Mrs. Hurst coloured and looked down. “My husband is right to do so, as I do not seem to have a good deal of ability to withstand my sister’s demands.”
Mrs. Armstrong sniffed. “I will not have that difficulty, I assure you. Let us turn to happier subjects – it is Christmas-time, after all! – when am I to meet your bride?”
“We shall dine with her family on Christmas day, but I had every intention of calling on her today. Shall you join me?”
Mrs. Hurst immediately asked to be present as well, admitting, with a red face, that she had not yet paid Miss Bennet the courtesy of welcoming her to the family. Her admission won her a stare of amazement from her aunt, who shook her head over the “dreadful behaviour” of her nieces.
***
“Mrs. Armstrong, Mrs. Hurst, Mr. Bingley, Mr. Hurst,” Mr. Hill announced.
Mrs. Bennet, Jane and Elizabeth were sitting in the parlour. They exchanged quick, surprised glances; Mrs. Armstrong must be the aunt from Scarborough! They rose and curtsied politely as the visitors came in. Mr. Bingley introduced his aunt, and enquiries as to her journey, her health, and so on, were asked and answered.
Mrs. Armstrong had settled herself beside Jane, and made it her business to become acquainted with the young lady who would soon become her niece. Jane did her best to meet the older lady’s frank questions with equally frank answers, though she was put to the blush more than once. Finally, the lady said, “I understand that you will not marry my nephew unless Caroline is domiciled elsewhere; is that right?”
Jane hardly knew where to look; Elizabeth sitting on Jane’s other side, had heard the entire conversation and knew that her sister was at a loss for a reply. She took it upon herself to lean forward and say, “Ma’am, my sister is too good and kind to answer you honestly; it was actually our father who laidthis restriction on Mr. Bingley, but we all applauded his action. Miss Bingley has been unwelcoming to my sister – indeed, to my entire family! – and we heard a good deal about how her presence had altered her older sister’s character. Our father would not countenance Jane putting herself into a situation in which she would not be happy.”
Mrs. Armstrong nodded. “I applaud his decision.”
Jane now was able to respond, “Thank you, ma’am. That is gracious of you.”
“I have known Caroline all her life,” Mrs. Armstrong responded. “She has ever had an inflated opinion of herself, and thereby has felt entitled to think meanly of others.”
“So you will take her to Scarborough with you?”
“That is the idea, though I have no notion as to how we shall accomplish it.”
Mrs. Hurst now rose and crossed the room to Jane. “Miss Bennet, might I steal you away from my aunt for a few minutes? Perhaps a brief stroll in the garden?”
“There is not much to see in the garden just now,” Jane replied, smiling kindly. “But I would be pleased to walk with you.”
Once the two ladies were out of doors, Mrs. Hurst turned to Jane. “I must apologise, Miss Bennet, most heartily. I have been bullied by my sister since we were children, and it has been my habit to follow her lead even when I was certain she was in error. As a result, I have been rude and inattentive to you, and I was wrong to do so. Please believe me when I say that I am delighted that you are joining our family, and will do everything in my power to make you happy with us. Please say that you forgive me!”
It would be impossible for a creature as gentle as Jane Bennet to resist such a plea; she was happy to forgive and forget. The two ladies returned to the parlour, arm-in-arm, discussing details of Jane’s wedding.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Mr. Darcy was utterly delighted to be home. Here, surely, he would be free of his memories of a mahogany-haired, cocoa-eyed enchantress. She had haunted his thoughts and dreams throughout his journey from Meryton to London and London to Pemberley, but here, here in his own little kingdom, it was certain that the everyday concerns of the estate and his sister would now occupy his thoughts.
Thus, he was rather perturbed when Georgiana, a week after his homecoming, accosted him at breakfast. “What is wrong, Brother?”
“Wrong? Why, nothing at all, Georgiana!”
She shook her blond head decisively. “No, I know you too well to believe that. Something is wrong, and you simply do not wish to discuss it.”
He deflected, asking why she thought something was amiss, and she promptly replied, “You are absent-minded, Brother. I had to call your name three times yesterday afternoon before you heard me. You sigh rather frequently, which you never did in the past. And I often see you staring into the distance, as if imagining something or someone. Deny it if you dare, but I shall simply ask Mrs. Annesley to weigh in on this, as she has noticed the same thing.”
Mr. Darcy wished that he could simply rise from the table and walk away, but he could not behave so to his sister. Instead, he said, “I am simply wondering how Bingley is getting on with his courtship; you recall I told you of Miss Bennet.”
“I do recall, and no, that is not it. It would be easy enough to find out anything you wished about your friend, merely by sending him a letter! Come, Brother; if you do not tell me, then I shall summon Dr. Wilcox and have him examine you.”
Mr. Darcy sighed deeply.
“There! You are doing it again. Brother, I cannot bear to see you so. Please tell me what ails you.” And here Georgiana, who had been dealing with her stubborn brother her entire life, managed to squeeze out a tear and let it run down her cheek.
As she expected, Mr. Darcy was immediately remorseful for having caused his sister such distress. “Oh, Georgiana! Please, dearest, do not weep!” He rose and gave her his handkerchief.
She applied it to her eyes and choked out, “Then please, please confide in me!”
