“You will come for tea soon, will you not Louisa,” Jane verified as she took her new friend’s hand in her own.
“I would like that, thank you,” Mrs Hurst replied warmly.
“Mr Hurst do you play chess?” Elizabeth enquired. The gentleman nodded. “Then Sir, I suggest you accompany your wife. My father always seeks opponents other than myself.”
“You play?” Hurst asked with raised eyebrows.
“I do. I even beat my father at the game at times. Papa is chagrined the student has become the master,” Elizabeth smiled.
“Had I been aware I would have challenged you once I had stopped acting the souse with Caroline in residence,” Hurst revealed. His statement made clear the reasons for thechanges the Bennet sisters had noted in Mr Hurst’s behaviour since Miss Bingley had been removed from society.
“Once you have played against Papa, I will be happy to accept a challenge from you,” Elizabeth assured the man.
“What a great pity Darcy was not aware of your skill while you were both in residence,” Hurst stated. If he noticed the scowl mentioning that name caused on Miss Elizabeth’s face, Hurst said not a word. “Darcy is a past champion at Cambridge, in fact, more than six years after he graduated from the university, most of his records still stand.”
As much as she disliked acknowledging any positive about Mr Darcy, Elizabeth had to admit, even if only to herself, she would have loved to have tested her prowess at the game against a champion. However, she was sure Mr Darcy would not lower himself to play against her, or any woman for that matter.
“Louisa, we thank you for your hospitality,” Jane said gratefully before she and Lizzy were about to board the Bennet carriage.
Fanny approached Mrs Hurst. “When will dear Mr Bingley return to his estate?” she attempted to elicit information. “What was the urgent business which drew him to London?”
Jane and Elizabeth were mortified by their mother’s overly forward and probing questions. Their father, who had already seated himself in the conveyance simply smirked as he watched his wife’s crass behaviour, but did nothing to stop it or alleviate his eldest two daughters’ public humiliation thanks to his wife’s actions. Elizabeth looked at her father, her eyes begging him to check his wife, but he moved not.
Jane and Elizabeth were fully cognisant of what thebusinesswas, but they would never tell anyone, not even their father. Although he did not gossip like their mother did, his penchant to tease and make fun of their mother—even Elizabeth had to own—meant he may say something on the subject to see what his wife’s reaction would be. If that occurred, the information would be known far and wide as soon as their mother ran to tell her sister and friends.
“My brother will return home when hisprivatebusiness is completed,” Mrs Hurst stated politely, but firmly.
Fanny sniffed and then turned and made her way to and boarded the Bennet carriage. “I am so sorry Louisa,” Elizabeth began to say, when her friend placed a hand on her arm.
“Lizzy, I was not offended. You forget I am used to London society, not to mention Caroline. Your mother’s questions were mild in comparison,” Mrs Hurst stated soothingly. “With the matchmaking which happens in Town, your mother’s actions are nothing when compared to the machinations of the mothers, and some fathers too, in so called polite society.”
The friends waved to each other, then Hurst handed his wife into their coach while the Longbourn footman assisted the last two Miss Bennets into their carriage.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
By the first Friday in November all the business Bingley and Darcy had needed to complete had been done.
With an entrée from the Earl of Matlock, and after demonstrating the annual cost of seven hundred and fifty pounds was no hardship—Bingley had paid for two years ahead—Caroline Bingley was accepted as the newestguestwho would reside atThe Sanctuaryon the Isle of Jersey. On Thursday past, a sedated Miss Caroline Bingley had been transported to the island.
Darcy had met with his solicitor regarding some outstanding issues. For the rest of his time in London, he had seen Gigi as much as possible. That meant he spent time with his aunt, uncle, and Becca as well. He gained much pleasure in seeing the improvements in his sister. It warmed his heart hisconfession about his own fallibility had gone such a long way towards healing Gigi. He thought about asking her and Becca—after he had his aunt’s permission to do so—to join him at Netherfield Park, but in the end, he decided not to at that time.
He did not escape being called on the carpet by the Earl and Countess. He had not told Gigi to keep confidential his letter where he owned to his rude and insultingfaux pasat the assembly, hence, it was not surprising when his aunt and uncle berated him for his words and behaviour. When he mentioned his difficulty apologising to the lady, he had been instructed to try harder.
One of the tasks Bingley had undertaken was to place his younger sister’s dowry into a trust. If the average returns Mr Edward Gardiner promised were even half of his projections, then the dividends would more than cover the annual costs of her care. Even had he needed to add some to it, what he would have spent was a fraction of the overspending he had covered for Caroline in the past.
One afternoon Bingley happened to be passing the jewellery store of Rundell and Bridge, when on a whim he entered. He thought of only one woman when he saw a ring with a large sapphire, not to mention the matching pendant, which was also gold, with the same type of stone. He intended to ask for at least a courtship before the ball. However, if Miss Bennet was amenable, he would request her hand in marriage.
As much as Bingley had fallen in and out of love before, and he openly acknowledged he had, he could now see the difference between an infatuation and love. Before it had been the former, but with Miss Bennet it was most definitely the latter. As sad as he was about having to commit his younger sister, he was in anticipation of a future with Miss Bennet, if she would have him.
Hence, the two friends commenced their return to Netherfield Park on the morning of Friday the sixth day of November.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
For the first half of the journey to Netherfield Park both friends had been in contemplation. For Darcy this was normal, but for Bingley it was not his wont to remain quiet for almost two hours.
“Darce?” Bingley called his friend’s attention to himself shortly after departing the inn where they had taken some refreshments and the horses had been allowed to rest.
“Yes, Bingley?” Darcy responded.
