She regretted her outburst immediately. To nobody other than Lady Ashby had she admitted the truth of Bingley’s inconstant affections, and her mother was the last person to whom she would have chosen to disclose it. Yet, Mrs Bennet did not seem to be appalled by it, only mildly surprised.
“Oh dear. He still admires her, does he?”
“You knew he admired her?”
“I had an inkling, but I was sure it was a fleeting attachment. Allmen admire a comely figure, and goodness knows Lizzy has everdisplayed hers better than you. But then, she had to learn, for she has not your looks.”
“How could you allow me to marry a man you knew had feelings for another?”
Mrs Bennet sat back, looking offended. “Because had I not, you would very likely not have been married at all! Though you are making such a pother of it, I am beginning to think that might have been for the best.”
“Would that you had not imposed upon me to secure him then!”
“I am sure I did nothing of the kind!”
“You expressly proposed a well-aimed swoon!”
Her mother looked genuinely bemused. “Is that how you ended in his arms on the sofa?”
“I should very much like to know that also.”
Jane’s heart pitched into her mouth, and her gaze snapped to the door, which had been closed moments before but was presently occupied by her observably appalled husband.
“You tell me now it was your design when you swooned that day to coerce me into marriage?”
“No, indeed!” Mrs Bennet answered for her. “Only to encourage you.”
“Mama!”
“You swooned deliberately?”
“Well, I…I…”
“Your hedging is rather a confirmation of it.”
“Perhaps I did, but only in panic, because you?—”
“And you, madam?” Bingley exclaimed, turning to Mrs Bennet. “Was it by design that you brought Sir William into the room at that moment?”
“Indeed, it was not, sir!” she replied indignantly, and for a moment Jane thought she was vindicated. Alas not. “That was Mr Bennet’s doing. He forced his way past me, knowing full well what he was interrupting.”
“Mama!”
“Pray, leave us, Mrs Bennet,” Bingley said, his voice cracking on the last word.
Mrs Bennet flapped and blustered and attempted to set all to rights, but in the face of both Jane and Bingley’s resolute silence, she had no choice but to go.
“Charles?” Jane whispered into the supervening silence.
“What have you done?”
“It did not happen as my mother implied.”
“All of this might have been avoided, had I but known.”
She gasped. “Is that what you wish? That you could have avoided marrying me altogether? Is it that disagreeable to you?”
“Discovering I was duped into it has rather lessened my enjoyment of it, I must say.”
