“If you will forgive me,” said Darcy, not knowing what else to say, “I hardly think I am in the same category as my aunt’s toadying parson.”
“Perhaps not,” said Bingley, “but the analogy stands. Collins is in line to inherit Longbourn, which must make the connection more important to the Bennets’ future security.”
“Yet Miss Elizabeth rejected him and refused to reconsider. It is my understanding that Collins’s disappointment was so severe that he waited three days before engaging himself to Miss Lucas.”
“Thatwas no less than mercenary,” said Bingley. “It is said that Miss Lucas is seven and twenty—to accept a man so soon after Miss Elizabeth rejected him suggests she acted to avoid becoming an old maid.”
Darcy could only agree. Miss Lucas had always struck him as a sensible woman, and that extended to accepting a ridiculous man for the security he could provide only days after her closest friend had rejected him. Now she must endure a dullard for a lifetime—that was what Darcy had always wished to avoid. He did not require the deepest love to induce him to matrimony, but he did not wish to wed a woman he’d visit only occasionally to beget a child and avoid at all other times. Miss Bingley, though she did not know it, was just such a woman. Life with a woman such as Miss Elizabeth Bennet would never descend to apathy, for she was of such character that every day would be a challenge—something new to stir both body and mind.
“The question is,” said Hurst, standing to leave the room, “why you would want a woman who will accept you for your position or because her family situation requires it. If you will pardon me for saying so, Darcy, that is the sort of woman you should avoid. You saw through Caroline easily enough—the challenge before you now is to see in Miss Elizabeth a woman who does not espouse such opinions, a woman who will only accept you if you prove yourself to her. Is she not worthy of being pleased?”
And with that, Hurst left the room. Put that way, Darcy could not say that Hurst was incorrect. Darcy had come to Hertfordshire with no intention of making overtures to Miss Elizabeth and every expectation of leaving at once—of notputting himself in her company more than he must. Now he had Hurst’s assertions to consider, and he could not say the man was wrong.
AT LONGBOURN, AFTERthe gentlemen departed, Mrs. Bennet prattled about how wonderful it was that Mr. Bingley had returned and how it was a compliment to her eldest daughter. Mrs. Gardiner tried to deflect Mrs. Bennet from the subject, but though she usually possessed some sway with her sister-in-law, Mrs. Bennet was undeterred, her stubborn adherence to the topic of Mr. Bingley’s return indefatigable.
Elizabeth, who understood something of the situation, watched her father as her mother continued to speak on the subject. Mr. Bennet, she noted, was unperturbed by his wife’s excesses, though Elizabeth did not miss the hint of hardness around his jaw, evidence that he was not pleased with his wife. That he had called Mr. Bingley into his study along with Mr. Darcy—a situation upsetting to Mrs. Bennet—suggested Mr. Bennet would not allow Bingley to proceed as before. In Elizabeth’s opinion, it was high time her father took some interest in the family’s doings instead of sequestering himself in his study, determined to ignore them all.
Jane, Elizabeth noticed, was composed, showing little of her feelings, though Elizabeth saw a hint of color in Jane’s cheeks, a testament that she was not indifferent to Mr. Bingley’s coming. As Jane had promised to remain cautious in accepting Mr. Bingley back, Elizabeth hoped her sister had learned something about herself. She did not suppose Jane would send him away, but ensuring he understood something of her wishes in a partner would not at all go amiss.
“I will own that I am vexed with you, Mr. Bennet,” said his wife, her tone changing from excited pleasure to annoyance ina heartbeat. “Why you thought it necessary to pull Mr. Bingley away from Jane, I cannot say. We are all fortunate he returned in the same spirit as he left.”
“Not at all, Mrs. Bennet,” said Mr. Bennet, something of steel in his voice. “I hope that Bingley has improved, for if he has not, I shall send him back to London until he can prove his constancy.”
“What do you mean?” Mrs. Bennet’s tone suggested she did not expect to be happy with his response. She was more correct than she knew.
“That he must prove himself a more constant suitor than he has done in the past,” replied Mr. Bennet. “If he does not, then he must quit the field.”
From Mrs. Bennet’s perspective, this was far worse than she expected. “Quit the field?” Mrs. Bennet’s voice rose to a piercing pitch in an instant. “What nonsense are you saying?”
“It isnotnonsense, Mrs. Bennet.”
His tone suggested she had best listen, and for once, Mrs. Bennet did not appear inclined to challenge him.
“Let us discuss the facts.” Mr. Bennet raised his hands, ticking the points on his fingers. “Bingley arrived in October, then began paying attention to Jane at once, even dancing twice with her at the first assembly. He continued in this, often sparing little attention for anyone else when Jane was nearby. Then he danced with her three times at his ball in November, all sets that carry some significance. Not two days after his ball, he departed for London and had not been seen in the district since.
“When you put all these factors together, there is no choice but to question his fidelity. Before I could allow him to pay attention to Jane again, I needed to ensure he understood his obligations.”
Though Mrs. Bennet appeared unhappy with her husband’s explanation, she quieted at the word “obligations.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just that a man does not pay attention to a woman for two months, then vanish without a word. Before he left, Bingley was perilously close to engaging his honor; if he takes the same path this time, I will not only consider his actions sufficient to end in a proposal, but I will insist on it.”
Mrs. Bennet considered his words. “Then that is well. The sooner Mr. Bingley’s honor is engaged, the more expeditiously we may resolve this matter in Jane’s favor.”
“That is not at all certain yet, Mrs. Bennet,” declared he.
While his wife was sputtering, Mr. Bennet turned his attention to Jane, his manner softer than the stern tone he had taken with his wife. “Jane, I will not risk your peace of mind—it has been hard for us all to watch you this past month. At the same time, I cannot allow you to accept Bingley’s attentions if you do not favor him. If you do not wish his attention, you had best say so at once; if Bingley continues as he did before, I will insist on an engagement.”
Jane smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Papa. I am not at all averse to receiving Mr. Bingley’s calls, but I am not willing to accept him back without an explanation.”
With a smile for Elizabeth, Jane continued: “As my sister has noted with her usual perspicacity, there is every reason to believe that Mr. Bingley did not act independent of others. Miss Bingley has all but proven her friendship was false, and though Mr. Darcy has recanted his previous stance, it seems obvious that he also influenced Mr. Bingley. While I forgive the latter, I shall not be taken in by the former again. Of more importance is Mr. Bingley’s commitment—I wish to understand his reasons for staying away and want to know that his purpose is firm despite anything his sister may say.”
Mr. Bennet smiled and nodded. “That is an excellent stance, Jane, and one that is overdue, I dare say. A man who pursuesa woman must prove himself worthy of her trust—the sooner Bingley either proves or betrays that trust, the better.”
That Mrs. Bennet did not agree with what she was hearing was not at all hidden, though she exercised some well of discretion Elizabeth had not thought she possessed. If she were any judge of her mother, Elizabeth suspected she would do all she could to persuade Jane that Mr. Bingley had proven himself at the earliest opportunity. Elizabeth had no concern for Jane—she was the mildest creature in the world, but when she thought herself correct, it was easier to move a mountain than to persuade Jane against her inclination.
“The other matter we must discuss,” said Mr. Bennet, turning his attention to all his family, “is this business of Wickham. I do not know what Darcy means to do about him, but the man is a menace and a bounder—it is best that we do not associate with him at all.”
