Chapter 1.19 #3
He had just paid a call at Gracechurch Street and had been informed that everything was settled regarding Wickham and the youngest Bennet’s wedding.
He did not really give much consequence to the whole situation, for it was not the first—and certainly would not be the last—elopement of which he had heard.
“And they certainly deserve each other. She will drive him insane in a couple of months, and he will ignore her completely in a lesser time.” Still, he was most assuredly angry with them for the distress they had caused Miss Bennet.
However, the news of the completed arrangements had transported Jane into a state of happiness that made her radiate joy and smile constantly, and her smiles were directed at him.
Moreover, she thanked him for his help, and he, of course, insisted that he had done nothing at all—which was true, for Darcy and the colonel were responsible for the result.
She was so beautiful while speaking to him.
They had been in the drawing room with the whole family when she had suddenly rested her ungloved hand on his arm.
Even now, hours later, he shivered, remembering the exquisite sensation aroused in him by her touch.
Looking into her eyes, he had been sure that her feelings were the same.
Desperately, he swallowed the entire contents of the glass and then poured something stronger.
He still could not understand how he had managed not to kiss her at that moment.
He could not stand being in this state any longer.
He had to find a way to speak to her—privately—and to propose to her.
He knew the situation was difficult for the entire family: Lydia and Wickham’s elopement, Elizabeth and Darcy’s engagement—a pleasant surprise but still stressful—so he did not intend to pressure Jane into a hasty marriage.
He only had to make his feelings known to her and to be certain that she returned them—even more, that she would accept the offer of his hand.
He closed his eyes, trying to bring her image back into his mind.
He almost could smell her scent and feel traces of her touch burning his arm.
Drowsiness gradually overwhelmed him in the dimly lit library…
The sudden slamming of the heavy door and the hysterical voice of his sister made him almost fall from his chair! He rose to his feet, looking around in confusion in an attempt to understand what was happening.
“Charles!! Charles, where are you?! You will never guess what has happened! I have told you so many times that those Bennets are nothing but the lowest class of fortune hunters, doing anything to get their greedy hands on a man!”
“Caroline, why are you yelling like that? You scared me to death.”
“Charles, you will not believe me! I went to Mr Darcy’s house and entered his library, and there he was—on the sofa with Eliza Bennet!
And they were kissing shamelessly in the most disgraceful and disgusting manner.
I think he has lost his mind completely!
I warned him that she would force him to marry her, and he asked her whether she intended to force him!
Can you believe that? This is outrageous! Preposterous!!”
Her voice grew more agitated as she paced the room, never ceasing to wonder at Mr Darcy’s reaction. After a few minutes, recovering from the surprise of his sister’s entrance and incredulous tirade, Bingley managed to understand the meaning of her words.
“Darcy was kissing Miss Elizabeth Bennet? And they were alone in the library? This cannot be.”
“YES! Now what do you say about Eliza Bennet? I was correct in everything I stated about her—you must grant me that.”
She got no answer from her brother. A satisfied grin appeared on her face when her brother started to pace the room, deep in thought, his forehead creased in wonder.
Charles Bingley was indeed deep in thought and very angry…
with himself for his own weakness and indecision.
How did this happen? I liked Jane Bennet from the first moment I saw her.
And I never concealed that, not from her, not from anyone.
Darcy did nothing except fight and quarrel with Miss Elizabeth for more than a month.
Now he is engaged to be married, and he is kissing her in his library!
And I have not even dared to kiss Jane’s hand. What is wrong with me?
He had always known that Darcy was clever—much cleverer than he was—but now he was convinced beyond any doubt! His only consolation was that he would meet Jane again that very evening at dinner, and happily, they would be in intimate and pleasant company without any annoying disturbances.
“So, Charles, what do you have to say?”
Speaking of annoying disturbances—“About what, Caroline?”
“About what? How can you ask that? About Mr Darcy kissing Eliza Bennet in the library!”
“Oh, about that… But Caroline, what were you doing in Darcy’s library? Did he invite you in?”
“That is not the point. The only important and disturbing fact is that Mr Darcy was kissing that woman in his library!”
“I am afraid I do not fully understand you. Would you have been less disturbed if he had been kissing her in the drawing room? Or in any other room?”
The absurdity of the question and the serene countenance on his face as he spoke left Caroline breathless. She turned red with anger and sputtered,
“Charles Bingley, how can you say that? Have you forgotten all decency and sense? Will you just remain calm while Eliza Bennet is trapping your friend and forcing him to marry her?”
“Oh, stop talking nonsense, Caroline! Why would she force him when they are already engaged?”
Only when his sister turned from red to white and her wide eyes stared at him blankly, did Bingley understand where the problem was. “Oh…I forgot to mention that Darcy proposed to Miss Elizabeth yesterday morning and she accepted him.”
While her mind tried to make sense of what she had heard, Caroline’s knees betrayed her, refusing to support her any longer. In a most unladylike manner, she fell…to the floor…on her back.
That was how the Hursts found her when they entered and hurried, together with Charles, to help her up.
What followed was more than an hour of abusing Eliza Bennet’s character until Bingley could stand it no longer and asked them to remove themselves from the library immediately.
Mr Hurst was happy to oblige, leaving Bingley to keep company with his glass of port.