Miss Bennet & Mr Bingley (6 page)

He had only known Jane Bennet for a
few weeks, but already he knew himself to like her above all others he had ever
met. The moment he had seen her standing with her sister at the first Meryton
assembly he had been drawn to her. He smiled; she was by far the loveliest
woman in the room and if he was honest that is what had attracted him
initially.

Her nut brown hair, perfect oval
face and sparkling eyes had enchanted him; but it was her sweet smile, her
gentleness and ease of conversation that had held him at her side. He had
learnt since that, like him, she preferred to be outdoors and on horseback
rather than on foot. He closed his eyes and let his mind drift back to the
various conversations they had shared.

She was not especially witty,
unlike her sister Miss Elizabeth, but had a lively sense of humour and was
ready to share a jest as long as it was not at anyone else’s expense. He
recalled having told her about a young lady of his acquaintance who had an
unfortunate encounter with a flock of geese.

She had laughed at his description
but had then said how she hoped the young lady had not been too frightened by
the experience. What other woman would have such a kind heart? Caroline and
Louisa certainly did not; they were always quick to criticize and laugh at
another’s misfortune. But then, one could not choose ones relatives, only one's
friends.

The sound of laughter coming from
the drawing-room told him that Darcy and Hurst had changed their minds. He
supposed he had better join them; it would look decidedly odd if he was the
only member of the party missing.

‘Oh, there you are, Charles. We
were about to send out Mr Darcy as a search party. I have sent for coffee and a
supper tray, you must come and join us.’

He took his drink and sat facing
the piano forte whilst Caroline took her seat and began to play a sonata for
their entertainment. She played well, but he had heard it so many times before
he could nod and smile at the appropriate places and she would not know he was
not giving her his full attention.

When he had heard that Miss Bennet
was unwell and had made him realise that he was becoming seriously attached to
her. She was everything a young lady should be; she had a natural reserve of
character that he could not fail to admire. He might wish that Mrs Bennet and
her younger sisters were the same. But were her unfortunate relatives a barrier
to him pursuing Miss Bennet seriously?

He had imagined himself in love
before, and was certain that other young ladies had imagined themselves in love
with him, but this was different. His lips twitched as he remembered a
particular young lady whose designing mother had pounced on him on his first
appearing in society. This poor girl had been pretty enough, if one liked a
Dresden miss, but she was unable to utter a word without dissolving into
giggles and simpering at him from behind her fan. He did not believe he’d had a
sensible conversation with her all evening.

Miss Bennet was to that young lady
as chalk is to cheese; he could talk to
her
all night on any subject
without feeling he was being pursued. In fact, despite the obvious drawbacks to
her background he was forced to admit that he was beginning to feel that his
sentiments were serious. He hid a yawn behind his hand. Anyway, whatever
Caroline and Louisa liked to believe he was well aware that their fortune came
from trade. The Bingley background bore no comparison to Darcy’s. For him it
would be a downward step indeed to ally himself with a family such as the
Bennets.

Mr Bingley was so early downstairs that he was obliged to step over
maidservants, sacking tied around their waists, scrubbing the vestibule floor.
He picked his way through them, too concerned with the health of his guest to
bid his usual cheery good morning. As on the previous evening, he found his
housekeeper in her room.

‘Nicholls, have you heard from Miss Bennet’s room?’

‘I have just sent up, the girl will be down directly with the
information, sir. I shall come to you at once - where will I find you?’

‘I shall be in the library. Have coffee sent to me as soon as it is
made. Also I should like flowers picked from the hothouse, and any fruit
available from the orangery; these must be prettily arranged and sent up with
my compliments.’

He paced the library waiting for the sound of footsteps bringing him the
news he hoped would be good. He had been waiting so long he decided to go to
the breakfast parlour and see if his sisters were down. He met Caroline in the
passageway and they walked together discussing the health of their guest. He
was drinking coffee when the housekeeper eventually bustled in.

