Miss Bennet & Mr Bingley (31 page)

Jane believed that she had revealed
far too much of her feelings already and hastily changed the subject. When
Charles arrived at Netherfield her mother continued to fret over how soon she
could send the invitation to dinner, but the third the morning after his
arrival they were all gathered in her mother’s dressing room when Mrs Bennet
cried out in delight.

‘Oh! Do come and look, girls, just
see who is riding towards the house at this very moment. I cannot believe Mr
Bingley should come and see us before I had sent him his invite. I wonder what
that can mean?’

 
Jane clenched her fingers in her lap and
remained where she was; Elizabeth, to satisfy her mother, went to the window,
looked and hastily returned to her place. Jane noticed that she looked almost
as disturbed as she by the visitor.

‘There is a gentleman with him,
Mama, who can it be?’ Kitty cried.

‘Some acquaintance or other, my
dear, I suppose; I am sure I do not know.’

‘La ! It looks like that man that
used to be with him before. Mr what’s his name? That tall, proud man.’

‘Good gracious! Mr Darcy! And so it
does!. Well, any friend of Mr Bingley’s will always be welcome here to be sure;
but else I must say that I hate the very sight of him.’

Jane turned and looked at Elizabeth
with surprise and concern. She felt the awkwardness which must attend her
sister in seeing him after she had revealed so much about Lydia’s disgrace. It
was no wonder that Elizabeth had returned to her seat with such alacrity.

Jane touched her hand and smiled
sympathetically. It must be very difficult for her sister to be obliged to meet
a man whose merit she had undervalued. Her face which had lost its colour now
appeared to have an additional glow, and Jane could see Elizabeth lips
trembling in a smile, and there was an added lustre in her eyes. She was at a
loss to know what this could signify.

She had no time to ponder on her
sister’s reaction to the news that Mr Darcy was coming as the two gentlemen
arrived in person. Jane greeted both guests politely and returned to her
embroidery, and was embarrassed by the way that her mother treated Charles with
such civility and was so cold to his friend.

Jane hardly dared to raise her
eyes, making random stabs at her sewing, knowing very well that she would have
to unpick them when their visitors had gone. He seated himself next to her
mother and she listened eagerly to what he said, just hearing him speak was a
pleasure indeed.

‘It is a long time, Mr Bingley,
since you went away.’

‘Indeed it is, Mrs Bennet, but I am
here again now.’

‘I began to be afraid you would
never come back. People did say you meant to quit the place entirely at
Michaelmas; but, however, I hope it is not true. A great many changes have
happened in this neighbourhood, since you went away. Miss Lucas is married and
settled. One of my own daughters, Lydia, married Mr Wickham. I suppose you have
heard of it; indeed, you must have seen it in the papers. It was in the Times
and the Courier, I know; but it was not put in as it ought to be. Did you see
it?’

‘I did, madam, and may I offer
congratulations on your youngest daughter’s wedding?’

‘It is a delightful thing, to be
sure, to have a daughter well married, but at the same time, Mr Bingley, it is
very hard to have her taken away from me. They are gone to Newcastle, a place
quite northward, it seems, and there they are to stay. I do not know for how
long. His regiment is there; I suppose you have heard of his leaving the
militia and of his being gone into the regulars? Thank heaven he has
some
friends,
though perhaps not so many as he deserves ‘

Jane saw Elizabeth flinch at these
words and then her sister hastily joined in the conversation. ‘Mr Bingley, how
long do you expect to stay in the country at present?’

He smiled pleasantly. ‘A few weeks,
I believe, Miss Elizabeth.’

He had not changed; perhaps he
looked a trifle older, but he was still the man she loved and she could not
help herself from responding to his warm regard. On seeing her expression
Charles moved across and took the seat that her sister had just vacated.

Jane was anxious that he perceive
no difference in her at all and was determined to talk as much as ever, be as
open and amiable without showing any partiality, even though
he
seemed
less chatty than she recalled.

‘Miss Bennet, I hope I find you
well?’

