Chapter 10
Jane was a little better the next day, though the fever had drained a good deal of her strength.
Elizabeth spent the morning with her, cheering her with conversation and cajoling her to take nourishment.
When she fell asleep again, Elizabeth felt a great need for exercise and dressed for a walk in the garden.
The sun was shining, and the mild weather of the previous week seemed to have returned.
She emerged from the house to find that she was not the only one to seek those paths; Miss Bingley was just ahead of her, examining a venerable old rose bush, gone brown and dormant for the coming winter.
She called out a good morning, and the lady turned to her with a smile. “Miss Elizabeth, what a pleasant surprise. How does your sister?”
“A little better today. She is sleeping now, and I thought to take the chance of fresh air and exercise.”
“I am happy to hear it. I will visit her after luncheon, if you think she will welcome it.”
“I know she will, thank you.”
“I was just inspecting the work the gardeners have done to prepare for the winter. That is one aspect of managing a country house with which I have some acquaintance,” she added with a humorously self-deprecating air.
“The garden of our house in Scarborough was not large, but my mother paid it every attention, and taught me a great deal. Whenever I am in a garden, I feel close to her again.”
“I understand both of your parents are gone?” Elizabeth enquired gently.
“Yes. It will be four years in the summer. They had gone out with some friends on a pleasure-craft, which sank. No one knows why. It was a beautiful day, but a number of people saw the boat list and then vanish beneath the water.”
“How dreadful!” Elizabeth said, pressing her friend’s hand for a moment.
“It was. We had, and have, a number of relations there, who helped us immensely. And Mr Darcy, I understand, was of great assistance in helping my brother to manage his inheritance. My uncle purchased my father’s interest in the business, which made everything simpler for Charles, and Mr Darcy advised him on investing.
But enough of such sad subjects—it is a fine day, let us speak of more cheerful things. ”
Elizabeth smiled and agreed. They walked along the path arm in arm, observing the beds covered in mulch for the winter, the leafless bushes, and the handsome stone fountain, now drained.
At Miss Bingley’s enquiry, Elizabeth described the usual entertainments of the Christmas season in the area, such as Sir William’s annual St Nicholas Day party, and related how, as the war on the Continent dragged on and more and more gentlemen left the area, the hanging of mistletoe had become more liberal with each passing year as mothers strove to dispose of their unmarried daughters.
“My mother, as you may imagine, is the worst offender. She is wild to be rid of at least one of us!”
“And has any gentleman caught your eye?”
“No, not as yet. I have known the young men hereabouts, excepting those of your party, of course, my whole life. I do not believe I shall find my future among them.” She paused for a moment, considering whether to confide in her new friend, and decided that she should.
“It has been in my mind lately that I ought to go stay with my uncle in London for a good long visit and begin to seriously look about me for a man I could esteem highly enough to marry. I have felt a certain restlessness of late, as though I am ready for my life to change, to progress, but it has not. So perhaps I must take the reins into my own hands. Would you still know me if I were to engage myself to a tradesman?” she asked lightly.
“Certainly, I would,” Miss Bingley replied. “As you know, I am the daughter of a tradesman myself, and my mother was no gentlewoman, either. If you are happy with your tradesman, then as your friend I shall be happy for you.”
“It may be that we shall both be in London in the spring. Are you looking forward to the Season?”
Some seconds passed without a reply before she quietly said, “No, I am not.” She seemed sad and perhaps a little afraid.
Concerned, Elizabeth enquired, “May I ask why that is?”
Miss Bingley regarded her gravely for a moment, then said, “I believe I have made quite a comprehensive fool of myself, and I rather dread facing my acquaintance there.”
“If you wish to confide in me,” Elizabeth said when she apprehended the hesitation in her companion’s expression, “you may be assured of my discretion. And if you do not, I shall not press you.”
With a little grimace of remembered pain, Miss Bingley replied, “To put it plainly, I got above myself. I aped the manners and pretensions of those above me, thinking to endear myself to them and induce the world to forget my origins. In time I began to believe my own charade. When we were lately in London, however, I overheard some ladies I thought were my friends speaking frankly of my airs and ambitions. Laughing at me.”
Elizabeth’s breath caught audibly, and Miss Bingley slanted a tight, sardonic smile in her direction.
“They spoke most particularly of my attempts to capture the interest of a certain gentleman, whose standing would have elevated my whole family had I secured him, and of his utter disinterest in obliging me. The scales have fallen away from my eyes, and I have not liked what I see of my past behaviour. And now what must you think of me?” she concluded with a breath of humourless laughter.
“I think not one whit less of you,” Elizabeth hastened to assure her.
“We are all led astray by our wishes at times, are we not? To hear those wishes mocked by those you counted as friends must have been painful indeed, and to have your hopes for marriage dashed at the same moment! I can hardly imagine it. I hope, at least, that you were not very attached to the gentleman.”
“I was not,” Miss Bingley allowed. “He is a man I respect and admire. His standing attracted my ambitions, but I focused on him to the exclusion of others because he is a better man than most, responsible and honest. The sort of gentleman to whom a lady may entrust her future with confidence that she will not be mistreated or disregarded. But for all that, he never touched my heart, for which I am now daily thankful.”
“I am glad you were spared that pain, at least. I wish I had something comforting to say about returning to town and facing once again those who spoke ill of you, but I fear that may be an awkwardness which must simply be endured until it fades.”
“I think you are correct,” Miss Bingley replied with a little smile. “And if you are in London as you suppose you may be, I hope to have the pleasure of calling upon you regularly.”
“You will be welcome at any time. Will you be at Netherfield for Christmas?”
She seemed surprised by this swift change of subject, but answered, “My brother has not said anything particular either about going or staying. I have been assuming we will be here, but it is not certain.”
“I ask because if you do stay, you will meet my aunt and uncle Gardiner. They come every year to spend Christmas at Longbourn. Therefore, if you call on me in town in the spring, you will already be acquainted with them, as well.”
Miss Bingley smiled and nodded.
In such accord, they continued on their way, canvassing lighter subjects by unspoken agreement, until it was time to go inside and refresh themselves before luncheon.