Miss Bennet & Mr Bingley (5 page)

Mr Bingley stared at his friend. ‘He does not like to dance. Well… only
if he knows his partner. He much prefers to converse, but it is no matter to
me. As long as I can dance with you, Miss Bennet, I shall be a happy man.’

Whilst they were waiting for the set to form Jane saw her sister walking
behind Mr Darcy and Sir William. Her host immediately turned and was obviously
suggesting that Mr Darcy danced with her. To her astonishment Mr Darcy smiled
at Elizabeth and bowed, obviously inviting her to join the set. She was not
surprised when he was refused.

However, instead of being angry at his rejection Mr Darcy seemed amused
and she was quite certain he was watching Elizabeth with admiration. Mr Bingley
took her hand and she forgot everything apart from the joy of dancing with the
young man who was so dear to her heart.

When they paused to allow another couple to join in she glanced across
the room to see that Miss Bingley had joined Mr Darcy. They were both looking
across at Elizabeth who was talking animatedly to Charlotte. It was quite
obvious that whatever Miss Bingley was saying, Mr Darcy’s attention was not on
her words, but on Elizabeth.

Jane could not wait to discuss what she had seen with her sister. No
sooner were they private in their own apartment than she brought the matter up.

‘Lizzy, was I mistaken or did you refuse to dance with Mr Darcy this
evening?’

‘I had no idea you were studying my movements so closely. Do not you
remember that I said I would never dance with him?’

‘Mr Darcy did not appear in any way put out by your refusal; indeed, I
believe you have enhanced your reputation by turning him down.’

‘I should think it was a novel experience for him. No doubt his huge
fortune makes sure he is always received with raptures by any unattached young
lady that he might ask to partner him.’

‘It must be so difficult for Mr Darcy to be always fawned upon, never
knowing if he is being appreciated for his own worth or for his estate in
Derbyshire.’

‘Jane, I should not waste your sympathy on that man. He positively
revels in the experience, after all does not Miss Bingley do it all the time,
and he makes no effort to stop her from so doing?’

 
‘You must not say such things,
Lizzy. I am sure that Miss Bingley is merely being polite to a close family
friend.’ Her sister’s laughter filled the room and she was forced to smile
herself.

 
‘And you, Jane? Did you enjoy
your evening?’

‘You know that I did; when I was not in the company of Mr Bingley I was
with his sisters. I do wish that you could like the more, Lizzy, they are so
well educated I have learnt a great deal from them in a short acquaintance.’
Her sister snorted inelegantly. ‘They have travelled a great deal, you know,
and they mix in the very best society and have many amusing stories to share. I
am sure that you would enjoy their company if you could just try a little
harder to like them.’

Elizabeth yawned and blew out the candle on the small table at her side
of the bed. ‘I cannot like his sisters, but I do find myself drawn to Bingley.
It is a great pity his friend is so proud and disagreeable. I cannot see why
Bingley tolerates that man.’

‘I believe that Mr Darcy can be quite charming when with people that he
knows well. I believe that his diffidence is caused by shyness, and not by
being proud. Anyway, it was altogether a most enjoyable party and I can not
wait until the next one.’

‘I expect that we shall be overrun with military gentleman wherever we
go, now the regiment is established at Meryton for the winter. Although I have
no inclination to be entertained by them I must own they add colour, with their
scarlet regimentals, to any occasion.’

‘I agree, it will be pleasant not to have to sit out quite so much when
we attend the assembly in Meryton. I believe it will be the liveliest winter we
have known for a long time in this neighbourhood.’ Jane blew out her own candle
and settled down, but it was some time before she fell asleep as her thoughts
were so full of Bingley.

* * * *

Several days later Jane was in the drawing-room with the rest of her
family whilst her younger sisters could talk of nothing else but officers. Mr
Phillips had met most of them and was in a position to introduce his nieces
when they appeared every day at his house. They had no further interest in Mr
Bingley, or the Netherfield party; all they wished to talk about were the
captains that they met.

