A quarter of an hour later, Jane had done what she could with her appearance with Daisy and Kitty’s help. She could not help wishing that she had a lace cap, but sadly, there was no lady in the house who wore them with regularity. She was told that while the master’s married sister was in residence, Mrs Hurst rarely wore them. Jane was now in a chair by the fire, with candles all around while Kitty sketched her likeness.
“I considered practising while you were asleep, but since you could not agree, it felt wrong somehow,” the young lady said as she worked. Jane did not speak much, for she was keeping still for the sketch, but Kitty was loquacious enough for both of them in her younger sister’s absence. Miss Bennet’s sister told Jane all about her family and the locals. Jane even learned details that she had not written, such as Kitty’s favourite flavour of jam, and the fact that Mr Phillips was the grandson of a baronet.
Therewouldalso be new characters in this delusion of hers. Kitty informed her that a Mr Rupert Hurst, a parson who was the younger brother of Mr Bingley’s brother-in-law, was already in residence. Also of interest was that Miss Bingley’s betrothed, a Captain Sir George Arundel, was in residence as well. Captain Arundel was the fourth son of a viscount who distinguished himself in the navy, earning him a staggering amount of prize money, and a knighthood for his services. All Kitty said was that he and Miss Bingley werevery well suited, which Jane took to mean that he must be an unpleasant sort of person. Still, Jane was all anticipation to meet him and this Mr Rupert Hurst, and hoped that she would be well enough to go downstairs in the morning.
Kitty finished the first of the sketches quickly, then began another as she informed Jane that her mother was miffed with Mrs Bingley for taking Elizabeth to live with her, when Mrs Bennet believed that Lydia would do much better with Mrs Bingley. Jane, upon reflection–even unsure what had happened between Lydia Bennet and Lieutenant Wickham–had to agree with this idea. Lydia likely could do with ladylike influence away from Longbourn, but she understood why Mrs Bingley would require Elizabeth’s support, especially if she were obligedto live with Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst. Jane was eager to see how Mrs Bingley managed her sisters-in-law.
In an hour, Kitty had produced three lovely sketches and it did not rankle Jane’s vanity at all to allow their distribution. As if by magic, a footman appeared with a trolley and served them on trays. Once they were alone, they dined and conversed for an hour, Kitty telling Jane about interests and hopes that Jane had never attributed to her, and Jane liked the young lady’s refreshing company a great deal.
“I fear I am no great reader of books,” Kitty confessed. “When I try to read, Lydia makes fun of me and says I am attempting to imitate Lizzy. I tried to select a book from Papa’s library once, but I knew not where to start. I am too frightened to ask Lizzy, she is so clever. I feel so mutton-headed asking for her advice. When I asked Papa to recommend a book for me, he gave me one that is in Greek!”
It crossed Jane’s mind that Mr Bennet might be more cruel with his wit than she intended. “You should not be ashamed to ask your sister, I am certain she would be delighted and touched if you did.”
“Do you think so?” asked Kitty. “Lizzy told me earlier that you remember nothing about your life other than your sister is named Cassandra, and that you have brothers, but that you have a great deal of education and knowledge of books. What do you recommend that I should read?”
“A young girl such as yourself must certainly enjoy Frances Burney,” Jane advised. “I particularly likeEvelinaandCecilia. And if you want to try some poetry, I prefer Cowper.”
Kitty was excited by this, and Daisy was sent to the library to procure the volumes, if indeed they could be found. Poor Daisy could not read, and Mrs Nicholls was shortly thereafter found searching for the titles in the library by Elizabeth after dinner. The novels by Frances Burney were available in Mr Bingley’s library, and Elizabeth had a book of Cowper in her room. She bade the party downstairs an early goodnight and joined the other two ladies upstairs. They read to one another for two hours, occasionally exclaiming over the story, making jokes, and breaking into laughter, before Daisy announced that there was a late night bath waiting for Jane in the dressing room to help her sore injuriesso that she might sleep without laudanum. Miss Bennet and Kitty bid her good night. As she soaked in the blissfully hot water, Jane mused to herself that in the future, Miss Kitty ought to feel no hesitation in approaching her sister about reading material.
