Chapter 4
The next morning, the blue sky had been replaced with a grey one. Even darker grey clouds loomed ominously in the distance. Elizabeth looked dubiously out of the bedroom window.
"I was hoping to take your basket to the Owen family this morning, Jane. I am afraid it will have to wait."
Jane came slowly to the window beside her sister "Of course, Lizzy, you cannot go so far, you will most certainly be caught in the rain. Better to stay indoors. The basket can wait."
"Mr Bingley told me that he and Mr Darcy were to dine with the officers today, " Elizabeth mused, "unless of course they choose to stay with Miss Bingley."
"Poor Miss Bingley, I know how painful it is to sprain an ankle, but to fall over and... well, expose herself as she did..." Jane blushed, "She must feel mortified. I feel sorry for her."
"Well I do not. Maybe now at least she will refrain from spouting rubbish about other people. She does not deserve your pity!"
"But imagine, Lizzy! To lose face in front of Mr Darcy, whom it would seem she admires so much. Imagine how she must be feeling."
"I am sure Mr Darcy was impressed when he saw how she cried like a baby. Or, how she berated everyone and behaved like a spoilt child! Her behaviour was far more embarrassing than her fall!"
"Well, at least try and be tolerant for her brother's sake. He sounds like such a kind and pleasant man"
"Oh he is very kind and very pleasant. I almost feel that he is too kind!"
"Dear Lizzy! Do you really think it is possible to be too kind?"
"Yes! I do! He is far too kind to his sister. He does not check her behaviour. I heard the way she spoke to her staff, it made me feel extremely uncomfortable and I clearly saw Mr Bingley's embarrassment. He does not like conflict, and does not know how to deal with her." Lizzy shook her head. "It is Perhaps Mr Bingley we should feel sorry for."
Elizabeth's thoughts wandered back to the previous afternoon. She had felt pity for Mr Bingley, as he weakly admonished his sister. Mr Darcy had barely hidden his disgust at the way she spoke to the maid and footman. He had looked at Elizabeth, with those deep searching eyes, and without words she knew he was thinking of Mrs Bingley's earlier comment about Jane, they both had seen the irony of the situation. A hint of a smile had passed between them...
"Do you...do you like him Lizzy?" Jane asked hesitantly.
"Mr Darcy?" Elizabeth answered distantly.
"Er, no I believe we we're talking about Mr Bingley?" Jane's looked at her sister curiously.
"Oh yes, of course Mr Bingley! Do I like him?" Elizabeth shook off her reflection and paused to gather her thoughts. "Yes. Yes, I like him very much. Only, perhaps not in the way you are hinting at. I do not think I am at risk of falling in love with him."
"Oh dear Lizzy. I hope you will not break his heart, for it would seem that he is very much attached to you. Mary told me that he barely left your side yesterday.l
"It is true, we walked together often, and I did enjoy our conversations and his attention. He is kind hearted, generous and good natured, but...there is something missing. I can't explain it. You know me, Jane! Always looking for answers, searching for the deeper meaning in things. He is so easily contented with what is on the surface. I enjoy a good debate...and I cannot imagine it possible to argue with Mr Bingley. He would back down immediately!"
"That is not such a bad thing, Lizzy."
"Not for you, Jane, but I do not know what to think. Something just does not feel right. He would not make me feel... complete, and I think in the long term I would not make him happy." Elizabeth sighed.
"What about Mr Darcy?" Jane raised both eyebrows questioningly.
"Mr Darcy? Why, I have barely spoken to the man!" Elizabeth answered with a dismissive wave of her hand. She was unwilling to share the unfamiliar feeling that the man stirred in her, even with her dearest sister. At least not until she understood its significance herself.
Jane looked carefully at her sister, and decided to leave the conversation there. If Elizabeth had something to share, she would do so in her own time.
...
Miss Caroline Bingley had just spent the worst night of her life. The physician had examined her, and confirmed that there's was nothing about her injury that a few days rest would not heal. Although her ankle gave her some pain, the principal cause of her suffering was her injured pride. She had spend the entire night feeling sorry for herself, calling for her maid every hour, to rearrange the pillows or to bring her some specific drink, that was then deemed too sweet, or too cold, or in someway unacceptable. As the night wore on, her self pity slowly turned to anger, and by morning, she had worked herself into a state of self righteous fury.
