Apparently, when it was necessary, she had superhuman strength after all. If that was the case, however, why did she feel so weak?
Chapter 14
It had been a little more than a week since Jane’s fall. Her wrist was completely healed, and the swelling in her foot was mostly gone, though it still hurt to put weight on it. In that time, Mr. Masters had called on her every day. She barely even noticed anymore that he was in the company of Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy. All her attention was on him.
Sometimes they chatted. Sometimes he read to her. It did not matter to Jane what they did or what they talked of. What mattered was how she felt in his presence. She felt safe and supported. It was unlike anything she had known in her entire life.
Jane easily saw the good in people, but she was not as blind to others’ faults as some would believe. She was simply more understanding. She knew her father was not particularly attentive, and her mother was not particularly sensible. She had never felt as though she could rely on either of them for anything other than to meet her physical needs.
Mr. Bingley had been the same. He was rich, so he would have been able to take care of her, but he was flighty. Even the little time she had known him, she was aware of that fault. It had made itself known in the way he flitted from one subject to another. He had admitted to it himself in conversation.
Jane had assumed that with his wealth, he could easily afford to be flighty, to do as he wished when he wished. He didn’teven have land or tenants to tie him down. It had never occurred to her that his flighty nature might affect her directly in any way.
Until it did. When he left her, promising to return then changing his mind, her illusion of him was shattered.
Now, here was Mr. Masters, who was everything Mr. Bingley was not. He was everything her parents were not. He filled a need she hadn’t even known she had, a desire to be safe to be comforted, to be stable.
As he entered the room that morning, she admitted to herself that he was quite handsome as well.
As always, he came toward her directly and sat down next to her. “How are you faring, Miss Bennet?” he asked.
“I believe I am almost mended,” she said. “I was able to walk up the stairs yesterday instead of being carried, though it was not without pain. My wrist is almost completely well. I still struggle to write, but I can do anything else.”
“I am glad to hear it,” he said. It was a simple statement, but Jane knew he meant it. “Is there any news you wished to share or discuss?”
“Our cousin, Mr. Collins, returned to the neighborhood yesterday. When I heard he was coming back, I thought Mama might be distressed as she was during the last few days of his last visit, but since he is staying with his betrothed’s family, Mama does not seem to care one way or the other.”
“Why would your mother be distressed if your cousin comes to visit?” asked Mr. Masters.
“He first came to visit us about a month ago, planning to stay a fortnight,” she said. “After he had been here ten days, he proposed to Elizabeth. She, of course, declined. He is not a particularly sensible man, and Elizabeth has little patience with foolishness. Mr. Collins then immediately turned his attentionto Charlotte Lucas. When he proposed to her two days later, she accepted him.
“When Mama found out that her plans to have one of her daughters marry the heir of Longbourn had fallen apart, she blamed Elizabeth for refusing his offer of marriage. She also claimed that she could no longer stand the sight of him, since he was destined to one day turn her out of her own home. The last few days of his stay here were likely quite uncomfortable for him.”
“And now he is back in the neighborhood?” asked Mr. Masters.
“Yes. He has come to visit Charlotte and to make plans for their wedding,” she said. “I believe Charlotte has named the ninth of January as their wedding day.”
“And do you think he will brave the wrath of your mother and visit while he is nearby?” asked Mr. Masters.
Jane thought she caught a hint of humor in his eyes, but she wasn’t certain. He always seemed so serious that it was hard to believe him when he seemed to make a joke. “Mr. Collins is a very honorable man. I believe he would feel it his duty to call on his relations if he is in the neighborhood. However, I cannot say when he will do so.”
“I see,” he said.
“I have been wondering why Colonel Fitzwilliam does not join you and Mr. Darcy when you visit here,” said Jane. “I have seen him a few times at parties, but he has never come here despite the fact that you and Mr. Darcy come daily. Is there a reason for his absence? Does he fear that we will reject him?”
Mr. Masters looked at her sharply. “Do you wish he would call?” he asked.
“Not particularly, though I certainly wouldn’t mind either,” she said. “I was simply curious. Doesn’t he mind that everyone abandons him for a couple of hours every day?”
“He does not mind in the least. His absence is not due to a lack of respect for your family. Rather it is the reverse. He knows that he would be the odd man out, so to speak. If he joined us, he would likely either take Miss Elizabeth’s attention from Darcy or your attention from me. Since he does not wish to interfere, he amuses himself while we are all here. I believe he takes the opportunity to ride around the neighborhood, exploring, something he does not get to experience while living in London.”
“I am glad he does not feel left out,” said Jane.
After a moment, Mr. Masters said, “Miss Bennet, I would like to ask a more personal question if I may.”
“Of course,” she said. “You may ask anything you like.”
“When I first came into the neighborhood, many people, including yourself, spoke highly of Mr. Bingley, but I have not heard of him much lately. I can understand it from your neighbors. They were not particularly close to the man. I have wondered, however, if you are still suffering from his abandonment.”
