Chapter 13
“I will not go back to Longbourn!” Lydia declared as she opened the door to her room next to those of Kitty and Elizabeth.
“Papa will not let you stay here whilst there are gentlemen guests,” Elizabeth explained.
“Then make them leave, for I wish to stay!” she cried, slamming the door.
But there was little chance that Bingley would leave before his marriage, as his only duty now was to watch over Jane, who had told him that he was not her only suitor.
She had meant it as a joke, chiefly to make him suffer in return, but he had taken it so seriously that he intended to marry her as soon as the three required Sundays had passed and, until then, not to leave his betrothed alone for a moment.
“They were to leave this afternoon, but Papa and Uncle Thomas persuaded them to remain for a few days,” Jane said as she hurried into her sister’s room, unable to stay away from her for long.
“Having separate rooms is pleasant, though annoying in many ways,” Jane declared. “I cannot grow accustomed to not seeing you all the time. I have never slept alone!”
“And now you never will,” Elizabeth replied with a smile, seeing her sister blush at the thought of spending her life with Mr Bingley.
“Yes, can you imagine that only this morning I was still alone and unhappy? Whenever I entered Netherfield, my heart ached. I did not tell you because I did not wish to spoil your pleasure.”
“I understand. In a way, I was much the same.”
“What are you saying?” Jane asked, but her absent eyes revealed that she could think of nothing beyond her future husband.
So Elizabeth allowed her newly betrothed sister to speak of her happiness, of how Mr Bingley had asked for her hand after declaring a dozen times how sorry he was and how miserable he had been since leaving her.
“Imagine it. We both suffered without knowing that the other was equally unhappy. How easily all that misery might have ended had we met in London. He did not say so directly, but his sisters never informed him that I was in town. However, that belongs to the past. They are to become my sisters now, and I must maintain a cordial relationship with them.”
Elizabeth merely nodded. Her forgiving sister was already prepared to love the whole world again.
Mr Bingley had made his choice, and it seemed unlikely that his sisters would continue to oppose Jane.
Lost as he appeared to be, she was certain he now knew how to defend his own happiness.
There was a steadiness in his eyes whenever he looked at Jane, another reason to approve of the marriage.
No one would stand between them again or persuade him to change his mind.
“Tomorrow we shall visit the vicar, and he intends to send a message to the rector of his parish first thing in the morning. The banns will be read from this Sunday in both parishes.”
Unable to restrain her happiness, Jane began to dance about the spacious, bright room overlooking the rose garden.
“We shall not go to live in London with his sisters!” she declared. Once more, Elizabeth felt they had already discussed that subject and many others besides. “I adore Uncle Thomas, who made it possible for us to have Netherfield.”
She spoke and danced, then sat upon the sofa only to spring to her feet again and return to Elizabeth, who lay upon the bed. “I shall need a new wardrobe.”
On and on she unfolded her plans whilst Elizabeth merely smiled or nodded at this joyful overflow of happiness.
It no longer mattered what Jane said; every word spoke only of happiness.
After more than an hour of conversation, Jane sat down beside her sister and said, “Who would have thought that Mr Bingley would come with Mr Darcy? I hope you can endure his presence.”
“Yes, my dear, I find it a pleasure to have him here.”
“What are you saying, Elizabeth Bennet?” Jane seemed at last to descend from her cloud. “You do not like him.”
“My dear, since Kent, I have formed a different opinion.”
It was not entirely true. More than once, she had told her family that the gentleman still annoyed her.
Yet Jane could remember nothing beyond that morning when Mr Bingley had asked her to become his wife.
The months of sadness and disappointment, the unkindness of others, even her tears, no longer mattered. Only the future existed now.
Elizabeth was inclined to think that perhaps it was the better way.
Mr Darcy had repaired most of his wrongs.
He had accompanied his friend back to Hertfordshire and had openly supported his choice.
When he met her family again, he had been courteous and respectful.
The change was genuine, and she could see that he liked at least the male members of the Bennet family.
As for her mother, she had to admit that Mrs Bennet was not always easy to endure.
Her nerves and indiscretions had embarrassed them more than once.
Yet she was their mother, and they loved her dearly.
But unlike Jane, who wished only for a peaceful life at Netherfield, Elizabeth longed to go to London. She wished to meet the Duchess of Beauford and learn the entire story that connected that lady to her uncle.