Page 12 of Miss Bingley’s Return

Elizabeth might have laughed, but the occasion did not permit it. She noted that Mr. Darcy had suggested that Mr. Bingley was distracted during the season—there was no mention of any regret over his departure, or even any continuing thoughts of Jane. Mr. Bingley had returned to London, and now that he was engaged in the increasing events, his mind was on that as if he forgot how he had behaved toward Jane in the autumn.

“Then he is much occupied,” said Mrs. Gardiner.

“Yes, I must suppose he is,” said Mr. Darcy. “I imagine he is enjoying himself—he usually does.”

“I am pleased that he is well,” said Jane. “As we are to be in Miss Bingley’s company for the season, I imagine we shall also encounter her brother.”

Mr. Darcy regarded her with an earnest expression, as if there was some question in the gentleman’s mind that remained unanswered. To Elizabeth, that was proof he had colluded with Miss Bingley to detach her brother from Jane and was now wondering why she had set that aside. What it could be to Mr. Darcy was uncertain—Mr. Bingley was a friend, not a member of Mr. Darcy’s illustrious family. Should he choose a country miss for a wife, why should Mr. Darcy care?

“I hope we shall also see you, Mr. Darcy,” said Jane when the gentleman did not respond. “From Miss Bingley, I understood you were often in company with the Bingleys.”

“Yet you just suggested that you do not see him much,” interjected Elizabeth.

The gentleman merely gave them a slight smile. “It is not that I do not see him—it is that we do not associate much. You saw Bingley at the assembly and the ball. When there is dancing to be had, he rarely finds time for other concerns.”

“That smacks of judgment,” said Elizabeth. “Is Mr. Bingley frivolous?”

“No, I would not say that,” replied Mr. Darcy. “Bingley enjoys his diversions, and he is in a time of life when social concerns and friends are of most interest. He is an excellent fellow, and I am prodigiously fond of him, but I am also aware of his prodigious appetite for society and all its trappings.”

The conversation ended soon after that exchange. Mr. Darcy, citing a need to return to his home, bid them farewell. Before he departed, however, he surprised Elizabeth again with his courteous words.

“Until next time, Mrs. Gardiner. Perhaps instead of dining at your house, it is our turn to host.”

Mrs. Gardiner laughed and agreed. “If you prefer to host, I have no objection.”

“Then we shall speak of it again,” said Mr. Darcy.

Then he turned to Jane and Elizabeth, bowing over each of their hands in turn, his hat beneath his arm. “Miss Bennet. Miss Elizabeth. Until next time.”

Mr. Darcy then tipped his hat and strode away, leaving three women looking after him. The moment he was out of earshot, Elizabeth turned to her aunt.

“You have been most secretive, Aunt.”

“Not at all, Lizzy,” said Mrs. Gardiner, directing them back toward the carriage. “As I said, Mr. Darcy must demonstrate to what extent he wishes to maintain the acquaintance. Your uncle’s connection with the elder Mr. Bingley was slight, so it was not worth mentioning.”

“Except that Mr. Bingley was in Hertfordshire for two months paying attention to Jane, and his sister invited us to London.”

Mrs. Gardiner smiled as she stepped up into the carriage, the springs creaking with the extra weight. “Sometimes, Lizzy, there is value in watching and learning rather than speaking.”

“Then what have you learned?” persisted Elizabeth.

“The more pertinent question is what have you learned?”

As Mrs. Gardiner addressed them both, and as the matter concerned Jane more than herself, Elizabeth allowed her sister to answer first.

“Mr. Bingley is in London and is much engaged,” said Jane at length. “I do not yet know what that means, but Mr. Darcy did not avoid speaking of him. That must mean something.”

“His restraint feels more like concealment than discretion,” muttered Elizabeth. “Mr. Darcy knows Mr. Bingley—he must also know why Mr. Bingley has not yet beaten down Uncle’s door in his pursuit of you.”

“Mr. Darcy was not acting from pride or indifference, Lizzy,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “More than that, he appeared to be a man who was choosing his words with care. Those are not the same things.”

They fell silent then, each caught up in her own thoughts. Though Elizabeth pondered Mrs. Gardiner’s interpretation, she resisted it. Mr. Darcy’s care looked like control. Let Mr. Darcy contradict it if he could. For the moment, Elizabeth determined to watch and wait.

Though unaware of her conclusions, Darcy knew more than he had said, though not so much as Miss Elizabeth suspected. Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth’s presence in London complicated matters, though he could not determine if he approved of the complication.

Contrary to Miss Elizabeth’s suspicions, Darcy had no interest in forcing Bingley to his will—Bingley’s affairs were his own. Darcy had argued against Bingley’s return to Hertfordshire for two reasons. The first was the behavior of Miss Bennet’s family, though he would agree that Miss Bennet herself and Miss Elizabeth had always shown impeccable manners. The other was the state of Miss Bennet’s heart and her welcome for Bingley. That was the most important consideration.

While Miss Bennet’s presence in London might be predicated on her mother’s resolve not to lose such a promising prospect as Bingley, Darcy could not be certain. In his eyes, she showed not a jot more or less interest in Bingley than propriety demanded, even as she maintained a respectful, reserved interest. Darcy respected her for that. That Miss Bennet might be mercenary had never crossed his mind—Darcy did not think she had the temperament for the sort of disguise that would entail.