Page 42

There was no warmth in Caroline Bingley’s voice just a sneering one-upmanship as she tried to force a point over Miss Elizabeth. Who with a sigh once again closed her book. Rather than respond to Caroline Bingley she looked at her brother.

“Mr. Bingley, did your father have a brother named Paul?”

Darcy had no idea where this was going.

“Why yes Miss Elizabeth he did. How did you know?”

“I met a Mr. Paul Bingley at my uncle’s office in Cheapside. He was there to talk to my uncle about the export of the carriages his firm produces. I wondered if Mr. Paul Bingley was your uncle.”

Darcy watched Caroline Bingley’s face as her brother undercut all her poorly thought through efforts. He could tell that later Bingley was going to feel the sharp edge of his sister’s tongue.

“Yes, he is my uncle. I sold my share of the business to him 18 months ago. Did you have a chance to talk with him?”

“I did not get the opportunity. He was meeting my uncle and it was just a brief introduction. If you will excuse me I am going to check on Jane and retire for the evening. Good night.”

And with that she was gone, never having answered Caroline Bingley directly. Darcy marvelled at how she had tied her uncle and Miss Bingley’s uncle together. But with Miss Elizabeth gone for the evening Miss Bingley was free to disparage her without restraint. She took full advantage but she was so unrelenting that all three gentlemen soon retreated to the billiard room to escape her.

For the next two days there was little sign of Miss Elizabeth. Miss Bennet’s fever remained stubbornly high and as a consequence Miss Elizabeth ate all her meals bar breakfast in her chambers. What Darcy quickly realised was that Miss Elizabeth only ate breakfast in the dining room because she knew that neither of the Bingley sisters were awake at an early hour.

The first morning after her arrival Darcy woke before dawn and was out for a ride barely after the gloom of the pre-dawn had lightened. It was good to feel the brisk autumn air and even better to have some peace from Netherfield. Upon his return he bathed and dressed before descending to the dining room. He felt he had earned a hearty breakfast. He opened the well-oiled door and was surprised to see Bingley already there, reading the paper. At least he assumed it was Bingley until the noise of his entrance had Miss Elizabeth lowering the paper to see who had joined her.

“Good morning Miss Elizabeth. Is there any improvement in your sister?”

“Mr. Darcy. Sadly she is unchanged, the fever is still worryingly high. My maid is with her at present.”

Darcy nodded and walked to the sideboard to prepare a plate of food. Given the conversation with Colonel Forster he was not surprised to see her reading the newspaper. Although he noted that she had carefully refolded it now that he was there. What also struck him was the word ‘my’ when describing the maid. Not ‘a’ maid, or even ‘our’ maid, but ‘my’ maid. One more thing that was just a little off about Miss Elizabeth. His rambling thoughts were brought to a sudden halt.

“If you will excuse me Mr. Darcy, I shall return to my sister.”

With another of her barely there curtseys she was off. And Darcy was the only person of the Netherfield Party who saw her all day. She requested her lunch and supper in her rooms. It would have been too much to hope that Miss Elizabeth’s absence would drain the anger from Miss Bingley. Instead the exact opposite occurred, she continued to cast aspersions about the lady, to the point that she drove the three men to retreat, once again, to the billiard room. It was sad to see, and hear.

The following morning, by now it was the Friday, followed an identical pattern to that of the day before. Upon his return from his morning ride Darcy found Miss Elizabeth in the dining room reading the paper. But his arrival triggered her own departure. Even their brief conversation was all but identical. And neither Bennet sister was seen for the rest of the day.

--

Friday was the day that Jane’s fever broke and Elizabeth could finally relax, her sister would survive and they could escape from Netherfield Park shortly. Unbeknownst to the other occupants, Elizabeth had not travelled the three miles from Longbourn alone on the Wednesday morning. Claire and Robert had faithfully accompanied her. Once there, and realising that it would be a stay of several days, Robert assisted in the stables, out of the way, while Claire had looked after Elizabeth and Jane, not imposing that burden on the Netherfield Park staff. Elizabeth held off informing their host of Jane’s recovery until after dinner. Rather than inform Mr. Bingley personally she merely wrote a short note to let him know that Jane’s fever had broken and that Elizabeth expected her to make a rapid recovery. Elizabeth had no interest in spending any time with Miss Bingley.

The next morning Darcy dressed as usual for riding but even just walking to the stables he saw that it was far too wet to ride. It was the sort of weather that could injure a horse and there was no need to take such a risk. He quickly returned to the Manor. As a result he was in the dining room to break his fast much earlier than either of the previous days. And he finally got the chance to have a substantive conversation with Miss Elizabeth.

“Good morning Miss Elizabeth. I was pleased to hear that your sister is much improved.”

“Thank you, Mr. Darcy. Good morning to you too.”

Darcy had to suppress a smile. This was the first time she had wished him a good morning. He indicated to the footman to pour him a cup of coffee whilst he prepared a plate. He spotted that Miss Elizabeth had turned the newspaper to read the front page but she had not picked it up.

“Please, do not let me change your routine. If you wish to read the paper then please go ahead.”

There was no false ‘are you sure’ rather a small smile and nod of her head. When he joined her at the table Elizabeth had the paper unfolded in front of her but had not lifted it up to obscure him from view. He did not immediately engage her in conversation but rather ate his meal while covertly observing her. Once he had finished his food, and with a fresh cup of coffee, he quietly asked her a question.

“Is there something that you are particularly interested in? Do you have a relative in the army with Viscount Wellington on the Peninsula?”

Elizabeth shook her head, before a grimace briefly marred her face.

“No, as you are aware from Miss Bingley, I have no brothers. My cousins are still too young. The reason I devour the newspaper each day is to keep a clear picture in my head of the situation.”

Darcy was intrigued at this partial explanation.

“To what purpose?”