“What?” Elizabeth could only repeat, shocked that Darcy would say anything at all—especially when he was trying to be so circumspect, for now at least.
“He is not wrong. Instead of trying to make things right between us, I have let my shame further separate us. Lizzy, it is sickening that you are confined to that ghastly property. I beg you, please, to abandon it, to come to Longbourn as soon as we leave here.”
“I would not have you worried or upset in your own home, Jane.”
Her sister closed her eyes as if pained. “I implore you to forget my stupidity that has kept you from it. Longbournisyour home, as much as it is mine, and Mama’s, and Mary’s, and Lydia’s. Longbourn is large enough for us all. William and I were thinking, even, of making an addition to enlarge it. However, I suspect that by the time such privacy for you could be achieved, you might have a different home altogether.”
Even now, Elizabeth would not reveal her engagement. It did not prevent her smile, however, nor another observation. “I suppose that such an addition might be ideal in making Longbourn a littlelessMama’s home, and a little more yours.”
Jane returned her smile. “It is something to consider. Will you agree? Will you come home, Lizzy, for as long as you wish, even forever?”
Elizabeth took a deep breath; when she expelled it, she let the past go with it. “Yes, dear. I thank you, yes.”
“No thanks are necessary. I do wish to tell you what else was said, although it is a little…perplexing. Mr Darcy has requested that we—William and I and Mama—let it be known that you are not happy to lose your independence, and are only forced by circumstances—circumstances which are under the Ashwoods’ control—to return to Longbourn. I am unsure what he means by it; if you are installed at Longbourn, there seems to me no chance that Mr Ashwood will agree to renovate the dower cottage, not when he refused to do it when you were in residence. I suppose it is to point out their meanness, which I grant, is horrible and ought to be universally condemned. I only tell you of this so that you understand—I am very happy, overjoyed, even, that you will soon be at Longbourn again, and do not want you to believe otherwise, no matter what. Mr Darcy is correct, however, that we should let our ill opinion of the Ashwoods be known. It is only right.”
“I appreciate your support, more than I can say. Even so, I do not suppose Mama’s unhelpful opinions will be any quieter, despite your own, better ones.”
“Leave Mama to me,” said Jane. “She will hold her tongue, or find changes to her own circumstance which she would not appreciate. I really do not think threats will be necessary, however. She will be made to see how the land lies. She is stubborn, not stupid. At least, mostly.”
Their unified encouragement and disavowal of the Ashwoods would, most likely, not change a thing in Fanny’s behaviour; it might even make her worse. But Elizabeth appreciated, beyond measure, that Darcy had wanted her tohave the support of her family to help return her to her place in the community—even if she later left it. It touched her, and she fell in love with him just a little more than she already was.
27
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Now that some hours had passed, she was not nearly so annoyed with Miss Bingley as she had been in the moment of insult; in truth, the woman had only made herself look pitiful with her ham-handed attempts to interfere in Elizabeth’s life.
Perhaps the lady would be more pleased tomorrow, once the Bennet sisters had departed Netherfield. Jane said Darcy had advised Mr Collins that their drive had been enough activity for his wife for one day, and that he should return in the morning prepared to bring them both home.
She had one more evening to spend with Darcy.
Of course, Elizabeth knew he meant to propose, once his relations were informed. But what if his aunt begged for another delay? Those delays could go on endlessly if they both truly feared for his cousin’s safety and the world’s opinions.
It was not fair, but life seldom was.
She would never demand that he incinerate his relationshipwith his family in order to marry more quickly; the situation was not so simple as that. The weight of years had gone into the making of it, and she could not expect resolution to occur within weeks. She was only determined to act in a manner, which would, in her own opinion, constitute her happiness.Hemade her happy, and while she wanted all the rest of her life with him, it would not be such a terrible thing to receive his letters and visits, to take things slowly and carefully while trying to hurt others as little as possible.
That meant he might have to leave soon, to reassure, to wade through emotional distress and uneven dispositions. It also meant that his relations would have ample opportunity to attempt to dissuade him from his course. Miss Bingley had not been wrong in that Elizabeth was not what he had been raised to expect, or anything close to what his family wanted for him.
She meant to be realistic, and try not to wish for too much. He might, after all of that, change his mind. She hoped he would not, that he was as constant as she dreamt and wanted in a man who would be her husband. But good outcome or bad in the future, for now, she had tonight.
Darcy was the first to greet her when she came downstairs, a few minutes before her sister and the others appeared. He came to her immediately, taking both her hands in his. His voice, when he spoke, was low, for her ears only. “You are astonishingly lovely tonight,” he said. “I thought you beautiful in scarlet, then in green. I have come to realise that all colours are simply decoration for an ever-present appeal you wear like an ornament, no matter the shade.”
She could not help it, smiling up at him and feeling pink heat tingeing her cheeks.
“I am so happy to see you,” she said, adding with an honesty that ought to have been difficult but somehow was not. “The day has been too long without you in it.”
His answering smile was wonderful to see, her heart lifting. The Bingley sisters entered the room then, interrupting the moment, but he held on to her hands for a few seconds beyond what was merely polite, even so. Miss Bingley’s smile turned sour, as she noticed it immediately.
The night was the easiest they had managed thus far at Netherfield. Mr Bingley attempted to dominate Jane’s attention, but plainly she was leery of allowing it, and made a greater effort to speak with the others, especially Elizabeth and Louisa Hurst. Mr Bingley seemed to take Jane’s drifting awareness in stride, Elizabeth was glad to see, joining in the conversation with others. Darcy did not talk much; it was not his custom, but when he did speak, he was always interesting and perceptive.
Elizabeth was hardly required to notice Miss Bingley, because that lady contributed almost nothing to the discourse. Mrs Hurst frequently tried to engage her grim-faced sister, but even she was unable to breach the wall of discontent.
When the women separated, it grew even more awkward. Jane and Elizabeth settled beside each other on a sofa where the greater share of the seating was arranged. Miss Bingley took a seat so far away, it may as well have been in another room. Mrs Hurst hesitated, looking at her sister. “Caroline, are you not feeling well?”
Miss Bingley shrugged brusquely.
Given little choice between overt rudeness to her guests or indulging her sister’s insolence, Mrs Hurst opted for good manners over boorish behaviour. Her powers of conversationwere considerable, and the three were soon laughing over her descriptions of an entertainment she had attended in town. She did try, two or three times, to compel Miss Bingley to join them, but was refused.
