Chapter 5 #2
She suddenly felt an overwhelming need to see her most rebellious daughter.
Elizabeth was reading quietly in her room when Mrs Bennet flung open the door without knocking. She entered, paced the room several times, and said nothing.
“Mama, is something the matter?” Elizabeth asked, setting aside her book.
“Lizzy,” Mrs Bennet began anxiously, “I want you to know that I love you very much. If I wished you to marry Mr Collins, it was only because I believed it was for your own good. I know we do not always understand one another, but you are my daughter, and you always shall be.”
She continued speaking in much the same manner for several minutes, scarcely pausing for breath.
Elizabeth could not help smiling.
Whenever her mother became particularly agitated, she tended to speak without the least order to her thoughts.
“Mama,” she said gently, “I know you love me, and I hope you know that I love you too.”
“Come here, you impertinent girl,” Mrs Bennet said through her tears, drawing Elizabeth into a tight embrace.
◆◆◆
Caroline Bingley had insisted that her brother pay a call on their dear friend Georgiana.
As she entered Darcy House, she was once again struck by its grandeur. The magnificent rooms, the elegant furnishings, and everything the house represented never failed to impress her.
Yet the greatest prize of all was Fitzwilliam Darcy himself. He was handsome, wealthy, intelligent, and heir to one of the finest estates in England.
Caroline admired everything he represented, though she scarcely knew the man beneath that distinguished exterior.
She imagined the elegant carriages she would ride in as Mrs Darcy, the magnificent jewels she would wear, and the envy of every lady in London as they watched her walking proudly beside so desirable a gentleman.
It mattered little that they had exchanged scarcely more than a few inconsequential conversations.
In Caroline's imagination, they were destined to marry.
When the Bingleys entered the drawing-room, Georgiana was engaged in an animated conversation with a pleasant-looking young lady.
Though Lady Claire was not remarkably beautiful, both she and the elegant lady accompanying her were dressed with such refinement that Caroline immediately concluded they belonged to a family of consequence.
Mr Darcy, meanwhile, found himself decidedly uncomfortable.
Lady Emma had arrived more than half an hour earlier, and it was perfectly obvious that she wished him and her daughter to become better acquainted.
Unfortunately, he found Lady Claire rather dull.
Worse still, every time he looked at her, he found himself thinking of Elizabeth.
At least Lady Claire had shown genuine kindness towards Georgiana, and the two young ladies had quickly become friends. Mr Darcy knew that many ladies attempted to gain his favour through his sister, so he preferred to keep his distance.
Therefore, when Bingley entered the room, he immediately recognised the perfect opportunity to escape.
“Bingley, Miss Bingley, Mrs Hurst—welcome.”
Before her siblings could speak, Caroline said in her sweetest voice, “Thank you for receiving us, Mr Darcy. We always feel perfectly at home whenever we have the privilege of visiting one of your residences.”
“Allow me to introduce my other guests—Lady Emma and her daughter, Lady Claire,” said Mr Darcy.
“A pleasure,” Lady Emma replied politely, though without much warmth.
Lady Claire murmured a greeting and offered the Bingleys a timid smile, but her voice was so soft that no one quite caught her words. She had always been painfully shy and never felt at ease in the company of strangers.
After introducing his visitors to Lady Emma and Lady Claire, he turned to his friend.
“Bingley, I should like a word with you regarding a matter of business. Ladies, if you will excuse us.”
The two gentlemen withdrew to the study, leaving the ladies together.
Lady Claire thoroughly enjoyed Georgiana's company. Although naturally shy, she became an engaging companion once her initial reserve disappeared.
When she learned that Colonel Fitzwilliam was Georgiana's cousin and guardian, she could not resist asking about him.
Georgiana delighted in recounting one amusing story after another about her cousin, and with every anecdote, Lady Claire became increasingly convinced that Colonel Fitzwilliam was the most remarkable gentleman she had ever met.
The moment Caroline discovered that the young lady was the daughter of an Earl, she immediately perceived her as a rival.
She had no intention of allowing anyone—however well born—to stand between herself and Mr Darcy.
“Lady Claire,” Caroline began with an affected smile, “I do not believe we have had the pleasure of seeing you very often in society.”
Lady Claire coloured slightly. “I attend all the balls and dinners to which my parents are invited,” she replied quietly.
“Indeed? Then perhaps you do not attend many balls, for I do not recall ever having seen you at one.”
