Chapter 2
Elizabeth was enraged. Knowing that it would rain, her mother had sent Jane on horseback to call upon Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst. She was equally disappointed in her father for allowing her mother to devise such schemes.
As a result of her mother's machinations, Jane had fallen ill and now had no one to care for her in the house of people she scarcely knew.
Elizabeth walked more than three miles across the fields, and her boots and petticoat were muddied. Yet she did not regret it. She could not remain at Longbourn waiting for news; she wished to ascertain whether her sister required assistance.
Before entering the house, Elizabeth cleaned her boots and adjusted her hair to appear at her best. She was well aware of how critical Mr Bingley's sisters and his friend might prove to be.
Upon entering the drawing-room, Elizabeth immediately perceived Louisa and Caroline's disdain and the censure in the arrogant Mr Darcy's gaze.
Mr Bingley appeared surprised but kind, while Mr Hurst ignored her altogether.
There was also an elegant lady in the room whom Elizabeth had never seen before.
At least the lady regarded her with curiosity and even smiled.
Yet Elizabeth supposed that if she were a friend of Miss Bingley and her sister, she would undoubtedly prove equally proud and arrogant.
"Miss Elizabeth, please come in. How delightful that you were able to join us," said Mr Bingley as he welcomed her.
"Did you come alone? We did not hear any carriage approaching," added Miss Bingley scornfully.
"I came alone, Miss Bingley. You did not hear a carriage because I walked," Elizabeth explained.
"Oh... I see," said Caroline with disdain. She wished Lady Campbell to understand that the wild chit bore no resemblance to them.
Mr Bingley's sisters then subjected Elizabeth to a series of impertinent questions, which she endeavoured to answer with the utmost courtesy.
Meanwhile, Mr Darcy merely observed, with no inclination to engage in conversation.
Elizabeth looked lovelier than usual, her cheeks flushed and her eyes brightened by exercise.
At that moment, he wondered how he could ever have thought her merely tolerable.
He only hoped she would soon depart, sparing him the necessity of interacting with her.
Growing impatient with the endless questions, Elizabeth thought it best to return to the object of her visit.
"Mr Bingley, would it be possible to see my sister? I should like to know whether she feels better."
"Of course, Miss Elizabeth. But first, allow me to introduce you to our guest," said Mr Bingley, presenting Lady Campbell, whom Elizabeth greeted with great respect.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Elizabeth," replied Eleanor, who could not help regarding her with interest.
“The pleasure is mine, my Lady,” Elizabeth replied.
To prevent Elizabeth from drawing Lady Campbell's attention, Caroline and Louisa immediately offered to accompany her upstairs.
"Miss Eliza, allow us to show you the chamber where Jane is resting."
"Of course. Thank you for your kindness," replied Elizabeth, and she followed her hostesses from the room.
The three gentlemen soon excused themselves and went out to inspect the estate, leaving Eleanor alone to reflect upon all that had transpired during the past hour.
The little girl she had once known was now lying ill in an upstairs chamber. Elizabeth was, in all probability, the child Fanny had been carrying when Eleanor suffered that dreadful disappointment and left Longbourn.
She tried to imagine what Jane might be like as a grown woman. As a little girl, she had been lovely and sweet. Elizabeth, meanwhile, was undoubtedly intelligent, spirited, and independent. Had circumstances been different, Eleanor thought she might have enjoyed knowing her far better.
Eleanor did not know what Thomas had told the girls about her.
Therefore, before revealing her identity, she must first speak with him.
Yet she did not feel ready for such a meeting.
Perhaps later in the day, she might find an opportunity to converse with Elizabeth and discover how much the family knew of her.
When the housekeeper informed Eleanor that her chamber was ready, she decided to retire and rest while considering what course she ought to pursue. Too many unforeseen events had occurred, and she needed time to carefully determine her next steps.
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After resting for a few hours, Eleanor returned to the drawing-room to converse with her hosts. The gentlemen had already returned and were gathered together in conversation with the ladies, with the exception of Mr Darcy, who sat reading in a corner.
At first, the sisters did not notice Eleanor's entrance. They continued making venomous remarks about Elizabeth, her appearance, her three-mile walk, and her supposed wildness.
“Mr Darcy, I hope that Miss Eliza's behaviour did not diminish your admiration for her fine eyes,” Caroline said mockingly to the gentleman she admired.
