Chapter 49 Netherfield Park
Darcy had slept very little.
Elizabeth was less than three miles away.
For weeks, distance had been measured in counties and days. Now a good horse could carry him to Longbourn in a quarter of an hour, but six o'clock in the morning was hardly an acceptable hour to call upon the Bennets.
He abandoned his bed before dawn.
The stable boys had not yet come down when he entered the stable. Ares lifted his head over the stall door and greeted him with a low nicker.
Darcy saddled the gray himself and led him into the yard.
The eastern sky had begun to lighten when they left Netherfield.
He took the road toward Meryton without deciding where he meant to go.
The air was cool, and a thin mist lay over the lower fields.
By the time the first sunlight touched the hedgerows, he had left the road and was following a narrow lane between two pastures.
Oakham Mount rose ahead of him.
Darcy slowed Ares.
He had never seen it before, but Elizabeth's letter had named the place. The mount stood above the surrounding countryside, its summit crowned by oaks.
He urged Ares forward.
A well-worn path climbed the slope. Near the summit, the trees thickened until Darcy rode beneath their branches and into the grove.
He dismounted.
The sun had cleared the horizon. Trees, fields, and hedgerows stretched toward Meryton, and beyond them, several estates dotted the countryside, including Netherfield.
For several minutes, he stood beside Ares and watched the morning brighten.
Then he looked around the grove.
No house stood within sight of the summit. From the road below, no traveler could have known who waited among the trees.
Darcy's hand tightened around the reins.
Wickham had chosen his meeting place well.
Grateful that Elizabeth and her sisters had escaped without harm, Darcy mounted Ares and started down the hill.
Wickham would not have another opportunity.
* * *
Darcy returned to Netherfield as the household was beginning to stir. He left Ares with a groom and went upstairs to bathe and dress.
When he entered the breakfast room, Bingley was already at the table.
“Charles, I did not expect to see you awake so early.”
“I could not sleep. I have been thinking of Longbourn since before daylight. Do you suppose eleven is a proper hour to call?”
“Eleven will do very well.”
“I should not like to arrive at an inconvenient hour, but I have been looking forward to seeing Miss Bennet again. Upon my honor, Darcy, I do not believe I have ever seen a more beautiful woman. I thought so the moment I entered the room at Longbourn.”
Darcy’s eyes crinkled. “You appeared suitably smitten.”
Bingley laughed. “I hope I was not so obvious to Miss Bennet or her father. We had too little time to speak before Mr. Bennet carried us off to the study. Perhaps my memory has improved upon her beauty, but I should very much like to see her again and discover if it has.”
Georgiana entered a few minutes later.
“Good morning, Fitzwilliam. Mr. Bingley.”
“Good morning, my dear. We intend to call at Longbourn this morning.”
Her face brightened. “May I come?”
“You may.”
“At last, I shall meet Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
“And Miss Bennet,” Bingley said. “You must meet Miss Jane Bennet. Darcy may have told you of her, but I assure you he has not done her justice.”
“Fitzwilliam told me she is very beautiful.”
“Very beautiful does not begin to describe her, for she is as amiable as she is lovely. How she has escaped becoming vain is astonishing. You will see what I mean when you meet her.”
“I look forward to meeting all of the sisters.”
Caroline entered as Georgiana poured her tea.
“Are you speaking of the Bennet sisters?”
“We are going to Longbourn this morning,” Bingley said. “Georgiana is coming with us.”
“Then I should like to accompany you.” Caroline turned to Darcy. “Charles has spoken of Miss Jane Bennet this past fortnight. I am curious to meet her.”
“Then you must come, sister. I shall include Louisa and Hurst when they come down.”
“I doubt either of them will be down in time. Louisa was very tired last night and said she intended to sleep late.”
“Then we need not disturb them. They can call another day.”
Caroline took the chair on the other side of Mr. Darcy. “What time do you intend to leave?”
“Half past ten,” Bingley said. “Darcy believes eleven is a proper hour to call.”
“I shall be ready.”
“So shall I,” Georgiana said.
Bingley reached for his coffee. “I hope Miss Bennet will be at home.”
“Where else would she be at eleven in the morning?” Caroline asked, laughing.
“I have no idea, but I shall be very sorry if she is not.”
* * *
At half past ten, the four of them left Netherfield in Bingley's carriage. Georgiana and Caroline sat opposite the gentlemen, and Bingley continued to speak of Longbourn and the Bennet family for much of the short journey.
When the carriage entered the drive, Darcy looked toward the house and saw a black ribbon hanging upon the door. Bingley noticed it a moment later.
