Oof. So it's been a minute, hasn't it?
Apologies (again) for the wait... between health issues of varying severity and financial troubles, it can be difficult for me to muster up the energy to write, especially in a genre I'm unfamiliar with (if you've glanced at my profile, you may have noticed that I typically write fantasy!). I appreciate everyone's patience.
Don't worry though, I hate leaving things unfinished, so I intend to see this through to the end.
Wednesday, 27th November, 1811
Longbourn, evening
Elizabeth looked up as her bedroom door squeaked, and a smile lit her face as her eldest sister slipped into the room dressed in her nightgown. Jane shut the door quietly, then met her eyes, and neither girl could help but collapse into fits of elated laughter.
"Oh Lizzy," Jane gasped as she hurried over to join her sister on the bed. "I have never been so happy in my life. I think I might die."
"You cannot!" Elizabeth scolded her. "Think of poor Mr. Bingley!" Jane giggled, pressing her hands to her heated cheeks.
"I still cannot believe it," she said. "I cannot… oh Lizzy, he loves me!"
"He would be hard-pressed not to," Elizabeth said, poking her sister gently. "Anyone would. Other than his snobbish sisters, I suppose."
"Oh, Lizzy," Jane sighed. "Caroline and Louisa are quite fond of me." Elizabeth just shook her head.
The day had been a flurry of activity ever since Mr. Bingley had come to call. He had assured Jane of his deepest affections and asked her to marry him, and she had gladly accepted. Elizabeth could not be happier for her.
While Bingley went to ask Mr. Bennet for his permission, Mr. Collins had asked Elizabeth for her hand, and she had firmly refused him. With Jane marrying well, Elizabeth was not desperate enough to even consider signing away her life to her dreary, simpering cousin. Mrs. Bennet had admonished her, of course, for refusing him, but Elizabeth was certain that her scolding would have been far worse if her mother were not still elated over Jane's recent proposal.
"I am so happy for you, Jane." Elizabeth took both of her sister's hands in hers. "Mr. Bingley is an excellent man."
"He is," Jane agreed. "And I am so pleased to make Mamma happy as well. Once Charles has returned from London, I am sure we will be married by Christmas."
"Undoubtedly," Elizabeth said. "With the way that he looks at you, I would be surprised if you were not married within the week!"
Mr. Bingley, as he told the Bennets before he departed, had business in London that could not wait, and so he was traveling there directly from Longbourn. He had promised to be back, however, and to make the necessary arrangements for their wedding as soon as he was finished.
"Perhaps we will," Jane said. "Oh Lizzy, I am so excited. I do not know how I'm going to sleep tonight!"
"Me neither," Elizabeth admitted. "We must, though, for Mamma will want to take you to town as soon as possible to be fitted for a dress."
"Heavens, you're right."
The two of them continued to discuss Jane's upcoming wedding late into the night, until they were both too weary to continue. Laying in her bed in the quiet, Elizabeth went over the events of the day in her mind again and again. Not only was she thrilled on her older sister's behalf, but with Jane married, to a gentleman of substantial income at that, Elizabeth and her sisters would no longer fear their father's death that would previously have forced them into poverty. Truly this would be a time of joy and celebration for them all.
Friday, 29th November, 1811
Longbourn, morning
"Charlotte!" Elizabeth cried, coming down the steps of Longbourn Hall to throw her arms around her friend. Charlotte Lucas returned the embrace, a wide smile on her face.
"It is lovely to see you, Lizzy," she said as she drew back to hold Elizabeth at arm's length. "I have been told that Jane has been engaged, to Mr. Bingley of Netherfield? I came to offer my congratulations."
"Indeed she has!" Elizabeth said merrily. "Come, Jane is in the sitting room with Mamma." She linked her arm with Charlotte's, and together the two of them climbed the stairs to enter Elizabeth's home.
"Mr. Bingley's proposal is not the only one to have occurred two days ago," Elizabeth told her dear friend as they made their way towards the sitting room. "For my cousin, Mr. Collins, offered for my hand as well!" Charlotte turned wide eyes onto her.
"Did you accept?"
"Heavens, no," Elizabeth exclaimed. "I find him utterly dreary, and with Jane well-married I am free to marry, or not, however I wish."
Charlotte smiled, and patted her on the arm. "Indeed you are, Lizzy. Indeed you are."
Longbourn had been a dreadfully busy place since Jane's engagement two days prior. Mrs. Bennet had bundled her eldest daughter off to Meryton the day before in order for her measurements to be taken for a wedding gown, and had spent much of her time since coordinating with the servants for the upcoming wedding preparations. There was not yet a date set for the wedding, and, though Elizabeth was sure that her mother had a mind to get the engagement period over and done with as quickly as possible, she also knew that Mrs. Bennet would not be content with a wedding breakfast that was anything less than perfect.
The two young women entered the sitting room, and Jane and Mrs. Bennet rose to their feet.
