Chapter III #2
As he said this, Jane could see his eyes stray to her. Mrs. Bennet was no more blind to this than Jane was, but her mother prattled on about how fortunate it was that he had returned, how welcome he was, and other such civilities she thought such an occasion warranted.
Jane’s composure surprised her. More than that, she was pleased with her clear understanding of the situation. Lizzy would be proud if she knew what Jane was thinking at that moment.
In time, Mr. Bingley extricated himself from Mrs. Bennet, and he approached Jane as she might have expected.
Mrs. Hurst moved into the space he had vacated, distracting her mother.
Whether it was on purpose, Jane could not say, but she was grateful all the same.
There was a conversation Jane needed to have with Mr. Bingley, and it would not do for her mother to overhear it.
“Miss Bennet,” said Mr. Bingley, “how pleased I am to be in your company again.”
“You are very welcome, Mr. Bingley,” replied Jane, holding to her reserve, wondering how the man would act.
As she might have expected, Mr. Bingley began speaking with his usual animation.
It was, Jane reflected, not unusual, for such exchanges were common between them.
Jane enjoyed speaking with Mr. Bingley, but she was not unaware that he spoke three words for every one of hers.
He was the gregarious one while she was the reticent, so that did not bother her.
What did bother her was his resumption of their interactions after a month apart without even a reference to his absence. Jane was not about to put up with it.
“Mr. Bingley,” said Jane when he paused a moment to draw breath, “I am pleased to see you, but I must own that I am curious about your recent absence.”
“My absence?” echoed Mr. Bingley, as if astonished she would raise the subject.
“Yes, Mr. Bingley,” said she, allowing no trace of hesitation. “I beg your pardon, but I must speak plainly. When we were last together at your ball, you danced with me three times, yet you departed for London soon after without a backward glance or even taking leave of your neighbors.”
“I had a matter of business to attend to in London,” Mr. Bingley hastened to say.
“And this business has taken you seven weeks to complete?”
The question was mild, as was Jane’s wont, but Mr. Bingley sensed a hint of demand as she had intended.
A man might bristle when called out by a woman, but Jane did not even consider backing down.
By all appearances, Mr. Bingley had returned to pursue her—if he meant to do so, he must account for his behavior.
If he could not see that, it would be kinder for them both if she sent him on his way.
“Well . . .” said Mr. Bingley, seeming uncertain of what to say.
“Mr. Bingley,” said Jane, her tone firm but gentle, “forgive me if I overstep, but I believe it is best that we understand each other. Am I mistaken to assume that you have returned to Netherfield to reestablish our acquaintance?”
Some of the joviality returned when he said: “Yes, that is correct.”
Jane nodded. “Then can I also assume that you have more than friendship in mind?”
Her open question took the gentleman aback, and Jane supposed it could be considered inappropriate or even forward for a woman to raise such a subject.
But Jane would not—could not—back down. They needed to understand each other, and that understanding could not come about if she played the meek woman accepting a man’s attentions.
“Are you amenable?”
Jane considered the question—she did not lack understanding of her wishes, but it was important to reply correctly so there was no ambiguity between them.
“That depends, Mr. Bingley. My concern is not for us but the situation in which we find ourselves. If we speak openly, you will know my sentiments. I apologize, for I know it is not done, but I believe we need a clear understanding between us before we can proceed.”
Mr. Bingley considered this and nodded. “Then yes, if you are willing, I wish to proceed past friendship.”
“Very well,” replied Jane. “Then my question stands. When you departed, I had some notion that you meant to proceed in the direction you now appear fixed upon, but then you were absent for seven weeks. That absence has given rise to some concerns we must address before I allow anything further. Will you not be explicit?”
“I might have expected this approach from your sister,” said Mr. Bingley.
Elizabeth, Jane noticed, was speaking with Mr. Darcy, their relaxed posture telling her it was more civil than their usual exchanges.
“Does that provoke you to reconsider?” asked Jane.
Mr. Bingley’s grin returned to his features. “Not at all. The telling will not make you think any better of me, but I shall do it with the hope that you will understand.”
