The next evening was a card party at the Phillips' home. Mr. Wickham would not attend as he had a vice for cards that he had overcome in recent years and had no desire to play with fire by entering a place where people were gambling. Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley invited their friend to spend the evening with them, supporting him in his restraint so he would not suffer from a lack of company. Mary had offered to eschew the card party as well, but her husband assured her that he would be well spending the evening with his friends.
Other than Mr. Collins making himself out to be a fool and losing a great deal of money to Lt. Sanderson, the card party was dull. Kitty avoided Mr. Collins as much as possible, despite her mother and aunt constantly trying to put them in each other's way. Mary did not gamble, instead speaking with Charlotte Lucas and her sisters about the upcoming ball and her life as a married woman.
While there were whispers about Esther Marie's parentage, very few were bold enough to say anything negative about the child within the hearing of a Bennet. Even Mrs. Bennet, who usually was the first to spread gossip, scowled at Mrs. Long when the lady called Esther a "by-blow".
"Indeed," said Mr. Collins, "For the bible says that while the father eats sour grapes, it is the children whose teeth are set on edge."
After such remarks, Mary decided it was best for her to depart, lest she say something she would regret. She called for the Bingley carriage to convey her back to Netherfield. The gentlemen were surprised at her early return. She explained what had happened and both Mr Darcy and Mr Wickham became angry at the Longs, Mr. Collins and the others who had said such awful things. Mary had begun to develop a megrim as a result of the stressful evening, so the Wickhams returned home not three hours after they had left.
Wickham reluctantly returned to work the next day, seeing his wife for only a half-hour that morning. Mary, unsure of how to find a governess and unwilling to ask Mrs. Long after the previous night's episode, went to Netherfield to call on Mrs. Annesley and Miss Darcy, for surely a companion and a governess were not so very different, at least in the hiring process. Mary's instincts were correct. Mrs. Annesley knew of two governesses who needed work, one being her own niece and the other was a more experienced woman, a widow in reduced circumstances, who had charges that had outgrown the need for her services. Mrs. Annesley also supplied approximate wages for governesses – twenty to sixty pounds a year, depending on experience and difficulty and number of the charges—and information on what would typically be included in such a contract.
About midway through the conversation, Mr. Darcy returned from calling on friends and gave his own insight into the process. He had seen to the hiring and firing of Miss Darcy's governesses and the hiring her current companion. Mary had filled several pages with notes and declared herself very thankful for the information gathered. When Mary stood to leave, she mentioned she was to call on Longbourn before returning home. Mr. Darcy said in reply to this information,
"I will accompany you, and perhaps Georgie, Mrs. Annesley, you might wish to accompany us, for if I am not very mistaken, there will be good news at Longbourn today."
Mr. Darcy was correct in his assertion, due to prior knowledge given to him by Mr. Bingley. The latter gentleman was, in fact, sitting with the four unmarried Bennet sisters in the Longbourn parlour at that moment, drumming his fingers against the arm of his chair. He was trying to gather the gumption to ask for a private audience with Miss Bennet when Mrs. Bennet suddenly declared that she required the assistance of her other three daughters in the music room. Elizabeth went to protest, but Mrs. Bennet would broke no argument.
Upon finding themselves alone together, Jane looked at her hands in her lap and blushed. Mr Bingley crossed the room to sit next to her on the sofa. Jane looked up at him through her lashes, unsure of what decorum dictated in a moment such as this.
"Miss Bennet-Jane-I know not how to begin," he said, "I am not an eloquent man. Perhaps one who felt less might be able to say more. When you were ill, I was so very frightened. I wanted to comfort you, to be with you, but I could not. I did not have that right, and thus I was left to worry and wonder how you were and hope you would get well. I knew then that I was hopelessly in love with you. I know it has not been long since our courtship began, but I find that I cannot wait to ask you if you would consent to marry me."
Jane began to cry and nodded.
"Are you accepting? Pray, say it aloud so I might hear the words."
"I am accepting you, Charles," Jane replied, wiping her eyes. Bingley kissed her softly, and they heard the door to the room open.
"Oh!" said Elizabeth, "I'm sorry!" When she went to close the door, Bingley whispered a few words to Jane before striding across the room, bowing before Elizabeth, and darting off to the library to speak to Mr. Bennet.
