Chapter 23
Jane walked around the kitchen, grabbed a basket that was sitting by the door and stepped outside. Mr. Bingley and his sister would be joining them for supper later in the day and she had decided to make an apple pie. Will had decided to take Elizabeth and Anna out to the pond for the day. Elizabeth's shoulder still wasn't all the way healed, but she was complaining about being cooped up inside for a week and her husband had finally decided to let her out of the house.
Jane shook her head at her sister and pulled her bonnet further down on her head to keep the sun out of her face. Swinging the basket beside her, she headed for the nearest tree beside the house; setting the basket on the ground, Jane reached up and started picking apples and placing them in the basket.
So lost in her work, she didn't hear the sound of a buggy pulling up to the house. The young man driving it helped his sister down and told her to stay on the porch while he went and found Jane.
Grabbing another apple, Jane set it in the basket, and spun around when a voice spoke behind her. She lost her balance when she spun around too fast and landed on the ground. Blowing a loose strand of hair out of her face, she lifted her hand and pushed back her bonnet that was covering her face. Looking up she found herself staring into the smirking face of Charles Bingley.
He held out his hand and pulled her to her feet. Jane let go of his hand and brushed off the grass and dirt that was clinging to her dress. Lifting her eyes again, she found him staring at her with a thoughtful look on his face. He caught her gaze and she found his eyes had a hint of mischief in them.
Turning away, she grabbed her basket, and headed for the house, not bothering to wait for him. The sound of hurried footsteps came behind her and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Charles walking beside her. "Jane, are you angry at me?"
She stopped and turned to look at him. Raising a brow, she asked, "Why would I be angry at you?"
Charles ran a hand through his hair and looked down sheepishly. "I didn't mean to come up behind you and scare you. You looked so beautiful just standing there that I didn't want to announce myself."
It was her turn to blush at his comment. Giving him a small smile, Jane headed back towards the house, but he grabbed her hand before she could climb the porch steps. Turning her head, she realized his face was only an inch away from hers. Meeting his gaze, she watched his gaze drift from her eyes to her lips, before darting back up to her eyes.
"Charles, what are you doing?"
He hastily jumped back and looked up to find Caroline watching them. She was taping her foot on the porch and her lips were turned into a frown. Darting his gaze back to Jane, he found her looking down at the ground, her cheeks flushed. Grabbing her hand, he quickly placed a kiss to the back of her hand, and led her into the house.
"Would you like to help Miss Bennet make supper Caroline? I'm sure when Darcy and his wife get back in a few minutes, they will be glad for your help." Charles asked his sister after he hung up his hat and quickly washed his hands; his smile was smug when he looked over at his sister.
"I'm sure Miss Bennet has it under control. She won't need my help." Caroline said as she held her brother's gaze.
His eyes turned dark and the smile left his face. "I told you that if you wanted to stay out here with me, then you are going to have to help out. I can easily send you back east to live with our sister and her husband."
"Why do you associate with these country folks? You could come back home and be a doctor there. There's nothing for you here, Charles." She huffed and folded her arms over her chest.
Charles moved his gaze away from his sister's face and looked through the doorway that led to the kitchen. "Everything I need and have ever wanted is here Caroline. I am the doctor for Pemberly, I have my friends, and I think I have found the one thing I have been missing." He left her standing there and walked in to the kitchen.
Finding Jane standing by the table, he rolled up his sleeves, and gave her a smile. "Do you have anything I can help with?"
Using her knife, she pointed to the basket of apples. "Wash them and then I need them cut up for the pie I am making for dessert. You do know how to cut an apple, don't you?" her gaze was teasing as she looked up at him.
Grabbing the other knife that she had laid on the table, Charles grabbed the basket and walked to the other end of the table. Quickly washing the apples in a bowl Jane had placed on the table, he picked one of the bigger ones out, and set about cutting it. He had just grabbed the second one when he heard his sister walk into the kitchen and stood quietly by the table.
Raising his head, he watched her face. She had a look of disgust on her face when she saw Jane working on the food items for supper. He gave her a pointed look when she quickly turned his way. Turning back to his work, Charles listened quietly as Jane gave Caroline instructions of what she wanted her to do. After he finished cutting all of the apples, he went over to the window and set the knife on the counter.
Looking out, he smiled when he saw Darcy's wagon pulling in to the yard. Wiping his hands dry on a towel, Charles walked out onto the porch. "Do you need a hand?" he asked as Darcy parked the wagon and walked up to the porch.
