Chapter 13

S unday, which happened to be the first day of November marked a little more than a day that Jane had no fever. Hence, she sent a note home telling their mother she and Lizzy would return to Longbourn with their family from the church.

Had Mr Bingley still been resident at the house, Fanny would have made her vociferous opposition to Jane leaving Netherfield Park, which in her view would have been too soon. As it was, she accepted the fact her most beautiful and troublesome daughters would be home that day.

After the service, the Hursts stood with the two Bennet sisters who had been hosted at Netherfield Park while one of that estate's footmen moved the small trunk from their coach to the Bennet carriage.

"You will come for tea soon, will you not Louisa," Jane verified as she took her new friend's hand in her own.

"I would like that, thank you," Mrs Hurst replied warmly.

"Mr Hurst do you play chess?" Elizabeth enquired. The gentleman nodded. "Then Sir, I suggest you accompany your wife. My father always seeks opponents other than myself."

"You play?" Hurst asked with raised eyebrows.

"I do. I even beat my father at the game at times. Papa is chagrined the student has become the master," Elizabeth smiled.

"Had I been aware I would have challenged you once I had stopped acting the souse with Caroline in residence," Hurst revealed. His statement made clear the reasons for the changes the Bennet sisters had noted in Mr Hurst's behaviour since Miss Bingley had been removed from society.

"Once you have played against Papa, I will be happy to accept a challenge from you," Elizabeth assured the man.

"What a great pity Darcy was not aware of your skill while you were both in residence," Hurst stated. If he noticed the scowl mentioning that name caused on Miss Elizabeth's face, Hurst said not a word. "Darcy is a past champion at Cambridge, in fact, more than six years after he graduated from the university, most of his records still stand."

As much as she disliked acknowledging any positive about Mr Darcy, Elizabeth had to admit, even if only to herself, she would have loved to have tested her prowess at the game against a champion. However, she was sure Mr Darcy would not lower himself to play against her, or any woman for that matter.

"Louisa, we thank you for your hospitality," Jane said gratefully before she and Lizzy were about to board the Bennet carriage.

Fanny approached Mrs Hurst. "When will dear Mr Bingley return to his estate?" she attempted to elicit information. "What was the urgent business which drew him to London?"

Jane and Elizabeth were mortified by their mother's overly forward and probing questions. Their father, who had already seated himself in the conveyance simply smirked as he watched his wife's crass behaviour, but did nothing to stop it or alleviate his eldest two daughters' public humiliation thanks to his wife's actions. Elizabeth looked at her father, her eyes begging him to check his wife, but he moved not.

Jane and Elizabeth were fully cognisant of what the business was, but they would never tell anyone, not even their father. Although he did not gossip like their mother did, his penchant to tease and make fun of their mother— even Elizabeth had to own—meant he may say something on the subject to see what his wife's reaction would be. If that occurred, the information would be known far and wide as soon as their mother ran to tell her sister and friends.

"My brother will return home when his private business is completed," Mrs Hurst stated politely, but firmly.

Fanny sniffed and then turned and made her way to and boarded the Bennet carriage. "I am so sorry Louisa," Elizabeth began to say, when her friend placed a hand on her arm.

"Lizzy, I was not offended. You forget I am used to London society, not to mention Caroline. Your mother's questions were mild in comparison," Mrs Hurst stated soothingly. "With the matchmaking which happens in Town, your mother's actions are nothing when compared to the machinations of the mothers, and some fathers too, in so called polite society."

The friends waved to each other, then Hurst handed his wife into their coach while the Longbourn footman assisted the last two Miss Bennets into their carriage.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

By the first Friday in November all the business Bingley and Darcy had needed to complete had been done.

With an entrée from the Earl of Matlock, and after demonstrating the annual cost of seven hundred and fifty pounds was no hardship—Bingley had paid for two years ahead—Caroline Bingley was accepted as the newest guest who would reside at The Sanctuary on the Isle of Jersey. On Thursday past, a sedated Miss Caroline Bingley had been transported to the island.

