Chapter 3
Darcy spent the next hour galloping through the meadow exorcising his demons. Afterward, he and his horse ambled back to Netherfield, and he began questioning what he had observed.
How did she know Wickham? Had their meeting been planned? She willingly took his arm. They must have a previous acquaintance. Such an awareness allowed him to momentarily rid himself of the guilt he felt for her obvious reduced circumstances. Despite his anger toward Wickham, he could not. He forced himself to remember she had improperly and enthusiastically returned his kiss. Perhaps she was a libertine who had been… No, she had protected him from the consequences. The more he tried to understand the puzzle of Miss Elizabeth Bennet, the less sense he could make of her. Still, he was not prepared to encounter her at breakfast just yet.
Upon arrival back at Netherfield, Elizabeth went to the kitchen to request food for herself and her sister. An explanation for Mr Darcy as to why she was walking with Mr Wickham so early in the morning was currently beyond her abilities. Anything she would say could only harm the reputation of her sisters, particularly Jane. Interaction with those in the house must be kept to a minimum today. Tomorrow she would be gone and hopefully forgotten by all.
A panic-stricken Jane's face broke into a radiant smile when Lizzy and a kitchen maid arrived with the trays. She was sitting up in bed and for the first time since arriving to care for her, her loveliness shone through the ravages of the fever. The remembrance of times past and her heartache because it was their last day together suddenly threatened to overwhelm. She turned away so her eyes could not be observed.
"I awoke and feared you had left me."
"No, I was just out walking, thinking, and delivering a letter to Uncle Philips. I assured him of your returning health and my intention of leaving tomorrow as promised."
"We must make the most of our last day."
"Yes, I agree. But first there is something I must tell you. The man who jilted me, George Wickham, is here with the militia. I met him this morning near Meryton. Unfortunately, he is also known to Mr Darcy. It appears they dislike each other quite intensely. He told me they grew up together You must tell Papa of his presence and warn Kitty and Lydia to be wary of him."
"You mentioned you originally experienced some eagerness to marry him. Tell me why. He obviously is a dishonourable man, and you are much better than I am at sketching someone's character. What caused you to be wrong?"
"It was the highly inappropriate kiss we shared." She paused as she tried to put into words her feelings. Her face became warm and her eyes filled with wonder as she revisited the memory. "It was something quite special. I really do not know how to describe it. My whole body reacted and seemed to insist I accept his invitation to explore. I know that is totally wanton… but. When I was not chastising myself for inappropriate behaviour, I enjoyed imagining such feelings would happen often once we were married. Another inducement was before the kiss, we had a most delightful conversation. The desire to have more of those quite added to my hopefulness as well. It was an experience that had me dreaming of a more enjoyable time ahead."
"Oh my. You have me wondering whether I should indulge in an illicit kiss."
"Please Jane, do not. My response was wrong, and I totally misjudged the person who overwhelmed my sense of propriety. I have made my bed and must lie in it. Stay to the course of marrying someone you respect."
"Lizzy, I would like to spend time with our host and hostess and their company after dinner tonight. You will be leaving, and I want to make certain they know how much we appreciate their courtesy in letting us stay together."
It was the opposite of what Elizabeth wanted, but she conceded her sister had a point. Leaving these well positioned persons with a favourable impression of their manners would do her no harm and could perhaps improve their opinion of Jane.
Their hostess and Mrs Hurst paid them a visit midmorning. Jane was sitting in a chair with her hair done for the first time since she had taken sick. The four discussed the patient's desire to spend time downstairs after dinner. Lizzy believed their cordiality was greatly improved due to their pleasure with the expectation of the Bennet sisters being soon away from Netherfield. She had seen enough to know they were a disruption to the plan of Miss Bingley to win Mr Darcy, not to mention both sisters were decidedly against an attachment of Jane to their brother.
Soon after their departure, Jane returned to bed. Elizabeth decided to make a trip to the kitchen to order more broth and lemon rosemary water. She was starting to look forward to her sister's being able to go downstairs where she could watch her entice the three men with her calm beauty. Perhaps, she had sketched one of their characters incorrectly, and he would prove to be the perfect husband. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, she perceived a familiar voice, speaking loud enough for most of the house to hear, and livid beyond all sense of decorum.
"How dare she! Take me to them immediately."
Fitzwilliam noted his enigma did not appear for either breakfast or anytime during the morning. Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst visited Miss Bennet and her sister to ensure all was well, and returned to let the gentlemen know there was much improvement. They further related the patient was hoping to spend time with them after dinner. Their brother seemed happy with the possibility, but Richard seemed even more pleased. Darcy made certain his anticipation was well hidden despite his almost desperate need to understand her relationship with Wickham. Perhaps he should speak with her father to inform him his daughter had been seen in company with a thoroughly disreputable man.
