"Dear Jane!" exclaimed Elizabeth upon alighting from the carriage.
She immediately embraced her sister, who returned the gesture in full measure. How long three months was when parted from so dear a sister as Jane! After releasing Jane, Elizabeth curtseyed to Mr. Collins, who was looking on with enjoyment at his dear wife's reunion with Elizabeth.
Jane showed Elizabeth all about the house, which was very well-appointed. While it was not a large house, it was of a comfortable size and was tastefully adorned. Elizabeth could see that already Jane had influenced her new home, for artwork very much in keeping with Jane's taste hung in pride of place in the dining room and above the parlour mantle.
"Gregory bought that piece and the one in the dining room when he saw me admiring them at an exhibition," said Jane. "He is too good to me."
"No one could be too good to you, Jane. You deserve every happiness," said Elizabeth. "They are both very lovely."
"I tell her that every day. I have done nothing to deserve a wife so fine as she, so I do not begrudge her anything at all," said Mr. Collins.
"You shall make me very spoilt and disagreeable, sir," teased Jane as she approached her husband.
Mr. Collins kissed Jane's hand and whispered something to her that Elizabeth could not hear from where she stood across the room, but that made Jane blush. Elizabeth turned back to admiring the artwork, feeling very much like an intruder on Jane and Mr. Collins' private moment.
"I think I shall go see how Sarah gets on with my things," said Elizabeth.
The maid that had travelled with Elizabeth had no need of her help in any way, but the awkwardness of the moment was too much to stand. She fled to her room and found that Sarah had already completed all that needed to be done for the two days Elizabeth would be in London. Most of her things would be sent ahead to Eastburn, Derbyshire, where the Vanstones lived.
That evening they dined very informally with the Gardiners. Even the children were permitted to be at the table, which was a delight to most. Had the maids been asked what they thought, they likely wouldn't have said they enjoyed tidying up the lentils Miss Gardiner dropped onto the expensive carpets.
The next day, Jane was eager to show her sister around London, taking her to all the places she had become familiar with during her time there and pointing out the sights she had grown to love. When Jane had previously travelled to London to visit the Gardiners before her marriage, her range of exploration was much greater due to her autonomy of transportation and timing. With her new pin-money, Jane enjoyed treating her dearest sister to some shopping and a delicious lunch at a popular tearoom. They stopped briefly also at the British Library, but the day was growing too late for Elizabeth to peruse much its contents. It did not matter, however. Both Mr. and Mrs. Collins made it very clear to Elizabeth that she might visit whenever she wished to.
The journey to Eastburn was pleasant, with the spring sun warming the countryside and the fresh scent of wildflowers in the air. Elizabeth often watched in delight as the young animals bounded and played in the fields, their mother's keeping a watchful eye. The young foals always were her favourite. Elizabeth could not bring herself to ride a horse, having been thrown and injured as a child, but she could appreciate the young horses' nimble, playful movements. She could imagine them, like human children, having rules to their games as they scampered about and hide from each other among their adult relations.
The journey took three days in all. It might have taken four if the weather were not favourable and the passengers in the carriage were not so eager to reach their destination, causing them to spend more time than usual in the carriage. Mr. Collins would often read out loud to the rest, since Jane and Elizabeth would frequently become nauseous if they read inside a carriage. They arrived somewhat late and had a limited amount of time to converse with the Vanstones and Miss Collins, but the month of their stay would be more than enough time for conversation.
Elizabeth awoke with a jolt, feeling disoriented in the unfamiliar room. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled as she realised she was in Derbyshire visiting the Vanstones and that she'd be able to see her dearest sister every day. She completed her morning ablutions before going into the main apartment to see if her sister was already awake and about.
Jane was, which delighted Elizabeth. Miss Collins, and Mrs. Vanstone were also at breakfast, but the gentlemen had already gone down to the shop so they might begin their day. Elizabeth should have assumed it would be so, for of course often the maids and servants would be off doing the purchasing shortly after dawn.
The apartment was well-appointed and comfortable. Elizabeth was reminded of the Phillips' apartments situated above her uncle's office, though the Vanstones' home seemed to be larger and more finely furnished. Upon descending to the store, Elizabeth found it was filled with both servants and locals, all of whom were curious to know more about Mr Collins' new wife and sister-in-law. As the store sold mostly wine and fine foods, there were very few of the gentry present, as they would not undertake such shopping themselves.
