“But why? Surely it cannot matter to her which Bennet sister he marries!”
“Mama seems to think that I am already more than halfway there, while Jane is starting from the beginning. And we are running out of time. We are already using tallow candles, there is not a good deal of meat on the table, and none of us have pin money. I need not mention the tea,” she added, nodding at Charlotte’s untouched cup.
Charlotte shook her head. “Your mother may end up scaring him off completely, if she is not careful.”
Elizabeth hesitated and then said, “There is even more, I am afraid.”
“More?”
“The strangest thing happened with Mr. Darcy last night.” She went on to describe the nearly-dropped teacups, and how he had all but run from her afterwards.
“Perhaps he must felt the same thing,” Charlotte mused. “This could be very exciting!”
“It would be, were it not for the fact that Mr. Collins says he may be engaged to his patroness’ daughter, Miss de Bourgh.”
“Oh.” Charlotte sighed.
“Oh, indeed,” Elizabeth sighed.
“Well, this is a right mess!” Charlotte exclaimed. “Mr. Bingley possibly in love with Jane, but Mrs. Bennet wants himfor Eliza; Eliza in love with Mr. Darcy, but Mr. Darcy possibly engaged to his cousin! What of you, Jane?”
Jane turned her head.
“Jane?” Elizabeth asked. “You like Mr. Bingley, do you not?”
“I do.” Her voice was quiet.
“You would accept if he offered for you, would you not?”
“In an instant!”
“Have you felt any of the – er, symptoms that Eliza talks about, Jane?” Charlotte asked, her voice soft and comforting.
“I feel myself blush when he is near. I listen to everyone talk, hoping to hear his name. Then when Mama says he is meant for Lizzy, I want to cry! But I love my sister, and I would not stand in her way.” Jane’s confession was spoken so softly that the hearers had to bend close to hear her.
“That decides it,” Elizabeth declared. “I will not accept him, even were he to offer.”
“But you must!” Jane said, standing up. “We agreed!”
“That was before I knew you had such feelings for him. But now that I know, there is no power on earth that would compel me to accept him.”
“Even if refusing him meant that our family would lose Longbourn?” Jane demanded.
To that, Elizabeth had no ready reply. They were back to where they had begun; whichever lady was fortunate enough to receive an offer from Mr. Bingley was duty-bound to accept.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Reginald Fitzwilliam, eldest son and heir to the Earl of Matlock, was quite surprised when he arrived at the family townhouse only to be informed, in no uncertain terms, that he was to depart the next day for someplace called Meryton in order to rescue his cousin from folly.
He objected, as might any young man on the other side of thirty, to being told what to do, but he knew better than to object too strenuously. His mother had rather a habit of getting her way. And, with any luck, he would be back in Town within the week, dragging a dejected and recalcitrant Darcy behind him.
Lady Matlock sent a quick note to her nephew.
Darcy,
Reginald is in Town, and I thought to keep him out of trouble by sending him to you. Do keep him entertained, will you?
Aunt Eleanor
