Page 11 of A Sisterly Bond

“When you entered, we were just talking about Pemberley’s library. Mrs Gardiner remembered that people called our father the best master and landlord, and I told them you are exactly the same.”

“You give me too much credit, dearest, and I thank you, though I am sure I do not deserve such praise,” he replied, clearly uncomfortable.

Only moments later, the conversation stopped abruptly, silenced by a shock nobody had foreseen. A servant formally announced the arrival of two more visitors: Mr Bingley and Miss Caroline Bingley, who entered the room but then stopped short with a gasp of amazement.

Elizabeth glanced at Jane, who had turned pale and seemed to have forgotten to breathe, while Mr Bingley’s expression was similar. He appeared to be gasping for air, blinking repeatedly, while his sister leaned against the wall for support.

In the room filled with such excruciating awkwardness, Miss Darcy’s voice sounded strangely serene.

“Mr Bingley! What a lovely surprise to see you here, sir! Fitzwilliam returned home only moments ago, and we were just talking about you!”

Chapter 5

The entrance of Mr Bingley and his sister produced a silence more eloquent than any speech could have been. For several moments no one moved, and the air in the elegant drawing-room seemed to thicken with unspoken astonishment.

Mrs Annesley, seated a little apart, offered a serene smile and a slight inclination of the head, as though the sudden arrival of two additional guests were the most ordinary occurrence in the world.

Mr Bingley’s eyes, however, had fixed upon Jane with an expression of pure astonishment that rapidly deepened into something far more powerful. Colour flooded his cheeks; he opened his mouth, closed it again, and seemed for an instant quite incapable of speech. Jane herself had grown pale; her hands, clasped tightly in her lap, trembled, and she could not raise her gaze above the floor.

Miss Darcy looked positively delighted; she rose with quiet grace and advanced a step, repeating her welcome.

“Miss Darcy, I… This is extraordinary,” Mr Bingley mumbled in apparent disbelief. “My sister told me she received your note and we came to greet you… I did not know Darcy was home…and Miss Bennet? Miss Elizabeth? How is it possible that you are here?”

Miss Bingley recovered too; she straightened, adjusted her elegant shawl, and surveyed the company with a look of cold displeasure that lingered longest upon Jane and Elizabeth. “Quite extraordinary, indeed,” she repeated.

Mr Darcy remained standing near the fireplace, and Elizabeth glanced at him; his countenance was carefully composed, yet the set of his jaw and the stillness of his figure betrayed a restraint that cost him no small effort. He inclined his head in greeting but offered no words.

“Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, and Mrs Gardiner are my guests,” Miss Darcy explained. “We were having tea together when Fitzwilliam returned, a little while ago. I sent the note asking about you, Mr Bingley, since they enquired after you and I had no news.”

“I see… I am glad you did, Miss Darcy. Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, I cannot believe we happened upon you here,” Mr Bingley muttered, his astonishment still etched on his face. “I was not aware you were in town. When did you arrive? And how…? I was not aware you and Miss Darcy are acquainted.”

“Our acquaintance is recent but very pleasant,” Miss Darcy answered, and Miss Bingley frowned, her eyes narrowing in a glare.

Elizabeth, whose spirits seldom failed her in moments of awkwardness, rose and stepped forwards with a brightness that was half courage and half defiance.

“Mr Bingley, Miss Bingley, how nice to see you! I just arrived in London a few days ago, sir, but Jane has been here for three months now. I assumed Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst had informed you since Jane visited them and they returned her call. May I introduce you to my aunt Mrs Gardiner? Jane has been staying with her since January.”

The effect of these words was instantaneous. Miss Bingley’s colour rose sharply; her lips pressed into a thin line, and her eyes flashed with barely suppressed fury. She cast a rapid, warning glance at her brother, who appeared too much absorbed in his own astonishment to notice it.

“Three months? What do you mean? Miss Bennet has been in London for three months?” Mr Bingley repeated, dumbfounded, turning from Jane to Elizabeth and then to his sister. “Miss Bennet, you called upon my sisters? How is that possible? I was never told… Caroline, what happened? What is all this about?”

His outburst seemed to distress Miss Darcy, who looked rather lost.

Miss Bingley forced a brittle smile. “It is all a misunderstanding, Charles. I shall explain it to you later. We did meet dear Jane twice, only briefly, but you were busy with other engagements, and—”

“What other engagements, Caroline? How did I not know? Miss Bennet, I assure you, had I known you were in London, I would have come to greet you immediately. Oh, I beg your forgiveness. Mrs Gardiner! I am very pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“I am pleased to meet you, too, Mr Bingley,” Mrs Gardiner replied calmly.

“Is there something wrong?” Miss Darcy asked, her cheeks touched by paleness. “I am pleased we are all here together, but…have I done something wrong?”

“Indeed you have not, Miss Darcy,” Mr Bingley replied in a tone that failed to conceal his anger. “Your note arrived at the perfect time, and I am truly grateful for it.”

“Oh…I am glad to hear that. Then please take a seat. I shall order more refreshments,” Miss Darcy said with a serenity contradicting the general distress.

“Unfortunately, we cannot stay longer. I have somewhere to be soon,” Miss Bingley said. Her brother turned to her sharply.

“Where must you be, Caroline? You insisted that we should visit Miss Darcy and mentioned you had no other plans for today.”