Page 29 of The Happiness of a Most Beloved Sister (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

D arcy and Bingley arrived at the appointed time the following day. Having been expected, they were led directly into the parlour where Mrs Gardiner and Miss Bennet waited. Darcy could not conceal his disappointment at Elizabeth’s absence. She has not changed her mind, has she?

Looking about him as if hoping to discover her behind the curtains, he asked, “But where is Miss Elizabeth?”

Mrs Gardiner reassured him, “Lizzy will be down in a few minutes, sir. She is eagerly anticipating your drive.”

The tightness in Darcy’s chest eased, and he sat, perched at the edge of a chair, while they awaited Elizabeth’s appearance.

Bingley seemed to have taken Darcy’s threats to heart because Miss Bennet’s manner had undergone a revolution since the day before—at least in Darcy’s presence.

She had greeted him first with her usual cool composure but, after a silent communication with Bingley, her aspect gained a touch more warmth.

She still gave the impression of a chilly winter’s morn, but perhaps one that was only partially overcast instead of beset by a freezing rain.

Elizabeth entering the room brought forth the essence of spring, sorely needed to combat her sister’s frigid nature.

Her smile was like pleasantly warm sunshine, her scent a cherry blossom-scented breeze, and her energy new life.

When she spoke, Darcy swore he could hear birds twittering amidst a verdant forest canopy.

“Do forgive me, I could not deny my little cousins one final story before we departed. They are such dear creatures.”

“You ought not to keep the gentlemen waiting,” Miss Bennet said, her tone mild though her words were chastising.

Apparently, Bingley had not communicated Darcy’s demands clearly enough. He cut a glare at his friend, who swallowed and said, “No apology necessary. We have only just arrived.”

With a flick of her eyes in Darcy’s direction, Miss Bennet raised a smile on her lips. “But I shall say that you made good use of your time. You look lovely.”

However much Darcy disbelieved Miss Bennet’s sincerity, he could not dispute her forced compliment.

His Elizabeth was garbed in a ravishing sprigged muslin, pure white save for tiny green vines and pink flowers dotted across the fabric.

Between her hands she held a bonnet he knew her to be fond of, with a wide straw brim and a dusky pink ribbon that would form a jaunty bow beneath her chin.

Her hair was properly pulled back, yet several ringlets were allowed to dangle along her jawline, bouncing animatedly with her every small movement.

Best of all, her eyes were bright, soft, and trained upon him.

Darcy sprang forwards and took her hand up in his, pressing a kiss to the back of it. “Indeed, and your company is worth ten times the wait. Are you ready to go?”

“I am.”

The ladies gathered their pelisses, and they were off.

The day was nearly as fine as Elizabeth herself, and the drive was a pleasant one.

Darcy’s enjoyment of it was increased markedly both by having Elizabeth to himself and being separated from Miss Bennet and Bingley, who rode in a separate curricle some yards behind them and out of earshot.

He wished he could forget them entirely, but his companion was determined to express her gratitude for bringing the pair back to one another.

“…and Jane’s spirits have been so improved since his return. I cannot thank you enough, truly.”

Although Darcy dearly wanted to bask in Elizabeth’s admiration, he forced himself to ask, “Has she accepted your amends yet?”

Elizabeth’s smile dimmed. “No, not yet, but I have hopes that she will soon. Already she is beginning to show me more courtesy—why, she even complimented me today! Perhaps if Mr Bingley proposes, and she is secure of him…”

“So her love for you has conditions, then?”

Elizabeth seemed taken aback by Darcy’s observation, and she did not respond. Cursing his blunt tongue, he mumbled an apology and offered, “I am sure she will forgive you soon,” little though he believed it.

“I suppose you are not seeing Jane at her best, but I assure you that her heart is pure. It is only that she loves Mr Bingley so, and their separation was hard on her. She blames me—as she ought—and it has damaged our relationship.”

“I can somewhat understand why she was angry with you at first, but surely that must give way now that Bingley has resumed his courtship. Does she not realise what you have done for her?”