“No one is perfect, Mr. Bingley,” said Jane. “Let us ensure we understand each other so we may build a stable foundation.”
“Very well,” replied Mr. Bingley. “I planned my journey to London the day after the ball, before I welcomed my guests that night. I offer my apologies—I had intended to inform you, but the matter quite escaped my memory. I intended to return to Hertfordshire after four or five days, so I did not concern myself about taking my leave.”
“Then something prevented your return?” asked Jane, trying to understand.
The smile fell away, replaced by careful neutrality. “Two days after my departure, my sisters and my friend joined me in London. Though I was surprised to see them, I was more shocked when they tried to dissuade me from returning to Netherfield.”
Jane considered this. “Mrs. Hurst has been nothing but kind since her return, and Mr. Hurst does not appear to concern himself with such things.”
A chuckle escaped his lips. “There you are correct—Hurst was not part of the discussion, and Louisa said only a little. Caroline and Darcy offered the most pressing arguments.”
“What can Mr. Darcy have to do on the matter?” asked Jane, looking across the room at the gentleman. It appeared Lizzy was correct about everything.
“Nothing other than a sincere concern for me,” replied Mr. Bingley. “Darcy said nothing against you—he only suggested that your attachment to me was not the equal of mine to you.”
Again, Jane paused to think about it. In time, she offered a slow nod.
“I can forgive Mr. Darcy for his mistake—I am quite reticent.”
“Just so,” replied Mr. Bingley. “Caroline’s was the primary opposition to my return.
I apologize for offending you, Miss Bennet, but Caroline declared you were unsuitable, and I suppose from her perspective, she was not incorrect.
Caroline cares for nothing more than societal advancement and wealth. ”
“And I can provide none of those things,” said Jane with a sigh.
“I would not say that,” replied Mr. Bingley.
“Though I know nothing of your fortune, you are a gentleman’s daughter.
Whether or not you boast connections to the nobility, in that respect, at least, you are my superior.
I have not forgotten my origins as Caroline has so assiduously endeavored to do. ”
“Then those considerations prevented your return.”
Mr. Bingley nodded and took her hand. “Please accept my apologies, Miss Bennet. Caroline’s arguments did not sway me, for I care little about such things, but Darcy’s assertion about your indifference made me pause.
I should have relied on my own convictions instead of trusting the perception of another. ”
Jane sighed and smiled. “Then I understand, Mr. Bingley. The question is how we move forward.”
“That is simple,” replied the gentleman, his good humor restored.
“It is my duty to reassure you of my constancy. From this moment, I will prove myself, not only by relying on my judgment, but also by not listening to my sister’s opinions.
Caroline will not be happy with my decision, but she will accept it, or she will not be a part of our lives. ”
“That is well, Mr. Bingley,” said Jane. “I shall look forward to the coming weeks.”
The man grinned, then turned the subject, and they spoke agreeably until it was time for his departure.
THOUGH ELIZABETH NOTICED Mr. Bingley’s proximity to Jane, she had no time to consider it, for Mr. Darcy approached her the moment he offered his felicitations to Mrs. Bennet.
“Miss Elizabeth,” said the gentleman, with very little inflection in his tone. “I hope you are well.”
The gentleman might have been speaking of the weather. The comment suggested interest, but nothing else in the man’s posture confirmed it. For a moment, Elizabeth considered a caustic reply, but then the memory of her recent reconsideration of Mrs. Hurst returned, and she decided against it.
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy. I am.”
After that exchange, they engaged in a brief conversation about banal subjects punctuated by frequent silences.
What the gentleman meant by approaching her was beyond Elizabeth’s ability to understand—he appeared almost absent, his eyes locked on other parts of the room rather than her.
As she might have expected, he often looked at Mr. Bingley and Jane, but what he thought of his friend’s position remained unclear.
“I see my friend has settled by your sister again,” said Mr. Darcy in what sounded like an absent observation. “It is as if he never left Hertfordshire.”
Elizabeth glanced at the pair, seeing them in close conversation, which appeared more serious than was their custom. Again, she could not discern what Mr. Darcy thought about it, but she was not about to allow the opportunity to discover it to pass by without comment.
