Proposed Luncheon.
When the letter from Caroline Bingley came to Jane the next day, Miss Bennet did not regard its contents with any distress. The note from her brother the day before had contained enough to assure her that he would return from town in time to fulfil the engagement of dining at Longbourn as the earliest possible convenience.
Indeed, the only thing that had the potential to cause her any mortification, was the idea that Miss Bingley wished to deceive her, and persuade her brother not to return to Netherfield. It was the first time that Jane had been awakened to the idea that anyone could be capable of wilful deceit, and in such a convincing manner. She did believe that if Mr Bingley had not thought to send her a note, Caroline's letter would have completely taken her in.
Indeed, Jane was very fortunate that day. The departure of the Hursts and Miss Bingley was not discovered by any of Meryton's citizens, a circumstance helped perhaps by Mr Darcy remaining at Netherfield Hall, and making a somewhat public ride about the village's main street.
Mrs Bennet therefore knew nothing about it, giving her no opportunity to wail about anything save Mr Collins and Lizzy. That matter had continued to plague her for the rest of the day and night, as she found the idea of her daughter refusing their cousin most reprehensible. As soon as Elizabeth had returned to the house from her walk with Mr Darcy and Jane, Mrs Bennet set upon her with renewed zeal.
Ten minutes was all that her daughter would stand, leaving her mother forced to seek her husband's support. Until Mr Bennet actually declared his refusal to side with her, Mrs Bennet did not believe in the possibility that he would not order Lizzy to accept Mr Collins.
This disappointment still however did not make her give up her point. She continued to talk to Elizabeth again and again; coaxed and threatened, even tried to persuade the rest of her daughters to assist her, but in vain. Elizabeth would never concede.
The confusion over this matter had been brought to a temporary pause by the arrival of Charlotte Lucas in the previous afternoon, then had been resumed until, it was suddenly put aside, about an hour before luncheon.
Jane had received Miss Bingley's letter only a half an hour ago, and the rest of the Bennet girls had just returned from Meryton, the two youngest with news of Mr Wickham's terrible accident during a sword practice, when their mother was sent into a flurry of agitation and activity, by the news of Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy being not a mile from the house.
She rang for Hill, calling out orders for the best food they had in the house to be made ready, ordered Jane to run upstairs and put on her blue gown, before realising it was too late to make such a change, briefly commented on the shame that she had no news to give them, with a look of meaning to her second daughter, before resuming her seat with all the appearance of one who had been sitting down for quite some time, and awaited their arrival.
The door was opened, their names announced, and the gentlemen entered. Mr Bingley's first look was to and for Jane, who could not receive it without blushing in happiness at the message she descried in it. His friend was likewise concerned with only one occupant of the room. He fixed his gaze upon Elizabeth immediately.
Mrs Bennet however allowed them no time for private civilities with her daughters. First they must have lunch; they had come here to dine, and dine they must. She held the conversation until the meal was announced, feeling herself able to act as emissary of all the news Mr Bingley might have missed during his absence in London.
The mention by him of his sisters and brother in law being now in town was completely passed over without any comment, likewise any word directed at Jane. As for his friend, hated by their hostess ever since the night of the assembly, he was allowed the freedom to sit by the object of his thoughts, and occasionally able to answer and make an inquiry to her, whenever Mrs Bennet's conversation gave him the freedom to do so.
Longbourn's owner then put in a brief appearance from his library, that sanctuary having been invaded by the estate's heir apparent some minutes ago. Accompanied by Mr Collins, Mr Bennet opened the door of the sitting room to inform his wife that the servants had taken the care to mention to him that they placed the first course for luncheon on the dinner table. Mrs Bennet bemoaned their neglect to perform the same office for her, to which Mr Bennet remarked that they had attempted to do so, however their knocks went unanswered.
Mrs Bennet commented that the manners of her household staff daily tried her nerves, before leading the way into the dining room. All her hopes of soon having a daughter married were now returned to the fore. Refraining from making the gentlemen sit by her, she directed the arrangements so Bingley was by Jane, Mr Collins by Lizzy, and Mr Darcy by Mary, being of the opinion that one silent person would attract another.
