Chapter Thirteen

J ane was finally well enough to go downstairs for dinner. It was important that Mr. Bingley see Jane at her very best; Elizabeth helped her dress and put up her hair. Mama had packed several lovely gowns for Jane, including her newest made of silk in celestial blue, with a lace-trimmed bodice. A sudden thought stilled her hands as she put pins into Jane's coiffure. Jane is far more beautiful than I, she thought. What if Mr. Darcy likes her better?

"Lizzy?" Jane's voice was concerned.

"Oh, it is nothing, Jane. Hold on, I am almost done." If Mr. Darcy's head was to be turned by a more beautiful woman, she thought, it is best that I find that out now, not later.

But she need not have worried. As she and Jane entered the drawing room, arm in arm, Mr. Bingley rushed up to Jane, but Mr. Darcy focused only on Elizabeth. He gave her a small, private smile. She returned it, shyly.

Mr. Bingley settled Jane near the fire so that she might be as warm as possible. Elizabeth would have liked to sit near Mr. Darcy, but Miss Bingley had taken that seat. Elizabeth went to sit beside the Colonel, who gave her a warm smile.

Miss Bingley scowled at Elizabeth. "Your sister is quite well now, I see."

"Yes, Miss Bingley, and my father's carriage will come for us tomorrow morning. I cannot begin to express my gratitude for your gracious hospitality."

Miss Bingley did not reply; she simply inclined her head and turned away.

Mr. Bingley was sitting very close to Jane, whispering in her ear. Her face was pink with pleasure at whatever he was saying.

"Charles!"

He turned his head. "Yes, Caroline?"

"I do not think you should be so close to Miss Bennet; you do not wish to catch whatever she has, do you?"

"She is quite cured, Caroline; I think you need not worry on my behalf."

Miss Bingley settled back down, frowning. "What say you, Mr. Darcy? Might not a cold still be contagious after the person is supposedly cured?"

"I have no opinion on the matter, Miss Bingley; I leave such things to the medical men."

Mr. Hurst unexpectedly said, "I think Charles would be happy to catch anything of Miss Bennet's!" He laughed at his own witticism, but no one joined in.

Jane was embarrassed, of course, and she turned her face away from Mr. Bingley's.

Dinner was announced, to everyone's relief. The seating was rather different tonight. Miss Bingley had Jane to her left with Mr. Darcy to her right. On Jane's right was Mr. Hurst. Mr. Bingley had Elizabeth on his right and the Colonel on his left, with Mrs. Hurst between the Colonel and Mr. Darcy. Miss Bingley had obviously been at great pains to keep Jane as far from Mr. Bingley as possible, and so poor Jane had no one to speak with except Miss Bingley, as Mr. Hurst would say nothing.

Elizabeth had somewhat better luck; though the silent Mr. Hurst was on her right, she had Mr. Bingley on her left. She had the great pleasure of hearing Mr. Bingley's anxious concern over the state of Jane's health, and she was called upon to answer a good many questions about Jane's likes and dislikes. She had never seen a more promising inclination.

She glanced rather often at Mr. Darcy on the far end of the table, struggling valiantly to keep up with Miss Bingley's endless conversation and attempts to earn his approbation.

"Why does she keep at it, do you think?" Mr. Bingley asked Elizabeth, softly.

"I beg your pardon, sir?"

"My sister. She will not leave that poor man alone, no matter how many times I explain that he has no interest in her."

Elizabeth could not formulate a reply before Mr. Bingley continued on. "I wonder that Darcy is still willing to befriend me, given how he is harassed by my sister."

Elizabeth managed to ask something she had wondered since she had first met the Bingleys. "Why is Mrs. Hurst not your hostess, Mr. Bingley? As a married woman, she is far better suited to the role."

"Because Caroline wanted to show Mr. Darcy what a capable hostess she would be for Pemberley."

"But you agreed to Miss Bingley's proposal, did you not?"

He stared at her in wonderment. "I suppose I did! Must have, yes?"

"I would think so."

He shook his head. "I do not seem able to say no to her. Never have, really."

Elizabeth realised with a shock that this meant she could no longer consider Mr. Bingley a good match for Jane. What had looked like a most promising inclination moments ago suddenly seemed like a path to heartbreak. What would she say to Jane?

