On the walk back, Jane gained quiet enough with Elizabeth to relate the product of her walk with Bingley. He has proposed, she had accepted and Bingley meant to apply for her father's permission upon their return to the house.
Elizabeth warmly congratulated her sister, feeling sorry for the scene in town that should mar such a joyful occasion. But Jane seemed oblivious to any but the happiness she felt and that her announcement would occasion.
Elizabeth looked to where Bingley was walking with Darcy, just as Darcy looked back at them. There was such painful warmth in his eyes that mercy overwhelmed her, and she quickened her pace to walk alongside him. Jane took Bingley's arm and the two were soon immersed in each other's company. By fits and starts, Darcy offered her arm and, in the same way, Elizabeth accepted it.
Darcy furiously tried to strangle the hope that was arising in him, mercilessly telling himself that her present solicitude was due only to Jane and Bingley's happy news and that it had nothing to do with him. But the look she had given him as she had taken his arm put all his nay-saying to naught.
It was disturbing to him to find himself so wholly in her power. His wife's smallest look or gesture could send him into transports of joy or the blackest gloom. His regard for her that had prompted his proposal seemed nothing to the tremendous affection he now felt. He wondered how much she perceived of this.
Lizzie watched Jane and her fiance with great happiness and a little envy for the uncomplicated regard of their connection. She looked up at Darcy and, seeing a hint of a smile on his face, asked for his reaction to her sister's news.
"I have nothing but the purest joy for your sister," he said. Then, looking down at her, "You must know that."
"I do now," she said archly. "But I would not dare assume anything about your character without asking of it to you. You have complexities that my previous sketches never dreamed."
She was satisfied to see him blush.
Mr. Bennet was applied to and duly gave his blessings to Jane and Bingley. Mrs. Bennet received the news with all the exclamations and ill-considered joy that the elder sisters could have feared.
"Oh Lizzie, it's too bad you and Mr. Darcy are already married or you and Jane could have a double ceremony. But perhaps it is just as well. A bride should always be the most beautiful creature in the room, and Jane does so overshadow you."
Jane and Elizabeth blushed at their mother's vulgarity when it was before one or other of the gentlemen, and attempted to moderate her without success. The Netherfield gentlemen were invited for dinner, and then back for breakfast, and Elizabeth found herself pleased that Darcy accepted. She found his silent complicity during her mother's raptures welcome, the occasional meeting of their eyes a source of amusement and rapport.
After breakfast Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet again retired to business, while Bingley went back to Netherfield. Elizabeth and Jane went into the garden to pick herbs and to discuss Jane's wedding. Lydia was, uncharacteristically, by herself, pacing at the edge of the shrubbery. But Lizzie put her out of mind and devoted herself to her older sister. Jane said that Bingley was so impatient to make up for the delay of last year that the wedding would be in but a month. He had gone to the church to deliver the banns that very day.
Jane was determined that the wedding should be simple and reflect well on the family's taste. Her mother was determined that it should be otherwise, and burdened her daughter with grand plans that suited neither Jane's nor Bingley's tastes. Elizabeth was determined to help her sister have a wedding in accord with her own good taste.
To make things more difficult, they had heard that Miss Bingley and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, as well as Miss Darcy, would be arriving at Netherfield soon. Elizabeth dreaded the inevitable interview with those proud ladies, as well as the unknown but presumably haughty Miss Darcy.
Darcy quitted the house, and saw his wife and her sister consulting among the flowers. Her happy smile pierced him deeply, and he moved to avoid disturbing the chatting pair, coming by chance across their youngest sister. Lydia, startled, fled toward the house. Disturbed to have upset the girl, Darcy turned to go, but his eye was caught by a scrap of paper. Scrawled on it in an eerily familiar hand was one word, "Tonight."