Page 70 of Eavesdroppers Never Hear
Jane chuckled. “That makes sense, I suppose.” Then she sighed before continuing. “I suspect that if you had not overheard the pernicious sisters at Netherfield, I may well have married the man and done so happily. Now… well… I was starting to feel better about him until Lady Catherine’s objection.”
Elizabeth shook her head in confusion, unable to think of anything involving Mr Bingley that day.
“I left to take care of Miss de Bourgh, and he stayed to watch the spectacle. Naturally, it was not his place to escort me, and I would not have allowed it if he offered… but it did not even occur to him.”
“Yes, I suppose that was not ideal… but to play Devil’s Advocate, might I suggest you were not exactly offering him much encouragement.”
“Like you encouraged your Mr Darcy?” Jane asked cheekily.
Elizabeth sighed. “Yes, I imagine any man will have trouble measuring up if that is your standard.”
“I cannot say that your intended’s behaviour is my minimal standard, but I would prefer someone closer to Mr Darcy than Mr Bingley. You know me, Lizzy. I am a naturally unassuming and amiable person. I like that about myself and have no wish to change. Mr Bingley is the same. I fear that if we wed, we would each be so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every servant will cheat us; and so generous, that we will always exceed our income.”
Elizabeth guffawed. “That sounds like something Papa would say.”
“He did say it… or something similar. Perhaps it was foolhardy, but I asked his advice.”
“You asked marital advice from our father?” Elizabeth gasped in surprise.
“Stranger things have happened. For example, you seem to have asked some from our mother,” Jane replied with a small laugh, and Elizabeth joined.
“That made me think, and I concluded I did not like the way he handled his sisters. Fair or not, he inherited one hundred thousand pounds and the position of head of the family, while Miss Bingley inherited twenty thousand and a bad seminary education. Her brother, despite completely controlling her finances for several years, chose to allow her to routinely insult anyone and everyone, until they went too far and seemed like they might cost him something he wanted. He then went from complete indolence to cutting his sisters off overnight. I cannot condone either response. He should have been working on them for years, and when he had enough, he should have been gentler.”
Elizabeth shrugged. “I cannot say I agree or disagree. I doubt anything short of a French prison would change the sisters’ behaviour, but he could have at least made the attempt.”
“Regardless… I cannot accept a weak man. I believe he would exacerbate my own deficiencies, while a strong man will encourage me to grow into my own strength.”
“I cannot argue. I most certainly have grown a great deal in the last two months, and I believe William has as well.”
Jane laughed. “That he has. Can you even remember him calling you not handsome enough to even tempt him to dance?”
“In such cases as these, a good memory is unpardonable. This is the last time I shall ever remember it.”
They burst into a fit of giggles.
Elizabeth finally asked, “Does Mr Bingley know?”
“Not yet. I did not want to tarnish your courtship or wedding, but I will most assuredly tell him tomorrow at the latest… perhaps, even tonight.”
“Probably for the best. You have carried an unnatural burden all your life that should have been borne by our parents. Perhaps, it is time for you to just enjoy a season without the expectation that your beauty will save us all from starving in the hedgerows.”
“Are you certain you do not mind?”
Elizabeth stopped Jane’s movements, then turned so she could look at her directly instead of through the mirror.
“Of course we do not mind. Would you like to be astonished?”
“By what?”
“Something William said.”
“Do not bother.Nothingmy soon-to-be brother could say would be overly astonishing. He has a great tendency to say unexpected things at regular intervals.”
Elizabeth smiled and blinked slowly in memory of some of the shocking things her intended had said, though most of what came immediately to mind were in no way suitable for Jane’s ears.
“Be that as it may, we discussed this exact thing on Christmas Day. Prepare to be astonished.”
“I await in breathless anticipation.”
