Alias Thomas Bennet (16 page)

“I admit that I am just as astonished as you are.”

“I am very concerned about Jane’s response to this news. I was certain she and Mr. Bingley were close to an understanding.”

“I had no doubt of it,” Mr. Bennet replied. “He singled her out at every opportunity these last weeks. I expected any day for him to request my consent.”

“Miss Bingley wrote as if their departure was planned, but we heard nothing of it until this letter.”

“Darcy mentioned it to me last evening, but he seemed to think that only he and Bingley were going to Town while the rest of the party remained at Netherfield, and Bingley was to return in a few days. But that does not explain the others departing so quickly without mention.”

“Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst singled out Jane with their invitation to Netherfield for dinner, and Miss Bingley treated Jane as a favourite. I wonder that they would not have given her some idea of their travel plans, unless there was a will to deceive.”

Mr. Bennet looked at his wife with an inquisitive expression, and she obliged him by explaining her suspicion of ill intentions in the affair.

“I am sure that Jane interpreted Miss Bingley’s expression of particular friendship as being in favour of the match, but Miss Bingley’s tone and carriage often seemed to reflect a sort of falseness in her words, and thus, I have been wary of her sincerity.”

Mr. Bennet replied, “My Jane is an intelligent girl and usually able to temper her tendency for making arguments designed to minimize the questionable motives of others.”

“But in this case, her perspective is altered. I am convinced that she is striving to show a neutral disposition despite feeling betrayed.” Mrs. Bennet paused and considered the letter before continuing, “Miss Bingley also spoke of Miss Darcy as a future sister, but Miss Darcy is much too young for such an arrangement to be made. She is Lydia’s age, is she not?”

“That is what I recall from my discussions with Darcy, and I am sure he would not have serious plans for her until after her coming out. He seemed to agree with me that young ladies should not come out too early.”

“Perhaps Miss Bingley’s own designs are behind her wish to have Miss Darcy for a sister. Miss Bingley has always shown a predilection towards Mr. Darcy, and perhaps her speculation is just wishful thinking with no basis.”

“Darcy showed no partiality for her. Although he was quite guarded about it, I thought he might have a
tendre
for our Lizzy. I know what you are thinking, Fanny, that they argued a lot, but I think he was drawn to her spirit and enjoyed matching wits with her, and likewise for Lizzy.”

“You may be surprised that I agree with you.”

“Had Lizzy shown him any clear preference, I would have encouraged the match.”

“Would you have told him about Lizzy’s circumstances?” asked Mrs. Bennet.

“The will is very clear that we not disclose any details until all the conditions are met,” Mr. Bennet replied. “I hinted about it to Darcy, but his pride forbids him from contemplating marriage below his station, and we have not exactly forwarded ourselves in a way to gain entrance into the first circles. If Darcy has reservations, I have reservations, and I told him as much at the ball. I have my suspicions that Bingley will make his declaration as soon as he returns. But he needs to prove that he wants to marry Jane in spite of the obvious obstacles. I want the girls to be desired for love and not for money.”

“But surely Mr. Darcy has enough money and connections of his own?” Mrs. Bennet was more disgruntled than she was curious.

“It is for him to decide, Fan. Until he does, and pays her proper court, we can only watch.”

“He is a good friend to you, is he not?”

“Good enough that I can be frank with him. I warned him off paying Lizzy excessive attention unless he intended to further a match.”

“I never expected that marrying our girls would be so complicated!” Fanny cried.

“I do not feel they must be married so soon, certainly not Lizzy or Mary. They are still young enough to enjoy another Season or two before I give them away!”

“I am glad that each of our girls has the opportunity to attend the Season in Town.”

“And I am glad that you became my wife.” He leaned towards her and gave her a quick kiss.

“But I worry so for Jane.”

