Chapter 12
The carriage stopped, and Mr Bingley hurried to meet his guests. As he handed Jane Bennet out, her shining, blue eyes bewitched him so that he completely forgot the other Miss Bennet inside.
It was fortunate that Elizabeth greeted him aloud and drew his attention back to his duties. He ushered them both inside, delighted to see Jane’s continuous blush and pleased to notice that only Lady Cassandra was in the drawing room to meet them.
Elizabeth, however, could not hide her disappointment at not seeing Darcy. As if guessing her thoughts, Lady Cassandra smiled at her as she welcomed them warmly.
“Darcy is still in his room preparing himself. He returned from an early ride less than an hour ago. I believe he did not notice it was time for your visit. Mr and Mrs Hurst are in their apartments, and Georgiana is resting, I believe.”
“Yes, I really could not understand why Darcy went to ride in such weather; the roads must be horrible after that rain,” said Mr Bingley as he invited them to take their places.
Nervous but happy with the kind attention Mr Bingley bestowed upon her and flattered by Lady Cassandra’s praises about her beauty, Jane intervened sweetly, willing to support the conversation.
“Oh, I can understand Mr Darcy’s fondness for riding. Lizzy possesses the same love for the outdoors—in fact, she had just returned from a walk shortly before we left Longbourn.”
Elizabeth’s mortification turned her face and neck crimson; Mr Bingley and Jane were too engaged in staring at each other to notice anyone else. Lady Cassandra’s wondering glaze rested upon Elizabeth a moment, and she struggled unsuccessfully to hide the enormous smile that tugged at her lips.
“Lady Cassandra, do you think Miss Darcy would agree to see me for a few minutes?” asked Elizabeth as she regained some composure.
“Yes, I believe she would. In fact, I would suggest we go and ask her directly. Miss Bennet, would you mind if we left you in the company of Mr Bingley for a short while?”
“Oh no, your ladyship. I know my sister has long wanted to see Miss Darcy. I would not mind at all.” Jane’s cheeks coloured at her obvious and improper enthusiasm.
To remain alone with Mr Bingley with no chaperone was unthinkable, yet it appeared the only possible alternative for the moment.
She blushed and cast her eyes to the floor. Lady Cassandra smiled again.
“Thank you, Miss Bennet. You are very kind. Mr Bingley, I trust you will take excellent care of Miss Bennet while we are gone.”
“Indeed, your ladyship, with pleasure.” Bingley hurried to assure her though no one in the room really doubted it. Jane’s face seemed on fire.
∞∞∞
“Miss Bennet, there is something we should talk about before visiting Georgiana,” said Lady Cassandra immediately after they exited the room.
“Of course, your ladyship; is anything the matter?”
“Well, not quite, but…Georgiana is upset with you and claims no desire to meet with you. In fact, she is also upset with Darcy and me as well, but I imagine that is little comfort to you.” She looked at Elizabeth for a sign of surprise, but none appeared.
“Lady Cassandra, thank you for telling me. I feel deeply sorry for Georgiana’s distress. If she does not want to see me, I shall respect her decision; however, I would still like to talk with her this one time. Then I will not disturb her any further if that is her wish.”
“I am glad to hear it; you are being a caring and devoted friend to Georgiana. But are you not curious to know why Georgiana is upset with us all?”
Elizabeth glanced at her quickly and then averted her eyes, searching for the proper answer that would help her conceal the truth without lying.
“Walking out of doors is not only healthy but also surprisingly enlightening at times,” continued Lady Cassandra.
Elizabeth startled and then met her eyes. There was no need to deny the evidence—surely not with Lady Cassandra. “Your ladyship is correct again,” she admitted with a tentative smile.
“Very well, Miss Bennet, I shall not insist on further details…for the moment. Here is Georgiana’s room; I shall leave you to talk privately.”
“Thank you.” Before Lady Cassandra turned to leave, Elizabeth touched her arm gently. Lady Cassandra, surprised, stopped and waited.
“Lady Cassandra, I thank you for everything you have done for me and my family.”
“Oh, stop this nonsense. There is nothing for which you need thank me.”
“Yes, there is. How can I express my gratitude for your incomparable generosity in visiting my aunt during the dreadful time of my sister’s elopement? As for myself, I—
“Miss Bennet, this will be the last time we have this kind of conversation, so I will tell you as clearly as I can that there is indeed nothing for which to thank me.” She paused a moment, looking straight at Elizabeth.
