Jane had the dazed air of someone who was in shock.
“Oh, Lizzy! I never thought anyone could be so happy!”
Thank heavens! If Bingley had proposed, then all would be well, and her dilemma would be resolved.
“Has he asked you—?” she said, eagerly.
“No. Not yet,” said Jane, dreamily. “Lizzy, we almost – for a moment—.” She stopped, crimson staining her cheeks. “— we almost kissed.”
She said the words in a whisper.
Elizabeth’s heart sank. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth had kissed, and look at what happened with that. She could only conclude that young ladies always read more into such things than gentlemen.
“Did he make any suggestion—?” Elizabeth felt horrible for pressing Jane at a moment like this, but she needed to know if there was any chance that Darcy was wrong about Bingley’s intentions.
“Lizzy, I know that he loves me. I am certain of it.” She hugged herself. “He would have kissed me, if I had given him half a chance.”
Like Darcy kissed Elizabeth? The memory of that brief contact – the velvet pressure of his lips against hers – was branded onto her skin.
She pushed the memory away. It meant nothing.
The same was true of Bingley who would have ridden away without the smallest hesitation. It was such a typical story. A fashionable young London gentleman captures the heart of an innocent country lady, entertaining himself at her expense, then decamping when he grows tired of the limited local society.
He is planning to leave and never come back,she wanted to say, but the joy on her sister’s face stopped her. Elizabeth could not blot the radiance from Jane’s face. If Mr. Bingley was leaving, Jane would find out soon enough.
What a dreadful thing love is, thought Elizabeth, and she hoped fervently that she would never see Mr. Darcy again.
***
AFTER LEAVING THE WALKINGparty at Longbourn, Darcy and Bingley parted ways. Darcy claimed he needed to walk into the village for an errand, while Bingley looked like he was floating on a cloud.
He will fall down to earth with a thud very soon.
Darcy envied him his innocence, and he was not prepared to destroy it just yet. He would give him the chance to build castles in the sky for a few more hours. Darcy was in no hurry to take on the onerous task of disillusioning him.
Meanwhile, he did not know what to do himself. He wandered around aimlessly, his thoughts formless and turbulent, hardly aware of his surroundings. When he came to himself, he found himself standing at the gates to Longbourn.
He turned away, impatient and angry with himself, and walked towards Netherfield, feeling numb both inside and out, the cold nipping at his nose and ears. He raised his collar and huddled his shoulders under his great coat. His thin gloves were no match for the elements. His fingers were fast losing sensation.
No sense in getting frostbite wandering around the countryside when the fires would be roaring in Netherfield. In the end he returned to the house, defeated by the cold.
***
THE MOMENT HE ARRIVEDat Netherfield, Miss Bingley appeared in the hallway. She must have been watching for him through the parlor window. He peeled off his gloves and tossed them down next to his hat.
“My brother tells me you have been wandering around quite aimlessly. You must come and sit by the fire and warm yourself.”
Darcy did not need the invitation. He made his way to the closest fireplace to warm himself.
“Charles says Mrs. Bennet has improved a great deal.”
Mrs. Bennet has notimproved,he thought wildly. She had never been afflicted in the first place. He ground his teeth against the anger and the hurt, struggling to keep his expression neutral.
“Mrs. Bennet is in good health, and Mr. Bennet has returned to take care of his family.” he replied. “We now have the carriage back, and I will be setting out for Town at dawn. I will have Evans pack my things.”
“Shall we all start planning for our departure, then? I have a whole household to pack, and I would like to start issuing orders.”
“As for when you are leaving, I suppose you must ask your brother. After all, he is master here at Netherfield.”
