Page 5 of Eavesdroppers Never Hear
Bingley stared at Jane, who was facing away from them on the back of the horse, but she turned to where she could at least look at them from the corner of her eye.
“No amends are necessary. We simply realise we have overstayed our welcome and choose to relocate.”
“I know my sisters said a few unkind things…”
He was interrupted when Elizabeth scoffed hard enough to make Simon startle.
Jane said, “Lizzy, perhaps you might refresh their memories.”
“I would rather not.”
Jane made a bitter laugh. “Actually, you ratherwould, but you think youshouldnot… which is probably true. You will, however, indulge me.”
In a surprising display of horsemanship, Jane spun her mount around to stare at the two gentlemen unnervingly for a moment. “Simon!”
“Are you certain, Miss Jane?”
“We are safe enough and you should not be here.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, and reluctantly left at a brisk trot.
Once he was out of hearing, though he obviously would not let the ladies out of his sight, Jane stared at Bingley until he squirmed.
Elizabeth sighed, raised her voice to a pitch that would set the dogs howling in the kennels, and repeated a few of her favourites.
“She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, but being an excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wild. … She did, indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about the country, because her sister had a cold? Her hair, so untidy, so blowsy! … Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain; and the gown which had been let down to hide it not doing its office.”
Jane continued staring for a minute before saying calmly, “I have only the experience of one tradesman family to guide me. Our Uncle Gardiner is married to a woman who grew up five miles from Mr Darcy’s estate. My tradesman uncle would not allow such speech among his sailors and longshoremen at his warehouses, let alone in his home! Your family apparently adheres to… different standards.”
Bingley did not particularly enjoy being chastised in his own home, (regardless of how much he deserved it) but he had toadmire how she made certain nobody else overheard. “I cannot make the words be unsaid, but I would like to apologise from my heart.”
“To what purpose? Our acquaintance, such as it is, has reached its natural conclusion… or, at least, it would if you would allow us to leave.”
Bingley looked chagrined. “It is nowhere near the conclusion I hoped for.”
Jane stared at him for some time while Darcy stared at Elizabeth with the same look of contrition.
Jane finally sighed. “Perhaps I had hoped otherwise but things do not always work out as people think they ought.”
“They can!” he said in desperation. “Amends can be made. Behaviours can be corrected.”
Jane frowned and thought a moment. “Lizzy, how does Mr Darcy prefer his tea.”
“One sugar and lemon.”
“Favourite play?”
“Macbeth.”
“Plays or sonnets?”
“Plays.”
“Favourite poet?”
“Keats.”
Both men scrunched their heads wondering what point she was making.
