Jane placed her hand over their mother’s, her tone as unruffled as her manners. “Mr. Bingley has decided what is best for his household, and we must respect his choice.”
The man looked miserable. Elizabeth sympathized with him but trusted Jane to know how to act. He stood to take his leave. “It depends how long our calls today will take, but I hope to reach London before nightfall. If you are in town, I hope…”
“London?!” Mama wailed as though it were a faraway land.
“Yes,” replied Mr. Bingley. “I owe Darcy an apology for the mess I allowed to happen.”
Elizabeth’s head spun. Mr. Darcy had already left?
Mr. Bingley bowed his head. “He expected better from me.”
Jane whispered under her breath, “I did, too.”
Too stunned to trust her reaction, Elizabeth looked at Mary, who gave her a subtle nod to communicate that she knew what to do. Turning to Mr. Bingley, Mary asked, “Mr. Darcy is no longer at Netherfield?”
“He departed at first light.”
Mama harrumphed. “Without so much as a by-your-leave?”
Elizabeth’s heart sank. Mr. Darcy was gone. She would never see him again.
Mr. Bingley and his sisters departed shortly thereafter. There was nothing else to say, and they had many more apologies to make that day.
As soon as he left, Mama turned to Jane. “How could you be so cold toward Mr. Bingley? He might have made an offer!”
Jane paused before replying calmly, “Mr. Bingley did well to apologize, but before I can return his regard fully, he must know that I will not permit his sisters to treat mine as they have done.”
“But he is our only hope! Who will make an offer for any of you now? Mr. Collins refuses to have anything to do with us, Mr. Darcy is gone, and now Mr. Bingley has said he will quit Netherfield! We are ruined!” Mama burst into tears.
Mary kneeled at her feet, clasping her hands between hers. “It is not as bad as that, Mama. Mr. Goode intends to speak to Papa soon to ask for my hand.”
“But he is only a clerk!” Mama sobbed.
“He loves me. We shall be happy. What else should we wish for?”
“A fortune!” exclaimed Lydia.
“How did Aunt Philips not know?” asked Kitty, tapping her chin. “She could have warned us!”
Mary replied, “I asked her about that,but she was as ignorant of the gossip as we were. Perhaps it was the intense rain that prevented the news from reaching her. She heard nothing of it until the same time we did… at the ball.”
Elizabeth was too numb to care. The damage was done. Mr. Darcy was gone. She tried to be happy for Mary, but it was difficult when she knew she would never have the same happiness.
Papa returned then, pale and shaken. Mama sat him down by the fire and sent for tea.
“Lizzy?” he called from his chair.
She rushed to his side as he rose to his feet. “No, Papa, you must sit,” she said.
He placed his hands gently against her cheeks. “I owe you an apology.”
Elizabeth had had quite enough apologies for one day and averted her eyes.
“Look at me, dear girl.”
The endearment got her attention. There was no anger or disappointment in his tone.
“Your uncle told me everything.”
