Miss Bennet & Mr Bingley (9 page)

‘It would certainly send me into a decline. I believe I can feel the
need to go out for a long walk around the park coming upon me.’

Laughing, Bingley threw himself into an adjacent chair. ‘Don’t you dare
abandon me; just having you glowering in the background should be enough to
curtail the visit.’

 
* * * *

A little later Jane was woken by the unmistakable sound of her mother,
Lydia and Kitty approaching her rooms. They had obviously responded to the note
with alacrity. She barely had time to push herself upright before that the door
was flung open and her mother rushed in.

‘My dear Jane, we have been beside ourselves with worry for you. I am
most relieved to find you a little better. I do not believe that your illness
is alarming, but on the other hand the longer that you remain here the better
it will be.’ Her mother smiled archly and Jane knew immediately to what she was
inferring.

‘I should like to come home at once, ma’am, I am causing nothing but a
nuisance at Netherfield.’

But her mother would hear none of it. ‘My dear, you shall not budge from
here until you are quite well. Mr Bingley is all anxious attention; you must
stay here as long as possible.’ She looked across at Elizabeth. ‘I suppose that
you could come back with us, Lizzy, now that Jane is a little better. Then Miss
Bingley would have to sit with her and that would be no bad thing.’

‘If Jane is to stay here, ma’am, then so shall I. Shall we wait until
the apothecary visits and go by his advice?’

Jane hoped this gentleman would advise her immediate return to
Longbourn, but he did the opposite and also advised against removal. Resigned
to staying, at least for another night or two, she vaguely listened to the
chattering about this and that. Thankfully Miss Bingley appeared and invited
her mother and sisters to come down to the parlour. Jane hoped that they would
not stay too long, it was the outside of enough having both Elizabeth and
herself to contend with, without anyone else.

 
* * * *

Mr Bingley was poised to greet his visitors as they arrived in the
drawing-room. ‘Mrs Bennet, I hope you have not found Miss Bennet worse than you
expected?’

‘I have, sir. She is a great deal too unwell be moved. Mr Jones said we
must not think of moving her. We must trespass a little longer on your
kindness.’

‘Miss Bennet removed! It must not be thought of. My sister, I am sure,
will not hear of her removal.’

Of course Caroline agreed with him. Mrs Bennet then explained to them in
great detail the excellence of Jane’s character. He agreed with her on every
point. She ended her monologue by asking how long
he
intended to stay at
Netherfield, as she knew that he had a short lease.

‘Whatever I do is done in a hurry, and therefore if I should tire of
Netherfield, I should probably be off in five minutes. At present, however, I
consider myself as quite settled.’

Elizabeth smiled encouragingly at him.

‘That is exactly what I should suppose of you, Mr Bingley.’

‘You begin to comprehend me, do you?’

‘Yes; I understand you perfectly.’

‘I wish I might take this as a compliment; but to be so easily seen
through I am afraid is pitiful.’

‘No, as it happens. It does not necessarily follow that the deep,
intricate character is more or less estimable than someone who is less
complicated.’

‘I did not know before that you are a study of character. It must be an
amusing study.’ He noticed that Darcy was taking a close interest in their
conversation. Elizabeth replied at once.

‘Yes, but intricate characters are the most amusing. They have
that
advantage.’

Mr Darcy joined in. ‘The country does not generally supply you with many
subjects for such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move in a very
confined and unvarying society.’

Elizabeth was having none of this. ‘But people themselves alter so much
that there is something new to be observed in one forever.’

Mrs Bennet felt moved to speak and Mr Bingley watched Darcy look at her
in disdain and then turn silently away.

 
The lady turned to him. ‘I cannot
see that London has any great advantage over the country for my part, except
the shops and public places. The country side is still pleasanter, is it not,
Mr Bingley?’

He nodded vigorously. ‘When I am in the country, I never wish to leave
it; in town it is pretty much the same. They have each their advantages and I
can be equally happy in either.’

 
Mrs Bennet scowled at his friend.
‘Aye, that is because you have the right disposition. But
that
gentleman
seemed to think the country was nothing at all.’

‘Indeed, ma’am, you are mistaken,’ Elizabeth said, blushing for her
mother. ‘You mistook Mr Darcy. He only meant that they are not such a variety
of people to be met within the country as in town, which you must acknowledge
to be true.’

‘Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were; as for not meeting with
many people in this neighbourhood, I think there are few neighbourhoods larger.
I know we dine with four and twenty families.’

Charles was obliged to turn away in order to keep his countenance. His
sister Caroline was less delicate, and directed her eyes towards Mr Darcy with
a very expressive smile. Elizabeth deftly changed the subject by asking her
mother if Charlotte Lucas had been at Longbourn since her coming away.

He glanced at the mantel clock. Surely Mrs Bennet and her daughters had
already stayed the requisite time? He was relieved that Caroline had not
offered them refreshments, then they would be here forever. Although he was
inordinately fond of Jane, Mrs Bennet was not the sort of person one usually
associated with. She had far more too much to say, and most of it was either
offensive or nonsensical.

One of the things that was mentioned was the fact that when Jane had
been fifteen years old and staying in London there had been a young man so in
love with her he had written her poetry. Perhaps he should endeavour to compose
some verses himself in honour of her beautiful face and sweet smile. He looked
up to see Darcy smile at Elizabeth in a particular way and wondered
again
about his friend’s interest. But what did she think of him? He watched her
closely but could see no signs of partiality. Rather, she seemed to like
provoking Darcy. Surely a novel experience for his friend!

Then Mrs Bennet began repeating her thanks to him for his kindness to her
daughter.

