Page 32 of Regrets

Elizabeth nodded toward Mr. Bingley and Jane. “Your friend seems to have a good deal of interest in my sister.”

Mr. Darcy said, quietly, “Mr. Bingley is an honourable gentleman.”

“I would never suggest otherwise, Mr. Darcy, I assure you. As I said, Mr. Rochester is quite particular as to who is permitted to lease his home. The general belief is that he will someday return to claim his property and wishes there to be no ill will towards him for any reason.”

“That is quite forward-thinking.”

“It is, yes.”

“Who is this Mr. Rochester?”

Elizabeth shrugged. “None of us have the slightest idea; it is all very mysterious! There have been a good many theories advanced, including the ridiculous idea that Mr. Rochester is actually the Prince Regent, but there is so little information to go on that the gossip has pretty much died down.”

“And your uncle, Mr. Philips, does not know?”

“If he does, he has never breathed a word of it to anyone.”

“Good man,” Mr. Darcy said, approvingly.

“Yes, I suppose so; he owes it to his client to not gossip about him. But it is so very disappointing to the rest of us!” She laughed gaily as she spoke, and Mr. Darcy could not help joining in.

At the sound of Mr. Darcy’s laughter, Georgiana turned on her piano bench and saw her brother sitting with Elizabeth, the two laughing together. She smiled approvingly, and nudged Mary. “Look,” she whispered. “My brother and your sister!”

Mary shrugged. “Lizzy laughs with everyone.”

“But my brother does not,” Georgiana said, raising her eyebrows meaningfully.

“Oh!” Elizabeth clapped her hands and immediately had everyone’s attention. “Before I forget to tell you, there is an assembly next week. All the Bennet ladies are to go, and I hope all of you will join us there!”

“Brother, surely you will let me attend, will you not?” Georgiana asked at once.

“A country assembly is fine, Georgiana, yes.” He turned to Elizabeth and explained, “Georgiana is not yet out, but I see no harm in such a simple pleasure.”

Mr. Bingley immediately asked Jane for the first dance, and Jane looked down, blushing, as she accepted.

Elizabeth could feel Mr. Darcy looking at her; she deliberately looked away, so as not to make him feel that he had to ask her to dance.

“Miss Elizabeth.”

She turned back toward him. “Mr. Darcy?”

“I will dance the first with my sister, but would you honour me by dancing the second with me?”

“I would be happy to, Mr. Darcy; I thank you.” And to her surprise, she found that she was not entirely displeased by the idea.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Mr. Bennet read the letter for the third time. Despite its length and endless obfuscations, the message was simple enough. The heir presumptive to Longbourn, one Mr. William Collins, proposed to visit Longbourn. Mr. Bennet did not particularly want to meet the man, as he was a cruel reminder of Mr. Bennet’s inability to produce a son. And he was certain that he did not wish to hear his wife’s hysterics on the subject of Mr. Collins visiting Longbourn. She could not even bear to hear the man’s name!

Perhaps he should tell Mr. Collins not to come.

He tossed the letter onto his desk, leaned back in his chair, and steepled his hands in thought. He wished he could ask Lizzy for advice, but he knew better than to approach her. After years of his tentative advances being met with nothing but coldness from the daughter he loved so deeply, he no longer made the attempt. It was, if he was honest, too painful.

But he truly did wish her thoughts on the matter; perhaps there was another way.

He took a small piece of paper from his desk, and carefully wrote I would value your opinion as to how to proceed. Then he folded his little message inside the letter and rang the bell.

When Polly, the young maidservant, appeared in answer to his call, he handed her the letter and said, “Please bring this to Miss Elizabeth.”