Miss Bennet & Mr Bingley (10 page)

‘Lizzy, it is time that you repaired to your own room and changed for
dinner. Promise me you will behave?’

‘I shall promise to be polite to everyone for your sake, dearest
sister,’ and with a smile and kiss she ran out laughing.

Tonight the card table did not appear. Darcy, had told him he intended
to write a letter to his sister, Georgiana, and Caroline was watching the
progress of this missive, constantly interrupting him by asking him to add
messages to his sister from her.

He turned to his brother-in-law. ‘Well, Hurst, shall we have a hand of
Piquet? Everyone else is happily occupied. Miss Elizabeth has her needlework,
and Darcy his letter to write.’

It was hard to concentrate on the game with the constant chatter between
Caroline and the laconic answers from Darcy. Eventually he was moved to
intervene, as Caroline was giving the poor fellow no chance to complete his
note.

Conversation flowed back and forth and he was pleased to notice that
Darcy and Elizabeth appeared to be getting a great deal of pleasure from it.
They discussed whether it was a good thing to be influenced by a friend or to
be of firm character and to make up one’s own mind.

‘By all means,’ he interrupted, ‘hear all the particulars, not
forgetting their comparative merits; decide which will have more weight. I
assure you that were Darcy not such a great tall fellow, in comparison with
myself, I should not take half so much notice of his opinion. I declare I do
not know a more awful object than Darcy, on particular occasions, and in
particular places; at his own house especially, and of a Sunday evening when he
has nothing to do.’

His friend smiled, but Charles could see that he was rather offended. He
noticed that Elizabeth hid her own amusement perhaps not wishing to add to
Darcy’s discomfiture. Caroline told him he was talking nonsense. ‘I see your
design, Bingley,’ Darcy eventually said. ‘You dislike argument, and wish to
silence this one.’

‘Perhaps I do. Arguments are too much like disputes. If you and Miss
Bennet will defer yours until I am out of the room, I should be very thankful;
then you may say whatever you like about me.’

‘What you ask,’ said Elizabeth, ‘is no sacrifice on my side. Mr Darcy
had much better finish his letter.’

 
His friend took her advice, and
returned to his writing, leaving him to consider whether in fact he did allow
himself to be too influenced by others. When the letter was completed Caroline
moved at once to the pianoforte and began to play. From his position on the
sidelines he watched Darcy staring at Elizabeth. Then to his astonishment when
Caroline began to play a lively Scotch air, his friend got to his feet and
walked over and addressed their guest.

‘Do not you feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an
opportunity of dancing a reel?’

She smiled but made no answer, and so Darcy repeated the question
obviously surprised at her silence. ‘I asked if you would care to join me in a
reel?’

‘Oh! I heard you before; but I could not immediately determine what to
say in reply. You wanted me, I know, to say yes, that you might have the
pleasure of despising my taste. However, I always delight in overthrowing those
kind of schemes, and cheating a person of their premeditated contempt. I have
therefore made up my own mind to tell you, that I do not want to dance at all,
and now despise me if you dare.’ Elizabeth smiled sweetly at Darcy and Charles
could see that he was disarmed by it and smiled down at her with equal charm.

‘Indeed, Miss Bennet, I should not dare.’

The two fell into a softly murmured conversation which he could not
overhear; he could see his sister looking daggers and knew her to be jealous.
Caroline had set her cap at Darcy years ago, but so far his friend had been no
more than polite, he thought the interest was all on her side. How much of this
was because his friend was a handsome and desirable husband, or because he was
rich, he did not care to speculate.

Darcy would be much better off with someone like Elizabeth; she was the
first woman with the courage to stand up to him and maybe this had piqued his
interest.
She seemed to be always teasing him and it only seemed to make
Darcy more determined to be in her company. Bingley thought of all the women
who had thrown themselves at Darcy over the years.

There had been Clarissa something
or other, she had been everything his friend wanted for a wife - from a good
family, pretty and quite definitely not opinionated. He grinned, the poor girl
had been so terrified of Darcy she barely opened her mouth in his presence.

Then the most recent was the
daughter of an earl, Lady Marianne Carruthers. This young lady was an
incomparable, reasonably intelligent and with a pedigree better than Darcy’s.
Lady Marianne had been as determined as her mother to capture him. Bingley
smiled at the memory. Poor Darcy had been reduced to peering around doors
before entering the room in case either of the ladies were waiting for him. In
the end he had retreated, in the middle of the season, to Pemberley where he
was safe.

The girl had been married to a duke
twice her age, it was no wonder she had been desperate to make his friend the
alternative. Some had even pretended not to be interested in the hope that that
would catch his attention, but they had been easy to see through. Whereas with
Elizabeth it was genuine. Whether Darcy would still be intrigued by her if he
did manage to win her respect Charles did not know. However, it would be
fascinating to find out.

He suspected that Caroline would not find it interesting, in fact he was
certain that she would do everything in her power to turn his friend against
Jane’s sister.
He frowned. He wished everyone to be happy and
comfortable, but he feared there were some stormy times ahead.

 
* * * *

Jane was hoping that Elizabeth would call in and speak to her before she
retired. She was feeling a little better and more than ready to be entertained
before she went to sleep. A little after eleven o’clock the door opened softly.

‘Are you awake, Jane? Shall I come in and tell you how the evening
went?’

‘Oh, yes, come in Lizzy. Tell me, in what way did Mr Darcy displease you
this evening?’

Once settled comfortably beside her on the bed Elizabeth began to tell
her about her evening. ‘Miss Bingley invited me to play but I refused, I shall
not perform and have her pour scorn on my efforts.’

‘And Mr Bingley, what did he say for himself this evening? Did he
enquire after me?’

