Chapter 1.11
Mrs Gardiner felt utterly ignored by her nieces and the two gentlemen but also pleased at the favourable resolution of their annoying uncertainties.
She was not insensible to the great compliment of Mr Darcy’s attention towards Elizabeth, knowing better than anyone the extent of the Darcys’ influence and station in life.
After this unexpected and not quite proper visit, she gained the conviction that neither his feelings nor the respectability of his intentions could be questioned.
After a few moments of watching both couples in silence, she reminded them of her presence by starting a new topic of conversation.
“Mr Darcy, Mr Bingley, I am very sorry that Mr Gardiner is not at home to welcome you. I hope he will have the pleasure of meeting with you soon.”
“Thank you, Mrs Gardiner,” answered Mr Darcy. “Perhaps, if you will permit it, we could call next at a more convenient time of day to find him at home. As for now, I am sorry to say we must depart.”
“It will be our pleasure, Mr Darcy, I assure you. In fact,” added Mrs Gardiner, seizing the opportunity, “if you gentlemen are not otherwise engaged, it would be an honour to have you as our guests for dinner.”
“Thank you, Mrs Gardiner,” Bingley hurried to answer, bewitched by Jane’s delightful smile. “If we would not be intruding, it would be a delight to accept your invitation. We have no fixed engagements.”
Unlike Mr Bingley, Mr Darcy looked uneasy and hesitated to give an answer.
“I thank you, Mrs Gardiner, but for the moment my time and my actions depend upon my sister’s state of health. I confess this is the first time since the accident that I have been absent from her for so many hours.”
His dark eyes searched Elizabeth’s, and he could see that she was disappointed, despite her understanding smile. He tentatively smiled back.
By now, Elizabeth understood how wrong she had been not to trust him and appreciated the degree of distress he was enduring.
The fear of losing his beloved sister, the only member of his immediate family, must have been more painful than she dared imagine.
Not without shame did she comprehend that her own torment—which, though not unreasonable, seemed somehow selfish—paled in comparison to his.
She could not resist harbouring unkind, resentful thoughts towards Caroline Bingley—and herself as well for allowing the woman to succeed so easily in her deception.
As for Mr Darcy’s refusal—while her present desire was indeed to be in his company, the knowledge that her distress had been baseless allowed her to be patient. She could wait for him as long as necessary—all her life if need be. Her eyes fixed with his and told him as much.
Their hostess broke the silence. “Mr Darcy, we do hope you will find Miss Darcy improving, and we are grateful you took the opportunity to call on us. And, if we do not have the pleasure of seeing you again tonight, I am sure another opportunity will arise.”
“Thank you, Mrs Gardiner. However, even if I cannot stay for dinner, I hope to be able at least to call this evening and meet Mr Gardiner.”
“That would be lovely. I am sure my husband will be honoured.”
“As shall I,” he responded politely.
The gentlemen soon bid their good-byes with the pleasant anticipation of their next visit. As soon as they were out of hearing, Elizabeth and Jane burst into joyful conversation. Their display of unrestrained emotion was watched closely with motherly love by Mrs Gardiner.
“Oh, Lizzy, did you hear what Mr Darcy said about Mr Bingley and Miss Darcy? Can you believe it? Oh, Lizzy, I am so happy. I am sure he did that on purpose, but it is so amazing. How could he know? Mr Darcy is such a clever man, is he not, Aunt?”
Not to mention exceedingly handsome when he smiles and enchanting when he kisses my hand, thought Lizzy, her spirits fully recovered; she closed her eyes for a few seconds to embrace her memories in precise detail.
When she opened them, she faced her aunt’s penetrating gaze.
She blushed and smiled at Mrs Gardiner. Yes, Elizabeth was pleased, and she had no fear or shame in showing it.
Mrs Gardiner expressed her good opinion, confessing she liked them both very much indeed.
She left the room to give specific orders for dinner preparation, while Lizzy began discussing Miss Bingley’s deceitful behaviour with such vehemence that Jane could do nothing but agree that Caroline Bingley was not the honest friend she had believed her to be.
While that admission caused Jane a great deal of grief, Lizzy was relieved that her sister would not be misled easily by that lady again!
∞∞∞
As they entered the carriage, Bingley’s enthusiasm was boundless. Darcy was as reserved as ever, staring out of the window to conceal his anger.
In the past month, his thoughts had constantly been divided between Elizabeth and his sister.
