Page 12 of Fitzwilliam Darcy Undone
Chapter Five
The conversation around the breakfast table at Longbourn was lively, if not a bit silly. Mr. Bennet asserted, more than once, how silly they all were to be in such a flutter over the ____shire militia now encamped near Meryton.
“I remember the time when I liked a red coat myself very well - and indeed, so I do still at my heart.”
“Oooohhh,” Lydia sighed out. “Captain Carter most certainly looks very fine in his red coat. I do hope I see him sometime today. It’s not fair that he leaves for London on the morrow.”
Both Kitty and Lydia continued to commiserate the loss of Captain Carter and how Colonel Foster no longer attended Miss Watson’s gatherings, preferring the company to be found within Clarke’s library. Mr. Bennet only lifted his newspaper higher, although he did manage a conspiratorial wink at Lizzy as he mouthed the words, ‘silliest girls in England’.
Their dialog was halted by the entrance of a footman bearing a note for Jane from Netherfield Park and the information that a servant awaited her reply.
“Well Jane,” Mama eagerly called out, her eyes flashing with excitement. “Who is it from? What is it about? What does he say? Well, Jane, make haste and tell us; make haste, my love.”
“It is from Miss Bingley.”
Mama gasped and fluttered a hand up toward her chest, throwing a triumphant glance toward her husband who’d lowered his paper to watch his eldest daughter.
“Read it aloud, please Jane.”
My dear friend,
Lizzy snorted and Jane sent her a reproving look.
IF you are not so compassionate as to dine to-day with Louisa and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives, for a whole day’s tête-à-tête between two women can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on the receipt of this. My brother and the gentlemen are to dine with the officers. Yours ever,
Caroline Bingley
Mama’s brow furrowed and she muttered, “Dining out, that is very unlucky.” She paused and glanced out the window.
From where Lizzy sat, she could almost hear the wheels turning in her mother’s mind. What was the point of Jane attending Netherfield Park if Mr. Bingley was not there to admire her beauty? She also glanced out the window, noting the darkening clouds.
“May I have the carriage?” Jane asked, folding the note and slipping it into her dress pocket.
“No,” Mama said in a distracted manner.
“No?” Disbelief colored Jane’s tone.
“You may go on horseback. It is going to rain and then you’ll have to spend the night.”
“Mama!” The shocked look on Jane’s face was unmistakable. Their mother spoke often about ‘throwing’ her daughters in the way of rich men, but this was going too far. Even Mr. Bennet started to say something, then shook his head and retreated behind his newspaper.
Coward.
Lizzy couldn’t help the thought which flashed through her mind and was taken aback when Papa lowered the paper again and stared at her in anger. Surely, he hadn’t heard her thoughts. He stood.
“Lizzy, a word with you please.”
He’d heard. Now what?
As she left the room, she heard Mama tell Jane she to go on horseback because the gentlemen would be using their carriage and the Hurst’s had no conveyance of their own. Mr. Bingley’s sisters would have no choice but to offer her refuge for the evening. Lizzy knew Jane would acquiesce because even though she disagreed with the machinations of their mother she also longed to be in the company of Mr. Bingley, if only for a morning breakfast.
Papa held the door to his book room for her and once she’d passed by him and settled in her favorite chair, he closed the door and moved around his desk to face her. Minutes stretched by as he assessed her thoughtfully over steepled fingers. For her part, she tamped down her expressions with fierce determination.
“Although I’m displeased at what you think of my actions, or lack thereof,” he finally said, breaking the silence, “I am pleased at how well you control your magic given your lack of training.”
“I’m not sure I know of what you speak, Papa.” Her heart rate tripled and she wound her fingers together in her lap to control their trembling.
“Do not take me for a fool, daughter. I’ve watched over the past four years and noticed how refined my wife and two youngest daughters are in public when you are amongst them and how some of your thoughts are parroted by them.” He pushed away from the desk and paced toward the window, watching the servant from Netherfield Park leave on horseback. “Although I realize now a memory cleansing spell would not work on you, I don’t know how you evaded my questions on your sixteenth birthday.”
