Chapter 16

E lizabeth and Mary were in a rare state of elation in the carriage conveying them and the Gardiners to Bath. With Kitty presently visiting Charlotte, and Lydia staying with Colonel Forster and his wife in Brighton, only the three remaining sisters were due to embark on the journey, for the invitation had been extended to all the Miss Bennets. Yet, a mere two days before their departure, a brief, urgent missive had arrived from Mrs Barstow.

My earnest counsel is for Miss Bennet to refrain from leaving the county. I foretell an eventful visit in the days ahead. There will be ample opportunities to visit Bath on another occasion.

Elizabeth’s hand trembled, and she nearly dropped the letter. Hastening to the parlour where her family were assembled, for it was a rainy day, she wordlessly handed it to Jane, the sole member of the household with a vested interest in that particular visit. Jane was so shocked that, for an instant, Elizabeth regretted sharing the news with her. Yet, in less than a quarter of an hour, amidst spirited discussion, the arrival of Mrs Phillips added further to their elated anticipation. She was so agitated that she could scarcely speak, and only after drinking a glass of water she could utter, “Netherfield is preparing to receive guests!”

All eyes turned to Jane, who appeared on the verge of fainting, her cheeks aflame and her hand pressed to her heart as if to calm its pounding. Yet, much to everyone’s astonishment, her silence endured but a moment, for she arose from her seat and, fixing her gaze upon her mother and Mrs Phillips, spoke with vehemence, “Should any one of you dare to pronounce Mr Bingley’s name within these walls or in Meryton, or indeed anywhere else, I swear I will never talk to her again. You are not entitled to think of him, let alone make the slightest allusion. You have no right to approach Netherfield without my company! For you, that gentleman does not exist. Is that perfectly clear?”

Laughter reverberated within the carriage as Elizabeth recounted the tale to the Gardiners, with Mary mimicking their sister to perfection.

“Imagine the shock Mama must have experienced!” Elizabeth remarked. “Jane, who had always been the most docile and amiable of her daughters, now threw fiery glares from her eyes.”

“Do you comprehend, Mama? Do you, Aunt Phillips? He does not exist for you. A nameless spectre!” Mary added, imitating Jane’s voice and making everybody laugh until tears rolled down their cheeks.

“She forced Mama and Aunt Phillips to swear upon their lives!” Elizabeth continued, the mirthful scene truly proving delightful.

“And?” enquired Mr Gardiner. “Did he arrive?”

“We do not know,” Mary responded. “We departed yesterday, and there was still no word from Netherfield. Yet, I am confident that Mrs Barstow had some pertinent information when she dispatched that message.”

“It does not matter whether Mr Bingley comes merely to apologise. Any overture from him could mark the conclusion of seven months of torment. My sole regret is that I shall not witness the events,” Elizabeth said, even though deep into her soul she cared little about what might happen at Longbourn, her whole being absorbed by what could happen in Bath.

“Everyone is where they should be!” Mrs Gardiner said, looking at Elizabeth, her gaze implying much more than her words. Her uncle knew nothing about the proposal in Kent or Elizabeth’s sentiments for Mr Darcy—a deliberate choice as he was very protective of his nieces and their family.

“This friendship with Mrs Barstow and the Darcys is not only pleasurable but potentially advantageous for me,” Mr Gardiner declared earnestly. “Meeting such prominent and affluent individuals may well chart a new course for my business. I am sincerely grateful for this invitation!”

“No, Uncle, we are the ones grateful for this delightful journey to Bath,” Mary interjected, earning affectionate glances from her family. Having not seen her for several months, the Gardiners hardly recognised the young lady who now sat beside Elizabeth. A mixture of her two older sisters, she possessed a unique twinkle in her eyes that set her apart.

“Are you absolutely certain that we too were invited?” Elizabeth asked for the tenth time.

“Yes, my dear. Mrs Barstow eagerly anticipated seeing you, Mary, and Jane. Even Kitty received an invitation, provided she had not already journeyed to Kent.”

Upon their arrival in Bath, they were greeted by the joyful cries of the Gardiner children, who had arrived a day earlier in the company of their nannies and servants.

“We shall dine and rest today,” Mr Gardiner declared. “Commencing tomorrow, we shall embark on delightful excursions. In the morning, we shall visit the Pump Room above the ancient Roman baths. In fact, we shall do so daily to drink the healing waters and see our friends.”

“Then, your uncle will need to spend a few days in Bristol, and we may accompany him, provided the plan permits it,” Mrs Gardiner remarked, casting a meaningful glance at Elizabeth, who had no doubt that their itinerary would be closely overseen by Mrs Barstow.

???

Within half an hour following breakfast, the entire party was prepared for their walk, ready to explore the charming city .

“Are you certain of their arrival?” Elizabeth murmured to her aunt.

“Yes, my dear. You can rest assured that Mrs Barstow has made a perfect plan, and I understand that Lady Matlock was also involved.”

“Mrs Barstow has an excellent relationship with Lady Matlock.”

“Indeed, more than amicable. They, along with Lady Anne, were close friends. Lady Anne introduced Lady Matlock to her future husband, a viscount at the time, and Mrs Barstow introduced Lady Anne to Mr Darcy.”