"I had come to tell you that the Darcys and Mary have called, but I see your news is of more substance," said Elizabeth. Jane could not contain her joy, especially when the confidence would bring pleasure to her sister, so she shared all that had occurred and proclaimed several times that she surely could not bear such great happiness, for her heart was too full.
Mary and the Darcys joined the pair in the parlour, adding their felicitations to Elizabeth's. Jane then ran upstairs to tell Mrs Bennet the news, bobbing the slightest curtsey in her haste to exit.
"You four do not seem surprised," Elizabeth said to Darcy, referring to those who had just arrived.
"I confess that I am not, for while you attended the card party yesterday, Wickham, Bingley, and I were drawing up settlement papers for this very occasion. Then I may have hinted at such to the others before our call."
"So your call was for the purpose of giving your felicitations to the happy couple, then. You, sir, might have told me as much to prevent my interruption of their... celebration, let us say."
"I apologize, madam," Darcy said with a slight bow. They settled in together and began to take tea while they awaited the return of Jane, Bingley and Mrs. and Mr. Bennet when Mr. Collins entered the parlour. Bowing deeply, he begged an introduction from Elizabeth, who reluctantly introduced her cousin to the Darcys and Mrs. Annesley.
"I assure you, kind sir and madam, that it was certainly not my intention to slight you in any way. It is due to my ignorance of your presence in the neighbourhood that I have not yet acknowledged your connection to my esteemed patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. I have recently been the most grateful recipient of the living at Huntsford. She has been most generous in her condescension and advice, graciously bestowing her wisdom upon me in many matters. Indeed, I beg leave to inform you of the health of both Lady Catherine and her daughter, Miss de Bourgh, when I saw them last, less than a sen'night ago. Miss de Bourgh in particular was looking very well, no doubt due to the kind attentions and careful care of her most loving mother and Miss de Bourgh's companion, most fastidiously selected by Lady Catherine, Mrs. Younge. I will tell you that Lady Catherine bears you no ill will for not heeding her advice in hiring Mrs. Younge, despite the woman's gentility and many accomplishments, for Miss de Bough has greatly benefited from Mrs. Younge's care. You will be most pleased, most pleased indeed, when next you see your dear cousin," said Mr. Collins. Before he could continue, Mr. Darcy spoke.
"I thank you, Mr. Collins, for the news of my relations' good health. I am glad they are as satisfied with their selection of Mrs. Younge as we are with Mrs. Annesley. As you can see, we have no cause to repine our selection." Mr. Collins, unaware that he had unwittingly offended both the Darcys and Mrs. Annesley, continued on for several more minutes before the rest of the family joined them. They all were invited to remain for a celebratory dinner, which they accepted.
During the dinner, Mr. Collins seemed to go out of his way to make himself absurd. He was seated far from the Darcys, so he spoke loudly so they might hear his praise of their aunt above the clamour of dishes and silverware and conversation. Mr. Bennet, amused by the scene, encouraged the parson. Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, and Mr. Wickham –who joined them after his work was concluded for the day—all felt the mortification acutely. Mr. Wickham, however, was able to comfort Elizabeth and Mary, who he was seated between, assuring them that the Darcys would be annoyed but not offended, as Lady Catherine was a much worse relation than any the Bennets may have.
Mary turned the topic of conversation to her hiring of a governess, which led Mr. Collins to be scandalised by the idea of a love child being allowed to reside in the home with the heirs. Mary, who had spent the previous evening and much of the day thinking of retorts to such insults, spat out many scriptures and quotations from various sermons about being non-judgemental, caring for children- particularly those without one or more parents-, and cited examples of the children of maidservants being made as equal to their siblings, heirs in their own right. Mr. Collins sputtered, for he had not been a great student of the bible, despite his profession. He preferred to read others' words rather than write his own.
When the women withdrew to leave the men to their port, Elizabeth went to Mary immediately. "Oh, Mary! Never have I been so glad to hear you sermonise. You were magnificent!"
"Yes, well, I have told Esther that she is my daughter and so she is. I will not have the likes of him degrading her for things outside of her control. She cannot control the circumstances of her birth, yet all censure fell on her for existing and us for caring for her, rather than any comment to my husband for giving her life. Not that I think he should repine, for she is such a dear, but surely if anyone is to blame, it would be he and not the child."
