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Elizabeth Bennet was most impatient to arrive at Netherfield. She was of the opinion that her two sisters had caused more delay in her journey than increase her pace of travel. Catherine and Lydia had volunteered to accompany her as far as Meryton on her walk to see Jane upon receiving her letter earlier in the morning.
"How can you be so silly as to think of such a thing, in all this dirt!" her mother had cried in horror when she made known her decision to walk to Netherfield for the sole purpose of seeing Jane as a means of ascertaining her health status. "You will not be fit to be seen when you get there."
Her reply that being fit to see Jane was all that she desired had halted any other opposition from Mrs. Bennet, while Mr. Bennet informed her of the application of the horses on the farm. She had thus affirmed her willingness to walk the distance to which Mary said:
"I admire the activity of your benevolence, but every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason; and in my opinion, exertion should always be in proportion to what is required."
Elizabeth had disregarded her selfish comment, reminding them all that it was at their prompt that Jane had gone despite the threat of rain and as such, they were all responsible in a way for her illness. It was then that Kitty and Lydia had volunteered their company all the way to Meryton and Elizabeth gratefully accepted. However, Kitty and Lydia had a penchant of dallying over scenes and people that interested them such that Elizabeth was certain that her journey might have fared better in their absence. However, their company was pleasant as always and perhaps, she might have enjoyed it better were it not for her anxiety for Jane.
Presently, they reached Meryton and Kitty and Lydia waved her off, requesting that she gave Jane their warmest regards and well wishes for a speedy recovery. Elizabeth acquiesced, promising that she would do as they wished and continued on her journey, widening her steps as her legs would allow.
The letter had indicated that Jane only had a sore throat and a headache but Elizabeth worried that her condition was indeed worse; she knew her sister- Jane was ever careful not to stir trouble and would therefore deliberately make little of her plight. The rain of the day before made the journey particularly difficult to navigate as puddles filled the earth and where there were no puddles, the earth was wet causing no small amount of dirt to cling to her long dress. This, Elizabeth scarcely noticed- her main purpose was to reach Jane.
A gentleman was calling for Miss Caroline Bingley.
The news so astounded the inhabitants of the house that it was considered a veritable mistake in its occurrence. It was none so close to noon and the visit was most unwelcomed by the woman sought who had only just awoken from sleep and finished with her toilettes.
She received the man in the parlour, coming down the stairs with an air of discontentment at the intrusion so early in the morning.
"My lady," the man bowed when she approached him.
Miss Caroline sighed in annoyance. The man was none other than Jeremy Sheffield with whom she had danced once on their first ball since repairing to Netherfield and another time at Sir Williams. He was also the son of Netherfield's closest neighbour. Perhaps, he thought as a consequence of the dance, he was therefore familiar with her and as such could call on her any time of the day. Caroline Bingley could barely wait to set him straight on this errant thought. She had no desire to befriend any of the country folks.
"Mr. Sheffield," she said in a voice filled with indifference for his generous smile and courtesy. "Is it commonplace in the country to call upon a lady before noon?"
The ridiculous man failed to grasp the sarcasm in her address but sat himself after she did and responded with good nature, "Yes indeed, it is here; we are all early risers in the country and as such, calling is just so."
To this, Caroline designed not to reply because she feared that she might insult the man directly were she to utter a word in response to his folly.
"To what do I own this unsolicited visit then?" she asked impatiently.
"I would like to seek your permission—and your brother's, of course, to court you," the man announced without prelude or pretence.
The announcement so shocked Caroline that she was unable to withhold the laughter precipitated thereof. Her laughter lasted a full minute in its entirety and when she raised her head to observe the man and ascertain her hearing capacity, the confused look set upon his face set her into another fit of amusement. Achieving composure at last, she addressed the man, a little of her mirth still evident on her face.
"Are you saying, Mr. Sheffield, that you wish to propose to me?" she asked.
