Chapter 13

London

"I must not forget! I have news from Hertfordshire!" cried Jane. The room turned silent. "Mary is engaged!"

"Engaged!" cried Mr. Bingley "why that is wonderful! To whom?"

"To Mr. William Collins, our cousin. Mary has always wanted to be a parson's wife."

"How wonderful! I do hope she shall be happy." exclaimed Mrs. Gardiner

"And he is to inherit the estate, is he not?"

"Yes uncle, because it passes directly to him and not us poor females" countered Lizzy

"What a pleasing situation for you all! Not only shall you gain a brother, but your sister shall be mistress of your father's estate!" Bingley exclaimed in his jovial manner

"Yes, precisely" Jane replied to her beloved "they are to be married in a months time, then Kitty and Lydia are set on visiting Rosings Park not a month after."

"Is your mother quite alright planning such an event with out her eldest daughters home to help?" Bingley asked in all innocence.

A general chuckle was his answer from those gathered in the drawing room

"You clearly underestimate my sister, Mr. Bingley. Her planning skills are positively occult." Mr. Gardiner finished off his speech with a hearty laugh"

"My mother wishes for Lizzy and I to have our bridesmaids gowns drawn up in London, aunt. Perhaps you would know where it should be done?"

"Oh yes my dear, and we must use your uncle's fabric. No, no we insist upon it! But we can discuss all of the details another time."

Mr. Bingley stayed for quite some time-tea, dinner, port, music- before Jane's yawn alerted them both that it was high time he quite the house. He left with good tidings, and the promise of tomorrow's theater engagement.

When Elizabeth and Jane retired for the night, they finally had a chance to answer each other's questions about their respective in London and Longbourn

"Lizzy, how on earth did you come across Charles on the way to London?"

"The carriage dropped me off at the Inn where the coach comes on its route to London. I was waiting in the entry way to be seated for a meal before the coach came and Mr. Bingley walked in at that very moment. He was shocked me to see me Jane, and seemed genuinely relieved. He absolutely insisted I join them for lunch."

"And his sisters were pleased to see you?"

"Jane, you never think ill of anyone. His sisters were most put out when they came in to find Mr. Bingley standing with me in the foyer. Mr. Darcy was most kind, he escorted me to the dining room and seated me between himself and Mr. Bingley. I excused myself from the meal to catch the coach, but Mr. Bingley and his friend would not hear of it. So I rode in the Darcy carriage with Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, and Louisa, Caroline and Mr. Hurst rode in the Bingley carriage. It was a lovely trip. I believed we all three needed some time with each other to form our own opinions of each other without the interruption of Miss Bingley or our mother. "

"And what did you discover?"

"Well, if you must know, Mr. Darcy is much pleasanter without the company of Miss Bingley, Mr. Bingley is just as jovial and even tempered as we presumed him to be, and that I do believe I have misjudged Mr. Darcy."

"I do so hope he is not the proud and disagreeable man that you make him to be, Lizzy. I do not know how he and Charles would be so close if he was not a good man."

"I daresay were right about him Jane, and by all means parade your good judgement before me. I fear I judged him most cruelly. If I were hunted like meat as he is by Miss Bingley I too might be disposed to being short tempered."

"I don't suppose Caroline means any harm in her attentions"

"No harm to herself, but it is very clear that it annoys Mr. Darcy exceedingly. Her attentions to his sister also seem to be very unwanted. He speaks of Georgiana with such tenderness, and admits to being no help to her shyness. "

"And you met Miss Darcy?"

"Yes! Would you believe it Jane, Mr. Darcy brought her to call upon us for tea."

"That was very kind of him. He hardly runs in the same circles as our aunt and uncle"

"Exceedingly kind, and his sister invited me to call upon her. Mr. Darcy was very supportive of his sister befriending me-he believes that she needs to be encouraged to come out of her shyness."

"Then he is a very wise man"

"Indeed Jane, I believe he is."

"And Mr. Bingley is related to Mr. Gardiner's business?"

"Isn't that extraordinary? Mr. Bingley's grandfather made his fortune trading through our uncle's father's trading business. Apparently our uncle knew Mr. Bingley's father, and both of have been very pleased to renew the friendship between the Bingley and Gardiner households."

"Has anyone told his sisters?"

"I don't believe so. But I would love to be there when he does!"

"Lizzy that is cruel! They cannot help that their money came from trade"

"No, but they would do well to remember it."

"Perhaps. Do you think Mr. Bingley fancies Miss Darcy?"

Elizabeth laughed "In Miss Bingley's mind he does! I believe she is the only creature on the planet that thinks so! He speaks of her as more of a young girl, which she is. She is not yet seventeen Jane! She is not to be out for another few years!"

"I find it hard to believe that Miss Bingley could be so easily mislead"

"Jane, believe me. Miss Darcy is no concern of yours. What news from home?"

"Well, mama is pleased as punch to have her very own daughter inherit the estate. She may no longer complain about being thrown into the hedgerows"

"Yes, and papa will now be able to come out of his library. And you, Jane, may marry whomever you wish!"

"I have thought of it Lizzy"

"Does the engagement change your opinion of Mr. Bingley?"

"Not at all, if anything it has renewed confidence in my regard for him. For if I do marry him, it will not be for security for my family. It would be my decision for my own happiness."

"Could he make you happy?"

"I would be privileged to Mr. Bingley's wife. He would make an excellent father, and he is so very joyful there would always be merriment in the house."

"I do believe you have met your match for sweetness Jane, for a more jovial, kind-hearted gentlemen would be very hard to find"

"But the engagement does not change my fortune, and I know that Mr. Bingley's family has high expectations of him marrying well in that regard."

"What is fortune to happiness?"

"I agree with you Lizzy, but I know that much of the world does not"

"Jane you must encourage him. He cannot hold any doubt in his mind that you return his affection if you want to secure him. I tried to communicate to he and Mr. Darcy that you are of a shy nature in hopes that he would never view your behavior as uninterested, but it is better to be safe than sorry."

"Perhaps so, but it is certainly not in my nature to display my feelings so openly"

"Maybe not Jane, but I believe if you would like a happy ending to your life you must try"