‘It is my pleasure, madam. It is no more than you would do for myself or
my sister if we had been so struck down when visiting Longbourn. You must not
consider it at all.’ Charles stared pointedly at Caroline and she added her
remarks.

‘Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth are welcome here as long as necessary,
Mrs Bennet. We are pleased to have them with us, and you may have no fears they
will not be well looked after at Netherfield.’

As they were leaving, the youngest Bennet girl, Lydia, approached him,
she had easy manners and an air of assurance that belied her age.

‘Mr Bingley, do you remember that at Meryton you promised you would hold
a ball here? It would be the most shameful thing in the world if you do not
keep your promise.’

He did recall speaking about it at the first assembly the one at which
he had met Jane. If he held the ball at Netherfield he would be able to spend
an entire evening in her company and there was nothing he would like better.

‘I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement; and when
your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the day of the ball.
We would not wish to be dancing while she is ill.’

Lydia declared herself satisfied. ‘Oh! Yes, it would be much better to
wait until Jane is well, by that time most likely Captain Carter shall be at
Meryton again. When you have given your ball, I shall insist on them giving one
also. I shall tell Colonel Forster it will be quite a shame if he does not.’

It was with a general sense of relief that Mrs Bennet and her daughters
departed, with an embarrassed smile in his direction, Elizabeth returned to her
sister, and he did not blame her in the slightest. Instantly Caroline and
Louisa began to censure Mrs Bennet and her daughters, including Elizabeth.

He was pleased to notice that Darcy, however prevailed upon to join in
the criticisms, remained aloof from it all. ‘Darcy, shall we escape from the
house for an hour or two? I need to clear my head and an energetic ride around
the countryside will do it admirably.’

During the ride he had the opportunity to mull over his visit of the
Bennets. How could such a vulgar woman have produced such a paragon as Jane? He
wondered how
she
had such impeccable manners when her younger sisters
were little better than hoydens. His horse stumbled because of his inattention,
he lost his stirrups and almost his seat.

Darcy laughed as he regained his balance and took control of his mount.
‘You are wool gathering, Bingley. And from the expression on your face you are
thinking of Miss Bennet.’

‘I was, Darcy. I was considering how the older girls are so different
from their mother and the younger ones; I wonder where they learnt how to
behave?’

‘Perhaps it is from their father. Remember, before you become too
attached, what sort of family Miss Bennet comes from. Would you wish to tie
yourself permanently to them?’

‘And what of you? Have you not an
admiration for Elizabeth?’

‘I cannot think what you mean.’

‘No? You are not attracted to her?’

‘Perhaps. Yes, I admit it, I am. I
have never seen such fine eyes before. And she is very spirited. But it would
never do. Her family are abominable.’

‘I will not have you include Jane in that condemnation. She is
everything a man could wish for in a partner.’

‘That’s as maybe; but Mrs Bennet is the most vulgar woman I have ever
met and apart from Elizabeth Bennet her sisters are little better than common
flirts.’

Darcy kicked his horse into a canter and Bingley had little time to
dwell on the subject until they were walking through the wood, giving the beasts
time to cool down. If he offered for Jane he could take her away from her
garrulous mother and feckless sisters, give her the kind of environment she
deserved. He sighed. Love was a difficult journey fraught with dangers for the
unwary traveller; he would talk some more with his friend on the subject later
that evening.

Once changed and presentable he sent immediate enquiries to the sick
room and was relieved to hear that Miss Bennet was a little better. Of his
sisters he saw little, believing that they spent most of the day with the
invalid and it wasn’t until the evening that Elizabeth joined their party in
the drawing-room.

 
* * * *

‘Miss Bennet, we shall leave you to rest this afternoon. You are looking
pale after so many visitors.’

‘Thank you for sitting with me this morning, Miss Bingley, Mrs Hurst, I
have enjoyed your company; but you are correct, I do feel a trifle fatigued.’

Her sister escorted them to the door and then closed it with a decided
snap. ‘I do not see why they wish to spend the entire morning with us. I
believe that I know as much about their wardrobes and their acquaintances in
town, as they do!’

Jane smiled. ‘You must not make fun of them, they have shown me nothing
but kindness. I cannot understand why they should wish to make me an intimate,
but I do deeply appreciate the honour.’

‘Well,
you
did not hear them talking with Mr Darcy last night.
You can not imagine what he said about an accomplished women.’ Elizabeth
straightened, linked her hands behind her back and stared haughtily down her
nose, Jane instantly knew whom she was mimicking. ‘‘The word is applied to many
a woman who deserves it no otherwise than by netting a purse, or covering a
screen. But I am very far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies
in general. I cannot boast of knowing more than half a dozen, in the whole
range of my acquaintance, that are really accomplished.’’

Jane giggled. ‘You have caught him to perfection, Lizzy. Poor man, I
cannot see why you have taken him in such dislike.’

‘He is the most pompous man I have ever had the misfortune to meet. If
he expects a woman to be perfect then it is no wonder he is still unmarried. I
doubt there is a woman good enough for him.’

‘Please, Lizzy, can you not try to like him just a little? He is a
particular friend of Bingley’s and you are well aware that I am half way to
falling in love with
him
.’

‘Halfway? My dear Jane, you are already head over ears! But I like Mr
Bingley - you have my full permission to love him as much as you wish. Hopefully
you will not have to live with Mr Darcy if you marry his friend.’

‘I do love him, you are right to say so. He is everything I have ever
wanted in a partner. However, do not talk as though the matter is settled
between us. At the moment we are good friends, but he has made no mention of
the future and it is not my place to speak of it if he does not.’ Jane knew
that whatever happened she would not embarrass him by revealing how much she
loved him until
he
was ready to declare himself.