Chapter 14
“A note was delivered for you, Miss Bennet,” said Mrs. Hill. Elizabeth watched as the elegantly folded hot-pressed paper was handed to her older sister.
Jane read the note, her expression growing increasingly joyful as she did. “It is from Caroline,” she said.
Caroline Bingley was Mr. Bingley’s younger sister and the bane of Mr. Darcy’s residence at Netherfield…as far as Elizabeth could make out from the brief snatches of thought she had caught from the gentleman.
Miss Bingley wasn’t particularly friendly to the neighborhood as a whole, but she had made some overtures of friendship to Jane.
She had even extended the hand of friendship to Elizabeth at first, but that attention had waned in the last few weeks.
Elizabeth could not regret the loss. Her only regret was that she could not make Jane understand that Miss Bingley was simply not as kind as Jane believed.
Jane read the note aloud.
November 12, 1811
My Dear Friend,
Do say you will dine with Louisa and me this evening.
The gentlemen of the household will be joining the officers for dinner tonight, and my sister and I thought it a perfect opportunity to enjoy your company for the evening.
If left to our own devices, surely we would be arguing by the end of the night.
We desperately need your gentle influence to avoid such an unpleasant outcome.
With Affection,
Caroline Bingley
“Papa, may I have the carriage?” Jane asked immediately upon completing her reading of the note.
Papa opened his mouth to respond, but Mama spoke first. “Of course not!” she cried.
“Have you seen the weather? You must go on horseback, for it is certain to rain before the day is over. That way, you will be invited to stay the night. Besides, I am certain your father needs the horses in the field today.”
Jane looked pleadingly at Elizabeth, but Elizabeth chose not to interfere. She was sure that even if it did rain, Mrs. Hurst would simply send Jane home in her carriage. Surely the gentlemen weren’t using both the Bingleys’ and the Hursts’ carriages for just the three of them.
Finding no help there, Jane said, “Papa?”
Elizabeth thought that was a useless plea. Their father would never gainsay their mother on anything unless it was of the utmost importance. He disliked arguments greatly.
“Your mother has declared that the horses are needed in the fields,” said Papa. “I am afraid you will need to take your mare.”
Jane sighed. “I would much rather take the carriage, but I suppose it can’t be helped.”
For a moment, Elizabeth felt a stab of guilt over not helping her sister, but she chased it away.
Surely, just this once, Jane would fare better by following her mother’s scheming than by rebelling.
The worst that could happen would be that Jane truly did have to stay the night.
Even that would have its pleasant compensation, however, since Jane would have the opportunity to enjoy breakfast in Mr. Bingley’s company.
As a gesture of solidarity and to chase away her twinge of guilt, Elizabeth said, “Would you like me to help you with your riding habit?”
Jane smiled in gratitude, and the two sisters went up to Jane’s bedroom.
As Elizabeth helped her sister with her habit, Jane said, “I wonder what is happening between Mary and Alan Goulding. Do you think he will propose soon?”
Elizabeth had noticed that ever since Alan had returned from London two months ago, he had given Mary much more attention, but it had not been so pointed nor so constant as it had been in the past two weeks when he visited every other day to take Mary for a drive or for a walk.
“I do not know,” said Elizabeth. “It is obvious he likes her. I have always thought he liked her, though his visits this past fortnight would indicate that he has finally decided to act upon his affection. However, I am uncertain that Mary can forgive him for all the things he did to her when they were younger. I can remember at least half a dozen times I found her in tears over something he did or said to her.”
“Mary is a very forgiving person,” said Jane. “I suspect that if she can be confident he will try not to hurt her again, she will let the past go. I am more concerned that he might not be the sort of man she could look up to and respect. I always pictured Mary marrying a clergyman or a scholar.”
“On that point, I think Alan is quite good for Mary,” Elizabeth replied.
