“I told him how I have come to love you, but he chose not to hear me,” she said, her voice soft. “I know not how to convince him of your worthiness. After all you have endured to have mefall in love with you, I do not know how you could bear to have him accuse us of not being devoted to one another.”
“I am displeased, but the result is the same. You and I are free to wed, and the banns may be published beginning this Sunday.”
“My mother will prattle on about the necessity of a common licence. She finds elegant all things that signify an additional expense.”
“If it would pleaseyou,I would purchase one.”
“No, it is not necessary. It is not as though we must marry in a hurry.” When she saw the slight pink on his cheeks, she realised another interpretation of her statement and grew mortified at her implication. “I mean, we would not marry until the end of August after my trip with the Gardiners, so a licence is not necessary. Will you not return with me to the house?”
He kindly overlooked her embarrassment and said he would return with Bingley soon. “I need time to steady my emotions if I am to encounter your father again. Will you inform your mother before I return?”
“Her manner of receiving the information will be that of violent delight. I could not bear that you should hear her joy,” she wryly agreed, and at the gate they parted.
Not three hours later,the gentlemen called. Her mother received them with a degree of civility that made Elizabeth ashamed. Fitzwilliam looked serious as usual; she knew he could not be in her mother’s presence what he was when they were alone. She saw Mr Bingley looking both pleased and embarrassed. With Elizabeth’s future now secure, Mrs Bennet undoubtedly felt that Mr Bingley required all of her attention to obtain the same for Jane.
“Mr Bingley, I beg you and Mr Darcy to come here and fish in Mr Bennet’s trout stream on Saturday. It would please him to show you all the best places, and you must take home as much as you wish. Mr Bennet will even provide you with tackle if you do not bring your own. I am sure he will be vastly happy to oblige you both!”
Mr Bingley readily agreed, to Mrs Bennet’s delight. Elizabeth knew Fitzwilliam had no desire to spend time with her father, but he also agreed. He bore the ill-judged officiousness of her mother and heard all of her silly remarks with a command of countenance for which Elizabeth was grateful.
Elizabeth observed how much the beauty of her sister rekindled the admiration of her former lover. Every five minutes seemed to be giving Jane more of his attention. Mrs Bennet focused all her energies on Mr Bingley and Jane, and as Kitty took no interest in anyone’s conversation and Mary had returned to her instrument, she and Fitzwilliam were left in relative privacy.
“Georgiana requests I send you her compliments and asks whether she may write to you.”
Elizabeth could listen to the sonorous sound of his voice until the sun set. It was deep and steady, and, although he could often be abrupt, Elizabeth decided there was no other voice that could sound as sweet. “Will Georgiana be surprised when you tell her she is to have a sister?”
“No, she quickly perceived my affection for you. Your friendship will be good for her; she could use some of your confidence.”
“She is a kind-hearted girl, and I am lucky to soon be able to call her my sister.” He grinned proudly, and Elizabeth saw the strength of the affection he held for his sister. “You have done well by her. All she wants for is assurance.”
“She has already defended you to Miss Bingley, and she was critical of me when she learned of my former opinions. Your influence has already improved her timidity.”
Elizabeth smiled at the compliment. “Miss Bingley did not come to Hertfordshire? We are all aware of her low opinion of Jane and our relations, but I shall miss her company.”
“Given the awful attitude of superiority she displayed, why would you wish for that woman’s presence?”
“You know how I do so love a laugh. I might have been amused at the hopelessness of her designs on you.”
Fitzwilliam covered his mouth with his hand to disguise his amusement. “She has assiduously courted me for two years,” he whispered as he shook his head.
“Then it is little wonder that you became captivated by the one lady who wanted to provoke you at every turn.” Elizabeth touched his hand that rested between them on the sofa. His eyes turned to where the others sat; upon seeing everyone’s attentions otherwise engaged, he turned his hand over and threaded his fingers through hers. “I am so fortunate you saw some good in me, despite my efforts to aggravate you.”
Far too soon, the gentlemen rose to leave, and Mrs Bennet engaged them to dine at Longbourn in a few days’ time.
“You are a visit in my debt, Mr Bingley,” she insisted, “for when you went to town last winter, you promised to take a family dinner with us as soon as you returned. I have not forgotten, you see.”
Mr Bingley looked abashed at this reflection. Mrs Bennet turned her attentions to Fitzwilliam and told him of her inclination to ask them to stay and dine there that day, but she did not think she had enough courses to satisfy a man worth ten thousand a year. Fitzwilliam, ever mindful of Elizabeth’s feelings, smiled his thanks and lifted his eyes only after her mother turned away.
As soon asthe gentlemen were gone, Elizabeth and Jane walked out to dwell without interruption on those subjects that two sisters must discuss at length. Elizabeth had seen enough of Mr Bingley’s behaviour to be sure that he would soon propose, but Jane, ever reserved, only replied, “He is blessed with great sweetness of address and such a desire to be generally pleasing.”
Elizabeth could not help but laugh. “You know he acts that way hoping to pleaseyou.”
“That is unfair to Mr Bingley. He has so much ease and perfect good breeding that he would be just as pleasant to anyone.”
Elizabeth thought back to Fitzwilliam’s explanation of Mr Bingley often being in and out of love, but chose not to speak of it. Mr Bingley had been reassured of Jane’s regard and had come back to win her, so there was little to be gained from supposing how pleasant he may have appeared to other young ladies.
“He will ask for your hand before the week is out.”
“I am yet surprised at your being engaged to Mr Darcy,” Jane said as they walked on. “Oh, do not look at me that way. He loves you, and for that reason alone, I like him. But do you feel what you ought?”