After listening all morning to their effusions on the subject, Mr Bennet
coolly observed. ‘From all I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be
to the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it some time, but I am
now convinced.’

Kitty was disconcerted and made no answer, however Lydia, with perfect
indifference, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter and her
hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was going the next morning
to London.

‘I am astonished, my dear,’ said Mrs Bennet, ‘that you should be so
ready to think your own children silly. If I wish to think slightingly or
anybody’s children, it should not be of my own however.’

 
‘If my children are silly I must
hope to be always sensible of it.’

‘Yes… but as it happens, they are all of them very clever.’

‘This is the only point, I flatter myself, on which we do not agree. I
had hoped that our sentiments coincided in every particular, but I must so far
differ from you to think our two youngest daughters uncommonly foolish.’

Jane listened to this exchange and wished that instead of talking about
Kitty and Lydia’s silliness, her father might consider doing something about
it. It was with some relief the exchange was interrupted by the entrance of the
footmen with a note for her. Quickly she opened it.

‘Well, Jane, who is it from? What is it about? What does he say? Well, Jane,
make haste and tell us; make haste, my love.’

‘It is from Miss Bingley, ma’am, I shall read it to you.’

My dear friend,

If you are not so compassionate
as to dine today with Louisa and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other
the rest of our lives, for a whole days tête-à-tête between two women can never
end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on the receipt of this. My
brother and the gentlemen are to dine with the officers.

Yours ever, Caroline Bingley

Jane could hardly believe she had
been so favoured. It was no matter that Mr Bingley was away dining elsewhere,
she would enjoy the company of his sisters.

‘Can I have the carriage?’

‘No, my dear, you had better go on
horseback because it seems likely to rain; and then you must stay all night.’

‘That would be an excellent scheme,
if you are sure that they would not offer to send her home.’

‘Oh! Lizzy, the gentlemen will have
Mr Bingley’s chaise to go to Meryton; and the Hurst’s have no horses for their
carriage,’ Mrs Bennet replied.

Jane did not wish to go even such a
short distance on horseback when the weather was likely to deteriorate. Then
she would be obliged her to stay overnight and might not be a welcome guest. ‘I
should much rather go in the coach.’

In spite of her entreaties Mr
Bennet was not to be moved; the horses were needed on the farm and if she
wished to visit Netherfield she would have to go on horseback. As her family
waved her off she felt the first few spots of rain and was tempted to return.
The heavens opened when she was no more than halfway there and by the time she
arrived at Netherfield she was drenched to her skin and heartily regretting her
decision to come.

Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst were
amazed to see her on horseback. ‘My dear Miss Bennet, we had no idea you should
be obliged to ride. Come in at once and we shall find you something dry to
wear.’

‘Miss Bingley, you are too kind. Mr
Bennet could not spare the horses and as you had been so particular in your
wish that I come and join you this evening I did not like to disappoint.’ She
stood in a growing puddle in their hall and was glad that Mr Bingley was not
there to see her in such disarray.

‘I shall take you at once to a
guest chamber,’ Miss Bingley cried. ‘I believe that you are of a similar size
to me and my gowns should fit you best.’

Jane dripped her way up the stairs
and along the spacious corridor to the room that was to be hers. ‘Thank you,
Miss Bingley, I must apologize for being such a trial.’

‘Think nothing of it, Miss Bennet.
Louisa and I are delighted to have you here.’

A maid servant was waiting to
assist her and Jane was happy to remove her sodden garments and be enveloped in
a large bath towel. She was warm and dry and sitting by the fire in a borrowed
robe when Miss Bingley hurried in followed by a second girl carrying an armful
of gowns.

‘Here we are, Miss Bennet. I shall
leave you to make your choice. Betty shall bring you down when you are ready
and I have ordered tea to be served in the small drawing-room.’