“She tends to be a little too serious, and if she were to marry a man who was just as serious, she might never laugh again. With Alan, on the other hand, she seems lighter and a little happier. Though I haven’t seen it with my own eyes, I suspect he is perfectly capable of making her laugh. ”
Jane chuckled. “Of course that would be the most important factor to you, Lizzy,” she said. “But not everyone is motivated by laughter quite as much as you are.”
Elizabeth shrugged one shoulder and said, “Perhaps not. I suppose, in this case, no one but Mary can possibly predict what will make her happiest. We shall simply have to wait and see.”
As she moved on to helping Jane with her hair, Elizabeth began to wonder. If Jane did, in fact, stay the night at Netherfield, and she did see Mr. Bingley at breakfast, would she see Mr. Darcy as well?
Over the last four weeks, Elizabeth had grown increasingly fascinated with the gentleman.
Being able to hear his thoughts had created something of a bond between them.
She heard when he complained about her mother’s shrill voice.
She heard when he was uncomfortable with the crowd of people around him.
She even heard when he thought about how vulgar some of her neighbors were.
On the other hand, she had also heard his self-deprecations, wishes that he were more sociable and less withdrawn, and she had heard many exclamations over the beauty of someone’s eyes and smile.
She could excuse his insults. After all, had she not thought similar things many, many times? At least he didn’t say them aloud. She did, however, wonder whose eyes he found so fascinating.
He rarely used anyone’s names in his thoughts, and though Elizabeth found it frustrating, it made sense once she considered it.
He didn’t need to use names. After all, if he was paying attention to someone for any reason, either good or bad, he didn’t need to tell himself who he was paying attention to.
Whoever the young lady was who had the fascinating eyes, Elizabeth was beginning to be jealous of her.
Each time she saw him over the last few weeks, they chatted for a few minutes.
This became easier to accomplish with time as her neighbors seemed to become increasingly aware that she was not interested in marrying any of them.
As such they took up less of her time, and she found it easier to speak with those she wished.
Mr. Darcy’s conversation was interesting, and he spoke well and fluently on any topic she introduced, even fashion. When Elizabeth laughingly questioned him about the last subject, he explained that he had a younger sister who spoke about it frequently and at length.
Despite her feeling of familiarity with him, they had not shared such an intimate conversation as they had in the hall at Lucas Lodge.
Though his conversation was interesting, his manner was slightly stiff and somewhat standoffish.
He was always formal with her, which was quite the contrast to the way he had sat so comfortably on the stairs next to her.
Her musing was interrupted when Jane said, “What are you thinking of? You’ve been quiet for nearly fifteen minutes.”
For a moment, Elizabeth thought she might blush, but she laughed it off instead. “I suppose I was just musing over our new neighbors,” she said, being deliberately vague.
Jane was not fooled. “Mr. Darcy?” she asked.
This time, Elizabeth did blush. “Perhaps,” she said, still not wishing to admit it.
“I have noticed that you have quite enjoyed speaking with him the last few times we’ve been in company together,” said Jane. “I have also noticed the way your eyes seek him out, probably far more often than you realize.”
Elizabeth sighed. She should have known she could not hide anything from her older sister.
“I can’t say I blame you,” said Jane. “While I personally prefer Mr. Bingley’s open and artless manners, I can see that Mr. Darcy is quite handsome.”
“It is much more than that,” blurted Elizabeth. “I mean, he is handsome, yes, but he is also very intelligent and quite pleasant to speak with.”
Elizabeth knew her explanation was flimsy.
She could tell simply by the knowing look Jane gave her in the mirror.
She couldn’t give any other reason for her attraction to the man, however.
How could she possibly explain that she could hear his thoughts and that doing so had made her feel closer to him than she had any right to feel?
“Well, I am glad you have found someone pleasant to speak with,” said Jane. After a pause, she added, “and to look at.” Jane laughed, and Elizabeth tried not to be embarrassed. After all, Jane’s teasing was reasonable payback for all the times Elizabeth had teased her about Mr. Bingley.
Fortunately, Jane kindly changed the subject, and the sisters chatted happily while Elizabeth finished Jane’s hair.