Page 22 of A Most Favourable Match

“You ought not to be so rude about our neighbours,” Jane reprimanded her younger sisters with unusual warmth. “Mr Bingley has been nothing but civil and kind to any of us, and Mr Darcy is his guest. We should show them both our respect.”

“When you speak so uncivilly at home, it makes me fear for what you might say in company,” Elizabeth added, thinking to herself with exasperation that she and Jane were stepping into the role Mr and Mrs Bennet ought to have played with their younger girls but never did. “You must guard your tongue better, Lydia, and you too, Kitty.”

“Oh, I only meant that they are so old,” Lydia grumbled, never liking to be taken to task. “They’re atleast as old as you and Jane and probably older.”

“Well, then, that makes Mr Wickham old too,” Elizabeth pointed out. “He is the same age as Mr Darcy. Mr Bingley is actually a few years younger. Your excuse does not stand up in logical terms any more than moral ones, Lydia.”

She glanced to her parents, hoping for at least a nod of support. Mr Bennet, however, had already returned to the book laying on his lap. Mrs Bennet looked on Elizabeth with an unusually benign expression and smiled.

“I cannot be cross with Lydia and Kitty for enjoying the company of the officers, just as I do myself. Still, it warms my heart to hear you speak in defence of that nice Mr Bingley, Elizabeth. You even know how old he is!” And their mother gave an annoying little chuckle, as though she had uncovered some great secret.

“I know the ages of all the residents of Netherfield Park,” Elizabeth said, doing her best to keep the impatience out of her voice. “Charlotte Lucas told me, and she is usually well-informed on such matters.”

“Why do not you and Jane take a walk across to Netherfield Park, Lizzy? You can deliver a supper invitation for Mr Bingley and his sisters… and for Mr Darcy too, if he happens to still be there, of course.”

These last words were added grudgingly. Mrs Bennet had not yet forgiven Mr Darcy for his lack of enthusiasm or manners on learning of Jane’s engagement. It was possibly the only matter on which Elizabeth and her mother presently agreed.

At their mother’s suggestion, Jane seemed to draw in on herself, tightening the wrap around her shoulders and frowning. Elizabeth had the impression that her sister did not wish to go to Netherfield Park, and this was a feeling she shared. She supposed Jane was tired; Jane seemed to have been tired a great deal recently, and rather listless, too.

“Mother, you must get Hill to send a messenger,” Elizabeth replied shortly. “Jane and I are going to write back to Aunt Gardiner when we are finished reading this letter.”

“Mr Bingley will be so much more likely to accept if the invitation is delivered personally, I am sure, Lizzy,” Mrs Bennet insisted with an immovable smile that told her daughters she would not yield. “You shall tell him that any evening next week will be convenient.”

How pale Jane looked when Elizabeth glanced at her! Did no one else notice? She hoped her sister was not sickening for anything serious. At any rate, their mother ought to know better than to send Jane out on a long walk when she was not well.

“Oh, very well, but I shall go alone,” Elizabeth therefore answered, getting to her feet and leaving Jane the window seat. “Jane may start our letter without me.”

“No, no, no,” Mrs Bennet continued to fuss. “That would not be quite proper at all, given your possibility of hopes towards Mr Bingley.”

“I have no such hopes,” Elizabeth said in exasperation. “And in any case, if Mr Bingley’s sisters were notthere, I should hardly stay long after delivering your message.”

“No, it would not look well, Lizzy dear,” persisted Mrs Bennet. “Jane must go with you.”

“I shall take Mary,” announced Elizabeth, looking to her middle sister, who showed almost as little enthusiasm for the walk as Jane. “She is not tired, are you, Mary?”

“I was going to practice my concerto on the pianoforte for an hour or two,” Mary objected, and for a few moments, Mrs Bennet seemed to waver, having already been subjected to several hours of pianoforte practice that day, and tempted by the prospect of avoiding more.

“Do not worry, Mary,” Jane spoke up softly, rising to her feet and coming to Elizabeth’s side. “I shall go with Lizzy. I have been feeling tired, but the fresh air will revive me…. A brief call at Netherfield Park can do no real harm.”

These last words were murmured almost to herself, and there was an odd note in her voice that made Elizabeth wonder what she meant by them. Was Jane conceding a deeper concern for her own health? Reassuring Elizabeth that their mother’s meddling need not make their call embarrassing? Or something else?

Ah, what if Jane did realise Mr Bingley’s feelings for her and had wished to spare him the pain of seeing her? Such selflessness would be typical of her sister.

“We shall enjoy our walk and make the call as short as we can,” Elizabeth whispered to Jane in reassuranceas they left the room. “It is not as though Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst have gone out of their way to seek our company, is it?”

“No,” Jane agreed, and then repeated some form of her earlier words again. “A brief call can do no harm.”

∞∞∞

“Look! I was right,” Elizabeth said excitedly as they walked up the drive towards the pleasant prospect of Netherfield Park. “The shutters are down on all the upper windows already. I believe the household is going away somewhere.”

Jane nodded, and to Elizabeth’s surprise, she saw that her sister’s hand was trembling and her eyes unhappy in her wan face. She must have truly steeled herself to come over here, and the nervous strain was now telling, Elizabeth supposed.

“Perhaps they are taking a holiday?” Jane suggested. “They might be already gone and there will be no point in calling…”

“Well, we shall ask the servants where Mr Bingley and his party have gone. Mother will ask us, and I must have some news to tell Charlotte, since she tells me so much. I only hope they have not left Mr Darcy here alone. That would be quite insupportable!”

Her curiosity outweighing Jane’s mild reluctance, Elizabeth marched her sister up the stone steps to the front door of Netherfield Park.