Chapter 1.2
“Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, what a wonderful surprise to find you here!” Bingley exclaimed joyfully, immediately dismounting.
With some reluctance, Darcy followed his example, bowing to the ladies.
His gesture was polite, but his countenance showed his lack of pleasure at meeting them, and Elizabeth’s feelings were mutual.
Jane blushed most becomingly, answering, “Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, we are delighted to see you.”
“May I ask, what are you doing here? Are you alone?”
“My sister is taking me for a walk. This is one of her favourite places,” Jane continued to converse with Bingley.
“So you have come on foot?” Bingley asked in disbelief. “It seems quite far from Longbourn and it must have been tiring.”
“It is quite a distance but we used to come here very often when we were younger. The cottage belonged to our great-uncle.”
“Oh really? So the cottage belongs to your family?” Bingley asked.
“Yes… Our uncle left it to Lizzy and she takes care of it. She comes here quite often. Lizzy is an excellent walker, I am afraid I only slow her down…”
“I am sure that is not true… I mean, not about Miss Elizabeth being an excellent walker but about you slowing her down,” Bingley said, his face colouring in embarrassment.
Elizabeth chose to say as little as possible, allowing her sister to entertain herself with Mr. Bingley.
She glanced towards Mr. Darcy — he seemed as still and as insensitive as a stone — and his disapproving expression expressed his opinion more clearly than an entire tirade.
If it depended on Mr. Darcy, Jane’s happiness would not be connected to Mr. Bingley.
“This looks bigger than a mere cabin in the wood. Did your uncle actually live here? Alone?”
“He did, for the last ten years of his life. It was his desire. He had a couple that helped him with the house and lived with him. Mrs. Talbot and her husband. But we did visit him quite often.”
“How interesting. I can see there is also a stable there,” Bingley pointed to the back of the cottage.
“It is more of a barn,” Elizabeth explained. “It offers shelter to wild animals that need it, especially during the winter.”
“Lizzy always makes sure that there is food for the wild animals,” Jane said. She was not standing close to Bingley and the scene became a little awkward as both were behaving like children. They were, for the first time, in relative intimacy, allowed to speak to each other more freely than ever.
“Would you like to enter? To see inside?” Elizabeth suddenly offered. Any moment that allowed her sister more time with her favourite gentleman was a chance that should not be wasted.
Bingley glanced at Darcy, whose displeasure was apparent, then he looked back at Jane’s bright smile and replied enthusiastically, “Yes, we would like that very much! Would we not, Darcy? Very much, indeed.”
Elizabeth could hardly suppress her amusement, wondering how on earth two men so utterly different had become such close friends.
She took the key, which was hidden under a large stone, and heard Darcy clearing his throat.
“Forgive me for saying so, but that is not much of a hiding place; I am sure many people would consider searching there,” he addressed Elizabeth.
She judged his tone as being condescending and tried to remain calm, for her sister’s sake.
“Thank you for the warning, I am well aware of that, Mr. Darcy. That was precisely my purpose in placing it there. I have another one at home; this one is meant for people who need shelter to find it easily. Half of Meryton knows of it and those who do not, would easily guess.”
She opened the door and invited them in; it was a chilly November day and inside felt even colder.
“It is a little dusty; I need to come and clean it one day soon,” Elizabeth explained further.
“But there is always a tinder box for starting the fire, some tea, biscuits, blankets and pillows on the bed — everything that one might need if one gets lost in the wood, especially during the night, or during a storm perhaps.”
“How kind and generous of you, Miss Elizabeth. But has it never happened that someone has stolen your belongings or destroyed them?” Bingley asked.
“It has, several times. But there is nothing valuable to steal and the items are easily replaced. And knowing that someone can find help in a time of need makes it worth the risk,” Elizabeth answered.
The gentlemen looked around for a few moments and an awkward silence fell over the room. Neither of them was inclined to sit, as the horses were tied up outside.
“Will you stay longer? Here, I mean?” Bingley eventually asked Jane. She was a little surprised and glanced at Elizabeth as though requesting an answer from her.
“No, we should return home very soon,” Elizabeth replied.
“Would you allow us to accompany you to Longbourn?” he offered, and Jane’s cheeks burned with pleasure.
