Page 26 of To Go Against Her Heart
“I do not understand why we need to host this ball, Charles. I would rather host one in town for our friends there,” Miss Bingley yelled at her brother.
“I promised one, and I intend to host it.”
“And you want to invite everyone here?”
“What a ridiculous question! That is why we are hosting it. You do not have to strain yourself with the arrangements, Caroline. The housekeeper will take care of everything, and I will personally oversee the preparations. And please remember, I don’t regard our friends here differently from the ones in town. I suggest you act as an amiable hostess during the ball, and if you do not wish to, you are welcome to leave,” he said, storming out of the drawing room.
Miss Bingley sat feeling helpless. She wanted to return to town very badly, but she did not want to leave her brother alone, fearing that he would act on his feelings and propose to Jane.
The ball was planned in two weeks, and Mr. Bingley was very excited about hosting his friends in Netherfield Park. In the short time there, he had grown fond of the estate, and everything about Hertfordshire pleased him. He was very much in love with Jane and was confident that she returned his sentiments. It was evident to him that his sisters were against the match, but it was of no consequence. The only worry Mr. Bingley had was to win Jane’s heart, and he was certain he could succeed.
***
A few days passed after Elizabeth’s meeting with Wickham at her aunt’s house. She had discussed the matter with Jane and now sat with Charlotte on the same subject.
“How could you be so certain that he is lying, Lizzy?”
“If you had sat with me that day, you would have easily felt the same. When I mentioned that Mr. Darcy was uncomfortable in our society, he immediately felt at ease and divulged details about their past.”
“I must agree that the story does not make sense. Why would a man as wealthy and intelligent as Mr. Darcy be jealous of him? I still cannot ascertain your impression of him, but in my opinion, Mr. Darcy is an honest man.”
Elizabeth nodded in compliance. She had witnessed both his arrogance and change in attitude. No matter how he behaved,there was an honesty in all he said and did. However, she could not say the same about Wickham.
“I wish Mr. Darcy were here,” she finally said, much to Charlotte’s surprise.
“Is that so?”
“Charlotte, please do not feed your imagination unnecessarily. One encounter between them would clear all my doubts, as Mr. Wickham cannot skillfully avoid Mr. Darcy as he did with Mr. Bingley.”
“Well, we cannot wait for such a meeting to happen by chance. What do we do?”
“I have been contemplating the same. Could Colonel Forster be so naïve as not to understand Mr. Wickham’s character?”
“He does not seem like someone who would easily overlook his officer’s faults, especially if it is with character.”
“Do you happen to know when the regiment leaves?”
“I heard they are to leave within a month or so. They are traveling to Brighton next.”
“I cannot believe the recent developments here. First, Mr. Wickham’s acquaintance with Mr. Darcy, and I have only just learned that Mr. Collins’s distinguished patroness is, in fact, the aunt of Mr. Darcy.”
“This is news indeed.”
“The moment my father mentioned Mr. Darcy, we were enlightened about the entire history of his association with Rosings and Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Apparently, not only is he her nephew, but he will soon be her son-in-law,” she said without emotion.
“Lizzy, is he engaged?” Charlotte asked with astonishment.
“I do not think so, but Mr. Collins informed me that it was a match favored by both families; “an engagement in the cradle” is what he said.”
Charlotte said nothing and observed her friend’s countenance.
“You seem to act as though you are not affected by this news.”
“Why would it affect me, Charlotte? It would delight me if he were to get married next week and if Mr. Collins chose to leave Longbourn to assist with the preparations. Otherwise, I have no interest in whom he marries or what he wishes to do in life,” she declared.
Charlotte immediately knew that she was disguising her true feelings with sarcasm, a trait she had observed in Elizabeth ever since she was a child.
You are afraid of your own heart, Lizzy. I wish you could stop punishing yourself this way.
