Page 26 of Penned By Mr Darcy
“A visitor?” Jane asked. “Who?”
“Your father’s cousin, Mr…”
“Mr Collins?!” Jane asked, her face crestfallen. “Why has he come? He cannot want Longbourn already?! He has no…”
Her words were interrupted by a deep wheeze, which soon turned into a cough that did not subside for several minutes. Lizzy rushed to Jane’s side, rubbing at her back as their mother flapped beside them in a terrible panic.
When at last the coughing ceased, Mrs Bennet gave Jane a small pat on the hand and continued her account of the events at Longbourn as though nothing at interrupted.
“No, no. He has come, I believe, with the intention of taking a wife.”
“A wife?” Jane whispered. “Does he mean one of us?”
“You cannot be serious, Mama!” Lizzy protested.
“It would keep Longbourn amongst us, and if one of you girls were the mistress, you could demand that we all stay. It was a fine prospect indeed.”
“But…”
“Of course, we have high hopes that Mr Bingley will propose very soon, so you are excluded from the eligible Bennet girls. Lizzy, I believe you would suit him very well.”
Lizzy blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“Come now, do not look so affronted. You have yet to meet the man! He is the parson to a fine estate in Kent, he tells me – and believe me, he has told me often enough. He would make a suitable enough husband, for he has a house and a steady income. You will be well cared for.”
“I have not even met him! I hope that you have said nothing to encourage these notions he apparently harbours.”
“He looks forward to meeting you. I think you ought to return home at once, Lizzy. It is important you make his acquaintance at once, and endeavour to win his affection. You cannot do so if you are here! I will leave Mary in your place.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Pardon?!” Mrs Bennet asked, open mouthed.
“I am not leaving Jane’s side, and I will certainly not leave her care entrusted to Mary. We will both remain here until Jane has healed, and then we will return to Longbourn and meet this man you seem determined to thrust upon me.”
“Elizabeth, really…”
“Do not ‘Elizabeth’ me, Mother. It is thanks to your meddling that Jane became so ill, and I will bear no more of yourinterference. We will be back when she is ready, and not a moment before.”
“Really, Lizzy, such haughtiness does not become you. I fear you have been too much in the presence of Mr Darcy and that Miss Bingley. Perhaps it is best that you come home, lest you gain ideas above your station.”
“That is enough!”
There was a knock on the door, and the three women turned their heads in panic. The knock was familiar to Lizzy and Jane now, and they whispered “Mr Bingley” in unison. Their mother’s eyes bulged with panic that he had overheard their argument, and she hastily began to fiddle with Jane’s hair. Jane batted her away, a rare display of irritation, and adjusted herself on her pillows.
“Come in,” Jane called.
“I wanted to invite you all to tea. Miss Bennet must rest as much as possible, isn’t that right, Miss Elizabeth? I am sure she is very pleased to see you, but we must not overexert her, the doctor made that quite clear.”
“How caring you are, Mr Bingley!” Mrs Bennet simpered, rising from her place by Jane’s side and crossing to the door. “Our dearest Jane could not have been in finer company to ensure her recovery. I must thank you, and insist that you send the bill to Longbourn.”
Jane and Lizzy looked at each other for the briefest moment. Both had been under the impression that the bill had been sent to Longbourn from the very beginning of their stay. Mr Bingley’s cheeks began to redden.
“No, Mrs Bennet, I must insist upon taking care of it. Come, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Bennets,” he gestured to the three girls in the hallway. “Let us take tea.”
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