Page 40

Darcy would rather have been on horseback than stuck in a carriage, but even so it was a pleasant journey across to Netherfield.

The place had been shut up indeed. Bingley had considered letting it go, but now Darcy was glad he had not. It would be nicer to stay there than in an inn for weeks on end.

And besides, he wondered if his friend might like to return to the area more permanently, if things with Miss Jane Bennet were not quite as Darcy had believed.

He did not like to be wrong, and indeed, he had not considered that he might be until Elizabeth had so strongly decried his actions.

He thought what he would say if some man decided that he and Elizabeth should not be together because of some judgement on his part about their affections. And he knew now how angry he would be, how he would rail against it, how he would not be persuaded against the match, no matter what.

He hoped that Bingley would attend the wedding. For then he could right his wrong.

The house was boarded up, but there was a butler there overseeing the place, and while he looked surprised at Darcy’s arrival and apologised that there was no maid or cook currently present, he immediately went and organised a bedroom, clearly trusting Darcy’s words that Bingley had approved his stay.

His letter to Bingley would surely have arrived by now.

Perhaps Bingley was on his way as he spoke, and besides, he could cope without a maid or a cook. He was dining at Longbourn that evening, after all, and there was always the pub in the village.

But if Bingley did not arrive, he would hire someone himself, for when Georgiana came, he would not subject her to sitting in a public house.

When his room was ready, the one he had occupied the last time they’d stayed, he made his way upstairs to change after the long journey.

He looked out of the window in the direction of Longbourn and smiled.

His life was about to change immeasurably. And he was quite surprised to find that he could not wait.

Chapter Twenty-Three

She could hear conversation from the parlour, and so Elizabeth headed there immediately.

She knew she probably would be criticised for not having changed and fixed her hair before she came into the room. But then she also thought she would be criticised for disappearing up to her bedroom and not immediately informing her mother that she was home.

As she was nervous about sharing this news, she thought it was better to do so immediately. With a deep breath, she pushed open the door and smiled at the scene before her.

Her sisters and mother were still in their black clothes of mourning, but her mother was now thankfully downstairs.

Jane sat at her needlework, Mary was reading, and Kitty and Lydia were admiring a fan, which they kept snatching off the other.

It was her mother who noticed her first.

"Oh, Lizzy, you gave me such a fright. What are you doing back, skulking in the doorway there? Goodness me, my poor nerves. Is that what you wanted? To finish me off?"

"No, Mama," Lizzy said with a strained smile. "I returned home early. I guess I have beaten my letters."

Jane nodded. "Indeed. We have not heard from you in several days," she said, "but it is good to have you home."

She got up, leaving her sewing on the chair, and embraced her sister. Hugging Jane felt like coming home. She could not wait to speak with her alone, but for now she needed to announce her news.

"Did Mr and Mrs Collins ask you to leave?" her mother asked. "I shouldn’t be surprised. They think they’re above us now, don’t they? Now that Longbourn will one day be theirs."

"Longbourn is theirs, Mama," Jane reminded her. "They just haven’t chosen to take residence yet."

Mama huffed. "Leaving us to take some tiny house in Cheapside and then asking you to leave. Goodness me."

"They didn’t ask me to leave, Mama. I chose to leave early. In fact, I came home because I have some news."

"Oh?" Jane asked, taking a step back.

Kitty and Lydia looked instantly interested, and Elizabeth supposed news to them was akin to gossip.