CHAPTER 2A

Jane's evening had been much more successful than Elizabeth's. Mr Bingley had asked her to dance twice, and she thought that he might have asked her a third time if it had not been improper. He also danced with Elizabeth, Kitty, and Lydia, and he attempted to get Mary to dance but was, predictably, unsuccessful.

"Oh Lizzy, is he not absolutely wonderful?" she said.

"He is in every way perfect for you, Jane. I cannot imagine that a proposal will be far behind."

"Do you really think so? I cannot even imagine how wonderful it would be. I know that it is very early, but I think I may love him."

"And if he has one jot of sense, which I believe him to, he loves you right back."

At that, the sisters dissolved into delighted giggles until their mother called them for breakfast.

While they ate, a letter arrived for Jane. The entire table seemed to be holding its breath as she opened and read it (aside from Mr Bennet, who was not going to let a potential suitor get in the way of his meal).

"It's from Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst!"

Elizabeth did not roll her eyes and was exceedingly proud of herself.

"They invite me to lunch today!"

Mrs Bennet squeaked delightedly.

"Papa, may I have the carriage?"

"No, you may not," responded her mother. "For it looks to rain."

"Mama," said Kitty, "is that not a good reason for Jane to take the carriage?"

"Good heavens, Kitty, I wonder at your foolishness!"

"If she is a fool, Mama, then so are the rest of us," said Elizabeth. "What is your scheme?"

"If Jane rides her horse in the rain, she may catch cold. And then Mr Bingley would be obliged to offer for her to stay until she's well. If we are lucky, she might get an entire week at Netherfield!"

"If we are lucky," Elizabeth muttered softly enough that only her father could hear her, "she shall not die before she is wed."

"Well, if she does," responded her father, "it will be a comfort to know that she died in pursuit of Mr Bingley."

Mrs Bennet was not well pleased with the laughter that erupted from the other end of the table.

Jane set off for Netherfield on horseback. Much to Mrs. Bennet's delight and Elizabeth's dismay, only minutes after Jane left the skies opened and rain began to pour down. Elizabeth could think of little other than how very long three miles can be when riding through a cold rain, and she had difficulty occupying herself with anything aside from worrying about Jane. The rain lasted for the rest of the day and into the evening, and Elizabeth determined that there was no way that Jane would return that night. Mrs Bennet repeatedly congratulated herself for her plan, as if she had caused the rain all on her own. Elizabeth finally had to retire to bed with a book earlier than normal, in order to avoid saying something regrettable to her mother.

The following morning a note arrived for Elizabeth from Jane. Their mother's scheme had worked, at least to some degree - Jane had caught a cold and her hosts were insisting that she remain at Netherfield until she had recovered. Their mother was delighted.

"What a smart idea that was, having Jane go on horseback. Now Mr Bingley will feel tenderly towards her as she is ill. By the time she had recovered, who knows what other feelings may have grown?"

"Yes," responded Elizabeth. "If there is one thing that endears a man, it is that special glow that only comes with fever."

Mrs Bennet was not well pleased with this response. If Elizabeth had not already decided to attend her sister at Netherfield, her mother's harping would have pushed her in that direction. She announced her intention to walk to see Jane.

"I should visit too, if the carriage is to be had," said her mother.

But the carriage was not to be had, so Mrs. Bennet decided she could not attend Jane at that time. Elizabeth, however, was determined to see Jane, and, as she enjoyed a walk, set out on foot towards Netherfield.

The walk was uneventful as walks go, but Elizabeth appreciated being in the fresh air. Unfortunately, it gave her too much time to worry about Jane. She was very cross every time she thought of her mother's ridiculous plan, which had inconvenienced Jane at the least, and possibly put her in danger. It was not as if Jane was having difficulty keeping Mr Bingley's attention on her own!

With a head as full of thoughts as Elizabeth's, the walk went very quickly. She did not notice how dusty her shoes and her dress were until she was ushered into the library and put under the scrutiny of Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst. She noticed them looking her up and down and casting each other glances, as if they could not wait to show their disapproval of her state. Mr Darcy was also there, and Elizabeth noticed something odd. He did not even seem to notice her dress, because he was staring intently at her face. She resisted the urge to wipe her face - was there dirt on there too, and that is what he stared at? She was altogether relieved when she was led to the room Jane was staying in.

Jane was quite a bit more ill than she had expressed in the note she sent Elizabeth. Her cold was very severe and she was running a fever. Mrs Bennet had been correct about one thing, though - Mr Bingley checked in on Jane frequently through the day, calling for more pillows or a bowl of soup or for the fire to be stoked. It was clear that he doted on Jane, and Elizabeth did not think it was simply because of her illness. He seemed to like taking care of her, which endeared him to Elizabeth even more.

Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst sat with Jane for some time during the day, entertaining her with descriptions of the last opera they had seen in London. Jane appeared to enjoy speaking with them but it wore her out quickly, and Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst seemed all too glad to quit the room when Elizabeth suggested to Jane that she might need to rest. After Jane managed to eat a bit more soup, Elizabeth read some light poetry until Jane fell asleep.

Although Jane's room was peaceful, there was quite a bit less tranquillity elsewhere in the house. Elizabeth had been quite correct that Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst were only waiting for her to leave the room before they endulged in criticising her.

"Did you see the hem of her dress? Six inches dragged through the mud!" Miss Bingley said. Her voice sounded shocked, but her eyes revealed how much she enjoyed the chance to stand in judgement of Elizabeth. "And those shoes! I had half a mind to ask her to leave them outside!"

"I do not know how Miss Jane Bennet is a member of that base family!" added Mrs Hurst. "She certainly has much more pleasing manners than any of the rest of them."

"What say you, darling?" said Miss Bingley, addressing Mr Darcy. "Are you quite as scandalised as the rest of us?"

"Perhaps not quite so much. It seems to me to be something that would be much more concerning to you ladies. I do not care, one way or the other, what Miss Elizabeth Bennet chooses to wear or muck about in."

Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst laughed and continued their discussion of Elizabeth. Darcy gave no indication that he had told a lie, although he had. He had not noticed the mud on Miss Elizabeth's hem; rather, he had noticed how the walk brought a healthy colour to her cheeks. He was not sure why this had occurred to him, as he cared not a bit for Elizabeth Bennet. It was an interesting fact and nothing more. While the women talked, he got up and located a book. Settling down into a reading chair, he was struck by how difficult it was to keep his mind on the book rather than on a certain pair of fine eyes.