Chapter Twenty-Two
Netherfield Park
In the short carriage ride back to Netherfield, Mr. Darcy was relieved beyond words to see the small smile on Georgiana’s face as they returned to Netherfield Park from Longbourn. How kind everyone had been! How welcoming! How motherly Mrs. Bennet was!
He wondered, quickly, if there was a way to ask Mrs. Bennet how to know if Georgiana was – was – he could not form the words, even in his mind. But he could not imagine how he would frame the question.
He was aware, suddenly, that Mr. Bingley was speaking to him.
“…not the most beautiful creature you have ever seen? And so gentle and sweet!”
Mr. Darcy understood at once that his friend was referring to the eldest Miss Bennet. “She is all of that, Bingley,” he agreed.
“I will marry her!”
Mr. Darcy coughed. “Is this not rather sudden, Bingley?”
“No! I know it in my very bones, Darcy! From the moment I met her, I knew we were destined for one another!”
Mr. Darcy stared at his friend for a moment, biting his lips so as not to laugh, before replying.
“Then I congratulate you, Bingley. But I ask, as your friend, that you wait a little longer before you kneel before her. You might know it in your bones, but that does not mean that she knows it as well.”
Mr. Bingley considered this. “You might be right,” he agreed, with obvious reluctance.
“Give her a fortnight or so to get to know you,” Mr. Darcy urged. “She will learn to love you, of course, as who would not? But give her the chance to do so.”
“A fortnight. Very well. I can wait that long.”
Mr. Darcy sighed, but he understood that Bingley’s propensity to think the very best of people, to immediately single out Miss Jane Bennet, was the same impulse that had led him to offer a refuge to the Darcys.
***
Back at Netherfield, Georgiana came to Mr. Darcy’s room to speak with him.
“Brother?”
“Yes, Georgiana?”
“Will we visit them again soon?”
“The Bennets?”
“Yes.”
“If you wish it, of course.”
“They were…” she trailed off.
“Kind?” he supplied.
“Yes, and they seemed to like me!” She sounded surprised. But her voice dropped to a whisper as she added, “But they would not like me if they knew – if they knew what I have done.”
“Georgiana.”
She raised her eyes to his.
“Do not think on that. Instead, let us both consider this time a healing period for us both. We have been through a difficult time, and it is far from over. But God has given us this respite, this brief time away from our troubles, in order to recover our spirits.” How wise you sound, he mocked himself.
But if it helped Georgiana, he would spout all the nonsense and platitudes he could think of.
She nodded. “Thank you, Brother. You are right.” She smiled at him and slipped out the door.
***
The next day, as if by unspoken mutual agreement, Mr. Bingley and the Darcys prepared to enter the Darcy carriage to call on Longbourn. But they were not fast enough, for Miss Bingley stopped them in the entryway. “Where are you off to?” she demanded.
“Longbourn,” her brother said, succinctly. “And you are not invited.”
“Am I not? And why am I not?”
Mr. Bingley could not immediately think of a reason, and he looked at Mr. Darcy in some desperation.
Mr. Darcy rose to the occasion. “They are a simple country family,” he said, quickly. “You would be bored within ten minutes.”
“Likely less,” she snipped. “Nonetheless, there is little to do here at Netherfield, as Louisa has taken over everything. I will accompany you. Give me a moment to collect my things.” She moved into the drawing room and rang the bell; she issued her orders to the maid who answered it.
“My green cloak, green gloves, and a hat. Lawson will know what I need.”
Mr. Bingley rolled his eyes at Mr. Darcy, who simply shrugged. He well knew that once Miss Bingley decided on a course of action, there was nothing to do but to get out of the way.
Lawson, the maid the two sisters shared, came downstairs herself in five minutes with the requested items. “There!” Miss Bingley said, once she had been helped into her outerwear. “I am ready, as promised.”
The four of them climbed into the waiting carriage.