Jane selected the plainest of the
gowns, it was of fine wool in a pretty shade of blue. She thought the high neck
and long sleeves would be warmest and she was feeling decidedly chilly. She
sneezed several times whilst she was dressing and was obliged to ask for a
clean handkerchief as her own was too wet and of no use at all.

Downstairs the ladies greeted her
warmly, and now she was warm and dry she no longer felt regret at making the
journey in such inclement weather.

‘It will not be possible for you to
return this evening, do you wish me to send a footmen to Longbourn to inform
your parents?’

Jane shook her head. It was far too
wet to expect anyone, even a servant, to venture out on horseback. ‘Thank you,
Miss Bingley, but that will not be necessary. I am certain that my parents will
understand it is impossible for me to return tonight. I must apologize again…’

‘Please do not, my dear Miss
Bennet, the weather is no fault of yours, after all. Now, shall I pour you some
tea?’

The evening passed pleasantly
enough, the dinner was elegant, but Jane found her appetite had deserted her
and she could do no more than push the food around her plate. Her throat was
sore and she had recourse to use a handkerchief on many occasions.

‘I am feeling a trifle unwell, pray
excuse me. I think it would be wise for me to retire.’

‘Of course, I believe that you
might have caught a chill.’ Miss Bingley pulled the bell strap and when a
footman appeared she sent him to fetch Betty to escort Jane to her chamber.

Jane bid Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley
goodnight, glad that the gentlemen had not returned from their dinner
engagement to see her distress.

 
* * * *

Mr Bingley hurried through the rain
leaving his friends to follow as they would. A footman was waiting to open the
front door and he walked in shaking the rain from his beaver. ‘Here, take my
coat, it is decidedly wet.’ He turned as Darcy arrived in the hall. ‘That was a
splendid evening, was it not? Shall we go and join the ladies?’

As he headed for the drawing-room
he heard Darcy suggest to Hurst that they repair to the billiard room for a
brandy. He smiled, did his friend find Caroline’s particular attentions too
much?

‘Good evening, ladies. Have you had
a pleasant evening?’

Caroline looked up as he walked in.
‘Charles, we have such bad news for you. Miss Bennet rode over to join us for
dinner and was caught in the storm. She was unable to return due to the
inclement weather.’

He was at a loss to know why this
should be bad news; he was delighted to think of Miss Bennet staying under his
roof. She must have gone upstairs and would be returning at any moment. There
was nothing he would like more than the opportunity to further his acquaintance
with her. He was about to say so when she continued.

 
‘She had to retire early as she felt unwell.
We are both most concerned; but we are hoping it is no more than a head cold.’

‘I shall go at once and speak to
Mrs Nicholls. I wish she had not ridden, if I had not gone out she could have
used our carriage.’

‘Charles, if you gentlemen had
remained in, we should not have felt it necessary to invite Miss Bennet in the
first place.’

With these words ringing in his
ears he hurried to the housekeeper’s room and was relieved to find she was
still at her desk preparing the menus for the following day. ‘Nicholls, I am
most concerned to hear that Miss Bennet is unwell. I wish to make sure that you
are taking proper care of her. Does she have an abigail to attend her?’

The housekeeper, who had stood up
politely on his entrance, nodded. ‘Yes, sir, that has been taken care of. I
also went up myself with a soothing drink. She has a pitcher of fresh lemonade
at her bedside and I have instructed the girl to sleep in the dressing room on
the truckle bed so that she can hear the bell and attend to Miss Bennet immediately.’

‘Excellent. It would appear that
you have done everything necessary. I shall speak to you first thing to
ascertain how Miss Bennet is.’

He left Nicholls satisfied that
everything had been done as he would have wished. He did not want to join Darcy
and Hurst in the billiard room, but neither did he want to sit and chat to
Caroline and Louisa. He would go to the library; he would be private there.

The sconces were still alight and
it the work of moments to kindle a candlestick and take it with him. There was
no fire lit, but it was not unduly chilly. He sank into an armchair and tried
to make sense of his thoughts.