He longed for the former—desperate to be close to her—but his heart ached for Georgiana’s injury.
His memories of that fateful, stormy day in particular were acutely divided between the ecstasy of his precious time with Elizabeth in the cottage and the agony of knowing that his sister, at that moment, was lying hurt.
When he remembered their dances together—her smiles and sweet flirtations at the Netherfield ball—he could not dismiss the thought that his sister was fighting at the same time for her life.
It was as though the happiness he had finally achieved in acknowledging his love for Elizabeth had come at an unbearable price.
His greatest comfort, which soothed the intolerable pain of seeing Georgiana unconscious, was the memory of Elizabeth’s eyes, her smiles, the gentle touch of her hand, and the teasing words that twisted her lips with such aching sweetness.
He desperately wanted to take her hand and hold it, just to feel the warmth of her presence.
He had come to know her well enough to be certain that she would generously share his worry and grief.
She would stay with him near Georgiana and give them both strength and liveliness if she could.
Though she was far away, he was certain she was keeping him and his sister in her thoughts and in her prayers.
Every time he closed his eyes and every time he fell asleep, Elizabeth was there—in his thoughts, in his dreams, in his mind, and in his heart.
He could almost feel the gentle, comforting touch of her hand on his shoulder when exhaustion and despair overwhelmed him.
He could recall vividly the relief he felt when Georgiana began to recover; he felt he had been brought back to life when she first recognised him.
Then, the amplified joy of hearing only a few days later about Elizabeth’s unexpected arrival added to his blessings.
But his anger grew as he thought back to the moment he had entered the Gardiners’ house and had seen her acting so strangely, worse even than in the first days of their acquaintance.
His heart had ached with fear that something had happened to change her feelings, only to discover that the reason was the intentional deceit of Caroline Bingley.
How could I ever have trusted Caroline? Did I completely lose my mind? My only excuse can be my lack of sleep and preoccupation with Georgiana.
“Darcy, I cannot tell you how grateful I am to you for bringing me along to make this call. It was the most wonderful morning I have had in quite some time; I cannot remember the last time I was so delighted. Oh yes, I can: at the Netherfield ball!”
“Yes, we had a pleasant time indeed, and I must confess I admired the Gardiners’ home. I found Mrs Gardiner to be unexpectedly amiable and fashionable. I can only hope Mr Gardiner is the same.”
“I am sure he is, but Darcy, I must confess I could pay attention to nothing else around me except Jane. She is so much more beautiful than I remembered. I can scarcely wait to return for dinner.”
“I am very pleased for you. I am sure you will have a delightful time.” His tone was not at all enthusiastic, so Bingley restrained his joviality.
“I say, Darcy, you do not seem to be content although I am sure you were equally pleased to see Miss Elizabeth.”
“Indeed I was, Bingley.”
“Then what is it? Are you still concerned for Georgiana? Perhaps I should remain with you tonight; I can dine with the Gardiners some other time.”
“Please do not trouble yourself. There is no need for you to postpone the dinner; I am sure Georgiana is well.
“Then what is it? Come, Darcy, do not dissemble; I deserve better. You are quite upset, and you should trust me enough to tell me why.”
Darcy turned to his friend and, seeing his serene countenance, could restrain himself no longer.
“If you insist on knowing the truth, you will. Yes, I am upset, Bingley. I am extremely upset with your sister.”
“My sister? Which one? I am guessing it is Caroline. Why?”
“Why?! Why?! Bingley, I am sorry to say it, but sometimes you just—! How can you ask such a question? Were you not in the same room with me? Did you not hear what Elizabeth said? Did you not see Jane Bennet?”
His violent reaction disturbed Bingley greatly. He concluded that Darcy was merely fatigued and irrational.
“I was in the room and I heard, but—Oh…you are referring to the fact that Caroline did not tell the Bennets of the accident. Am I correct?”
“Yes, Bingley, I was referring precisely to that.”
“Oh, you should not be so harsh on her. I am sure she just forgot. She is not such a bad person, you know. She did care for Georgiana, and she was greatly distressed by the whole situation.”
“Bingley, my respect and gratitude for you cannot be expressed, but you are too good and most na?ve. I can accept that she forgot to mention it in the first letter—although it was precisely intended to explain the reason for our departure—but what of the second? Did you not ask whether she wrote about that subject, and did she not specifically reply in the affirmative?”