Page 95 of Master of Himself

This was just as Charles had hoped. “With the promise of future business, she would have been a fool to snub you. Where to next, my love?”

Jane glanced over her shoulder at her sisters. “I daresay we’ll have similar results at the green grocer and dry goods shop, but I can scarcely wait to share the news with Mrs Fletcher.”

With Miss Elizabeth and Miss Mary in full agreement, they crossed the street and entered the butcher shop.

“Betrothed?” Mrs Fletcher said upon hearing Charles’s announcement. “What wonderful news, Mr Bingley. I wish you and Miss Bennet much joy. You have captured a rare gem.”

“How well I know, and I can only hope to be worthy of her. I shall cherish each moment with her for the rest of my life.”

Mrs Fletcher gushed with pleasure. “My dear Miss Bennet, I couldn’t be happier for you, not that I didn’t know it would happen from the very start. ‘We’ll have a wedding soon,’ I said when I saw you dance at the assemblies, and so we shall.”

“That went better than I could have imagined,” Charles said, once they had left the shop. He hoped that the news would spread quickly that he hadn’t forsaken Jane due to her sister’s foolish escapade.

“Mrs Fletcher is one of a kind, to be sure, and we may rely on her to spread the good news,” Miss Elizabeth said. “I daresay, the other shopkeepers will extend every curtesy to the future mistress of Netherfield, rather than lose your continued patronage.”

This prediction proved accurate at the next two shops, where the proprietors received the news of Jane’s upcoming change of residence with eager interest. Pleased by their success, Charles hoped to settle one more bit of business. “Since we’re so close to the parsonage, perhaps we should call on the vicar and request the banns.”

“An excellent idea,” Jane said with her usual glowing countenance. “Also, don’t forget to send word to your parish rector at St George’s.”

Charles had indeed forgotten that the banns must also be read in his own parish. “Quite right. The sooner that’s done, the better.”

On their way to the parsonage, the party encountered Miss Lucas and her sister Maria. Miss Elizabeth abruptly stopped walking and wrapped a protective arm around Miss Mary. Jane released Charles’s arm and stood with her sisters.

Despite knowing that the scene in church still weighed heavily on Jane’s mind, he maintained civility and greeted the Lucas sisters.

After returning his greeting, Miss Lucas cast a remorseful glance at the Bennet sisters. “Oh, Eliza. I’m so dreadfully sorry.”

Miss Elizabeth sombrely shook her head. “You mustn’t trouble yourself over it, Miss Lucas. We offer our warmest wishes on your betrothal.”

“Indeed, may you both have every happiness,” Miss Bennet said in a civil tone. “Kindly excuse us. We must hurry home.” She dipped a curtsy and lead her sisters away.

Suspecting that everyone on the street had witnessed that exchange, Charles bowed to the Lucas ladies, then followed Jane and her sisters to the lane.

“I’ll never understand why our friends betrayed us, Jane,” Miss Elizabeth said.

“I’m certain they now realise that they’ve made a terrible mistake, and are heartily sorry for it,” Jane said, in her gentle, unassuming manner.

“Why? Did someone force them to contribute to our ruin?” Miss Elizabeth said in a harsh tone.

“Please don’t despair, my dear Lizzy. Several shopkeepers acknowledged us today, and I think we’ve come a great way in repairing the damage,” Jane said, then cast a worried glance over her shoulder at Charles, as if seeking his assistance.

“Indeed, they were all quite welcoming,” he said, encouraged by their progress, although he privately admitted that gaining acceptance from the neighbouring estate owners would prove more challenging.

“We need not trouble Mama with this trifling matter, Lizzy. She has already suffered so,” Jane said. “Don’t you agree, Mary?”

“I won’t say a word about it,” Mary said, still keeping a firm hold on Miss Elizabeth. “She’ll be overjoyed to hear of our success, especially with Mrs Finch.”

Charles admired the way Jane sought to protect everyone in her sphere, and was more confident than ever that she would be an excellent wife.

Upon their arrival at Longbourn, Jane and her sisters went upstairs to see to Mrs Bennet, and Charles found Mr Bennet in the study with Darcy.

“Join us, Mr Bingley,” Mr Bennet said. “Mr Darcy was just telling me about his morning call at Lucas Lodge.”

Eager to hear of his friend’s success, Charles sat beside Darcy and accepted a tankard of ale from his host.

“I urged Sir William to reexamine his perspective on Lydia’s recent adventure,” Darcy said. “He’s still hesitant, but with some continued reflection on his longstanding connection with you, Mr Bennet, I’m hopeful he’ll reverse himself.”

“One can only hope he’ll see reason,” Mr Bennet said, without much enthusiasm.