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Author Note: Many thanks again to those of you who read this book and posted helpful reviews! I have edited the book and added some extra content, including an epilogue. I published the story on Amazon with the title "The Blind Will See". I cannot tell you how much I have treasured your encouragement as I walked the first shaky steps towards professional authorship with my first P&P fanfic, "I am Jael" and now I am publishing again. It's a dream come true! Thank you!
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Charles Bingley circled his angel, the lovely Miss Jane Bennet. She was truly the most beautiful woman he had ever met with her blonde hair and celestial blue eyes, with her rosebud lips and delicate ears. She was exquisite.
She was also kind. They had talked for many hours now about topics ranging from London plays to their favorite kinds of music. She never insulted him, never put him down as his own sisters were wont to do. She was also gracious and generous with all her acquaintances. He had never heard her speak a negative word about anyone, a remarkable and admirable trait given his own sisters' propensity to insult everyone around them.
He was in love with her. He wanted to marry her.
Of course, his sisters would be furious if he did propose to Jane Bennet, especially his sister Caroline. She was the true social climber of the family and had set her own marital sights on Mr. Darcy. She wanted her brother to marry Georgiana Darcy in the hopes that one marriage would lead to a second. Not that Bingley had any intention of marrying Miss Darcy. The girl was only 16 years of age and Bingley had no intention of waiting two or three years to marry. Nor did he think he would ever fall in love with Georgiana; she was a charming girl, but he looked on her more like a sweet little sister.
He wished his own sisters were sweet.
He was his own man, was he not? He had no requirement to marry according to their desires. Miss Bennet was a gentleman's daughter, though not well dowered. But it mattered not. His own fortune was sufficient for her and any children of their union.
Miss Bennet's eyes suddenly shifted away from his face and she looked over his shoulder. A moment later, she frowned noticeably.
"Is something wrong, Miss Bennet?"
"My apologies, Mr. Bingley," she replied softly, though her gaze was still fixed across the room. "My sister ..."
The music thankfully ended at this moment and Bingley guided Miss Bennet off the floor. No doubt one of the younger two Bennet girls was making a spectacle of herself. Miss Lydia and Miss Catherine Bennet were indeed gauche and immature, and Caroline never missed a chance to demean them. Bingley found them mildly annoying at times, but mostly he remembered being young and carefree.
He scanned the room and stiffened in surprise. The sister in question was Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and she was obviously in an emotional discussion with Bingley's best friend, Mr. Darcy. Bingley shook his head. Darcy was a wonderful man, but he had a tendency to alienate new acquaintances through his stiff demeanor and abrupt speech. Miss Elizabeth had shown very clearly that she found Darcy proud and was not afraid to let off verbal darts to indicate her disapproval.
Even as they watched, Miss Elizabeth turned on her heel and walked quickly away from Darcy, her face clearly perturbed. Miss Bennet took a step toward her, only to halt when one of the officers stepped in Elizabeth's path, clearly claiming her for the next dance.
Elizabeth managed a smile and curtsied, and the man led her onto the dance floor.
Bingley glanced at Miss Bennet, who was still staring worriedly at her next younger sister.
"May I get you some punch, Miss Bennet?"
"I am actually quite warm, Mr. Bingley. Might we go out onto the balcony for some air?"
"Certainly."
He walked her off the dance floor and onto one of the terraces. The doors had been opened wide to allow air to circulate in the crowded ball room, in addition to providing appropriate oversight to courting couples. While courting couples would be able to speak privately, everyone on the terrace would be in sight of the matrons who sat in chairs along the walls. Right now, the terrace was empty save for Charles and the beauty beside him.
Jane glided over to the railing and stared down pensively towards Netherfield's formal gardens. The moon was full and the bushes and bare trellises huddled in strange mounds in the cold light.
"I hope your sister is not too distressed," Bingley murmured awkwardly. "Darcy is a good man, but he occasional demeans others without intending to do so."
Jane looked up at him, "I know that you would not be a close friend to Mr. Darcy if he were not an honorable man. Elizabeth is a passionate, warm hearted woman and she is distressed about the situation of a new friend of ours and an old acquaintance of Mr. Darcy's, a Mr. George Wickham."
