Page 28 of I Thee Wed (Pride And Prejudice Variation #2)

Mr. Bingley presented himself at Gracechurch Street on a cool October morning. He was very unlike himself, for his face was serious, and he refused to sit down. He turned to Mrs. Gardiner. “May I have a few minutes alone with Miss Bennet?”

Mrs. Gardiner agreed without argument and stood up.

“Lizzy, perhaps you will walk with me into the garden,” she suggested, and Elizabeth immediately said, “Of course, Aunt.” She gathered her book of verses and pencil and closed the door behind her.

Jane and Mr. Bingley were left together in the parlor.

Bingley paced a moment, then returned and seated himself close beside Jane.

“Miss Bennet,” he began, “forgive me if I speak too boldly, but I cannot be silent any longer. Since the moment I first knew you, my happiness has been in your keeping. I have loved you most ardently, though I dared once to believe my regard was unwelcome and unrequited. I learned that I was mistaken, and I will never forgive myself for the pain I caused you. I pray that you have forgiven me for the injury I dealt you.”

Jane’s color rose, but she watched him earnestly. He pressed on.

“Tell me, my dearest Jane, may I hope? Will you make me the happiest of men, and take me as your husband?”

Her eyes were brimming with tears of happiness. “Yes, Mr. Bingley, yes, with all my heart.”

He smiled, then took her hand and kissed it fervently, unable to contain himself. “Jane! My angel! I shall never leave you again. You are mine, and I am yours.”

Mrs. Gardiner tapped on the door and then entered. Jane ran and embraced her. “Aunt, I am engaged to be married!”

That evening, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy dined with the Gardiners.

The main discussion at the dining table was the upcoming wedding.

Mr. Bingley hoped that they might be married within the following month.

Jane was not sure her mother would allow such a hurried marriage.

Elizabeth sat quietly at the table, savoring the joy.

Darcy, as grave as ever, watched Elizabeth.

When their eyes met across the table, she felt that strange quickening of her heart.

He looked away when she caught him staring, but her lovely face remained with him.

As for Elizabeth, she saw that his eyes held a troubled expression, and, if she was not mistaken, she also saw tenderness.

Elizabeth picked up her fork and focused on her plate. No, she thought. She would not be deceived a second time. Men were difficult to fathom and too prone to change. Her sister’s happiness was secured; that must suffice.

After dinner, Mr. Gardiner asked Elizabeth to sing.

After she had sung five songs at the request of the men, she sat on a chair a little removed from the others and picked up her needle.

Throughout the evening, each time she glanced up from her embroidery, she caught Mr. Darcy’s eyes on her.

When she moved to sit with Mrs. Gardiner, he shifted in his seat and continued to gaze at her.

By the end of the evening, she was unnerved.

What was he thinking, and why was he staring at her?

The following day, when Mrs. Gardiner was writing up a list of gowns and undergarments Jane would need to purchase for her trousseau, she suddenly asked, “Jane, tell me, how did Mr. Bingley discover that you were in town? He seemed to appear at Gracechurch Street as though guided by Providence.”

Jane looked to Elizabeth, her mouth twisted in embarrassment.

Elizabeth only laughed. “Aunt Maddie, you will not like what I am about to tell you.”

Mrs. Gardiner raised a brow. “Tell me at once, Elizabeth. I hope I will not have to involve your father. He already has his hands full with Lydia.”

Elizabeth grinned, a devilish sparkle in her eye. “Jane and I have been improper and vulgar. We discovered the address of Mr. Bingley’s house on Wimpole Street from the letter that Caroline sent her. Each day we hired a hackney and sat in the park, waiting for him to come out of his house.”

Jane’s face was buried in her hands. “I knew this would eventually come out.”

“Each day,” Elizabeth continued, “for three days in succession. We became so regular in our watch that I feared the neighbors might take us for housebreakers. At last, on the third day, Mr. Bingley arrived home on his beautiful mount. We watched him dismount, and I declare he looked as though sunshine itself had stepped upon the pavement. I told Jane we must strike while fortune smiled, so we presented ourselves at the door to call upon Miss Bingley.”

Mrs. Gardiner pressed a hand to her lips to conceal her amusement. “And were you received?”

“Oh yes,” Elizabeth said blithely. “We were received with every civility, and with particular warmth, for Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were out shopping. The butler was in the very act of telling us so when Mr. Bingley himself came forward to greet us, having heard our voices in the hall. Jane was all sweetness, of course, and Mr. Bingley was so overjoyed that he could scarcely bestow compliments enough.”

Jane lifted her face and looked at her aunt. “It was most improper. Lizzy declared it was strategy, but I felt a dreadful conspirator.”

Elizabeth only laughed. “We were dressed modestly, and we sat quietly in the park. We were very proper, except that we were stalking Mr. Bingley.”

Mrs. Gardiner shook her head. “I hardly know which astonishes me more, that Jane was persuaded into such an escapade, or that Elizabeth has so little shame in confessing it.”

Elizabeth sighed. “Aunt Maddie, I believe that Providence helps those who help themselves. If we had not acted, Mr. Bingley might be courting another woman by now.”

Mrs. Gardiner chuckled. “Heaven help the man who ever tries to cross you, Lizzy. He would not get very far.”