Chapter 3
A groom brought the phaeton around, two Dartmoor ponies hitched to it, one black and one white, both stunningly beautiful.
Georgiana approached and greeted them, together with Mrs Annesley.
She was dressed in a lovely ensemble, with a little blue hat that complemented her countenance and her eyes.
She smiled at them warmly, although she seemed to still wear her usual reserve.
Mrs Gardiner returned her greetings just as warmly and moved closer to Mrs Annesley, while just behind Georgiana, Mr Bingley appeared — his smile so bright, so large, spread over his entire face as to become instantly infectious.
“Mrs Gardiner,” Mr Bingley bowed in greeting and approached Elizabeth almost bouncing.
“Miss Bennet, I have come to wish you a pleasant day! And to tell you that I discussed it with Darcy last night, and I have decided to reopen Netherfield. But only if Miss Bennet approves of it…I mean, if she believes that my return would not upset the neighbours…”
Mr Bingley became anxious as he spoke, his cheeks changed colour, and his smile dimmed visibly.
Mr Darcy rolled his eyes, annoyed by his friend’s impetuosity.
They had particularly discussed only this morning that he would not bring up that rather delicate subject until the next day at dinner, but Bingley was a stranger to such notions as patience and prudence.
He looked at Elizabeth in alarm, but seeing her expression of delight at the news, he calmed.
“Mr Bingley, I assure you that opening Netherfield again would be exceedingly pleasant for the entire neighbourhood,” Elizabeth replied, surprised by the impromptu enquiry. “Unless you choose to close it again soon, of course,” she added meaningfully, and Mr Bingley paled with some panic.
“Oh no, that would not be the case, I assure you. I intend to remain at Netherfield for as l…for an undecided amount of time…but a long one!”
“That is lovely to hear,” Elizabeth approved, glancing at Mr Darcy.
He seemed slightly irritated, and she wondered with some worry whether he still opposed his friend’s association with her sister.
And how did Mr Bingley’s sudden decision occur?
Had Mr Darcy mentioned something to him?
Was he aware of his friend and sisters’ uncalled for intervention?
Had he been told Jane had been in town for so many weeks?
“Yes…and…I must apologise. I confess that I was not informed about Miss Bennet…the eldest Miss Bennet…Miss Jane Bennet being in London this past winter and spring. Darcy only told me last night. Had I but known, I would have certainly called on her and your uncle and aunt. I must apologise to her…to all three of them…I hope they will forgive my foolishness…I was uninformed,” Mr Bingley spoke barely coherently, his discourse a mere babbling by the end.
“I dare assure you they will forgive you. Having your company, belated as it may be, would be fine compensation for the past,” Elizabeth said, taking pity on him and attempting to comfort him with another friendly smile.
Her doubts had been answered. Mr Darcy had revealed the truth and very likely supported Mr Bingley’s plans regarding Netherfield.
She felt Mr Darcy’s stare upon her and looked up to meet his eyes briefly, then turned her attention back to Mr Bingley.
“I shall leave you now to your ride. We shall speak more of this tomorrow evening,” the young gentleman announced.
“Darcy has told me you will all dine at Pemberley. I would have come with you now, but Darcy said I would be better not to bother you. I believe he is right, but I am glad I asked you, Miss Bennet. I shall write to Mrs Nicholls right away!” Mr Bingley finished this subsequent bout of babbling with an intonation that made it sound more like a question than a statement.
Elizabeth could not conceal her amusement, and she looked again at Darcy.
“You need my approval to write to your housekeeper, Mr Bingley?” she teased him.
Mr Bingley panicked again. “No, not at all. But I should like to know I have it, nevertheless. I mean…I look forward to returning to Netherfield, but I do not wish to upset anybody with my presence…”
Elizabeth was very tempted to reply that the only ones who may be upset would be his sisters, but she restrained her impulse to be impertinent.
“Mr Bingley, I am absolutely certain that your presence would please all your friends and neighbours in Hertfordshire. As I already said, you have been dearly missed.”
“Excellent! I have missed them too…excellent!” he carried on, then moved closer to the other ladies, where Mrs Gardiner was talking animatedly about her visit to Lambton with Mrs Annesley and Georgiana.
Darcy took one more step towards Elizabeth, and she tried to offer him a smile, although his nearness pleased and discomfited her at the same time.
