Hello again! Fourth chapter is here :)
Many thanks to all the wonderful readers & reviewers, I'm very lucky and grateful for your support and suggestions!
Thanks to the anonymous reviewers: Lazy lurker (thank you! that's extremely kind and I'm flattered you think so:) I as well feel that the premise encourages an exploration of new sides to the story:) ), Queenofthetower (thank you! I'm glad you like my style, I try to balance dialogue and description/introspection. I'm also happy you want to see what happens next:) ), Trini (yes, Miss Bingley is very rude, isn't she? as for Lizzy, well she's not falling in love yet, but she's beginning to "tolerate him" :) thank you for the support!), Daniella (thanks, I'm glad you like the switcheroo :) and your conjecture isn't far from the truth), Guest1 (thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying the story, you did a very nice job rounding up all the moments :) Anne will crop up from time to time until we get to her, so yes, comparisons will inevitably be made), Guest2 (thanks, glad you think so:) ), SissinghurstI (thank you so much! I'm very happy the writing is witty, I try my best :) ).
Please enjoy and share your thoughts!
- 4 -
Mr. Bingley's sisters were due to visit again in three days' time, but before the Bennets could be graced with their presence once more, Mr. Bennet had some news to share with his family.
"I suppose I cannot withhold it from you any longer that about two fortnights ago I received a letter from my cousin, Mr. Collins. He intends to call upon us very soon."
The reaction he received from his wife was not a very agreeable one. Mrs. Bennet expressed indignation at the idea that the man to whom Longbourn estate was entailed should come to visit.
"He is the one who will throw us all out after your father's death. And now he comes to rejoice in our misfortune!" she cried. "Oh, if only we'd had a son."
The girls were more curious than appalled. They had never seen Mr. Collins before and only had conjectures of his looks and character to go on.
"He is a dreadful, dreadful man, girls," their mother assured them. "You have no business knowing him."
But this tune did not last long after Mr. Bennet presently read his letter to them.
In it, Mr. Collins made a clear reference to matrimony, namely that he was in search of a wife that would befit the station of a clergyman.
"He means to come here and choose from his beloved cousins, who are at least contingent upon his station," Mr. Bennet jested.
"Oh, Mr. Bennet! What a time to be making jokes!" Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, now fully in raptures at the prospect. "Did you hear that, girls? All hope is not lost. One of you could be mistress of this house very soon! We shan't have to be destitute after all!"
The household was now teeming with potential husbands; one upstairs, sick in bed, and another, on his way.
"You are safe from the chore of appearing amiable to Mr. Collins, Jane," Elizabeth teased.
"And why do you say that, Lizzy? I will certainly be agreeable to my cousin."
But Elizabeth only smiled wryly. Mr. Bingley had, as of late, expressed his desire that Jane should attend to him more than Mrs. Hill, and though Mrs. Bennett was always present, the pair seemed to be getting along famously. Jane did not give her many details about their daily meetings, which Elizabeth took as a good sign, for any girl who is in love likes to keep these moments to herself.
She was happy for her sister, but felt a slight twinge whenever she remembered Caroline Bingley's words. Mr. Bingley was to be married to Mr. Darcy's sister. Could poor Jane Bennet, a girl with very little fortune and consequence, prevent this match?
If she had been more romantic, she would have been inclined to say yes. But she was of a sceptical nature, and therefore, was doubtful that Mr. Bingley could break from his friend and sisters' influence. Would he really choose his heart over family and money? Would anyone?
With such thoughts troubling her, Elizabeth was not very keen on meeting any cousins. There was some advantage to extended male company, however. Perhaps Mr. Collins would be more inclined to take Lydia and Kitty into town.
The Bingleys' second visit was a much more elaborate event than their first. The Bennets now had to receive the formidable Mr. Dewing, a famous physician from London who was invariably displeased at being brought all the way to Hertfordshire. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst sang his praises and claimed they trusted no one else. They began to tell a story of how he had saved two infants from death in one night, but the man cut them short and remarked that the rooms were too airy and "no wonder Bingley caught a cold here". He replied impatiently to Mrs. Bennet's polite questions and barely greeted Mr. Bennet. He refused to sit down and have a cup of tea and demanded to be led up to Mr. Bingley's room without delay.
