Dorothy was holding Alex, bouncing him gently up and down, but he would not cease crying. It tore at Jane’s heart to hear him cry so. She laid a hand on Dorothy’s arm offering to hold him. Alex was transferred into her arms and Jane held him close, whispering soft words of comfort all the while.
Georgiana heard a voice call out from their right, “Miss Darcy, I say, it is a pleasure to see you this morning.”
~ / ~
Bingley had not heard back from his friend, which was unlike the ever-organized Darcy. As it was such a beautiful day he decided to walk over to Darcy House through the park, leaving Isabelle for the morning.
He had not yet had the opportunity to tell Darcy the details of his experiences since the summer of eleven. Their correspondence had been sporadic over the past couple of years. The written word held little charm for Bingley and did not fill the same office as good conversationover a drink or two.
He sighed despite enjoying the cheer of the day. The fresh breeze and chirping of the birds were delightful. Perhaps he should have arranged to walk with Isabelle.
Cutting across to another pathway he spotted a familiar young lady standing with a group of women and several very large men dressed in a dark coloured uniform.
Miss Georgiana Darcy was everything he wished his own sisters were. How different events might have played out if not for those two harpies contriving to manipulate his life.
He called out to the young lady and approached her to give his greetings and well wishes. A tall, blonde lady with a baby in her arms turned when Miss Darcy replied to his greeting. “Mr Bingley. My brother mentioned you were in town.”
~ / ~
A handsome, cheerful looking young man walked up to the group, to exchange greetings with Georgiana. His light auburn hair shone like fire in the sun when he removed his hat to bow. A wide, bright grin competed with that radiance.
He continued his conversation with Georgiana, but his eyes kept turning to look at Jane. She blushed and waited to be introduced, still paying attention to Alex, who had finally begun to calm.
Mrs Annesley cleared her throat, loudly.
“Oh, excuse me. Mr Bingley, this is Miss Jane Bennet, a friend of mine and Mrs Annesley, my companion.” Georgiana continued the introductions. “Miss Bennet, Mrs Annesley, this is Mr Bingley, a longtime friend of my brother’s.”
A bow, curtseys and ‘How do you do?’ echoed around the small group.
Mr Bingley was engaging and lively interacting with the women, but his eye kept returning to rest on Jane with a now calm Alex looking cherubic in her arms.
“Miss Bennet,” Bingley rushed to engage her in conversation. “Itisa pleasure to meet you. Have you been in town long?”
“But a few weeks, sir,” she responded shyly, and a pink blush washed her cheeks.
“I was most fortunate to meet Miss Bennet’s sister on our way to town from Pemberley. Now, we are all quite friendly.” Bingley’s eyes barely flickered over to Georgiana when she filled in the silence after Jane’s short answer.
“I hope you have taken the opportunity to visit the sights or perhaps see a play. There is nothing quite so enjoyable as dancing at a ball with pretty ladies such as yourselves.”
A nervous Jane was uncomfortable with the obvious attention this good-looking gentleman paid her. She craned her neck to check where the guards were and if they had noticed anything unusual in Mr Bingley’s attentions. So focused on checking where the guards were, she paid no real mind to the conversation until she heard Bingley say, “My beautiful Isabelle”.
Her head whipped around to find him still smiling at her. What can he be about? He is married? Why would he show her such obvious attention? It reminded her too much of the duplicitous charms of Mr Wickham and her body stiffened in distress. She unobtrusively attempted to move away, yet each time she shifted her stance, the young man seemed to follow after her, determined to keep her engaged in the conversation.
She grew pale and aloof, even Georgiana began to give her strange looks. When a hand landed at the middle of her back she squeaked in alarm.
“Jane, are you well?” Seeing her sister’s face, Elizabeth grew concerned.
Alex, hearing his mama’s voice, began crying again. Elizabeth took him into her arms and sshhh’d him until he settled.
“Lizzy... I am, yes.” Jane’s breath was a trifle shaky, “Well, perhaps a bit fatigued? Did you finish your letters? You had not been sure you would be able to meet with us here in the park.” She was rambling, this she knew, but could not refrain from speaking. “Lizzy, it might be best if we return home now. Alex will, um, he will be fatigued.”
“Yes, and he will most likely need to eat as well.” Elizabeth smiled down at her little boy, then looked up to catch the attention of Dorothy and a guard, informing them they should return home momentarily.
“Unfortunately,” she explained to Jane, “I did not complete all the letters. I am afraid my mind was too full of how delightful it must be in the park today.” Noticing the gentleman standing nearby, Elizabeth raised her brows at Georgiana.
During the introductions, Elizabeth noticed his fixation on Jane, butherbehaviour was concerning. The last time Elizabeth had seen Jane hold that posture was after Lydia’s death, following her flight with Wickham away from her friends and Brighton.
“Do forgive me, I wish to return home with my son. Mr Bingley, it was nice to meet you. Georgiana, Mrs Annesley, should you like to join us?”