“Yes, of course; it is very kind of you, Mr. Bingley.”
“The pleasure is ours, I assure you,” he said with excitement.
Shortly after, Elizabeth locked the door and hid the key again, and the party moved towards the main path.
It was narrow and the two gentlemen were also holding their horses by the reins, so the party had to separate.
Bingley and Jane walked ahead and Elizabeth and Darcy remained a little behind, silent, uncomfortable, struggling with the other’s company but for very different reasons.
“This is a difficult and dangerous road,” Bingley said. “May I offer you my arm, Miss Bennet?”
“Yes, thank you,” Jane answered shyly, grasping his arm reluctantly, bringing a smile to Elizabeth’s lips. She could not help stealing a glance towards Darcy but his expression remained as stern as ever.
“The road is even more treacherous for riders, especially when it rains. The cottage is on a rather steep hill surrounded by trees, and down in the valley there is a pond and a small stream. Neither is usually dangerous and in the summer we used to play and catch fish there. But when it rains, the water level rises and one could easily drown if they fell in it. Accidents could happen if one is not careful enough.”
“But we came from Netherfield; the road is better on that side, is it not?” Darcy finally decided to join the conversation.
“It is, but after several days of rain, the stream usually overflows onto that path,” Elizabeth said.
“I see… It seems unsafe for anyone to be alone here,” Darcy concluded. “As you said, an accident might happen at any time.”
“I am afraid you are correct, Mr. Darcy,” Jane answered. “I have tried to convince Lizzy to abandon the distressing habit, but I have had little success with her.”
“My dear Jane, let us not bore Mr. Darcy with our arguments,” Elizabeth laughed. “I am sure he finds our conversation tedious already, let us not make the return to Longbourn even more tiresome for him.”
Darcy appeared surprised and he glanced towards Elizabeth, but she did not turn to meet his eyes, choosing to keep her attention on the path ahead.
“Allow me to disagree with your statement, Miss Elizabeth. I find this walk quite pleasant and refreshing. I apologise if I let you believe otherwise.”
She eventually turned to him.
“Do not apologise, Mr. Darcy. In this instance, I am glad to be wrong. I must have misjudged your feelings. Your expression is mostly the same all the time and it is difficult for one to sketch your character or to guess your feelings.”
Her tone was light and teasing and she wore a large smile, but his countenance remained aloof, while his bewilderment seemed to increase.
“I was unaware that you were attempting to sketch my character, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Are you not doing the same, Mr. Darcy? If I may be so bold, I will say that you have seemed to judge us quite severely from the day you met us. But I cannot blame you, you are surely accustomed to a superior society. Even Sir William claims the same.”
“I do try to form an opinion about people I meet. And if I appear severe, I am sorry. It is my desire to be honest and objective in my estimation, whether I am in London or in Hertfordshire,” he declared.
“I am sure you are successful in this endeavour and in many others, Mr. Darcy. You do seem accustomed to being successful,” she said, and her smile broadened at the same time as his frown.
Elizabeth could feel Darcy’s increasing discomfort and disquiet and that enhanced her amusement.
Just as with Jane and Bingley, she also had the first and likely the last opportunity to speak to Darcy directly and privately enough to dare say things that would have been improper on more formal occasions.
He appeared clearly bothered by being addressed in such a way and that little revenge against his rudeness at the assembly pleased her excessively.
An hour later they arrived at Longbourn and, unfortunately, Mrs. Bennet must have observed them. She burst out from the house and invited the gentlemen inside, her insistence embarrassing her eldest daughters.
Mr. Bingley seemed undecided, but Darcy’s stiff and distant position disclosed his opposition very clearly.
Mrs. Bennet, however, ignored him and almost pushed Mr. Bingley inside, claiming Mr. Bennet was eager to see him.
Defeated, Bingley nodded to Darcy to follow him and both entered.
Mrs. Bennet continued to speak to Mr. Bingley, who barely said a word, as she directed them towards the library.
She returned minutes later, beaming with contentment, while her daughters were flushed from mortification.
Half an hour later, the two guests left in rather a hurry, refusing Mrs. Bennet’s invitation to stay for refreshments and taking a polite but decided farewell.