“I hope you approve of Mr Bingley’s decision too, Mr Darcy.”
“To write to his housekeeper?” he teased her gently, then he grew serious again. “I do, but that is of little importance. I confessed to him all the details I knew concerning your sister.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Please do not thank me, Miss Bennet. I am already ashamed of myself, knowing that my misgivings might have ruined my friend’s chances of happiness. I only hope my confession has not come too late.”
“I dare say that your confession was well timed, sir. And while you know how much I disapproved of your past intervention in this matter, having done it with your friend’s best interest in mind should compensate for the guilt you feel.”
“You are too generous with me. Bingley is a good man — and he is happier about returning to Netherfield than he ever was angry for being advised to leave it.”
“He is a good man, indeed. And so is a friend who, although he gave him a wrong opinion in the past, tries to correct his error and advise him better in the present,” Elizabeth said genuinely.
“I am doing my best, which often is not enough,” Darcy said, and Elizabeth sensed there was more behind his words.
“I insisted that Bingley decide for himself, without haste and without asking for anyone’s opinion or approval.
Of course, he listened but disregarded my suggestion completely, as you just witnessed.
But perhaps it is for the best. The suggestions I have given him in the last year have been rather poor. ”
“I am sure not all your suggestions have been poor,” Elizabeth answered. “I understood you had something to say when it came to renting Netherfield, which was excellent advice.”
Her voice sounded more flirtatious than she intended, and she lowered her eyes with embarrassment, failing to notice his pleasure at being the target of her liveliness again.
“Netherfield is a fine estate with a fine prospect. It was an easy and reasonable choice,” Darcy declared. “Speaking of Netherfield, do you have news from your family? Have you decided how long you will remain in Derbyshire?”
“Oh, I do not know yet. Our stay depends entirely on my uncle and aunt, I am at their disposal,” she confessed.
“If so, I must find a way to charm Mr Gardiner and induce him to remain longer,” Darcy said, and the meaning behind his words took Elizabeth by surprise.
“I believe my uncle is already charmed by Pemberley,” Elizabeth managed to reply, trying to sound light.
“I hope you are too,” he continued, their eyes locking one more time.
“Very much so,” she admitted, and pleasure suffused his face again.
“And your family? At Longbourn?”
“Oh, yes…my family…they are all in good health. And all but one in good spirits.” Seeing Darcy’s expression, she quickly clarified lest he took it as a hidden reproach in regard to Jane again, “My youngest sister Lydia is not used to being denied. She is not pleased my father would not allow her to go to Brighton for the summer.”
Darcy furrowed his brow, and with a voice heavy with disbelief asked, “Brighton? Where the regiment is camped?”
His question sounded admonishing, and it embarrassed Elizabeth even though he did not mean it to.
“She was invited by Colonel Forster’s wife,” she tried to explain.
“I urged my father not to allow her to go, even when she begged him, and eventually she relented. Colonel Forster is a decent and trustworthy man, and he promised to watch over her, but I could not… Knowing… By chance, my father agreed with me that Lydia was too young to be by herself with so many distractions around.”
“Of course, I understand. Whilst I certainly do not distrust the colonel, I cannot argue with your father’s decision. I hope your sister will recover her good humour,” he concluded politely. “I…if I may…”
“Yes, sir?”
“I wished to ask you something of a delicate nature…” He moved closer, leaning towards her, his nearness making her dizzy. What was he doing?
“Miss Bennet, my sister is not aware that I have told you about Ramsgate. She is still affected by the situation, and I fear she still holds tender memories of that scoundrel…”
“Please do not worry, sir. I shall not speak a word that might betray your trust and confidence or trouble Miss Darcy.”
“Thank you, Miss Bennet. I have complete faith in you. I am truly pleased to see Georgiana interacting so easily with you and Mrs Gardiner. She is shy and usually reluctant with new acquaintances. Your company genuinely pleases her, and it is certainly a relief to me.”
“We are honoured and delighted by Miss Darcy’s company, I assure you, sir,” Elizabeth declared with sincerity, and he acknowledged it with a small nod of his head.
“Lizzy, my dear, are you ready? Let us go!” Mrs Gardiner suddenly called to her. “Miss Darcy will drive the phaeton for us. This is such an honour and a delight!”