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Elizabeth, eager to escape before any further remarks could be made, lost no time in retreating to the quiet safety of her sister’s room. She left Mr. Bingley still happily anticipating his ball, and Mr. Darcy gazing after her departure with an expression she could not quite define.
Chapter 10
Elizabeth shut the heavy wooden door to her sister’s chamber, careful that its creak should not wake her. A soft glow from a candle lit the room, where the young maid, Mercy, sat watching over the ailing guest in Elizabeth’s absence.
The maid stood and curtsied to Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet has been resting, miss. She took a little of the tonic, as the doctor instructed,” she answered when asked of her charge. She was dismissed to her other duties, and departed with a quiet curtsey.
“I am not asleep, Lizzy,” said Jane as soon as the maid left. “But Mercy would not cease fussing over me.”
Elizabeth moved to sit on the edge of her sister’s bed. “She is a sweet girl, but I understand. Truly, how have you been feeling? Are you improving?”
“I am. I did, as Mercy said, take water and some tonic. The tonic I do not like. It renders my thoughts rather foggy.”
“If Papa were here, you know that he would make a joke about that being the typical state of things.”
“Lizzy!”
“If I did not tease you, dearest, you would think that I did not love you.”
“And you would think I did not love you if I did not notice that something is troubling you, but you have been attempting all day to seem as if nothing at all is the matter.”
Elizabeth smiled softly, for she knew she could not hide this for long. “You are too clever, dear Jane, even when the tonic renders your thoughts indistinct.”
“Then I am right, and you must tell me what it is that troubles you.”
“It is nothing of consequence,” said Elizabeth slowly, “only a small unpleasantness I overheard last evening.”
Jane’s expression shifted to one of resolution. “You must tell me now, for you know I shall not be able to rest if I believe something is troubling you.”
Elizabeth sighed, knowing her sister was right. “It was Miss Bingley. She spoke of my family’s inferiority, of our want of connexions, with such disdain...” Elizabeth’s voice was low, but grew sharper as she related the speech, only to soften again when she spoke of Mr. Darcy’s unexpected defence.
“And what of Mr. Bingley? What did he say?”
“Nothing. I did not hear his voice, but he may not have even been in the room, although he was upon my return.”
“I hope he was not in the room, for I should like to think he would not stand for such unkindness to his friends.”
“You agree, then, that Miss Bingley was unkind.”
“How could I not, Lizzy? I may be happy to like nearly everyone, but I cannot like Miss Bingley after she would speak so meanly of you!”
“I am not bothered overly much by her words, but I question whether you would wish such a one for a sister.”
“Lizzy!”
“Why are my words shocking to you? You like Mr. Bingley. You have admitted as much. You surely must be thinking the same as I.”
Jane had to admit that her sister was right. “I am sure Mr. Bingley would take my part when it was just to do so. I could not think his sister’s ill opinion an impediment to my happiness, if he himself did not share it.”
“And what if he is guided entirely by his sisters’ counsel?”
“Then I should think my heart’s preference would matter little. A gentleman lacking his own steady judgement could not make a wife happy. I should not like that at all, for I do not wish to be a fine lady, I only want to be a happy one.”
Elizabeth gently squeezed her sister’s hand. “Then let us hope that Mr. Bingley proves himself to be a man of independent thought.”
Wishing to dwell no more on such unpleasantness, Jane turned the conversation. “Now, enough about Mr. Bingley. What about Mr. Darcy’s defence of you? I find it unusual.”
A light blush came to Elizabeth’s cheeks that she hoped her sister could not see in the dim light. “I find a great deal about Mr. Darcy unusual. He is so reserved that it is hard to determine what sort of person he is.”