“I do like you, you know. I liked you the first moment I saw you on the stairs at the theatre without even knowing who you were.”
“I will admit I am a little surprised to hear it; at the beginning of our acquaintance, I was not at all certain that your ladyship harboured any kind feelings toward me.”
Lady Cassandra laughed. “It is refreshing that you are not in the slightest intimidated by my forward manners, Miss Bennet. Yes, you are correct; my behaviour toward you was not as proper or as kind as it should have been when I discovered your identity. I confess that, when Darcy told me of your previous dealings, I was equally intrigued and angry with you for your unfair treatment of him. The daughter of a country gentleman with four more sisters and a small dowry who could refuse Darcy—such behaviour is not often seen. And a woman who could misjudge Darcy so completely was a mere simpleton to me. So you can imagine how I felt when we were introduced to each other.”
“Yes, I can imagine, and I remember your ladyship did not struggle much to conceal her opinions.”
“No, I did not hide my feelings at all—quite the contrary; you are perfectly right, Miss Bennet. But in that we are alike, are we not? Neither of us made any effort to conceal our opinions.”
“No, perhaps we did not,” answered Elizabeth, slightly blushing. “I, too, expressed my opinion with rude frankness on some occasions, and unfortunately, I soon discovered how wrong I was.”
“I see—so you mean I was rude and wrong in what I said, as well.”
“I spoke of myself,” replied Elizabeth, trying to hide a smile.
“And well you should, because I was not wrong in the slightest, Miss Bennet! That evening at the theatre, it was not difficult for me to notice your opinion of Darcy had changed. I have also come to understand that you were jealous of me that night. Am I wrong?”
The abruptness of this unacceptably rude question startled Elizabeth, and her first impulse was to answer accordingly; no one had the right to address her in such a manner.
Yet, a moment later, she abandoned that thought; indeed, perhaps it was time for them to have an ultimate, clear understanding.
“No, your ladyship is not wrong. You are correct in your understanding.”
“Thank you for your honest reply; I will end my speech shortly. My last doubts vanished the day I found you and Georgiana playing at the pianoforte during your second meeting. I watched your face as you were talking to her. Many times in the past, I have seen other women insinuate themselves into Darcy’s life and use Georgiana’s acquaintance to do so. You looked nothing of the kind.”
“Yet, that day when we left in your carriage, I was under the impression you rather disapproved of my newly formed friendship with Georgiana.”
“I see you are still bothered by our conversation in the carriage that day.”
“Not truly bothered, Lady Cassandra, rather—intrigued. I was not accustomed to being addressed so directly, and I did not expect your ladyship to do it, that is all.”
“Yet, you did not object overmuch; in fact, you were kind enough to answer most of my questions.”
“Yes, I did, because I felt your ladyship was mainly considering Georgiana’s well-being, which was more important than my hurt feelings, especially as I felt…guilty and responsible for the pain and suffering I had caused Georgiana.” The last words were spoken in a slightly trembling voice.
“You are a remarkable young lady, Miss Bennet; I have known that for quite some time, and you continue to prove me right. My good opinion about you, begun in London, was further improved at Pemberley, and it was not long before I wished for an understanding between you and Darcy. I am certain your presence would be good for them both, as well as for Pemberley.”
Elizabeth’s emotions left her little to say, so she silently waited for Lady Cassandra to continue.
“And then, during those moments that followed the revelation of your sister’s elopement, I will not conceal that I was profoundly impressed with your character, Miss Bennet—and I am rarely impressed.
I know you refused Darcy last spring, despite his situation in life, because his manners were disastrous and your feelings for him were not of a tender kind.
But to leave, to run from him after you had actually seen Pemberley and all his properties, after you were certain of the nature of his feelings and yours, to throw away your greatest chance of happiness, the chance of making a love match with such a wealthy man—it was astonishing.
And to know you had done so to protect Darcy and Georgiana, without considering your own well-being and interest was unfathomable.
You have gained my deepest respect, Miss Bennet. ”
“Your ladyship is too kind; I do not deserve such praise.”
“Of course you do, but let us not argue about which praises are more deserved, shall we?”
Elizabeth laughed—more from uneasiness than amusement—and struggled to regain her spirit as she answered teasingly, “You are correct again, your ladyship; there is no reason for us to argue at all. Let us just affirm that we are both worthy of praise, shall we?”