Chapter 16
Despite the tasty dishes and artful presentation, there was not much appetite for breakfast at Netherfield.
Caroline Bingley was particularly irritated, and she expressed it more than adequately with every huff, tap of her slippers, or every brusque gesture.
Darcy tried to ignore anything that annoyed him while drinking only coffee; he had a bad headache after too many drinks with Bingley and too little sleep the night before.
While not exactly in low spirits — how could he be?
— he only waited for a reasonable hour so he could call at Longbourn.
He was prepared for uproar there too, as Mrs Bennet was about to receive the news that morning, and Mr Bennet had warned him that the lady’s reaction — whether positive or negative — would be strong and loud.
Darcy was still smiling to himself as he recollected his encounter with Mr Bennet and the reunion with Elizabeth.
After missing her for more than a fortnight, the sight of her, her smiles, her closeness, her touches, her scent were all intoxicating.
And the realisation that he would marry her in a month was beyond thrilling.
“Upon my word, Mr Darcy, you look quite ill,” Miss Bingley said. “It seems dinner at Longbourn did not sit too well with you, which is not surprising.”
“There was nothing wrong with dinner, I assure you, Miss Bingley. I apologise if my appearance displeases you,” Darcy replied.
“It is not your appearance that displeases me, sir, but your actions. Forgive me if I offended you, but as an intimate friend, it is my duty to speak my mind to your benefit. I had always hoped Charles would follow your lead, and you would guide him, but now he has already ruined his life, and you seem to be encouraging him! I am very disappointed.”
Miss Bingley became more agitated and Darcy calmer.
“I thank you for speaking to my benefit, but I do not understand your disappointment, Miss Bingley, as I cannot understand how Charles has ruined his life. I know he will be happily married soon.”
“Happily married into a family which is a shame to witness! How will he ever grow into society with such connections? And you, sir, you could not stand Mrs Bennet and her daughters, and now you seem to approve of all of them!”
“Caroline, please stop this conversation before you make a fool of yourself,” Bingley attempted to temper his sister.
“I am a fool, Charles? What would you say about yourself and your sudden decision to marry a woman with no dowry, no connections, and not much personality either? Against all our expectations? She just smiles mindlessly, as Mr Darcy himself said last year!”
“Caroline! Mind your words, please! I shall not allow...”
“You cannot stop me from speaking my mind, Charles! Especially as it is the truth! Am I the only one capable of seeing the reality now? A reality, I might add, that Mr Darcy also noticed last November and agreed with me! Can you not understand that Eliza Bennet came to Pemberley on purpose? She said it was a coincidence, but undoubtedly it was all by design! She convinced you to return to Netherfield and to propose to her sister!”
“Caroline, this is ridiculous, truly,” Bingley rolled his eyes. “And there is something I have to tell you—”
“There is nothing you can tell me that will change my mind, Charles. Last year, Mr Darcy agreed with me that Jane Bennet did not return your imprudent affection and only tried to attract you into a marriage advantageous for their family, surely pushed by her own mother! Surely you cannot deny you said so, Mr Darcy!”
Darcy sipped from his cup of coffee. His headache had slightly diminished, and he was in no mood to have it sharpened again by entering an argument with Caroline Bingley.
“Miss Bingley, I believe we already canvassed this matter at length at Pemberley. I shall not deny what I said, but that was a year ago when my knowledge was scant and my judgment faulty. It has been a long time since I have been convinced that Jane Bennet will make an excellent wife to Bingley and that Miss Elizabeth Bennet is one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance.”
Miss Bingley was disconcerted by such a straight answer, but she kept her chin up and her glare sharp.
“I am surprised to hear such praise from you in regard to a woman you once took in derision, Mr Darcy.”
“I am surprised you are surprised, Miss Bingley. If I recollect correctly, you were the first person to whom I confessed my admiration for Miss Elizabeth’s fine eyes. Surely you remember that, too.”
“Well, yes…I do, but I was sure it was only a joke. It should have been, and remained so. And you should be careful how you speak of Miss Eliza, her mother might believe you are courting her. That woman has no wit and no decency,” Miss Bingley concluded with a victorious grin.
Darcy sipped more coffee.
“Yes, I remember you mocking me about having Mrs Bennet as a mother-in-law. It was last year, at Sir William Lucas’s party.
And you imparted more advice for my felicity upon marrying, here, at Netherfield, when Miss Bennet was recovering.