“How delightful!” Elizabeth exclaimed, though she regarded her aunt with a touch of surprise. “You seem to know a lot of things concerning them.”

“Yes, Mrs Barstow paid me several visits. She is a friendly and affable lady.”

Elizabeth’s smile bore a striking resemblance to her father’s, prompting Mrs Gardiner to whisper, “Refrain from appearing so sardonic! Stop smiling in your father’s fashion, particularly when we encounter the Darcys. You cannot fault him for arrogance if you greet him with such an expression.”

“Do not scold me. I was merely wondering whether Mrs Barstow or even Miss Darcy maintain a similar cordiality with everyone. Judging by Mr Darcy’s disposition, they might also find some of the gatherings they attend to be less agreeable.”

“Everyone attends gatherings they find disagreeable, Lizzy,” Mrs Gardiner said. “My dearest friend, Esther, has a family I find insufferable. Her father-in-law is impertinent, and her mother has the manners of a servant. Stop imagining an ideal world populated by flawless individuals. You are not without faults, Jane is not without faults…none of us are without imperfections. Accept theirs, and they will accept yours.”

Elizabeth sighed, lost in thought as she contemplated her aunt’s words. She returned to the present when a chorus of joyful voices surrounded her. Mrs Barstow and Miss Darcy met them with wide smiles, relishing their introduction to the Gardiners’ children, who quickly departed with their nannies to drink the waters.

“You have charming children,” Miss Darcy remarked, then turned to Mary, inviting her to enter the Pump Room.

Elizabeth looked at them in surprise, expecting Miss Darcy to accompany her instead. Yet Mrs Barstow’s intentions became apparent when Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr Darcy approached. Before she realised what had unfolded, the colonel vanished with her uncle, and Mrs Barstow took Mrs Gardiner by the arm, leaving her facing a smiling Mr Darcy. The aunts’ manoeuvrings had been so transparent that they had failed to deceive either of them.

“Oh,” Elizabeth said almost gloomily, suddenly fearing that he might recall certain schemes in Hertfordshire involving her sister. However, Mr Darcy’s smile was only amused, devoid of any trace of anger.

“You appear rather disconcerted,” he remarked.

“I am. We are now alone, having been in the midst of a crowd mere seconds ago.”

“Yes, my aunt delights in orchestrating events. We are powerless in the face of her decisions. Bath is her domain. But why were you wearing that expression earlier?”

Elizabeth realised that he must have observed her long before their encounter, and she remembered her conversation with her aunt.

“My aunt was scolding me,” she confessed with a joyous transformation of her mood, nearly beyond her control.

“Oh, I was unaware that anyone in the world dares to chastise you,” he remarked, and she glanced at him from beneath her parasol to see his face. Yet, he continued to wear a smile.

“It seems I have quite a notorious reputation.”

“You are not alone in that regard,” he replied, and she struggled not to meet his gaze.

“What does that signify, Mr Darcy? That we are both disagreeable individuals?”

“Disagreeable? I hope not. Perhaps ‘difficult’ is a word that might describe us. But I am curious why your aunt chastised you.”

“Because it seems I am rather prejudiced, or so she believes.”

“While I, on the other hand, was accused of excessive pride,” he remarked, and they both paused in their walking, exchanging an amused glance. “And look at us, such fine and pleasant people we have turned out to be!”

“And we agree on such crucial matters!” Elizabeth responded in the same tone.

“Shall we drink the healing waters?” he asked, gesturing towards the queues where people waited for the water.

“No,” she replied, her disgust apparent.

“Good,” he said. “I also loathe this peculiar custom.” She smiled, and he continued, “Do you know Bath?”

“No, I visited ten years ago, but I cannot claim to know it well. I was obliged to drink the water—perhaps that left me with a dreadful memory.”

“Something to bear in mind for the future. I shall never compel my children to take part in that particular ritual.”

“Ah, but it may not be so simple. Their mother could insist.”

“Then I shall choose a lady who declares her aversion to the waters of Bath before the vicar.”

And although she smiled at his words, Elizabeth’s heart raced, its rhythm impossible to restrain. She hoped he could not see her inner turmoil. For a moment, her body responded in an inexplicable yet delightful manner to the dream of declaring before the vicar that she would spare their children from that ritual.

She struggled in vain to convince herself that they were having an informal conversation between friends and that his words may not have been directed at her. However, nothing worked. The incredible hope that he had forgiven her lingered in her heart, waiting to blossom.

“You have grown silent all of a sudden, Miss Elizabeth,” he remarked.

“I noticed that we have left the Pump Room. We ought to wait for our families to join us.”

“Miss Elizabeth, this is not our first solitary stroll.”

“No, but in our previous encounters, we were not on such a bustling thoroughfare.”

“Are you suggesting, then, that it is acceptable for a young lady and a gentleman to be alone when they are not under scrutiny?” he asked, his tone more intrigued than reproachful—a quality Elizabeth found agreeable. He was once again the gentleman with whom she had engaged in spirited discussions in the Netherfield library or drawing-room, or, as he had mentioned, while walking around Meryton.

