Chapter Nine: Unlikely Occurrences

The next three weeks of Elizabeth and Jane's stay in Gracechurch Street passed by quickly; their time was spent in such an agreeable manner that even Elizabeth could forget the fateful encounter with Mr. Darcy, and Jane didn't seem half so gloomy as she had been since Mr. Bingley had quitted Netherfield. Jane and Elizabeth were alone in the drawing room, discussing with great animation how friendly the family that they had dined with the night before was, when it occurred to Elizabeth that her sister had written twice to Caroline Bingley, and had heard nothing of a reply.

"Has Miss Bingley written you?" Elizabeth asked, rather abruptly.

"Oh! But she has not. What must she think of me? For I had forgotten all about her!"

"Dear Jane; how could her not replying to two letters you wrote possibly be negligence on your part? I assure you that she will have no way of knowing she was not intruding in on your thoughts these three weeks."

"Why, Lizzy, what a pity it would be if both my letters got lost! How very odd I should find it! But pray, we have no engagements today, do we? We could go and call on her in Grosvenor Street."

"It will fill her with guilt to see how good your nature is that you did not suspect a thing, even when she had clearly wronged you."

"Wronged me? You are too quick to judge; for she must have a perfectly reasonable excuse for not having written me back. But shall we go?"

"Aye, Jane, let's go."

The two sisters then sought out their aunt and uncle, told them of their intentions, rang the bell for the carriage, and were soon on their way to Grosvenor Street. It was a pleasant, sunny day; the temperature was surprisingly mild for winter, and there had not even been any frost that morning. It did not take half so long as Jane and Elizabeth had expected it to take to reach their desired location. They both exited the carriage, Jane hoping to be pleased, though Elizabeth not expecting it in the least bit.

They came upon a townhouse, which was much larger than their aunt and uncle's, with a charming exterior. It was a modern building, with a pretty little garden in the front, and a balcony which wrapped around the width of it; there were as many windows as could reasonably fit, and a small archway which led to the front door. Jane remarked on how pleasant it looked, and even Elizabeth could admit that it was quite nice, though she didn't expect its inhabitants to equal the house's pleasantness.

Upon entering, they were met by the housekeeper, who informed them that Mr. Darcy was taking tea with Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and though Elizabeth thought this reason enough to leave quickly and never look back, Jane was so pleased that Mr. Bingley was not there that she immediately asked if the housekeeper would so kindly show them in. Elizabeth thought of protesting, though didn't want to seem uncivil, or disturb her sister's rush of happiness. So they followed the housekeeper through the hallway, and their entrance was announced.

It seemed that all were surprised of their coming; though Mr. Darcy still had all of his hauteur, and Mr. Bingley's two sisters all of their usual glances which Elizabeth had always mistrusted. They were invited to sit, though Miss Bingley immediately scolded them for not having informed them of their coming to town.

"Indeed, you did not know?" asked Jane, with genuine surprise, "For I wrote you two letters! Certainly both could not have gone lost?"

Miss Bingley assured her friend that they must have, though Elizabeth didn't believe a word of it, and even dear, unassuming Jane was looking a bit skeptical of such a proclamation. Miss Bingley then shifted closer to Mr. Darcy, said some praise of his sister, and smiled triumphantly at Elizabeth in particular, as if she were saying, "Look at me, and the excellent man that I am attempting to seduce, and he doesn't even notice!"

They then sat for several moments in silence; neither sure of what to say to the other; but Miss Bingley soon broke the silence.

"Well, I believe that we must be off, for we have business to attend to," she said, rising from her seat. The Bennet sisters and Mrs. Hurst did the same, with Mr. Darcy slightly hesitating before he stood.

"We will call on you," said Mr. Darcy. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst first stared at him in disbelief; then, registering that he had actually promised to visit two country nobodies in Cheapside, attempted to scare him into retracting his proposal with their contempt, but it did no good; he did not notice, and they all parted with cold civility, with Miss Bingley especially making it quite obvious that she had received no pleasure at all in their visit.

Jane and Elizabeth were on their way back to Gracechurch Street, when Elizabeth could not help but comment,

"Will you not admit that I was correct?"

"Well—" said Jane quietly, "I suppose—I can no longer deny—that they did seem a bit out of spirits. But you see, Mr. Darcy said that he would call on us. It was very civil of him, was it not?"

"For what it's worth, I hope that he doesn't."

"Oh Lizzy! I can see that it would make you uncomfortable, and I am sorry if it does. But you can't deny that Mr. Darcy made a very noble offer; and surely you must forgive yourself for what you said to Mama. I assure you that I should have forgotten it by now if it had not been for your constant reminders."

"The words Mr. Darcy and noble do not belong in the same sentence," was the only reply which Elizabeth gave, with a jesting smile.

"Lizzy!" was Jane's reproof.

"Either way, I would not count on them calling. Let us not wait around for them, or we shall be waiting for weeks on end, I dare say."

"We must give them a chance—they may redeem themselves—they are not so bad!"

"Poor, good Jane; it will be quite a shock to you when you have come to realize that not everyone is as sweet or well-meaning as you are. But I should like to think as little of the former Netherfield party as possible."

"If you wish; I shouldn't like to upset you."

Jane was true to her word—she spoke no more of the Bingleys or Hursts or Darcys for the rest of the day, or even the next morning.

Elizabeth and Jane had finished their breakfast with their aunt, uncle and little cousins, and were preparing to go out, when they observed a carriage stopping before the house from an upstairs window; and, wondering who it could possibly be, for they had expected no one, instantly set off to discover who it was. They had only reached the drawing room, when Mr. Darcy's, and Mr. Darcy's only, entrance was announced. That he should call, and so promptly, was unnecessarily civil; and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner both observed their niece Elizabeth carefully, to see her as much surprised as they were.

He entered; he inquired after Miss Bennet's family, wished to be introduced to their aunt and uncle, and explained that Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were sadly unable to visit them, but promised to come soon.

He stayed about a quarter of an hour, being silent much more than he spoke; and Elizabeth wondered why he had come at all, if only to be silent and taciturn; any questions which they managed to think up for him to answer he answered quickly, and was once more quiet. They were all thankful when he left, and eager to leave the house.

"Did you not only visit Gracechurch Street yesterday?" asked Mrs. Gardiner of Elizabeth, with unabashed wonder.

"Yes," replied Elizabeth, going a bit pale.

"Lizzy?"

"Yes, Aunt Gardiner?"

"I hope you don't mind my asking; but—well—do you suppose that Mr. Darcy may still be in love with you?"

"What on earth would make you think that?" snapped Elizabeth, sounding a bit agitated.

"I'm sorry if I have offended you—I only meant—well, why else would he call on us in this familiar way? And he did look at you quite oftener than anybody else, which I am sure, did not escape your notice."

Elizabeth only laughed slightly, making a comment which effectively deferred her aunt's interrogation, though she much rather would have cried. Abominable, proud man! What did he mean, going to Cheapside, only to make a trifling little visit? Was he triumphing over them? And what of Mr. Bingley?—surely they could not conceal their being there from that gentleman. And how, more importantly, was Mr. Darcy to ever cleanse himself of the impurities of Gracechurch Street and her tradesmen relations?