‘Of course he did, you goose, he was most insistent that I take his good
wishes up with me. So far I believe you have had three books, three notes, a
fruit bowl and a flower arrangement; I do not think he could do more if he
tried.’

‘He has been very kind, but he could do so much better than me, I have
no fortune and my family connections leave a lot to be desired.’

‘In Mr Darcy’s opinion perhaps, but I am certain Bingley should not let
something like that stand between him and the woman he loved. Do you know, Mr
Darcy asked me to dance with him.’

Jane was astounded. ‘I thought he never danced! I take it from your
smile that you refused.’

‘Indeed I did, I vowed never to dance with him after he was so
insufferably rude to me at the Meryton assembly a few weeks ago.’

‘It is odd, do not you think, that he asked you in the first place? I
wonder if he is developing a fondness for you? What other reason could there
be?’

Her sister scrambled from the bed. ‘What fustian you speak sometimes, my
dear sister. I am certain he only asked me in order to find fault with the way
I danced.’

‘Surely not? He is everything that is polite, I cannot believe he would
be so ungentlemanly.’

‘Well, you have not spent as much time his company as I have recently.
He finds country people of little interest and believ
e
s London society
is superior in every way. As for the idea that he would lower himself to
develop a
tendre
for a provincial like myself, it is quite absurd! Have
you forgotten, Mr Darcy is the owner of Pemberley and in receipt of £10,000 a
year!’

 
‘
Oh Lizzy, do be serious.’

‘I am being serious. Mr Darcy has
not the slightest interest in me I can assure you.
Now, you must go to sleep and I shall see you
in the morning.’

Dutifully Jane lay down, but
she
was not so sure. Lizzy and Darcy? Was it possible that both she and her sister
were about to be involved with gentlemen at Netherfield?

Jane felt so much better the following evening that after she had eaten
the supper that had been sent up, she allowed Elizabeth to help her dress. ‘I
own, Lizzy, that it will be pleasant to be in company again after being shut up
here so long.’

‘Jane, you have not been short of visitors, surely?’

She felt her cheeks colour, her sister’s sharp intelligence had
understood at once that she was referring to Mr Bingley. He had not come
himself to see her, that would not have done, but every day he had sent
messages of encouragement and concern and now that she was feeling better she
could not wait to see him and thank him in person for his kind enquiries.

In the drawing-room both Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst greeted her with
many profusions of pleasure and made themselves so agreeable that Jane felt her
sister had been sorely mistaken in her opinion of them. But, when the gentlemen
entered, she could not help but see that Miss Bingley’s eyes were instantly
turned towards Mr Darcy. Hers were drawn to Mr Bingley who rushed to her side.

‘My dear Miss Bennet, I am so glad to see you down here with us. How are
you feeling? Here, allow me to adjust your cushions.’

Laughing, Jane waved him away. ‘I am very comfortable, thank you, Mr
Bingley. I have been well looked after. And I must thank you personally, for
the messages, fruit and flowers and books that you have sent to my bedchamber
these past days.’

‘It was entirely my pleasure, Miss Bennet. I do believe that fire is not
sufficiently powerful to keep you warm.’

She watched as he piled logs on to it and when he suggested that she
moved to the far side of the fireplace, so that she was further from the door,
she agreed. This meant sitting on a
chaise-longue
; immediately he placed
himself beside her, and they were able to talk privately together.

‘I am so pleased to be here after so long upstairs. I must apologize for
being a sore trial and adding extra work to your household.’

‘Enough! I shall have no more talk of apologizing or of being a nuisance.
You could stay here all year and I should not be dissatisfied.’

Jane felt her cheeks colour under his scrutiny. Was she reading more
into his remarks than he meant? Surely to say such a thing must mean he
returned her affections in some measure. She decided to answer flippantly, not
to take his words too seriously. ‘You might not be, sir, but I can assure you
my family would have something to say on the matter. I should be sorely
missed.’

‘Indeed you would, what I should have said, my dear Miss Bennet, is that
I should never tire of your company.’ He smiled at her and she felt herself
dazzled by his charm and affability. ‘Did you know that Miss Lydia reminded me
that I had promised to hold a ball here, Miss Bennet? I said I could not
possibly do so until you were well enough to attend. Should you like me to hold
a ball at Netherfield? I would like to know your opinion on the subject?’

‘I should like that above anything, Mr Bingley. When shall you hold this
ball do you think?’

He was not able to make a reply as Miss Bingley, hearing the mention of
a ball, turned suddenly towards him and said. ‘Fie, Charles, are you really
seriously considering holding a dance at Netherfield? I would remind you,
before you do so, to consult the wishes of the present party; I am much
mistaken if there are not some among us to whom it will be rather a punishment
than a pleasure.’

‘If you mean Darcy, he may go to bed if he chooses before it begins. But
as for the ball, I have been telling Miss Bennet it is quite a settled thing. And
once Nicholls has made white soup enough I shall send around my cards.’

He turned back to her with a grin. ‘Darcy does not like to dance; he
prefers to talk. Now, Miss Bennet, you must tell me what it is that you most
like to do with your time?’

‘I like to ride, unfortunately no one else in my house enjoys the pass
time, so I take my rides alone.’

‘You shall do so no longer, in future we shall go out together. I am
sure that no one could object to us riding if we take a groom with us.’

‘I should enjoy that greatly; however I cannot make definite plans as I
never know when a riding horse shall be available to me.’

‘In which case, I shall provide your mount myself.’

Jane spent a delightful evening discussing the pleasures of the
countryside as opposed to town until Mr Bingley was called away to turn the
music for his sister. This gave her the leisure to observe
her
sister.
Elizabeth and Mr Darcy were engaged in a lively exchange and she did not
understand the half of it, she much preferred to talk of commonplaces or even
to sit in silence, if Mr Bingley was beside her.