Chapter 24

Darcy was at the breakfast table, sitting opposite Georgiana. He was lost in thought, sullenly recalling observing Elizabeth the night before. He had watched her chatting with her friends and felt dispirited seeing various gentlemen claim her for a set. Jealousy ate at his insides because it was increasingly obvious that Mr Grey intended to win her regard. She and Bramwell had laughed while dancing together. Darcy had asked his cousin what they spoke of, but the infernal jackanapes had refused to say. She and the Bingleys were departing town shortly, and it depressed his already low spirits even further. While it was dreadful to see her and know a gap as wide as an ocean stood between them, it would be worse not to see her.

He was beginning to hate being in town and was no longer content to wait until the end of the month to travel north with Lord and Lady Romsley, as they wished. The earl, countess, and Fitzwilliam frequently spoke of it being good for Georgiana to be close to family, and Darcy did not disagree with them. He had noticed it himself when they spent a day recently with the Reeds, and Georgiana had been in a reasonably lively mood. She had even admitted to finding it agreeable.

“Brother,” she said, pulling him from his reflections. She only continued once he met her eyes and nodded for her to go on. “I was thinking of our cousin Rebecca. You know that she called on me yesterday?”

“I do.” He took a sip of his coffee and hoped nothing she said would interfere with the plans he was silently forming to travel north as soon as possible.

“I like spending time with her. Her company is…easy. Have you…have you ever considered that you and she might—?” She shrugged. “She would make a very good wife and sister.”

Darcy laughed, only just managing to keep it light enough not to embarrass Georgiana. “I am pleased you and she are becoming closer, but it is quite impossible for there to be more between her and me. We do not have those sorts of feelings for each other. But I believe she and another cousin of ours do. I would not be surprised were we to receive news of an engagement before the summer is over.”

Her face fell; he was sorry to disappoint her and even more regretful that he intended to separate her from Rebecca’s company just when she was open to establishing a friendship with her. He might invite the Reeds to Pemberley that summer, but if Bramwell and Rebecca did soon become betrothed, they might be occupied preparing for a wedding. Yet surely the earl and countess would want them to visit Romsley Hall, and Pemberley was an easy distance away; they could go to Derbyshire before or after staying in Warwickshire.

“Bramwell will be a fortunate man, should she accept his proposal, as I expect she will. You know how often we are at Romsley Hall and how much our cousins like to come to Pemberley. You will see a great deal of her—more than you currently do.” He took another sip of coffee to give her a moment to reflect on his words. “What do you say to returning home as soon as it can be arranged? I long to be in the country again, and as you are aware, I always seem to have an abundance of work to do during the summer. We shall see the earl, countess, and Fitzwilliam before too long.”

But please not too soon! I could use a month or two apart from them—especially from Fitzwilliam!

Georgiana agreed. Darcy pretended not to notice her reluctance, even though it made him feel like the selfish creature he knew Elizabeth had once believed him to be.

“What does Papa write?” Jane asked Elizabeth.

They were sitting together one rainy afternoon, drinking tea and attending to their needlework, when the post arrived. Elizabeth had received a reply to her letter announcing her intention to travel with the Bingleys that summer rather than return to Longbourn. She folded the sheet of paper and tucked it beside her dish on the mahogany side table.

“He wishes me to return home, there has not been a word of sense in the house since I left, and so on. In other words, exactly what he always writes when I am away. He proposed a compromise, which is that I go to Gracechurch Street for a week or so first, thus giving me additional time in town to amuse myself. The Gardiners would be pleased to have me, et cetera.”

“But I am not content to leave you there.” Jane regarded her for a long moment, her head tilted and brow furrowed. “I think a change of scenery and the delights of travel would do you good. I know how agreeable you found your journey with our aunt and uncle last summer, even before you reached Lambton.”

Where I met Mr Darcy again and fell in love…

“It has not escaped my notice or Bingley’s that you have not yet agreed to make your home with us. I would always want your opinion of the estates we shall tour, but since you will live there too, I must have it.”