“Darcy, they are in mourning.”
The carriage stopped before the house. Darcy stepped down, and Bingley followed. He handed both women down from the carriage.
Hill answered their knock, dressed in black.
Bingley removed his hat. “Ma'am, we arrived from London yesterday and did not know there had been a death in the family. Please accept my condolences.”
“Thank you, sir. My mistress died four days ago. We buried her yesterday.”
“Mrs. Bennet? I am very sorry. I hope Mr. Bennet and his daughters are well. This is a difficult time for the family.”
“Yes, sir.”
“We would not wish to intrude upon them so soon after the burial. Perhaps you might ask whether they would prefer that we call another day.”
“Of course, sir. If you will wait here.”
Hill left them in the entrance hall.
Georgiana moved closer to her brother. “Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth did not tell us.”
“She could not have. Her last letter was written before this happened.”
Caroline stood near Bingley. “You look distressed, brother. You could not have known of this.”
“No, but I wish I had. Miss Bennet has lost her mother, and I sat at breakfast speaking of how eager I was to see her.”
“You had no reason to think anything was wrong.”
Hill returned a few minutes later. “Mr. Bennet asks that you come in, sir. Miss Bennet will receive you in the drawing room.”
Bingley offered Caroline his arm while Darcy escorted Georgiana.
Jane rose when they entered. Elizabeth, Mary, and Kitty were with her. All the sisters were dressed in black bombazine.
Bingley went directly to Jane. “Miss Bennet, I am very sorry. We did not learn of your mother's death until we arrived at the door. Had we known, we would not have intruded upon your family so soon after the burial.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bingley. It was very sudden, but you are not intruding. We are glad to see you.”
Bingley bowed and stepped aside so Darcy could offer his condolences.
“Miss Bennet, please accept my deepest sympathy.”
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy.”
He turned to Elizabeth. “Miss Elizabeth, I am very sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Bingley brought Caroline forward. “Miss Bennet, may I present my sister, Miss Caroline Bingley?” Turning to Georgiana, he added, “And this is Miss Darcy, sister to Mr. Darcy.”
Jane greeted the two women, and Elizabeth waited beside her until they turned to her. They exchanged curtsies, but none spoke for a moment. Caroline took the chair Jane indicated.
Georgiana said, “My brother has told me something of Netherfield and the surrounding neighborhood, Miss Elizabeth. I am very pleased to meet you.”
“And I you, Miss Darcy.”
“Miss Elizabeth, I noticed a small building among the trees as we came up the drive. Is it a hermitage?”
“It is. A great-grandfather of mine built it more than a hundred years ago.”
“It looked rather intriguing from the carriage. Is it far from the house?”
“Not far. It stands beyond the garden near the edge of the wood.”
Kitty, who had been listening from a nearby chair, joined them. “We used to spend hours there when we were younger. Jane would bring a book, but Lydia could never sit still long enough to read one.”
Georgiana glanced at Elizabeth. “I should like to see it while we are here, if you would not mind.”
“Of course. We can walk there after tea.”
“May I come as well?” Kitty asked. “I should like to be outside in the sunshine for a while.”
“Of course, Kitty. You may come with us.”
Mary looked over from her chair. “If everyone means to walk, I should like to go as well. I have been indoors nearly all week.”
“Then we shall all go,” Elizabeth said.
* * *
After tea, they gathered in the entrance hall, where Hill helped the guests with their outer garments.
Caroline stood nearby waiting for the door to be opened, a handkerchief in one hand.
Mary noticed it.
“Miss Bingley, may I ask about your handkerchief? The embroidery is very fine.”
Caroline glanced down at it. “Do you think so?”
“Indeed. The flowers are beautifully shaded. Did you embroider them yourself?”
“I did.”
Caroline spread the handkerchief across her palm so Mary could see the work more clearly.
“I have been trying to improve my embroidery for some time. I was taught the usual stitches at school, of course, but I have lately discovered how much there is to learn if one wishes to do more than merely cover a piece of linen with flowers.”
Jane stepped nearer to examine it.
“You have used several shades in each of the petals.”
“Five in the larger roses. I began with three, but they looked flat, so I took them out and began again.”
“You were right to do so,” Jane said. “The lighter silk contrasts well with the darker and gives the petals depth.”
Caroline looked pleased. “That is precisely what I hoped to accomplish. I have been studying every piece of fine embroidery I encounter and trying to discover how the effect was achieved.”
Mary said, “Jane is the finest needlewoman among us. She has several pieces upstairs that I am certain you would enjoy.”
“I should like that very much, if Miss Bennet would permit it.”