Chapter Fifty-Three
Mr. Bingley galloped all the way to Longbourn.
There was no doubt in his mind that he had waited long enough, far too long, in fact, and he was now in a fever to secure his beloved Jane!
He all but leaped from his horse when he arrived at the estate, tossed the reins to the stable boy and dashed into the house.
He asked to see Mr. Bennet, not Miss Bennet, and that news spread through the house at once.
“Oh, Jane!” her mother said, her voice tremulous and her eyes filling with tears. Elizabeth hugged her sister, while Kitty and Lydia danced around the room, chanting, “Mrs. Bingley! Mrs. Bingley!”
Mary managed to hush them just before Mr. Bennet and Mr. Bingley came into the drawing room to make their announcement. Mr. Bennet cleared his throat. “My dears, Mr. Bingley has requested permission to speak with Jane privately; I have given it, as I understand that she would have no objection.”
Mrs. Bennet wasted no time in shooing everyone out, leaving Jane and Mr. Bingley alone. “The door will be open, of course,” she said, shaking a finger at a blushing Jane.
Mrs. Bennet had to be all but pried away from the door way by a stern Elizabeth. “Give them privacy, Mama. Come on, Kitty, Lydia. Mary, help me, will you? Heavens, leave them alone, they have waited long enough!”
She was successful in managing to get the family out of the doorway, past the entryway and on the other side of the staircase, but everyone rushed back into the parlour as soon as Mr. Bingley appeared in the doorway of the parlour, saying, “I am the happiest man in all of England!”
“Oh, my dear Mr. Bingley!” Mrs. Bennet cried, throwing her arms around him. “I knew how it would be, as soon as I saw you two together!”
Elizabeth was thrilled for Jane, of course, but she knew a moment of envy. If only she and Mr. Darcy…but no, she dismissed the thought at once and focused on expressing her genuine delight.
Mary hugged Jane, delighted for her eldest sister, but a momentary vision of the Colonel crossed her mind. She knew he was not for her – he was the son of an Earl! – but the heart had never yet listened to reason.
“What does Miss Bingley say?” Lydia demanded of Mr. Bingley. The room fell silent; everyone waiting to hear the answer to this question.
“She said – wait, I can tell it to you exactly – she said that Jane is a perfectly lovely person, and she will be happy to call her sister. There!” Mr. Bingley said, triumphantly.
Surprise held everyone’s tongue for just a moment, and then Jane broke the silence by saying, “And I will be happy to call her my sister as well.”
To everyone’s surprise, Kitty said, “I am certain Miss Bingley will be a welcome addition to the Bennet family.” If there was a note of doubt in her voice, no one mentioned it.
Elizabeth almost laughed aloud. Georgiana Darcy’s manners had indeed influenced her younger sisters!