He smiled and agreed, having no notion in that moment how often her words would repeat themselves in his mind in the coming weeks.
* * *
The Bennets did not stay long in the drawing room that evening, for Jane tired easily, and when they regained her chamber Elizabeth turned to her sister with a laughing gaze and declared, “Now you must tell me all, Jane! What did your Mr Bingley say to you after we all walked away? And what did you discuss so intently at table?”
“Oh, Lizzy,” Jane breathed, dropping with little of her usual elegance onto the bed to beam up at the ceiling. “He still admires me. Can you believe it? He does not seem to regard the change in my appearance at all!”
Elizabeth sat down beside her sister, happy tears streaming down both their cheeks. “He is a most excellent gentleman, and deserves you if anyone could.” She herself had not been at all sanguine about his reaction, and smiled at the rapidity and ease with which the question was finally settled, that had given so many previous hours of suspense and vexation.
“And what did you speak of over the meal?” she prompted, when Jane seemed likely to drift into silent contemplation before her curiosity had been satisfied.
“So many things,” Jane said with satisfaction. “It was as though we had never been apart, but yet different, for we were more open with our thoughts and dreams in our correspondence than ever we had been in the drawing rooms of Meryton. We spoke as dear friends rather than as recent acquaintances.”
“I can see you like him as a dear friend even more than you did as a recent acquaintance! I am happy for you, Jane.”
“I am certainly the most fortunate creature that ever existed!” cried she, and for a time all the suffering and loss of the last weeks was entirely forgot.
* * *
Having seen Jane to bed, where her dreams would no doubt be blissful, Elizabeth found herself restless. Her thoughts turned to the previous hours, when the reunited couple had little to say to anyone else, but the remaining foursome kept up a jolly conversation amongst themselves—or rather, as jolly a conversation as might be had in a house of mourning. Mr Darcy had participated more often and more cheerfully than Elizabeth had ever known him to do, and their quiet tête-à-tête afterwards had only enhanced her opinion of him.
With sudden inspiration, she gathered up his backgammon set and returned to the drawing room in hopes that he remained. She was in luck; though Mr Bingley was not to be seen, Captain Carter and Louisa were still attempting to best each other at cards, and Mr Darcy had busied himself with a book.
She approached and held out the set when he looked up, saying, “Now that Jane is not confined to her chambers, I wished to return this to you, sir. It has afforded us both many hours of distraction in the last weeks, and I thank you for it.”
“If you are not intending to return upstairs immediately, perhaps you would allow me to challenge you to a game?”
Elizabeth pretended to consider the suggestion seriously. “So long as you promise not to pout when defeated by a lady, I suppose I might.”
He laughed. “Come then, Miss Elizabeth, and prove that such confidence is not unwarranted.” He stood and gestured to a small table they might use.
It soon became apparent that each of them played as though the fate of the world hung upon their victory, though there was much laughter in it and nothing of meanness in the way they taunted each other over a poor roll of the dice. This fierce and rather boisterous competition soon drew the others, with Louisa cheering Elizabeth on and the captain taking Darcy’s side.
In the end, Elizabeth could only shake her head at the lone piece which remained in front of her. “That, sir, was a very lucky roll!”
Mr Darcy grinned. “That it was. Well played, Miss Elizabeth.”
“I thank you for the game, sir, but I ought to look in on Jane,” she said, standing, which brought him to his feet as well. “I shall demand a rematch at a later date.”
“I look forward to it.”
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Dear Brother,
I hope you will forgive me for being so slow to reply that I am now two letters in your debt, though I do not think you truly expected a reply to the brief note informing me of poor Mr Hurst’s death. I have of course written to Mrs Hurst. I delayed my response to you in hopes of answering a question of yours. Mrs Annesley and I have called upon Miss Bingley twice since your last reached me, and she has been away each time. I am sorry I was not able to find out more for Mr Bingley and Mrs Hurst. If I do chance to hear anything further, I shall write to you on the instant.
Please allow me to assure you that I care not how much of interest you have to relay, I always receive and read your letters with the greatest of pleasure. I apprehend that Mr Bingley has a greater need of you than I just now, but I do miss you.
I remain fondly,
Your Georgiana
* * *
For the nexttwo days the eldest Bennets spent their mornings in correspondence, their afternoons with Mrs Hurst, and their evenings in company with the gentlemen. They sent letters of condolence to the families of their acquaintance who had been bereaved, and answered similar letters condoling with them on the loss of their mother. They were pleased to find that their aunt and uncle Gardiner still intended to pass the coming holidays with them at Longbourn, but their feelings upon Mr Jones’s pronouncement that they might safely return to Longbourn were somewhat mixed, for as much as they longed to return to their own home and what remained of their family, they could not rejoice in any separation from those friends with whom they had endured so many trials.
They left the next morning, conscious of how long they had imposed upon the hospitality of Netherfield, with many fond promises of calling upon Mrs Hurst. She and her brother stood without the house until the carriage was lost round the bend, and both were heard to remark in the following days how large and quiet Netherfield now seemed.