"Charlotte!" Jane greeted her with a smile. "How delightful to see you."
"You as well, Jane." Charlotte released Elizabeth's arm, coming forward to give Jane a kiss on the cheek. "I have heard that you and Mr. Bingley have become engaged, and I have come to offer my warmest congratulations."
"You are too kind, Charlotte, thank you."
Jane sat down again, and Charlotte beside her, the two of them discussing the fashion magazine that now rested on Jane's lap. As Elizabeth had expected, Mrs. Bennet had insisted that Jane begin to select a wedding dress at once, and thus Jane had spent the morning poring over the latest fashions.
Elizabeth sat with them, and the three of them conversed for several minutes before their butler, Mr. Chapman entered the room.
"Mr. George Wickham," he announced, then stepped out of the doorway to admit the red-coated officer.
"Mr. Wickham!" Elizabeth rose to her feet in delight. "What a pleasant surprise!"
"Miss Elizabeth." George Wickham offered her a cordial bow, a charming smile upon his handsome face. "I came to offer my deepest apologies for my absence from the ball at Netherfield. And-" He looked to Jane, who was smiling warmly from where she stood with Charlotte. "To offer my congratulations to Miss Bennet on her engagement."
"Thank you, Mr. Wickham," Jane returned.
"Miss Elizabeth." Mr. Wickham now turned back to her. "The weather is very pleasant this morning. Would you care to join me for a walk around the grounds?" He extended a hand in her direction, and Elizabeth's smile widened.
"I would be delighted."
True to Wickham's word, the weather was quite mild for late November, the sky clear and blue with only the slightest breath of wind. It was still cold, so Elizabeth fetched her pelisse, hat, and gloves before joining Wickham out on the front walk. The path to the sparse wilderness that grew around Longbourn was strewn with fallen leaves, the empty branches from whence they came shivering gently in the morning breeze. Elizabeth held on to Wickham's arm as they walked, grateful for the opportunity to get out of the house and stretch her legs.
"I am sure that Miss Bennet's engagement is a great boon to you all, Miss Elizabeth," Wickham told her, "given your financial situation."
Elizabeth nodded. "It is, of course. But even beyond that, I am very happy for my sister. Jane is very dear to me, and Mr. Bingley is an excellent man, I am certain that they will suit quite well."
"Indeed, from what I have seen and heard of the man he seems to be quite the amiable fellow," Wickham agreed. "I have no sisters of my own, but I assure you that I understand the desire to see the ones you love happy and safe."
"I am sure that you do."
The two of them rounded a bend, coming into view of the sitting room windows, where Jane and Charlotte still sat with Mrs. Bennet. "Is your cousin, Mr. Collins, still visiting?" Mr. Wickham asked.
"Indeed he is." Elizabeth had to restrain herself from pulling a face at the mention of the man. "Though I am quite hopeful that he will return to his home in Kent soon enough."
"Is that so?" Wickham looked down at her, raising a brow. "And will you, Miss Elizabeth, be going with him?"
Elizabeth's face flushed pink at that. "Certainly not!" she sputtered. "I cannot imagine how you would come to such a conclusion."
"My mistake, Miss Elizabeth," Wickham backtracked hastily. "I merely speak of a rumor I had heard from my fellow officers… but perhaps it was only talk." Elizabeth averted her gaze, silently cursing her younger sisters and their loose tongues.
"It is true that Mr. Collins proposed to me, not two days ago," she finally spoke. "But I assure you, I have never had any intention of accepting. I am quite confident that Mr. Collins and I would not make a suitable match."
"I see." Wickham seemed to relax at her words, giving her a gentle smile. "I cannot say how pleased I am to have been wrong." Pink crept over Elizabeth's cheeks again, this time for a different reason.
Friday, 29th November, 1811
Clarendon Hotel, London, evening
Charles Bingley was alerted to the arrival of guests by a knock on his sitting room door.
He rose from his seat by the fire, taking his time as he ambled his way over to the door. He had not been expecting company, but he had a hunch as to who could be coming to call.
His guest was in the midst of a second, insistent knock when Bingley pulled the door open. "Good evening, Caroline!"
"Charles." Caroline all but pushed him out of her way, flouncing into his private parlor with Louisa in her wake. Behind them came Bingley's friend Mr. Darcy, who shot his friend a sympathetic look as he passed by.
Charles had arrived in London two days prior, having ridden straight there from Longbourn following his proposal to Miss Bennet. He had visited his church in order to set in motion the crying of the banns, then seen to his clerical business that he had originally come for. Given that he had neglected to inform his sisters and Darcy of his departure, he had sent them a note the night that he had first arrived, telling them of his abrupt retreat but little else.
As he had suspected, Caroline and Louisa had wasted little time in coming after him. His sisters, who had been whining for weeks about the poor company in Hertfordshire, had doubtless thought this a marvelous excuse to leave Netherfield for Town. Darcy's presence came as slightly more of a surprise- Bingley would have thought that he would simply stay at Netherfield Hall, given that he had assured them all that he would be back in only a few days time.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of such an unexpected visit?" Bingley asked, a trifle sarcasically, turning to face his guests.
