Chapter 11

 

November 25, 1812

 

After the excitement of the wedding had passed and the out of town guests had returned home, the Bennets had hoped for a much deserved reprieve but, to their dismay, the days passed quickly and were filled with new obligations. Elizabeth took comfort in Mr. Darcy's departure, which occurred shortly after Mr. Kent's. Mr. Darcy's absence did not prevent Mr. Bingley from continuing his daily assaults on poor Jane. Perhaps, Mr. Bingley was becoming man enough to face her sister without the support of his friend, but Elizabeth noted it could have been Jane's own behavior rather than bravery that emboldened Mr. Bingley. For, as the month wore on, it seemed Jane's anger and resolve were dwindling and she was beginning to act more civilly toward her admirer. Unsurprisingly, Mr. Darcy's departure had also brought about the departure of Miss Bingley. After her beloved had returned to his estate, Caroline had decided to travel to London to visit with her sister, Louisa.

Jane and Elizabeth were upstairs packing. They, along with the rest of their family, would be leaving for Hunsford Parsonage at the end of the week to spend the holidays with Mr. and Mrs. Collins. It was a rare occasion when the entire family vacationed together, for it required Mr. Bennet to secure a second carriage to transport all of his daughters and the numerous possessions they deemed imperative. Mr. Bennet had asked to borrow a carriage from his brother-in-law, Mr. Gardiner, and would be renting horses to accommodate his brood. He had known this to be a great imposition on the Gardiners but, they had insisted that they rarely used the carriage, and as all of their needs could so easily be met in London, it should not be missed.

Lizzy rifled through her gowns one more time. “Jane, do you think we will be asked to dine at Rosings Park and, if so, do you think the blue silk would be appropriate?”

“Mama received a letter from Mary yesterday, and it seems Lady Catherine is expecting family to visit her during the holidays. I cannot imagine we will be invited to Rosings Park if she will be entertaining company during our stay.” Jane had a mischievous smile on her face. It was clear she knew something else but was not going to volunteer the information to Elizabeth.

“What are you not telling me, Jane?” Elizabeth pressed. “If you refuse to speak, I shall be forced to tickle you until you confess all.”

“Well, it turns out Lady Catherine approached Mary with news of her family's visit, because she was in need of a favor. You might recall Lady Catherine's harebrained scheme to see you settled with Mr. Kent, and I believe she invited you both to Rosings Park after the holidays in hopes of facilitating her plans?” Jane asked, and Elizabeth nodded, to confirm recollection of the invitation. “Well, Mr. Kent encountered Lady Catherine in London shortly after he left Hertfordshire. He mentioned he had hoped to spend the holidays with his cousin, Mr. Collins, but would be unable to since the Hunsford Parsonage would be quite occupied due to our family's visit. Lady Catherine has never entertained her family over the holidays. She anticipated Rosins Park would be nearly empty. I believe she, and her daughter, are rather lonely, especially this time of the year. Anyway, Lady Catherine extended her invitation to Mr. Kent to begin his stay at Rosings Park prior to the holidays, so now he too will be visiting. I think she also saw this as an opportunity, for some diverting entertainment, as she hopes to finalize her plans for you!”

Elizabeth moaned and rolled her eyes. She had not been looking forward to a visit with Mr. Collins, but she had taken comfort knowing that she could enjoy the solitude of long strolls, throughout the lovely parks Mary had described in her letters. Elizabeth had long gotten over her anger at Mr. Kent and, after counsel with Charlotte, had decided that, while they were ill suited for one another, he was not an unpleasant or disagreeable man. He just believed chivalry dictated that men protect women, and he had applied his beliefs far too liberally for Elizabeth's liking. Unfortunately, this did not change the fact that, if he were staying so near the Hunsford Parsonage during her own visit, he would likely interfere with her plans for self-guided strolls of the countryside. Further, Elizabeth knew she was certain about her feelings regarding Mr. Kent, but she was less sure about his feelings regarding her. Charlotte had recounted the conversation she had with the man during the time he accompanied her home after his last visit to Longbourn. It sounded to Elizabeth, as if he was positively in denial that there had been anything, other than a blissful meeting of the minds, between her and him.

Jane had been watching the array of emotions play across Elizabeth's face and once Elizabeth seemed to emerge from her own thoughts, Jane continued. “Now Lizzy, I know he isn't a suitable suitor for you, but do you really dislike him so much?”

“No, Jane. It is not that. I am worried I did not make my intentions quite clear at our last encounter. I am also afraid he will attempt to restrict my freedom, simply out of a sense of duty.”

