time he mentioned his sisters.
In the end, she abandoned any opposition. She cared too little about the superior sisters to worry about the lack of an invitation, and her own sister’s plea was more important than anything else.
She smiled and nodded, speaking mostly to Darcy. “Very well. Even if nobody enjoys my presence, I shall still go to support my sister. After all, I am accustomed to general disapproval at Netherfield from last year.”
Darcy’s expression became severe then lit again. “I heartily disagree with the notion of ‘general disapproval,’ Miss Elizabeth, and I know I speak both for Bingley and myself. Your stay at Netherfield was a pleasure last year just as it will be now.”
“It is such a relief to hear that.” Elizabeth tried to laugh while blushing.
The bold statement, provided publicly one more time, equally pleased and disturbed her.
It also drew the curiosity of others, as she felt both her parents’ inquiring gazes upon her.
Nothing in his words was improper; from any other gentleman they would be taken as a simple proof of courtesy.
But from Mr Darcy, such statements were almost impossible to imagine and, therefore, had a peculiar meaning.
It bothered her to keep a secret from her father, but what could she possibly tell him.
Was she lying to her parents? Not quite.
In truth, there was nothing but mere friendship between Darcy and her.
About the painful day in Kent, she would never disclose anything to a living soul except Jane.
Besides, it was the past—one best forgotten.
While the two elder Miss Bennets hurried to change for the visit, the gentlemen retired to the library for conversation.
Elizabeth prepared herself with great care, considering this visit was of no apparent importance. She changed her gown twice before deciding on the right one. Her hair needed extra pins as a rebel lock kept escaping.
“Lizzy, are you ready yet? Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy are waiting. You look lovely indeed.”
“You look beautiful as always, Jane. Show a little patience for someone who does not possess your perfect beauty,” she answered, finally tidying her bonnet and coat and folding her gloves in the reticule.
“And the gentlemen are well taken care of; we must not pity them. I am sure they enjoyed the time with Papa and Uncle Gardiner. Do you think we can persuade them to remain here instead of spending unpleasant time with your rude future sisters?”
“Dear Lizzy, do not speak so! You are such a tease sometimes. Come, let us hurry.”
“Or ‘make haste,’ as our cousin Mr Collins likes to say.” Elizabeth laughed, and Jane held her arm as they moved down the stairs.
With a quick farewell from the family, they left the house. Rain and wind had returned, so they ran towards the carriage. Jane quickly sat inside, Elizabeth across from her. Mr Bingley immediately took the place beside his betrothed while Darcy settled on Elizabeth’s right.
She knew that would happen—she hoped for it—and the sensation was as delightful as she remembered. She welcomed the closeness she had missed and glanced at him, a soft warmth enveloping her when he responded with a gentle smile.
“Are you comfortable, Miss Elizabeth?” he asked while adjusting himself on the seat.
“Yes, thank you,” she replied, and the carriage moved, making their bodies brush against each other.
She almost dropped her reticule, and he hurried to catch it.
Their bare fingers met and entwined for a moment then lingered together another instant before he gently withdrew his.
She immediately shivered although she felt heated; her lips were dry, and she licked them then glanced at him.
From inches away, his eyes tenderly caressed her face.
She squeezed the reticule with trembling, clumsy hands, wondering how close Netherfield was and hoping the journey would last longer.
But Netherfield was already in sight. The carriage moved steadily, and every jolt made them touch but put no more distance between them. Jane and Bingley talked without Elizabeth hearing much of it.
“We are home,” Bingley soon announced happily. “Such a pity it is raining again—and quite badly. Jane, give me your hand.”
The couple ran to the front door, then stopped and waited. Elizabeth expected Darcy to follow, but he delayed an instant, watching her.
“Perhaps you should put your gloves on; it is very cold,” he said.
Elizabeth eyed him with astonishment. “Thank you for your care, but I shall be fine until we are inside.” She smiled.
“As you wish.” He left the carriage and helped her down.
The rain fell more heavily, making the cold even more pervasive.
Before she knew it, both her hands were resting in his right palm, covered by his other hand.
He directed her inside the house, and she followed him, mesmerised.
He eventually freed her hands in the main hall, but she remained still.
Mr Bingley helped Jane take off her coat, and that gesture finally awoke Elizabeth from her daydream. She removed her coat but felt silly and awkward and did not dare to look at Darcy. She removed her bonnet, wondering whether her cheeks were as red as they felt.
“Dear Jane! Welcome to our home!” Miss Bingley’s voice sounded equally loud and insincere. Elizabeth did not miss the mention of their home, and she tried to regain some composure before turning to the hostess.
“Oh—and Eliza,” Miss Bingley continued. “What a lovely surprise. Come, let us enter; tea and refreshments have been waiting for some time.”
That was a sharp comment that she had not been invited and they were late. Elizabeth breathed and smiled while Jane greeted her future sister with kind politeness.
“Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, you are finally here! Bingley, where on earth have you been? I have been waiting for you for an hour,” the colonel scolded them cheerfully. “You have come with the rain.”
“Well, it is good that Eliza has come by carriage instead of on foot. She used to enjoy that sort of exercise,” Caroline Bingley said sharply.
“I still enjoy it, Miss Bingley. Walking may be quite wonderful, especially in the right company,” Elizabeth replied. Strangely, Miss Bingley’s rudeness, which had bothered her so much before, now sounded rather amusing.
“It is fine exercise indeed,” Darcy intervened with apparent indifference. “I have become quite in favour of walking lately, despite my partiality for riding.”
“I completely agree with Miss Elizabeth. Anything is pleasant if it is in the right company,” the colonel concluded, but Elizabeth’s mischievous little smile was in response to the previous statement.
Since his return, Darcy had supported her in every difficult situation.
He was always there to protect her if needed.
She truly enjoyed the small public exchanges in which only she and Darcy knew the true meaning.
They had a private language, forbidden to everyone else.
They spoke to each other with few words but great comprehension.
“Miss Elizabeth, shall we?”
The colonel offered his arm to Elizabeth, and she took it, stealing a glance at Darcy’s unreadable expression. Finally, the party entered the drawing room, where Mr Hurst, enjoying a glass of wine, barely interrupted his repast to acknowledge the ladies.
Jane was forced to comply with Caroline and Louisa’s request to stay with them and answer their questions.
The conversation sounded awkward, as Bingley’s sisters spoke without even waiting for Jane’s reply.
Elizabeth could not bear being part of the discussion; therefore, she chose the settee.
The colonel joined her, while Darcy and Bingley stayed close to Mr Hurst.
Tea, cold meat, cheese, and sweets were served on elegant plates, but there was little joy in the handsome room.
“Miss Bennet, there is something I wished to say to you,” said the colonel, “and I hoped to find a private moment. Would you join me in that corner of the room by the window?”
“Of course, sir. I trust it is nothing of concern?”
“No…I hope not…” They took a few steps, and several pairs of eyes followed them with puzzlement. “I have been troubled by this subject since I heard of Bingley’s engagement to your sister.”
“What could it be, sir?”