‘Yes, Mr Bingley, thank you for
enquiring.’ Jane searched her mind for something else to bring into the
conversation as he seemed not to have anything further to say. ‘And Mrs Hurst,
and Miss Bingley, they are both well?’

‘Yes, they shall not be joining me
on this visit. They are busy in town.’

Jane risked a glance at him and
thought she saw admiration reflected in his eyes. Surely, after so long, she
could not be so foolish as to believe him interested? ‘It is quiet at Longbourn
now that Lydia has gone.’ She bit her lip in vexation, what had possessed her
to mention the subject that must be embarrassing to both of them.

‘I must own, I was surprised to
hear that your sister had married Wickham. But Darcy assured me it was a love
match, so I wish them well.’

It was then that Jane realised
Charles did not know the full story; Elizabeth had been correct in believing
that Mr Darcy would not reveal what he knew about Lydia’s disgrace. She was
relieved, such knowledge might have made him think less of the family.

‘As do we all, of course. You are
here for the shooting?’

‘I am, but I hope that I might be
permitted to call at Longbourn as well?’

Jane did not know how to answer;
she dared not look at him in case her expression revealed her excitement at his
words. Her feelings had not changed over the months they had been separated;
could it be that he had reconsidered? That the intervening time had made him
realize she was more to him than a friend?

She was not aware that she sat in
silence for much of the remainder of the visit. Her mind was so busily engaged
in speculation that she forgot to speak. When the gentlemen rose to go away,
Mrs Bennet was mindful of her intended civility, and they were engaged to dine
at Longbourn in a few days time.

‘You are quite a visit in my debt,
Mr Bingley, for when you went to town last winter, you promised to take a
family dinner with us as soon as you returned. I have not forgot, you see; and
I assure you, I was very much disappointed that you did not come back and keep
your engagement.’

Jane saw Charles shift uneasily on
his feet and his cheeks coloured. ‘I must apologize for not returning, but I
was prevented by pressing business. I look forward to making up for my omission
in a few days.’

The gentlemen departed and Jane
immediately followed her sister, who had left the room abruptly. She knew that
her expression reflected her pleasure in the visit having passed so
successfully without her having revealed to anyone her feelings.

 
‘Now, Lizzy, that this first meeting is over,
I feel perfectly easy. I know my own strength, and I shall never be embarrassed
again by his coming. I am glad he dines here on Tuesday. It will then be
publicly seen, that on both sides, we meet only as indifferent acquaintance.’

Elizabeth laughed, seeing through
her words with ease. ‘Yes, very indifferent indeed! Oh Jane, do take care.’

‘My dear Lizzy, you cannot think me
so weak as to be in danger now?’

‘I think you are in very great
danger of making him as much in love with you as ever.’

Jane hurried away to the kitchen to
collect the trug in which she was to pick plums for Hill to make a crumble.
Once outside in the tranquillity of the orchard she thought back to what her
sister had just said. Could Lizzy be right? Had Charles come back to
Netherfield just to resume his courtship of her?

She must not get her hopes raised,
she could not bear to have them dashed a second time.

But if this was true, why had he
not come to see her while she had been staying in London? The only explanation
could be that Caroline had not told him she was there.

 
* * * *

As Charles rode away from Longbourn
he was well pleased with how the visit had progressed.

‘I think that Miss Bennet looks
remarkably well, and Miss Elizabeth also, do not you think so, Darcy?’ He
called across as they exited the paddock.

‘I do, my friend. I have never seen
two more healthy young ladies. I am, this time, anticipating our next visit
here.’ Darcy kicked his horse into a canter making further conversation
impossible.

After dinner Darcy said he had
letters to write and would join him in an hour, leaving Charles to his own
devices. He settled in his favourite armchair in the library to think about
what had happened that day. Jane was a little thinner than she used to be, but
still as lovely. He was certain he had not imagined her pleasure in his company
and he had loved every moment he had spent with her.

