Bingley gave her a pleased look, feathers settling at once. “Of course, Mrs. Darcy.”
She stood to kiss his cheek. “I would rather you call me Elizabeth. I wish you the best of luck, dear brother.”
“Thank you.” he smiled and awkwardly took her hand to shake it. “Had it not been for you, Elizabeth, I would not have had the opportunity to meet my dear Jane. Now you are helping us once again.”
Elizabeth’s smile faded a little, “I cannot promise you that it willwork.”
“Of course not. Nothing in life is certain. But we all muddle along as best we can.” he shook her hand again, then turned andclapped Darcy on the shoulder, “And it’s a good use for all that wine you didn’t drink. I’m proud of you, Darcy.”
“This is not the time.” Darcy growled. Bingley smiled obliviously.
“God sends us blessings in all things, Darcy. Do you not find it fitting that our enemy shall be defeated by the very evil you have bested?”
“I am not so philosophically minded. All I care about is that the little slug gets too drunk to figure out that Miss Bennet has absconded. It is no more a metaphor, Bingley, than it is a tortoiseshell comb.”
“Mr. Darcy,” Jane was the one who intervened this time, in a soft and careful voice: “Do not pretend that you have done nothing for us. We are grateful, sir, and will tell you that even if you refuse to hear it.”
Darcy’s jaw dropped. He had never been scolded by Jane before, and felt as if he had been savaged by a feather duster. He glanced at Elizabeth and saw amusement cross her worried face. With a patient look, he squared his shoulders and grasped Bingley’s shoulder.
“Very well, Charles, I shall be poignant. Here it is: you are worth a thousand times more than I can ever repay, and embarrassing that little clot will be an utter delight. Will that serve you, sir, or must I compliment your cravat? No? Then let us return to practical matters. Elizabeth will intercept Mrs. Bennet at the door, and I shall ensure Mr. Collins cannot see straight before the first dance even begins. All you have to do is be seen for a few minutes, and then you can slip away.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes at her husband’s sarcastic asides but nodded, adding: “The gardeners have made scores of little bowers throughout the garden for people to discover. If anyonerealises that you are not with the main party, we will tell them that you are there. The gardens are difficult to navigate in the dark, and it will take hours for anyone to realise that they are empty.”
“You will have the whole night.” Darcy summarised, “Hopefully you will also have much of the next day, for I cannot imagine Mr. Collins will escape without a terrible hangover. Mrs. Bennet is the one who might be more perceptive.”
“It is a shame we cannot enlist Lydia’s help. She would distract her easily, especially now that mama is seeking her out.” Elizabeth sighed, “But we cannot risk telling anyone outside of this room what we intend.”
They all looked at each other. It was strange to think that the two people in the whole household least likely to lie and keep secrets - Bingley and Jane - were the ones whose lives depended on it. Mary would have also been a strong ally, and even Kitty, but they simply could not risk it.
The need for secrecy also meant that Jane would not have a chance to wish her sisters goodbye. They would find out about the escape at the same time as everyone else - hopefully, after their oldest sister was safely out of reach.
Elizabeth kissed her sister’s cheek three times, one for each of the younger girls, and then wrapped her in a tight embrace. They would not be able to speak to each other again after this. When they parted, Elizabeth would have to become the illustrious Mrs. Darcy, hostess to a hundred guests. She had barely left enough time to get ready, but she couldn’t bear to let Jane go. Likewise, Jane and Bingley had to pack a single shared case and enlist the servants to sneak it out of the house while the guests were arriving.
Jane was determined to be with Georgiana as much as she could before she left. She had decided not to tell Miss Darcy about the plan, but had written a note with a sincere apology which Elizabeth could read to her when she found out the truth. They were sure that Georgiana would be delighted when she heard about the engagement, but they did not want anything to make her anxious or uneasy about the night ahead.
Jane had spent days with the younger girl helping her get ready for the ball. Georgiana was beside herself with excitement and beamed so much at the sight of her gown that they had hung it on a mannequin in her room so that she could look at it as much as she liked. Jane had embroidered a tiny butterfly onto the bodice, right over Georgiana’s heart. The first thing that Georgiana’s trembling fingers had moved for was that butterfly; she pointed at it first, and when they brought it to her, she sat for a long time stroking it beneath her clumsy fingertips.
Jane would not leave Georgiana’s side until the last moment possible. She asked Mrs. Reynolds to get Mary to sit with her after that, knowing that her middle sister was not much inclined to dance. Certainly, Colonel Fitzwilliam had made no secret of his intention to ask her, but he was in for a shock if he expected to get more than two sets out of her. Mary approached a dance floor with the same distaste that most women reserved for puddles.
So many details! So many things that could go wrong! In the end, all that matters was that they were four friends in a quiet room, saying farewell.
The ladies kissed each other and wept.
The gentlemen did neither, but shook hands and made meaningful eye contact.
The dinner gong rang out, making them all flinch. It was not a deliberate sound; the servants had been directed to take it into the garden for the musicians to use to call for silence. It had collided with its own stand on the way out of the door, and even now echoed in Pemberley’s large hallways.
With it, the last of their cherished peace was chased wholly away.
Chapter 69
Elizabeth was, against all odds,bored.
After the weeks of planning, agonising over every flower and every instrument, suffering intolerable suspense and constant frustrations, she was… bored.
That was, she supposed, evidence that she had done well. Had she not been so organised in her preparations then tonight she would feel anxious instead of detached. Unfortunately, most of the things that delighted her about balls were the things that surprised her. In her own gathering, she was not likely to marvel at the decorations or spend hours in pleasant suspense, wondering if her favourite piece of music would be played. Everything was as she liked it - indeed, tonight was herperfectnight! - but it felt utterly tedious to be its architect.
Elizabeth had been standing beside her husband in the hallway for a good half hour, greeting sparkling strangers who looked at her with open curiosity and barely any friendliness. They eyed Darcy just as critically, although at least they saw him worthy of a few words or a smile. Elizabeth felt invisible.
