“I know not how you can say so, Miss Bingley, given that they have just lost Mrs. Bennet. One cannot delay paying a condolence call; it is the worst of bad manners.”
This silenced Miss Bingley at once, but it did not have the same effect on her brother. “My sisters have yet to pay such a call; what think you of that, Darcy?”
“I confess myself astonished!” he replied promptly, eyebrows raised high. “What can you mean by that, Miss Bingley, Mrs. Hurst? I do not mean to criticise your manners, of course; I am certain you have your reasons, though I cannot fathom them.”
The two ladies hardly knew where to look. Finally, Miss Bingley said, “We have been quite occupied, Mr. Darcy, in reopening Netherfield; but Louisa and I have every intention of paying that call immediately.”
“I hope they will forgive your long delay in doing so,” Mr. Darcy said, rather sternly. “But I am certain that Miss Bennet, at least, will forgive you; she is everything kind.”
“Yes, she certainly is,” Miss Bingley said through her teeth.
***
Mr. Darcy managed a private word with Mr. Bingley before the evening was out. “How does your courtship progress?” he asked.
Mr. Bingley shook his head. “Not well,” he confessed. “She was terribly hurt by my unexpected departure and does not seem able to trust me. Unfortunately, I completely comprehend her feelings. But tell me, Darcy, what of the search for Miss Lydia?”
Mr. Darcy explained – yet again – all that he had done to try to find the girl, concluding with his summoning of Colonel Fitzwilliam to help his cause. “Miss Kitty is preparing a drawingof Miss Lydia to aid my efforts; it will be ready tomorrow. If it is a good likeness, I will ask her to make as many copies as possible and I will bring them to the Colonel.”
“I will accompany you to Longbourn tomorrow, Darcy. And if I am not mistaken, my sisters will join us.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Mr. Bingley was quite right. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were ready to accompany their brother and Mr. Darcy to Longbourn early in the afternoon.
Mary was looking out the window when the Bingley carriage pulled up to the entryway. She watched Mr. Bingley exit the carriage and then hand out his two sisters. “Oh, heavens,” she groaned.
“What is it, Kitty?” Jane enquired.
“It is Mr. Bingley and his two sisters.”
“His sisters? I wonder that they dare show their faces here!” Elizabeth said.
“Lizzy, behave yourself!” Jane admonished her.
“I shall do my best,” Elizabeth grumbled.
“I make no such promise,” Mary said. “I am determined never to remain quiet again! Wait, there is Mr. Darcy getting out of the carriage as well.”
Only Jane heard Elizabeth’s gasp.
The visitors were announced; the girls stood and curtsied. Enquiries after everyone’s health were made and satisfied, and Jane pulled the bell cord and requested a tea tray.
“How are you holding up, Miss Bennet?” Miss Bingley began.
“Well enough, Miss Bingley.”
Caroline persevered. “Your sister’s illness and your mother’s death – what dreadful circumstances! I cannot imagine! Can you, Louisa?”
Mrs. Hurst joined in at once, agreeing that it was everything dreadful.
“We have been fortunate in our friends,” Elizabeth said, pointedly. “Everyone has been very kind and come to spend time with us, and that has helped us a good deal.”
Jane shot Elizabeth a look that silenced her, but Mary shocked the room by saying, “Miss Bingley, what a surprise it was to see Mr. Bingley again and learn that he was not, in point of fact, betrothed to Miss Darcy.”
“What?” Mr. Darcy said at once. “Bingley betrothed to my sister? Whatever can you mean, Miss Mary?”
“I am certain it is nothing –“ Miss Bingley began at once.
