“Two of our four daughters show all the signs of being in love,” Bennet agreed as he looked toward Mary and Lizzy.
“Enough teasing! I am sorry I was preoccupied,” Lizzy re-joined playfully, “you old married people must remember what it was to be in love I am sure. If I am correct in my supposition, Papa it is three of your four daughters as my older and prettier sister will be in that state very soon, if she is not already so.”
“No, no I will not be.” Jane corrected Lizzy with calmness that did not fit the words of one declaring she was going to terminate her courtship with Charles Bingley. “I will not be, because I already am.” She continued eating calmly with a sly smile that grew as those around the table reacted to her declaration.
At her pronouncement Lizzy who was closest to Jane swatted her on the shoulder. “That is for making us all worry for poor Charles. Are you going to indicate the change in your feelings to him, Jane?”
“You know I am not as open with my feelings as you are Lizzy.” Jane smiled benevolently at her sister.
“True,” agreed the Countess. “Men are usually not open until they have some sign their feelings are returned. I think your Charles will hold back until he thinks you are in love with him. If you are waiting for him to declare himself to protect your heart, you could be in for a very long wait. Remember he was unsure of his reception in the beginning.”
“I agree with Elaine.” Fanny nodded once at her first daughter. “No one is suggesting you breach the rules of propriety, but a signal or clue of some kind would be most appropriate. Remember, you told him you were not in love with him yet when you agreed to the courtship.
“That is all he currently knows and as you correctly stated, you do not show your feelings as readily as Lizzy or the rest of your siblings. Just a little help will be needed.” She smiled lovingly at her most reserved daughter, knowing the reserve was because Jane felt pure emotions deeper than most could fathom or handle. That she admitted she was in love with Charles meant her love for him would never fade, and also, she would never be able to love another.
“I believe it was the wise and generous Charlotte Lucas that said a lady had better indicate her feelings rather than lose a man for his not knowing her heart.” Lizzy offered the sage advice of her friend.
“I will think on it, and if I feel comfortable, I will give Char... Mr. Bingley a clue.” Jane blushed, both from the continued observation of all at the table and the idea of what clue she might allow herself now that she knew her own heart.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
At Pemberley, the same subject being canvassed at Snowhaven was being discussed. Bingley was pacing back and forth in the billiards room while the other three gentlemen watched him with amusement.
Luckily the twins were not there to see their possible future brother in such a state. They were out riding the estate with Pemberley’s steward. An early morning ride with Darcy and the other two men had not been enough for them.
“What if she does not love me? What if she never comes to love me, how will I live without my angel? I do not want to be without her, but I know I am reaching too far above my station. She would be right to reject me...” he moaned in misery at the thought Jane would, in fact, reject him.
“Bingley, why are you working yourself into such a state?” Darcy refocused his friend from inward doubt.
“I have no idea whether Jane loves me, or if she ever will,” Bingley replied despondently.
“Has she done or said something to indicate such to you?” the Colonel prodded.
“Well...no. She has not yet...said anything,” Bingley admitted, his head down.
“Have you asked her?” The Colonel cut the younger man off.
Bingley went silent, mimicking a fish trying to breathe out of water; he was opening and closing his mouth emitting no sound. He was a man overcome with the misery of, so far, unrequited love and nervous the object of his affections may not ever return the affections he felt so deeply. Up to this point, logic was not part of the equation.
After what seemed like an age, politeness finally forced him to respond. “No, I have not asked her. Do you think I should?” he looked at the Colonel then glanced at the others to see their opinion.
“Only if you want an answer. Currently you are worrying without reason and consequently are wearing out Darcy’s rugs,” his brother Hurst stated drolly.
“What if she says no?” Bingley’s reply closely resembled a squeak. they would remind him of this after Jane relieved his suffering. If she did not, they would never mention it.
“Then at least you will know. Is that not better than uncertainty, my friend?” Darcy voiced the obvious truism. “Even if the answer is negative, which I personally do not think it will be, it is better to know one way or the other. Certainly, it would be better than sending yourself to Bedlam worrying about that which you cannot control. If you are lucky the cell next to Lady Catherine’s may yet be available.”
“As scared as I am of a negative response, I suppose you are all correct. I will find an opportunity to talk to her today. If one does not present itself, I will ask Mr. Bennet for a private interview with Jane, Miss Bennet,” Bingley stated with resolve, and as soon as he had determined to talk with her, he started to recover his good spirits and relax, which was appreciated by all.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As agreed, the carriages from Snowhaven arrived a half hour after lunch. All three single men were anxiously waiting on the front steps to see their loves, none more so than Charles Bingley.
Elizabeth and her mother joined Darcy and Mrs. Reynolds to start the tour, during which the approbation Pemberley’s housekeeper had for her soon to be mistress grew even more. The young miss was not going to make changes just because she could, which matched the intelligence provided by Darcy House’s housekeeper, and proved her taste matched the Master’s.
The group toured the three upstairs floors, leaving the master suite and the library for last. Darcy knew his Lizzy, like her father and himself, was a bibliophile. He wanted to see her face when she beheld the library.
The house was even bigger than Elizabeth had imagined. There were twenty chambers and the nursery with chambers for nursemaids on the family floor, and more than seventy guest chambers spread about on two floors with a number of sitting rooms for the guests.
