Louisa added her voice, saying firmly. “It is your duty, Mr. Darcy, as our brother’s oldest friend, to remind him of his obligations. He has fallen in love with angels before. This time is no different.”
Darcy gave a grave nod. That evening, after the ladies had performed upon the pianoforte, Darcy went in search of Bingley and found him in his study.
Charles sat at his desk, papers strewn across the surface, yet the man himself sat idle, staring into the fire at the far end of the room. He looked up as Darcy entered.
“Darcy, I am very unsettled tonight. My sisters have spent the past hour telling me all the reasons I should forsake my dear Jane, and I am wearied with their counsel. Did you come to add your own arguments to theirs?”
Darcy remained standing, looking down at Bingley, who appeared greatly distressed. “I come as your friend, Charles, and because of that, I must speak plainly. Miss Bennet has captivated you with her beauty and her elegant manners, but I question whether she truly returns your regard. She is sweet and polite to everyone she addresses, both men and women. Are you certain she shows a preference for you, a preference strong enough to forsake all others for you alone?”
Bingley flushed and looked down at his hands. “Jane is naturally a modest woman, and she is more reserved than most. But I have seen enough in her expressions and smiles to believe she likes me. In fact, I believe my dear Jane is in love with me.”
Darcy pressed harder. “Believe me, Charles, I understand the temptation you face. But I would remind you that you have fancied yourself in love before, with angels whom you forgot not two weeks after you met them. What if your attraction to Jane Bennet is no different? In this case, you must consider more than matters of the heart. You will gain nothing in fortune, and nothing in social standing either. On the contrary, you risk much. I believe Miss Bennet’s heart is untouched. I observed her closely at the ball, and to my mind, she smiled no differently at you than at the other gentlemen who sought her hand. I wish only to spare you the pain of a misalliance.”
Silence stretched between them. At last, Bingley sighed and pushed the papers aside. “I know you are right, Darcy. I have known it since my sisters first brought it to my attention, but I did not wish to hear it. I would not have listened to them, for they are often so prejudiced against good people merely because they are not of high birth. But I cannot dismiss your judgment. I must concede that if Jane truly cared for me, she would have made her feelings plain so that I might know how to act. I havedeceived myself where Jane is concerned, because I wanted it so very much.”
Darcy placed his hand upon Bingley’s shoulder, as he sat bowed beneath his grief. “I only wish to spare you from a lifetime of misery, Charles. It is better to bear a little pain now than to suffer lasting regret hereafter.”
Bingley rose and crossed the room to pour himself a drink. “Very well, my friend. I shall do as you and my sisters have advised. I will go to Town, attend to business, and put time between myself and Miss Bennet. Perhaps then I shall see clearly.”
Darcy placed a hand upon his friend’s shoulder. “It is for the best.”
That night, their trunks were packed. Bingley left the next morning alone, explaining to the household that he had business with his attorney. He had spoken to Jane at the ball about his plan to leave, but gave no farewell now that he meant to leave her behind forever.
Chapter 13: Taking Leave
The next day, Darcy, Richard, and Georgiana called at Longbourn to pay their respects. Mr. Bennet made apologies for Mrs. Bennet, who was confined to her bed with a head cold. The gentlemen paid their respects to the Bennets with polite civility, and Darcy asked Mr. Bennet how he had enjoyed the ball. He and Richard kept Mr. Bennet engaged so that Georgiana might speak with Elizabeth. The two young ladies sat together upon a small couch in the corner, speaking in low tones while Mary and Kitty listened to the men.
“Miss Elizabeth,” Georgiana asked, “may I write to you? I should be most unhappy if this were truly goodbye.”
Elizabeth smiled at the young girl. “Yes, of course. I should like that very much.”
Georgiana sighed. “I am sorry to leave so soon. I have been so happy here in Hertfordshire. The town is charming, and I have especially loved spending time with you.”
Elizabeth leaned a little nearer and said, “We expect my cousin, the heir to Longbourn, next week. He is coming to look us over, hoping to marry one of us, since my father’s estate is entailed away from the female line. Our cousin wishes to make amends through marriage. I only pray that he is sensible and moderately good-looking, for one of us must marry him. Do not be melancholy. I will write all about it, and it will be as if you were here with us.”
Georgiana’s eyes widened, and Elizabeth laughed softly at her expression. “So you see, we shall continue to be friends if your brother allows us to correspond.”
Georgiana pressed Elizabeth’s hand. “Oh, he will let us write to each other. My brother says you are a model of what a woman should be.” Elizabeth’s gaze flickered to Darcy, and she saw that he was watching her. A spark of resentment rose in Elizabeth as she watched him turn back to her father, composed and entirely at ease in society, the very picture of a gentleman, though he had not scrupled to speak of her family in company.
When the time came for farewells, Darcy stepped forward. He explained briefly, “Mr. Bingley has already departed to attend to business with his attorney.” He did not add that Netherfield would be closed by the end of the week and that Bingley had no intention of returning. That disclosure he had left to Caroline. He spoke his farewells to her father and then moved to where she and Georgiana had been sitting.
Elizabeth stood up when the men rose to leave, and she waited quietly, looking at the floor. Her heart was so full of emotions that her throat tightened and tears threatened to fall.
“Good-bye, Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy said quietly.
She did not look at him. “Good-bye, Mr. Darcy.”
It was an awkward moment that was broken when Georgiana leaned in and embraced her. Elizabeth’s arms wrapped around the young girl, and they held one another fast for several moments.
“This is not farewell, Georgiana,” Elizabeth whispered. “It is onlyau revoir. We shall write, and it will be fun.”
Georgiana blinked back tears, but Elizabeth pressed her hand firmly. The promise of friendship steadied them both.
Richard stepped closer and took Elizabeth’s hand with affectionate warmth. “It has been a true pleasure to know you,Miss Elizabeth. I am ordered to the Continent for the next two years, so there is little chance we shall meet again soon. I wish you all the best.”
Elizabeth looked up at the colonel and smiled. “It has been my pleasure to know you as well, Colonel. I shall pray that God will be with you on the Continent.”
He bowed over her hand, wishing he could say more, wishing there could be more between them.
