Page 22 of Miss Bingley’s Return

“Given how well you understand your sister, I imagine you will be a great help to her.”

Miss Elizabeth’s expression appeared surprised and more than a little flattered. They turned to other subjects then and spent an agreeable time together.

Chapter VI

Patterns began emerging with greater clarity in the following days.

As the modiste delivered their gowns, they could now attend evening events in all their new finery. They had not attended a ball yet, but through Miss Bingley and—Elizabeth suspected—Mr. Darcy’s influence, they received invitations to parties, dinners, poetry readings, music performances, the theater, and other such amusements. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner sometimes attended with them, for Mr. Gardiner also had many friends among the gentry, but not always.

“Do you suppose that Miss Bingley welcomes our presence?” asked Mrs. Gardiner on one occasion when Jane made some small comment on the subject.

Jane frowned, appearing troubled, but time in London had taught her just a little more cynicism than she’d ever had before. “Miss Bingley has been friendly and obliging,” said she, though her words came with some hesitancy.

“Yes, Jane, she has,” agreed Mrs. Gardiner. “Yet Edward and I are not of the gentle sphere. Edward directs his business, which does not make us acceptable to all, though some do associate with us because of his success. Miss Bingley, though she has decided you will suit her brother for some incomprehensible reason, is still conscious of others watching. She associates with us because she must.”

Jane sighed, but she could not disagree with her aunt’s assessment. Elizabeth remained silent and watched it all, knowing Miss Bingley was not misleading her sister, but concerned for her all the same.

They continued in this fashion for some days, accepting calls and invitations, attending meetings that appeared random but did not feel so. As their participation in such society continued, Elizabeth noticed several things about what was happening around them, and about Mr. Bingley’s behavior in particular.

“He is attentive to Jane,” said Elizabeth to her aunt one morning after a party. “But he does not always appear to be present.”

“What do you mean?” asked Aunt Gardiner, intent upon Elizabeth’s answer.

“It is difficult to say,” replied Elizabeth. “When in Hertfordshire, he fixed the entirety of his attention on her, excluding everything else. Here, his attention wanders.”

At her aunt’s raised eyebrow, Elizabeth said: “He is not rude or careless, Aunt—I cannot imagine Mr. Bingley being so. It is as if something else pulls his attention, calls to him, or distracts him. I do not think I can explain it better than this.”

Mrs. Gardiner considered this for several moments. “Do you suppose he is divided?”

Elizabeth frowned. “Do you mean divided loyalties?”

“Not as such,” said Mrs. Gardiner through pursed lips. “To own the truth, I hardly know what I suspect. Perhaps only that Mr. Bingley appears uncertain of his direction.”

For a time, Elizabeth did not wish to consider the implication of what her aunt was trying to say, but the more she watched Mr. Bingley, the more she began to suspect that her aunt had the right of it.

Then something happened that altered her perception.

It was a bright early March day. Elizabeth and her aunt had gone to Bond Street for a little shopping—Jane had elected to stay at the house on Gracechurch Street and play with the children. After visiting a few shops, Elizabeth found she was not quite ready to return to Gracechurch Street.

“The weather is too fine to return home at once.”

“You have expressed an interest in visiting Hyde Park before, Lizzy,” said Aunt Gardiner, the sparkle in her eye telling Elizabeth her aunt knew how welcome such an activity would be. “Perhaps we should take a turn.”

“As you know,” replied Elizabeth, “I would never reject such a sensible suggestion.”

“If it is sensible I have no notion,” replied Aunt Gardiner, fixing her with an affectionate smile, “but I am pleased to indulge you.”

They turned their steps down Oxford Street and entered the park through Cumberland Gate. Once inside, they made their way toward the Serpentine. Hyde Park was as beautiful as Elizabeth had imagined, and though it did not compare to the wilds in Hertfordshire she was accustomed to, she found it an acceptable substitute for the moment.

“Your love of nature has always been a source of much wonder to me, Lizzy,” said Aunt Gardiner when they had walked for several moments.

“It is not unknown to you,” replied Elizabeth, keeping her eyes on the foliage around her rather than her aunt.

“No, it is not,” replied she. “But it is amusing all the same.”

“It is something that brings me joy, Aunt,” said Elizabeth, at last turning to Mrs. Gardiner. “I am never so happy in the city—I much prefer the wild beauties of the country to anything London offers. What are sterile gardens and cobbled streets to paths and wild greenery left as God intended them?”

“What, indeed?” said Mrs. Gardiner with a smile. “I must say, Lizzy, that I find your surety most stirring. Perhaps I shall convince Edward to purchase an estate.”