Miss Bennet & Mr Bingley (4 page)

‘Mama said you are to come at once,
Jane, we cannot be seated until Mr Bingley has come in.’

For the second time Jane’s cheeks
coloured. How remiss of her to have kept the party waiting. He offered her his
arm and smiled down at her sympathetically. He was so understanding, in tune
with her every thought. As the meal progressed she barely noticed what she ate,
he was seated beside her and they conversed quietly together whenever they had
a moment.

When he eventually took his leave
he smiled at her in a most particular way and promised to call very soon. She
could hardly credit how much she liked him when she had only met him twice. He
must be the most pleasing gentleman she had ever met, but she would not allow
herself to think too fondly of him, after all they were barely acquainted.

 
* * * *

Two weeks after Mr Bingley and his party dined at Longbourn they were
all gathered at the home of Sir William Lucas for an evening of varied
entertainment. Also present were Mrs Long and her two nieces, Colonel Forster
and several junior officers, much to the delight of Kitty and Lydia Bennet.

‘Miss Bennet, Louisa and I are so glad to see you this evening. Without
your company we should have no one of any interest to converse with.’

Jane was flattered that Miss Bingley should wish to seek her out. ‘These
social events at Lucas Lodge are always lively affairs, I seldom have time for
conversation of any sort.’

‘I particularly wish to speak to you, Miss Bennet, as I have just
received some new music from London and thought you might like to borrow it.
Charles tells me you are an accomplished player on the pianoforte.’

‘I do not know how he can say that, he has not heard me play.’ Jane
smiled. ‘However, I should dearly love to see what you have been sent. Thank
you so much for offering to share it with me.’

‘Pray, excuse me, Miss Bennet, but I have promised to keep Mr Darcy
company. He does so dislike being with people he is not acquainted with.’

She walked off, the epitome of elegance. Jane was not alone for many
moments before Bingley joined her. ‘Miss Bennet, is this not a delightful
party? I love to see a group of friends enjoying themselves. I noticed that my
sister spent a considerable time with you, she holds you in high esteem.’

‘I am sure she does not, sir. However, I much admire her style and
elegance. She has a wardrobe of the most beautiful gowns, her modiste has
excelled herself tonight.’

He glanced across at his sister and then looked down at her. ‘I agree,
Miss Bennet, Caroline’s gown is very fine but not half so pretty as yours.’

Jane spent a great deal of time with Bingley that evening and by the
time the Longbourn party were gathering to leave she was even more convinced
that there was no one in the world quite like him. She believed herself, for
some reason, to be a firm favourite with his sisters. The more frequently they
were together, the more it served to increase her partiality.

****

As she and her sister were preparing
to go out to a card party Elizabeth told her what everybody was saying. ‘Jane,
I have to tell you, what everyone is saying about you and Bingley. That it is
generally evident whenever you meet that he admires you and is quite open in
his preference for your company.’

‘I do hope so, Lizzy, for I am already decidedly partial to him. I enjoy
every moment we spend together, we have so much in common.’ She adjusted the
string of beads threaded through her hair. ‘But I can assure you, I am not
making too much of his attention. He is cordial to all the young women he
meets.’

The sound of footsteps running past the door reminded her it was time to
depart. She was reluctant to talk about what his particular attentions might
mean. It was far too soon to believe his affections might be engaged.

Tonight Mr Bennet had accompanied them, there was nothing he liked
better than a game of cards in convivial company. Without any contrivance on
her part she found herself at a table partnered by Bingley.

‘I am glad we do not play for high stakes, Miss Bennet. I almost lost my
inheritance playing with card sharps.’

‘How shocking! You do not look like a gambler, Mr Bingley.’

‘I did not know such a person could be identified just by looking at
them.’ He grinned and she returned his smile. ‘Darcy came to my rescue, it was
when we met. He has been my friend ever since. Without his sound advice I
should have come to grief on more than one occasion.’