Darcy looked up and gave his friend a smile. "You're here a little early, Charles. We won't be eating supper for at least another two hours." He set Anna on the ground and watched her for a moment as she ran after Elizabeth into the house.
"It's been a slow day at the doctor's office and Caroline was begging to go somewhere besides Pemberly, so I decided to come out early and see if I could be of any help." He said as they walked over to the wagon. Will unhitched the horses and together they walked to the barn.
"How is Caroline? Is she settling in town?" Will asked as he stripped the gear from one of the geldings, while Charles took the gear off the other horse. He walked over and hung it on the peg, before leading the gelding in to his stall.
"I still don't know why she really came here. She has told me countless times that she wanted to see her brother and spend time with me, but I can tell that she is missing her friends and the bigger city." He stared at his friend and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm about at the end of my rope with her."
"Bring her to the dance tomorrow night. I am sure there will be many gentlemen wanting to dance with her and it might brighten her spirits somewhat." Will suggested as he pitched the two horses some hay. Setting the pitch fork along the wall, he motioned for Charles to follow him back to the porch.
Climbing the steps, he leaned against the railing, and Charles took a seat on the swing. Using one of his boots, he set it in motion, and leaned back closing his eyes. After a few moments of silence, he opened them to find his friend watching him. "Do you have something you want to talk about?"
"When are you going to ask Jane?"
"Ask Jane what?"
Will crossed his arms over his chest and grunted. "When are you going to ask her to marry you?" at the look of protest on Charles face, he held up a hand to stop him. "I have seen the way you two look at each other. I'm not sure what you are waiting for. I know she would be very happy to be your wife."
Charles closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them again. "You don't know how much I want to ask her, but she has family back East and I don't know if she will be able handle it out here."
"Elizabeth left her family to come out here and Jane has the same strength her sister does. I have seen the way she tackles new challenges and doesn't give up if she can't figure it out right away. After supper I will help clean up, so you and Jane can go on a walk by yourselves. If you don't come back as an engaged man, I will introduce her to a few men at the dance." He smiled smugly when Charles face paled and his eyes widened.
"You wouldn't do that." He protested.
Will pushed himself off the rail and went to stand on the other side of the porch. He watched the clouds for a few minutes before saying over his shoulder. "She is my sister in law and I don't want to see her heart broken."
He stared back ahead and heard the porch swing squeak a few moments later. He felt Charles come to stand beside him and Will glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. His friend stared ahead and decided to change the subject. "How does it feel to become a father? I know you have been a father to Anna for the past few months, but this time it's different."
Will chuckled softly to himself, "I have never been more excited and scared at the same time. I never really took care of Anna as a baby and this is going to be a new experience. We plan on going back East to her parents place a few weeks after the baby is born. If you become engaged to Jane, I'm sure you will be coming with us."
"What are you two talking about out here?" a voice said from the doorway.
Both men turned around and found Elizabeth standing in the doorway. Will quickly glanced at Charles, before turning his attention to his wife. "We are talking about the dance tomorrow. We decided to sit out here, so we weren't in your way while you were making supper. Why are you out here?"
Elizabeth had raised a brow when she saw the quick glance the two friends shared, but didn't say anything. Obviously they had a secret they didn't want to share with her. "I came to tell you that supper is on the table and we are waiting for you two. Come on so we can eat. Anna is getting impatient, not to mention myself."
She walked back in to the house, the two men following close behind. They washed up at the basin and quickly dried their hands. Strolling in to the kitchen, Will took a seat next to Elizabeth, while Charles took one in between his sister and Jane. Grasping the hand of the person next to them, they bowed their heads, while Charles said the evening prayer.
After he had finished with an amen, they started passing the various dishes around the table. Spooning some of the beans onto Anna's plate, Elizabeth looked up, and found Caroline watching her. Setting the pan back on the table, she smiled sweetly to the other woman. "How long are you going to be in Pemberly?"
Caroline took a bite of the ham on her plate and tried unsuccessfully to hide her disgust of the food served to her. "I'm not sure how much longer I will be staying with Charles. I miss my friends and the rest of our family, but I don't get to see my older brother very often."
"There is a dance tomorrow night that you might enjoy. There will be food, music, and quite a few eligible gentlemen to dance with."
"I will think about it." Caroline said and turned back to her unappetizing food. She had wanted to see Will Darcy again, but then her spirits dimmed when she found out he had married. What she didn't expect was her brother falling for Jane Bennet. Caroline didn't want to be related to an unknown country girl. Her friends were expecting her brother to come back East and marry someone back home, but it seemed that he wouldn't see reason.