Their day was soon disrupted by Mrs Bennet and her three other daughters. They had arrived at Netherfield to see her eldest and appraise her recovery.
Miss Bingley assured their visitors all was well. "We were just with them. She is much improved."
Her mother looked confused. "Is Mr Jones with her?"
Mrs Hurst spoke next. "No. Just Miss Elizabeth. She has been taking excellent care of her."
Mrs Bennet stood up and the entire room became aware of her rage. Her daughters also rose immediately as if she demanded unity in their reaction Their mother's voice was loud and decidedly unladylike much like his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, when she was vexed. "How dare she! Take me to them immediately."
Just at that moment, Miss Elizabeth entered the room. Darcy assumed she had heard the outburst. She rushed to her mother's side and whispered something to her. Then spoke loud enough for the room to hear. "Mama, I will take you to see her. You will be pleased to find her almost recovered."
Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst led the way. The younger Miss Bennets each had a different expression on their face—Miss Mary seemed to agree with her mother's disapproval, Miss Katherine was uncertain how to respond, and Miss Lydia appeared in gleeful anticipation of her sister being reprimanded.
After they had departed, the three men left behind were unsure what they had witnessed.
Colonel Fitzwilliam spoke first. "I wonder what Miss Elizabeth has done to make her mother so angry?"
Bingley chimed in right behind. "I fear there must be a scandal of some sorts."
Darcy had one more piece of evidence his reckless action had caused the rift with her parents. He feared he was the reason they were sending her away. In a need to protect her, as she had done him, he said, "We all know her mother is not a woman with much sense. They probably have recently had a tiff and she spoke without thinking."
"Mama, I left Jane attempting to sleep. Please do not upset her. She is doing well, but a relapse is still possible. You should be pleased; her plan is to spend time with the gentlemen after dinner." This was said as close to her mother's ear and as softly as possible to keep their hostess and her sister from hearing. "It is not fair to our Jane to call attention to the fact she has a disreputable sister."
Thank goodness her mother seemed to hear the wisdom of her least favourite daughter's words. She turned her attentions toward Miss Bingley and her sister. Her voice overflowed with sweetened insincerity. "Your kindness toward my Jane is so very appreciated. I have had sleepless nights worrying about how my precious child was faring."
Elizabeth held her breath as their hostess spoke. She prayed she believed she was observing a simple mother daughter tiff. "We were pleased to be able to accommodate her in her time of distress." She paused before adding, "Miss Elizabeth has been most attentive toward your daughter." Lizzy feared her remark could provoke more outrage from her mother.
It did not. Instead, Mrs Bennet wisely changed the subject. "I am so pleased you have come to our neighbourhood. Your taste in furnishings as I saw downstairs are truly exquisite. We have much to learn from you."
These two duplicitous women spoke warmly to each other for the next twenty or so minutes. Mrs Bennet flattered Miss Bingley about all sorts of nonsense until Jane asked if she could rest. "I want to be able to spend time downstairs after dinner."
Mrs Bennet and all her daughters, including the one she was in the process of discarding, returned downstairs with Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst.
As Elizabeth feared once settled in the presence of the gentlemen, Mrs Bennet decided it time to promote the charms of her daughters, especially her eldest. Within minutes she was recounting the story she inevitably told to show how desirable she was. "I do not like to boast of my own child, but to be sure, Jane—one does not often see anybody better looking. I have been hearing so for years from everybody. When she was only fifteen, there was a gentleman so much in love with her that we were sure he would make an offer. But, he did not. Perhaps he thought her too young. However, he wrote some verses on her, and very pretty they were."
Her mother paused seeming to be recalling her admonition in the past that it was not necessarily the most stellar example of how sought-after Jane was. Oh, if only she could say something witty to distract from her mother's silliness, but knew she must keep her tongue. Mrs Bennet needed no excuse to lash out at her second eldest. Instead, Elizabeth carefully watched the gentlemen's reactions and considered how to ameliorate some of the damage her mother had wrought later that evening.
After thoroughly praising Jane, she began speaking of Catherine's attributes for Mr Darcy's benefit, Lizzy assumed. Her mother had much less to say, so resorted to hinting her second youngest had hidden talents, which caused her soon to be disowned daughter to stifle a laugh. To add to her anxiety, Bingley's stern friend seemed more interested in staring inquisitively at Elizabeth rather than enjoying thoughts of a silly girl's possible accomplishments.
