Elizabeth Bennet

Longbourn, Hertfordshire

The first order of Elizabeth's business upon returning to Longbourn and after partaking of a quick, stolen nuncheon from the kitchen made up of a bread roll and a thin wedge of cheese, was to send a note to Miss Bingley at Netherfield Park. While it would not have been appropriate for her to direct any correspondence towards Mr. Bingley, she hoped to that Mr. Bingley might seek to invite her and Jane to Netherfield… at least she might pique his interest. She needed to speak to him.

Her conversation with Mr. Wickham had cemented that fact. Jane would not be forced to accept an offer from Mr. Collins if Elizabeth had anything to say in the matter. Mr. Wickham's words, if they had any truth to them which Lizzy had no reason to doubt them, meant that Mr. Bingley was unaware of the depths of Jane's affections.

Elizabeth would stop at nothing to make sure that her sister's happiness was assured, and that meant skirting the edges of propriety. She could, if necessary, come up with some reason necessitating a visit to Netherfield Park, could she not? Was she not, as her father had frequently assessed, the most clever of her sisters? She would put her head to the problem of Jane's blossoming relationship to Mr. Bingley.

Already, she thought her initial plan was clever enough - she had invited Miss Bingley to attend Longbourn, an invitation she knew that Miss Bingley would offhand decline, but would perhaps force a return invitation to some even at Netherfield Park. While Miss Bingley was not a charitable or kind person, even she would prefer the appearance of a solicitous personality over miserly social behavior.

By late afternoon, Elizabeth found that her assessment of Miss Bingley was not incorrect - a courier arrived with a note for her from Miss Bingley, inviting her to dine the very next day. With a smile at her own cleverness, Elizabeth went to sleep dreaming of speaking to Mr. Bingley in a confidence of sorts, and urging him to pursue courting, and an offer, with Jane.

Wearing her third-best dress the next day, she set off in the back of the wagon that was making it's way from Meryton to Netherfield, stopping along the way with a few deliveries from the town. She was quite grateful to not have to walk, as she wanted to be at her best presentation when she arrived at Netherfield.

She waited with no small anxiety in the entrance of the grand mansion as she was announced, and then entered. To her surprise, and great (secret) delight, Miss Bingley was not there to receive her, and instead Mr. Bingley rose to bow to her, a broad smile on his sunny face.

"Miss Elizabeth, it is an absolute pleasure," he said as he walked towards her. She curtseyed and then looked about the room. He answered her unspoken question without another moment to leave her to wonder. "Miss Bingley is indisposed at the moment, for which I apologize… I would have sent a courier to delay your trip, but I had assumed you were already on your way here when she fell ill. But I promise, I will attempt to host you with the same joviality and cleverness she would have."

"Oh well, as long as you shall attempt," Elizabeth answered with a smile. Truly, Mr. Bingley was a delight to converse with, and she greatly hoped for a future in which she could claim him as her brother. Never would an evening's gathering be a bore with Mr. Bingley to charm and entertain. With Jane at his side, he would be even more cheerful, which she thought to be almost impossible, but surely both of their good natures would simply amplify one another, would they not?

"It will be the greatest of attempts, I assure you," Mr. Bingley replied with a smile. "The rest of our party is gathered in the drawing room, if you would be interested in joining them for perhaps a game of Quadrille? Perhaps Patience?" He offered her his arm and she took it with a breath of relief.

"In truth, I am pleased that I had a moment to speak with you in a somewhat private manner," she said, a flush coming over her cheeks as he gave her an odd, cautious look. "Oh no, please do not think me so forward, Mr. Bingley, it was just in the matter of my sister…"

"Miss Bennet, she is well, is she not?" Mr. Bingley asked, looking somewhat relieved as the tone of Elizabeth's dialogue seemed to divert from the path of her confessing against all propriety, some measure of affection for him.

"Oh yes, quite well, but perhaps, she could be even better if…" Elizabeth trailed off as Mr. Bingley slowly, quite slowly, walked her towards the drawing room. "I had thought, perhaps, you had been busy, too busy, to pay a call to us. I am aware you have house guests for your party to attend to so perhaps…" Mr. Bingley was smiling at her, a sweet, unassuming sort of expression that suited his features quite well. If he had not belonged in her mind so thoroughly to her sister, she might have been tempted to swoon.

"I suppose you are much correct, and that I have been remiss in the attentions I should have been paying to your family," he said, and his tone was teasing as well as gentle.

"Oh no, that is not quite what I had meant," Elizabeth stammered the words out and Mr. Bingley gave a low sort of chuckle.

"What is it that you meant then," he asked as they paused outside of the drawing room door. She was grateful he did not decide to head in right away, but seemed to realize the nature of their conversation was too private for other ears to overhear.

"It is just that, I rather think my sister is quite fond of you, and she has missed your company acutely, if I may be so bold to say so," Elizabeth said, feeling her cheeks flushed. Mr. Bingley blinked once, slowly, and then cleared his throat.

"Miss Bennet, you say, that is to say… I mean to say…" he stumbled over his words, color coming into his face as well, and Elizabeth could scarcely contain her excitement to see him in such a state. It was quite obvious to her that this revelation was a startling, but also not unwelcome.

"Yes, she is," Elizabeth answered, "and I might not hesitate to assume that you as well…"

Mr. Bingley's cheeks pinked even further and he cleared his throat.

"Miss Elizabeth," he said, a broad smile on his face as he tried to salvage the situation so that he might not look so gobsmacked. "I would be delighted to journey to Longbourn and see your family, and most importantly, pay visit to your sister, Miss Bennet. If you would please pass along to her my intentions to her… with discretion?" He looked so hopeful, and her heart thrilled at the thought of playing secret messenger between him and her sister. Of course she would, anything to save her sister from a marriage to the horrid Mr. Collins, and see her happily united with a man as kind as Mr. Bingley.

She gave a swift nod.

"Won't you show me into the drawing room, Mr. Bingley?"

"Oh, oh yes, of course! Right this way, please, Miss Elizabeth," he said with a kind smile, and led her away.

New chapters uploaded on Fridays, but you may find it in its entirety on Amazon now by searching for 'Nora Kipling - A Required Engagement'.