“I am not certain that the daughter of an Earl is expected to attend the same assemblies as a young lady of your acquaintance,” Lady Emma replied coolly.
She could scarcely believe the audacity of such an obvious social climber, nor her daughter's willingness to endure so pointed an insult without protest.
“And how have you been, dear Georgiana?” Mrs Hurst asked quickly, anxious to prevent her sister from provoking any further unpleasantness.
Mrs Hurst, Lady Claire, and Georgiana continued their conversation pleasantly, while Lady Emma and Caroline exchanged one carefully veiled barb after another.
Lady Emma made several pointed observations regarding Caroline's origins, while Caroline subtly suggested that Lady Claire was too insignificant to attract much notice in society.
Each remark was delivered with perfect politeness and disguised as a gesture of concern.
Meanwhile, in the study, Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley sat over their brandy until the conversation inevitably turned to Hertfordshire.
“Darcy,” Bingley began, “do you think it would be unwise for me to return to Netherfield? There is still a great deal I must learn about managing an estate, and I confess I was very happy in the country. Do not concern yourself—I know you cannot accompany me.”
Mr Darcy regarded his friend thoughtfully before replying.
“Bingley, are you quite certain that it is advisable? You cannot ignore the marked preference you showed Miss Bennet. It naturally gave rise to expectations. If you return to Netherfield while remaining unwilling to fulfil those expectations, you will place the young lady in a most uncomfortable position.”
He could scarcely believe they were discussing Miss Bennet once again. How could Bingley be so easily governed by his feelings and pay so little attention to what propriety demanded?
He remained convinced that Miss Bennet had never truly cared for his friend. His own attachment to Elizabeth, by contrast, had been infinitely deeper—and, he believed, returned. Yet he had resolved to renounce her forever.
Painful though the sacrifice might be, his first duty was to his family and to Pemberley.
“You are right, Darcy,” Mr Bingley replied after a pause. “I should be very sorry if Miss Bennet ever believed herself obliged to marry me.”
In truth, however, Mr Bingley hoped his friend would eventually cease opposing his return to Hertfordshire. He wished to see Jane again, yet he lacked the confidence to disregard the advice of the man whose judgment he trusted above all others.
◆◆◆
Everyone at Longbourn eagerly awaited the Gardiners' arrival, Lydia no less than the rest. She particularly looked forward to the gifts Aunt Gardiner invariably brought for her.
Edward and Madeline Gardiner had now been married for fourteen years and had two children: a son of thirteen and a daughter of eleven. Both were remarkably well behaved and greatly beloved by Jane and Elizabeth, who had watched them grow up from infancy.
Mr Bennet, however, was far from at ease.
He had written to Mr Gardiner beforehand, explaining Eleanor's presence at Longbourn and the reason he had introduced her as a cousin. He knew his brother-in-law to be an honourable man and remembered that he and Ella had been the closest of friends throughout childhood and youth.
Madeline Gardiner was equally concerned.
Ever since Edward had received Mr Bennet's letter, he had become unusually quiet and thoughtful. She knew that learning Eleanor Bennet was still alive had deeply affected him, yet she sensed there was something more troubling him, though she could not imagine what it might be.
When the Gardiners at last arrived at Longbourn, everyone welcomed them with genuine delight.
Eleanor watched the cheerful reunion with quiet happiness. For the first time in many years, she felt herself part of a family she had long believed lost to her forever.
After receiving warm embraces from the family, Mr Gardiner approached Eleanor with evident emotion.
“It does my heart good to see you again, Ella,” he said warmly. “And to know that you have lived a happy life all these years. You have never been absent from my thoughts.”
“Thank you, my dear old friend,” Eleanor replied, embracing him affectionately. “It brings me great happiness to see you again as well. The girls have told me about your thriving business and the beautiful family you and your wife have built together.”
“I have indeed been a fortunate man,” Edward said with a smile. “And I owe much of that happiness to my wife. Ella, allow me to introduce you properly. This is my beloved wife, Madeline Gardiner. My dear, this is Eleanor Bennet—or, as the world now knows her, Lady Campbell.”
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my Lady,” Mrs Gardiner said with a graceful curtsey.
“The pleasure is entirely mine, Mrs Gardiner,” Eleanor replied warmly. “But I hope you will call me Ella, as my family does.”
“Only if you will call me Madeline.”
“With the greatest pleasure.”