Chapter Sixteen
In the company of anybody else, Elizabeth might have been loath to part with Mr. Darcy after again sharing so great a secret with such natural ease.
Even amidst her delight at being reunited with Jane, Elizabeth still cast a backward glance over her shoulder before taking her sister’s arm and leading her away from the pond.
The sight of Mr. Darcy staring back at her was a thing of discomposing wonder, nearly worth the look it earned her from Jane.
“Lizzy, I wonder if you shall be entirely safe residing in the same house as that gentleman.”
Elizabeth nearly stumbled on the soft, grassy path. “I had not even thought of it before speaking with him.”
She tried to look away, but Jane caught her chin and turned her face until Elizabeth met her eye. “Lizzy! You like him!”
“I have not given any indication of such a preference, which may affect Jane Fairfax.”
Jane screwed up her face. “I was not thinking of that , though I thank you. But you like him; you do not deny it.”
Elizabeth held up her hands and shook her head.
“I shall not deny that it is a relief to no longer despise him – his behavior when first we met was very boorish, I assure you – Emma was offended, too. By the by, I have certainly made it known that Jane Fairfax is on astonishingly warm terms with her . It could not be helped.”
“What? Oh, I suppose I ought not be too surprised; it may be awkward to meet with her again, though. But what happened? Your letter said only that you had a great deal to tell me, but it had only been a week!”
“An eventful week.” Elizabeth gave a rueful shrug of her shoulders and Jane nudged her playfully, her look expectant.
“Let me see.” Elizabeth tapped her chin with her finger, and Jane gratified her with a harrumph of desperate curiosity.
“On my first day in Highbury, we visited the Mrs. Bartlett’s shop – our aunt Lady Gresham has funded a considerable amount of credit there for us to have new dresses, and I have made sure our mother has her share.
I have also ordered you a few very fine things – though I believe I offended Miss Bates with my aversion to excessive embellishments. ”
“Oh, dear – I have never wished to distress her with any complaint, but I do look forward to seeing whatever you have chosen.”
“I called yesterday; you will have three new gowns ready tomorrow, and another simpler one was already completed,” Elizabeth said. “Might I meet you there in the morning, to see how you like everything?”
“Of course! But I have done the same for you while in London – I had a few older frocks refreshed anew when we visited the modiste yesterday; one I collected this morning, and the rest will be sent along with Caroline’s plethora of purchases.”
Elizabeth and Jane exchanged a wary look, but then Jane laughed. “Well, at least we know Lady Gresham is an ally to our cause! But what else has happened?”
“One my second day in Highbury, we attended a party at Randalls, which Mr. Weston lately purchased. Mr. Darcy spouted every manner of snobbery at dinner, and apparently overheard me mocking him to Emma in the drawing room. Oh, Jane, I could not resist, for he was so proud and conceited! Emma was vastly amused, until we were dancing and she overheard Mr. Darcy disparage her and me to Mr. Knightley!”
Jane gasped. “What did he say?”
“He called Emma spoilt – no, entitled – and called me an adventuress.”
Jane’s eyes widened. “He said that of you? Of me, really – of us! But what did Mr. Knightley say?”
“He defended us most gallantly, of course. He danced with me, before the insult, and I think him very agreeable.”
Jane blushed and chewed her lip. “He is very kind and generous.”
“He is – and I shall have more to say on that score later, but I digress. At Mr. Weston’s party, Emma was dancing with Mr. Bingley and their clothing became entangled.
They stepped into a dark room off the side of the parlor, and in attempting to disentangle herself, Emma’s gown was torn down the front.
Miss Elton discovered them and cried compromise. ”
“Who is Miss Elton?”
“Oh, Jane, she is the worst creature I ever met – it is a pity she means to leave town so soon, for I find her vastly diverting. She is staying with her brother the vicar – I understand Mr. Elton is a recent addition to the neighborhood, and he is equally feather-headed and ridiculous.”
Jane nodded slowly. “Interesting. And Mr. Bingley?”
“He is very affable. He was obliged to agree to marry Emma after the incident at Randalls. I did what I could to aid her, for it was all a mistake, and after the other guests left, I stayed and talked with her. I got the impression Thai morning that she is not pleased with the engagement – that her interest lies elsewhere.”
“Mr. Knightley,” Jane suggested as if it were a fact.