Jane paid little attention to her cards and apart from learning that
they both preferred to play
vingt-un
than
commerce
discovered
little more about his abilities in this pastime. During the supper break they
were seated together at a small table and able to speak more privately.

‘I noticed that Mr Darcy did not join in the card games. Does he not
like to play?’

He shook his head. ‘He dislikes frivolity of any sort, much prefers to
spend his time in serious conversation on subjects that I find tedious.’

‘It is strange, sir, that you apparently have so little in common with
your closest friend.’

‘I think that is why we get on so well. Do they not say that opposites
attract?’

Jane thought about that comment when she was in bed that night, her
sister already asleep beside her. Had he been trying to warn her that because
they were so similar in outlook he did not find her attractive?

 
* * * *

Caroline Bingley swept into the drawing-room and waited tapping her foot
until Charles looked up from his newspaper. ‘Miss Bennet is coming to visit
this morning, she is to walk over. Perhaps you and Hurst could go out and meet
her?’

Hurst ignored the question and continued to stare morosely out of the
window. Charles was delighted, the more time he spent in Jane Bennet’s company
the happier he was.

‘I shall go at once, but surely she is not coming on her own?’

‘I expect Elizabeth Bennet shall
accompany her, she usually does. I have promised she can be returned in our
carriage. To walk in both directions would be the outside of enough even when
the weather is so mild today.’

Darcy appeared in the vestibule. ‘I
think the exercise will do me good, I shall come with you, Bingley.’

Glad to have his friend’s company,
but surprised, he had shown no partiality for walking long distances since they
had arrived at Netherfield. He smiled, perhaps there was a special reason that
Darcy wished to walk across the fields with him. Maybe he was not the only one
interested in a Bennet sister.

They walked companionably, having
no need to be forever talking when together. It was Darcy, from his superior
height, who spotted the girls.

‘I see them, Bingley. I must say it
is refreshing to see young ladies prepared to take exercise in this way.’

The two young women arrived,
slightly breathless, at the stile. He thought that they both appeared
invigorated by their walk. He stepped in front of Darcy and offered his hand to
Jane.

‘Miss Bennet, I cannot tell you how
delighted I am to see you both this morning. Allow me to assist you, it would
be a tragedy indeed to tear your pretty gown.’ She smiled sweetly and held out
her hand allowing him to lead her a few yards down the path. Her sister
answered for both.

‘We are honoured indeed, sirs, to
be escorted the remainder of the journey. Did you think that we might become
lost?’

‘No, Miss Elizabeth, that is the
last thing I would expect of you.’ Darcy moved over to offer his hand but she
hopped nimbly across the wooden structure before he could reach her side.

Caroline and Louisa were waiting to
greet them as they returned. ‘I do hope you are not too fatigued, it is so kind
of you to come all this way on foot.’ His sisters exchanged knowing glances and
he frowned. Instantly Caroline’s expression changed.

‘Please, do come inside. The maid
shall conduct you both to a chamber where you can refresh yourselves.’

He watched Jane run lightly up the
stairs beside Elizabeth, hoping to catch a glimpse of ankle. A tap on his arm
reminded him he was not alone and should not make his admiration so plain.

‘Bingley, shall we repair to the
billiard room and leave the ladies to their conversation?’

‘I think not, I prefer to stay. But
you and Hurst must suit yourselves, I am certain we can survive without your
company.’

He could hear his friend chuckling
as he strode away towards the rear of the house. He must have been mistaken,
Darcy had been speaking the truth, he had only accompanied him for the exercise
and not to spend time with Elizabeth Bennet.

‘Come along, Charles, do not dither
about out here. I have ordered refreshments to be served in the drawing-room
and then I am hoping to persuade Miss Bennet to accompany me in some duets.’

When Jane and Caroline were playing
together he went to sit beside Elizabeth Bennet. ‘Your sister plays
beautifully, it is a pleasure to listen to her. Shall you entertain us this
morning?’

