The morning after the Netherfield ball was a trying one for Elizabeth. At least the matter of Mr. Collins was finally resolved, and she no longer need suffer the man's attentions. She found she could bear the peevish comments of her mother and the resentful silence of the gentleman quite well. Thankfully, he found Lucas Lodge much more hospitable and, thus, more to his liking.
The next day there was yet more disruption at Longbourn, but Jane was the unfortunate center of that storm. Mr. Bingley's plans for a brief visit to London were well known. However, Miss Bingley had written that the rest of the Netherfield party were following her brother to town. The house would be closed, and they did not anticipate returning to the neighborhood.
Mrs. Bennet was nearly inconsolable at the loss of two eligible prospects for her daughters. The autumn had brought a bounty to Meryton in terms of young gentlemen. As a result, Longbourn had seen its fair share of turmoil caused by the male sex, more so than it had ever experienced before. Elizabeth felt their presence, and departures, with varying degrees of welcome and vexation.
The militia was at the forefront of every conversation uttered from the mouths of her two youngest sisters. Elizabeth found both the soldiers and her sisters' discussions of them tiresome. Mr. Wickham was gone to places and for reasons unknown. Mr. Collins was absent, at least for the time being, finding succor at Lucas Lodge. Good riddance to them both, Elizabeth thought. Mr. Bingley was gone to London, not to return, if Miss Bingley was to be believed. Jane was distraught. Elizabeth and Mrs. Bennet also lamented the loss of his society on Jane's behalf, but for different reasons.
And Mr. Darcy had left with the others. Both his presence and departure made her angry, but then everything he did made her angry. Even in his absence he did not escape her ire. As the days went by, and Miss Bingley's communication proved true, Elizabeth was convinced Mr. Darcy had a role in the Netherfield party leaving.
It was late at night a week after their departure and there had still been no word of Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth was in Jane's room, sitting at her vanity as Jane reclined in her bed. "Jane, you must not doubt your Mr. Bingley. I am sure his affections were true, but he has allowed himself to be persuaded by his pernicious sisters and Mr. Darcy. I cannot believe that man has the temerity to call himself Mr. Bingley's friend," Elizabeth said bitterly.
"Lizzy, I know you do not care for Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, but they have been kind to me. You should not say such things. And what cause have you to think Mr. Darcy would wish to separate his friend from me? Even if Mr. Bingley did allow himself to be so persuaded the fault would lie entirely with him. I would not wish to be tied to somebody who is not his own person."
"Mr. Darcy is his own person, and he feels he owns others." Jane rolled her eyes at her sister's claim. "He has everyone thinking his newfound good nature is his true nature." Everywhere Elizabeth went it seemed people were extolling the virtues of Mr. Darcy. She could not account for it.
"Listen to yourself. Do you honestly think Mr. Darcy so persuasive that every person he meets loses all sense of discernment? That they yield to him simply because of his wealth and status? Or perhaps, you think you are the only one perceptive enough to see him for who he truly is. Are we all so incapable of independent thought that we have no choice but to follow either you or Mr. Darcy?" Jane was weary of hearing her sister's disparagement of the gentleman. It had become incessant of late.
"Think what you will Jane, but you have not seen him as I have." Elizabeth was insistent.
"What have you seen of Mr. Darcy that causes you to distrust him so? Tell me. For if you do not, I will not listen to another negative thing about the man. He has shown us more indications of his goodness than his arrogance." Jane was adamant that this was the last conversation she would have on this topic.
Elizabeth explained her meetings with Mr. Darcy and Uncle Phillips, the situation with Mr. Wickham, what she believed to be the continued slights and insults to her family and friends. It was a faithful accounting of their interactions, but Elizabeth's additional commentary showed her prejudice. As Jane listened to her, she grew amazed that her sister's argument was based on such scant evidence.
"And before he left, he would barely speak with me. He could hardly look at me. It seemed he could not bear to be in my presence." This was spoken in an exasperated whine that was most unlike Elizabeth.
"Lizzy, are you upset because a man you loathe does not show you any preference? Were you not relieved when Mr. Collins directed his attention elsewhere? Why does Mr. Darcy's indifference matter so?" Jane was truly perplexed.