Lydia's admiration for the military became the topic of conversation for Colonel Fitzwilliam's benefit. Included in homage for those in uniform, her mother also made certain he knew Longbourn and her sister's home were often the site of entertainment for the militia. Unlike his cousin, the colonel smiled benignly toward their guest. Mrs Bennet ended her talk promoting three of her daughters by saying, "Please do come and join our parties while you are in the neighbourhood."
Lizzy wondered what the three gentlemen thought about two of her daughters remaining unmentioned, at least she was not alone in being neglected. Poor Mary, she had mostly been treated as though she did not exist since birth. As she looked at her sister's pious demeanour she pondered whether living at Longbourn and being completely ignored would be preferable to being sent away to some place where she would know no one.
Suddenly Lydia spoke with great excitement. "Mr Bingley you must give a ball to honour the presence of the militia and your house guest Colonel Fitzwilliam."
The first thing that occurred to Elizabeth at her youngest sister's announcement was the realization her wish to attend a private ball was even less a possibility than it had been before. Her tears, forever threatening since arriving in Hertfordshire, required a more pronounced effort to suppress. She remembered telling her desire to George Wickham that night in Vauxhall. It had been such an exciting possibility at the time—and she assumed played a role in prompting his kiss.
A glance in Mr Darcy's direction, to confirm he was still staring and might perceive her discomfort, displayed a hint of anger with Lydia's demand. Lizzy wondered what provoked him. Did he also have hidden memories threatening to undo him? Most likely it was distaste for those beneath him with whom he would be required to associate.
Lydia could not contain her enthusiastic hopes. "Mr Bingley, you promised when first you came into the country to give a ball at Netherfield, and if you give one, I am certain Colonel Forster would give one in return."
Their host could do nothing but bend to the storm of her ambitions. He most assuredly pleased her mother by saying, "I am perfectly ready, I assure you to keep my engagement, and when your sister is recovered, you shall, if you please, name the day of the ball. But you would not wish to be dancing while she is ill."
Even Lydia was not so silly as to insist on a date today and poked Kitty in the ribs to gloat at her accomplishment before declaring, "Oh! Yes—it would be much better to wait till Jane is well, and by that time most likely Captain Carter would be at Meryton again. I have also heard of a new officer who has joined the militia. It will give me time to make his acquaintance as well."
Mrs Bennet and her daughters soon departed, and Elizabeth returned instantly to Jane leaving her relations' behaviour to the remarks of the two ladies and the four gentlemen. She hoped her sister was awake so she would have someone with which to share her own confusing observations.
In the wake of their departure, Darcy struggled to conceal his aggravation. Miss Bingley's attention during the visit of Mrs Bennet and her daughters had been quite as much engaged in watching Mr Darcy's reactions as had his in determining what was transpiring with Miss Elizabeth. When he was not forthcoming, she forced what she assumed was bothering him to become the topic of discussion by saying, "By the bye, Charles, are you really serious in meditating a dance at Netherfield? Before you determine on it, you should consult the wishes of the present party. I believe there are some among us to whom a ball would be rather more a punishment than a pleasure."
"If you mean Darcy," cried her brother, "he may go to bed, if he chooses, before it begins."
Until he heard his name, Darcy had not been paying attention. Instead, he was considering how much he might enjoy dancing with Miss Elizabeth. He recalled her telling him she wanted to attend a private ball—not merely a public assembly, and if he was not mistaken, tears had threatened when the subject had been raised. He needed to understand her relationship with Wickham and a dance would present an opportunity. What was Charles saying about him and his ball? Luckily, Caroline replied to her brother.
"I should like balls infinitely better," she replied. If they were carried on in a different manner; but there is something insufferably tedious in the usual process of such a meeting. It would surely be more rational if conversation instead of dancing made the order of the day."
He wiped the worry from his face as he said, "I dare say—much more rational. I am often frustrated by all the restrictions on the two sexes. We are prohibited from being able to pursue a meaningful dialogue while maintaining propriety. At least dancing a set allows for a few moments of private communication with a lady. One should not be expected to marry without having discussed certain things, and our society says the ballroom is where it should be done."
"You are thinking of marrying, cousin?" Richard was the only one here who knew of his heartbreak with Isabelle.
"Of course not. I am merely answering Miss Bingley's comment about rational behaviour." He could not suppress a smile as he remembered Miss Elizabeth's admonition about being a rational creature.
Both Miss Bingley and her brother seemed pleased with his acquiescence, although for different reasons.
The two sisters decided to have dinner together in Miss Bennet's room. Most of their time was devoted to bittersweet memories and preparing themselves for the inability to communicate their hopes and dreams to each other in the future. Finally, just as Lizzy began preparing her sister for their time downstairs the conversation turned to marriage.
"I am uncertain marriage is worth the pain and suffering I may have to put up with in order to have my own home… and children."