Twirling the food around on her plate, she sighed, and decided that maybe it would be time for her to go home. A while later after everyone had eaten there fill, Will pushed back his chair, and gave a small head nod to Charles before grabbing some of the plates on the table.
Charles pushed back his chair and stood to his feet. Holding out his hand, he asked Jane to join him on a walk outside. She placed her hand in his and he pulled her to her feet. Walking out of the house, he led her down the porch steps, and tucked her hand in the crock of his arm. Leading her to a large oak a ways from the house, he placed his hand inside his pocket to make sure it was still there.
Jane walked quietly beside him, gazing at the sun sinking in the sky. She looked up at him when he stopped beneath the oak tree and motioned for her to sit on the large stump underneath it. Taking a seat, she cocked her head when he started pacing in front of her, and she could see that he was quietly muttering something to himself.
"Mr. Bingley, are you alright?" Jane quietly asked after a few moments.
Charles stopped his pacing and turned to look at her. The sun was just setting and casting a golden light behind her and he had never seen anyone so beautiful. "Marry me." He blurted and looked at her with a horrified expression on his face.
She stared at him in shock for a moment, before breaking out in giggles. Covering her mouth with her hand, she tried to apologize, but she was giggling too hard.
"Why are you laughing at me?" he asked with a hurt and puzzled expression on his face.
"Your expression when you asked me to marry you. I'm sorry, I truly am, but I have never seen that look on someone's face before and it was funny." Jane said between giggles, but sobered quickly when Charles dropped to one knee in front of her and grabbed her hands.
"Sweet Jane; I love you and am asking you to become my wife. I know that being a doctor's wife is not going to be easy and you are going to miss your family, but we can work it out. I want you to be in my life." He fumbled in his pocket for the ring and held it out to her.
She gazed in to his love filled eyes and placed both of her hands on the side of his face. Leaning forward, Jane did something she never thought she would do; she placed her lips against his. Charles went still for a moment, before putting his arms around her waist, and pulling her closer. He lost his balance and they both fell to the ground.
Lifting her head, she blushed slightly when she realized she was lying on top of him. He lifted his hand and tilted her head to get a better look in her eyes, "So is that a yes?"
"Of course it's a yes, you silly man. I think I forgot to tell you something." she said with a hint of mischief in her eyes.
He raised a brow, before asking what it was.
"I love you Charles Bingley." She said with a bright smile and he pulled her in for one more kiss before helping her to her feet. Taking the ring that was still held firmly in his hand, Charles lifted her hand and slid it onto her finger. Intertwining their fingers, he led her back to the house.
Walking in to the kitchen, Charles caught the gaze of Will, who raise a brow, and he slightly nodded his head, before a huge smile lite his face. Standing to his feet, Will walked over and congratulated the couple.
Jane walked over to her sister and took a seat next to her. Laying her left hand on the table, she almost got knocked out of her chair when Elizabeth threw her arms around her and held her close. Looking over her sister's shoulder, Jane saw Caroline frown at her. Pulling back, she turned to her future sister. "Miss Bingley, can I have a word with you outside?"
Caroline nodded her head and followed Jane outside. Motioning to the porch swing, she took a seat, and looked up at Jane. "What did you want to talk about?"
Jane took a seat next to the other young lady and spoke, "Do you have something against me marrying your brother, Miss Bingley?"
Caroline toyed with a fray string on her dress and didn't raise her eyes. Her sister was a few years older than her and she never had the close relationship that she saw with Jane and Elizabeth Bennet. "I want the best for my brother and I don't know if that is being out here. I don't have anything against you and your sister; I'm just looking out for my brother."
Jane laid a hand on hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Your brother is well respected in the community and he is the only doctor within miles of Pemberly. He has made a lot of people better in the few years that he has been here I have heard and he also has many friends here that he doesn't want to leave. His life is here now."
"I see that now, but I want to see him more often than I do. I'm not as close with my sister as I should be and the only sibling that usually understands me is Charles; I'm going to miss him when I go back home."
"You can come out and visit us anytime you want or you could move out here?" she suggested to the young woman.
"I will think about it, Miss Bennet." She hastily whipped away a tear.
"Please call me Jane. We are going to sisters soon."
Caroline gave her a small smile, "Then you must call me Caroline." She stood to her feet and helped Jane to her feet. They walked in to the house and joined the celebration over the upcoming nuptials.