“You worry too much,” he said, then gathered her in his arms and kissed her deeply. She was quick to respond. As his fingers brushed her breast, she released a tiny sigh and leaned into him. Soon her nightgown and his nightshirt were discarded, and his ministrations had her thinking about aught but enjoying the satisfaction of a long and loving marriage of two such passionate persons.

***

While Mr. and Mrs. Bennet were mulling over the state of their daughters’ hearts, their three eldest girls were sitting on Jane’s bed, chatting about the ball and other current events in their neighbourhood, which led to a discussion of the Netherfield party leaving the country. Elizabeth and Mary were annoyed by the letter Miss Bingley had sent to Jane with the implication that Mr. Bingley was courting Miss Darcy, whereas Jane was resigned to it and could not understand her sisters’ insistence on deceit in the note.

“Miss Bingley’s letter shows her duplicity in all this,” Elizabeth said in frustration. “Miss Darcy is not out in society, so she is surely too young to court, and that alone suggests that Miss Bingley’s letter is quite hypocritical. I assure you that, if she was mistaken about
that
information, she is also mistaken about Mr. Bingley’s not returning to Netherfield. She is writing what she wishes were true. Her ambition is to marry Mr. Darcy, and she believes that would come about more easily if Miss Darcy and Mr. Bingley were matched. Her plans will fall apart when Mr. Bingley shows that his love for you overcomes her influence on him.”

Mary agreed with Elizabeth but was gentler in her advice to Jane. “No one watching you and Mr. Bingley could doubt that you have a strong regard for one another.”

“I wish I were as confident as you two,” said Jane, “because I do care for Mr. Bingley, but I am uncertain about what
he
feels. Perhaps he is better off with Miss Darcy if she makes him happy.” The softness in her voice betrayed no guile but hinted of regret.

Mary tried to reassure her sister. “I think you are the one who makes Mr. Bingley happy, dear Jane. I have no doubt that he will return as soon as his business in Town is finished.”

“Removing Mr. Bingley from Hertfordshire was probably the work of Mr. Bingley’s family and his friend,” Elizabeth said, her anger apparent by the blaze in her eyes. “I am convinced that if you had the fortune and connections that Miss Darcy has, they would not have coerced him to leave.”

“I cannot think of Caroline as insincere,” Jane replied, unable to share her sisters’ confidence in Mr. Bingley’s regard and Miss Bingley’s caprice. “She is my friend. I cannot see any reason for her to lie.”

Elizabeth was not inclined to agree. “I know her reason. Miss Bingley and Mr. Darcy see themselves as above our society.”

“But, Lizzy, they do move in different circles than we do,” said Jane.

“I do not know how you can say that about Mr. Darcy, Lizzy,” Mary protested. “He has shown himself to be comfortable among our acquaintance. He has been a good friend to Papa, and you seem to enjoy debating with him. You cannot still be hurt by his comments at the assembly ball. His actions with Mr. Wickham prove he is a good man. I hate to be preachy, but as a good Christian, you should forgive him.”

“He did you a great compliment by singling you out at the Netherfield ball, Lizzy,” Jane offered gently. “You were the only one he danced with, and he asked you for the first set long before the ball.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “I do not think that shows any partiality on his side. With the attendance of the officers, there were plenty of men at the ball, so he could not slight me while my dance card was full. Besides, we never seem to agree. He is always trying to show his superiority.”

Mary countered, “Papa and I were present for your debates, and I am certain I can speak for both of us when I say that you deliberately provoke Mr. Darcy to hide your high regard for him. You both try to show off your superiority in intelligence. I think you admire each other’s minds and enjoy being intellectual equals.”

“I have observed that he looks your way a great deal, Lizzy,” Jane added. “I believe he has some tender feelings for you, and I think if you were rid of the prejudice you have had since the Meryton assembly, you would discover that he is a good man.”

“Pish-tosh,” Elizabeth cried. “You two are the ones in love. And Jane, you are just trying to divert the conversation away from your Mr. Bingley.”

“He is not
my
Mr. Bingley, Lizzy. But I will miss his company.”