Despite the obvious disappointments for some concerned, the meal passed off very well. Mr Bennet was able to obtain a release from his cousin, and a chance to involve his favourite daughter in his quest for amusement, and Mrs Bennet had the satisfaction of seeing her eldest daughter and Mr Bingley in private conversation throughout the entire meal.
Mr Collins was torn between talking to his cousin Elizabeth of the wonders of Hunsford Parsonage, and Mr Darcy about his gratitude for the unceasing generosity of his patroness, and what a joy it must be to have such an Aunt, while Lydia and Kitty busily vied for their mother's attention with news of Mr Wickham's injuries.
After the meal was at an end, Mr Bingley commented aloud on the fineness of the weather that day, followed by a suggestion that they all walk out. Mrs Bennet seized the opportunity with all the adeptness of her usual inclinations, but proved unsuccessful with regards to Mary, who wished to read Fordyce, and Mr Collins, who begged leave to be excused from such an excursion, when Mary inquired as to the meaning of a particular passage. The four accordingly left the room, claimed their hats and coats, then made their way out of the house.
Elizabeth and Darcy, more prone to walking about the countryside, soon outstripped their companions, with only the former, in concern for her sister, trying to check their pace in order to observe the two that lagged behind. But Mr Bingley was far too happy to be alone with Jane, and too eager for the arrival of a spot for solitude, to worry about any one else who was outside with them.
They reached the part in the path where it separated for ways to the village and to Oakham Mount. Darcy led the way to the latter destination, then took his companion by surprise, as he came to a sudden halt half way up. He turned round to look behind them, and suddenly faced her with a smile.
Elizabeth knew not what to make of him. "Mr Darcy?"
He silently gestured to where his gaze had been fixed on. "My friend is about to propose to your sister."
She gasped as he had suspected she would, and turned to look down the path. She saw at the foot the figures of Jane and Mr Bingley. The latter had halted them both, and was now kneeling down, and in the process of removing something from his pocket.
"Come," Darcy remarked suddenly, bringing her out of that temporary reverie, by impulsively taking her hand and leading up the path to the Mount. "I have always felt that those in love should be left alone to enjoy that newly acknowledged moment of joy. We must not disturb them a moment longer."
He did not stop until they had reached the summit of the Mount. Only then did Elizabeth have a chance to ask, "Did you know about this before he left for London?"
"I did," Darcy answered. "It was one of the reasons why I came to Longbourn yesterday. I had to know if your sister felt the same for my friend as he does for her. Her assurance that she did, was what stopped me from following the Hursts and Miss Bingley to London."
"Jane did receive a note from Miss Bingley, you know," Elizabeth commented. "It intimated that you were anxious to see your sister, and that Miss Darcy was their hopeful favourite for the title of Mrs Bingley."
Darcy gasped in surprise. "I had no idea that was her thinking. It is true that I am anxious to see Georgiana, and nothing but Wickham's presence in the neighbourhood has prevented me from sending for her from town. But she is far too young to be the bride of my friend, even if either of them claimed to possess that inclination. I cannot think what Miss Bingley was about. Georgiana is not even out."
"I think," Elizabeth tentatively remarked, "she has hopes that one Bingley-Darcy alliance will bring about another."
Darcy was all astonishment for but a moment. Then he laughed out loud, catching Elizabeth by surprise in the loveliness of the sound. "I suspected she might have an inkling in that quarter," he began in reply, "but there is no way that I would ever allow her to succeed. I have no desire whatsoever to marry Caroline Bingley. My feelings have long been directed towards someone else."
He looked at her, with serious, earnest intent, and would have continued, had not it been for the occasion of their being interrupted at that moment. Mr Bingley and Jane came upon them, both all smiles to the degree that no one who saw them could be insensible as to what had just passed between them.
Jane only had eyes for her sister, embracing her with joyful happiness, claiming it was 'too much, far too much,' and wondering aloud 'why everyone could not be as happy,' as she was. Her suitor embraced his friend like a brother, in raptures of his good fortune. Any hope that the couple had held for continuance in their private conversation was done away with, as Bingley and Jane led them back to the house to announce their news to the rest of the family.