After dinner, the ladies left the gentlemen and retired to the drawing room. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst sat at the piano and played a complicated duet; Jane and Elizabeth sat side by side on a sofa.

"Jane, I must talk to you," Elizabeth whispered, knowing that Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst would not hear her.

"Later, Lizzy, we are being rude."

"No, listen to me. Mr. Bingley says he cannot say no to Miss Bingley."

Jane stared at her. "He said that?"

"Yes; you must not encourage him. He will do whatever Miss Bingley says. Guard your heart, Jane."

"Miss Bingley does not like me." Jane sounded bewildered.

"Jane, she does not know you; she simply does not like the idea of her brother marrying you."

"It comes to the same thing in the end, does it not?"

"I suppose it does."

"What if he asks to call on me?"

"Perhaps you should confront him directly on the subject of his sister."

"Perhaps…" Jane's voice trailed off.

Elizabeth sighed; Jane was not likely to be able to have such a conversation. Her gentle soul could not tolerate any sort of confrontation.

***

The gentlemen leaned back in their chairs to enjoy cigars and snifters of brandy. The Colonel smiled at his host, saying, "Miss Bennet is possibly the most beautiful young woman I have ever seen. Her countenance is so composed and tranquil."

Mr. Bingley scowled at him. "She is not for you, Colonel Fitzwilliam."

"Oh? And why is that? Are you engaged to her?"

"I am not…not yet."

"Why is that? Oh, I see; your sister has not yet given her permission."

"Why – why, how dare you! You are a guest in my home, sir!"

Mr. Darcy finally spoke up. "See here, Richard, Bingley is right. This is no way to speak to your host."

"I apologise, Bingley. I am just making certain that Miss Bennet is still free to make a choice, as I am interested in getting to know her better."

Mr. Bingley's mouth opened and closed; he finally said, "She has no dowry, you know."

"I suspected as much. And I have no money; perhaps, though, she will overlook my lack of wealth once she learns that I have no sisters."

Mr. Bingley rose from his chair and advanced threateningly on the Colonel, fists clenched. With a fluid grace, the Colonel rose from his chair and looked down on Mr. Bingley, his expression entirely genial. He was perhaps three inches taller than Mr. Bingley, and a good deal more physically fit.

"Sit down, Bingley," Mr. Darcy advised.

"Why? He is trying to steal Miss Bennet away! I will teach him a lesson that he will not soon forget!"

"Really, Bingley? Do you truly think you can best my cousin in a fight?"

Mr. Bingley eyed the large, muscular man opposite him and sat back down. He picked up his brandy and drained it.

"That is better," Mr. Darcy said. "As for Miss Bennet, may the best man win!" And he raised his glass high.

They rather forgot Mr. Hurst's presence, as he said nothing. He was rather more concerned with how much brandy the other men would leave for him, and rather less concerned with the question of who would win Miss Bennet's hand.

When the gentlemen joined the ladies, there was a race to sit beside Miss Bennet. With the Colonel on one side and Mr. Bingley on the other, Jane hardly knew where to look.

Mr. Darcy took a chair beside Elizabeth's. The faint scent of jasmine teased his senses.

"What is happening there?" she whispered, indicating the two men on either side of Jane, both vying for her attention.

"My cousin has just made it clear to Mr. Bingley that he is interested in your sister."

"Is he, truly? Or is he just trying to irritate Mr. Bingley?"

"He has never before given attention to any young lady, so I suspect he truly is interested. If your sister had to choose between the two, which gentleman would have her favour?"

"She has never so much as had a conversation with Colonel Fitzwilliam, but I have told her that Mr. Bingley is controlled by his sister."

"You are quite right about that. So my cousin has a chance?"

"He is a second son; can he afford to marry a young lady with no dowry? None of the Bennet girls have dowries to speak of." She watched his face as she said this, knowing that this information might dampen his interest in herself.

But his face was unchanged as he said, "I have been offering him an estate for years; perhaps he would accept it if he were to be married."

"The Colonel would doubtless be a good husband; I like him very much."

Mr. Darcy felt his eyes narrowing. "Very much?"

She looked at him and began to laugh. "It is far too early in our acquaintance for either of us to feel jealousy."

He supposed she was right, but he felt it nonetheless.