Page 13 of Darcy's Guarded Heart
“I had heard of a sister,” Jane said. “Mr Bingley mentioned she was coming but I did not think it was for some weeks.”
“How does Mr Wickham know the Darcys?” Elizabeth asked. Her father looked up at Lydia who shrugged.
“I am not certain but he knows them well. He said Mr Darcy has always been rather puffed up on his own confidence, and we know that is true.”
“At any rate, she has arrived now and is to attend the gathering at Lucas Lodge,” Lydia added. “We shall all be able to make her acquaintance then.”
“We can hope that she is more amiable for Mr Darcy is certainly no friend to this family. We must place our hopes upon Mr Bingley; he will surely prove the better acquaintance,” Mrs Bennet declared. “I am surprised he has not invited you for tea yet,” she said to Jane.
“He cannot invite me, it would be improper. It would have to be his sister,” Jane said. “But he assured me Mrs Hurst would issue an invitation shortly for tea.”
“My goodness!” Mrs Bennet exclaimed. “Why did you not mention that before? When did you see him? When did this conversation take place?”
“This afternoon in Meryton,” Jane explained. “He was in the bookshop when I came upon him. We spoke but briefly, and he said that he would have his sister extend an invitation for tea—perhaps even this weekend.”
“Well, you must simply go! It will be splendid. An invitation from Mr Bingley himself is a most precious opportunity,” Mrs Bennet exclaimed.
For the remainder of the meal, little conversation took place, save for Mrs Bennet’s ceaseless commentary regarding the many virtues of Mr Bingley, whom she had met a grand total of once thus far.
She paused only to take brief bites of food before resuming her meticulous planning of Jane’s visit to Netherfield—from the gown she would wear to the arrangement of her hair.
Elizabeth cast Jane the occasional look of sympathy, silently grateful that, for once, she was not the subject of her mother’s scheming. By the time dinner concluded, Elizabeth was utterly spent from her mother’s reveries and soon retired, though not without thinking once more of Mr Darcy and this mysterious sister who had arrived. And how did Mr Wickham know him? It seemed off that he had shared his knowledge of the Darcys with Lydia but never mentioned how he knew them.
With her thoughts in utter disarray, she found herself drifting away to sleep, though it was not an easy one for somehow, thoughts of Mr Darcy had made her so uneasy, her rest was a fitful one—and she awoke the next day as though she had not rested at all.
***
The following evening, the Bennet family descended upon Lucas Lodge, and almost as soon as they had entered, Elizabeth spotted Charles Bingley and his sisters. Joining them this time was a younger woman—undoubtedly Mr Darcy’s sister. Unlike the haughty gentleman, the young woman looked amiable. She carried a sweet smile on her lips as she listened intently to Miss Bingley.
“Is that Miss Darcy?” Thomas asked as he entered and saw the direction Elizabeth was looking.
“I am almost certain,” she said before spotting Mr Bingley wave at them. “We shall find out momentarily.”
As the rest of the Bennets crowded into the Lucases’ comfortable home, Mr Bingley made his way towards them with his sister and the young lady. Slinking somewhat behind was Mr Darcy, though from whence he’d come, Elizabeth could not say.
“Jane, go to the front, be the first Mr Bingley sees,” their mother murmured, and Elizabeth and Thomas stepped aside so Jane could stand between them, in a prime position for Mr Bingley’s attention. Not that this was necessary, for the young man came directly to them and bowed deeply before kissing Jane’s hand.
“Miss Bennet, what a delight it is to see you this night,” he beamed at her, as did Jane, and for a moment, Elizabeth felt as though she were an intruder in someone else’s most private moment. Then, however, Miss Bingley joined them, and her arrival appeared to extract her brother from his momentary trance.
“Ah, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth,” she said, then looked at Thomas. “And young Mr Bennet. How good of you to join the family,” she said, and at once, Elizabeth’s bristles were set up. Why did she speak as if Thomas’s presence here was somehow unusual? He was a member of the family, as were all of them.
“Thomas always accompanies the family to social calls,” she said.
“Of course he does,” Miss Bingley replied, then glanced at Mrs Bennet. “It is very good of you to be so benevolent to your charge.”
Elizabeth’s mother stepped forward. “It is one’s Christian duty to treat others with kindness, Miss Bingley,” she said, and it was rather clear that she was speaking of Miss Bingley’s snide remark rather than her own actions.
“But of course. Allow me to present our guest,” she said and stepped aside. “Miss Georgiana Darcy.”
The young woman stepped forward and looked around the group, clearly overwhelmed by the onslaught of Bennets. Her brother joined her side then and took it upon himself to introduce them all to her, as though they were old friends.
“It is lovely to meet you all,” Georgiana said in a quiet tone that betrayed her shyness.
“As it is lovely to meet you,” Thomas said. “Have you been at Netherfield long?”
“Only a few days,” she said. “I came down from town a little earlier than expected, but I am glad I did now, as the Lucases have been so very kind to me this evening.”
“Have you had the seed cake yet?” Lydia asked then and stepped forward. “Lady Lucas always serves the very best seed cake and almond biscuits.”