Elizabeth bowed her head, fiddling with something in her pocket as she responded, “As to that, I cannot say, for she still does not speak to me when we are alone. She is aware, of course, that you informed Mr Bingley of her being in town, and that you received such information from me, but then I was only correcting my own mistake. Besides, it would have come to nothing if not for your intervention, so most of the credit belongs to you.”

Darcy snorted. “Nonsense. Had it not been for your advocacy on Miss Bennet’s behalf, I daresay I never would have come forward to Bingley. I was but your messenger. Your sister ought to give credit where credit is truly due.”

“It is not so simple a thing. Had I not meddled in the first place?—”

“Bingley likely still would have abandoned her, and at my direction, if not that of his sisters. Elizabeth, you take far too much upon yourself, and Miss Bennet’s continued petulance is undeserved.”

She was silent for several moments, leaving only the cadence of the horses’ hoofs, the churning of the wheels upon the gravel path, and the distant frolicking of other park patrons to fill the space between them.

At length, and with her gaze fixed upon the horizon, she observed, “You do not care for Jane, do you?”

As ever, it seemed Darcy was incapable of disguising his distaste. He ought to do better for Elizabeth’s sake, but it was impossible for him to pretend any admiration for Miss Bennet. There was a greater chance that he would somehow come to enjoy Miss Bingley’s company.

“I cannot say that I do, no. She is a beauty, and her manners are unobjectionable, but there is a general air of falseness about her that sets my teeth on edge. It was immediately plain to me that she is the sort of lady who simpers and smiles without any genuine sentiment. After but a short acquaintance, I concluded that I ought to be cautious around her lest she attempt her wiles upon me.”

“She would never do that!” Elizabeth cried, whipping her head in his direction. “She prefers Mr Bingley to every other man.”

“It is more likely that she sees Bingley as an easier mark,” he grumbled. At Elizabeth’s scowl, he continued, “I might have forgiven Miss Bennet her artificial manner, for it is no worse than other ladies exhibit, were it not for her insolence towards you.”

Elizabeth turned away again, facing forwards. “Jane will overcome her pique, I am sure of it, and we shall be as we were before.”

“I must say that such does not give me much comfort on your behalf. I played witness to how she tyrannised you on several occasions, most notably at Netherfield.”

“I…do not…” She paused as if to gather her thoughts. “I believe you exaggerate, sir.”

“Do I? I recall her ordering you about like a servant, showing little consideration for your feelings, and failing to defend you to Miss Bingley. If that is how she acts when she is pleased with you, it does not seem much improvement to her belligerence.”

Elizabeth sighed, her shoulders slumping on her exhalation. “ She was not always like that, you know. When we were younger, she truly was the most kind-hearted girl one could ever hope to meet.”

“I admit that I have a difficult time imagining her so.”

“Only because you did not meet her before she was jilted by Mr Wilbur.”

“Ah, yes, the beau who proved false. You have mentioned him before in defence of your sister’s ‘tender heart’.” Darcy was not proud of the note of sarcasm in his tone yet was powerless to prevent it.

“His treachery nearly killed her. Jane took to her bed upon reading of his recent marriage in the newspaper and did not leave it for above three weeks. She would not eat, could hardly sleep, and this developed into a dangerous fever from which she nearly did not recover. Since then, she has been…different. I pledged myself to her wellbeing, determined to prevent any other scoundrels from touching her heart again and finishing her off. When Mr Bingley left, I was so afraid…”

Her words were choked off by emotion, and he witnessed a tear fall down the slope of her cheek. He manoeuvred the reins into one hand so he could offer his other in comfort. To his relief, she took it and squeezed it between them.

“Fortunately, Jane did not succumb to another illness, but it was some weeks before I could let down my guard on that score. Then I confessed to her what I had done, and she was furious with me—and why should she not be? I had risked not only her happiness but her very life by scaring Mr Bingley off!”

