Alias Thomas Bennet (17 page)

“Lizzy, on the other hand, was quiet for some days but since then has reverted to her cheerful self. She has never professed a marked interest in Mr. Darcy. But then neither has Jane stated her feelings for Mr. Bingley. It seems that
all
our family may be good at hiding things.”

“Perhaps when they come to Town for the Season, they may call on the Bingley ladies and measure the reality of the situation,” Mrs. Gardiner suggested.

***

Christmas was a season to be with friends and family, and as the Bennets spent time with theirs, so also did the Darcys, Bingleys, and Hursts.

As he had told Mr. Bennet was his plan, Darcy had collected his sister and taken her to Pemberley, stayed for Christmas and then spent some time visiting relatives in Matlock. There were plenty of family festivities, but even so, he had ample time to be alone and reflect on his recent decisions and future direction.

Darcy considered his discussion with Thomas Bennet the evening of the Netherfield ball. Bennet had chastised him for his apparent interest in Elizabeth, and he was correct in doing so; Darcy had shown her too much attention. Yet how could he not? He was spellbound by her. She was original, imaginative and the most intelligent woman he had ever encountered. She made him feel important whenever she engaged him in conversation; being around her made him long to have her as his own.

When her father pointedly mentioned Elizabeth’s disapproval of Darcy, his eyes had widened in disbelief, and for an instant, he was unable to maintain his composure. He was so certain he had earned her approbation, particularly in light of their frequent verbal repartee, which he perceived as flirtatious. He felt panicked when he realized his feelings might not be requited, but in any case, it would not do; he could not allow himself to become any more entangled than he already was. He argued with Bennet that friendship was all he expected, yet the powerful feeling in his breast said otherwise. He could no longer deny it: he was desperately in love, yet due to her situation he could not offer for her. It pained him greatly.

Bennet had given him reason to believe Elizabeth was more substantially dowered than rumoured, but fortune was not as important to Darcy as his family’s expectation that he marry within the first circles of society. Although her father was a gentleman and his friend, Elizabeth’s connections were mostly in trade, and her situation did lower her worth in the hierarchy he was raised to believe determined a proper marriage.

His tender feelings warred with his sense of duty. She had become vital to his happiness, and he did not know what he would do without her. The concept of another woman as his wife was distasteful. But he knew his obligation and decided it was best to stay away from Hertfordshire and attempt to find a more suitable bride within the
ton
. His aunt and uncle were always trying to forward Lady this-or-that, but he dared not hope that there would be an acceptable bride interested in more than his fortune, whose vivacity and unique beauty rivalled that of Elizabeth Bennet. He felt it unlikely that such a woman existed.

Miss Bingley’s entreaties to convince her brother to stay in Town rather than return to Netherfield and to discourage any match with Miss Jane Bennet were also on Darcy’s mind. Darcy had frequently been at Longbourn with Bingley, and his observations left him in no doubt that Bingley had a strong regard for Miss Bennet. Darcy’s friendship with Bennet allowed him opportunity to discern that, however serene and unaffected she might seem to the eyes of the casual observer, Miss Jane Bennet was very likely in love with Bingley. He had not specifically said so to Bingley but had insinuated his viewpoint in a general sense and felt that Bingley was intelligent enough to come to the same conclusion.

However, these were just Darcy’s opinions, and he did not want to appear intrusive by trying to influence Bingley in any particular direction. He would leave them be and let the romance take its natural course. He found it ironic that he would not allow the same for himself but rationalized that his situation was quite different; a marriage to a gentleman’s daughter would improve Bingley’s status, but a marriage into a family with such low connections would not be right for a Darcy.