"This is all the fault of that stupid Bennet girl!" She muttered to herself for the thousandth time, punching the mattress she was lying upon with venomous anger. "Little miss sparkly eyes. Using her sneaky wiles to persuade my brother to agree to the ridiculous idea of us all traipsing about the countryside. I hate that woman. Hate, hate, HATE!" She let out a ear piercing scream, picked up the book next to her and hurled it across the room, which in turn sent a small vase cascading to the floor with a smash.
"Miss Bingley!?" the maid came scurrying in from the dressing room. "Is everything alright?" Her tired eyes took in the scene, but she was well practiced at hiding her surprise, so her face remained neutral.
No one below stairs, envied her place as Miss Bingley's lady's maid. It was a precarious position to hold, as the number of maids discharged by Miss Bingley was considerable, and those who held the job were frequently reduced to tears by the lady's poisonous tongue.
"No Sarah! Obviously everything is not alright" hissed Miss Bingley, "Where is Mr Darcy? Has he left the house?"
"I beg your pardon, miss. I do not know. I have not been outside your rooms since yesterday evening." It was true, the young girl had not seen her bed that night, such were the demands imposed upon her by her injured Mistress.
"Well, find out and report back to me... and then see to it that this mess is cleaned up, you useless girl!"
"Yes Miss." Sarah curtseyed, and hurried out of the room.
As she closed the door behind herself, the exhausted maid saw the master, Mr Bingley, coming quickly towards her, his face concerned "Sarah! What is going on? We heard a terrible scream."
Sarah dropped a curtesy, "It was Miss Bingley, Sir,"
"Is her injury giving her still so much pain?" His brow creased with worry.
"Excuse me sir, but no, I don't think it is the ankle that is the problem, sir." She looked at the floor before adding quietly "Miss Bingley has been very distressed all night. She, she has been throwing things.."
"Ah!" Bingley looked at the maid with concern, "You look extenuated, have you had any rest?"
"No sir... well yes, a little, sir...I, I slept for a few minutes on the dressing room armchair" the maid flushed.
"Well, you must get some proper rest now, I will have Mrs Nicholls send someone to replace you"
"Thank you sir, but Miss Bingley expects me back with.."
He raised his hand, "I will explain the situation to Miss Bingley, now go and get some rest!"
"Yes, sir." Sarah curtseyed and quickly disappeared down the hall.
Mr Bingley let out a sigh before knocking gently on the door to his sister's chamber.
He navigated between the pieces of broken vase that were scattered on there floor and bent to pick up the book that lay open, face down with its pages skewed and folded.
His sisters eyes were closed, her face red and her lips tight.
"Sarah! Is that you? She said sharply, "Have you discovered where Mr Darcy is?
"Caroline!" Mr Bingley's voice was kind, but firmer than usual. He smoothed the pages of the book and put it down gently on the table. Her eyes sprung open at the sound of his voice.
"Oh, Charles, it is you! I thought it was my incompetent maid."
"I sent her to rest, she was on the brink of exhaustion."
"Sent her to rest? I need her here! What about my needs Charles? When shall I be able to rest? I ask you that. I did not sleep a wink"
"Mrs Nicholls will provide a replacement to see to your needs."
"I will not have some scruffy housemaid.." she spat.
"Caroline, be reasonable..."
"Be reasonable? After yesterday's disaster all of my hopes are ruined. I have spent the last years endeavouring to prove to Mr Darcy that I am the perfect wife for him. I only went on that ridiculous outing yesterday for him, to save him from being surrounded by all those unfashionable, unrefined country chits.. and now..."
"Caroline!"
"No! Charles! I cannot, will not remain here, I will be the laughing stock... We shall return to London immediately!"
"Now, Caroline" he responded gently, "the only people who actually saw you fall were your sister, Darcy myself and Miss Bennet. You can be assured that no rumours will be spread by any of us. The others were far ahead, and only know you injured your foot, which is nothing to be ashamed of, despite what you might think."
"I am sure that Eliza Bennet will take delight in telling everyone in the neighbourhood! I am sure that she found my misfortune hilariously funny. Don't look so incredulous Charles, I saw her mocking me yesterday. Darcy will not look at me now, he can only look at that impudent piece of work. Oh she makes me sick. I tried , I tried so hard, and she just has to bat her eyelids a few times and he looks at her that way, a way he never looks at me."
