Page 2 of Symptoms of Peculiar Regard

“Do you believe he doubted you?”

“No, but…” Jane fell silent once again. She was sure Bingley trusted her as she did him, but she knew how highly he valued the opinions of his sisters and especially his friend. When she continued, her voice was low. “But I think his sisters and Mr Darcy might not believe I speak the truth. They may think it is merely artifice, designed to entrap him. No matter what they think though, I did not want him believing my motives were mercenary. For that I am very glad he saw for himself.”

Elizabeth frowned. “Mr Darcy! Yes, I can well believe him capable of thinking something so absurd.” Her expression cleared rapidly and she said in her usual manner. “I am proud of you, however; that is one of the most uncharitable remarks I have ever heard you make.”

“Mr Bingley assures me that all he waited for before declaring his affections was to be sure of my own. I am glad to have been able to provide that assurance.”

“And I shall be pleased to greet him as a new brother at dinner this evening. Oh Jane, you are to be married!”

Jane’s joy warmed her all over again, and the two sisters spent a happy hour laughing and dreaming together, before she grew tired and was forced to rest. Jane earnestly wished for Elizabeth to find equal happiness, prompting hearty amusement from her sister, who assured her that she had never yet met the man who could inspire the proper feelings for her to form an attachment. As Jane had rarely seen any signs of questing affection from her sister, she could not refute Elizabeth’s arguments, but she continued to nurse her hope that she would one day see the blooming of her sister’s heart.

That evening, her recovery furthered by her newfound happiness, Jane was again able to join the rest of the party after dinner. Her attention was almost entirely devoted to Mr Bingley, and it was only when he stepped out of the room that she was surprised by the familiar tingling sensation. She wondered whether it had been present all evening, passing unnoticed due to her absorption in her own happy prospects. She glanced around the room, rapidly taking in its other occupants.

Between the Hursts grew the same silvery flowers as always. Jane did not recognise the exotic hothouse blooms. Some had begun to wilt; the bond between husband and wife was tarnished, but it had not yet withered entirely.

She turned to Miss Bingley. Had anything changed in her affections? No. Miss Bingley was as she ever had been as long as Jane had known her, with a few tendrils of ivy-like affection stretching towards Mr Darcy’s person, and another, stronger stem towards his pocketbook, which currently lay upon a table. Jane did not like looking at this stem; she had seen others like it too often. She could not pinpoint precisely how it differed from the usual colour of affection, but it had an eerie quality that distressed her. She did not wish to know that not all love was rooted in admiration for a person. She sighed sadly to herself, wishing earnestly for her future sister’s happiness.

Only Mr Darcy remained, and as she turned to study him, Jane saw with astonishment the signs of a newly forming love. It grew in clear, sturdy lines like basket willow, but behaving in a manner Jane had never seen before. As she watched, the stems grew strongly towards Elizabeth before suddenly being drawn rapidly back as though with a sharp tug, accompanied by a corresponding stiffening in the gentleman’s manner. Elizabeth at that moment laughed and responded with spirit to an observation of Miss Bingley’s, and to Jane’s surprise, Mr Darcy’s feelings responded at once. There was beauty in the fresh growth of his attraction, but Jane could not help but feel unsettled, watching how firmly he fought against the natural impulse of his affection.

She turned to observe Elizabeth, wondering whether she might not see some reciprocal feelings underlying her purported dislike, but there was nothing at all. Her sister continued seemingly unaware and decidedly unmoved.

Jane pondered what was to be done with her information. She was cautious about revealing too much of what she saw; well-meaning attempts to further a tentative new love could instead hinder it. With Elizabeth’s dislike of Mr Darcy so firmlyentrenched, revealing his interest in her could destroy their chance of finding happiness before it even began.

On the other hand, whether there was the possibility of love growing between them or not, Jane wished for her sister to be on good terms with Bingley’s close friend. They would be sure to be often in company together once Jane and Bingley had married. She resolved to do what she could to soften Elizabeth’s opinions and present Mr Darcy in a more positive light.

CHAPTER TWO

When the time came to retire that evening, Jane followed closely upon her sister’s heels as she went upstairs.

“Mr Darcy looked at you a good deal this evening,” she commented, idly gazing from the window.

“I hardly know why!” Elizabeth replied. She examined herself critically in the glass in one corner of the room. “There are no smudges on my nose or unruly wisps of hair for him to criticise. Perhaps it is this dress; it is certainly not as fashionable as those he must be accustomed to seeing in town.”

“Why must he be looking to criticise?” Jane replied mildly. “I thought you looked uncommonly well this evening. That colour is very becoming on you.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Thank you,” she said with a pretty curtsey. “But I cannot believe, my delightfully partial sister, that you and the severe Mr Darcy can possibly be of the same opinion on this!”

“Partial I may be, but I can assure you, Mr Darcy’s interest was not critical.”

“Oh, Jane,” Elizabeth admonished her affectionately, shaking her head. “I respect your abilities immensely, but if you are suggesting he admires me, I think they must have misled youon this occasion! Mr Darcy has made his disdain for me perfectly clear.”

Jane did not press her point, but the following day, she was well enough to dine with the rest of the household, and she watched the pair with interest. Mr Darcy’s affections were unchanged; unquestionably reaching for Elizabeth but constantly restrained and fought against. At first, Jane thought she would see no signs of attraction from her sister, but as the conversation moved to their planned departure the following day, she began to see a change.

“I am sure you will be pleased to return home,” Miss Bingley said with apparent kindness. “Our quiet company must differ from the liveliness of your own family.”

“There is a great deal to be said for a change of society on occasion,” Elizabeth replied, “even so close to home. It brings new experiences, new memories. I am indebted to you—I have learnt a great deal during my stay,” she finished, feigning a sweet smile.

Miss Bingley acquiesced politely without returning the sentiment.

“I am sure you cannot want for liveliness in any circumstance,” Mr Bingley observed.

“By which you mean I am rathertoolively,” Elizabeth returned promptly. Mr Bingley protested, but Mr Darcy’s admiration seemed to advance rather than abate at her words.

“Your absence will be felt after you depart,” Mr Darcy concurred soberly. Elizabeth turned sharply towards him.

“You need not tell me whether it will be felt more as a lack or a relief,” she replied with playful archness, “I shall appeal to my own vanity to settle the question to my satisfaction, and leave you to do the same for yourself.”

“You mean you do not intend to argue the point? I was rather looking forward to the debate,” Mr Darcy replied. He turned hisgaze to his plate, but Jane could see his feelings continue to betray him.

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