Darcy had met with his solicitor regarding some outstanding issues. For the rest of his time in London, he had seen Gigi as much as possible. That meant he spent time with his aunt, uncle, and Becca as well. He gained much pleasure in seeing the improvements in his sister. It warmed his heart his confession about his own fallibility had gone such a long way towards healing Gigi. He thought about asking her and Becca—after he had his aunt's permission to do so—to join him at Netherfield Park, but in the end, he decided not to at that time.

He did not escape being called on the carpet by the Earl and Countess. He had not told Gigi to keep confidential his letter where he owned to his rude and insulting faux pas at the assembly, hence, it was not surprising when his aunt and uncle berated him for his words and behaviour. When he mentioned his difficulty apologising to the lady, he had been instructed to try harder.

One of the tasks Bingley had undertaken was to place his younger sister's dowry into a trust. If the average returns Mr Edward Gardiner promised were even half of his projections, then the dividends would more than cover the annual costs of her care. Even had he needed to add some to it, what he would have spent was a fraction of the overspending he had covered for Caroline in the past.

One afternoon Bingley happened to be passing the jewellery store of Rundell and Bridge, when on a whim he entered. He thought of only one woman when he saw a ring with a large sapphire, not to mention the matching pendant, which was also gold, with the same type of stone. He intended to ask for at least a courtship before the ball. However, if Miss Bennet was amenable, he would request her hand in marriage.

As much as Bingley had fallen in and out of love before, and he openly acknowledged he had, he could now see the difference between an infatuation and love. Before it had been the former, but with Miss Bennet it was most definitely the latter. As sad as he was about having to commit his younger sister, he was in anticipation of a future with Miss Bennet, if she would have him.

Hence, the two friends commenced their return to Netherfield Park on the morning of Friday the sixth day of November.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~ ~

For the first half of the journey to Netherfield Park both friends had been in contemplation. For Darcy this was normal, but for Bingley it was not his wont to remain quiet for almost two hours.

"Darce?" Bingley called his friend's attention to himself shortly after departing the inn where they had taken some refreshments and the horses had been allowed to rest.

"Yes, Bingley?" Darcy responded.

"What do you think of Miss Jane Bennet?" Bingley enquired.

"To be honest I know very little of her. She seems like a pleasant woman, but for me, she smiles too much," Darcy averred honestly. "Why do you need my opinion of the lady?" Darcy had kept to his resolve of not saying anything to Bingley about Miss Bennet, now that he had been asked, he could express his views openly.

"Because I am thinking of offering for her. It will be up to her if it is a courtship or engagement," Bingley revealed.

"I know the two eldest Miss Bennets are close to Mrs Hurst, but I think you could do much better than Miss Bennet. If you marry her, you marry into a family with her parents and her misbehaving youngest two sisters."

"I know that, and it is not a deterrent for me." Bingley paused, "What do you mean I can do much better ?"

"They are below you in wealth and society, and they have connections in trade."

"I am the son of a tradesman, and many of my connections are in trade, no matter how much Caroline tries to ignore that fact. Were you not the one who corrected my sister when she claimed she was above the local gentry?"

"Societally, you are correct. The Bennets are above you. Even if you ignore their connections, they have no wealth and Mrs Bennet is always on about how her daughters will catch rich men. She is rather mercenary."

"I care not for their lack of wealth, and are not most high society matches based in mercenary considerations? Compared to Caroline, Mrs Bennet is nothing of a fortune hunter, and what of your own aunt, Lady Catherine?"

"What has my aunt to do with this?" Darcy asked rather indignantly.

"Have you not told me the lies she tells about the supposed cradle betrothal are rooted in fortune hunting reasons, and trying to deny her daughter her rightful inheritance? Is it not rather hypocritical to condemn others in lower society for that which is routinely done in the first circles, and may I point out, by a close relative of yours."

As he sat back and closed his eyes, he knew Bingley had the right of it. So far all of his arguments had been demolished. There was one last one, of which Darcy was certain he would sway his friend. "In my opinion she does not hold you in tender regard. I have not seen her reaction to you to be any different to the way she smiles and relates to other men." He felt satisfied when he delivered the coup-de-grace . What he did not expect was to see Bingley grin.