The Bingleys and Hursts spent Christmas at the estate of Mr. Hurst’s parents in Hampshire and did not return to London until the start of the New Year, though Miss Bingley constantly pleaded with her brother to inveigle an invitation to Pemberley. Bingley’s feelings were warring in a way similar to Darcy’s, as he was a fair way to being convinced of a significant affection from Miss Bennet but allowed himself to be influenced by his officious sisters and led to believe he should avoid the connection. Since Thomas Bennet was a gentleman and an estate owner, Bingley believed an alliance with Bennet’s family would be a step up for him, but his sisters pointed out that the eldest two Bennet sisters’ lack of fortune and questionable parentage was detrimental to any sort of good match. Although Darcy did not speak of it, Bingley suspected his friend had a strong admiration of Miss Elizabeth that he was walking away from, likely for the same reason.

In any case, his sisters assured him there was no affection on Miss Bennet’s side. This confused him and left him heartbroken, but Bingley was eventually persuaded to leave Hertfordshire and Miss Bennet behind. He felt guilty in allowing the improvement of his family’s situation to stand in the way of his regard for Miss Bennet, but he loved his sister, and Miss Bingley depended upon his improved connections in order to marry well.

Therefore, the two men who had rationalized away their own happiness were not good company for their families that winter. How could they be? Their futures were bleak. They had resigned themselves to giving up the women of their dreams to suit the wishes and hopes of their relations.

Chapter 11:
Lady Catherine interrogates Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and a romance is rekindled.

February 1812

Time passed, as time is wont to do, with the day-to-day goings-on at Longbourn stimulating and warm enough to take the bite off the winter cold. Soon, the crocuses, snowdrops, daffodils, and early violets heralded the spring, and Elizabeth, Mary and Jane journeyed to London to visit the Gardiners on Gracechurch Street and assist in the care of their cousins, two girls of six and eight, and two younger boys. As they travelled, Elizabeth could not help but notice that Jane still had a melancholy air and suspected her sister was pining after Mr. Bingley, but she and Mary were resolved that an escape would be good for Jane, and they looked forward to the diversions that London had to offer. As the carriage neared the house, Elizabeth hugged herself in anticipation. She relished the change of scenery, and as much as she loved Longbourn, she was always happy to see her London relations.

Even though Elizabeth was busy in Town, there were still times when she missed her family. But she was able to bear the separation because weekly letters were received, usually written by her father and always with input from her mother and sisters, detailing the goings-on at Longbourn and environs.

She learned that her younger sisters not only were working diligently on their studies but also were entertaining themselves with novels, needlework, trimming bonnets, and the like. Elizabeth was pleased to hear that Kitty had painted miniatures of both her parents. As she read the letters aloud to Jane and Mary, the descriptions of drama provided by their youngest sister drew many laughs. Mr. Bennet also admitted that his impatience and impulsivity had been discovered by Lydia, who had taken advantage and bested him in chess, thus he was attempting to talk Kitty into taking some time to practise so that he would have another daughter with whom to play.

The three eldest girls responded in kind from Gracechurch Street. Elizabeth was flattered that she was most often called upon to amalgamate their experiences. There were always plenty of things to share, including animated descriptions of the antics of their young cousins, commentary on the latest books that had been read, and outings to museums and the theatre. As always, Uncle Gardiner spoiled his nieces in the selection of lovely fabrics from his warehouses, after which Aunt Gardiner accompanied them to her modiste to have new dresses made up in the latest fashion. Jane and Mary listened to Elizabeth’s retelling of their adventures with amusement, and related their own lively anecdotes for her to include in the letters.

Although Elizabeth was sceptical about their reception, shortly after their arrival in Town, she and her sisters called on Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst in Grosvenor Square. Elizabeth was not surprised to hear Mr. Bingley’s sisters make excuses that they were about to go out to a prior-arranged engagement. She was not deceived, but she was displeased by their coolness and the discourteous dismissal of their visitors. Although they promised to return the call soon, Elizabeth knew it was an acquaintance they would rather not continue.

