Elizabeth sat beside her. “Peace. Mr. Collins has gone with Charlotte. I may have intimated that your refusal was in service to our friend.” Winking, she wrapped her arm around her sister. “There will be no repercussions from our cousin. Our mother, however, will be furious. Hopefully, Jane’s courtship with Mr. Bingley will suffice to prevent her hysterics.”
Mary breathed a sigh of relief and rested her head on Elizabeth’s shoulder. “Thank you. I cannot express how happy I am to escape that fate. I fear, however, I shall now be Mama’s least favorite child.”
Elizabeth kissed Mary’s head. “You deserve happiness as much as the rest of us,” she insisted. “Papa was prepared to defend you—we spoke of it at breakfast. Never forget how we love you, dear sister.” She shifted slightly. “Perhaps, once Jane marries Mr. Bingley, they will invite you to town.”
Mary looked up. “Jane will surely take you,” she replied. “After all, the pair of you are very close.” Mary’s eyes narrowed.“Unless…Elizabeth, is there something you wish to tell me?” She smiled and raised an eyebrow.
Laughing, Elizabeth withdrew her arm and clasped her hands in her lap. “I do not know,” she admitted. “There are hopes, but…Mama will be displeased, but I find I do not care—not when my own happiness is at stake.”
“It is Mr. Darcy, is it not?” The telling blush on Elizabeth’s cheeks answered Mary’s tentative question. “I knew it! How very clever of you! Mama has been too busy watching Jane and Mr. Bingley to notice him courting you.”
“Say nothing,” Elizabeth begged. “He has not yet made me an offer, though I hope he will.” Surely, he would come to call when Mr. Bingley returned—she felt certain of it.
Mary studied her closely. “You do not mind his…” she hesitated, biting her lip.
“If you refer to his appearance, then no. Mr. Darcy is a good man—honorable and kind. Why should I care about the marks on his face? Papa has always taught us to look on the heart. We cannot always judge a person’s character by how they look on the outside—outward appearances may not reflect the truth of what lies within.” She laced her fingers together and released a heavy sigh.
“Do you love him?” Mary asked. “I have never been in love. What is it like?”
Elizabeth drew in a breath and exhaled slowly, considering. “Love is when you cannot imagine a day without the other person,” she began. “They are your first thought when you wake, and your last before sleep comes. Your entire being longs for them. You wish to bring them joy, to see them smile, to help them feel how deeply they are loved. Love transcends the physical. When you love someone, you see beyond what the world sees and perceive the heart.”
Mary sighed. “That was lovely. I hope I may experience it someday.”
“You will, Mary,” Elizabeth promised. “You will.”
Chapter Fifteen
December 2, 1811
Longbourn
Elizabeth
Nearlyaweekhadpassed since the Netherfield Ball. Elizabeth missed Mr. Darcy and walked out every day in hopes of meeting him on Oakham Mount. He never appeared, and she began to worry that something had befallen him. Convincing herself that her fears were unfounded, she settled on patience. It was likely that Mr. Darcy merely refrained from visiting without his friend, owing to Mrs. Bennet’s inhospitality. He would come when Mr. Bingley returned.
Two days after the ball, Jane received a note from Miss Bingley. It was filled with falsehoods. The lady claimed they were all bound for town for the winter and had no intention of returning. She further intimated that her brother had formedan attachment to Miss Darcy and was eager to be once again in her company. Jane’s distress became evident briefly before Elizabeth reminded her sister it would be the work of a moment to write to her suitor for clarification. She did so, enclosing Miss Bingley’s letter with her own. A reply came two days later. Mr. Bingley reassured Jane of his love and his intention to call upon her on the second of December.
News of Charlotte’s engagement infuriated Mrs. Bennet. She wailed for hours, complaining of Mary’s stubborn refusal. Mr. Collins, however, assured Mrs. Bennet that he understood her daughter’s position and appreciated her thoughtfulness. After many long-winded declarations, he firmly declared that Mary’s selflessness had brought him his felicity, and so, in gratitude, the Bennet ladies would always have a place to live once Mr. Bennet met his reward. This settled the matron’s nerves, to everyone’s relief, and she ceased her wailing. Her wayward daughter, too, felt relieved, and resumed her usual practice of avoiding her mother’s notice.
Elizabeth waited with Jane in the parlor, eager to see Mr. Darcy again. She imagined his face—his soft smile, and kind eyes. His character was of the highest caliber, and she knew she was well on the way to loving him.Indeed, I already do.The realization struck her, and her heart warmed. With him, she felt at ease. He did not dismiss her opinions as many of his sex were wont to do. Instead, he debated and discussed, delighting her with his thoughtful rebuttals. He countered her repartee with measured confidence, the perfect foil for her witty banter.
Mr. Bingley arrived during calling hours. Jane heard the carriage first and met Elizabeth’s gaze, taking her hand and squeezing it lightly. “He has come, Lizzy!” she whispered fervently. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement as she smoothed her free hand down the front of her gown.
Mrs. Hill came to the parlor door and stepped aside as she announced their guests; yet to Elizabeth’s disappointment, she spoke but one name.
“Good afternoon,” Mr. Bingley greeted them. “I cannot express how much I have missed being in your company. Miss Bennet, you look particularly fetching today.”
Mrs. Bennet and the three other ladies were not in the room, which allowed Jane to answer freely, rather than endure their mother’s interruption. Hill departed with instructions to send in a tea tray, and to inform the rest of the family of Mr. Bingley’s arrival. The gentleman took his seat next to Jane, clasped her hand, and kissed it as he settled in.
“Forgive me, sir, but I had expected Mr. Darcy to be with you,” Elizabeth interjected before he and her sister became too lost in their conversation. “Is he well?”
“It was the most peculiar thing,” he replied. “I received a note from him the morning after the ball, informing me he had left for town. Some sort of emergency.” Mr. Bingley shrugged. “I have yet to receive any further word from him—I am sorry I cannot tell you more.”
Elizabeth’s heart seized. Was he well? What of his sister? “Will he return to Netherfield Park?” she asked, desperate for any scrap of information.
“His note intimated he had no intention of returning. The situation is very bad, or so he said. I am certain I can convince him to come when…a desirable event takes place.” He turned to Jane with a fervent look, one filled with promise for the future.
Elizabeth scarcely noticed Jane’s equally fervent expression. Instead, a dull ache settled in her chest, and she suddenly felt too confined within the parlor.