"Wickham?" Bingley repeated in surprise. "I have indeed heard his name though I never met him personally. I know that Darcy thinks very ill of him."
"It is a grievous thing when men cannot live as brothers, especially those who knew one another as boys," Jane said dispiritedly. "Mr. Wickham was injured on Saturday during a military training exercise, and Elizabeth is most distressed on his behalf."
Bingley reached out an impulsive hand and laid it over Jane's gloved one, "I am sorry to hear that. Are his wounds serious?"
"There is concern that he will lose his eyesight permanently."
"Dear Lord."
"Yes, it is very sad. The military can be such a dangerous profession."
Bingley bit his lip, his usually cheerful face suddenly downcast.
"Mr. Bingley? Is something wrong?"
He hesitated. He usually avoided thinking about him, much less speaking of him, but Miss Bennet was gazing up at him with such compassion in her eyes ...
"I had a brother, Miss Bennet. Adam."
Her eyes grew wide, "Oh, Mr. Bingley. I assume you lost him? I am so very grieved."
Bingley gulped, struggling to maintain a semblance of calm, "Yes, he died three years ago. He was two years my junior and two years older than Caroline. He entered the navy against my father's wishes, but Adam was so passionate about the sea, he wanted so much to fight against the French, that my father eventually gave in to my brother's pleas."
"Did he die in battle, Mr. Bingley?"
"He died during a voyage to the New World, victim of one of the common plagues that sweep His Majesty's Navy."
"That is truly terrible, Mr. Bingley," Jane replied, her eyes full of sympathetic tears. "I cannot imagine losing one of my sisters. I am so grieved for you. You must miss him so much!"
"Indeed, I do," he agreed, his own eyes wet. Caroline and Louisa rarely acknowledged the loss of Adam, and oddly enough, only Darcy had been open to discussing his sorrow when the news came that Adam had died. The master of Pemberley had lost several infant siblings, and thus knew the devastation of such loss.
"I am thankful that you have sisters who love you, Mr. Bingley," Jane said sweetly.
He looked down at her in awe. He knew that Caroline was not a loving individual and her friendship with Miss Bennet was based more on boredom than any real affection. And yet, Jane maintained her kindly attitude.
"Miss Bennet," he said suddenly.
"Yes, Mr. Bingley."
He dropped down on one knee now, his face upturned to that lovely countenance, "Miss Bennet, I love you. Will you consent to become my wife?"
Jane Bennet's eyes widened in surprise, and her face burst into a glorious smile, "Oh yes, Mr. Bingley. Yes!"
/
Caroline Bingley cast a critical glance around the ball room. Everything was going smoothly. The music was excellent, the dancing enthusiastic, the punch exquisite, the servants devoted to their duties. It was, she was quite certain, the most glorious ball the inhabitants of this rural backwater had seen in many years.
Not that she cared about the opinions of mere country folk, but she relished the opportunity to show off her skills as a hostess to the man whom she meant to marry, the rich and well connected Mr. Darcy. Miss Bingley had visited Pemberley twice, and both times she had departed with a compulsive desire to become the mistress of the great estate. Given that she was well dowered and had attended a prestigious ladies' seminary, given that she was very accomplished, given that she was sister of Darcy's closest friend, it surely could be only a matter of time before Darcy offered for her.
So long as ...
She glanced around, scowling, before her eyes fell on Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who was dancing with an officer. Earlier, she had been horrified to see Mr. Darcy dancing with the pert, second born Bennet daughter. Fortunately, they had promptly had some kind of disagreement because they had retreated to a corner of the ball room, engaging in some kind of acrimonious discussion until Miss Elizabeth stormed off. That was in itself a fine thing, but it was alarming how much Mr. Darcy seemed to be attracted to Miss Elizabeth, with her saucy speech and shrewish eyes.