“It took longer than I expected, but I always thought Mr. Bingley would return. His interest in Jane was far too marked to allow him to stay away for long.”
Mr. Darcy turned to regard her. “Yes, his interest was obvious. What I could never determine was hers.”
Not liking the implication, Elizabeth said: “Mr. Darcy, I know not what you think of my sister, but you should not suppose that Jane accepts Mr. Bingley with anything other than pleasure.”
“As her sister, I suppose you have some knowledge of her sentiments,” said Mr. Darcy.
“I do,” agreed Elizabeth. “I shall not betray Jane’s confidence, but there is no reason to suppose that Mr. Bingley’s interest is greater than hers.”
Again, Mr. Darcy paused. “Miss Bennet is not . . . influenced by outside factors?”
Elizabeth understood his meaning. “If you suggest that Jane is mercenary, you may put that thought aside. Jane will not accept Mr. Bingley for anything other than pure inclination.”
“No, that is not what I meant,” said Mr. Darcy. “I have never thought ill of Miss Bennet or mistrusted her motives. But others have also made their opinions known, and those sentiments differed greatly from hers.”
“If you refer to my mother’s comments at the ball, please do not suppose that Jane would ever act in such a way.”
“Does your mother hold no sway?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “Mama’s opinions are her own, but she has no power to enforce her will. Jane is of age and may do what she pleases—my father will support her. Of this I have proof.”
Mr. Darcy appeared intrigued, but he did not pursue the subject. “Then that is well, Miss Elizabeth. I did not wish to consider your sister in a poor light, but those concerns I related were real. That she greets my friend with equal intent is welcome news.”
Curious, Elizabeth asked: “If you will pardon me, Mr. Darcy, I might not have expected such care and attention for a friend, even one of many years. You almost treat Mr. Bingley like a brother.”
“That is true,” said Mr. Darcy, chuckling.
“Our friendship is not so long-standing as you suggest, though we have been friends for five years. Bingley has often relied on me for advice, which I have given whenever asked. I do not intrude on his personal affairs lightly, but I do have an interest in his welfare.”
“Yes, your intimacy was one of the first things I noticed, especially during my stay at Netherfield.”
Mr. Darcy nodded. “There is another factor.”
Intrigued, Elizabeth gestured for the man to continue.
“Miss Bingley believes she holds great sway over her brother,” explained Mr. Darcy.
“Though Bingley has a stubborn streak that manifests when he believes he is right, Miss Bingley uses his compliant temperament shamelessly. I have often provided another interpretation or opinion during disagreements.”
“How shocking!” said Elizabeth, feigning astonishment. “Miss Bingley gives no appearance of bruised pride, Mr. Darcy. Considering her interest in you, I might have thought such opposition would provoke her to greater heights of folly.”
Mr. Darcy’s wry grin told Elizabeth he had caught her humor. “And you would be correct, though I suspect Miss Bingley would convince herself that my disagreement was not actually a disagreement. Regardless, I always advise Bingley in private.”
“Does she not protest when he acts contrary to her wishes?”
A shrug was Mr. Darcy’s response. “Perhaps she does. But it does not happen often, so I suspect she consoles herself by getting her way most of the time.”
“That is a most interesting facet of Miss Bingley and her relationship with her brother.”
Another thought occurred to Elizabeth, one unwelcome. As she thought Mr. Darcy well qualified to speak on the subject, she decided to ask.
“Pardon me, Mr. Darcy, but this talk is concerning. Should Mr. Bingley take his interest in Jane to its natural conclusion, do you suppose he will stand up to his sister and support Jane?”
To his credit, Mr. Darcy pondered the question before answering. “Since he will already defy her by coming to that point, I believe he will gain confidence in doing it. As I said, he does not like conflict and allows her to have her way, but he will not allow her to disrespect his wife.”
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy. That is good to hear.”
The conversation had an unexpected effect. It was the most civil conversation she had ever had with the gentleman, and it improved her opinion of him. Elizabeth could not but suppose they would be at odds again, but in that moment, she felt something almost resembling respect for him.