Again, Elizabeth could not prevent the flush that rose in her cheeks. “Perhaps,” she replied with a shy smile. “But, Jane, tell me, how do you feel about Mr. Bingley? Do you still admire him?”
Jane sighed. “He is still everything good and amiable, but I do wonder why he kept saying he wanted to call, but then never appeared. Uncle said he planned to come several times, but before he could arrive, something else came up to prevent his coming.”
Elizabeth wanted to give her sister some hope. “When he is at Netherfield, he will make his intentions clearer. He will be at Mr. Darcy’s house for dinner on Saturday?”
Jane nodded at this but said nothing further. Elizabeth allowed the deflection, and they spoke of what would occupy them for the two days in between,
Among their other activities over those days, Elizabeth could not escape a visit to the modiste. Though she protested, Mrs. Gardiner thought it wise to begin Elizabeth’s trousseau while she was in town instead of waiting for her father to grant his permission. Since she would be joining the first circles, she would need far more in her new situation, not to mention the warmer clothing that she would need in Derbyshire.
Saturday evening, Elizabeth dressed in the new gown they had found at the modiste. It had been completed as a part of another order, but that lady had decided she did not care for it in the end. Since it fit Elizabeth almost as if it were made for her, Mrs.Gardiner had purchased it for Elizabeth, and with only minor alterations, it was a perfect gown for the evening.
Darcy House was a large, imposing townhouse situated across from Hyde Park. The last to step down from the carriage, Elizabeth was met not by a footman, but by Mr. Darcy himself who had arrived in time to help her from the carriage. Their eyes met, and she smiled into his eyes that were looking at her with love. She did not realise that her eyes radiated the same.
Monday morning,Elizabeth boarded her uncle’s carriage for her return to Hertfordshire. Knowing that she would not call Longbourn home for much longer made this trip bittersweet. She was happy to see her family again, but she would miss seeing Mr. Darcy. Even in London, she had seen him daily, though she already missed their morning walks.
Her uncle had given them five minutes of privacy in the library after dinner where they had exchanged a few quick kisses, but that was the only time alone they had managed since leaving Kent. Elizabeth found she rather enjoyed kissing Mr. Darcy and hoped for the opportunity to resume their morning walks in Hertfordshire.
Jane and Elizabeth had spoken quite a bit about the gentlemen since they first visited. Mr. Bingley had returned with Mr. Darcy on Friday but not on Saturday, and he was at the dinner at Darcy House. Each time, he paid considerable attention to Jane. However, he did nothing to make his intentions obvious, not even truly explaining his absence over the last months. In fact,he said little about his failure to return to Hertfordshire in the autumn or about his not paying a call at Gracechurch Street after being informed of her presence there.
“Mama will be difficult when she learns of the gentlemen coming to Netherfield,” Jane complained as strongly as Elizabeth had ever heard her. “I can hardly bear to hear her speak of Mr. Bingley as she did in the autumn. Perhaps once Mr. Darcy speaks to Papa, she will be so focused on your relationship that she will not worry about mine. While I know Mama means well, she does not know how much I suffer from what she says.”
“I wish I could do more to comfort you,” Elizabeth replied. “This evening or in the morning, I will speak to Papa about Mr. Darcy to prepare the way for his coming. I do not doubt that Papa will be displeased with my leaving, but I cannot imagine that he would deny Mr. Darcy’s request for my hand.”
“Is that what he will ask Papa?” Jane asked.
It occurred to Elizabeth that she had only hinted to Jane about the connection, but she had never been specific. Her lips turned up in a full smile. “Yes, Jane, he will ask Papa for my hand. We met nearly every morning in Kent, and on his next-to-last day there, he proposed. It was everything I could have hoped for. He loves me. In fact, had he not found me in Kent, he said he would have dragged Mr. Bingley to Netherfield upon his return from that county so he could court and propose to me.”
Jane clapped her hands in excitement and expressed her happiness for her sister and her soon-to-be brother.
Upon arriving home, the entire family spilled out of the house to greet the new arrivals. Mrs. Bennet immediately asked Jane if she had seen Mr. Bingley in London, and Jane replied positively,causing her mother to loudly declare her anticipation of the match. After they were settled inside, Jane gathered her courage and spoke resolutely to her mother.
“Mama, there is no guarantee that Mr. Bingley will propose to me. He does intend to return to Netherfield within the week, but he has not asked for anything from me, not even to call. I saw him twice last week, but his sister never even returned the call I paid to her. Please do not do as you did in the autumn and proclaim to all and sundry about a relationship that does not exist and may never do so. I do not want a husband forced on me because you obligated him to preserve my reputation.”
Mrs. Bennet could say nothing in response to this, but only sat and blinked at her eldest, most complying daughter. She nodded but remained quiet, further shocking everyone else in the room.
Elizabeth squeezed her sister’s hand, and they began to speak to their sisters about what they had seen and done over the last weeks. It took some time for Mrs. Bennet to rejoin the conversation, but when she did, she was far less voluble than usual.
Chapter Ten
Elizabeth did not get the opportunity to speak to her father privately until the next morning. After rising early and walking to Oakham Mount, Elizabeth returned to join the family for breakfast. As soon as the meal was finished, Mr. Bennet retreated into his study as usual, and with a quick glance at Jane, Elizabeth followed.
For the first half hour, they spoke of estate matters. The steward had several inquiries that required attention, yet given Mr. Bennet’s limited knowledge of estate matters, he had postponed addressing them until her return.
“Papa, I met Mr. Darcy again in Kent,” Elizabeth said when they had finished the discussion about the spring planting.
“Was he more agreeable in Kent than he was in Hertfordshire?” he asked. He had already picked up a book to read, missing the way she flushed at his words.
“He was very amiable,” Elizabeth replied. “We had quite a few conversations, and he will be coming to Netherfield with Mr. Bingley later this week.”
He looked up at that. “So you have heard your mother’s gossip about Netherfield being reopened.”
“It is not gossip. Jane and I saw the gentleman last week in London, and they informed us themselves of their intent,” Elizabeth said, watching her father to see how he took the news.
“Then I suppose we will hear much about the gentlemen for a month or two, and then they will depart as they did in the autumn. Mr. Bingley will go away as he did before, leaving Jane where she is, and well, perhaps Mr. Darcy finds you slightly more tolerable as well, but he will go away as well. You can still have nothing to tempt him.”
“Papa, Mr. Darcy apologised for his initial slight of me, and I have come to think better of him. He is a good man,” she implored him to listen, but he waved her off.
“Such wealthy men can want nothing from mere country misses. Your mother may raise her hopes, but I know you are too intelligent to have your head turned by such a man. Now, go, Lizzy and speak to the steward about what we discussed. You know these matters far better than I do.”
