Page 13 of To Go Against Her Heart
“You look tired. I assume you have not slept.”
“I cannot believe you worry about me now. I am quite well and not tired at all. Would you like to eat something?” she asked.
Jane declined.
“I am so glad you chose to visit, not that I have not been well cared for. Your presence is comforting,” Jane said gratefully.
“And I plan to stay here until we both can leave together. Mr. Bingley has most graciously invited me to stay.”
“That is indeed kind of him. I feel so guilty about ending up sick like this.”
“Good Heavens, Jane. You cannot help it, can you? Mamma is to blame. But you will get better soon once you start eating.”
The sisters conversed for some time, until Jane, overcome with fatigue, drifted into a slumber. Elizabeth, somewhat eased in spirit after the anxious night, soon succumbed to sleep upon her chair. Early in the morning, a maid woke her up and requested that she rest. Sensing that Jane was better, Elizabeth left for her room and found it spacious and comfortable inthe guest wing. Knowing that Darcy occupied the same floor, she fervently hoped not to encounter him. And the moment Elizabeth sat upon the bed, tiredness overtook her, and she soon surrendered to a deep slumber.
Darcy was disappointed not to see her for breakfast and understood from Mr. Bingley that she had retired to her room only in the early hours. They were to shoot with Sir William that day, and Mr. Bingley reluctantly left the house, still concerned for Jane. Strangely, Darcy felt the same about leaving Elizabeth alone. He constantly wondered if the story he heard from Miss Bingley had any credibility to it.
She seems too intelligent to fall for a man who did not return her feelings. I cannot believe she could have been so easily deceived like Georgiana.
As to the hunting, Darcy was pleasantly surprised to find himself enjoying the sport with Sir William and other new acquaintances.
“I am honored you chose to accompany us today, Mr. Darcy. We have enjoyed your company,” Sir William said with delight.
“The pleasure is mine.”
“I hope you shall not leave soon; I assure you our society offers much entertainment until Christmas.”
“Of course, he will not; I still need his assistance at Netherfield, and I have yearned for his company for several months now,” Mr. Bingley said confidently, but Darcy was still undecided about how long he intended to stay. To his disappointment, upon their return, there was still no sign of Elizabeth. Meanwhile, Miss Bingley informed her brother that Jane was improving and had eaten a little.
“I cannot tell you how relieved I am to hear that. I hope she recovers soon and will be able to join us downstairs. I have missed her…I mean, I have missed Miss Bennet’s company,” hesaid, seeing his sister raise an eyebrow. Darcy saw Elizabeth only during supper and was relieved to see her in better spirits.
Mr. Bingley was happy to learn that Jane had eaten and wanted to give her his utmost attention to aid her recovery.
“I am not certain about what could help her gain strength; my sisters should have a better idea. I will ensure that the cook prepares her meals accordingly,” he said, and it became clear to everyone in the room that he was partial towards Jane.
“Do not worry; I will see to it that she gets the required nourishment,” Mrs. Hurst declared.
After supper, Miss Bingley decided to entertain them at the piano-forte, and Elizabeth could not deny that she played considerably well. Miss Bingley played a couple of songs and then pressed Elizabeth to play, assuming she had no talent.
“I do not play very well, Miss Bingley. I never devote time to it,” Elizabeth said. She hardly played when pressed to and was in no mood to play that evening.
“Why, Miss Eliza? Do not make yourself uncomfortable. I understand that not all have the talent to excel at the piano-forte, but you must play for us. I assure you none of us will slight your performance,” Miss Bingley said graciously.
Elizabeth walked up to the instrument without interest; as she sat down, she noticed Darcy’s gaze upon her.
Here goes my tolerable performance to impress you, Mr. Darcy.
She thought and bit her lips to contain her smile, and Darcy understood very well that she was mocking someone in the room and hoped it was not him. Throughout his life, he had always been partial to his sister’s performance alone. Darcy had listened to many women play, and though their skill was undeniable, he invariably detected an intention to captivate the audience. Never had he seen anyone play solely for their own pleasure. However, now, as Elizabeth played, he was mesmerized. She had chosen avery simple song, yet Darcy had never heard it before. Her voice was not excessively sweet, but it blended seamlessly with the music her fingers produced. There was something unique in her performance, and even when she stumbled on a few high notes, the gentle smile upon her lips made it all the more endearing. To Darcy, her music was as captivating as her beauty and character.
And Elizabeth was quite surprised at the appreciation she received after the performance, especially from Mr. Darcy.
“You play exceedingly well, Miss Elizabeth, even though you do not believe so,” he said with admiration.
Elizabeth nodded, not finding a reason to question the sincerity of his praise. She realized there was something strikingly honest about Darcy, even when he had been rude and later apologized for it.
That night, she retired to her room after spending a few hours with Jane, and a maid readily took over her position. Depending upon Jane’s condition, she hoped to leave Netherfield in a day or two and looked forward to sleeping in her own room in Longbourn.
The next morning, after visiting her sister, she headed outdoors as she longed for a walk. She had never explored the woods around Netherfield and ventured out onto one of the trails. Autumn was fast approaching, and Elizabeth was delighted with the beauty around her. After about an hour, she returned to the estate and spotted Darcy near the gardens.