However unaffected Elizabeth was for herself, she was disgruntled by the ladies’ indifference towards Jane, whom Caroline had once declared a special friend. Elizabeth saw that Jane’s spirits had been lifted by the call and worried that her sister’s reasonable expectation of meeting Mr. Bingley through his sisters would not be assisted by the ladies from Grosvenor Square, and that, ultimately, Jane’s disappointment would be restored.

It soon came time for her visit in London to end, and Elizabeth looked forward to the new travels that were in store for her. Charlotte Lucas had wed Mr. Collins in January and extracted a promise from Elizabeth to visit her in March. So while Jane and Mary stayed on to anticipate the height of the Season, Elizabeth was collected by Sir William and Maria Lucas for her visit to Hunsford.

Elizabeth noticed that Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst still had not returned the call by the time of her departure a fortnight later.

***

5 March 1812
Kent

Elizabeth was glad to journey to Kent to see her dear friend—less so her friend’s husband—with Sir William and Maria Lucas. She found the scenery along the roadways to be quite enchanting and enjoyed the conversation during the trip, although Sir William was more verbose than necessary regarding his visit to St. James’s. The parsonage, its grounds and the surrounding meadows were pleasing to the eye, and Mr. Collins made no waste of time in pointing out the attributes of the abode, including the various items where Lady Catherine had condescended to advise improvements and oversee every minute detail.

In spite of her misgivings about her friend’s marriage, Elizabeth was reassured when she saw that Charlotte seemed well settled and satisfied with her situation. “Remember, Lizzy, I am not as romantic as you. I have conveniently contrived to keep Mr. Collins exercising in his garden and attending to his patroness. He is so busy that I scarce see him outside of mealtimes. So you see, I am quite content with my lot.”

In short order and to the excitement of Maria Lucas, the daughter of Mr. Collins’s benefactor, Miss Anne de Bourgh, stopped at the garden gate with her little phaeton. From her bedroom window, Elizabeth could see that Miss de Bourgh was a tiny creature with a somewhat cross countenance.

The next day, the party was invited to dinner at Rosings Park after Sunday service. Mr. Collins was ecstatic over this turn of events and regaled his visitors with inane chatter about the grandeur of the house, the costs of the furnishings and the compliment paid to them by the swift invitation.

Elizabeth was stunned by the aesthetics of Rosings Park, though not in the same way as her cousin. She observed that the house and grounds were excessively formal and overly ostentatious. No detail was spared in ornamentation, and Elizabeth was not surprised to see the owner was similarly adorned and bejewelled and in expectation of the compliments showered on her by Mr. Collins.

Upon closer notice, Elizabeth saw that Miss de Bourgh was small and slender, and although she was as pale and sickly as she had appeared at a distance, she was not so
very
plain or disagreeable-looking. Lady Catherine was a large and domineering woman who quickly commanded the attention of all, rendering her daughter an unnecessary part of the conversation. As Elizabeth had expected from Mr. Collins’s narratives, the great lady’s opinions were deemed to be next to none other, and she was not stingy in providing advice to Charlotte on how to keep her house. Upon recollection of the entailment of Longbourn to Mr. Collins, Lady Catherine expounded with pride that Rosings was not entailed to the male line, and Anne would inherit the whole.

Her ladyship then turned to interrogating Elizabeth, enquiring about her family and the education and various accomplishments of the Bennet girls. Elizabeth, although somewhat embarrassed by being the centre of the inquiry, answered respectfully. Lady Catherine was surprised that none of the girls had been presented at St. James’s court, but indicated Anne had not been presented due to her ill health. Lady Catherine made many queries regarding Elizabeth’s parents and the origins of her family, including where distant cousins might be located.

“I cannot help but feel that you resemble my dear friend who passed away many years ago, but it seems impossible that a family with such low connections as yours could be attached to so prominent a person,” she said imperiously. “It must be mere coincidence, as I compliment myself that my memory is considered to be one of the best in the country, and I recall my friend’s face as if it were yesterday.”