"Shall we join you, Sir?" Mrs. Bennet asked.
"That will be quite unnecessary, Madam," he retorted.
"Oh, no, Mr. Dewing works along and must not be disturbed," Miss Bingley confirmed sagaciously.
Under such circumstances, the otherwise spacious parlour proved very small when crowded with the Bennets, Miss Bingley, Mrs. Hurst and Mr. Darcy himself.
Elizabeth found it very strange that he had chosen to come again. The two ladies already had a male companion in the form of Mr. Dewing. Why had Mr. Darcy bothered, she wondered?
The conversation started off on the wrong foot when Mrs. Bennet expressed the hope that Mr. Dewing would not ask for Mr. Bingley to be removed.
"I am sure he will find Mr. Bingley has been taken care of very well and lacks no comfort with us. Jane, in particular, has been a very doting nurse. And Mr. Bingley would agree –"
"Do not indispose yourself, Mrs. Bennet, you have done all you can with the means at your disposal," Miss Bingley interrupted crossly. "And your eldest daughter is a very sweet girl for going to such trouble."
"Yes, she has the sweetest temper of any young lady in the neighbourhood," Mrs. Bennet agreed.
Jane blushed self-consciously.
"A simple sweetness is always desirable in a young lady," Miss Bingley said, eyeing her sister with mischief.
"Indeed, it is a virtue to be expected in a young woman in the country," Mrs. Hurst joined in, smiling benevolently.
Elizabeth was vexed to hear them talk so arrogantly of her sister and could not help commenting, "Then, I suppose young women in town are found to be less agreeable."
"That is a very strange opinion, Miss Bennet," Mrs. Hurst replied, barely concealing her surprise.
"I am only rendering your meaning better, for if you say that young women in the country are expected to be sweet then I must infer young women in town are not."
"Goodness, Lizzy, remember whom you are speaking to and do not run on in the wild manner you are suffered to do with me," Mrs. Bennet chided her promptly.
"Ah, we certainly do not mind a little argument, do we, Louisa?" Miss Bingley spoke, nudging her sister playfully.
"No, of course not, for we are studiers of character and the female character, especially, is of great interest to us."
"Why, just the other day, we heard a very interesting account about a young country woman who was courted by an officer some time ago. I will spare you the sordid details, but apparently, they nearly eloped! It was a lucky thing the whole affair was cut loose by the man himself. So perhaps, Miss Bennet is right. The country should not make us expect too much of our sex."
Elizabeth had gone very white after hearing Miss Bingley's speech. She tried her best to resume her previous mien, but a frown of concern inevitably crowned her forehead.
"Or too little, given the circumstances," Mr. Darcy suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's attention to himself. "But such stories are not meant for gentle ears."
"I quite agree with you, Mr. Darcy," Mrs. Bennet decreed, feeling rather put off that the subject of her eldest daughter had been brushed aside. "My Jane can stand up to any examination of character."
Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst exchanged amused looks.
"Of course, we have no doubts concerning your eldest," Miss Bingley conceded, but her tone implied that only Jane would benefit this exception.
Elizabeth turned to Mr. Darcy as a last resort, hoping to draw attention away from Jane and herself.
"Mr. Darcy, are you a studier of character as well?"
Darcy was taken aback to be addressed directly by Elizabeth Bennet. Her tone was sharp and she seemed quite irritated with his company. He supposed he could not blame her. Caroline and Louisa had been rather impertinent, but their judgements were not altogether incorrect. Any woman, country girl or not, had a duty to keep her honour intact. If Elizabeth Bennet was put out, it must mean she felt slandered by association. Darcy blamed this on her pride but conceded that perhaps she was too sensitive.
"I believe the title is improper, but I find observation a very useful exercise."
Too useful, perhaps, he thought to himself. I would have avoided this excursion otherwise.
He had had to choose between spending an afternoon alone at Netherfield, and sitting again in a modest parlour under the ever-watchful gaze of Elizabeth Bennet. His curiosity and boredom had triumphed over his reticence.
"You must have great opportunity for that, since you move in less confined societies," she replied.
