Chapter 6 #2
“Charles, have you considered what we want? How can you be so insensitive as to ruin our entire summer?” Mrs Hurst scolded him.
“I am sorry, but I cannot live my entire life considering what you want! I have done that too many times. I will leave Pemberley together with Mr and Mrs Gardiner. It will be more pleasant to travel together. If you wish to join us, so much the better. If not, we shall make other arrangements for the three of you to return safely and comfortably.”
“This is outrageous!” Miss Bingley exclaimed, enraged. “We shall discuss this more tomorrow, in private, as such debates are not to be carried out in the presence of strangers.”
“There are no strangers here, Caroline. Regardless, my decision is made. I apologise to Darcy and Miss Darcy for curtailing my visit, but if nothing else interferes with our plans, my stay at Pemberley this year will be very short.”
“Bingley, we shall respect your decision, whatever it might be. Do not worry about upsetting us, you should act only in a manner that makes you happy. And of course, I shall make all the necessary arrangements for your family to return to London whenever they wish, safely and comfortably.”
“I shall surely not remain here if Bingley and Gardiner both leave,” Mr Hurst suddenly interjected, much to everyone’s surprise.
“No offence, but Darcy is not too entertaining by himself. Besides, it is clear that Darcy has only ever invited us because Bingley is his friend. In his absence, it would be impolite to outstay our welcome!”
“Mr Hurst!” his wife cried, appalled.
“Hurst, I assure you that you are all welcome to stay as long as you like, with or without Bingley,” Darcy intervened politely, although surprised by Mr Hurst’s sudden insight.
“Thank you, but you are too busy a man to be bothered with entertaining. We may as well join Bingley in Hertfordshire. I quite enjoyed Netherfield. We might find some places to catch fish there too, or at least go shooting.”
“Mr Hurst!” his wife cried again, in a scolding tone.
“Mrs Hurst! My decision is made too,” Mr Hurst raised his voice with a severe tone that stunned and silenced the ladies in his family. “Could we eat now? I am starving.”
The dinner continued rather awkwardly, with everyone trying to overcome the discomfort caused by the Bingleys’ disagreement.
Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst withdrew in angry silence, throwing sharp glares at everyone and especially at Elizabeth, whom they blamed for their humiliating rebuke by Mr Hurst of all people.
Elizabeth felt embarrassed on their behalf and pitied them too much to even rejoice in their abasement, but in her mind, she applauded Mr Bingley’s determination in standing up for himself.
By the second course, Mr Bingley was already engaged in animated conversation with Mr Gardiner, and Mr Hurst had already enjoyed a third glass of wine.
Elizabeth was seated rather far from Mr Darcy, and she barely spoke to him again, but their gazes met often. Words were not necessary yet; the important ones had been already spoken earlier in the carriage, and in addition, his attentiveness was more eloquent than any statement.
What Elizabeth and Darcy shared and were fearful to admit was the awareness that their time together would come to an end soon, that it was only one evening, one night, one morning, and after that, the future was unclear.
She could do nothing but wait for a sign, a gesture, a word from him, while he was still affected by the recollection of his past failure to dare act too soon and too hastily.
After dinner, the gentlemen requested the favour of some music. Visibly not in the mood to perform or show their accomplishments, Mr Bingley’s sisters declined, so Miss Darcy and Elizabeth indulged the party for half an hour.
As soon as propriety allowed, the sisters excused themselves and retired for the night. Miss Darcy declared she was tired, and she withdrew to her chamber too, with Mrs Annesley joining her.
The rest of the party remained, and all the tension vanished among them. The conversation flourished, with even Mr Hurst involved in it. At a convenient moment, Darcy sat on the sofa next to Elizabeth, a gesture without apparent significance but with much weight for both of them.
Various subjects were touched on and debated, always in light tones, with teasing, bantering, and mutual entertainment.
It was long after midnight when the party finally separated, and each moved to their rooms.
For Elizabeth, there were a few more minutes of delight, as Darcy joined them as they walked towards the family wing. He accompanied them to their chambers, where he bowed, bid them good night, and walked to his own rooms.
Elizabeth remained in the hall a moment longer, noticing his apartment was in the opposite corner but on the same hall. He seemed to feel her eyes upon him, knowing she was still gazing, so he glanced back at her, and she hurried inside her room, blushing, her heart beating wildly.
The distance between their rooms was significant, but she felt it was very close to her.
Imagining him preparing for bed, wearing only his night clothes — did he wear a night shirt when sleeping?
— the image of him lying in his bed, the realisation that she could have been in the mistress’s apartment just next to his or even…
if she had accepted his proposal... All those reflections made her by turns burning hot and shivering.
Restless, she turned often from one side to the other and remained awake for a long while, too hot and bothered to sleep, even though she only wore a sheer nightgown and kept the window open.
From the hall, she heard some noises, creaks, and even some steps — very likely servants.
From outside, the sounds of the summer night entered through the open window.
Unable to lie down, she paced the room for a while, stepped onto the small balcony, admired the night sky and the moon’s reflection, and finally returned to bed, struggling to sleep.
Not far away, Darcy was fighting with an even stronger storm of feelings, Elizabeth’s nearness stirring his senses like never before. The thought of her, in bed, so close to him and yet… He was torn between happiness and fear of disappointment, hopes and fear of loss, exhaustion and excitement.
It was late in the night when he eventually fell into a deep sleep, but it did not last long; he woke up at dawn, startled from a dream that he could not remember.
He remained in his room for a while, then he realised it was no use trying to fall asleep again, so he dressed without waking his man and prepared for the day.
As he walked towards the stairs, he heard steps and looked back, only to find Elizabeth just behind him, as though his thoughts had conjured her.
“Miss Bennet!”
“Mr Darcy!”
“Is anything amiss? Are you unwell?”
“I am perfectly well, thank you, but I could not sleep. I intended to look for a book or take a short walk until the others wake up,” she replied, feeling uneasy.
“Good, we are in the same predicament then. I could not sleep either,” he said. “Allow me to escort you to the library. Would you like a cup of tea? Some coffee, perhaps? I shall ask for a tray to be brought immediately.”
“Yes, thank you,” she answered, her heart light with joy but still somewhat embarrassed being in his company in such private circumstances when the household was mostly still asleep. She was not worried about being alone with him, but about enjoying their intimacy too much.
“And if you wish to take a walk afterwards, I would be happy to accompany you. If you approve of it, of course…”
“I do…very much,” she answered, her glance meeting his for an instant before he opened the library door and invited her in.