"Certainly, she is all that is lovely!" cried Mrs. Bennet. Her words were counteracted when she continued her speech with excuses for Mr. Collins' words, saying it was only his place as a clergyman to chastise fornication. Mary huffed and crossed the room to sit near Kitty and Miss Darcy, who had begun to sew embroidery to hide stains on pieces of clothing from the tenants. Picking up a random child's gown, she threaded the needle and began to stab the cloth forcefully over and over, the delicate rose she created contrasting her foul mood.
When the gentlemen joined them, Darcy and Wickham came to look at the women's embroidery.
"That is very pretty, Mrs. Wickham," Darcy complimented.
"Thank you, sir. I felt a sudden urge to stab something after the conversation at dinner," she replied.
"And a gown was a more acceptable target than your cousin, I am assuming?" Darcy quipped.
"Precisely," she said, moving her attention to a yellowish stain near the hem of the gown.
"He is a fool, Mrs. Wickham. Do not think that everyone holds his views. As I view your husband as my brother, I welcome Esther as my niece," comforted Darcy.
"As do I," chimed Miss Darcy, overhearing their conversation, "I have always wanted nieces and nephews, but as my dear brother Darcy refuses to oblige, I will happily spoil Wickham's children."
"I have not refused to oblige. I simply have not found someone that I wish to have children with," explained Darcy. Darcy knew this to be a lie but could not tell the truth. He may want to have children with a particular woman, but that did not mean it was possible for such a dream to come about, given the difference in their stations.
"Mrs. Wickham has three available sisters," Miss Darcy retorted, "I like them all quite well. Although perhaps Lydia is too young, so only two."
"You, my dear sister, are not to play matchmaker," Darcy said seriously. Miss Darcy feigned innocence, causing Mary and Darcy to laugh. Wickham and Kitty overheard the last part of their conversation, and Kitty looked slightly shocked. After teasing Kitty for just a moment, Wickham reassured Kitty that he knew Darcy's tastes well enough that he would not wish for such a young wife. Kitty was relieved, and sightly insulted, as she did not consider herself so very young. Wickham gave Darcy a speaking look, which was answered by Darcy turning away.
The subject of conversation was quickly turned to the upcoming wedding, and the rest of the evening passed pleasantly, accompanied by music, laughter, and pleasant conversation, with only occasional unpleasant interruptions from Mr. Collins.
"Charles, this is too generous," said Jane, the next day when she was called into her father's library to review the settlement papers.
"I feel it is your due. Recall that from this amount your lady's maid will be paid, your clothing and other wants will be purchased, your outings will be funded, and donations to charity will be made," said Mr. Bingley, "it is not much more than my sister received when she lived with me." Mr. Bingley shot a pleading look to Mr. Wickham who excused himself from the library, leaving the couple alone.
"But Charles, it is not just that. You are settling money on my sisters and my mother?"
"I am. I do not want them to worry for their well-being. If it makes you feel better, think of it as selfishness on my part. Mrs. Bennet shall be calmer should she know she will be taken care of for the rest of her life, and she will not worry so much about marrying off your remaining sisters if their dowries are greater, enough for them to live reasonably well if they chose not to marry."
"But 5,000 pounds each? Charles, it is too much! Will it not affect your own fortune?"
"Not so very much. I will have 4,500 a year instead of 5,500. It may seem a great deal, but my own sisters have 20,000 pounds. Why should I not give your sisters 5,000? It is bound up in trusts, so they cannot squander it, even if they wished to. The interest will cause the amounts to increase, and they will have more as time passes."
"4,500? But how? The sums do not make sense?" asked Jane. Bingley pointed to where it listed a trust for Mrs. Wickham as well.
"But she is wed!"
"To a man who works to earn money for his family, so if anything befalls him, she would be poverty stricken and with a young child to raise. It is better to give it now, when things are not as unsettled as it would be if something were to befall your father or Mr. Wickham."
"You are too good, Charles! This is not your responsibility. You should not need to provide for them in such a way."
"It may not be, but you are. Will it not make you easier to know they should be well no matter what may come?" he asked. When she nodded, he continued, "Then it is money well spent. What good is a fortune if I may not use it to protect those I care about?" Jane hugged him, thanking him profusely for his generosity. He stopped her thanks with a kiss, longer and less restrained than the one that had sealed their engagement. They pulled apart only when Mr. Wickham knocked on the door and joined them to finish the last of the paperwork.