"What else is there for you? I have persuaded myself into knowing marriage is not for me these last two years. But Jane, you have always been more desirable than I ever was. Mama was right. I am contrary and refuse to accept things as they are. You are different."
"Since you have been gone, I have taken your place as Charlotte's friend. She has brothers who should take care of her when her father is gone, and yet her desperation to marry and have her own establishment is so much greater than mine. We often commiserate over how few gentlemen either of us ever meet. She says with me around no one even notices her. For example, she has mentioned numerous times how Mr Darcy did not dance with her at the assembly, nor did he ask Sir William to introduce his daughter to him."
"What about Mr Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam? Did they dance with her?"
"Yes, both did. It was the only courteous thing to do considering her father had extended the invitation to the assembly to the new residents of Netherfield Hall. Unlike Papa who couldn't be bothered to introduce himself."
"And yet Mr Darcy wanted an introduction to his daughters?"
"Yes, he is such a puzzle."
"In order to attempt to make up for ruining your life and causing you to fear marriage, my goal is to make my dearest sister spectacularly alluring tonight when we spend time with our host and the two unmarried cousins."
"Lizzy, you have not ruined my life. Lack of opportunity to meet gentleman and an extremely small dowry is much more responsible for my not being wed."
""I believe Aunt Gardiner will see to your spending time in London once I have left, and your dowry should become slightly larger once I am disowned." She saw Jane's face fill with pain. "If you are obedient, unlike I was, they should allow you to see plenty of young men. Your task is to determine which one of your many suitors will let your sister live with you."
"Oh Lizzy, I am certain there will be plenty of young women who are dressed in the latest fashions for the gentlemen to ogle rather than this country nobody."
"None will match your beauty, and tonight I plan to make you absolutely enchanting as you begin your quest. Who is going to rescue me from ignominy if not you and your husband?"
"For you I will try. I quite like the idea of children."
"Those three gentlemen downstairs will be dazzled by you. With that Lizzy began helping her sister dress. Within a few moments, she had positioned her at the dressing table to begin fixing her hair.
Jane caught her sister's eyes in the mirror and said, "So, once I am properly adorned, tell me how you evaluate the worthiness of those I am to dazzle."
"All three are fine upstanding gentlemen with means to support a wife. Undoubtedly you should be able to entice one of them."
"Go on Lizzy, you have spent the most time with them. Sketch their characters for me."
"None of the three are dreadful to the eye.
"True enough. We rarely have such handsome choices here in Hertfordshire, but now it is time to tell me more about them."
"Bingley is quite attractive. I know you said you found him unserious, but he seemed all delightful sociability to me. The most pleasant words came from his mouth about you, and he seemed particularly solicitous when inquiring after your health. Perhaps his fecklessness is due to his youth."
"Perhaps. He just seems so easily persuadable by his sisters and Mr Darcy."
Lizzy laughed at her sister's observation. "Lydia talked him into giving a ball. He wants to wait until you are better to determine the date. Jane, you have changed dramatically since I have been gone. You were rarely offended by those you met. To me he is a perfectly suitable young man."
By the look on Jane's face, she obviously did not fully embrace her sketch of Mr Bingley. "Tell me about the cousins."
"Colonel Fitzwilliam is probably the least handsome of the three, but he makes up for his less than perfect looks by having the most engaging and genuine character. Unfortunately for you, he was honest about increasing his income through a wife."
"I agree. As enjoyable as it was spending time with him, my hope it could lead to marriage seemed impossible."
"So, you have not completely decided against attracting a husband?"
"No, as I said the other day, the idea of getting away from our parents is quite appealing."
"Despite being the son of an earl, the colonel seemed much less snobbish than his cousin. In my few discussions with Mr Darcy, he seemed overly concerned about associating with the right sort of people. He kept talking to Mr Bingley about the importance of associating with those with the best connections."
"And yet, he asked Papa for an introduction to his daughters the night of the assembly."
"Yes. Perhaps his disdain is just for me. I often catch him staring intensely at me—most times with displeasure in his eyes. When Miss Bingley asked where in London I was living, the two shared a look of complete contempt for Cheapside."
Jane emitted a sad sort of laugh. "Perhaps once you are back in London, he will forget I have such a disreputable relation."
"Dearest sister, I believe we are able to agree Mr Darcy is the most handsome, the richest and the least likely of the three to marry you."
"I despise the fact I must spend what little time I have left with you attempting to attract any man to marry me. If Mr Darcy disapproves of you as you say, he would never allow you to live with me. Cross him off the list—he would never do."
"Perhaps, things will change once he falls madly in love with you." With that she put the final touches on her sister's hair. The vision of loveliness she had created was complete. Her mother was correct—no one matched Jane in beauty.