Page 19 of Mr. Darcy's Christmas Letters
Elizabeth was nearly floating, so happy was she to witness Jane taking her rightful role and Charles defending her right to do so. As for Miss Bingley, she detested the woman even more for the insult of appearing onlyafterthe wedding to complain about everything. Still, she ought not to have baited the woman.
“I am sorry, Jane,” Elizabeth said softly. “That woman vexes me, but I can see you will need none of my help dealing with her. I will do better, I promise.”
Jane patted Elizabeth’s hand. “Charles suspects she made herself unwanted with the Hursts and left to avoid being asked to leave. If that is so, her coming here makes sense. She means to establish herself as mistress in deed if not in name. I understand it is difficult for her to give way, but she must.”
“She did not even attend your wedding,” Elizabeth nearly hissed. “She has no right even to be in your house, let alone attempting to usurp your position as mistress.”
“Charles believes she did not want it to appear that she approved of the match.” Jane was far too serene. Elizabeth would have tossed the ingrate from the house, but that was not Jane’s way.
“You spoke of this?”
Jane nodded. “We were not expecting to meet Caroline or the Hursts again until the season in London, but I had already planned how to act, for I am familiar with overly bold sisters. Miss Bingley did not find me unprepared.”
“Brava, Jane.” Elizabeth smiled and held her sister’s arm a bit tighter before releasing it and offered her sister an artificially winsome smile. “I hope you do not mean me.”
“You may be bold, Lizzy, but you never cross the boundary of propriety.” Jane glanced around before leaning close to say, “Though you do dance a jig on it from time to time.”
Elizabeth laughed softly. It was true, she could not deny it.
Before they reached the drawing room, Miss Bingley swept past them and up the stairs without so much as a “good evening.” A few moments later, Charles appeared, a bit red in the face.
“My apologies, ladies,” he said. “Caroline is often a trial, but tonight she was absolutely unbearable. I hope she did not ruin dinner for you, Lizzy.”
“Not at all,” Elizabeth was quick to assure him. “Each dish was delightful. I enjoyed it immensely.” She had particularly enjoyed how each successive complaint of Miss Bingley’s had been ignored, the dishes merely removed. It seemed the woman was not used to her utterances going unremarked upon and did not know how to respond when they did.
“Lizzy,” Jane said softly, putting a hand on Elizabeth’s arm though her eyes were on her unhappy husband, “would you mind terribly if Charles and I were to retire early?”
Elizabeth smiled. “Not at all, Jane. Perhaps I will find something to read in the library.”
“I did bring back a few new books from London,” Charles informed her. “They are on the lower shelf.”
“Why, Mr. Bingley,” Elizabeth teased, “are you attempting to win me over?”
Charles smiled. “You have caught me out. Good night, Lizzy.”
“I will be down for breakfast in the morning, Lizzy, and we shall spend the day together.” Jane took her husband’s arm. “Charles has several items of business to complete.”
Although Jane did not say it, Elizabeth knew that they would have to include Miss Bingley in their plans. Even an uninvited guest was still a guest. “I shall look forward to it,” she said.
She watched the Bingleys ascend the stairs to their chambers, speaking quietly to one another, and felt an unexpected twinge of her heart. She was not jealous of Jane and Charles for who could be? No, it was their situation she envied.
The next morning brought more bad tidings. Darcy was already dressed when Bingley knocked and entered, only to stand there staring as Darcy tugged the cuffs of his shirt to make the sleeves lay correctly.
“You look as though your favourite hunter has died,” Darcy said. “It portends some bad news.”
“Darcy,” Bingley said, dismayed, “I have some information you will not like.”
Darcy glared at his friend. “You did not tell your sister . . .”
“No, no. It is only that one of the servants is ill, and Jones is concerned enough about it that he has forbidden anyone from leaving. He did say the grounds it was fine to be out on the grounds, so long as you have no contact with anyone not already in the house.”
“Mr. Jones was here?” Darcy was perplexed. It was so early. How could he have missed a visit by the apothecary? Were his chambers so remote from the rest of the house?
Actually, he supposed they were. He had been grateful enough for it. A thin reed of pain began to twist itself around his head like a vise. “How serious is it?”
“An undergardener visited his family on his day off and brought something back from there. Jones is not certain what it is, but he believes it wise to quarantine.”
Thiswasserious. “Can I help in any way?”
