Chapter9
Jane was silent as the carriage bore her and Elizabeth back to Longbourn. Not only had her attempt to compromise Mr. Darcy failed, but he had laughed at her. She remembered the previous night, which was seared into her consciousness, with mortification.
Jane heard the door open as she laid perfectly still, not wanting to reveal herself until he was in the bed. “Carstens, it seems I have some rubbish in my bed, did you not clean it earlier?” Jane heard Mr. Darcy ask someone, mayhap his manservant.
“No Sir, when I watched it walk in, I decided to allow you some amusement as it is not fair for only myself to partake,” the man had answered.
“Which delusional woman is it? I suspect Miss Bennet as Miss Bingley left for her chambers only minutes before me.” Jane burned with mortification. He knew and he was not alone. “Is this her robe, Carstens?”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy, it is,” the valet had responded.
“Miss Bennet, Carstens and I will retire to my sitting room for ten minutes. When I return, you will not be here.” If Jane could have crawled away and died, it would have been less humiliation than she felt at that moment. “And Miss Bennet,” Mr. Darcy had called.
“Yes,” she had replied sullenly.
“How is it that you, a scheming, mercenary, vapid woman, thought I would not see your true nature?” It was then Mr. Darcy had laughed at her. “I saw who you were the first night we met, when I inadvertently insulted Miss Elizabeth. I saw the look on your face. It was one I have seen many times no matter how fast you were able to hide it. Even had you succeeded in compromising me, I would not have offered for you. I, Miss Bennet, willnotbe trapped into marriage with anyone, not you and certainly not Miss Bingley. Now remove yourself before I make your true self known to everyone.” He had paused. “Do not think I will allow you to sink your claws into my friend as a consolation prize. If you attempt your machinations with him, I will reveal everything. In fact, he will hear of your behaviour here tonight.”
Jane felt the mortification burn all over again as she remembered his words. Not only had she lost any chance at catching Mr. Darcy, but Mr. Bingley was no longer a possibility.
It was the first time in her life Jane Bennet began to question her mother’s advice and the things she herself had done over the years. Not being one for deep introspection, Jane put thoughts of her own culpability out of her head.
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As soon as the two sisters arrived back at Longbourn, Mr. Collins directed all of his marital aspirations to Miss Bennet. She was beauty personified and no less than he, a clergyman under the beneficent patronage of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and the future master of Longbourn, deserved.
The only thing Jane told her mother was that there would never be anything between her and Mr. Darcy as he was committed to another and not even compromise would sway him. She added the last lie in to explain her failure to capture him through compromise.
Mrs. Bennet assumed that meant Jane would shift her attention to Mr. Bingley; the man had five thousand a year, after all. It was not Mr. Darcy’s ten thousand and the man was in trade, but it was better than nothing.
When Mrs. Bennet noticed the direction of the odoriferous parson’s preference, she called him aside. “I must compliment you on your discretion in singling my Jane out as your future wife, Mr. Collins,” Fanny stated softly close to the man’s ear. “As much as I hate to disappoint you, Jane is being courted by another gentleman and we expect an offer any day.” Fanny did not miss the look of anger on his face. “My second daughter has no such encumbrance, and you already know what a caring person she is.”
Collins looked at Miss Elizabeth. She was not blond or tall like Miss Bennet, but she was nonetheless very pretty and had abundant womanly assets. “I see your point, Mrs. Bennet. Thank you for saving me from the humiliation of bestowing my proposals on one who is spoken for already.”
Just like that it was done. Fanny was most pleased with herself. Lizzy was now the object of the man’s affection; she knew Jane would be relieved. Fanny watched as Mr. Collins attached himself to her second daughter.It serves her right for cursing me so I could not bear a son,’ Fanny repeated her old lie to herself to explain not having a son.
About an hour later, Lydia stated she and Kitty were walking to Meryton. Elizabeth, who was ready to cast up her accounts at the offensive smell emanating from their cousin, decided to join them; Jane chose to walk with her sisters as well. Unfortunately, Mr. Collins invited himself along too.
He offered his arm to Elizabeth, but she increased her pace and the corpulent man had no way of keeping up. Jane saw his look of dismay when her sister would not walk with him.
“It is not you, Mr. Collins,” Jane lied. “She has been cooped up nursing me and has not been able to walk as is her wont, she just needs to expend some of her built-up energy.”
The lie had the effect Jane wished. She had agreed to help her mother assure that Elizabeth accept the man when he made his offer. Shealmostfelt sorry for Elizabeth as she would have to takethatto her bed?but only almost.
As Lydia hoped, they encountered Lieutenants Denny and Wickham on the High Street. Wickham was impressed by the beauty of the two oldest Bennet sisters, but they were older than he preferred and they had no fortune.
After introductions were made, the group had just begun to talk among themselves when Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy rode up. Darcy had not spoken to Bingley yet, so as soon as he saw theangelicMiss Bennet he was off his horse in a thrice and approached the group to pay his respects.
“We were riding to Longbourn to deliver the invitation for the ball on Friday. Miss Bennet, may I solicit your first two dances,” Bingley requested keenly.
“Why yes, Mr. Bingley, certainly,” Miss Bennet responded.
“Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy seems to be returning to Netherfield Park,” Elizabeth reported. Mr. Bingley said his goodbyes and was soon riding after his friend.
Everyone else had been talking and had not noticed what Elizabeth had. She had been watching at the exact moment that the handsome and affable Mr. Wickham and the hateful Mr. Darcy spied one another. The former turned white with fear while the latter became red with anger.
Mr. Wickham seemed to recover and tipped his hat insolently to Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy wheeled his horse and rode off. Elizabeth’s curious nature was dying to find out what was between the two men. Whatever it was, she was sure Mr. Darcy was at fault, as she saw honesty in Mr. Wickham’s open and charming countenance.
The Bennet sisters’ Aunt Phillips approached them and invited all of their family to her card party that evening; the two officers and Mr. Collins were included as well. Not long after, the various parties parted ways.
