"Jane, I must speak with you. May we go upstairs for a moment?"
"Lizzy, I would like to, but I believe Mr. Bingley will be back soon." Elizabeth had not noticed Mr. Bingley was no longer in the room, consumed as she was by her own thoughts. "He has gone to speak to Papa."
Elizabeth thought herself blind to have missed the glowing smile on her sister's face. "Oh, Jane. Has Mr. Bingley asked you for a courtship?"
"He has and I have accepted. I have asked Mama to invite him and Mr. Darcy to stay for dinner so I am afraid we will have to wait for a private conference until we retire for the night."
"It is of no matter." She gave Jane a quick hug. "Oh, how happy I am for you! I hope you are not too excited to sleep tonight, for you must get your rest. Mama will have you around to all the neighbors tomorrow. And we can speak later." Though she did wish to talk with Jane, Elizabeth felt her growing esteem for Mr. Darcy did not require her to impose upon her sister at this time. The fact that every moment in his presence made her like him more was not exactly a crisis. After all, what had he done but attempt to dissuade Mr. Collins from acting the fool? She wondered why it was that before the meeting with Mr. Wickham, she found everything that Mr. Darcy did disagreeable and, now, she found herself quick to defend his behavior as merely noble and forthright. She was sure the true measure of his character was somewhere in-between.
"Even if I do not sleep a wink, I shall be happy for her attention." Elizabeth had missed the first part of her sister's response, once again lost in thought of Mr. Darcy. She recovered quickly and vowed to be more attentive. This was a very special day for Jane, and she could not be more pleased for her.
"You are too good Jane. I could not be so tolerant of being dragged about Meryton for Mama to brag over."
"I am hoping it serves another purpose as well. If Mama is focused on me, she will not have time to focus on others." Jane's look was pointed.
"Regardless of what has been agreed upon between Mama and Mr. Collins, you need not worry about me. Please, please tell me you did not enter into this courtship for my benefit. You do care for Mr. Bingley, do you not?"
"I do, Lizzy. I like him better than any other man of my acquaintance. And I feel quite selfish that I should feel such happiness when I know you bear the burden of Mama's manipulations. I am hopeful my courtship will lift some of that burden. I will do everything I can to remove you from this situation and, know this, whatever I do is because I love you and wish for you to experience happiness equal to mine. I feel as though I have failed you already, though." Jane grasped her hand tightly.
As Elizabeth puzzled over Jane's words, the door to the sitting room opened. Mr. Bennet and Mr. Bingley entered, both smiling broadly, while Mr. Collins trailed behind them.
"But Mr. Bennet, I must speak to you. It is most pressing."
"Not now, Mr. Collins. I have good news to impart. I shall anticipate your pressing conversation as I do my pressing correspondence. If you are lucky, I might make time for it within the next month, perhaps even in the next few weeks or so."
"I demand an audience this very day."
Mr. Bennet looked amused at this statement. "You will be disappointed then, sir."
Their entry had already attracted the attention of everyone in the room, so with very little effort on his part Mr. Bennet was able to make his announcement. "Mr. Bingley has decided he likes us all so well that he would like to court our Jane so he may remain in our company. Jane, dear, you will be pleased to know that I have agreed to his request."
Mr. Collins was not the only one disappointed with Mr. Bennet. Elizabeth was embarrassed that her father could be so flippant. However, it seemed none of the others noticed. She hoped Mr. Darcy had not, at least he was not wearing his usual expression of haughty disdain when in the presence of her family.
The others exclaimed over the newly courting couple and as requested, Mrs. Bennet asked Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy to stay for dinner. Mr. Bingley happily accepted for them both. A note was dispatched, inviting the rest of Netherfield party to join them. The note failed to state the reason for the dinner, so Miss Bingley declined for herself and the Hursts. Her response was coldly polite indicating she had no wish to waste the preparations of her cook in order to accept a last-minute invitation at Longbourn.
Mr. Bennet returned to his study, deliberately ignoring Mr. Collins' pleas for an audience. Thus, Mr. Collins was stuck in the sitting room with the others, none of which were receptive to his company. Every time he approached Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy moved near her, as if challenging Mr. Collins to disregard his earlier words of caution. The rector finally settled near Mary, speaking at length of how as a clergyman he should be treated with the utmost respect and how shameful it was when scions of "good" families failed to show proper reverence.
Thus, Elizabeth found herself once again in company with Mr. Darcy. She hoped to have an opportunity to confide in Jane, that her admiration for the man was still increasing after his conversation with Mr. Collins, before speaking with him again. With everyone else otherwise engaged, she could not remain silent nor could she excuse herself, the only thing left was to actually talk to Mr. Darcy. You have spoken to him often enough, Lizzy. This should not be difficult. Talk of the courtship or the weather or literature. As she told herself these things, she knew it was weak encouragement, but it would have to do. Perhaps if she could get him to express the contempt she knew him capable of it would break the spell he seemed to have over her.
"Mr. Darcy, are you happy for your friend?" She asked rather more abruptly than she meant.
Mr. Darcy did not answer immediately as he thought for a moment. "Yes, I believe I am."
"That is a very subdued response. Do you have reservations about the match?" Elizabeth was genuinely curious, and she wondered if Mr. Darcy would be candid with her.
"I was thinking of Bingley and what kind of lady would not only make him happy but also help him grow into the man I know he can be. I know that may sound patronizing, but Bingley is still young and there is much in him that is good and honorable, if unrealized. It will take a remarkable lady to nurture his potential but not stifle his spirit. From what I know of Miss Bennet, she could be just that woman. Though I am surprised Bingley came to point so quickly. He is usually not so decisive."
"I confess my surprise, Mr. Darcy. That is an unexpectedly insightful response."
"I have my moments," Mr. Darcy smiled broadly.
She had never seen him smile so easily before, and it did nothing to contradict her growing appreciation. "You will forgive me for saying so, but I thought you would not approve of the attachment."
"It does me no credit but until very recently you would have been correct. However, I have lately had reason to consider the opportunities lost when other factors, such as wealth and status, are given undue value."
"I am all astonishment that a man of your position would believe so." This time she was not trying to provoke Mr. Darcy, she was, indeed, surprised by his response.
"Honestly, I am a bit astonished myself. I wish I could say it was the result of thoughtful contemplation, but its genesis was purely selfish."
"That is most intriguing. Can you share your purely selfish reasons?"
"Not just yet, but you will be the first to know." He gave her a good-natured bow.
"I shall look forward to it, sir," Elizabeth curtsied in response.
"Also, hearing Mr. Collins rhapsodize over my aunt is most peculiar. It illuminates her hauteur in a way that is rather dismaying, for I fear I share too many of her less charming character traits."
Elizabeth told herself not to be swayed by this sensible and sincere Mr. Darcy. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, she tried to convince himself but to no avail. "Surely Mr. Collins embellishes. I cannot imagine anyone is so very overbearing and intrusive."
"You have only heard of my aunt from Mr. Collins, you have not met her." He gave an exaggerated shudder, making Elizabeth laugh.
"I am glad to see the return of your good humor. I hope it is not too bold to say you have not seemed yourself today."
"And if I may be so bold, I sense a change in you as well."
"I daresay it is a welcome change, is it not?"
"Yes, I daresay it is."