“I believe that some rules are meant to be broken,” she replied playfully, embracing the sensation. It was a beautiful, warm day in June, and Bath gleamed under the clear sky. She walked alongside Mr Darcy as if nothing terrible had occurred between them.

He wants us to be friends , she mused, which was certainly preferable to the animosity that had characterised their meeting at the Parsonage. It was not exactly what she wanted, but she understood that, for the time being, it was all that could be expected of their relationship.

“How many rules, Miss Elizabeth, do you break?” he asked, rousing her from her daydream.

“Unfortunately, a woman cannot flout all the rules. Her reputation hinges on many of them. And even though I possess a penchant for rebellion, I cannot disregard the grim and perilous reality that surrounds me. You must admit that strolling through a town should not be considered a crime, yet it may yield rather unpleasant consequences…for me, not for you.”

“Yes, I agree. It is unjust. Nevertheless, Bath imposes fewer restrictions. You can stroll with me on this fine day, and no one will care or take offense. But I assure you, our families will find us once they conclude their visit to the Pump Room. There are not many places for leisurely walks, even though Bath has undergone considerable changes in the years since your last visit. Many of my friends have bought homes here,” he said, indicating a few fine residences and naming their owners. “And the balls here are renowned for their numerous attendees.”

“Not that you like that,” she remarked, to which he burst into laughter.

“I thought the lady I knew in Meryton had vanished, replaced by a compliant woman ready to adhere to all the rules of politeness.”

Elizabeth hesitated for a moment, considering making a similar observation about the man she had met in Kent and who had been far from the proud gentlemen she had known in Hertfordshire. However, perhaps for the first time in her life, she exercised caution and chose silence instead.

“I am here, walking with you alone…I would not say that I have changed.”

“I told you that in Bath, such matters have less importance. I wish to witness your courage in other circumstances.”

“It is not a matter of courage, Mr Darcy. It is more about contemplating the consequences of one’s actions and deciding whether they are worth pursuing or result only in loss.”

“Do you approach all situations with such deliberation?”

Suddenly, Elizabeth sensed they were entering dangerous territory and had to proceed with caution.

“Unfortunately, I do not,” she confessed, surprising him with her candour. He paused to invite her to cross the street and enter the park, but in truth, he only wanted to study her. Elizabeth did not avert her gaze or show unnecessary timidity. Her eyes remained fixed on his, and she met his scrutiny until the last carriage had passed, allowing them to cross the road safely.

“That is good to know,” he remarked, his voice sounding less certain for the first time that morning. But she did not know him well enough to be sure.

Even though she hoped her words would lead to a deeper conversation, it was not to be. From that point until their families found them, he spoke solely about Bath, as if there were no other subject of interest between them. Elizabeth tried to accept that he did not wish to delve into their personal matters. Eventually, she smiled and asked where the Earl of Charlcombe’s house was.

“Have you been invited to his ball?” he asked, surprising her that he did not know. It appeared that Mrs Barstow’s machinations were quite intricate, and she wished to avoid any suspicion of a plot between them. However, his question changed Elizabeth’s disposition abruptly.

“Yes,” she replied, prepared to be mean should he make any unpleasant remarks.

“Excellent,” he responded unexpectedly, in a light-hearted manner. “I was uncertain whether I should attend, but the prospect of dancing with you makes it a pleasure I cannot forgo!”

???

“He no longer loves me!” she lamented during a rare moment of solitude with her aunt .

“That remains uncertain. You walked alone for half an hour, and when we approached, it appeared as if he had already proposed to you, judging by the way he gazed at you. But then he saw us, and his expression changed. However, he did not seem annoyed or uninterested by your walk. I continue to believe that a man of his disposition does not fall in love every month. Yet, we do not know how your refusal has affected his feelings, intentions, and decisions.”

“He may have discovered a side of me that he found displeasing. Back in Kent, I was angry and aggressive—”

“That was indeed not the best side of yourself to exhibit to a man. I hope he knows that it is not your usual disposition and that his declaration and confessions were too painful and vexing to be taken lightly.”

“I do not even know who I am any longer. What if I am indeed that deranged woman who hurled those dreadful accusations at him?”

“We all experience moments of madness. I am pleased to see that you have arrived at a cordial harmony with him.”

“I do not wish to be friends with him,” Elizabeth whispered, her distress evident.

“I understand, my dear, but for now, that is all you can expect. He mentioned that he is attending the ball for your sake, and he does not find it disagreeable for you to be in the company of your…family. These are remarkable steps, but I advise you not to harbour high expectations.”

“I am not Jane.”

“Unfortunately, we all become ‘Janes’ when we face such intense emotions. But let me ask you this—how do you suppose he could see any change in your feelings?”

And indeed, that question became the most significant one of her life. How could she show him that her sentiments had shifted? But then her fears swarmed her, for if he no longer loved her, revealing her emotions would place her in a terribly embarrassing situation.

As she prepared for sleep that night, she recognised that pursuing love was far more complicated than she had ever imagined. Nevertheless, her heart would not let her abandon the pursuit.