For his stupidity alone, Caroline thought that Jeremy Sheffield deserved to be hanged. The clueless man nodded and reiterated his desire to court her. His attitude informed Caroline that nothing but a clear refusal will set him on his way. He was obviously obtuse and too thick in the head to adhere to anything less than a firm decline said in the most stately manner. A remembrance of Charles' taunting premonition about a proposal from a country gentleman caused her to tighten her resolve to nip this nonsense in the bud. No doubt, Charles would still laugh at her for this realization of his premonition and Caroline decided that Jeremy Sheffield was to blame. She did not propose to be nice to him. Thus, she proceeded to inform him that she was from the town and he, from the country. She informed him of their difference in social class and standard; reminding him that he was only the son of a clothes' merchant while she had twenty thousand pounds for her dowry alone. They were entirely too set apart to be anything but neighbours.
Jeremy Sheffield left Netherfield with his tail hanging between his legs most mortified and rightly put in his place as Caroline Bingley saw fit. He met with Elizabeth Bennet, riding on his horse and away from Netherfield, but he made no greeting to her nor did he respond to hers.
Everyone in the household was seated in the breakfast-parlour, evidently in the process of eating breakfast when Elizabeth was shown to the room. Even though she had not given the man more than a few thoughts since the last time they conversed at Sir William's ball, Elizabeth was disconcerted that the first pair of eyes to draw hers was those of Mr. Darcy. He looked quite astonished to see her also.
"Miss Bennet! Why in the world are you looking like... this?" Miss Bingley cried in embarrassment.
"I am afraid I had to walk from Longbourn all the way here whereupon my receipt of Jane's note," she told them plainly. "Our horses are otherwise engaged on the farm."
Her announcement had the impact of a gunshot. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst gasped loudly, Mr. Hurst's gaze sharpened, looking at Elizabeth most critically, Mr. Bingley stood on his feet to approach her and Mr. Darcy shook his head slightly.
Feeling impatient to see Jane, she fretted on her feet and her gaze found Mr. Darcy's again; and, he was regarding her with a most satirical eye- no doubt, he must think her reckless for her walk and in consequence, her dirty look but she couldn't care what he thought. Impatiently, she turned her gaze to the rest and she was greeted with a semblance of his expression excepting Mr. Bingley's who stood now in front of her, regarding her with warmth and kindness and something akin to gratitude.
"I will take you to see her immediately," he informed her and did just so.
A maid was in the process of cleaning the room when Bingley and Elizabeth walked in and the maid surreptitiously left the room. Jane cried in weak delight on seeing her sister and Mr. Bingley smiled kindly- he was certain that Jane's recovery could only be quicker with her sister in attendance. He left the sisters by themselves and made his way back to the breakfast parlour.
"I knew you hadn't told the whole truth in your note!" Elizabeth exclaimed upon feeling Jane's temple which burned her hand fiercely.
So weak was Jane that she could scarcely articulate coherently and Elizabeth bid her not to say a word; she then set about the business of making her sister comfortable and cooling her body with water and a rag cloth. An hour later, the apothecary made an appearance to attend to Jane. Mr. Jones declared Jane imposed upon by a most veracious cold and warned against troubling her. With a promise of some draughts to ease the cough and headache, he left. Elizabeth was most disturbed by his pronouncement and began to feel guilty for the part she played in Jane's illness- her failure to speak sense into Jane about riding on horseback with darks clouds of rain apparent imputed an enduring feeling of remorse on her. What she would give to make her sister recover, she thought in despair.
Though she loathed to leave her sister in such a condition, when it was nigh evening, she stood to go to which a carriage offer was made in prevention of her taking the long walk again. However, Jane protested to her going and the entire household bid her stay too. To this she agreed to stay with Jane for as long as it took for her sister to recover. No idea had she that she and Jane would be staying nigh a week and that she would in this manner, come close to changing her opinions of Mr. Darcy and everyone else in the household for that matter.