I don't know why, but I really did not expect I would receive this much joy from reading your reviews, no matter how brief. You make my day :)
Special thanks to those who keep commenting on every chapter and to guest Colleen S. who asked if Darcy was even breathing during the first chapters. That first made me laugh and now I can't keep from wondering myself...
In the next room, Miss Bingley stood, her welcoming smile frozen and strangely at odds with her horrified gaze. When Darcy noticed her, he paused. Then, the corner of his mouth twitched. He turned back to his friend. „In fact, I have come to admire and respect her immensely." Behind him, Miss Bingley fainted.
Meanwhile at Longbourn, Mrs Bennet had very nearly worked herself up to a nervous breakdown when they did not receive any calls from Netherfield for several days.
„Calm, mother." Lizzy said, patting her mother's arm smilingly. She found that, ever since the incident a few days ago, her patience with Mrs Bennet's dramatics seemed undepletable. „I am sure it was merely the rain that prevented any calls. You shall see, as soon as the roads are passable, Mr Bingley will want to see Jane."
„From your lips to God's ears! What if Mr. Darcy told his friend" - Mrs Bennet cried, caught herself and finished in a desperate, high pitched whisper: „about the incident! We sat on him, Lizzy!" Voice rising again, she finished. „Oh what must he think!"
Lizzy could not help herself. Although she could not dismiss her mother's worries, nothing had been able to dampen her good mood during the last few days. Thus, she grinned, amused at her mother's antics. Then she stood and said cheerfully „And you sat down with remarkable vigour and purpose, Mama! I'm terribly proud of you!"
Lizzy stood, put aside the book she had been reading earlier and smiled down at her mother. „Now, if it makes you feel better, I shall get us some tea and then we can strategize how to help Jane woo Mr Bingley. If he refuses to come soon, we can sneak into Netherfield together to gather intelligence. Or we can make Mr Darcy our ally…", Lizzy paused and stage whispered „… by blackmailing him with the incident!"
As intended, this distracted Mrs Bennet, who could not keep herself from rolling her eyes at her daughter's antics. „Tea would be lovely, thank you. And don't you dare call you sisters silly in the future or I will have to blackmail you, missy!"
Out in the hallway, Mr Bennet paused in his attempt to sneak past the parlour door unnoticed and slowly raised his eyebrows. Maybe he would need to tease his favourite daughter a little afterall, seeing how she had quite suddenly started to spend her afternoons giggling with her mother, brimming with unusually good cheer. There was bound to be a diverting tale there!
Shaking his head, Mr Bennet continued his sneaking, resolved to question Lizzy soon.
True to Lizzy's prediction, the next morning, Mr Bingley came calling. Jane was terribly relieved when he was announced. While she did not think much of her mother's pessimistic views, she could not fully shake the sense of unease they created. Also, Lizzy's sudden favour of their mother was puzzling and she was terribly curious.
While Jane had not gotten anything from Lizzy but mischievous smiles and an "I promised not to tell, Janey!", she had hoped to question Mr Bingley. Afterall, it had all started when he had last visited and had been unusually distracted at first. Back then, she had noticed him surreptitiously watching the open parlour door, casting worried glances - right until Lizzy and Mrs Bennet had sneaked past the open door on their tip toes with crumpled dresses and barely suppressed giggles.
Thus, today, when Mr Bingley finally came and was announced by Mrs Hill, Jane felt unusually giddy. When he entered, his gaze fixed on Jane first, as usual and she gave him her most brilliant smile. He returned it enthusiastically.
However, before making his way to Jane's side, Mr. Bingley turned to Mrs Bennet. "Mr Darcy sends his regards, Madame. He had to leave for business unexpectedly and regrets he could not take his leave in person. He asked me to thank you for the friendship you have shown him and to assure you of his appreciation for yourself and your family."
Mrs Bennet stared at Mr Bingley with surprise evident on her face. „Oh! Well! Thank you!" she stuttered.
Jane watched curiously as her mother drew in a breath, opened her mouth to start saying something a few times and yet, each time, she stopped without a sound leaving her. At Mrs Bennet's evident confusion, Mr Bingley gave her a smile and a nod and made a beeline to his customary place next to Jane where she sat beaming at him. He really was the kindest and most wonderful of men.
While Mrs Bennet turned to Lizzy to express her bewilderment and relief, Jane used the chance their distraction provided. After exchanging a warm greeting, she did not waste any time and asked Mr Bingley quietly „Whatever happened three days ago? Things have been very unusual these last few days and we certainly did not expect such a cordial message from Mr Darcy!"
Mr Bingley groaned in response. "I had hoped you could tell me more!" he exclaimed. Then, lowering his voice to match Jane's quiet tone, he continued. „Darcy has been very close-mouthed, although it is clear something happened to change his view of your mother!" He stopped abruptly, coloured and fumbled.
"Forgive me, I did not mean to… well. I like Mrs Bennet a great deal! She is so very warm and welcoming to everybody no matter whom. Even my sisters, who most certainly do not return her warm manner. Although now that I think about it, she always was a little cooler to Darcy. Not that he did not deserve it…" Mr. Bingley slapped his hands on his knees. „Oh bother! This is utterly confusing! I really had been hoping you would know."
During his ramble, Jane had started to smile at him fondly. "Would you care for a stroll, Mr. Bingley? I can clear up at least that last bit and we could compare what we know about recent events." She rose gracefully and extended her hand to him, a happy fluttering in her stomach.
Mr Bingley in turn beamed at Jane, rose from the settee they had been sitting on, and took her hand, tucking it firmly into the crook of his arm. She certainly hoped he would never let go.