Page 12 of Penned by Mr Darcy (…By Mr Darcy #3)

Elizabeth

T he next day, something of a response to her letter arrived from Longbourn.

The reply came in the form of Mrs Bennet herself, as well as three even more unwelcome visitors.

The crunch of gravel had alerted the household to visitors, and Lizzy had run to the library to look out at the drive.

She recognised her family’s coach at once, and Lydia was happily perched up by the driver.

Lizzy groaned; that was far from a suitable seat for a young lady.

She lingered in the library as the carriage neared, not wishing to go downstairs to see her family.

Although she loved them dearly, she was unafraid to admit that she had rather enjoyed the brief respite away from them, though she would never be glad of Jane’s illness.

At last, the carriage pulled to a stop and Lizzy regained her senses, running down to the front door so that she might be the first to meet them.

She watched as they descended from the carriage, Lydia jumping down from her seat at great height. She landed with all the agility of a house cat, her bonnet staying firmly in place. She had always possessed a strange sort of elegance, but now was not the time to display such ability.

“Lydia!” Lizzy hissed, surging forward to clutch at her arm before she could move any further. “You are not a monkey; please do not jump about like that. We have one Bennet convalescing at Netherfield; we do not need another with a broken ankle.”

“I don’t know,” Lydia shrugged, looking up at the house. “I wouldn’t mind lying about for a bit, even if it meant I had to put up with those who live here.”

“Lydia!” Lizzy hissed again. “Please. Behave.”

“Oh, fine,” Lydia shrugged, freeing her arm from Lizzy’s iron grip.

Elizabeth then turned to her mother, who was adjusting her hat whilst gazing up at Netherfield with greedy eyes.

“Mother! This is a surprise! I did not think you would come yourself.”

“It has been far too long without dearest Jane. I ought to have come earlier, but you know how easily I succumb to troubles with my lungs. I thought it best to let time pass, and the risk of infection.”

Lizzy raised an eyebrow; her mother was as transparent as glass. She wished to leave the two girls here without interruption so attachments may grow. Well, she would be sorely disappointed.

“I do not think her to be contagious, Mama, for I am quite well. Come, we will go and see her now. We must not impose…”

“Ah, the Bennets!” Mr Bingley’s voice boomed from the house before he was even passed the front door. “How wonderful to see you! Come, come, please do join us.”

Kitty and Lydia trailed behind their mother with a poorly concealed eagerness, whilst Mary seemed to be the poor soul left to carry the load. The pile of books reached under her chin, and her glasses had fallen to the bridge of her nose.

“Let me help,” Lizzy said, taking half the books from her. “How are things at Longbourn?”

“Do you recall Mr Collins?”

“Mr Collins?” Lizzy asked with a frown. “The cousin who means to take our home from us just as soon as he can? Of course I recall him. Why?”

“He arrived suddenly yesterday afternoon.”

“Without word? Why?”

“I do not know.”

Mary lacked Lydia and Kitty’s talent for gossip, a quality that Lizzy often found refreshing; now, she was most frustrating in her lack of knowledge.

Lydia would have provided a most thorough account of the man without prompting; as it was, Lizzy knew that she would have to needle any useful information from Mary with great effort.

“How long does he intend to stay?”

“I do not know that either,” Mary shrugged. “He is our family; ought we not welcome him for as long as he wishes to stay?”

“Of course,” Lizzy said sweetly, hoping to gain Mary’s trust. “What is he like?”

“He is very pious,” Mary said, a smile crossing her lips. “He has promised to read to us.”

Suddenly, a prolonged stay at Netherfield seemed even more attractive than it had before.

Lizzy led her family to Jane’s quarters, bidding the younger girls to wait in the corridor.

It would have been better to leave them downstairs, but Lizzy did not trust the youngest two to behave themselves without her supervision.

It was best for all involved that they were not allowed to be left in company.

Her mother wailed dramatically upon seeing Jane, who blinked in surprise.

“Mama!” Jane said, breathless as their mother ran to her, forcing her into an unhappy embrace. “I did not know you were coming.”

“I have been long enough apart from you, sweet Jane. We have thought of you constantly.”

And yet you did not care enough to visit earlier or write to her , Lizzy thought.

“That is very kind, Mama. I am pleased to see you.”

“You look dreadful,” their mother said sadly. “How often has Mr Bingley called upon you?”

“Once, when I first arrived,” Lizzy interjected. “It would not be proper for Jane to entertain male callers in such a condition, Mama, you cannot expect her to invite Mr Bingley in!”