You will be happy to know that I took your suggestion to heart, and I proposed to Miss Elizabeth. We are engaged to be married soon.”
His calm voice and light countenance made the two sisters — and even Hurst — look at Darcy in stunned disbelief.
To them, it sounded like an unfortunate joke meant to irritate them, although the moment was very ill chosen.
Miss Bingley blinked repeatedly, glaring from him to her brother, trying to speak, but no words came out.
Mrs Hurst forgot to breathe and choked, making Hurst rise to pat her back unceremoniously until she started to cough.
Finally, Miss Bingley managed to articulate, “Surely, you are not in earnest. It cannot be…this must be a poor joke…a pathetic joke…it is, is it not?”
“It is not a joke, Caroline,” Bingley replied while Darcy remained impassive. “We shall marry the Miss Bennets in a month, in a double wedding. That is what I was trying to tell you before you made a fool of yourself. I suppose it is too late now.”
Miss Bingley turned so red that her face seemed to boil, and she tried to stand up, but her knees refused to support her.
Unsteady, she tried to sit back down, but she almost missed the chair, which wobbled from the uneven weight, and her fingers did not find purchase on the edge of the table, so she had to struggle to regain a dignified posture.
Bingley hurried to help her, but she rejected him angrily and stood up again, pushing the chair furiously aside, knocking it over.
As she stormed out of the room, she noticed some servants staring from the doorway, attracted by the commotion, then disappearing into the hall in haste.
She yelled at them and then at her sister, who was running after her.
“Well, if we have finished eating, I am going to Longbourn. Are you coming, Darcy?” Bingley asked.
“Of course. I look forward to it.”
“May I join you?” Hurst asked. “There is nothing amusing in being at Netherfield now.”
“Most certainly. Mr Bennet is an excellent host, and his brandy is good. I am sure he would welcome you,” Bingley said.
“Good. Let me fetch my coat. So, Darcy, are you really engaged to Miss Elizabeth?”
“Of course I am, Hurst. I would not joke about such a serious matter.”
“How interesting. By design or mere coincidence, Miss Elizabeth’s arrival at Pemberley was very fortunate.”
“More fortunate than you can imagine, Hurst,” Darcy assured him as they all left the manor.
∞∞∞
“Lizzy, you have been awfully quiet all morning!” Mrs Bennet said as the family gathered for breakfast. “I imagine you must be upset that you will not receive a marriage proposal as good as Jane’s.
But it is your fault alone, miss. Mr Collins was a good enough catch, and you refused him.
You could have been in Charlotte’s place by now! ”
“God forbid, Mama,” Elizabeth said, rolling her eyes.
“So, Mrs Bennet, you would have been pleased if Lizzy had married Mr Collins?” Mr Bennet enquired in a tone that tried to conceal his amusement.
“Of course I would have! She could have been the future mistress of Longbourn and not allowed Charlotte Lucas to throw us out as soon as you die!”
“I shall try and overlook how indifferently you talk about my demise. I am sorry you suffered such disappointment though,” her husband continued. “I wonder what Lizzy could say or do to compensate for it.”
“Nothing, I assure you! Nothing at all! Thank God I love her, although she tries my nerves often, and I do not understand her most of the time!”
“Lizzy, it is true that you do try your mother’s nerves often enough. You should try to repay her forbearance and generosity, really. Do you not have some news for her?”
“I do, but I had hoped we could finish breakfast in peace, Papa,” Elizabeth replied, arching her eyebrow reproachfully.
“Well? What news? I warned you I could not care less about the Collinses’ heir or about that Mr Wickham of yours! I was the only one who warned you that he might be a scoundrel, but you are such a headstrong girl, you never listen! How you went on about his misfortunes! I never liked him!”
“That is not true, Mama!” Lydia cried. “You always liked Mr Wickham and said he was the most handsome officer!”
“Oh hush, child, do not speak nonsense! Why would I have cared that he was so handsome and charming and um…so, Lizzy, what is it?”
Elizabeth turned her chair to her mother and pulled it a little closer, looking at Jane who sat opposite her and then at her father for support.
“Mama, there is something important I wish to tell you. Just try not to become too overwrought, you know it is bad for your nerves.”
“You should have worried for my nerves when you refused Mr Collins, and now you will become a spinster! Luckily, your sister will marry Mr Bingley! He has five thousand a year! Five thousand! He will…but no matter now. So, what is it? Your news?”