The second time he came, early the next morning, Mrs Bennet was still asleep, so were Lydia and Kitty. Her father, again, wouldn't be bothered to greet the gentleman, and Mary was busy working on a new recipe for some kind of ointment. Jane kept her head high and tried to hide her feelings, but Lizzy saw straight through the act and stayed by her sister's side. They were both taking tea in the drawing room when he was announced.
The determination still a bright fire in his eyes, and his manners radiated something powerful and solid. Mr Bingley wasn't playing around. Neither was her sister, who held her chin high as he made his entrance.
"Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth," he greeted warmly and offered a beautiful box decorated in soft blue satin. "Please accept this small present for your breakfast."
"Thank you Mr Bingley," Lizzy said and invited him to sit down with them.
The box contained her sister's favourite candied fruit and a healthy amount of chocolate truffles she knew to be very expensive.
"It has been so long, Miss Elizabeth," he addressed her but his eyes remained fixed on her elder sister who studiously avoided his intense gaze. "I hope you are well."
"Thank you, I am. How is your family ?" She asked politely and noticed how he tensed at their mention.
"Fine thank you," he answered shortly.
"I'm surprised they didn't accompany you," Jane suddenly said, still not looking at him.
"I didn't ask them to," he answered and unconsciously leaned forward.
"I know they do not find the country to their taste," Jane added softly.
"No-"
"It's okay, they made everything crystal clear when we last met in London."
"Jane," Bingley, forgetting all sense of property, grabbed her hand from across the table. "There is no one else. Not Miss Darcy, nor anybody else. Only you."
The sisters blushed at his forwardness, and Jane quickly freed her hand from his grasp.
"Please, stop," she begged.
"Miss Elizabeth," he straightened and looked her in the eyes this time. "I am going to marry your sister." He said with so much confidence, Elizabeth was inclined to believe him.
The next month was given rhythm by this morning ritual. Every morning, Mr Bingley's red hair could be seen getting closer by the window facing toward Netherfield. Each time, he looked just as determined and no matter how many times he was refused, he kept declaring his love to Jane. His determination was nothing like it used to be. It was nothing like they had ever seen. Here was this rich and handsome gentleman who had been rejected twenty nine times, but didn't let his pride stop him from coming back. Charles Bingley wanted Jane with everything he was, he only had to convince her now. Elizabeth was already convinced, she had witnessed his behaviour and exchanged about it with the man's own best friend. She trusted the change in Bingley was long lasting and if the fates were generous, her sister would get to live a blessed union.
The thirtieth time, they were not as lucky. Their mother was up and about for some mysterious reason and saw his approach before they did. Bingley took it in stride, apologised for his abrupt departure and long absence, and in a second, their mother was acting in a mortifying way, making the most impolite remarks to Jane. For the first time in her life, Jane stood up to her mother and again, refused Bingley's hand in marriage.
"You ungrateful child !" Mrs Bennet screeched as Bingley rode away. He had left with a small smile on his face as Jane had refused him in front of her own mother. "You only have your good look for yourself ! You are not smart or lively or rich ! You have nothing else ! What will happen when you get old ?!"
The rant continued for a long time, Fanny Bennet throwing insult after insult at the daughter who had never once disobeyed her before. Her cutting word left Jane a sobbing mess by the time she was done. Elizabeth was furious at her mother and did her best to move the anger toward her. She was successful but had to leave the room to lead her mother away as she looked far from done with her and Jane needed to be away from the shoutings.
After the fifth time Bingley proposed in front of their mother, the life at Longbourn was no longer bearable. No one got peace but Lydia, and they were all very much tense as a result. Kitty got into a fight with Mary over a missing pencil brush and Elizabeth snapped at everyone everyday.
Even their father had started to pressure Jane into marrying the man, if only he could get his peace back.
"Do you not trust his word ?" Elizabeth asked her sister as they walked around their land one morning, trying to avoid Mr Bingley's visit and their mother's blush worthy behaviour.
"I want to, but I cannot risk going through that pain ever again," Jane answered seriously.
"What if he never gives up ?" Lizzy asked.
"He will," Jane chuckled.
