Page 25 of Penned By Mr Darcy
“I do not think her to be contagious, Mama, for I am quite well. Come, we will go and see her now. We must not impose…”
“Ah, the Bennets!” Mr Bingley’s voice boomed from the house before he was even passed the front door. “How wonderful to see you! Come, come, please do join us.”
Kitty and Lydia trailed behind their mother with a poorly concealed eagerness, whilst Mary seemed to be the poor soul left to carry the load. The pile of books reached under her chin, and her glasses had fallen to the bridge of her nose.
“Let me help,” Lizzy said, taking half the books from her. “How are things at Longbourn?”
“Do you recall Mr Collins?”
“Mr Collins?” Lizzy asked with a frown. “The cousin who means to take our home from us just as soon as he can? Of course I recall him. Why?”
“He arrived suddenly yesterday afternoon.”
“Without word? Why?”
“I do not know.”
Mary lacked Lydia and Kitty’s talent for gossip, a quality that Lizzy often found refreshing; now, she was most frustrating in her lack of knowledge. Lydia would have provided a most thorough account of the man without prompting; as it was, Lizzy knew that she would have to needle any useful information from Mary with great effort.
“How long does he intend to stay?”
“I do not know that either,” Mary shrugged. “He is our family; ought we not welcome him for as long as he wishes to stay?”
“Of course,” Lizzy said sweetly, hoping to gain Mary’s trust. “What is he like?”
“He is very pious,” Mary said, a smile crossing her lips. “He has promised to read to us.”
Suddenly, a prolonged stay at Netherfield seemed even more attractive than it had before.
Lizzy led her family to Jane’s quarters, bidding the younger girls to wait in the corridor. It would have been better to leave them downstairs, but Lizzy did not trust the youngest two to behave themselves without her supervision. It was best for all involved that they were not allowed to be left in company.
Her mother wailed dramatically upon seeing Jane, who blinked in surprise.
“Mama!” Jane said, breathless as their mother ran to her, forcing her into an unhappy embrace. “I did not know you were coming.”
“I have been long enough apart from you, sweet Jane. We have thought of you constantly.”
And yet you did not care enough to visit earlier or write to her, Lizzy thought.
“That is very kind, Mama. I am pleased to see you.”
“You look dreadful,” their mother said sadly. “How often has Mr Bingley called upon you?”
“Once, when I first arrived,” Lizzy interjected. “It would not be proper for Jane to entertain male callers in such a condition, Mama, you cannot expect her to invite Mr Bingley in!”
Jane’s cheeks at once turned a vibrant shade of red.
“I have been advised that solitude and quiet are key to my recovery,” she said in a small voice. “Lizzy has often been in company downstairs, though. Mr Bingley has been most hospitable.”
“I am glad, though there are no prospects for you, Lizzy, save that dour Mr Darcy. It is a good job he has ten thousand a year, for he has no other redeeming qualities that I have seen. Is he good company? I cannot imagine it to be so, but I suppose there are always surprises in life, aren’t there?”
“I…he participates in the same way any other gentleman would, Mama. I have seen nothing so unlikeable about him, save a reservedness that I myself do not possess.”
“A reserved character is one thing, but I do believe it is nothing but haughtiness. He believes himself better than the rest, that much has been made clear to the entire town! A pity, for you would do quite nicely as the mistress of a grand house.”
“Would I?” Lizzy laughed. “I think you would say that about any one of us, should the prospect of ten thousand a year and untold acres of land arise.”
“When will you return home?” Mrs Bennet asked. “We have a visitor.”
