Page 94 of The Governess of My Heart
Miss Bennet preferred Darcy’s company today. But it was not the same case before. Even at Lucas Lodge, she never cared for his company. What has changed now?
He wondered, and Darcy was very well able to gauge his thoughts.
I very well know what has changed, Bingley. She heard about my wealth.
“You looked troubled. What is the matter?” Darcy asked his friend, knowing very well what bothered him.
“Nothing! I was just wondering… forget it,” Mr. Bingley replied.
They headed back into the house, but Darcy did not want to discuss the topic with his friend.
Bingley, some lessons are hard to learn, but you will know her true colors soon.
Meanwhile, in Longbourn, Jane and Mrs. Bennet were in happy spirits.
“Oh! You looked lovely today, my dear Jane. I saw Mr. Darcy look at you keenly. I am certain he is taken by the complexion of your skin and your beauty.”
“Do you think so, Mamma?”
“Of course I do. I am thrilled about the fine prospects of marrying him; you will be the mistress of his grand estate and everything in his name.”
“But Mamma, I think Mr. Bingley likes me too.”
“So what? I bet Mr. Darcy will waste no time proposing to you, knowing his friend competes for your hand, too.”
Mary could not bear it any longer.
“I cannot believe you to be this cruel, Jane. You avoided Mr. Bingley yesterday in his own house. Did you even care how he would have felt?”
“What did I ever do? All men want my attention these days. What matters is who I prefer for company.”
“You did prefer Mr. Bingley’s company all this while.”
“I did not prefer his company; he is boring. I like Mr. Darcy, and I would rather spend more time with him.”
“I am ashamed to be your sister.”
“Enough!” her mother yelled.
“Stop this nonsense, Mary. You remind me too much of her when you talk like this.”
“You won’t even say Lizzy’s name, Mamma?”
“I won’t. I don’t want to talk about someone who ran away from home; who knows where? And God knows with whom?
“Stop it, Mamma! I cannot stand you slander Lizzy like that.”
“Shut up and go to your room. I have had enough. Oh! My poor nerves,” her mother cried.
And Mary ran up the stairs and cried her heart out.
Her mind was distressed beyond measure. On one hand, she was worried about Elizabeth’s situation with Darcy and, on the other, about Mr. Bingley.
She did not know why, but she was most anxious about his welfare since she had known her sister’s intentions with Mr. Bingley. Initially, she did not want Mr. Bingley to be trapped by Jane, and now, she was concerned that Jane ignoring him for Darcy would wound him beyond measure.
Day by day, she felt helpless to stay in Longbourn and despised her parents. She could not forgive them for what theydid to Elizabeth, and all the suffering her sister had to endure in the past months was only because of them. She hoped and prayed Elizabeth would be safe in Derbyshire.
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