Page 16

After checking on her sister, Elizabeth decided to write to her mother. She suggested that she come and look at Jane for herself. As she wrote the note, she prayed her mother would arrive alone or at least bring Mrs Hill, the one normally charged with care, when they were ill. Her second choice would be Mary, who could always be counted on to act properly.

Elizabeth was disappointed when she looked out the window to see Lydia and Kitty. She never understood why her mother could never go anywhere without at least one or two of her daughters.

After greeting her mother and sisters and taking them to Jane’s room, she made an excuse to leave. As Mr Jones was already attending Jane, she did not want to overcrowd the room and opted to go back to the parlour to await the verdict.

Darcy stood by the window, watching several birds wheeling about the sky. To be that free, he thought guiltily as he glanced back at his two wards who sat talking with the three other women.

Miss Bingley focused her attention on Georgiana while Miss Elizabeth did her best to interact with both of them. It was obvious that she was doing all she could to involve Anne into the conversation.

Darcy focused his attention and thoughts on Caroline Bingley and Elizabeth Bennet. While both would be considered fair, the latter was naturally so. He recalled how she appeared earlier after coming in from a morning walk. The brisk air and exercise had brightened her cheeks to a pinkish glow that he found appealing. The former, on the other hand, always looked the same from her cosmetics. She did not use it heavily, but it was ever-present. To his recollection, he had never seen her without it and wondered how she would look without it.

Their style of dress matched their appearance. Miss Bingley’s morning dress was of the best material and bright color. Miss Elizabeth’s dress was of a simple pale yellow muslin. Most, if not all, in his circle of society would consider it too plain to wear in company, if at all. Yet, it matched her natural beauty perfectly. One might say it complimented her looks.

Their personalities were as different as their style of dress.

Occasionally, Miss Bingley looked his way and was pleased to find him looking back. She would lower her eyes demurely before returning her attention to his sister. Miss Elizabeth paid him no mind.

Darcy’s thoughts were interrupted when Mrs Bennet entered the room. Bingley came to his feet and immediately inquired how she had found her daughter.

“Oh, she is not well at all, Mr Bingley, I’m afraid to say.”

“That is dreadful news,” he replied, “should we send for a physician from town?”

“I don’t think it necessary at this time. Mr Jones thinks with rest she will recover, as long as she is not moved.”

“Moved!” Bingley cried. “Mrs Bennet, please do not even consider such a thing. We have no intention of letting her leave until she is right as rain. Do we, Caroline?”

“Rest assured,” she replied in forced agreement. “We desire nothing more than to see Jane well.”

“Certainly we do,” Mrs Hurst added. “Why, just last night, we were discussing the misery of a bad cold and hoped that Jane would feel better. Is that not right, Mr Hurst?”

Hurst could not recall the outcome of that conversation but knew it was right before he inquired about her taste for ragout.

“Yes, yes, I believe that was the gist of the conversation,” he lied before deciding to address a more serious topic with the lady. “Are you aware, madam, that your daughter does not like ragout?”

Mrs Bennet looked confused by the question. The two girls behind her looked at each other and giggled. Georgiana, who had been looking at the two, went wide-eyed at their tittering and waited for their mother to scold them, which she did not, surprising her even more.

“Gets it from her father, I suppose. He is completely satisfied with a little salt and a dash of pepper. He refuses to let me hire a French cook because of it.”

Bingley, wondering at the turn of the conversation, introduced the two new residents of Netherfield before urging the mother and daughters to take a seat. He was caught off guard when Mrs Bennet settled in the chair he had occupied instead of sitting with her two daughters on the sofa. If he wanted to sit, he would have to sit in between them. His brother-in-law muttered the word extraordinary a few times before pulling out his pocket watch to see if it was late enough in the day for a drink.

“Are you sure we should not send for a physician?” Bingley asked, meandering to the mantel and leaned against.

“You are generous for asking Mr Bingley. I do not think that necessary, at least not yet. Mr Jones has seen to Jane since she was small. Not that she gets ill much, and when she does, she recovers quickly with the draughts he provides.”

Despite the answer, Bingley assured her the offer would still stand if the need arose.

Georgiana and Anne watched the two Bennet girls in fascination. As the conversation went back and forth between the adults, they fidgeted, whispered and occasionally giggled as if in their own world. The cousins did not know that the sisters looked at them and wondered why they sat there still as statues.

“Do you plan on extending your lease or purchasing?” Mrs Bennet asked boldly. “You have to admit that it is nice here.”

“I happily admit that I have enjoyed myself in this little part of the country,” Bingley replied, bringing a smile and feeling of satisfaction to Mrs Bennet. “As to extending my lease, I am leaning in that direction.”

“We have barely been here, Charles,” his sister added. “How can you think of extending already?”

“I have never in my life met so many agreeable people,” he declared truthfully. While he had a vast fortune, it came from trade. Those of the beau monde looked down on him as a lesser being. Those in trade looked upon their family with some jealousy for trying to pull themselves up. He was in the cusp of two different spheres of society. He appreciated that the people here in Hertfordshire had welcomed him with open arms.

“There is so much more to do in town,” Miss Bingley countered, frustrated with her brother for not looking after the family’s best interests as she saw them.

“That is true, Caroline,” he admitted. “In town, we are always dashing here and there, practically every night of the week. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a quiet evening at one’s own home.”