‘I do not sight read as well as
Jane, I should make a sad mull of it. Like you, I am content to sit and
listen.’ He felt her attention wander and looked across the room to see that
Darcy had joined them.

His friend flicked aside his coat tails and settled down to listen with
obvious enjoyment. He was sorry when the sonata ended but pleased he could now
converse with Jane. He stood up. ‘Excellent! I have never enjoyed a duet so
much. Miss Bennet, there is something I particularly wished to show you, do you
have a moment to walk in the garden with me?’

‘I should like to see your garden, Mr Bingley, if you would allow me to
join you?’

‘Miss Elizabeth, I shall be delighted to have the two prettiest ladies
in Hertfordshire to walk with.’

All at once the entire party were fussing and flapping and putting on
bonnets and shawls and he knew he was not to have a moment alone with Jane
before she left. Caroline took Jane’s arm leaving him to walk with her sister.
He could not but help hear Caroline extolling the virtues of Georgiana’s
proficiency in music and that no one else was quite as good as Darcy’s sister.

They were admiring the horses when Caroline complained she had mired her
hem in something quite unmentionable and both she and Louisa retired clucking
like offended hens. At last, he could walk with Jane; Darcy must entertain
Elizabeth.

When the stable clock struck two he was disappointed. ‘I am sorry that
you have to return, but I believe that we are to meet again at Lucas Lodge very
soon.’

‘We are, sir, I am looking forward to it. Excuse me, we must go in and
bid farewell to your sisters and thank them for their invitation.’

He bowed and she curtsied and then taking her sister’s arm she vanished
through the archway leaving him bereft.

 
* * * *

Although Jane had met Bingley and his sisters at two morning calls, as
well as three evening engagements, she wished to have the opportunity to
further the friendship. So it was with eagerness that she arrived at the house
of Sir William and Lady Lucas knowing the Netherfield party would also be
there.

Halfway through the evening Jane was conversing with her Elizabeth and
Charlotte Lucas in an ante-room before returning to the ball room.

‘Lizzy, I have noticed that Mr Darcy is favouring you with searching
glances. I am certain that he is revising his opinion, I do wish you would
reconsider your feelings to him.’

Elizabeth looked shocked. ‘I do hope you are mistaken, Jane. That man is
the very last person I would wish to have regarding me with anything other than
dislike. I certainly have not changed
my
opinion of
him
. I have
watched him on occasion, and he has not improved with better acquaintance, I
can assure you. Do you know, he was listening to my conversation with Colonel
Forster a while ago, I can hardly call that good manners.’

‘It is because he has developed an interest in you, Lizzy. Did I not say
so just now?’ Jane saw her mother beckoning to her and promptly excused
herself. Whilst she was conversing with her mother she watched Charlotte lead
her sister to the pianoforte.

‘Mama, Charlotte has persuaded Lizzy to play for us. I do hope Lady
Lucas’s guests shall listen and do not talk whilst she sings.’

Elizabeth acquitted herself well, her performance was pleasing, though
by no means capital. After a song or two, and before she could reply to the
entreaties of several that she should sing again, she was eagerly succeeded by
her sister Mary.

Mary, being the only plain one in the family, worked hard at improving
her knowledge and accomplishments, and was always impatient to display them to
others. Jane could sense that Mary’s audience were not well pleased, they had
much preferred Elizabeth’s easy and unaffected manner.

However, Mary, at the end of an particularly long concerto, was
persuaded by Lydia and Kitty to play some Scotch and Irish airs in order that
that there could be dancing at one end of the room. Immediately Mr Bingley
approached her.

‘Miss Bennet, I do hope you will join me in a reel?’

Jane smiled. ‘I should be delighted, sir, you know how much I enjoy
dancing.’ She looked across the room where she could see Mr Darcy standing
beside Sir William. ‘I do wish that your friend, Mr Darcy, felt more inclined
to mix. Does he not enjoy these occasions?’