‘I apologize for keeping you waiting, Mr Bingley, but Miss Bennet had
finally fallen asleep just as the message arrived. Betty, the girl who is
looking after Miss Bennet, thought it best to let her sleep.’

‘But she is awake now? How is she, tell me at once, we have been most
anxiously waiting for news.’

‘Miss Bennet is decidedly poorly, she has a high fever, the headache and
sore throat.’

Mr Bingley turned to his sister. ‘Caroline, you must go up at once and
see how she is. She must not think of going home. Give her my best wishes for a
speedy recovery.’

 
* * * *

Jane woke for a second time and she
knew herself to be too ill to ride home. She could hear Betty conversing
quietly in the dressing room with the girl who had brought up the tray.

‘Betty, I fear that I am in
decidedly poor health. I have a fever and headache as well as a sore throat.
Please inform Miss Bingley that I shall require a message to be sent to
Longbourn asking for the carriage to be sent for me.’

Scarcely fifteen minutes had gone
by before Miss Bingley appeared in person. ‘My dear Miss Bennet, we shall not
hear of you returning until you are fully recovered. My brother is most
concerned that you are unwell and blames himself for having taken the carriage
and obliging you to ride to Netherfield.’

It was too painful to talk but Jane
managed to whisper her thanks and ask for pen and paper in order to write a
note to her sister.

My dearest Lizzy,

I find myself very unwell this
morning, which, I suppose is to be imputed to my getting wet through yesterday.
My kind friends will not hear of my returning home until I am better. They
insist also on my seeing Mr Jones, the apothecary, therefore do not be alarmed
if you should hear of his having been to see me. Excepting a sore throat and
headache there is not much the matter with me.

Yours, &c.

The note written, there was nothing
else she could do apart from sip the soothing tisane that the housekeeper had
sent up. She settled back amongst the pillows, the comforter pulled up to her
chin, and listened to the rain falling outside and the crackle of the fire in
the grate.

 
* * * *

Charles was in the breakfast parlour with Mr Darcy and his sisters when
a footman announced an unexpected visitor. To his astonishment Elizabeth Bennet
stood there, her face glowing with good health, having obviously walked the
three miles from Longbourn to Netherfield.

He jumped to his feet and heard Mr Darcy doing the same. ‘Miss
Elizabeth, good morning, I am delighted to see you here. It was my intention to
send the carriage for you later this morning. I had no idea that you should
walk when the weather is so unpleasant.’

‘I enjoyed the walk, thank you, Mr Bingley. How is my sister? I could
not rest until I had come to enquire for myself.’

‘We are most concerned; she has spent a restless night and has a high
fever.’ He turned to his sister Caroline who was exchanging glances with
Louisa. ‘Caroline, Miss Elizabeth wishes to be with Miss Bennet immediately.
Surely you could show her upstairs yourself?’

He remained on his feet until Caroline had escorted their visitor from
the room. ‘Darcy, I am most impressed by this determination to come and nurse
her sister; I hope that Mr Jones, the apothecary, shall not be late in coming
this morning. I shall not be at ease until he has examined Miss Bennet.’

Mr Darcy resumed his seat and picked up his discarded cutlery. ‘Bingley,
I am certain that Miss Bennet has contracted a cold, nothing more alarming than
that. It seems to me a trifle excessive to walk three miles in the mud rather
than wait to come in a carriage. Come now, my friend, finish your meal and
allow Caroline and Louisa to take care of the patient and her sister.’

‘I think it shows that Elizabeth Bennet is a loving sister. I cannot see
either Caroline or Louisa doing the same.’ He saw his friend smile slightly at
the image of either of these elegant young ladies appearing as she had.

‘I would like to think that someone would walk to my bedside if I was
unwell,’ Bingley went on. ‘And anyway, you must admit that Miss Elizabeth
looked well in spite of her long walk.’

He noticed Darcy’s expression change and detected a look of appreciation
in his eye and knew his friend was recalling the image.