“There is much to do around here,” Mrs Bennet said. “We have the spring and fall festivals. An assembly at least once a quarter, most quarters anyway. The occasional theatre troupe that passes through might stop and have a show or two. As there are four and twenty families to dine with, there are frequent dinner to attend.” She thought for a second. “Twenty-five now,” she added with a look towards Bingley.

“Have you forgotten about saying you would have a ball, Mr Bingley?” Lydia uttered suddenly and boldly as she sat up straight.

The cousins gasped at what they thought as outlandish behavior. Elizabeth glanced at them and gave them a smile of reassurance at her sister’s outburst.

Bingley glanced at Darcy and then towards his wards. “Yes, I am embarrassed to say when I made that comment, I completely forgot about certain aspects that should have been taken into consideration.”

“But Mr Bingley,” Lydia pleaded with a whiny. “That would ruin my plan.”

“Plan, what plan,” her mother asked curiously, as this was news to her.

“Mother, Kitty and I have been talking about it for days.”

“Do you think I have time to pay attention to everything you two go on about? If I did, I am sure it would bring my nerves to the breaking point.”

Elizabeth lowered her head slightly and gave a slight shake in embarrassment. Which did not get past Darcy’s attention.

Lydia let out a huff of irritation. “Once Mr Bingley announces his ball, we will convince Colonel Forster to have one as well. We could have two balls before Christmas,” she said proudly as she sat up straighter.

“Lydia Bennet,” Elizabeth scolded when she realized their mother would not intervene. “Now is not the time nor place for this conversation.”

“Lizzy, it is not your place to criticize your sister.” Mrs Bennet snapped.

“These are your new neighbors, Bingley. You should have your ball,” Darcy said graciously.

Miss Bingley looked at him in frustration, wondering what he was thinking. She had no desire to have a ball even if her brother did as she would have to do the work of planning it.

“I would like you to have it, Mr. Bingley, even if I cannot attend. I should like to hear the music,” Georgiana said, looking at her cousin ruefully. “And the laughter,” she added, looking down at her hands.

That satisfied it for Bingley. “Then it is settled,” he said proudly, straightening his jacket. “Miss Lydia, as soon as your sister is completely healed, I shall come to Longbourn and we will settle on a date.”

Lydia and Kitty looked at each other, squealed in delight, and thanked him profusely. Georgina and Anne, were excited at the prospect even though they would not attend. Elizabeth noted Anne’s demeanor and thought it might be a good for her.

Elizabeth was relieved when her mother decided to leave, as they had visited long enough. Elizabeth got up to walk her mother to the door and was pleased when Mr. Bingley did as well. As they made their way to the front entrance, he assured Mrs Bennet that he would do his best to see Jane back on her feet and in perfect health once again.

As soon as they left the room, Miss Bingley went over to stand next to Darcy.

“Nothing like ill-bred country folk coming for a visit.”

“If I am not mistaken, I believe you approved of Miss Bennet after the assembly.” He replied as he watched his wards talking animatedly but quietly with each other.

“I did, and one has to wonder how she is so different from the rest of the family.”

“I see nothing wrong with Miss Elizabeth.”

“Outside of her fine eyes,” Miss Bingley teased, “what does she have?” She asked, expecting him to admit that there was nothing more worthy about her.

“The last few days have shown much to admire in her.”

“I am astonished, Mr Darcy, for you to admit such a thing. When shall I wish you joy?” she replied out of malice that did not show in her tone.

“It is an observation, nothing more.”

Unable to resist because of her resentment, she continued. “Imagine your new mother-in-law at Pemberley. What would people think? Can you imagine your sister spending time with her sisters?”

“No, but you are jumping to a conclusion that will not happen. Now, if you will excuse me,” he said abruptly, wanting to be away from her vitriolic mood.

Darcy sat next to his wards so Miss Bingley could not. As much as he would not like to see them behaving like the young Bennet girls, he equally did not want them becoming like Miss Bingley. He began to think he had made a mistake in bringing them here. He only relented from his previous thought as he listened to both his wards excitedly discuss the possibility of a ball. This summer had been bad for both of them. Georgina was finally coming out of the melancholy caused by that blackguard when the carriage accident happened. Having to deal with two despondent girls had put Darcy in over his head.

It was not long before Bingley returned alone, as Elizabeth had gone up to see her sister.

“Please do not tell me you are serious about this ball, Charles.” His sister asked petulantly before he even had a chance to sit.

“Of course I am. It is an excellent way to get to know our neighbors.”

“We already know most of them.”

“And we shall get to know them better. If you do not think you are up to the task, I shall put Louisa in charge.” He said, snatching up the paper from his chair. He wanted to say more but refrained with Darcy’s wards in the room. Why she had to be so disagreeable, he did not understand.

“I think a ball is a grand idea,” Anne said to everyone’s surprise, as she rarely spoke without being asked a question. Georgiana enthusiastically agreed.

“See, Caroline, we cannot disappoint our two young guests, even if their guardian does not like to dance.”

“Perhaps I shall let you attend briefly, at least for the opening,” Darcy said hesitantly. Their faces lit up at the possibility. “Do not hold me to it just yet. I said perhaps.”

Considering their excitement, he knew he would have difficulty denying it to them, especially for Anne.