“Jane…” Elizabeth was not certain what she meant to say.

“I insist, Lizzy,” her sister said, sounding remarkably stern. “I want you to be happy again, and you will not be if you return to Longbourn. I do not care how much Papa says he needs you. If he will not forbid Lydia and Wickham from visiting or insist Mama is kind to you, then-then I will not allow you to live there!” Her cheeks were red, and her gaze darted guiltily from side to side.

Elizabeth laughed affectionately and gave her hand a squeeze. “Have I ever told you that you are the best sister a headstrong girl could ever hope to have?”

Jane waved this off. “You know Mr Grey has invited us to stay for a week. He told Bingley we might even extend it, if our arrangements allow. You would have a chance to know him better, especially in a setting where we shall not always be surrounded by other people. Perhaps you will discover you can learn to care for him enough to?—”

“Perhaps,” Elizabeth interjected. Then she quickly changed the subject and engaged Jane in a discussion of what she most hoped to find in a new home.

The following day, which was a Sunday, Miss Bingley joined them to attend church and take breakfast. Mr and Mrs Hurst were with his family, and Miss Bingley claimed they were rude to her; thus, she avoided them. Instead, she would spend the morning being uncivil to Jane and Elizabeth.

Bingley announced their plans for the summer months, having avoided doing so until their departure was imminent. Otherwise, his sisters might attempt to interfere with their arrangements, perhaps insert themselves by insisting their views must be taken into consideration. Elizabeth imagined them desperately attempting to follow behind in Hurst’s carriage, and Bingley, Jane, and she taking drastic measures to evade them. It sounded like a silly fear for her brother to have, but Elizabeth accepted it as a sign of his ongoing unhappiness with his sisters.

“She is going with you?” Miss Bingley said, pointing at Elizabeth.

“She is,” Bingley confirmed.

Pouting, his sister said, “I should be the one accompanying you, not her! It will be my home, the Bingley family estate.” She glanced at Jane out of the corner of her eye while pronouncing the name, and Elizabeth’s hands curled into fists.

“It will be my home and that of my wife and eventually our children.”

“But I do not wish to live with Hurst any longer! He is odious! You know I have never liked him, no matter who his family is. I want to go with you and help to find a suitable home for us. You are my brother, and it is only right that I live with you. Jane does not know what to look for! Our family’s reputation must be upheld?—”

“That is enough, Caroline,” Bingley interjected. “If you cannot refrain from insulting my wife or her sister through even a single meal, you are welcome to return to Hurst’s. Let me be clear—only Jane’s and my opinions matter, and we shall greatly value Lizzy’s because she has our best interests at heart and always treats us with respect.”

“There is no need for you to be cruel to me! You would not be if Louisa were here.”

He snorted. “Of course I would, if she took your part. I dare say Hurst would support me too. Jane, Lizzy, and I shall leave as planned, and I shall be sure to write to you or Louisa to let you know once we have secured a new estate. Or perhaps I shall write to Hurst instead. He is more agreeable company of late than either of you. If you and Louisa wish an invitation to see my new home, you will have to learn to be kinder to Jane and to Lizzy, whom I love dearly and consider just as much my sister as you.” When Miss Bingley opened her mouth to respond, he held up a hand to her and made a warning noise. “I suggest you stay in town and find a husband. That is the only route through which you will gain your wish not to live with Hurst any longer.”

Miss Bingley huffed and complained, and before the meal was completed, Bingley had the carriage readied to carry her back to Grosvenor Square. Elizabeth rejoiced that he had succeeded in saving them from her company over the coming days.

Less than a fortnight later, they left London. Through Bingley, Elizabeth learnt that Mr Darcy and his sister had likewise departed. She supposed it would be many months before she saw him again, perhaps not until they were all next in town. By then, she might be engaged or even married to Mr Grey, if only she could convince herself she could be happy with him and make him a good wife.