“You played but a minor role there, if you recall. It was I who convinced him to leave.”

“True, but I did not know that at the time, and I was certain I had signed my sister’s death warrant. ”

“But you did not. Even if you had, it is not your responsibility to stand guard over your sister and protect her from every possible injury. That is an unreasonable standard to hold yourself to.”

She tilted her head in his direction, spearing him with a knowing look. “Perhaps, but it is one that I believe we share.”

“My responsibility for Georgiana is different, as you well know,” Darcy calmly countered.

“I am her legal guardian, and more than ten years her elder besides. Miss Bennet is two years older than you, has reached her majority, and ought to stand on her own. That she takes advantage of your kindness and misplaced guilt says nothing good of her character.”

“I would not say she takes advantage of me.”

“I cannot agree. The way she directs you reminds me strongly of my cousin Anne and Mrs Jenkinson.”

She emitted a rusty laugh. “Oh dear, you have unwittingly concurred with my friend Charlotte, who said much the same thing whilst I still resided at Hunsford.”

“I have always thought Mrs Collins a clever sort.”

“I suppose she is, though it does not make her advice any easier to hear. Quite the opposite.”

“Back to the subject of Miss Bennet,” he said.

“I beg you would release yourself from your blind devotion to her. She is not your burden and does not deserve your sacrifice. Further, if she is not willing to let go of her resentment, I hope you will at least cease to accept the fault she attempts to ascribe to you. I assure you that Bingley’s defection was between them, and you had no true part in it. ”

“I thank you, sir. I shall try to do as you have suggested.” She nibbled on her lip fretfully before tentatively asking, “Do you at least believe her feelings for Mr Bingley are what they should be?”

Much as Darcy wished to lie and tell her what she wanted to hear, he abhorred any sort of disguise.

Regretfully, he replied, “I do not. From what I have seen, both in Hertfordshire and here in London, she is pleased by his attentions but always with an air of triumph, like a cat who has finally caught her mouse. That said,” he interrupted before she could object, as he could see she meant to, “I am beginning to realise that it does not particularly matter what her motives are, for Bingley’s are no more laudable than her own. ”

Alarmed, Elizabeth cried, “What do you mean? Does he intend to abandon her again as some sort of petty revenge?”

“No, that is not my meaning,” he hastily reassured her.

“What I meant was, even though Bingley is indeed infatuated with your sister, I rather doubt that his feelings run any deeper. He has told me repeatedly that he has never seen a woman as handsome as Miss Bennet, but never does he speak of her less tangible qualities other than a great regard for her ‘sweetness’. I think you know my opinion of that .”

Elizabeth’s regarded him with a moue of displeasure, but at least her panic had ebbed. “If this is how you feel, I wonder that you do not attempt to divide them again.”

“I swear to you that I shall not, if only because I have sworn off interceding the same as you. Besides, if Bingley is satisfied with a woman with more beauty than substance and seeks nothing greater, who am I to dissuade him? He is rich and she is handsome—many would say they are a remarkably good match.” He shrugged.

“What about you?”

“Me?”

“Will such a marriage do for you?”

“Decidedly not,” was Darcy’s staunch answer. “Had I wished for such a shallow attachment, I could have approached nearly any woman of my acquaintance and been married by now.”

He was pleased to see a diverted little smile quivering on her lips. “You do think highly of yourself, sir.”

“Not at all, I assure you,” he replied. Though always tempted to join in her amusement, he was perfectly serious as he added, “These women of whom I speak would not accept me for myself but for my purse and connexions. I wish for a greater understanding with my wife, one founded on mutual esteem and love. Unfortunately, though I could easily purchase myself a respectable match, there is not enough money in all of England, much less my own coffers, to win me such a woman. Instead, I shall have to offer something more substantial—my whole heart and the undying affection therein. Do you think it will be enough?”

Elizabeth’s gaze softened as she beheld him, and Darcy was again reminded of spring sunlight. It warmed him. “I think it ought to be more than enough for any woman.”