"What if he does not ?" Jane didn't answer. "Seeing you marry another may just kill the man."
"I cannot think of marrying another yet and it's been over a year !" Jane uncharacteristically exclaimed, her voice full of frustration and self loathing. "My treacherous heart won't let go of those memories..."
The sisters didn't speak another word as they made their way back to Longbourn.
The next day, Mr Bingley came earlier than usually, allowing him to avoid the mistress of the house. When he entered the drawing room, Elizabeth, after a quick greeting, walked to the window to allow them some privacy.
"Marry me," he begged his tone a mix of determination and desperation. "If anything, I hope my being a pest this last month has proven that I do not intend to run away anymore. I thought I loved you more than possible before, but after this month I know it was false, I have fallen deeper in love with you every single minute spent in your company, every tiny new details is enchanting, even your stubbornness. Dear Miss Bennet, put me out my misery and accept my hand."
"On one condition," she said and even Elizabeth was happy by the answer. Bingley looked positively overjoyed and glowed.
"Anything !" He agreed immediately, getting on his knees beside her.
"If you stay away for a whole year and your feelings suffer no change, I will gladly accept your hand."
"A year ?!" Bingley exclaimed as shocked as Elizabeth who was not even trying to be discreet anymore in her observation of the scene. "But I will die without you !"
"I didn't," she said and Bingley immediately went silent. He looked down at the floor and they could see his brain fuming.
"I deserve it," he nodded. "I will wait forever for you."
"If you get interested in another during the year, inform me immediately please, and I trust it will be the end of our acquaintance. If it is I who find myself in this situation, I promise to let you know."
The stricken look on Bingley's face was painful. The poor man looked like he was on the verge of breaking down.
"No," he refused looking more serious than ever. "I will go and wait a whole year. Ten if you wish ! My eyes won't follow any other form but yours, they can't ! The past year hasn't changed anything and the next won't either. But you cannot allow your heart to be open. I beg of you, it is selfish and I have no right," his voice was but a whisper but the intensity of his tone vibrated in the room. "Even if a richer, better looking man of a better temperament comes, I beg that you refuse him. For sure he will try to woo you if he has any wit, but please Miss Bennet, grant me this year of being just mine to win."
This time, Jane couldn't keep her facade, and tears rolled down her face. She looked as pained as Bingley but the last year had made her sister a person of steel determination and Elizabeth knew she wouldn't go back on her words.
"I promise to wait the year out," she whispered in a raw voice and Bingley took her hand to kiss it with passion.
He only nodded goodbye as he left and the very afternoon Netherfield was closed.
Mrs Bennet was positively hysterical when she learned it and her fury abated on poor Jane who already suffered enough. Elizabeth couldn't take the sight of her sister so fragile and being hunted down.
"It is I who made things clear with Mr Bingley," she bravely said and left the room, certain her mother would follow her out.
"You ! You ugly wench !" She insulted her own daughter, her features no longer human like. "You want everyone to follow you on your miserable path ! You think you're so good with your jokes and books but you're pathetic ! You will never find anyone because of your disgusting temperament and less than attractive features. The least you could do is stay out of our way !" She ended her speech with a sound slap.
As Elizabeth stood in the garden, watching her fuming mother walk away, she remembered all the times she had been struck in such a manner. Since she was little, her mother had always been more physical in her punishment when it came to her. Her burning cheek was a reminder of what she represented to her own mother : failure. She wasn't pretty nor good like Jane, and she wasn't a son.
Objectively she knew she wasn't ugly and that she was smart enough to be useful. She had duties and responsibilities, she worked hard everyday for her family. It just wasn't enough to erase every word and slap her mother had thrown her way.
It started to rain then and reminded her of the failed proposal. She didn't regret rejecting his hand. Their marriage would have been quite unhappy if they had married while he disrespected her, resentment would have grown as he felt humiliated by herself and her family. She never wanted to end up in a relationship like her parents'. However if the ache remained in her chest at the thought of having lost the opportunity to wed the man of her dreams, she just had to deal with it. Back then he was far from being the man of her dreams, she didn't know him back then. She knew him now.