***

30 November 1811

After the gossip about the Netherfield ball had subsided, Charlotte Lucas arrived at Longbourn. Mr. Collins accompanied her and requested an audience with the entire Bennet family to announce their engagement. Although he had shown progress in heeding Mr. Bennet’s edification and in his own mind believed he was using words that were less grandiose, Mr. Collins’s proclamation, in which he gushed about his betrothed to an extent that all were uncomfortable, disregarded nearly all the reproaches Mr. Bennet had subjected him to during his stay in Hertfordshire.

The Bennet family was astonished to hear Mr. Collins express the deepest love for his “little flower” after a courtship of less than four days and declare himself the happiest creature that ever lived. During the first se’ennight of his visit, Mr. Collins had tried to pay court to each of the three eldest Bennet sisters. However, with the sisters’ gentle redirection each time he paid more attention to one of them than was his due and, eventually, with the not-so-subtle interference of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, he had been unsuccessful in his efforts and apparently had gone elsewhere.

Elizabeth was surprised at the news. When the time was right, she stole over to speak with Charlotte quietly and asked about her certainty in marrying a man such as Mr. Collins. As Elizabeth suspected, her friend was not in love with him. Charlotte admitted that her lack of interest in a romantic relationship and the fact that she would soon be on the shelf had motivated her to accept the offer. She felt she would enjoy keeping her own house and found that, with Mr. Bennet’s careful instruction and her own gentle guidance, Mr. Collins’s manners had improved.

Elizabeth was disappointed. She knew her relationship with her dear friend would never be the same again; however, she was determined to try and be supportive of Charlotte’s decision in spite of her disapprobation. To prove that point to herself, she agreed to join Sir William and Maria Lucas on a visit to Hunsford the following March.

***

23 December 1811

The events in Meryton were made even more enjoyable by a Christmas visit from Aunt and Uncle Gardiner from London. Mrs. Gardiner had learned much about the events of the last month from the letters of Mrs. Bennet, and in particular, she was curious about matters of the heart. She decided to discuss the gentlemen with Mrs. Bennet, who admitted her conclusion that two hearts might have been broken, although Elizabeth’s was the more accepting. Mrs. Gardiner was unhappy to hear that Jane continued to be morose. The ladies agreed that Jane’s disappointment was justified but she also had good reason to hope. Mrs. Gardiner then asked after Elizabeth’s situation.

“Lizzy had a strong dislike for Mr. Darcy in the beginning,” Mrs. Bennet replied, “and even though her heart may have been touched, she never believed there could be a match due to the gap between their stations. Thomas similarly thinks that, although Mr. Darcy was inclined towards Lizzy, he would have a strong reluctance to marrying without attention to his social position and our lack of connections. It is a pity there are so many loveless marriages among the first circles.”

“Does Thomas not feel that the time might be right to tell the truth to Jane and Lizzy and perhaps also to the gentlemen?” Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were the only other people privy to the full details regarding the heritage of Jane and Elizabeth.

“He admitted alluding to the true situation to Mr. Darcy but felt that, since neither of the gentlemen had requested a courtship, their affection was wanting.”

“What think you of his decision?”

“Well, I know how much Thomas wants to continue hiding his true identity, and laying open the girls’ inheritances would put him at risk of being found out. If that occurred, it would threaten our home and reputation. If he delays the news and stays away from Town, he can maintain his role as merely Mr. Bennet, the simple country gentleman who has been their guardian these twenty years. He also remains steadfast in his resolve to wait until the conditions of the will have been met.”

“Can you not persuade him?” Mrs. Gardiner asked.

Mrs. Bennet shook her head. “I am still not certain of my own opinion or desires. I know Jane is not herself, and Lizzy thinks Mr. Bingley’s sisters have convinced him not to offer for her. If his devotion is so fickle, then perhaps Thomas’s decision is correct, though I must own that it is trying for all of us to see Jane in this state.