Jane
“Well, I must say that I honour her feelings,” Mr. Gardiner said, doubtfully. “And she certainly has a point. No man wishes to confess his finer feelings to a young lady and then be met with a demand for a good deal of cash.”
“But wait,” Mrs. Gardiner said. “There is another letter.”
Dearest Aunt Madeleine,
I know Jane has written to you – or is about to write – to ask that you bring her to London. Please do not do so. The money Papa needs will be in his hands on the thirteenth of January, and there is no need for Jane to sacrifice herself.
I know this all sounds most unlikely, but I will explain everything when I can!
Your loving niece,
Lizzy
Mr. Gardiner began to laugh. “I think you should write to Jane and tell her that you prefer to wait until the fortnight has expired! You can attribute it to women’s intuition, or some such thing.”
Mrs. Gardiner glared at her husband, but went to her writing desk at once.
Chapter Seventy-Eight
Mr. Bingley opened his letter at the breakfast table and burst out laughing.
“Bingley?” Darcy asked.
“I just received this from your cousin, Mr. Fitzwilliam.”
“And it is humorous?”
“Very much so. Listen.”
Dear Mr. Bingley,
I write to thank you for your hospitality at Netherfield Park. Certainly I will never forget it, as it is where I found my beloved Charlotte, which could never have happened had you not allowed me to stay with you.
You are always welcome to come and stay at Matlock, though I would prefer that your younger sister not accompany you.
In friendship,
Reginald Fitzwilliam
Mr. Darcy groaned. It was well that Miss Bingley had not yet come down for breakfast.
“Wait, wait, it is not yet done,” Mr. Bingley said, still laughing.
P.S. I nearly forgot. I am to tell you to get on with proposing to Miss Bennet.
“He has a point,” Mr. Darcy said. “Though I cannot imagine who prompted him to say it.”
“Can you not?” Mr. Bingley asked. “I certainly can. It must have been Miss Lucas!”
“I suspect you are quite right,” Mr. Darcy said. “Now that I think on it, I cannot imagine that Reginald even thought of sending a note of thanks unless he had been so instructed.”
“I have waited long enough!” Mr. Bingley declared. “I am off to Longbourn!”
Chapter Seventy-Nine
Oh, Mrs. Annesley, we are to go to a wedding!” Georgiana was so excited that she actually got up from her chair and danced around the breakfast table.