There was a slight waft of cooler air and she turned toward the balcony as her brother Charles and Miss Jane Bennet stepped in the room, both beaming idiotically. Really, Charles must be spoken to and the sooner the better! She had already heard rumblings from many of the revelers tonight with the expectation that Charles would make an offer to Miss Bennet. This was, of course, absurd. Jane was a pleasant woman, but her mother was vulgar fool with ties to trade and Jane's dowry was pathetic. No, Charles must be warned off as soon as possible. Indeed, she would grasp her brother, by the ear if necessary, and guide him to a secluded corner immediately to warn him of the dangers of encouraging the girl.
"Mr. Bennet," Charles cried out jovially as Miss Bingley approached him, speaking to someone past her.
"Yes, Mr. Bingley," the master of Longbourn inquired politely, stepping into Miss Bingley's peripheral vision.
"May I have a few minutes of your time, sir?"
Mr. Bennet stared at Bingley, then at Jane, who was blushing, and a genuine smile filled his face, "Of course, sir, of course. Shall we retreat to the library?"
"Yes, sir!"
Miss Bingley stared at her brother in shocked horror. No, it couldn't be, it was not possible. No!
/
Mr. William Collins stared uneasily at Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who was dancing with a local man on the dance floor near him.
The early stages of the ball in Mr. Bingley's mansion had been thoroughly enjoyable. He had danced with his prospective bride, Miss Elizabeth, and found it a delightful experience. Perhaps he had not known the steps as well as was ideal, but he was a clergyman, after all, with little experience in dancing. He had, of course, apologized when he treaded on his lady's toes, and she had accepted his contrition with her usual charm.
Miss Elizabeth was so beautiful! Not quite as handsome as her older sister, Miss Bennet, but a truly lovely girl. He had never imagined as a youth that he would have the opportunity to marry such a fine example of femininity. Once again, he praised the Almighty for the gracious oversight of his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who had ordered him to Longbourn to choose a wife from among his cousins.
After the first dance with his cousin, Mr. Collins had learned that Mr. Darcy, the nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, was present at the ball. He had introduced himself to the man, who was as tall, imposing, and condescending as was to be expected. Mr. Collins had relished the opportunity to tell Mr. Darcy that both Lady Catherine and her daughter Anne were in fine health.
But then something extremely disturbing had occurred. Mr. Darcy had asked Miss Elizabeth to dance with him. That in itself was well enough, and indeed had filled Mr. Collins heart with a surge of pride. His chosen bride was worthy of the notice of a great man like Mr. Darcy!
However, partway through the dance, the couple had left the dance floor in the midst of a clearly acrimonious discussion. Mr. Collins, lurking nearby behind a column, had been unable to hear the exchange of words but Miss Elizabeth had clearly been challenging the master of Pemberley.
This would not do! Miss Elizabeth was but the poor daughter of a country gentleman. Mr. Darcy was the nephew of both Lady Catherine and her brother, the Earl of Matlock. How could the girl be anything less than submissive to Mr. Darcy of Pemberley?
This realization brought about other ones. Miss Elizabeth was beautiful, but she was not well accomplished. It was her sister Mary who practiced the pianoforte for hours on end, whereas Miss Elizabeth often traipsed off on walks into the wilderness alone!
Miss Elizabeth engaged in conversations with her own father about books at the very dinner table. And what books they were! He had actually heard, with his own ears, a discussion about Homer's Iliad!
He had assumed that Miss Elizabeth, when given the blessed opportunity of living under the guidance and direction of the eminently wise Lady Catherine de Bourgh, would understand that solitary walks, and bluestocking speech, would be at an end. But how could he be certain now? Miss Elizabeth had challenged Mr. Darcy!
No, it would not do. He would not bring a wife home who might be less than humble to his esteemed patroness.
But what was he to do? Lady Catherine had instructed him to choose a wife from among his cousin's daughters. Miss Bennet was well on her way to winning the host of the ball, Mr. Bingley. Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty were too flighty and too young.
His wandering gaze found Miss Mary Bennet, seated sedately by a matron on the side of the room. The girl was wearing her hair in its usual, austere, style and she looked appropriately serious and modest.
Mr. Collins felt his heart lighten. Yes, that was the answer. He would marry Miss Mary!