Page 26 of Pride, Prejudice and Prudence

And so the Bennet family arranged to leave London and return to Longbourn, knowing that they had made some valuable connections which would ease their next season in town. Mrs Bennet was well pleased with this first step into London society, but it took Elizabeth some time to understand her own dissatisfaction with the season. It was only as the carriage wheels clattered over the entrance to Longbourn that Elizabeth knew it was because Mr Darcy had not been there.

Chapter 44

“Well, my dears, have you broken the hearts of every man in London?” Mr Bennet greeted them with his usual wit on their return to Longbourn. Such a greeting caused Jane to blush and Elizabeth to declare that, of course, they had. Their mama pronounced that her daughters were the belle of every ball in London, but there was no rush for them to select husbands, a statement which caused their father’s eyebrow to raise, but he replied that she was correct.

The returning party was unsurprised to see their cousin also in residence, as their father had informed their mother by post that he had asked Mr Collins to come. The reason for Mr Collins’ visit to Longbourn was to become evident after dinner that evening.

“You eldest girls have taken your first steps into London society, and you younger girls will not be long in following. Our family situation is going to change, and that is part of the reason I have asked our cousin to come to us. As you know, investments made when you girls were many years younger have yielded excellent results. These results allowed you girls to have this visit to London, including the season for Jane and Elizabeth. I am, however, conscious of the entail on Longbourn, and I think we can all agree that Longbourn will be in good hands with William. William has assured me that there will be a home here for any of his cousins if the need ever arises, but I am confident that it will not. During your time away from home, I have finalised the purchase of Netherfield Park.”

Exclamations of “Netherfield Park,” and “purchase”, filled the air as his daughters vocalised their shock, but Mrs Bennet remained silent with only a slight smile on her face. It was this smile that made it clear she had been aware of the plan to purchase Netherfield. Elizabeth saw some sorrow in Jane’s face even as she smiled at the good news, and Elizabeth felt sure she knew the reason for it. If Netherfield Park now belonged to the Bennets, then all hope of Mr Bingley’s return was gone.

“We will not be moving into Netherfield for some time, as Mr Bingley’s lease will remain in place until October.”

Elizabeth looked at Jane and saw her posture ease at this announcement; there was still time for Mr Bingley to pursue her.

“William has come to start to learn land management, and when the time is right, we will move into Netherfield, and Longbourn will pass to William.” Elizabeth could see the sense in this plan, but part of her heart mourned the loss of Longbourn, even to move to the grander Netherfield property.

In the weeks that followed, William became more and more like a son and brother to the Bennet family. Spending every day out on the estate with Mr Bennet learning, and every evening sitting with his female cousins. During this time, his looks improved, his cheeks filling out with the excellent food provided by Mrs Bennet, and his body strengthened from walking the grounds of Longbourn.

His improved looks drew the attention of one lady, much to the joy of her dearest friend, Elizabeth. Charlotte and Mr Collins were often seen talking with each other at any event in the village, and Elizabeth hoped that she might soon see her friend well settled.

And Jane awaited word of Mr Bingley’s return, but as the weeks drifted by, it seemed he would not come. However, one morning in late August, her father received a note from their uncle Philips.

“The Bingley party is returning to Netherfield,” their father announced, having read the note. Jane’s face flushed, but all her family pretended not to see it. That evening, after they had retired, Jane confessed to Elizabeth.

“I love him still,” said Jane, “but I know not how to trust him.”

Chapter 45

Three days later, Hill notified the ladies that two gentlemen had been spotted riding towards Longbourn from the direction of Netherfield Park. Mr Collins looked on amusedly as the ladies all moved from where they sat in the drawing room. Hill removed the tea that had been consumed not long before. Jane and Elizabeth took up embroidery, which Mr Collins had been sure they had not worked on during his visit. Mary started to read a book, and Kitty and Lydia were shooed from the room, as was of Miss Farnsworth.

‘Two gentlemen’, echoed in Elizabeth’s head, even as she saw the small smile on Jane’s face. She waited in anticipation. Surely it could not be Mr Darcy? she thought, but as the door of the drawing room opened and Hill announced them, “Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth’s eyes rose and caught his. The breath left her lungs when he smiled at her, the light filling his bright blue eyes.

“Mr Darcy, Mr Bingley,” Mrs Bennet welcomed them. Elizabeth had not been the only one who had learnt of Mr Darcy’s service to their family. Where before he had been most ill-favoured, that honour had now been bestowed on Mr Bingley. Mr Darcy was now a favourite of all the Bennets, and it did not take long for him to understand this. Mrs Bennet enquired as to what biscuits he liked, and Mr Bennet came from his study to greet him, and then Mr Bingley, before departing again.

“Have your sisters accompanied you from London?” Mrs Bennet enquired.

“My sister Caroline has come with me, but the Hursts have decided to remove to his estate in Somerset. My aunt has accompanied us to keep house for us.”

“Your aunt?” Mrs Bennet enquired.

“My mother’s sister, Hilda Willard,” he confirmed, and Mrs Bennet said that she looked forward to making her acquaintance.

Mrs Bennet, Jane, and Elizabeth returned the visit the next afternoon. By tacit agreement, they had all decided to ignore Miss Bingley’s behaviour in London and behave as if she had merely left Netherfield last November and only now returned, with no interactions in the interval.

“Dear Jane,” Miss Bingley said, her tone sweet and unembarrassed, “it is such a pleasure to see you again.”

Jane replied that her delight was equal; such a reply caused Elizabeth’s eyebrows to raise, for she was unsure if Jane’s comment was cutting or sincere. Their aunt Willard was a small, wiry lady with grey hair and intelligent eyes, and they all liked her immediately. Returning to Netherfield Park, knowing that it would soon be their home, was disconcerting, but Elizabeth tried to hide her feelings, as she did not wish to be the one to reveal the depth of the change to her family’s circumstances. She saw her mother looking around the room, and Miss Bingley watching her, and she wondered what that lady made of it. She would have been amused had she heard Miss Bingley’s complaint after the Bennet party had departed.

“Did you see how Mrs Bennet inspected the house?” she said. “She means to have her daughter here before the month is out,” she exclaimed.

To which her brother responded that he wished it would be so, which had the effect of silencing her. Mr Darcy admitted to himself that there had been avarice in Mrs Bennet’s eyes as she inspected the property, but he supposed that she had a right to believe that Miss Bennet might soon be mistress of Netherfield Park.

The Bingley party, sans the Hursts and with the addition of Mrs Willard, again took their place as part of Meryton society. Their ill-mannered departure in November had been forgiven with the diplomatic overtures of Mr Bennet, of which they knew nothing.

One morning, as the Bennets and Mr Collins breakfasted, a note arrived from Miss Bingley for Jane, handed to her from the footman, and Jane read it aloud.

“My dear friend Jane, and Miss Elizabeth,