Vol 1, Chapter 5 #2
“While I appreciate the consideration, I urge you not to worry about my siblings and me. We have more than we need, and we do have family who loves us,” Jane said.
As her statement could be interpreted in multiple ways, she was pleased that they chose the one that best fit their preconceived notions.
“As entertaining as this had been, I must return home.” Jane stood. Before she could express her thanks, she heard Mr. Bingley’s voice. She sighed inwardly, for she had been hoping to miss this particular scene.
“That is not an option,” Bingley reported. It was then that the women noticed the three men were dripping wet. “The bridge is flooded, and the water is flowing over the top. We left Darcy’s carriage on the other side and braved the elements to arrive home, and are quite soaked, as you see.”
“Mr. Darcy, you will catch your death. Allow me to accompany you upstairs so I may be of service to you.” Miss Bingley jumped out of her seat, stopping short as the object of her avarice held up his hand.
“That will not be necessary, Miss Bingley; Carstens will be the only one to assist me.” Darcy turned on his heel and stalked out of the room, stomping up the stairs in anger. He could not believe that the harpy would suggest such a thing, and in company! It was time to talk to Bingley again.
Reluctantly, Bingley was about to follow his brother-in-law upstairs to bathe and change into dry clothes.
He wanted to be with his angel, but unfortunately, he was not fit for company.
“If you would like to inform your family, a groom will ride over the fields to deliver a note,” Bingley offered before he left.
Jane sat at the escritoire in the corner of the drawing room to write her missive then handed it to the butler, asking him to thank the groom who would brave the weather to deliver her message to Longbourn.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The five Bennets were in the family sitting room when Hill delivered the note from Netherfield. Bennet read it aloud for his wife and children.
Papa and Mama,
The bridge is flooded; I am stuck with these people for the night. If the bridge is not passable in the morning, please bring Mars for me to ride back. I do not want to spend time with Mr. Bingley for he will make the wrong assumption, though I worry that he already has.
I will be well tonight, but please rescue me on the morrow. I have much to tell you,
Jane
“May I lead Mars to Netherfield in the morning if the bridge us unpassable, Papa?” Elizabeth asked.
“You may, Lizzy, as long as you have a groom ride with you,” Bennet allowed.
“Yes, Papa.” As much as Elizbeth liked to have her independence, she honoured her father’s wishes that none of them ever leave the house unaccompanied.
The girl’s companion, Mrs. Cecilia Ponsonby, was not happy on a horse, so it was usually a groom or a footman that rode with them if their father was engaged with estate business.
The best was when both their father and mother accompanied them.
Mrs. Bennet was an excellent horsewoman and had brought her beloved Neptune to Longbourn with her.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Once the three men had bathed and changed, they returned to the drawing room to join the women.
If any of the men noticed the frosty silence, they did not comment on it.
Upon entering, Bingley made a beeline for Miss Bennet.
To his chagrin, she was not seated on a settee but in an armchair that was not near any other place to sit.
“You are welcome to stay as our guest as long as is needed, Miss Bennet,” Bingley said as he bowed before his angel gallantly.
Darcy was observing their interaction and was surprised when Miss Bennet hardly reacted to Bingley’s assertions. She did not fawn over him as Darcy would have expected, given their disparate financial positions.
“Thank you, Mr. Bingley, that is most generous of you. I believe, however, that I shall be returning home on the morrow,” Jane replied evenly.
‘If Miss Bingley were stranded at one of my homes, wild horses would not succeed in dragging her away!'’ Darcy’s confusion deepened.
He did not like the fact that the Bennets, and Miss Bennet especially, were not fitting into the roles he had assigned them in his mind.
‘Ah, she is trying to increase Bingley’s ardour by playing hard to get.
I am sure that she is just another fortune hunter!
’ Darcy relaxed at finding an answer, if only to convince himself of the rectitude of his feelings towards the Bennets, most especially the enticing Miss Elizabeth.
Bingley would not be deterred. “Do you like to dance, Miss Bennet?” he asked.
“As do most, Mr. Bingley,” Jane replied, hoping he was not planning an impromptu dance and about to ask for her to partner him here and now.
“In that case, we will have a ball,” Bingley decided on the spur of the moment.
“Charles, you cannot be serious,” Miss Bingley sounded horrified, and turned to Mr. Darcy, “You know how some of our party disdain dancing!”
“If you mean Darcy, he may remain in his chambers if he does not want to dance,” Bingley replied flippantly. “It shall be in a sennight," Bingley plucked a date out of the air with nary a care for all the work that would be needed to prepare for such an event in a short time.
“Mr. Bingley, there is no need to hold a ball because I said I like to dance,” Jane hinted.
“That is not it,” Bingley prevaricated, thinking that Miss Bennet was too modest to accept such an honour.
“I-it is to introduce us to all of our neighbours in the area,” Bingley found a reason that sounded almost plausible.
“We will also invite the officers so that they too have a chance to become known to those of the neighbourhood.”
“If only there was not so much dancing at a ball,” lamented Miss Bingley. Jane had to put her hand over her mouth to stop herself from bursting into laughter at the patently ridiculous statement. Darcy saw her reaction, and his confusion deepened.
“It would not really be a ball then, would it Miss Bingley?” Jane asked as she stood.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you a goodnight and thank you once again for your warm hospitality. I am sure that my chambers will be tolerable.” With that Jane swept out of the room before anyone could respond.
She smiled to herself, shaking her head to the housekeeper who offered to guide her as she knew exactly where her bedchamber was.
She was sure that as soon as she was gone the sisters would start to relay the intelligence that they thought that they had gleaned during the earlier part of the evening.