Without raising his eyes from his book, he merely replied, “Not at all. They were brightened by the exercise.”
Eleanor found these remarks rather curious. It was evident that Miss Bingley was interested in Mr Darcy, and for some reason, she regarded Elizabeth as a potential rival.
“I must confess,” said Caroline with a disdainful smile, “that I find the Bennets a very peculiar family.”
“Indeed,” replied Louisa. “One uncle is merely a country attorney.”
“And the other,” Caroline added, unable to suppress a laugh, “is engaged in trade and lives in Cheapside.”
“I cannot imagine anything more unfortunate,” said Louisa. “Such connections must be a severe disadvantage to any young lady.”
“Especially if she hopes to marry well,” Caroline agreed. “No matter how pretty or accomplished a woman may be, such relations are difficult to overlook.”
“I daresay they are accustomed to it,” said Louisa carelessly. “People of that sort seldom perceive the difference between themselves and their betters.”
Both sisters laughed, apparently finding the subject highly amusing.
Mr Bingley was rather ashamed of his sisters' behaviour. Finding their remarks both ill-bred and disrespectful, he quickly intervened to prevent them from pursuing the subject any further.
“If they had uncles enough to fill all Cheapside, it would not make them one jot less agreeable.”
“But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world,” replied Mr Darcy.
Eleanor was astonished. Never before had she witnessed so much conceit displayed in the course of a single conversation. Mr Bingley's sisters and Mr Darcy were undoubtedly arrogant and appeared firmly convinced of their own superiority.
She concluded that the uncle in Cheapside must be her old friend Edward Gardiner. She longed to know what had become of him. He had been a little more than a year younger than she, and they had always been good friends. Edward was intelligent and diligent, so very different from his sisters.
Observing Lady Campbell's presence, Caroline attempted to excuse herself.
“I am sorry, my lady, but here in the country, the people are not sophisticated, and some are even rather wild. They are ordinary people, unlike those with whom we are accustomed to associate in London.”
“Do not concern yourself, Miss Bingley. In such matters, I follow Mr Bingley's example. I judge people by who they are, not by their families.”
Caroline disliked the baroness's reply, yet she would not contradict a lady of superior rank before Mr Darcy.
“Of course, my lady.”
“Without doubt, you are very generous,” Louisa added, hoping to ease the awkwardness.
Fortunately, at that moment, Elizabeth entered the drawing-room.
“Miss Bingley, I wished to thank you for your hospitality and to inform you that I shall soon be returning to Longbourn,” she said politely.
“You are leaving already?” asked Mr Bingley in surprise.
“I am afraid I must, sir. I only wished to see how Jane was progressing.”
Mr Bingley's expression grew thoughtful.
“But Miss Bennet is still far from recovered, is she not?”
“She is improved, but she remains weak,” Elizabeth admitted.
“In that case, why should you return home?” asked Mr Bingley kindly. “If it would ease your mind, Miss Elizabeth, you are more than welcome to remain at Netherfield and attend to your sister until she is completely restored to health.”
Elizabeth was genuinely touched by his consideration.
“You are very generous, Mr Bingley.”
“Nonsense. We are delighted to have Miss Bennet under our roof, and I am certain my sisters will have no objection to extending the same hospitality to you.”
Caroline and Louisa exchanged brief glances before forcing polite smiles.
“Of course not,” said Caroline.
“We shall be very pleased to have you stay with us,” Louisa added.
Elizabeth suspected that neither lady was as pleased as she claimed to be, but Jane's comfort was of greater importance than their feelings.
“Thank you, Mr Bingley. I am most grateful for your generous invitation.”
“It will be an honour to accommodate you for as long as is necessary,” Mr Bingley replied with a considerate smile.
“Thank you, sir. You are most kind.”
Eleanor observed the way Mr Darcy looked at Elizabeth and began to understand Miss Bingley's hostility towards her.
She disliked seeing a gentleman who openly disparaged her niece regard her with such evident admiration whenever he believed himself unobserved.
She did not yet know either Mr Darcy or Elizabeth well, but she could not help suspecting that his interest was not guided by honourable intentions.
Otherwise, why speak of the Bennets with such contempt while watching her with such admiration?
◆◆◆
Elizabeth found Jane asleep and decided to rejoin the rest of the party in the drawing-room. Dinner had been most unpleasant. Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst had made all manner of offensive remarks, and Mr Darcy, as ever, had regarded her with disapproval.