Darcy realized she had appointed him to change the conversation and he found himself hard-pressed to answer, but he was saved when Mrs. Bennet chimed in.
"Less confined society? Why, Lizzy, I don't believe our neighbourhood is more confined than any other. Surely, our society is a vast deal pleasanter. And we dine with at least four and twenty families, so there is much to see and hear."
Mrs. Bennet went on to name the families they were acquainted with and Darcy feared she would take it upon herself to describe all four and twenty, but Mrs. Hurst quickly cut off her enumeration when she next said, "It is a pity then, that with so many families, there aren't many eligible young men."
"Perhaps ours aren't so young, but one can find a very good match here too!" Mrs. Bennet interposed, clearly bent on having the last word.
"With five daughters out in society, the task of finding such a match must wear upon you," Caroline commented.
"Not at all, for my girls are uncommonly charming and genteel. Even my youngest can easily be distinguished at a gathering," Mrs. Bennet stated proudly and Darcy saw how the young girls beamed with pleasure.
"Oh yes, one can't help but notice them," Louisa remarked slyly.
"Did I tell you that Jane, as early as fifteen, was courted by an esteemed gentleman from Meryton?"
"Yes, Mamma, I believe you have," Elizabeth put in quickly.
"Oh, Lizzy, do be quiet. He even wrote her some poetry, which I think is very fine for a young man."
Darcy was amused to hear the story once more. The mother was so determined to sing praise to her daughters that it rendered quite the opposite effect. No wonder the eldest was still unmarried, despite all her charms.
"That put paid to it, I'm afraid," Elizabeth spoke quickly, "for though poetry is the food of love, it cannot replace it altogether."
Darcy tilted his head. "I always believed poetry starved love."
"How so, Sir?"
"A fine, stout love may benefit from verses. But excessive embellishment will drive away any thin sort of inclination."
Miss Bennet honoured him with a smile, but Darcy could not tell whether it was genuine or ironic.
Elizabeth was more inclined to tolerate than despise Mr. Darcy. She preferred his stoic silence to the sisters' patronizing comments. His manners were cold, but his speech was shrewd, betraying some wit behind his words. She could not forget how easily swayed he had been at the assembly, but she found herself contemplating how much she would have liked him if he had not been so prejudiced. Perhaps it was better she did not like him, for if she did, she would be in danger of thinking improper thoughts about a married man.
Mr. Dewing finally emerged from Mr. Bingley's room and announced that the patient would be much improved in less than a week. Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley seemed relieved to hear that their brother would soon leave the house, but Mrs. Bennet could not hide her disappointment.
"Surely, he must stay another two weeks, for the weather is still so ill!"
"I assure you, Mrs. Bennet, when our brother is ready we shall fetch the warmest carriage for him," Miss Bingley decreed in a patronizing fashion.
Elizabeth did not think they would dare visit again, not until Mr. Bingley had to leave Longbourn, at least. She wondered how someone as sweet-natured as Bingley could have for sisters such venomous and spiteful creatures.
She gave him some credit in choosing his friends; though Mr. Darcy was by no degrees a very desirable companion, Mr. Bingley could have done far worse.
When the house was once again empty of unwanted visitors, Elizabeth could finally find refuge in her room with Jane. The topic that was on both their minds emerged quickly.
"I do not think Caroline Bingley meant anything by it, Lizzy."
"No, I rather think she did, but she might not know the account refers to me in particular. Still, she knew her words would be perceived as a slight."
"I do not believe Miss Bingley suspects you, Lizzy. You are in no danger of being discovered. If nothing was made of it five years ago, why would it now?"
"Because five years ago there were no Caroline Bingleys or Louisa Hursts traipsing about! Oh, I sound like Mother, don't I? Forgive me, Jane, their visit has made me irritable."
"You needn't apologize, Lizzy. I know how painful it is for you to hear such allusions and you handled it quite marvellously, I think."
"Marvellously?" Lizzy scoffed, smiling. "I'm sure they must think I'm as unruly as a child."
"Then they would be right," Jane teased.
Elizabeth soon forgot her distress. It was hard not to smile when you were in Jane's company. Soon, George Wickham and the nefarious account were only a distant memory, never too far away from her mind, but not nearly as close to her heart.