‘Miss Elizabeth’s eyes are the finest I’ve seen.’

He was surprised at his friend’s interest, he did not believe he’d ever
heard him use such glowing terms about another woman. Was his friend not so
impervious he had first thought?

What sort of young lady would eventually capture Darcy’s heart? That she
would have to be from a good family, have lineage as respectable as his own
would be essential
. But what if he fell in love with a woman who was
unsuitable? Would he let his head rule his heart?
This would instantly rule out Miss Bennet’s sister. He
smiled
slightly at the notion of Darcy becoming so enamoured he forgot his ancient
lineage and followed his heart.
His
speculations were interrupted as Caroline appeared the head of the stairs with
the news he was waiting for.

 
* * * *

Jane dozed fitfully as she reclined
on the day bed, a warm cover draped across her aching body. She was woken by
the sound of voices approaching her sitting room. Overjoyed she pushed herself
upright looking expectantly at the door.

‘Miss Bennet, see who is here to
visit you. Miss Elizabeth has walked across the fields, by herself, in horrible
weather in order to be at your side.’

‘Lizzy, I am so glad.’ She could
manage nothing more for she felt too unwell and hoped that her smile was enough
to show how pleased she was to see her sister.

‘My dear Jane, do you think that I
should leave you languishing here alone?’ She glanced up at Miss Bingley before
continuing. ‘Three miles is nothing to me; neither are dirty stockings and a
mired skirt. Unfortunately the carriage was not available this morning so I had
no alternative but to walk.’

Miss Bingley smiled. ‘I shall leave
you to catch up, Miss Elizabeth. Please do not hesitate to ring and ask for
anything that you might require to alleviate your patient’s condition.’

‘Thank you, you have been too
kind.’

 
Miss Bingley left them together. Immediately
Elizabeth tossed her cloak and bonnet to one side and swiftly unlaced her stout
walking boots. ‘If I leave these by the fire, Jane, no doubt they shall be
dried out by the time I wish to put them on this afternoon.’

Jane did not feel herself equal to
conversation and after Miss Bingley had left them together found she could
attempt little beside expressions of gratitude for the extraordinary kindness
she was receiving. Elizabeth silently attended her.

When a basket of hothouse fruit and
a huge vase of flowers arrived with a note from Mr Bingley wishing her a speedy
recovery and sending his warmest regards, she was most gratified.

‘Where shall I put the arrangement,
Jane?’

She gestured towards a side table.
‘Place them there, Lizzy, then I shall be able to look at them all day. How
kind of Mr Bingley to think of me and to go to so much trouble.’

Later on Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst
joined them upstairs. ‘The apothecary is due to come this morning, dear Miss
Bennet. Is there anything at all that we can do to make you feel more
comfortable?’

Jane smiled weakly and shook her
head. ‘You are too good, Miss Bingley.’ Even those few words were painful to
her raw throat. She was offered soothing drinks, cool pillows to rest on and,
at Elizabeth’s suggestion, a bowl of tepid water was fetched and her face
bathed in it.

Eventually they left her to rest
and the three ladies gathered at the far side of the room; Jane watched them
from half closed eyes. She was pleased to observe that her sister seemed in a
fair way to becoming firm friends with both Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst.

She felt cosseted and loved, but
far too ill to enquire after Mr Bingley, it was enough to know that he was
thinking of her as she was of him. When the apothecary came in and examined her
he told her that she had contracted a violent cold.

 
‘Miss Bennet, I would advise you to return to
bed and stay there until you are feeling more the thing. I shall prescribe you
some draughts to ease the headache and lower your fever.’

Jane was happy to do so; she felt
far worse than she had when she had awoken. As she dozed she could hear the
soft murmuring of voices and knew that her sister had not quit her side for a
moment, and that both Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst had remained close by as well.

‘Jane, it is three o’clock. I shall
have to go. It will be dark soon. I do not like to leave you when you are so
unwell. Miss Bingley has offered me the use of their chaise.’