Mr. Williams had, as ever, understated the situation. Darcy and Richard arrived at the parlor to find a distraught Bingley shouting at the footman Lucas, a terrified looking Georgiana perched as if she might flee at a moment on the chair farthest from Bingley, and Miss Bingley, facing away from them, it seemed,
for the express purpose of being able to spin around dramatically at their entry, upon which the universally liked Charles, the epitome of good humor, charged at Darcy like some feral beast.
"Where is she, Darcy?! I demand to see her!"
Darcy did not think anything could turn his attention away from Elizabeth today, and yet the inexplicable presence of his sister with a raging Bingley did just the trick. He turned to Richard, expecting to see his own shock reflected, and instead saw his cousin determinedly avoiding his eye. Whatever was going on, Richard was involved.
"Charles, I have no idea what you are talking about. What on earth are you doing here? And what reason could you possibly have for dragging my sister along with you."
"Enough with the deceit, Darcy!"
"Charles, really! Do not berate poor Mr. Darcy, I told you our presence would be a surprise to him!" Miss Bingley managed to scold her brother while passing a sympathetic look Darcy's way. Richard failed to hide a smirk.
Georgiana rushed to her brother's side. "Oh William, please do not be upset. I was worried about you after I received cousin Richard's letter. It was a horrible thing you had to endure, and he said you were so unwell." She paused to inspect her brother, her voice indicating that she agreed with her cousin's assessment. Darcy flashed an angry look towards Richard but Georgiana continued, her pace increasing with each statement.
"I did not know what to do, I was distraught, and when Miss Bingley called on me so shortly after reading of your trouble, I confided in her." Here, Georgiana squirmed a bit, as if chastising herself for this momentary lapse in judgment. "Miss Bingley told Mr. Bingley about Miss Bennet's accident, and then he declared he was off to Kent right away, and I thought I might come to be a comfort to you, and our Aunt Matlock approved of my coming, she encouraged the outing, actually, so long as Miss Bingley accompanied us, and I only wanted to help brother, please do not be angry."
Darcy softened at this anxious plea, and assured his sister that he appreciated her care, that he was truly well, and that he was not angry with her. He omitted that the three other people in the room were another matter entirely.
Charles, who had quieted during Georgie's speech, was upon him again. He seemed on the verge of apoplexy when Darcy spoke. "Perhaps, Charles, we should take our conversation elsewhere." Bingley nodded his assent and together they quit the room, Darcy with a backwards glance at his traitorous cousin.
The moment the parlor door was shut behind them, Charles began again. "Darcy, take me to her immediately."
"Charles, again, who are you-"
"Enough with your pretending, who else could I mean but Miss Bennet?! Is she still… how is she? Damn it, Darcy, I must see her!"
Darcy, processing information at a slower than normal pace after too many sleepless nights, was just beginning to piece together his friend's desperation and the potential that there could be confusion over which Miss Bennet had fallen off a cliff, when Bingley started in again. "And still you aim to deceive me by your silence?! I am disgusted that I ever called you my friend! You tore me away from her, convinced me against my better judgment that she did not like me, made a case against her family, not because you were a concerned friend as you claimed, but so that you could keep me out of the way!"
"Charles, what in God's name-"
"Enough, Darcy! Admit it! You lied to me! You withheld that she was in London, then, only once she left, sent some baffling apology for your interference, and while I was running around like a cad searching for her, I find out from my sister that she is actually here with you, dying, Darcy, and that you are so distraught over her, that you have become ill yourself! I can see the truth of that well enough, you look like hell!" Mr. Bingley was so unaccustomed to speaking unkindly that he thus exhausted his supply of ill will. Despondent, he continued. "I cannot even blame you for falling in love with Miss Bennet. She is the kindest, loveliest, most generous person to grace this earth. What excuse can you give though, Darcy, my most trusted friend, for resorting to such low tricks? How could you know my feelings for her and not tell me when she was in danger? Darcy, I must see her, I must. If you were sincere for a moment in your regard for me, please, take me to her."
"Charles, my friend, please relax. This is a misunderstanding. Miss Jane Bennet is-"
But just then Charles transformed from a pitiable, desperate creature to a gloriously hopeful one. He rushed forward, hand outstretched in a manner that reminded Darcy of the way he himself had reached for Elizabeth in the hallway. Darcy turned, and saw Jane Bennet gliding down the stairs, deep in conversation with Dr. Horton.
The moment she saw Mr. Bingley, Miss Bennet froze entirely, ignoring Dr. Horton as he continued downward. The older man was perplexed for only a moment, it took a mere glance back and forth between the pair to determine that they were enamored with each other.
Jane felt so much in that interminable moment of stillness. She could not account for Mr. Bingley's presence, nor could she wonder why, after months of slowly losing hope that she would ever see him again, of convincing herself that her feelings were lessening, that he had never cared for her as she did him, he would be here at this moment, dashing all of her efforts. All she could do was acknowledge that there was no more pretending with herself. She was in love with Mr. Bingley, and despite the months of evidence to the contrary, the look on his face confirmed that he cared for her.
She remembered herself after a moment, and moved to join Dr. Horton again, never removing her gaze from Mr. Bingley's own. Gently, the good doctor guided her to the end of the staircase and took his leave of them all, declaring with a parting smile to Mr. Darcy "What a day for miraculous recoveries!"
With Dr. Horton gone, Darcy felt he had become an intruder on an embarrassingly intimate scene, though Miss Bennet and Mr. Bingley remained at least ten feet apart, and still had yet to say a word to each other.
