Page 58 of The Sole Love

“I understand, unfortunately… Remember what Colonel Fitzwilliam told Lizzy? He cannot marry for love alone, as he has to think about his future and find a wife who will bring a certain fortune to the union. This is also your situation and that of your sisters. I am truly sorry, but I cannot provide a sufficient dowry for you to have the liberty of waiting indefinitely for a great love when a man like Mr Bingley wishes to marry you. You are the eldest and, together with Lizzy, will have a responsibility towards the younger ones.”

Mr Bennet did not like to use such arguments. However, since reasons of the heart had not been enough for her, he had to appeal to her sense of responsibility towards their family.

“But Lizzy…”

“Yes, I know. Lizzy has refused proposals from two men, but she has thought further about the most recent one, and I assure you that she is making decisions now based on their effect on all of us.”

It was another lie; he had rarely seen two people more in love than Darcy and Elizabeth. But Mr Bennet would use any trick to make Jane examine her feelings. In fact, he felt no guilt over his intervention because he was certain that, beneath her professed indifference, her love for Mr Bingley still existed.

“I am not saying that you must marry tomorrow. Go and find the man and discuss your problems as much as you please. But before you decide that everything between you is over, make certain that you are not punishing yourself merely because you wish to punish him. And when you understand that I was right, do send a case of books to Longbourn to help me forget your stubbornness.”

It was his final word.

Jane left the library deeply troubled. Her father had not ordered her to marry Mr Bingley after all, but in some ways that made matters worse. He had forced her to question the certainty she had built so carefully around David. She wished, at that moment, to be more like Elizabeth and fight without hesitation for what she believed…but she was not her sister. She never could have appeared in a muddy garment before her friends without caring what they thought, nor could she decide to marry David against her father’s wishes without first wondering whether everyone around her might see something she did not.

And that was precisely what frightened her.

“What happened?” Elizabeth asked in alarm when she saw the expression on her sister’s face. She had waited for her at the door, convinced that Jane would emerge happy. She had wanted to embrace her and rejoice in her happiness, but also because that terrible matter from the past had finally ended well. Never for a moment had she imagined seeing such an expression on Jane’s face, one she could hardly define except as anger and irritation. All her life, Jane had smiled, and in recent months she had known only sadness.

“Papa is making me marry Mr Bingley because he does not consider David sufficiently mature.”

“Papa is making you?” Elizabeth asked incredulously. Their father would never have forced them to marry in Sir William’s fashion, with a firm decision that admitted no argument.

“Perhaps those were not his exact words, but you know how clever he is with words and how he can make you regret even the mistakes you do not regret.”

It was a harsh description, but not entirely without truth. Their father knew how to present a situation to achieve his purpose, although whenever he had done so before, it had been for their benefit, the benefit of his daughters. This time, Elizabeth wondered whether the interests of the entire family were also involved. But she immediately dismissed the thought. After all, David Haskett’s disappearance from their lives would be a good thing for everyone, including Jane…perhaps especially for Jane, because it would spare her a sorrow whose consequences no one could foresee.

“And what are you going to do?”

“What am I going to do? I shall marry him and be so unhappy that Papa will regret for the rest of his life that he made me do it.”

Jane was not looking at her. She was studying the paintings in the hall where their conversation was taking place, but those last words, spoken in such a stubborn, angry tone, made Elizabeth smile.

Everything was quite all right with her sister, and for that she had their father to thank.

Chapter 24

The family gathered in the parlour at Mr Bennet’s summons, and all noticed that he seemed younger and more joyful than he had been in recent weeks.

“Jane, come here, my child,” he said, gesturing towards Mr Bingley as well.

“Tonight we have a pleasant event to celebrate: Mr Bingley has asked me for Jane’s hand, and I have consented. They are engaged!”

While Jane appeared far from happy, Mr Bingley looked gratefully at Mr Bennet as a chorus of congratulations followed. The Gardiners and Mrs Bennet merely looked relieved, but happiness would surely follow. For now, they visibly relaxed after days and nights of turmoil. They could approach Jane honestly, without hidden thoughts or lies, and the troubling deed of the past could be buried forever.

But Mrs Bennet knew her eldest daughter too well not to recognise her lack of joy. She approached Jane and Mr Bingley and gently urged them towards the door.

“Go for a walk before dinner,” she said. “It is such a beautiful day.”

Jane did not look at any of them, still cross with her family. She had never imagined that her father would announce his decision that very day. She had thought he would give her time to reflect or perhaps allow her to convince him that marriage was not the right thing for her. Taken by surprise, she discovered that it was not altogether unpleasant to be congratulated by family and friends…if only her future husband were the man she wanted. As she refused his arm, an unexpected memory made her tremble: the night in Meryton when they had danced for the first time.

But she immediately drove away such pleasant thoughts. Instead, she tried to recall all the days and nights she had cried over him, yet the memories refused to come.

“Will you be my wife, Jane?” Bingley asked, and in the warm glow of sunset, he looked strangely handsome and unquestionably in love.

As she did not say a word, they continued to stroll in silence.

“Please, say something.”