"Do you wish to go out and explore the town?" asked Mrs. Vanstone. "The gentlemen can do well enough without us. I am certain you are curious about the area."
"I would like that very much," Elizabeth replied. "I do enjoy the outdoors, and to be able to visit a new area of the country must, of course, increase my pleasure in walking."
Mrs. Vanstone made a comment about Elizabeth finding beaux while she was in the area, which made Elizabeth smile. It was not the idea of the young men that brought her enjoyment, but the similarity between Mrs. Vanstone and Mrs. Bennet.
After donning their spencers and taking up their reticules, the ladies set out in search of amusement. The book store, the milliner, and the shoemaker all profited from their outing, and the ladies were pleased to become acquainted with several friends of Mrs. Vanstone's. The people were very like those in Meryton, Elizabeth was pleased to find. They spoke a little differently, but their ways were much the same.
"Do not look now," Mrs. Vanstone whispered when they came out of the last store and were about to return towards home. "But Lord and Lady Melbridge, their two sons and their nephew are coming this way. Oh, there is their niece as well. Turn slowly with me, so it looks quite natural."
Elizabeth did as she was told. Normally she was not so enamoured with the nobility as many seemed to be, but she was curious about the local nobles that inspired such awe in Mrs. Vanstone. When she turned, she came face to face with Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy.
"Miss Bennet!" exclaimed Colonel Fitzwilliam with delight.
"Colonel Fitzwilliam. How do you do?" answered Elizabeth. "And I hope you are well also, Mr. Darcy."
Mr. Darcy shook off his shock at seeing her, greeted her and her sister, and agreed that he was well and asked after her health and that of her family. She responded positively to all his enquiries, for they were well and asked after those of their mutual acquaintance.
"Will you not introduce us?" asked Lady Melbridge. Introductions were performed, and Mrs. Vanstone was nearly shocked into silence by the honour of being introduced to such illustrious persons. Thankfully, she managed to make all the right greetings and gestures with only a little prompting from Jane and Elizabeth.
Mr. Darcy could not believe what he was seeing. He had only the day before come to visit the Melbridges. He had just returned from his spring visit to Kent. He had completed all that needed to be done in record speed, for Rosings was never a very pleasant place to be. This was all the more so since Cousin Anne had turned five-and-twenty recently and Lady Catherine had become much more persistent that Darcy should marry his cousin. Neither Anne nor Darcy had any intention of doing so, but Lady Catherine was not one to be gainsaid. Thus, after only a few days, he was back in the North to collect his sister. Now, here in Eastburn, he finds Miss Bennet.
Conversation must have continued on while Darcy tried to fathom how fate had once again put Miss Elizabeth Bennet in his way, for he soon found he was being asked a question.
"I beg your pardon, Cousin," said Mr. Darcy to Colonel Fitzwilliam. "I was not attending. Will you repeat yourself?"
"I was just saying how fine it is that Mr. and Mrs. Collins have family in the area, so we might become reacquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Collins and Miss Bennet, and might become acquainted with their relations."
"Indeed. It is very fine," Darcy answered.
Elizabeth noted that Miss Darcy did not speak much at all, except to murmur greetings when she had been introduced. She looked down at her hands and seemed dreadfully shy. Elizabeth tried to catch her eye and give her a soft smile. She was gratified when the young lady smiled in return.
Lord Barlow, Colonel Fitzwilliam's elder brother and heir to the Melbridge earldom, watched his cousin Darcy very closely throughout the conversation with the three ladies. All of Darcy's attention was fixated on Miss Bennet and he could spare very little notice for anything or anyone else. Lord Barlow smiled, for he had never known Darcy to take such a fancy to a woman. Of course, if he knew Darcy, he would be too proud to consider someone with such obvious connections to trade. It was a pity; Lord Barlow thought Miss Bennet's lively manner might perfectly suit Darcy.
"We must be going," said Lady Melbridge after some time. "It was delightful to meet you all. I am having a small ball soon. Would you be interested in attending?"
They accepted with great joy. Even if they had not wished to attend, who might refuse a countess's invitation?
Lady Melbridge's thoughts had gone in the same direction as her son's. At first she had been concerned, but upon learning the lady was a gentleman's daughter, she had relaxed a little. The close connection to trade was not entirely desirable, but Miss Bennet seemed very genteel. Lady Melbridge could not scoff too much at trade, not when her brother and cousins did the same, if a bit less openly. Mr. Darcy was already eight-and-twenty and had never shown so much as a hint of interest in any young lady. Lady Melbridge had begun to worry that Pemberley would eventually pass to Georgiana's heirs, not Darcy's. Worse still, he might succumb to Lady Catherine's pressure and marry Anne, who Lord knew was not fit to be any man's wife. Yes, Miss Bennet would do very well indeed for her nephew, if only she could help each of them to see it.