This time he would not leave
Netherfield until he had asked her to marry him, if she refused, then so be it.
He had had enough of being solitary, he would go and find Darcy immediately,
and insist that they play a game of billiards and talk about Jane and
Elizabeth.

Not liking to presume, Charles
decided not to call again at Longbourn until they were to dine. Instead he
spent his time visiting old friends and very soon realized the pleasures of
Hertfordshire had not faded in his absence. He would rather be there than
anywhere else, even Pemberley. He knew the fact that the woman he loved resided
close by made Netherfield the most attractive place in the world.

He had been unable to ascertain
from their brief visit exactly how Jane felt about him. She had looked at him
and she always had, but she had often fallen silent and that was something he
was not used to in her company. He did not like to ask his friend what that
might signify; if it meant she was not interested he did not wish to know.

 
* * * *

On Tuesday, the day that Charles
and Darcy were to come to dine, there was to be a large party assembled at
Longbourn. Jane had done her best to appear unmoved by all the preparations and
knowing winks and arch looks that her mother sent in her direction. She took no
more time on her preparations that evening than usual.

‘Jane, you look lovely tonight.
Your eyes are sparkling and your complexion perfect,’ her sister said to her as
they were leaving their chamber, ‘and I have always loved that particular leaf
green gown on you.’

‘Thank you, Lizzy. It is a
favourite of mine, but I have worn it many times before. However, I do not
believe I have seen
your
gown before this evening? I believe that we
both
look our best.’ Jane slipped her arm through her sister’s. ‘I intend to enjoy
this evening, it is such a relief that neither of us are embarrassed to meet
the Netherfield gentlemen.’

Those that had been invited to dine
gathered in the drawing-room to sip sherry wine and exchange pleasantries. When
the butler announced that dinner was served they repaired to the dining room.
Jane headed towards her usual position at the far end of the table and as she reached
her place she happened to glance round and saw Charles hesitating in the
doorway. She could not help herself, she smiled and he took that as an
invitation.

Politely he pulled out her chair
and when she was seated, sat next to her. As the rest of the party found their
places she was aware that Elizabeth glanced towards Mr Darcy and Charles did
the same. Then she forgot about the other guests as he turned to her with the
sweet smile she remembered so well.

‘Miss Bennet, it has been far too
long since we had occasion to be together. I cannot tell you how pleased I am
to be back at Netherfield, and able to see you again.’

‘I am glad that you have returned,
it is a great shame to have such a grand house standing empty.’

‘Well, I am back now and considering
holding another ball. Do you think this a good idea? ‘

Jane glanced at him, smiling. ‘As
long as we do not receive a plate of apple pie and roast beef.’

He chuckled. ‘I remember, I should
certainly not employ a groom to wait at table again. Neither shall I have
Caroline as my hostess. I am hoping…’ He stopped abruptly and looked conscious.
Jane’s heart lurched, she was almost sure he had been going to ask her to stand
in Caroline’s place.

‘Perhaps you could have something
less formal than a ball, remember the delightful evening we spent at Lucas
Lodge? We danced and enjoyed our supper on that occasion.’

‘Then that is what I shall do. As
long as I can dance with you I shall be content.’ The warmth in his expression
was unmistakable.

The conversation was interrupted by
the arrival of the soup, which was followed by venison and partridges and
various other side dishes which Jane scarcely noticed. When her mother rose to
lead the ladies into the drawing-room she thought that Elizabeth seemed a
little quiet. But she had no time to dwell on that as her mother asked her to
preside over the tea and for her sister to pour the coffee.

After the tea things were removed
the card tables were placed and Jane had no further opportunity for private
conversation with Charles. However she was conscious of his eyes turning
frequently in her direction and he smiled whenever she looked his way. Jane
nodded and smiled whenever she was addressed but had no recollection of what
had been said to her. All she could think about was the possibility she could
hope again. That Charles was going to spend all winter at Netherfield and hold
parties and soirees. How different her life was today, a few short weeks ago
she could never have imagined such happiness ahead.