She stopped short as she saw Mr Bingley's face go pale. "What do you mean Darcy looks at Miss Elizabeth?"
"Charles, you are so naïve! You cannot see what is before your eyes. A typical man." She mocked, " But do not worry. Darcy may look at her like she is some sort of goddess, he will never act upon it. She is too far below him, he does not want a country nobody for a wife, I cannot fathom why you give her such attentions either."
"That is enough Caroline!" He could feel his anger rising, and, as is often the case with those who tend to be mild in spirit, he had no idea of how to manage the feeling when it overcame him. "You will stop insulting Miss Elizabeth. You will stop behaving like a child! You should feel ashamed! But not because you had the misfortune to twist your ankle, but because of your attitude! Look around you. I have a good mind to make you get out of your bed, injured ankle or no injured ankle, and pick up every piece of this mess yourself."
"Charles! How dare you speak to me that way!"
"How dare I? How dare you? Do you know that your own Mother would not have tolerated your attitude. I have always been sorry for you because she wasn't there for you when you were young, but let me tell you something: She would never have tolerated... this!" he waved in a dramatic gesture about the room. "As kind as she was, she did not put up with nonsense. Louisa and I learned that the hard way from our youngest age, but you have had no such discipline in your life." He walked over to the door, opened it with a jerk and turned back to his sister you was sitting up wide eyed, mouth open. "Well, let me tell you this: We will not be going to back London until I say so."
He closed the door behind him, and stood in the hallway, his heart racing and his hands trembling. After taking some calming deep breaths he made his way down stairs towards his study. A growl of thunder rumbled through the darkening skies and by the time he reached his destination the rain was beating down outside. Sitting at his desk, he closed his eyes, listening to the sound of the rain against the window. He sat thinking for a long time, surprised with himself at his sudden ourbust. Caroline could often be very hurtful. That ridiculous tale about Darcy and Miss Bennet! Surely he would have noticed something himself, if it were true. Yes, it was certainly just Caroline trying to make trouble. Although, he would pay more attention to his friend next time they were in company with the Bennet family.
...
The rain continued well into the afternoon. As was her custom on such days, Lizzy slipped into her father's book room kissing her father on his forehead before taking her place in her usual place on the window seat.
"My Lizzy! How good of you to come and see your old father. I have missed you." The old gentleman smiled warmly at his favourite daughter.
"But, papa! You saw me at breakfast this morning!"
"Yes Lizzy, but that is not the same as our cosy companionship. I have been looking forward to an afternoon of sensible discussion!"
"As have I, dear papa!"
"I have had a letter of a most intriguing nature. Can you guess who it is from? -No, I don't suppose you can, so I shall tell you! It is from Mr Collins!
"Our cousin Mr Collins?"
"Yes, yes, he who stands to inherit Longbourn, and throw you all out into the hedgerows, if your mother is to be believed! That is the man. I would very much like to hear your opinion of his letter!" He handed the page over to Elizabeth with a large smile.
After a few moments silent reading Elizabeth had formed an opinion; "He must be an oddity, I think," said she. "I cannot make him out. There is something very pompous in his style. And what can he mean by apologising for being next in the entail? We cannot suppose he would help it if he could. Could he be a sensible man, sir?"
"I very much doubt he has much sense at all. I have replied favourably to his request to visit Longbourn. He may provide us all with considerable entertainment at the very least, and at best marry one of my daughters...if I understand his subtle hints!"
"Very subtle indeed papa!" Elizabeth laughed, and read an excerpt from the letter in her hand trying her best to imitate the voice of a pompous man, "I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends!"
"At any rate, I have just now sent my reply, and so we may expect him on the indicated day. Do not inform your mother. I will do that myself, at the latest possible moment. The minute she finds out, we shall have no peace, and she will certainly attempt to throw one or other of you girls at him- Although, you should be safe Lizzy, as it seems she is convinced you shall soon be spoken for."
"Mama, is mistaken, sir. She goes too far with her imagination!"
"Perhaps, Lizzy, but it means that your mother will leave you in peace when Collins gets here. If he is the pompous fool I think he is, you will be grateful!"
"I suppose I will! He may of course be a most handsome, educated man whose only defect is that he writes letters very ill indeed."
"We shall see, my dear daughter. I must say that I am most curious to meet the man."