Walking back to Longbourn, she consoled herself by remembering they were sure to see the Netherfield party in the next two or three days. While she might want to speak to Mr Darcy immediately, there was no reason their conversation could not wait. Surely he meant to return to his family soon, but he would not go without taking his leave of them.
As soon as she entered the house, one of the maids informed her Jane wished to see her; she was in her bedchamber. Entering the room, Elizabeth immediately noticed Jane’s red, swollen eyes and flushed cheeks.
“Whatever has happened?” Elizabeth flew to her sister, knelt before her, and clasped her arm.
“Oh, Lizzy!” Jane’s voice was thick, and she thrust a note into Elizabeth’s hands.
Elizabeth read the short missive once, felt a sudden weight in her stomach, then stood and carried it with her to the window, where she read it several more times, as though the message would be different if she stared at the paper long enough. It was from Miss Bingley.
Netherfield Park
November 27, 1811
Miss Bennet,
We leave this morning for town, such is our collective desire to be in more familiar surroundings again. Mr Darcy pressed for our early departure. He stayed so long only to please me, the dear man, though I believe he grew tired of being here weeks ago. You must understand, he is used to a more varied society than a small neighbourhood can provide. My brother and I could not let him go without us. I confess there is nothing I like quite so much as Mr Darcy’s company, and soon I anticipate having a great deal more of it.
As you know, my brother took only a short lease, and I do not expect we shall return. I am sure you can imagine the many calls on our time amongst our friends, and he is particularly anxious to see Miss Darcy again. They are excessively fond of each other, and it is the dearest wish of all parties involved that, as soon as she is just a little older, their connexion will become of the most intimate sort.
Please give my regards to your family.
Miss C Bingley
“I cannot believe how cold her letter is! I thought she considered me her friend!” Jane cried.
With that, fat tears began to fall down Jane’s cheeks. Elizabeth forgot her personal concerns and went to comfort her sister. Her eyes burned, which she insisted to herself was sympathy for Jane, not anything else she might be feeling.
“But that is not the worst of it. She makes it plain that she and Mr Bingley are not coming back and that he has intentions elsewhere. How could he treat me so-so callously? These past weeks, ever since the assembly last month, he has been so attentive to me,” Jane said, striking her chest with a closed fist.
“He has. I have seen it with my own eyes. Even if you had never told me of the things he said when you were speaking alone, I would have known his feelings for you were unlike those for other ladies.”
Jane sniffed. “I have not had the opportunity to tell you what happened last night, before the supper set.”
Ire enflamed Elizabeth’s voice. “Which he failed to dance with you!”
“I was certain that today he would call and offer an explanation, say something to excuse not only that, but-but—”
She inhaled sharply as though swallowing a sob. Elizabeth encouraged her to go on.
“After the third set, he took me onto the terrace. It was so hot in the ballroom, and he said he needed just a minute or two of fresh air, and…hekissedme and said such sweet things. I cannot repeat them, not now. Even to think of them makes it feel like my heart is being wrested from my body. All evening, all night, and even this morning, I made excuses for the way he neglected me afterwards, but it was more than that. He hasabandonedme, and I do not understand why.”
“Are we to believe Miss Bingley?”
“How can I not? What reason would there be for her to misrepresent the matter when it is so easily disproved? All he would have to do is return. Had he behaved as I expected yesterday, had he danced with me as he promised and not run away whenever I tried to approach him, I might agree to view Miss Bingley’s note with the scepticism I know you feel, but under the present circumstances…”
Her voice broke when she added, “I would be very happy to be mistaken, but I do not believe I am.”
There was nothing more to say. Elizabeth embraced her sister, and, after letting her cry for a short while, helped to repair her appearance before they went down to breakfast. She kept her thoughts and feelings to herself. She never expected Mr Darcy to be more than a temporary friend while he remained in the neighbourhood, but she was upset he had not said goodbye. If he was so anxious to leave Hertfordshire, he must have known he would depart this morning. Why had he not told her during the ball and said his farewells—to her family and others who had welcomed him, not only herself?
Elizabeth did not want to trust Miss Bingley’s words, but with reluctance, she supposed there was no reasonable alternative. All through the meal, she searched her memories for any sign there was more than friendship between Miss Bingley and Mr Darcy, but she could find none. It irked her to think she had failed to recognise the depth of their connexion and to contemplate that a man such as Mr Darcy, who was eminently admirable, would take such a woman as his wife. Elizabeth did not want to believe it, but surely writing such an outrageous lie—all but saying they were engaged—was beyond even Miss Bingley. Elizabeth felt like a fool, which only made her anger and sorrow for Jane worse.
If anyone noticed her distraction or Jane’s despondency, they did them the courtesy of remaining silent about it. Elizabeth picked at her food, the excited voices of her younger sisters, William, and her mother like a low hum invading her ears. It was only towards the end of the meal, when William called for everyone’s attention that she forced herself to attend to the conversation. She was certain she knew what was coming, and sure enough, his words confirmed her suspicions.
“My dear Mrs Bennet, as you know, I have written to accept the generous offer of a living I was so fortunate as to receive.”
Kitty and Lydia cheered, although they, and the rest of them, had already celebrated the matter sufficiently for Elizabeth, especially in her present, admittedly uncharitable, mood.
“Having done so, I humbly request a private audience with your fair daughter, after which, I hope to have reason for a discussion with you, sir.” William gave Mr Bennet a respectful nod.
