Elizabeth assured them there was plenty of time to rest before dinner and ushered them all into the house. The hall into which they walked was magnificent—and as large as Longbourn. Jane could not help but gape at the grandeur.
“How do you like Pemberley then, Jane?” Bingley enquired, loudly enough that everybody was included in awaiting her answer.
“It is a very fine house, though I have not seen much of it yet.”
“Should you like a tour before dinner?” Elizabeth enquired. “I shall endeavour not to get us lost.”
“An excellent idea!” Bingley answered for them all. “May I join you?”
“Of course! Though I cannot imagine I will be able to tell you any more than you have already heard from Mrs Reynolds.”
“Sshh!” Bingley implored dramatically. “Say no more, lest my impertinence be found out!”
Oh. Her sister and husband had a private joke. How wonderful.
“Too late, Bingley, you are already discovered,” Mr Darcy said.
Bingley clutched at his heart with both hands. “Lizzy! You have betrayed me! How could you?”
“It could not be avoided, I am afraid. I am allowed no secrets,” Elizabeth replied, glancing coyly at her husband before indicating they should all follow her upstairs.
Bingley frowned between them both but nonetheless shrugged and came towards Jane. “Shall we?”
Jane smiled wearily and took his proffered arm.
“Here we are then,” he said, quietly this time. “It is quite something, is it not?”
“It certainly is.”
“You will like it here, I think. I hope. It is much more comfortable,much grander than…well, that is, I know Caroline has disdained our accommodation on this trip. I apologise ifyouhave been disappointed. I procured the finest lodgings available with your comfort in mind.”
“Oh, that is very thoughtful. And they were! Fine, that is. Thank you.”
“But of course! Nothing but the best for Mrs Bingley.”
Such solicitude was of vast comfort to Jane’s distrustful heart. When he leant closer, it fluttered in anticipation of what further assurances of his esteem he might bestow.
“Do you think your sister looks a little pale?”
It was extremely fortunate Caroline had made such a show of declaring them all fatigued, for it excused Jane from any curiosity as to the peculiarly lengthy amount of time she took to overcome her pique at this remark. She eventually left her room so late there was time enough for only a truncated tour of the principal rooms before dinner. Through seven courses, she then listened to everybody’s raptures for the proposed round of picnics, phaeton rides, fishing, hunting, luncheons, cards, music and more that Elizabeth had planned. None of it persuaded Jane the week ahead would not feel an eternity to her.
Saturday 5 September 1812, Derbyshire
Elizabeth was true to her word. There was scarcely a moment over the next three days that was not taken up with some entertainment or other. Saturday heralded the first idle morning of Jane’s visit, and she and Caroline were enjoying the balmy summer air in a room whose French windows opened onto a pretty lawn.
The gentlemen had taken themselves off for a spot of shooting, and later that afternoon, the ladies, joined by some others from the neighbourhood, planned to picnic by the lake. Ever somewhat anxious of meeting new people, Jane enquired of her sister whether she was acquainted with any of those due to attend. Caroline replied that she had met Mrs Castleton, but not her daughter, whom she did not believe was yet out.
“Yes, that is as Lizzy said. She hopes Miss Castleton and Miss Darcy will become better acquainted now they have both finished school and will be in the country more often.”
“It must be a relief to know there are some families in the neighbourhood willing to overlook how far beneath his sphere Mr Darcy has married.”
At that moment, the door opened, and Elizabeth herself joined them. Jane glanced at Caroline in alarm lest they had been overheard, but Elizabeth exhibited no sign of it. She was occupied ushering somebody into the room—a young girl in scruffy apparel with a mane of unkempt hair around her unwashed face. The child’s expression was one of utter disbelief as she looked about the room. Caroline’s, Jane noticed, was not much different as she looked at the child.
“This is my sister, Mrs Bingley. And this is Miss Bingley,” Elizabeth said, pointing to each of them in turn. “Bess is one of our tenants. She got separated from her brothers coming back from Lambton this morning. I found her wandering near the kitchen gardens, quite lost.”
“So…you brought her inside?” Caroline said incredulously.
Elizabeth pressed her lips together and remained silent for a moment longer than was polite. “She is but five years old, Miss Bingley, and frightened. And since it was my ambushing her from behind the lavender that reduced the poor girl to tears, it was the least I could do to offer her some comfort.” To Bess, she added, “We are to have some chocolate to cheer you up, are we not?”
