“She was hoping to impress Mr. Darcy. When I pointed out to Mr. Bingley that he must have agreed to Miss Bingley’s plan, he said that he had indeed done so, and then he admitted that he did not seem to be able to say no to her.”
Mrs. Bennet shook her head in dismay. “That is not good, Lizzy.”
The two women sat in silence for a moment; then Elizabeth brightened. “But there is another man at Netherfield who seems interested in Jane.”
“Indeed! And who is that, pray?”
“A cousin of Mr. Darcy’s. His name is Richard Fitzwilliam. He is the second son of the Earl and Countess of Matlock, and is a Colonel in the regulars.”
“The son of an Earl!” Mrs. Bennet looked impressed. “And how do you know he is interested in your sister?”
“Mr. Darcy told me so in confidence.”
Mrs. Bennet eyed her second daughter closely. “I keep hearing this Mr. Darcy’s name.”
“Well, I can scarce avoid it, as he was staying there at Netherfield,” Elizabeth said. If her heart was beating hard, no one would know it from her calm voice.
“Very well; go on up to Jane. But you must keep me apprised of events, Lizzy.”
“I shall, Mama.” And with that, Elizabeth ran up the stairs to the room she shared with Jane.
“I am here, Jane,” she said, closing the door behind her.
“I suppose Mama wanted a complete report on Mr. Bingley,” Jane said.
“She did, yes.”
“And you told her about him not being able to say no to his sister?”
“Yes, also about the Colonel declaring his interest in you!”
“What?!”
Elizabeth laughed, gleefully. “I was waiting until we got home to tell you!”
“Very well; tell me now. I rather suspected as much, after the attentions he paid me after dinner last night, but I had not imagined he had spoken of it aloud!”
Elizabeth repeated Mr. Darcy’s words, adding, “I like the Colonel very much, and I do not think he would be swayed by the demands of any sisters or brothers or anyone else once he had made his mind up. He is a strong man; Mr. Bingley is a weak one.”
Jane protested against Mr. Bingley being so described, but Elizabeth held firm. If Mr. Bingley could not say no to his sister, particularly one so lacking in both sense and sensibility as Miss Bingley, then he could not possibly be good husband material for Jane.
Chapter Fifteen
The day after Elizabeth and Jane returned to Longbourn, three gentlemen rode up on horseback. When Mr. Thomas, Longbourn’s butler, announced the three gentlemen, it was all Mrs. Bennet could do not to clap her hands with glee. Not only were Jane’s two suitors, Mr. Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam here, but this unknown Mr. Darcy had come as well! Perhaps he, too, was interested in Jane. She was surprised that Lizzy had not mentioned it.
She welcomed the gentlemen in and then excused herself to get Jane and Lizzy. Had the two girls not seen the men riding up to the door? What was the matter with them?
She knocked on their door and then opened it. They were deep in conversation, oblivious to anything around them, but at least they were clad. She clapped her hands together sharply.
The two jumped. “Yes, Mama?” they chorused.
“You have visitors,” she told them. “Stand up and let me look at you.”
They obeyed, shaking out their skirts and smoothing their hair.
“Well, it could be better, but I do not think we should keep them waiting. Henceforth, you will both present yourselves in the drawing room every day immediately after breaking your fasts, properly dressed and coiffed.”
Jane nodded; Lizzy looked mutinous, but nodded as well.