That evening, Lady Melbridge interrogated her youngest son about Miss Bennet and her family. The behaviour of the younger sisters and the mother did cause her some pause, but mayhap with some guidance they might be able to be reformed.
"I fear you get ahead of yourself, Mother," said Colonel Fitzwilliam. "Miss Bennet does not like Darcy. She dislikes him, in fact."
This surprised Lady Melbridge, for she thought her nephew a very fine and well-mannered young man. Combined with his good looks and wealth, how would anyone not like Darcy?
"It does not help when you insult the lady before even being introduced," her son replied when she asked.
Lady Melbridge was all astonishment, for she could not imagine Darcy insulting a lady. Colonel Fitzwilliam related all he had been told of the incident by Bingley and Darcy, of Darcy's general behaviour towards the people of Meryton, of the apology, and the truce that had been called between the pair.
"At least he eventually apologised," said Lady Melbridge. "I am shocked by his behaviour. To have behaved so terribly towards such kind people! What my sister-in-law would have thought! It does not bear to think on!"
"Do not work yourself into a state, Mother," said Colonel Fitzwilliam, "or confront Darcy about it. As I said, he apologised and has since realised his error."
"Well, I would hope so!"
"Mother, do not go about match-making. You have tried it with me and with Anderson, but it never succeeds."
"I was not going to match-make. I just wished to know more about the lady who Darcy seems to fancy."
"I do not believe you. You have the same gleam in your eye that you had last season whenever Miss Feron was nearby. You see how well that worked out."
"It is not my fault that Miss Feron tried to compromise Andy!" exclaimed Lady Melbridge.
"Of course not. But if Andy had not climbed out the window, you would now have a fortune hunter for a daughter."
Lady Melbridge clucked in remembered disapproval of the young lady she had once thought so genteel. "Still, you have met Miss Bennet and you do not think her that sort."
"I do not at all think her that sort. I think if there were a compromise, she would be climbing out the window herself to avoid it."
"There it is, then. It is not at all the same."
"What is not the same?" asked Mr. Darcy, who just entered the room.
Colonel Fitzwilliam only smirked, and Lady Melbridge said something about the food for the ball. Darcy looked incredulous about their explanation, but did not ask anything further.
"How grateful I am that you took me shopping while we were in London," said Elizabeth as she and a maid worked on making over her gown. It was the same one she had worn to the Netherfield ball, but with new ribbons and some embroidery on the hem and the sleeves, it would look new again.
"I do not understand why you must make over your gown," said Jane. "The only people who will have seen you in it before will be the Colonel and Mr. Darcy."
"It is not that. It is just that the style is different now and I think I should look very out of place at a countess's ball if I do not make it over. How I wish that I had brought with me the gown that I wore to your wedding!"
"You might wear one of my gowns," offered Jane.
"You are too good, Jane," said Elizabeth. "I am three inches shorter than you, though, so we would have to pin up the hem anyhow. I think it better to make over this gown instead."
"As you wish, dear sister," said Jane.
"It is not at all that you care what Mr. Darcy thinks of your appearance, is it?" asked Mr. Collins slyly. Until this moment, he had been pretending to read the paper and listening to the two sisters' conversation.
Elizabeth blushed and denied the charge.
"It is!" exclaimed Jane. "You think much better of him now, do you not? You like him!"
"I think better of him, yes," said Elizabeth. "I do not like him as anything more than a gentleman of my acquaintance."
"Your colour is rather high for someone who you view as a mere acquaintance," said Jane.
"Dear Mr. Collins! Have you taught my sister to tease?" exclaimed Elizabeth in an effort to change the subject. "What have you done with my sweet demur Jane?"
"Oh Lizzy! I am sorry if such teasing is distasteful to you," said Jane with a look of regret.
Elizabeth assured her sister that she was well.
"I see I can keep nothing from you, dear Jane. I must admit that I find Mr. Darcy handsome, but that is all. I do not like him, not in that way."
Jane was satisfied with Elizabeth's answer, and they went back to talking of the ball, who might be present, and what food might be served.