Page 24 of The Widower of Pemberley

Yet, he could not seem to tear himself away from the domestic scene for the whole of the morning.

Chapter Six

Upon the dawn of the dreary third day of Elizabeth’s sojourn at a quite desirable house for a daughter’s husband, Mrs. Bennet came to inspect the progress of that daughter’s recovery. She also came to impose Sarah upon the Netherfield establishment, so that Elizabeth would have her own lady’s maid to ensure that she always looked her best.

Mrs. Bennet found her excessively independent daughter hopping about, able to place a little weight on her foot, covered in bruises down one whole side, and quite ready to go home with her—though Elizabeth did like the time she spent with Emily and Georgiana.

Mr. Darcyfascinatedher.

His behaviour in his domestic circle was much changed from that in general company. Elizabeth had to remind herself frequently of how he had insulted Charlotte, for she was prone to forget; the adorable manner in which he played with his daughter, and the admirable manner in which he tolerated her fits with both kindness and firmness, forced her to think well of him.

It would be very easy to think too much of him.

Mrs. Bennet was not satisfied with how Elizabeth had managed her non-existent romance with Mr. Bingley. Thus, when that gentleman enquired as to whether she found Elizabeth to be much improved, Mrs. Bennet declared, “No! She is much worse. I had hoped to take her home today, but that will be impossible. She is in far more pain than I expected.”

“Oh,” Mr. Bingley said, appearing rather nonplussed since Elizabeth was visibly improving. But he was not a man likely to disagree with a woman in his drawing room—or anywhere else.

“She must stay longer,” Mrs. Bennet insisted. “I can see that you are as concerned for my Elizabeth as I am.”

“Yes, yes, of course,” Mr. Bingley replied. “Miss Elizabeth can stay as long as she wishes to.”

He then smiled at Jane, who had come with their mother.

Even though Jane could not see Mr. Bingley’s smile directed at her, she still praised and thanked him on Elizabeth’s behalf. “Lizzy so seldom takes a chance to rest. I do fear that she would not care for herself were she at home. She is always running about helping me and fetching things for me.”

“You deserve it,” Mr. Bingley said.

“No, but you must take care of Lizzy for us.”

“I swear that I shall, Miss Bennet,” was the gentleman’s response.

“Jane is the one who is deserving. I merely fell off my horse because I am a poor rider.” Elizabeth did in fact have a little anxiety on the matter of how well Jane was being cared for while she was recovering at Netherfield. But she knew that Jane would not complain about her treatment, even if it was quite abominable, and it was impossible amongst so much company to pointedly question her on the matter.

The notion also crossed Elizabeth’s mind that if only Jane had not been made blind by that awful illness, she and Mr. Bingley may have been a good match.

After that, it was established that Elizabeth would remain several more days, to the delight of Georgiana and Emily and the mild annoyance of Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. Before sheleft, Mrs. Bennet begged a chance to speak in privacy to her daughter.

Mr. Darcy rose and gestured everyone else towards the door, picking up Emily and promising her that they would play with swords using sticks in the garden while Miss Lizzy spoke to her mother. “We shall give you the peace you wish.”

Elizabeth waited for the rest of the company to leave, except for Jane, who sat, head tilted, listening to the footsteps of the departing party.

“Well, Mama?”

“You have made no progress with Mr. Bingley.”

“On the contrary,” Elizabeth replied, “I know that while he likes a ragout, it is of far less importance to him than to Mr. Hurst. He pretends that he does not like to play high with cards, but I am sure that is a pretence for my sake. Mr. Darcy did not realise, I think. And Mr. Darcy does not like cards in any case.”

“What has Mr. Darcy to do with anything? That man means to force Mr. Bingley to marry his sister, but you—”

“I am confident that he has no intentions offorcingeither to do anything.”

“Elizabeth!” Mrs. Bennet roared. “Your papa is old. You must marry. You must marry well. You will never have a better opportunity than Mr. Bingley.”

“We do not suit. I have said as much repeatedly,” Elizabeth replied.

“Do not suit? Lord! Oh, my nerves. I shall go distracted with such daughters. Think about Jane. Look at Jane. Look at how helpless Jane is. Jane will be miserable after you have defied me in this. Imagine how sad you will feel when it is too late for you to find any match at all. Oh! If only it had been you whom thesmallpox had struck down instead of my Jane. I always thought that she could not be so pretty for nothing.”

“Mama, please, please!” Jane interjected. “I shall do well enough. Lizzy, do not credit such things. Do not. I have thought about this—I can cope. So long as there is some food, I can manage. I am blind, not—let us not pretend that my deficiencies are of greater significance than they are.”