Chapter 17

A n unforeseen missive from Bristol prompted Mr Gardiner to hasten his preparations for the journey with greater speed than he had previously imagined.

“You may remain here with the children,” Mrs Gardiner advised Elizabeth, her conviction firm that the trip would not hold the same delights for her niece as staying in Bath in the company of Mr Darcy.

“Nay, I shall accompany you,” Elizabeth declared, resolute in her decision. “Mr Darcy, yesterday, did not join his family—”

“He had business to attend to. Observe how busy your uncle is,” Mrs Gardiner explained, noting Elizabeth’s disappointment at not seeing him. She feared the headstrong young woman might once again interpret events in a manner detrimental to the burgeoning friendship between them.

“Busy!” Elizabeth scoffed disdainfully. “He does not have a business like my uncle, and his estate lies one hundred and sixty miles to the north. No, he merely wished to show me that I am not so important as to merit an hour of his time.”

“Yet you have met on several occasions.”

“Yes, but we spent time alone only once. No, Aunt, he regards us as friends, nothing more.”

“That is your perspective. Did you ever show him that your feelings had changed towards love? You did not. How can you expect him to infer anything beyond friendship from your benevolence?”

Elizabeth shrugged, a gesture with which Mrs Gardiner was well acquainted; it showed her niece’s stubbornness. Thus, on the morrow, they embarked on their journey to Bristol with a cheerful Mary and a petulant Elizabeth, who clearly regretted leaving Bath yet obstinately denied it.

Ultimately, the excursion proved successful, for the beauty of the place dissipated Elizabeth’s morose disposition.

Bristol’s waterfront was a central part of the city, and taking an evening stroll along the docks to watch the ships come and go became a pleasant way to spend time during their stay there.

The ladies attended a diverting concert in a huge gazebo in the centre of the city and a fair where Elizabeth and Mary bought hats that seemed funny at the time but became silly as soon as they departed.

On the return journey, Elizabeth’s good humour was fully restored, and she sang in harmony with Mary the entire way back to Bath, much to the delight of their aunt and uncle.

???

“I do not know what to think about his feelings,” Elizabeth complained on the day of the ball, still secretly frightened that something might happen to prevent his attendance.

“This is how a courtship should be,” Mrs Gardiner said as they readied themselves.

“Aunt Gardiner is correct,” Mary asserted. “I have witnessed the way he gazes upon you. But you are impetuous.”

“I am impetuous because I once nearly lost him.”

“And you nearly lost him due to your impetuosity and rashness.” Mrs Gardiner smiled. “Be more like Jane, if you will. I am confident she will lead herself and Mr Bingley to a perfect future this time.”

The news from Longbourn was indeed excellent. Mr Bingley had returned, unaccompanied this time, and his attention was solely on Jane. Meanwhile, Jane, utterly indifferent to the people around her, showed Mr Bingley precisely what he needed to see—that she loved him but was still angry with him.

Her letters were short and written in haste, but fortunately Mrs Bennet exercised her wish to talk in writing. Her daughter had forbidden all conversation regarding her and Mr Bingley, yet she did not mention letters.

So Mrs Bennet wrote interminable pages describing every move her dear daughter made, much to Mrs Gardiner and the girls’ delight.

They rode and strolled together, and he arranged dinners at Netherfield each evening. Gradually, they became absorbed in one another, heedless of those around them, the opinions of others, idle gossip, or enquiries. They advanced deliberately but steadily towards an engagement in their own unique fashion.

What Mrs Bennet did not mention was that during this time, Mr Bennet watched over them from a discreet distance, ensuring that no one intruded upon their path.

“Jane is finally making her way towards the altar,” Mrs Gardiner declared, holding a letter in her hand. “I am happy that there is no one at Longbourn but her.”

“There is our mother.”

“Up until now, she has refrained from employing her previous tactics. Moreover, I believe it is too late for her to disrupt anything. Jane and Mr Bingley are inseparable now. They only want to get to know one another at their own pace. I am confident she will give us the joyful news upon our return. And at this point, many of the vexations you encountered in Kent have been resolved, have they not?” Mrs Gardiner asked.