“I thought I might call in on Miss Bingley.But we need not if you would prefer not to,” answered Jane.
“Would you be terribly cross with me if I did not wish to?I would much rather see Charlotte.”
“Of course.I have not seen Charlotte in some time.”
Kitty took off first, being the best horsewoman in the family, and Jane was close behind her on Andromeda.Elizabeth brought up the rear on the family’s faithful old mare.Nelly would need to be put out to pasture next year, but for now she was Elizabeth’s favorite mount as she was not as spirited as Jane’s mare or as strong as Hercules, their gelding and Kitty’s favorite.
Unbeknownst to the Bennets, Fate was agitated that day.She was frustrated with all the silly humans and all their ridiculous behavior, the way they took perfectly good chances she had practically gift wrapped for them and squandered them, and in a fit of pique, she sent a sudden rainstorm down to Hertfordshire.One minute the sky was blue and clear, and the next it was filled with dark clouds and spitting rain.
“Hurry!Under that tree!”called Jane.
The ladies all led their mounts to a large tree just off the road that would offer them shelter until the worst of the rain had passed.
“What should we do?”asked Kitty.
Jane looked at their surroundings.The road to Netherfield was just to their right and as Mr.Bingley’s soulmate, she could arrive wet and request a room to refresh themselves, but it was not ideal.A quarter mile up was the turn to Lucas Lodge, and they had known the Lucas family their entire lives.Showing up wet at the home of an old family friend was a much more palatable idea.They could continue on to Meryton to their Aunt Phillips, but that would require delivering their horses to the stable in town and listening to their aunt cluck over them getting wet for an hour.
“We could continue on to Lucas Lodge.It is closer than returning to Longbourn,” suggested Jane.
“I agree.I do not want to go into Meryton,” said Kitty.
Before Elizabeth could voice her agreement, they heard a great shout.
“Ho there, Miss Bennet!”
It was Mr.Bingley, riding alongside Mr.Darcy, both drenched and turning towards Netherfield.
“Ladies, come and dry off at Netherfield!You mustn’t stay out in this rain,” shouted Mr.Bingley over the storm.
Jane lit up when she saw him and before either of her sisters could say a thing, she was leading her horse to gallop alongside Bingley’s.
Kitty looked at Elizabeth and shrugged, then took off after her sister.Elizabeth shook her head and joined them.
“Do you not approve of continuing on to Netherfield, Miss Elizabeth?”called Mr.Darcy in his deep voice.
He really should not be so appealing when he was wet.It was unfair.Elizabeth knew he was unmarked, and therefore, off limits.The least he could do was be as unattractive as possible.
“I do not mind at all, Mr.Darcy.I do not wish to be wet through, though, so let us continue.”
He nodded and gestured for her to go ahead of him, and she galloped off behind her sister.
Elizabeth had gotten into a conversation on soul marks with Miss Bingley the last time they had called at Netherfield.Miss Bingley had told her that most members of the ton did not receive a mark—a fact Elizabeth already knew—and that her brother had only taken one because he was a romantic at heart and they had had a rather charming governess who made marks sound exciting and ideal.Before anyone knew what was happening, he had made the impulsive decision to be marked and announced it to the church at his ceremony, without any discussion with his parents or sisters.Their father was more than a little put out—he was afraid Bingley would match into the merchant class they were trying to remove themselves from or worse, with a servant.
“How lucky then that he matched with a gentlewoman from a landed family of longstanding,” Elizabeth had said.
Miss Bingley had smiled tightly.“None of his friends were so foolish.Take the Darcys, for example.They have not received a mark in sixty years.”
Elizabeth’s brows rose.She did not know why Miss Bingley was baiting her, but she would play along and see what she was up to.“Not a single one?That is odd.”
“Not particularly odd.Families such as the Darcys value more important things.Connections, accomplishments.You understand, surely.”She lifted her chin and looked down her nose at Elizabeth, and suddenly everything was clear.
Miss Bingley wished to wed Mr.Darcy—everyone already knew that—but for some reason, which was less clear to Elizabeth, she viewed the Bennets, and Elizabeth in particular, as a threat to that goal.
“I understand, Miss Bingley.Some people value fortune and position more than love and happiness.And some will do anything to achieve that which others are naturally born to.”
Miss Bingley bristled.
“Good afternoon.”She had walked away and said nothing further about it, but now, riding in the rain with Mr.Darcy, she wondered if Miss Bingley was more perceptive than she had given her credit for.
