3rd chapter for today, please read the prior two first. Thanks!

Chapter 20

Darcy did indeed speak with Bingley prior to dinner, for all the good it did, it may have been well enough left alone. From Darcy's perspective, he carefully laid out the pros and cons of the match, and pointed out her reticent nature, offering that it was indeed unjust for him to claim to know if Bingley was held in her affections. He simply could not know and was wrong to pretend to discern her. In Darcy's mind, he had cleared up the matter completely, neither persuading against nor for the match.

Bingley, for his part, could not make heads nor tails of Darcy's arguments, as he seemed to be contradicting himself at every turn. In truth, there was one part of the conversation that proved a distraction to him - Miss Bennet may not feel the same for him as he did for her. Little else Darcy said mattered. It had not occurred to Bingley prior to the episode in the billiards room, as she always seemed as delighted to see him as he was her.

He had always thought her shy, but welcoming, completely unaffected by her own beauty, never using it as an instrument for her own gain. It was almost as though she would wish it away if she could, having no desire to better wield it. But perhaps he misunderstood. Perhaps she merely did not wish to use her charms on him. What was to be done about it? All Bingley could think to do was attempt to discern her affections for himself. Was she merely polite? Too obliging? If she did not already hold him in affection, could it then grow with time? Or was there something more fundamental missing for his feelings to be returned? Something that could not be found in his person, that would have sparked the flame forming an earlier attraction?

Shortly after the gentleman entered the drawing-room, Elizabeth joined the party with a glowing smile on her face, seeming to forget her earlier confrontation with Miss Bingley and embarrassment from her mother. She was delighted to announce her sister was much improved, and may even have strength enough to join them in the drawing-room after supper.

Supper itself seemed to drag on for all of them, so many of them were anxious to see Jane, except, of course, the Hursts, who cared little one way or another. Bingley wished to assess her affections through new eyes and find for himself some reassurance. Richard and Darcy wished to watch the couple engage. Miss Bingley wished her away and desired her improved health to facilitate her departure.

As dinner finally concluded, they rose to enter the drawing-room, having decided not to separate. As their thoughts had been engaged in their own agendas, conversation had been an exercise in one's tolerance for awkwardness, not even the combined efforts of Elizabeth and the Colonel could rescue the party from awkward pauses, and insipid comments on common topics.

Elizabeth was finally free to retrieve her sister, who was not yet well enough to sit through dinner, but quite capable of some company. Upon their arrival, Bingley went straight to Jane, seeing to her every comfort, setting her almost too near the fire, being unable to suffer the thought of her catching a further chill.

As Richard watched the two interact, he was struck by Miss Jane Bennet's similarities to Darcy, in some ways he felt it rather ironic that his cousin so struggled to interpret her shyness in company. Though their differences were far greater and easier to see, they had some striking similarities, they both wore their masks, albeit different ones, and they both knew not how to act, now that they found someone they wish to express interest in. They both seemed to think it was enough to simply not discourage attention from their object of their affection. He certainly began to understand Darcy's preference for the younger sister, even more than he had previously, that much reticence in one couple may very well breed hermits as heirs. Relieved that, at the very least, the persons present had gravitated to the right romantic interests, Richard relaxed and proceeded with his character study.

Darcy, having lost his former resolve of paying no attention to Elizabeth, proceeded to resume their earlier conversation about authors. They fell, surprisingly enough, into easy conversation, until Miss Bingley could take the lack of attention no more and proceed to enquire about Miss Darcy incessantly, and implying a level of familiarity that neither gentleman would have allowed that woman with their ward.

Though Elizabeth noticed the discrepancy in Darcy's manners, she could hardly hold against him their earlier chill. Her mother had arrived and insulted him and then proceeded to forward a match between his friend and Jane. Mrs. Bennet advanced her own wishes in such a way that one could easily accuse her of forcing, rather than forwarding, a match with her daughter.

More importantly, Elizabeth could hardly wish her newfound friendship with said gentleman to be witnessed by her mother. It would then be pronounced to the neighborhood with misunderstandings that implied romantic intentions. Though she noted his manor had hardly improved immediately at her mother's absence, she could hardly make out his meaning by it, except, perhaps, continued disgust. Though she little appreciated him taking that sentiment out on her, she quite understood it. Elizabeth reasoned it should matter little as she was able to delight in Jane's better health. She felt confident they would shortly be removed from the house that fostered her discomfort. Between the varying manners of Mr. Darcy, that she would hardly admit caused hurt, though she felt it all the same, and the blatant attempts of Miss Bingley to insult her, she was ready to return home.

Occupied with her own agenda, Miss Bingley could spare not a moment to interfere with her brother's interests. Thus, Jane and Bingley were left alone to their conversation, little realizing how well they were watched by everyone privy to the earlier conversation regarding speculation on her affections.

"Miss Bennet, I've agreed to hold a ball. Your sister shall name the date, so soon as you are well." Bingley informed Miss Bennet, with his usual good cheer.

Jane smiled her sincere unaffected smile and said "I'm sure I'll find myself quite looking forward to it. Few things could speed my recovery with the same effect."

He returned her smile, but watched her carefully, wishing he could ask her outright, before he was completely decided. "Miss Bennet, would I be intruding too much on your happiness, the evening of the ball, if I requested a second set?"

Jane, confused, let her smile falter, as he had never been a reluctant suitor prior. Was it her mother's visit that made his attention reluctant? She smiled again and said "I should be delighted, Mr. Bingley. I should enjoy the evening all the more if we danced a second set." She hoped to at least to make plain, if her mother's effusions in her bed-chamber were overheard, that she wished for his company for her own reasons.

Bingley's sight fixated on her faltering smile, more than his ears heard the content of her words, which naturally led him to wonder, if in spite of her consent, that she were reluctant to draw too much attention from him. He shifted the conversation to something much more general and proceeded to spend the evening in pleasant, though not insightful, conversation. Bingley was afraid of the rejection, and Jane was unsure if the remorse was his own, or inspired by her mother.

Thus most of the party went to bed feeling confused and uncertain of their understanding of that which mattered most to them. Neither feeling wholly successful, nor wholly rejected, they all slept not as well as they could have if not for the confusion that ultimately sprung from Mrs. Bennet's visit. Had the said woman understood her effects on her own endeavors, she would have kept herself at home, but not one for introspection, her mind was already working out how else she could help the couple along.