“No, not at all – I meant Mr. Churchill. The only other things of note I have to tell you are that Emma has called daily with Miss Taylor, and they have played cards with our mother and me – Emma seems delighted to find a friend in Jane Fairfax at last. And then today, while they were visiting with us, Mr. Weston called with his son, and Mr. Bingley called to invite us to dine with him tomorrow.”
Elizabeth drew in a deep breath, dreading what she must say next. “Emma was very forward with your beau, Jane, and he told me he thought it a fine idea to flirt with her, to protect the secret of your engagement – he indicated that you had agreed to this.”
“What? No,” Jane groaned. “Oh dear.”
“Oh dear? Jane, I should be furious if I were you!”
Jane looked as if she might weep. “I hardly know what to say! Perhaps there was some misunderstanding?”
“Absolutely not – he spoke very plainly, though I knew not how to act. I suppose I must leave that to you.”
“Why did you not tell him that you are not me? You informed Mr. Darcy of the fact, though you say he is so unpleasant.”
“He was . I encountered him on Monday when I was reading your letter – the wind carried it off and he caught it – he read enough to comprehend that aught was not as it seemed. Apparently he already harbored some suspicions of me. We… spoke a little kinder to one another after saying some horrid things….” Elizabeth shook her head, hardly able to account for why she trusted Mr. Darcy, and even enjoyed his company.
Jane pursed her lips. “I suppose you do not understand my attachment any more than I do yours.”
“It is hardly an attachment! Today was the first time we spoke so warmly, and he would have been baffled indeed if suddenly Jane Fairfax stopped vexing him with unrelenting impudence.”
Jane laughed. “Well, I suppose that is true. I hardly know how I shall manage with Emma Woodhouse – I do not dislike her, but I have not been blind to the fact that she has always seemed to find me wanting.”
“I believe she rather envies you,” Elizabeth said. “You have travelled and she has not, and she hears nothing but reports of your perfection, which wound her indolent vanity.”
Jane was silent for a moment as she considered this, and then she slowly nodded. “I see. Perhaps I need only to learn some of your impertinence to satisfy her. Well, is there anything else I ought to know?”
“Mr. Knightley believes you to be plagued by headaches. He happened upon me after I read your first letter about Miss Bingley on Monday, and it was raining a little as I walked home. He insisted on conveying me home in his carriage, and in the midst of all our other callers this morning, he came with a basket of gifts from Donwell’s farm, including some headache remedies. ”
Jane’s reaction to this was not lost on Elizabeth. She smiled, blushed, and swiftly looked away, her hands fidgeting in the folds of her gown. “That was very thoughtful of him.”
Elizabeth did not wish to quarrel with her sister over what a dismal lover Frank Churchill made when actually present, and not hiding behind his flowery letters, but she began to suspect Jane had not been simply careless in neglecting to describe Mr. Knightley as thoroughly as the other principal citizens of Highbury.
Perhaps there was something in it, but that would have to wait.
She inquired after her sister’s week at Netherfield, though Jane had rather less to report. She painted a horrid picture of Miss Bingley, and even through Jane’s attempt to speak diplomatically about the woman, Elizabeth could sense that they faced a formidable opponent.
“She must be horrifying – even Mr. Darcy was hiding from her,” Elizabeth observed with a laugh.
“I daresay he found better company,” Jane quipped with a look of insinuation before she continued her account of the harridan. When Jane finished her too-polite lament, she turned to Elizabeth with a smile.
“It has not all been unpleasant. Netherfield is very grand, and Father is wonderful. Beyond his choice of bride, and his satirical optimism about the union, I adore him. I can see his influence on you, Lizzy – and does he not rather remind you of Grandmama?”
“He does,” Elizabeth cried with a squeal of laughter. “Perhaps that is what attracted our mother to him; his style of humor must have been familiar to her already!”
The sisters giggled merrily together, then Jane continued. “I like your friend Charlotte very much! I confided the truth to her, and I have a surprise for you – she is here! I invited her to travel with us. She is keen to be of assistance in whatever way we require.”
“Charlotte is here! How excellent, I long to see her! Oh, I daresay she will be vastly amused at the goings-on in Highbury – it is sure to be far from dull! And Bessie?”
Jane beamed and nodded her head. “Yes, she is here, too, and also our devoted ally. She had gone to stay with her relations, but when we arrived at Milton Hall, Mr. Bingley mistook me for you, and Bessie had a ready explanation.”