Jane looked at Lizzy thoughtfully, “Well, this will give you an opportunity to make your feelings very clear to the man. Then you will have no need to worry that you are giving him false hope. And I shall do my best to shield your independence. But I have not finished my tale. I think you will be able to find a little bit of humor in the next turn of events.” Lizzy looked up in anticipation as Jane continued. “Apparently, only a day or two after extending her invitation, Lady Catherine received word from her nephew, Mr. Darcy, that he also hoped to spend Christmas at Rosings Park! He is apparently bringing a rather large party. Then, Lady Catherine received word from her brother, Lord Fitzwilliam, that his family will be coming as well. Mary suspects there is likely to be some sort of big announcement related to Mr. Darcy. Lady Catherine hinted that Mr. Darcy may be preparing to finally propose to his cousin, Miss de Bourgh,” Jane's eyes twinkled in delight. “Lady Catherine, at long last, has her comeuppance for trying to interfere in other people's lives. She had asked Mary to try to accommodate Mr. Kent, but Mary said she simply could not. Now Lady Catherine will need to entertain someone that is practically a stranger, along with the whole of her high and mighty family. Further, if what you said is true about Mr. Darcy's feeling for his cousin, Lady Catherine will be sorely disappointed.”

Elizabeth and Jane both laughed at Lady Catherine's predicament. “I am sure she is hoping I will be doing most of the entertainment of Mr. Kent for her,” Elizabeth responded. “But as she has misread our relationship, and Mr. Collins will be very busy during the month of our Lord's birth, I imagine she will find Mr. Kent's presence more constant than she expects.” This revelation resulted in a fresh bout of mirth before Lizzy moved from her dresses to her desk. She was retrieving the volume of poems to give to her father. She hoped he might return it to Mrs. Grainger when he traveled to London to secure the second carriage. Lizzy happened to look out the window as she lifted the book from the desk and saw Mr. Bingley approaching on horseback.

“It looks like you have a caller, Jane.”

People had often commented that Jane and Elizabeth looked nothing like sisters. Jane had light features and a classical beauty, while Elizabeth had dark features and a wild beauty. Yet as Lizzy's words reached Jane's ears, the expression that graced Jane's face was the exact same expression of annoyance that had first graced Lizzy's face, when she had been informed Mr. Kent would be intruding on her family's vacation plans. “Will that man ever give up?” Jane lamented.

“Have you not made it clear, that you wish he do so?” Lizzy asked.

“More times than I can count!” During Mr. Bingley's onslaught of attention, Jane's emotions had evolved from anger to annoyance and were very nearly approaching resolve. Jane's chief complaints against Mr. Bingley, initially, were that he had not known his own heart and had given up on her at the smallest provocation. Jane was beginning to reassess her opinions on these facets of Mr. Bingley's character. He was now doggedly persistent. After Jane had accused him of still hiding his efforts from Miss Bingley, Mr. Bingley immediately wrote to his sister to inform her of his deep and enduring love for Jane, much to Jane's embarrassment and chagrin. Now Jane was very cautious to levy any criticism about his devotions, for fear he would again react in a manner which would, once again, embarrass her.

As Jane left to meet her caller, Lizzy say down on the bed and wished Charlotte had not had to go off to London so many weeks ago. She was desperately in need of advice on how to approach Mr. Kent. She hoped to gently inform him that his attentions were unwelcome. As she lay down, to think about all Jane had discussed, Lizzy was unaware that her eyelids had shut and that she had fallen asleep.

Lizzy's slumber was broken an hour later when Jane returned to their room and closed the door. Lizzy's eyes fluttered open and she was unable to miss Jane's apparent agitation. “Jane. I must have dozed off. Is everything okay?”

“You know that large party I mentioned that Mr. Darcy was taking with him to Rosings Park?” Jane said trying not to bark the words out.

Elizabeth nodded.

“That party includes the Bingleys, and Mr. Bingley has offered to share his carriage with Papa.”

Elizabeth began to put the pieces of the puzzle together. “Will Miss Bingley be joining the party?” She asked.

“Yes, as well as the Hursts. Miss Bingley will join the Hursts on the road to Rosings Park, so Mr. Bingley will transport our belongings from Hertfordshire to Rosings Park,” Jane said twisting her hands.

Elizabeth should have guessed that Mr. Darcy had wanted Miss Bingley by his side over the holidays. He was probably gathering all of his and her families so that they could announce their engagement. Mr. Kent's presence truly was an inconvenience. But it might help buffer Mr. Darcy from the tongue lashing Lady Catherine would be giving him over his choice of brides. Elizabeth imagined him breaking the news to his aunt he was rejecting Anne de Bourgh in favor of the daughter of a man who earned his living through trade. Lady Catherine would be livid. Elizabeth could see why Mr. Darcy had invited his uncle's family to attend. Elizabeth looked to Jane and noted her handwringing. Of course. If Mr. Bingley took their possessions, it would still leave six in their carriage and one in his. It would be substantially more comfortable if two were to ride with Mr. Bingley. Papa would be concerned leaving their own carriage without a male chaperone, so two of the women would need to ride with Mr. Bingley. “Jane dear, do not fret. I shall ride with Mr. Bingley and ask Kitty or Mama to accompany me.”

Jane sighed. “How long have you known Mama, Lizzy? You know that while she originally supported my misgivings regarding Mr. Bingley, his steadfast attention and large fortune, have done wonders to elevate him in status. He is now very much in her good graces. The probability that I shall be allowed to ride in our carriage is about as likely as Lady Catherine being overjoyed to discover Mr. Darcy's affections for Caroline Bingley.”

“Would you like me to join you in Mr. Bingley's carriage?” Lizzy offered, at a loss for how to best soothe her sister.

Jane nodded, and the sisters embraced.