Jane’s cheeks at once turned a vibrant shade of red.

“I have been advised that solitude and quiet are key to my recovery,” she said in a small voice. “Lizzy has often been in company downstairs, though. Mr Bingley has been most hospitable.”

“I am glad, though there are no prospects for you, Lizzy, save that dour Mr Darcy. It is a good job he has ten thousand a year, for he has no other redeeming qualities that I have seen. Is he good company? I cannot imagine it to be so, but I suppose there are always surprises in life, aren’t there? ”

“I…he participates in the same way any other gentleman would, Mama. I have seen nothing so unlikeable about him, save a reservedness that I myself do not possess.”

“A reserved character is one thing, but I do believe it is nothing but haughtiness. He believes himself better than the rest, that much has been made clear to the entire town! A pity, for you would do quite nicely as the mistress of a grand house.”

“Would I?” Lizzy laughed. “I think you would say that about any one of us, should the prospect of ten thousand a year and untold acres of land arise.”

“When will you return home?” Mrs Bennet asked. “We have a visitor.”

“A visitor?” Jane asked. “Who?”

“Your father’s cousin, Mr…”

“Mr Collins?!” Jane asked, her face crestfallen. “Why has he come? He cannot want Longbourn already?! He has no…”

Her words were interrupted by a deep wheeze, which soon turned into a cough that did not subside for several minutes. Lizzy rushed to Jane’s side, rubbing at her back as their mother flapped beside them in a terrible panic.

When at last the coughing ceased, Mrs Bennet gave Jane a small pat on the hand and continued her account of the events at Longbourn as though nothing at interrupted.

“No, no. He has come, I believe, with the intention of taking a wife.”

“A wife?” Jane whispered. “Does he mean one of us?”

“You cannot be serious, Mama!” Lizzy protested.

“It would keep Longbourn amongst us, and if one of you girls were the mistress, you could demand that we all stay. It was a fine prospect indeed.”

“But…”

“Of course, we have high hopes that Mr Bingley will propose very soon, so you are excluded from the eligible Bennet girls. Lizzy, I believe you would suit him very well.”

Lizzy blinked.

“Excuse me?”

“Come now, do not look so affronted. You have yet to meet the man! He is the parson to a fine estate in Kent, he tells me – and believe me, he has told me often enough. He would make a suitable enough husband, for he has a house and a steady income. You will be well cared for.”

“I have not even met him! I hope that you have said nothing to encourage these notions he apparently harbours.”

“He looks forward to meeting you. I think you ought to return home at once, Lizzy. It is important you make his acquaintance at once, and endeavour to win his affection. You cannot do so if you are here! I will leave Mary in your place.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Pardon?!” Mrs Bennet asked, open mouthed.

“I am not leaving Jane’s side, and I will certainly not leave her care entrusted to Mary. We will both remain here until Jane has healed, and then we will return to Longbourn and meet this man you seem determined to thrust upon me.”

“Elizabeth, really…”

“Do not ‘Elizabeth’ me, Mother. It is thanks to your meddling that Jane became so ill, and I will bear no more of your interference. We will be back when she is ready, and not a moment before.”

“Really, Lizzy, such haughtiness does not become you. I fear you have been too much in the presence of Mr Darcy and that Miss Bingley. Perhaps it is best that you come home, lest you gain ideas above your station.”

“That is enough!”

There was a knock on the door, and the three women turned their heads in panic.

The knock was familiar to Lizzy and Jane now, and they whispered “Mr Bingley” in unison.

Their mother’s eyes bulged with panic that he had overheard their argument, and she hastily began to fiddle with Jane’s hair.

Jane batted her away, a rare display of irritation, and adjusted herself on her pillows.

“Come in,” Jane called.

“I wanted to invite you all to tea. Miss Bennet must rest as much as possible, isn’t that right, Miss Elizabeth? I am sure she is very pleased to see you, but we must not overexert her, the doctor made that quite clear.”

“How caring you are, Mr Bingley!” Mrs Bennet simpered, rising from her place by Jane’s side and crossing to the door. “Our dearest Jane could not have been in finer company to ensure her recovery. I must thank you, and insist that you send the bill to Longbourn.”

Jane and Lizzy looked at each other for the briefest moment. Both had been under the impression that the bill had been sent to Longbourn from the very beginning of their stay. Mr Bingley’s cheeks began to redden.

“No, Mrs Bennet, I must insist upon taking care of it. Come, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Bennets,” he gestured to the three girls in the hallway. “Let us take tea.”

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