Chapter Four
Friday 4 December1812
Jane awoke the following morning feeling much better. Her head scarcely ached, and the soreness from her bruises was much less perceptible.Daisy must be at her breakfast,Jane thought as she rose from her bed and made her way to the dressing room. After she dressed herself and washed with the water in the pitcher, she found a morning gown that was equally as lovely as the one from the day before hanging near a mirror.
She blessed Jane Bingley’s generosity, good taste, and practicality as she donned the frock that was easily fastened by herself and tied the matching ribbon under her bosom. She sat at the dressing table and pulled her hair into a simple chignon, and as usual, her small curls needed no improvement. She believed she looked younger today without her lace cap than she had in some time. This suited her mood, for she had enjoyed herself delightfully with the younger ladies the evening before.
“Oh, miss! Where’re ye goin’?” cried Daisy in surprise as Jane encountered her in the shared sitting room.
“I am feeling much better, I thought I might visit the library, and perhaps break my fast downstairs, if it would not inconvenience Mrs Bingley,” Jane answered.
“Oh, I’m sure that would be fine, miss, but ye can’t go down the stairs alone. Mr Jones’s orders,” Daisy objected. “The apothecary told Mrs Bingley that ye must be assisted for a fortnight, for yer in danger of faintin’ from the lump on yer ‘ead. Wait just a mo, miss.”
The maid laid the pile of linens she was carrying on a table and returned to the hall, then soon came back with a footman. “James will show ye to the library, miss. Be sure to take ‘is arm, Mr Jones said ye could lose yer balance, like.”
Jane thanked her and promised to find a footman when she was ready to return upstairs. James did not speak as they descended the stairs, Jane with one hand on the railing and the other resting lightly on his arm. They found Miss Bennet downstairs in the hall wearing a fawn pelisse and walking boots with her dark green walking dress.
“Miss Jane! You look quite well!” The younger lady smiled at the footman as she took Jane’s other arm. “I will accompany our guest, thank you, James.”
Jane searched Elizabeth’s face as the footman left them; the younger lady still looked tired and strained. “Miss Bennet, though it is not my business, I must ask. When I woke the other day, you looked tired and anxious. I thought it must be from tending me, but you do not appear to have rested again. Are you well? If I can provide you with a listening ear, I encourage you to tell me.”
“Oh! No… no… I am not unwell. Merely sleeping ill. It must be the new bed.” Miss Bennet’s eyes flicked away.
“Well if you change your mind, I am prepared to listen,” Jane assured her. “I believe Miss Kitty told me that you are a great walker in the morning. Though I might not mind a short walk in the garden after breakfast, I am not ready for the exhilarating march I sense you enjoy. If you might show me where the library is, I shall be very happy to pass the time until breakfast exploring the stacks.”
“I fear you will not find many stacks in my brother’s library, though there is always something to read. His friend has promised to help himimprove it, and so I confess, I look forward to seeing what new volumes they find.”
Elizabeth and Jane entered the library to find a tall, handsome gentleman with short, dark hair, and startling blue eyes standing before a shelf with a volume in his hand..Oh heavens, this demi-god could only be Darcy.Jane was startled by his impossibly handsome features. He could not possibly be shorter than six feet and three inches in his stocking feet, more in his boots, obviously, and was quite a proper man, if Jane said so herself.Look at those eyelashes!For a fleeting second she could not help but envy Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
“Mr Darcy!” Miss Bennet squeaked. “We did not expect you for two more days.”
“Miss Bennet.” Darcy bowed to both of them. “Unfortunately the inn we were to stay at for the night burned down, and in the following two towns, we would have had to share with strangers, they were so full. I might have done so if it were only me and Colonel Fitzwilliam, but I could not impose on my sister and her companion in such a way, so we were obliged to press on until we reached Netherfield. It was quite late when Bingley received us. I believe it was said that you retired early.”
“Miss Darcy is here? I hope she is well,” Miss Bennet said after a moment of uncomfortable silence. “I do not recall Jane mentioning that she was visiting with you.”
Darcy’s eyes pierced Elizabeth mysteriously, then he turned away from her without answering. He looked at Jane and said, “I beg your pardon, madam.” Then he said to Elizabeth. “I assume this is the house guest Bingley told me about? The one you found?”
“Yes. Mr Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire, may I present Miss Jane – as she is called – to your acquaintance. She wished to explore my brother’s library until she broke her fast.”
