Page 70 of Miss Bingley’s Return

The gentleman regarded her for several long moments. “Miss Elizabeth, is my perception amiss, or did your mother not care for me when I was here in the autumn?”

“You are not incorrect, Mr. Darcy,” replied Elizabeth. “My mother thought you a proud gentleman who cared nothing for those beneath you.”

Mr. Darcy winced, but pressed on. “Today she appeared almost unable to meet my eyes. Is the news of my interest in you enough to provoke such a large alteration?”

“Mama is trying to understand, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth, unable to contain herself any longer. “From her perspective, Miss Bingley’s actions in drawing us to London all but ensured Mr. Bingley would propose to Jane. Yet we have returned, and then you and Mr. Harrington have appeared.”

“Will she oppose my suit?”

Elizabeth shook her head and settled her free hand on Mr. Darcy’s arm. “No, Mr. Darcy, she will not. The moment she becomes convinced you are in earnest, she will become your firmest supporter.”

“That is a relief,” said the gentleman, sounding sincere.

“Then, of course, you may be tempted to flee,” said Elizabeth. “My mother will do everything she can to secure you.”

Mr. Darcy thought about this for several moments. “I am not unwilling, as you well know, Miss Elizabeth. Perhaps there is something we may do to induce her to allow matters to proceed as they will?”

“If you can manage that, Mr. Darcy,” replied Elizabeth wryly, “then you are a worker of miracles.”

Having seen something of Mrs. Bennet’s behavior when confronted by Bingley, her zeal was not unexpected. Darcy, as the man known to her, was her primary consideration—Darcy attempted to convince himself that was the only reason and not his greater consequence. Though he did not appreciate her methods or her behavior, esteem for Miss Elizabeth kept him from “fleeing in terror” as she had suggested he might.

Miss Bennet and Harrington received similar treatment from the Bennet matron, though it was more subdued. In time Darcy understood—Mrs. Bennet had always considered her eldest the most beautiful of her daughters and the most likely to fulfill her mother’s fondest wish and find a husband. As such, she did not need as much guidance. Thus, her attentions to Darcy and Miss Elizabeth were therefore more insistent. But Mrs. Bennet also had an ulterior motive, one Darcy was to discover a week or two after taking up residence at Netherfield.

“Lizzy and Jane will be down in a moment,” said Mrs. Bennet that morning.

Darcy and Harrington had engaged them to ride to a picturesque spot known to Miss Elizabeth for a picnic. As he knew they were not fastidious women, Darcy suspected another hand guiding events. A moment later, when the youngest Bennets distracted Harrington, and Mrs. Bennet turned to Darcy, his supposition proved correct.

“Mr. Darcy, I wish to understand something.”

“Of course, Mrs. Bennet,” replied Darcy. “How may I assist?”

“I am curious about Mr. Bingley. Do you know anything of what occurred in London?”

“Yes, I am familiar with it—I was there, after all.”

“Then perhaps you could explain to me how Jane went to London at Miss Bingley’s particular recommendation, yet came home without an engagement to Mr. Bingley. And how did Mr. Harrington come into the picture?”

“I beg your pardon, Mrs. Bennet,” said Darcy, stifling his amusement, “but is Harrington somehow deficient or less than Bingley?”

“Not at all!” cried Mrs. Bennet, aghast that he would think such a thing. “It is just . . .”

The woman struggled for a moment, then gave up. “It is just all so unexpected.”

“Then let me ease your mind, as the answer is quite simple.” Darcy smiled at her, warmer than anything he had ever offered to Mrs. Bennet, who, after all, was a silly woman. “There is no mistaking Miss Bingley’s intentions. However, Bingley did not agree with her.”

Mrs. Bennet watched him, still not quite understanding. “Did not Mr. Bingley make his sentiments known to his sister?”

“At the time in question,” replied Darcy, “Bingley did not know his sentiments yet.”

“Then he decided while Jane was in London,” said Mrs. Bennet.

Darcy did not need to answer—Mrs. Bennet said nothing further, though it was clear she did not understand. A moment later, the ladies descended, and they set off on their horses, Darcy and Miss Elizabeth in the lead with the others following.

When Darcy told Miss Elizabeth of the exchange, she did not suppress her laughter. “Yes, that is my mother.”

“I beg your pardon, Miss Elizabeth, but I do not understand.”

She pulled her horse closer and set a hand on his arm. “I would not expect you to understand, Mr. Darcy. In order to comprehend my mother, you need experience you lack.