"Really Darce, you started out telling me you hardly know the lady, but now, you who present an inscrutable mask to the world know the contents of her heart? Who is the one who has spent more time in her company? Me or you? I have seen all the signs she holds me in tender regard, which is only proper as she has not displayed it for others to see. If she had, you would have called her forward and a fortune hunter, but when she behaves with propriety, you hold that against her too."

Darcy deflated. "You are your own man, make your decision with no mind to me."

"Regardless of your opinion, do you truly believe I would have allowed you, Caroline, or anyone, other than Miss Bennet herself, to sway me from my chosen path? You must consider me a simpleton and believe I have not noticed the way you look at Miss Elizabeth. Are you going to deny your attraction or pursue her? And if you do, what about all that you said about her family?"

"You have identified my interest in her. However, as the infuriating woman will not allow me to speak to her so I may deliver my apology, how am I to further an acquaintance with her? As to the rest, you have the right of it. I know not why I tried to dissuade you, as it is not my place to do so."

"It was I who asked your opinions," Bingley reminded his friend. "Although since I matured, I will not follow advice blindly, but I will still ask, if only to test my own resolve."

"What do you suggest regarding Miss Elizabeth, or should I still speak to Miss Bennet?"

"That Darce, it seems to me, is your only option at this point."

The two felt the Darcy travelling coach slow as the coachman drove his team through Meryton.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

The balance of the Derbyshire Militia regiment had arrived the previous day. So far Wickham had been kept far too busy to find someone to warm his bed. Nor was he able to establish credit accounts, yet.

As such when a coach he would have recognised traversed the road through the centre of Meryton, he was opening an account at the Red Lion Inn for his drink and sustenance needs. By the time he and Denny exited the inn—after enjoying a few pints of the establishment's finest ale—the coach had just turned onto the road which led to Netherfield Park.

Wickham was keen to meet some of the local ladies, especially the youngest Miss Bennets. Denny had regaled him with stories about how they openly flirted with the officers. It seemed their mother encouraged the behaviour in her youngest two. Normally he would not seduce gentleladies as their fathers and brothers were far more apt to exact retribution. In this case, he would make an exception. There were no brothers, and if his friend was to be believed, the father was indolent in the extreme, and only laughed at his family's follies rather than checking them. According to Denny one was fifteen and the other not seventeen yet. They were both of an age where they would be wholly susceptible to his manipulations.

He was certain opening accounts with the other merchants in the town would be as easy as it had been at the inn. In that, he was soon proved to have the right of it.

As he came out of the cobbler, Wickham noticed a gig pass him. On the bench beside the driver was a very corpulent clergyman. It reminded Wickham of his failure to extract more money from the prig for the living in Kympton. The fact he never intended to take orders was irrelevant.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

An hour before his cousin was expected, Bennet decided it was time to acquaint his wife and daughters with the man's imminent arrival. "There will be another for dinner this evening, Mrs Bennet," Bennet drawled while watching his wife intently. She did not disappoint.

"Ooh, is Mr Bingley coming to dinner? Is he come back?" Fanny gushed as her lace handkerchief began to flap.

"No, not Mr Bingley, but a man I have never met in the whole of my life. He should arrive in an hour, and will be with us for about a sennight. So, would you like to know who the man is?" Bennet looked around the drawing room and saw the eyes of six expectant females on him.

"Mr Bennet, why do you enjoy vexing me so? Who is the man?" Fanny demanded .

"It is none other than my cousin, Mr William Collins, who, when I have been called home, will be able to turn you out of this house," Bennet revealed gleefully. He looked at Lizzy and was disappointed she did not seem to enjoy his joke.

"Why would that man be coming here? How can he be easy that he will steal this estate from its rightful owners?" Fanny stopped and cogitated. " DID YOU SAY AN HOUR ?" she screeched at the top of her voice. "When did this man notify you of his coming?"

"About a month past," Bennet smirked and then left the drawing room.

"Hill, my salts," Fanny called. When the housekeeper arrived, the mistress was practically incoherent. Thankfully, Jane told Mrs Hill about the arriving guest and how long he was scheduled to visit.

For the first time in her life, Elizabeth saw her father's joking for what it was— cruelty. It confused her vastly as she knew not what to think.