"Mr. Darcy is not Mr. Collins," Elizabeth snapped. "He is more, more…difficult, challenging, clever. He is just…more."
"Lizzy, you are getting very agitated. I think it best we continue this conversation later."
"Is that all you can say? Must you always placate? Must you always be so serene? Does nothing touch you?"
"That is unfair, Elizabeth. I am touched by many things. I care very deeply about many things. Perhaps if you were not so eager to judge and categorize people you might recognize that the world does not order itself to your liking. We are all much more than the labels you give us. Serene, indeed!" Jane was becoming agitated herself. "I would like to go to sleep now. You should return to your own room."
Elizabeth could not remember a time that Jane had ever raised her voice to her. She threw me out of her room! This was yet another offense to lay at Mr. Darcy's feet, Elizabeth thought, as she retired to her room next to Jane's. How had it all come to this?
~~WP~~
The tension between Elizabeth and Jane did not go unnoticed the next morning. Even Lydia sensed the discord between the two. Finally, her curiosity got the best of her. As they left the table after breakfast, she whispered, "What did you do to Jane, Lizzy? Why is she mad at you?"
"Why do you think I did something to her? Perhaps, I am the injured party," Elizabeth responded.
Lydia looked at her skeptically. Her expression made her look very shrewd and it unnerved Elizabeth. "If you say so, Lizzy."
"What is that supposed to mean? You do not believe Jane could hurt me?"
"It is just that you have been very prickly lately. You were unkind to Charlotte about Mr. Collins. You are always scolding me and Kitty, well, more than usual. You made a joke about Mary's playing, and it hurt her feelings."
"You make jokes about Mary's playing all the time," Elizabeth interrupted.
"But you do not. Besides, Mary does not look up to me. It hurts more when someone you look up to looks down you." As awkwardly expressed as that sentiment was, Elizabeth knew what she meant. It gave her pause but Lydia was not done.
"I do not know what occurred between you and Uncle Phillips, but he seems disappointed in you somehow. He has started spending more time with us all and it has been nice. I like it and I do not want you to ruin it. So, whatever you are doing, stop it. And stop being mean to Jane."
"What, have you no comment on how I treat Mama and Papa?" Elizabeth's question was sarcastic, but Lydia answered quite seriously.
"You always act embarrassed by Mama, so I have not noticed any change there. Something is different between you and Papa, but I cannot put my finger on it. You just seem more distant."
According to Lydia, Elizabeth had alienated all those she cared about most, she, who prided herself in her affection for her family. It seemed the only one she had not offended was her aunt Phillips. It was mere moments later that the very same woman appeared at Longbourn to gossip with her sister and nieces.
She was particularly excited today. "Netherfield is to reopen! Ms. Nicholls said Miss Bingley misunderstood her brother's plans. The family party is expected the day after tomorrow. Is that not good news, Jane?"
"Yes, it is. I am very pleased to welcome them back to the neighborhood." Jane countenance took on a happy glow.
"Will Mr. Darcy be returning as well? I had believed he and Miss Darcy to be joining the earl's family for the festive season in London." How did her mother know that? Elizabeth was surprised that she would be aware of Mr. Darcy's holiday plans. "Mr. Bingley promised to attend a family dinner. I must know the numbers so I may prepare."
"You are correct, sister. He took his leave by us before he left the neighborhood and he said as much. And we received a box just yesterday with the most beautifully wrapped gifts. The note instructed us not to open them until Christmas."
"Oh, goodness. You must reciprocate. Whatever does one get a man such as Mr. Darcy?"
"I have been knitting him a traveling rug for his carriage. I have some beautiful wool in the colors he favors. And of course, I will pack up some of those biscuits he likes and some of my special tea blend."
Mrs. Bennet nodded decisively at her sister's ideas. "All the comforts of home. He will like that. He also quite admired the wares at the leatherworks. What of a document case with his monogram?"
Elizabeth followed this back and forth with interest. It seemed absurd that her mother and aunt were discussing Christmas presents for Mr. Darcy. How did they come to know so much about the gentleman? She had been suspicious of his motives when he began taking a greater interest in the community. But it sounded as though he actually made the effort to get to know people. But to what purpose, she wondered. Like Lydia's earlier remarks, it gave her much to think on.