Chapter 16: A journey towards danger
Miss Bingley was extremely angry. She did not want to keep quiet.
She expected Georgiana to accompany her, in the carriage. When she saw Elizabeth enter, she was extremely displeased. She saw the exchange between Elizabeth and Darcy. They are acting as if they are engaged. Why can't that servant hand her in? This man seems to be all over her. I cannot believe it.
Once Elizabeth sat down, Miss Bingley started expressing her anger.
"Miss Elizabeth, I cannot believe you chose to accompany us than sending Miss Darcy. Your sister has been sick. Can you not even take care of her during the journey? This is very disappointing. Miss Darcy must be vexed. She must need my company. I am going to get down and go to her."
"Caroline please stop! It is not even an hour's journey to the lake. Miss Darcy will be alright. Just sit down."
"Louisa what are you thinking? You think I arranged for this picnic to spend time with her. I arranged it for the Darcys. These girls are accompanying us because Miss Bennet could not afford to use a carriage to get to Netherfield."
Elizabeth was irked. She wanted to get out of the carriage. She could not bear Miss Bingley insulting them so directly. She knew that Jane and Georgiana were excited about the picnic. She did not want to spoil it for them. Just today Elizabeth, tomorrow you will be in Longbourn. You can endure her. She thought. She tried to ignore Miss Bingley.
Mrs Hurst was trying to convince Miss Bingley who could not stop her high-pitched hysterics.
Elizabeth hoped the men did not hear her. Just as she peeped out of the window, the carriage started. She could spot only the Colonel and others. She was disappointed not to see Darcy. Where is he?
She felt as if she was starting to yearn for his company. She brushed her thoughts aside as Miss Bingley kept arguing with her sister.
"Caroline the carriage has started. Please stop arguing now. I am feeling tired."
"Oh! Louisa. You are pathetic. Ever since you got pregnant, it is all that you are feeling. I cannot believe you could be so tiresome. Wonder how your husband puts up with you."
Elizabeth was shocked to see Miss Bingley treat her sister this way. Mrs Hurst was almost moved to tears.
"Miss Bingley like it or not I am to accompany you on this journey. You need not speak to me if you don't wish to. You are upsetting your sister. As far as I know, pregnant women are tired more often than not. I have seen my mother pregnant with my sisters. It is not easy. We must be thankful that Mrs Hurst chose to accompany us today."
Mrs Hurst was touched by Elizabeth's words. Miss Bingley scowled her face, and moved farther away from Elizabeth and sat close to the window.
You are indeed kind and considerate Elizabeth. Jane is lucky to have you as her sister. No wonder Georgiana is attached to you as well.
"Mrs Hurst have you thought about names for your baby?" Elizabeth asked, trying to divert the situation.
"Yes! We have. If it is a girl, we plan to call her Clara. Ist was my mother's name. If it is a boy, it will be Wilson."
"Those are nice names. I remember my mother having a list of boy names, and I ended up having three younger sisters."
Mrs Hurst laughed.
"I wonder how it was growing up with four sisters Miss Elizabeth. Charles was always the obedient one in the family. Only we were up to trouble."
"Except Jane, all of us were a handful."
Both of them kept conversing happily ignoring Miss Bingley.
Stupid Louisa! She shows you some sentiment. You fall for her too. So be it. I am going to push this chit in water if required and embarrass her. Let us see what she does with a soaked gown.
Miss Bingley kept making plans out of anger and had lost all her patience. Such a lousy start to this stupid picnic. Wonder why I planned it at all. She kept fuming inside.
As the carriage passed into the woods, none of them realised that Georgiana's carriage was nowhere behind them.
They never realised that they were in grave danger, and they were never going to reach the lake. Yes! Never!