Page 61

"I am grateful to know she approves of a decision already made."

"Her approval is only half the wonder. She has informed Mrs. Phillips that my disposition was formed entirely under her guidance."

Darcy sat beside her. "Did she teach you to contradict a gentleman?"

"Constantly. She merely called it something less complimentary."

He smiled, but then grew serious. "Have her comments distressed you?"

"Not as they once would have done. I can remember the good years at Longbourn without pretending the last were equally happy. Aunt Fanny is as she is. Jane has taught me that one may love a relation and still understand her faults."

Darcy took her hand. "I hope you will never feel compelled to endure unkindness for my sake."

"Nor you for mine. I have been warned that your aunt Lady Catherine possesses opinions upon nearly everything, including matters she has not yet investigated."

"That description is regrettably accurate."

"Then we must be brave together."

Her levity could not conceal the seriousness beneath it. Elizabeth had feared that marriage to Darcy might require her to surrender the independence of spirit the Matlocks had helped her recover. Instead he treated her judgment as something to be sought, even when it differed from his own. They had begun discussing Pemberley's household, the arrangements for Georgiana, and the visits Elizabeth hoped to make to Jane. Nothing was settled without her being heard.

In September a letter came from Hertfordshire with unexpected news. Charles Bingley, a young gentleman of considerable fortune, had taken a lease of Netherfield Park. Jane wrote that the neighbourhood was animated by speculation and that Mrs. Bennet had already resolved he must marry one of her daughters, though none had yet met him.

"A familiar name," Darcy said when Elizabeth mentioned it. "Charles Bingley is a friend of mine."

"You have been concealing a wealthy bachelor while my aunt exhausted the supply of such gentlemen in Hertfordshire?"

"I did not know he intended to lease Netherfield until he wrote from London."

"Then you are forgiven, provided he is amiable. Jane has had more than her share of disappointing introductions."

Darcy answered that Bingley was one of the most open-hearted men he knew, though occasionally too ready to be governed by the opinions of others. Elizabeth hoped that a meeting between him and Jane might prove pleasant. She did not yet dream of the attachment that would follow.

The Matlocks had intended to visit friends in Hertfordshire later that autumn, and Lady Matlock proposed that Elizabeth accompany them. Darcy agreed to join the party for several days, partly to see Bingley settled at Netherfield and partly because he had ceased to enjoy journeys that kept him far from his betrothed.

Richard announced that he should come too, in order to make certain Bingley was fit for the responsibility of dancing with Miss Jane Bennet. Saye, whose estate business prevented a lengthy visit, promised to appear for the concluding days and begged his brother not to frighten away every eligible gentleman in the county.

"I am insulted," Richard said. "I have never frightened away an eligible gentleman."

"You frightened away the curate at Mother's last dinner," Saye replied.

"He was discussing the moral dangers of billiards. I merely introduced him to an example."

The journey brought Elizabeth a peculiar mixture of pleasure and apprehension. She had visited Jane since leaving Longbourn, but returning now with Darcy beside her made her conscious of how much had changed. The little house Mrs. Bennet rented near Meryton was neat, if far less grand than Longbourn, and Jane had done much to make it cheerful. Mrs. Bennet received them with an excess of congratulations directed principally at Darcy.

"My dear Mr. Darcy, how fortunate we are to have you in Hertfordshire!" she cried. "I told Lizzy that she would do very well, and indeed I should not have been surprised if she had caught a duke."

"Aunt," Elizabeth said, "I am very happy with the gentleman I have. I should hate to begin the search again merely to improve his title."

Darcy bowed to conceal his smile. Mrs. Bennet hesitated, uncertain whether she had been corrected, and then declared that Elizabeth had always been full of good spirits.

Jane's welcome was quieter and far more precious. She embraced Elizabeth and held her for several moments before turning to Darcy with sincere affection.

"I am delighted to see you both," Jane said. "Elizabeth has written so happily of you that I feel we have been acquainted for years."

"I hope to justify her confidence," Darcy answered.

"You have already justified mine," Elizabeth said.