"Unexpected? Really, Charles." Caroline had already made herself comfortable on a sofa by the hearth, with Louisa by her side. "You slipped away without warning to Town, after I had told you directly how unappealing I found the countryside, and you did not expect us to follow?"
"I suppose that is sound enough of a reason," Bingley agreed, returning to his chair and reaching for the glass of brandy that he had been enjoying before he was interrupted. "As I recall, you were quite eager to begin your shopping for the winter holidays."
"While that is true, I am afraid we have more pressing matters to speak of." Caroline sat up straight, squaring his shoulders and meeting her brother's eye. "That of Miss Jane Bennet."
A twinge of concern went through his chest, and Bingley straightened his posture. "Do elaborate."
"Your sisters and I," Darcy spoke for the first time, making his way over to stand beside the sofa. "are concerned for both your home and your heart. You seem to have quite a fondness for Miss Bennet, and I cannot fault you for that, as she is fair of face and form and is a fine example of a young gentlewoman. However, I have been in observation of her mannerisms, and it appears to me as though she does not feel the same for you as you do for her."
"Beyond that, Charles," Caroline cut in. "Miss Bennet is a sweet girl, but her uncle is a tradesman here in London. You are a well-respected, well educated, congenial gentleman, and I am sure that you can do much better than the daughter of a country gentleman."
Bingley stroked his chin, a smirk playing at his lips as he listened to them speak. "Is that so?"
"Indeed it is." Caroline sat forward, her face eager. "I am sure that if you were to remain here, in London, rather than returning to that dreary town and their gossip, you would be able to find a girl equal to Miss Bennet's charm and beauty with far better connections."
Bingley took a sip from his glass, then lowered it back down to the table beside his chair. "I am afraid it is far too late for that," he said. "For Miss Bennet and I are engaged to be married. I proposed to her the day I left for London, and she accepted."
"What?" Caroline shot to her feet, and Louisa's mouth hung open in a manner most unbecoming. "Charles, you cannot be serious!" Darcy's brow merely knit in confusion.
"I am quite serious," Bingley assured her. "Miss Bennet and I are engaged, and I intend for us to be married before the new year."
"But Charles!" Louisa protested, rising to stand beside her sister. "What on earth could have possessed you to do such a thing? To marry so far below your station?"
"On the contrary." Bingley stood to stare down his sisters. "I am a gentleman, and Miss Bennet is a gentleman's daughter. There is nothing that should stand in the way of our engagement. Indeed, given that our fortune comes from trade, it could be argued that she is higher than I am societally."
"Yes, but her uncle is in trade!" Caroline stressed. "You could be wed to a woman of high society, even minor nobility-!"
"I proposed to Miss Bennet because I love her," Bingley interrupted her loudly. "And I am quite certain that she loves me as well. Furthermore, I have already arranged for the crying of the banns here in London, and Mr. Bennet will have them called in Meryton. It is far too late for me to break off our engagement if I wished to, which I do not."
"It is not too late," Caroline protested. "Perhaps if you were to offer the Bennet's a sum of money, they would be willing to annul the engagement without an uproar. A girl was killed not three days ago, surely the people of Hertfordshire have better things to discuss than a broken engagement with a small-town hussy-"
"That is quite enough!" Bingley cut her off sharply. "I am in love with Miss Jane Bennet, and no amount of caviling on your part will change my mind."
"But-"
"Furthermore!" Bingley continued before she could speak. "You may stay in London with your sister, for you are no longer welcome at Netherfield Hall until you apologize for your brazen insults against my fiancée." He looked to Louisa, his gaze challenging. "Is that clear?"
"Charles!" Caroline pleaded. "Do see reason. Do you have any idea what effect this will have on me?"
"No, and frankly I do not care." Bingley turned and walked to the door, gripping the handle and pulling it open. "I do not wish to see either of you any more tonight. Good night." Caroline's mouth opened and shut several times before it finally snapped shut, and she was silent as she stalked across the room for the door with Louisa in her wake.
Darcy ambled over to the doorway as Bingley shut the door behind them, his hands meeting behind his back as he caught his friend's gaze.
"You are truly engaged to Miss Bennet?" he asked.
Bingley raised a brow. " I am. Do you take issue with my choice of a bride?"
"No." Darcy shook his head. "Miss Bennet is a fine young lady, and I hope you will be very happy together. Moreover, as you said, you have offered and been accepted, so there is nothing I can and should say."
He offered Bingley a handshake, which was accepted. "Congratulations, my friend."
"Thank you." Bingley gave him a warm smile. "You are, of course, welcome at Netherfield any time you wish."
"I am sure I will take you up on that." Darcy released his hand, then opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. "Good night, Bingley."
"Good night, Darcy."