After a silent moment which was only awkward for himself, he decided to prompt speech by bowing and offering, "Miss Bennet."
The lady blinked, as if only just realizing that Mr. Bingley was not alone, and curtseyed to both gentlemen. At hearing her say his name, Bingley too awoke from his spell and burst forth with feeling.
"Miss Bennet! I cannot express how glad I am to see you, and to see you well! You look so well! As if nothing has changed… I heard you were involved in a terrible accident, and came to see- that is, I feared- but here you are!" Mr. Bingley smiled brilliantly, and Jane felt as if sunshine were warming her face. None of his words made sense, his presence made no sense, and eventually Mr. Bingley would have much explaining to do for his behavior these last few months, but she had no room at the moment for rationalization. There was no denying that he had come, out of concern for her, and that he cared for her still. They stood for another moment in filled silence until Mr. Darcy's awkward shifting caught Jane's attention.
She began to explain the confusion. "I am perfectly well, Mr. Bingley, I thank you for your concern. The accident did happen, but not to me, it was my-" But here Miss Bennet was interrupted by the entrance of Miss Bingley, followed by an anxious Miss Darcy and an amused Colonel Fitzwilliam, stirred from the parlor by Bingley's loud exclamations.
"Oh my dear Jane! I was simply wretched with worry about you! You cannot imagine how much turmoil you've inspired these last days! And what a relief it is to see you here in such good health!" Though she spoke of relief, there was such anxiety in Miss Bingley's voice that even Jane Bennet's trusting nature could not fully withhold suspicion.
"Miss Bingley, I would never wish to cause you concern, it was done wholly without my intention or knowledge. I cannot account for how you are here, but I am delighted to see you again, it has been too long since we last met, and I have missed your company." Jane smiled at her friend warmly, but noticed that Miss Bingley could not fully meet her eye.
In contrast, the nervous young woman beside Miss Bingely was gazing at Jane with something like admiration. Jane smiled at her encouragingly, which caused the girl to rapidly change color, and upon seeing her discomfort, Mr. Darcy introduced the lady as his sister. It was a testament to Jane's good graces that she did not start. So this was the famed Miss Darcy who Caroline so wished to be a match for Mr. Bingley. Jane had not expected her to be so very young, and found herself wanting to comfort her.
"Miss Darcy, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Your friends have spoken of you with such affection and praise, I feel as though I know you a bit already."
Miss Darcy's gaze faltered and she blushed, she could only imagine what Miss Bennet must think of her if Miss Bingley was her source of knowledge. Georgiana was determined to be brave and make a good impression on this intimidatingly beautiful Miss Bennet, the woman who seemed to have stolen her brother's heart.
"The pleasure is mine, Miss Bennet." Georgiana steeled herself and rushed through the next part of her speech in one breath. "I have been eager to make your acquaintance ever since my brother wrote to me about your lovely playing, I am also fond of music." Jane's brow raised at this and she glanced at Mr. Darcy with wonder. There was so much to be explained here, but Jane could at least relieve some of the party's confusion.
"You must be thinking of my dear sister Elizabeth, Miss Darcy, for I do not play at all. As I was saying to Mr. Bingley when you came in, it was Lizzy, not I, who suffered the horrible fall." Here, Jane had to pause to suppress the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her any time she thought of her sister's near peril. "I am extremely grateful that your brother happened to be out for a walk that morning and brought her to safety." She met Mr. Darcy's gaze, who was the only member of the party sharing in her particular pain.
Miss Bingely saw her opportunity to turn the conversation. "I am certain Mr. Darcy made an excellent hero, he is so gallant, he would have deigned to save any poor dear in distress! But oh Jane, how glad I am that it wasn't you who had to endure such an experience! We rushed all the way here thinking it was our poor Jane in trouble, and I declare I have never been so relieved to have been in error and see you perfectly well!"
Something fierce and protective flashed across Jane Bennet's face, and Darcy thought he had never seen her more resemble Miss Elizabeth.
"Are you relieved, Miss Bingley? I confess I am not. I would gladly have traded places with my sister."
"Oh yes of course you would have, you are a darling. All I meant was that Miss Eliza, with her… resolute constitution, I am sure is bearing her recovery far better than someone as gentle as you could have. And pray, how is she?"
Jane adopted the attitude she took with her young cousins when they said something unkind to one another; it was both forceful and peaceful, and perfectly communicated her disappointment. Her cousins usually took this as an indication that they had done something wrong and would apologize, but Miss Bingley was not quite so well trained.
"I am grateful that she is now at least awake, but her condition is yet uncertain. She does indeed have a particular strength and courage I do not possess, and I share your hope that they lead her to a full and speedy recovery. If you will all excuse me, I have been away from her for too long." She took her leave of the group and, with a final glance at Mr. Bingley, retreated up the stairs.
Darcy found himself impressed by Miss Jane Bennet. He had seen her before as merely a smiling face who was pleasant enough to everyone, but had underestimated her. Here was a woman of courage who defended her sister with equal parts kindness and strength. His resolution to be more the man Elizabeth would want him to be included confronting his judgments, and he had judged Miss Bennet poorly. It was obvious to him now that she was attached to his friend, there could be no other explanation for the excruciating few minutes where the two stared at each other as if in a separate world together. He wondered at his own errors, how could he have so easily dismissed the favorite person of his beloved? How had he prided himself on unbiased observation? He was just musing that Miss Bennet must be a person worth knowing better, when Lady Catherine descended upon the hall.