Chapter 2.17 #3
“Let us speak of this no more. All has passed now,” he replied forcefully.
“I admit I am content that Georgiana found the strength to share the story with you —as I was relieved to discover that she was not as affected by the news of his marrying your sister as I feared. I hope she will soon heal completely; your presence surely will help. Now, please excuse me; I shall go speak to your father.”
He departed before she had time to reply, but what else could she have said?
Everything appeared differently after that day.
A pained brother, unsure of how to comfort his sister, came to a new place where everybody demanded certain behaviour from him, and he struggled to adapt to a completely unknown neighbourhood.
And his worst enemy tainted his name while any response would disclose dreadful family secrets.
And she —Elizabeth Bennet —the chief of all fools, allowed herself to be trapped in the dishonourable game.
“Lizzy, are you well? What happened?” Jane asked as she took hold of her arm. From across the room, Mrs. Gardiner was watching with apparent concern.
“No, I am not, Jane, but it is nothing but well-deserved self-reproach. It will pass one day. Now, let us talk to Aunt Gardiner. Is there anything else you must prepare for the wedding?”
“Nothing, Lizzy, so you have no reason to change the subject and refuse to tell me what troubles you.”
“Dear Jane, if I wanted to be dramatic, I would say that I am troubled by the past and the future. Therefore, let us concentrate on the present and have another cup of tea,” Elizabeth joked, caressing her sister’s arm.
Another full, unexpected, and agonising day ended later that evening.
Longbourn fell into silence and darkness long after midnight, but most of its inhabitants did not fall asleep until much later.
For the Bennet family, it was one day nearer the moment they would cease to worry for the future, and the excitement was not a good inducement to rest.
For Jane, it was one day closer to the end of her life as Miss Bennet and the beginning of complete happiness, and for Elizabeth —the day that changed her peaceful life at Longbourn in more ways than she could number.
Both sisters were painfully aware that they had only two more nights to share the room that had sheltered their entire life: joy and sadness, laughter and tears, hopes and fears.
In two days’ time, everything would be different, and each hoped and prayed for the other’s happiness.
∞∞∞
At Netherfield, Darcy and Bingley remained in the library, talking and drinking until dawn. Bingley’s joy and excitement were joined by anxiety and fear that he might not be a good enough husband for Jane.
After several glasses of brandy, he even expressed his concerns about how he would dare to show his passion to such a perfectly beautiful and proper woman —and Darcy needed patience, tact, and carefully chosen words to calm him and ensure him of the happiest outcome.
Fatigue and brandy finally overcame them at dawn, and they fell into a deep, dreamless sleep until around ten o’clock that morning.
Their last day at Netherfield began early for the guests. The countess woke in a good mood and hearty appetite, much to Georgiana’s joy, but the entire family gathered in the dining room rather late.
Breakfast was rich, tasteful, and short for Bingley, who hurried to call at Longbourn on the pretext of an urgent matter. The others remained to enjoy their meal in comfort.
“Georgiana, is it true that Eliza Bennet will join you at Pemberley?” Caroline inquired. “Charles told us as much, but I suspect he was careless as usual and misunderstood the situation.”
“Mr. Bingley is correct. I invited Lizzy to keep me company for a few months, and I am very happy that she accepted.”
“So what are you saying? Will she be your companion? Did Mr. Darcy hire her?”
“Not at all,” Darcy intervened. “As my sister just explained, Miss Bennet will be her guest.”
“But I do not understand. Why her? Why did you not invite someone who has been your friend for years and is always interested in your well-being?” Caroline insisted irritably.
“That is how I felt,” Georgiana answered. “But I thank you for your concern, Caroline.”
“I am afraid I do not understand. I sense it is a caprice that you will come to regret. I wonder that Mr. Darcy, as an older brother, does not censure certain inclinations that might harm you. A friend who is unfit, improperly educated, and has questionable connections cannot be proper company for a young heiress.”
The countess cleared her throat.
“Miss Bingley, do you still not understand that insulting Miss Elizabeth will do you no good? Such a tendency to attack another young lady in her absence is unbecoming. It might be the reason few gentlemen are courting you despite the fact that you are smart, handsome, and have a good dowry.”
Caroline Bingley paled and remained still and silent.
Lady Hardwick continued.
“You do realise that, starting tomorrow, Mrs. Bingley will be the new mistress of this house and can decide anything she wishes, do you not? It might come as a shock to you, but even your presence here depends on the good will of the future Mrs. Bingley.”
“If your ladyship believes Charles might do anything against us, I strongly contradict you,” Louisa replied.
Lady Hardwick smiled mischievously.
“My dear, when a man enters into a marriage of love for such a beautiful woman, it is more than probable that he would do anything to please her. And since you take every opportunity to offend the members of her family, the solution seems clear to me. I have seen a number of young, newly wedded men abandon their sisters for far less. As I said, you will be at the mercy of Miss Bennet. If I were you, I would show extreme prudence in upsetting her. She is indeed the sweetest and kindest person I have seen lately, but one cannot be certain of the ways in which a young wife might change.”
Caroline choked and spat her food while Louisa burned her lips with the hot tea.
“I wonder that we came to be the enemy in this situation,” Louisa said sharply. “Last year, Mr. Darcy would not have allowed Eliza Bennet to be anywhere near his sister, and now she suddenly has become everyone’s favourite —against us, who have been your friends for years.”
Darcy intervened with polite severity.