“Very well,” said Mr. Darcy, appearing relieved. “I will say, however, that I now understand the justice of your assertions. Bingley’s fascination was never in doubt; now that I understand her better, I cannot but suppose that your sister’s feelings are obvious to anyone who observes them.”
“Has Mr. Bingley said anything of his intentions?” asked Elizabeth, curious rather than concerned.
“Only in the most oblique terms,” replied Mr. Darcy. “He told us that he means to have her as his wife, but he said nothing of the timing.”
“That is well then,” replied Elizabeth. “There is no question now of his determination; I am content.”
“Mrs. Bennet,” said Mr. Bingley at that moment, his voice drawing Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy’s attention away from each other, “I should like to repay your hospitality by having your family join us at Netherfield for dinner.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bingley,” said the Bennet matron. “We should be delighted to attend.”
While Mr. Bingley made the offer, that office belonged by right to his sister, and one look atherinformed anyone who cared to look that she was not at all pleased by the notion. Elizabeth supposed she might simply be unhappy that he had usurped her position, but at that point, it truly did not signify. Miss Bingley did not take the trouble to hide her opposition to herbrother’s designs; Elizabeth had known this since long before her appearance that morning at Longbourn.
“Please forgive me,” continued Mr. Bingley, “for I have not yet spoken with Caroline to determine the date. As Mrs. Nichols is still hiring staff at Netherfield, it may be best to delay it until we rectify that deficiency. But I did not wish to depart today without issuing our invitation, given your kindness in receiving us when we appeared at your door without warning.”
“Hospitality superior to anything I have ever known,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam. “My family agrees with my opinion on the subject.”
Whether Lady Catherine would consent to his assertion was an open question in Elizabeth’s mind, though Anne and Mr. Darcy both spoke of their concurrence. Colonel Fitzwilliam did not mean to include Miss Bingley, for the woman had been absent on the occasion in question, and her dark look left no possibility of misinterpreting her opinion. Now that Elizabeth noticed her, she saw Lydia was quite close and was speaking with blithe unconcern, no doubt about her favorite subject. Miss Bingley did not appreciate such talk of the officers, yet it was clear something had caught her attention, for she did not move away.
“We are pleased to accept whenever convenient,” said Mrs. Bennet.
Mr. Bingley looked to Mr. Darcy and asked: “Perhaps after your sister arrives?”
“Miss Darcy is to join you?” asked Mrs. Bennet.
“When we receive confirmation from my uncle,” said Mr. Darcy, “Fitzwilliam and I shall escort George Wickham to his fate. I shall collect Georgiana and return with her to Netherfield Park.”
“She is a wonderful girl,” enthused Miss Bingley. “Louisa and I consider her quite the dearest creature in the world.”
The woman paused, her gaze raking over them all. “I will say she is unaccustomed to such company, but I suspect it will do her no harm.”
Mrs. Bennet understood the insult in Miss Bingley’s words, yet for a change she did not deign to betray any overt sign of it. “I am certain my girls will be vastly pleased to make her acquaintance.”
“As she will be to make theirs,” said Mr. Darcy. “In Derbyshire, there are few girls her age. Before I came to Hertfordshire, Georgiana spoke to me of her eagerness to meet so many such agreeable young ladies.”
“What sort of girl is your sister, Mr. Darcy?” asked Mrs. Bennet.
“She is reticent, much as I am myself,” replied the gentleman. “Georgiana’s retiring nature is more shyness, though she does not lack confidence.”
“An excellent young woman to be certain!” cried Miss Bingley. “Why, Georgiana is grace itself, her manners all that is proper, her conversation interesting, and her performance on the pianoforte absolutely divine.”
“If she plays the pianoforte,” said Mary, “I believe I should like to make her acquaintance very much.”
“As she would be to make yours,” said Mr. Darcy with a smile at Elizabeth’s younger sister. “Georgiana can talk about music, performance, and her favorite composers for hours if you allow it. Should you show the same interest, she will meet you with the greatest eagerness.”
Mary smiled shyly and turned away, leading Mr. Darcy to direct his attention back to Elizabeth. “Miss Mary appears eager.”
“Music and the pianoforte are among her passions, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth. She did not think it was politic to explain the reason for Mary’s affinity. “None of my other sisters play andas you know, I am not nearly so much an enthusiast as Mary. If your sister is willing, they may talk for hours on the subject.”
“Miss Mary is eighteen?” asked Mr. Darcy.
“Nineteen in March,” replied Elizabeth.
The gentleman nodded. “And Georgiana will be seventeen in August. With so slight an age difference between them and a commonality of interests, I imagine they will get on well together. I appreciate the notion, for Georgiana has often wanted for friends.”
“Then we should encourage them,” replied Elizabeth. “Mary can be a little shy herself. A little push should do wonders for their ability to find their common interests.”
At that moment, the company rose, the time of the visit having elapsed. Mr. Bingley said a few words to Mrs. Bennet, promising to confirm the date of the dinner invitation at the first available opportunity, to which Mrs. Bennet replied with some enthusiasm. Miss Bingley, Elizabeth noted, regarded Elizabeth with what appeared to be asperity, and Elizabeth suspected she had overheard the end of her conversation with Mr. Darcy. When Miss Bingley saw Elizabeth watching her, however, a cruel smile appeared, nodding to her, her manner knowing, as if she had discovered some dark family secret. Elizabeth ignored Miss Bingley, content to say farewell to Mr. Darcy and express the wish of meeting him again soon. This time, it was not entirely a surprise to understand that she meant every word.
