“That is all the evidence I require,” said Bingley, turning away from his sisters, afraid he would say something regrettable if he did not. “I never knew you were capable of such willful deceit and betrayal, though I suppose it was obvious. Jane Bennet wasnevergood enough for you, for you wished for something more, something for which I care nothing at all.”
“For my part,” said Louisa softly, “I apologize, Brother. It was wrong of us to keep this from you.”
“Yes, it was wrong, indeed,” said Bingley, the pain in his heart growing at what he had lost.
“Hurst,” said he, glancing at his brother-in-law, “you should hold to your plans and take my sisters to our family in the north. Perhaps Aunt Beatrice can knock some sense into them. It seems whatever good behavior my parents tried to instill did not fall on fertile ground.”
“What do you mean to do, Brother?” asked Caroline, sounding more than a little fearful.
“At present, I hardly know,” replied Bingley. “It has been above seven months since I last saw Jane Bennet. Given the weakness of character members of my family have displayed, I cannot say if she will want to have anything to do with me again. All I can say at this point is that I cannot give her up so easily. She may reject me, but if she does, at least I will not remain ignorant of her sentiments.”
With those last words, Bingley let himself out of the room. His purpose he had not yet determined, but he had spoken the truth to his sisters. Whereas he had intended to go to Netherfield in September on Darcy’s recommendation, now he did not think he could delay that long and had no desire to be with his sisters. Perhaps he could persuade Darcy to go with him rather than return to Pemberley.
There was also the matter of Darcy’s knowledge of these events. Bingley did notthinkhis friend would have kept such goings-on from him. Darcy’s code by which he acted might very well have allowed him to keep secrets from Bingley if he thought it was for Bingley’s good. If he thought so, Bingley meant to disabuse him of the sentiment and ensure he never did as much again. Besides, given what Bingley had overheard of his sisters’ conversation, he now suspected that Darcy was harboring secrets of his own. Bingley knew he might not have a right to them, but he meant to ask all the same. Carolinewould not appreciate the irony, but perhaps they would end up brothers after all.
Then again, given Miss Elizabeth’s combative stance toward Darcy, his friend might not gain what he wanted without a fight if he was interested in a closer relationship with the fiery woman. Bingley chuckled and shook his head; Miss Bennet with her placid loveliness was what Bingley preferred, such that he could not imagine such a woman as Miss Elizabeth for a wife. Darcy, however, would no doubt relish the challenge she provided, and she was more than a match for him intellectually. It would be an interesting battle of wits if nothing else.
When he reached his room, Bingley took several steps at once. He sent for his valet, and while he was waiting for him, he wrote a quick note to his uncle apologizing for his change of plans. Granger appeared soon after, taking his master’s new instructions without batting a lash, and the letter to summon an express rider for the north. Bingley instructed him to prepare for an immediate departure once those tasks were complete, then sent his man on his way.
As difficult as it was to feel this way, Bingley had no intention of staying in the house a moment longer than necessary and nothing more to say to Caroline at present. Tonight, he would stay in a hotel, and then make his way to his friend’s house on the morrow. Depending on Darcy’s response to Bingley’s question, he might even go to Netherfield the day after, and he may just have some company when he went. The thought of seeing Miss Bennet again was so pleasant, that Bingley reflected on it until his man returned.
Chapter V
As the day dawned, Elizabeth had no notion that day would be the longest and most consequential of her life.
It was a typical day in Hertfordshire, Elizabeth rising early though not with the sun, and setting out on her usual morning constitutional, her thoughts a jumble as she walked. Much of what she considered centered on the situation with Lydia, of course, for her father had not yet decided concerning his youngest daughter’s proposed visit to Brighton. That Lydia had not thought to even ask for permission, instead considering it a fait accompli, did not sit well with Elizabeth’s sense of what was right. The sometimes pinched looks she noted her father directing at her youngest sister also informed Elizabeth that he had not missed it either and was not happy with her behavior.
Whether that would be enough to weigh the scales in favor of her father withholding his permission Elizabeth could not say. For so long as she could hope, she intended to do just that, reflecting that Lydia’s continued poor behavior did nothing to assist her wish to be allowed to go. The longer her father delayed, the more Elizabeth’s hope grew, for as Lydia’s behavior worsened, so did the chances that her father would lose patience with her antics. That this might also provoke him to allow her to go if only to be rid of her for a time did not escape Elizabeth’s attention, but she focused on the former rather than the latter.
That day it became apparent that unless someone exerted some control over the heedless girl, none of the family could endure her even until the regiment was to depart. Lydia exclaimed her good fortune and attempted to use it to get whatever she could in new dresses and other such items. In this, she was not nearly as successful as she hoped, for Mr. Bennet didnot appear interested in allowing her to have her way.
“Of course, you must have new clothes!” said Mrs. Bennet that morning at the breakfast table when Lydia insisted on it for what seemed like the thousandth time. “We would not send you to Brighton to look like a vagabond before all the officers.”
Lydia moaned with pleasure at the notion of parading before those fine gentlemen as she usually did, but before she could say anything, her father spoke up.
“Does Lydianeednew clothes, Mrs. Bennet?”
The girl shot him a look of betrayal and opened her mouth to speak, but he silenced her with a glare. That accomplished, he turned back to his wife and raised an eyebrow at her. Mrs. Bennet appeared a little flustered, such that she did not respond immediately.
“Unless my memory is faulty,” said Mr. Bennet when his wife did not speak at once, “I seem to recall several notices from the dressmaker requesting payment only a few short weeks ago. Was Lydia cruelly denied new dresses so all her sisters could indulge, or was she included in that purchase?”
“Well,” said Mrs. Bennet slowly, frowning at her youngest, who was even now scowling at her father, “wedidmake several purchases recently. The younger girls had outgrown their dresses; I had new frocks sewn for their use.”
“I see,” said Mr. Bennet. “In saying you had afewnew dresses made, might I assume you had them created at great expense? The invoice was larger than warranted if you only ordered afewgowns.”
“Papa!” exclaimed Lydia, no longer able to hold her temper. “I must order new dresses, for I have nothing fit to wear to all the balls and parties I shall attend in Brighton!”
“Yes, I heard you spout that bit of nonsense before, Lydia,” said Mr. Bennet. “I doubt a summer in Brighton will be nearly so enchanting as you suppose. The question before us is whetheryou possess serviceable clothing for the next several months, for I should not like to endure another such assault on our finances as the last time proved to be.”
“I suppose,” replied Mrs. Bennet, “Lydia has enough gowns. We certainly purchased her more than any of the other girls, particularly since she has grown so much this past year.”
“Mama!” whined Lydia.
“No, Lydia,” said Mr. Bennet, his tone as firm as any he had ever used with his youngest daughter. “You have enough clothing. There is no need to make further purchases now given the sufficiency of your wardrobe. Be happy with your good fortune.”
It could not be supposed that a young girl of the character of Lydia Bennet would take such a setback with equanimity, and for some time after, she cast reproachful looks at her father and mother. Mrs. Bennet appeared not to notice, for she was deep in thought, while Mr. Bennet ignored her, showing far greater cheer than she thought he had the right to display.
Even this did not dampen Lydia’s spirits for long, for she soon put the matter to the side and returned to some other silliness, and the crowing began again. With the sounds of her laughter ringing throughout the house, it was not long before Elizabeth yearned to be away from her, if only for a time, such that she conceived a plan to walk to Meryton. It is said that the most carefully executed plans can often falter, for her youngest sister caught wind of her intentions and seemed to think it an excellent notion, frustrating Elizabeth’s designs.
