Page 8 of Miss Bingley’s Return

“That is all we ask, Jane dear,” said Mr. Gardiner. “Your esteem for Mr. Bingley and his sister is not in question. All any of us suggest is that you greet these overtures with your eyes open.”

Jane smiled at them all. “That is what my father told me before we departed.”

“And good advice it is,” said Mr. Gardiner. He grinned and shrugged his shoulders. “Bennet rarely involves himself in the affairs of his family, but when he does, his advice is sound.”

“More is the pity,” said Mrs. Gardiner to no one in particular.

“One more point I shall make,” said Mr. Gardiner. “Men who are engaged in London society are not always engaged in the sense that your mother might wish. Until you have a sense of Mr. Bingley, restraint is a virtue, not a vice.”

“I have another consideration to add,” said Elizabeth. “It strikes me that we have not come to London for Jane to meet Mr. Bingley. We have come for you to be placed in his path at a moment of Miss Bingley’s choosing.”

“I could not have put it better myself,” murmured Mrs. Gardiner.

Jane absorbed this without comment. There was nothing deficient about Jane—she was trusting where Elizabeth was cynical, and this was not a weakness in her. Jane could be angelic, but if she decided that Miss Bingley was not being open, or if she suspected her of ulterior motives, she would draw back. There would be no tense confrontations—she would withdraw with the dignity that was such an integral part of her character. How Miss Bingley would react, Elizabeth did not know, but unless she received assurances that satisfied her, Jane would not listen. She could be as immovable as a mountain when she thought herself in the right.

“Well, well, then,” said Mr. Gardiner, turning to joviality. “Might I suppose that you three will raid my warehouses tomorrow for materials? As I recall, you threatened to go shopping.”

“We apologize for our piracy in advance, Uncle,” said a laughing Elizabeth.

“That does not mean you will relent,” said he, shaking his head.

“You can spare a few yards of cloth, Edward,” replied Mrs. Gardiner.

“Yes, I suppose that I can. I shall trust you not to leave me a pauper in the process.”

“Nonsense,” said Mrs. Gardiner, though with affection. “You may think of it as your contribution to the future of your nieces.”

“What of you both?” asked Elizabeth. “Shall you also involve yourselves in our forays into society?”

The Gardiners exchanged a glance. “The circles in which we move are quite different,” said Mr. Gardiner. “I have many acquaintances among the gentry, but I associate with but few of them in social situations.”

“Much will depend on Miss Bingley,” said Aunt Gardiner.

“She is no higher than you are on society’s scale despite her pretensions,” said Elizabeth, though she felt like she was pointing out the obvious.

“Yet, I suspect those pretensions govern her,” replied Aunt Gardiner. “I have no pressing interest in performing to the masses, though I am not opposed either. Should we be welcome, Edward and I will be happy to offer our support. Should Miss Bingley make her sentiments known otherwise, I think it is best to allow her to escort you.”

“That is prudent,” agreed Elizabeth.

Later that evening, Elizabeth and Jane prepared to retire to their bedchamber. Elizabeth could not suppress the thought that they were stepping into the unknown on the morrow. As an intrepid young woman, Elizabeth found it more challenge than cause for alarm.

“Before we departed Longbourn,” said Jane when they had snuffed the candle and lay in bed together, “Papa said I must see Mr. Bingley as he is, not as I wish him to be.”

“That is excellent advice, Jane,” said Elizabeth. “Did he offer any other tidbits of wisdom?”

Elizabeth could almost see Jane’s upturned lips, though the room was dark. Outside, the sound of distant bells tolled over the city as the house settled around them.

“Only that it is better to suffer an honest disappointment than endure a life of uncertainty.”

“With that, I must agree.”

Jane turned to face her, and Elizabeth could just see her features in the dim light allowed by the window. She did not look sad, only pensive.

“We have always determined to allow only the deepest love to induce us into matrimony.”

“A sentiment I still espouse,” said Elizabeth.

“As do I,” replied Jane. “I think it is prudent to add something else to it, Lizzy, for if the man we love does not return the sentiment, that must also be disagreeable.”