“I remember that. It is a good thing that old Jinkins liked me and fetched it out of the rubish.” Bingley laughed at the memory. “I actually got top marks, but Jinkins advised me to get more sleep before my next test because another professor might not be as generous.”
He and Darcy were still laughing over some of their school experiences when Mrs. Darcy came into the room shortly before the tea service arrived. Standing next to the teapot, she asked, “Mr. Bingley, you look like you could do with a restorative cup of tea, if you do not mind my saying so.”
Bingley turned his gaze to her and smiled gratefully. “I would love a cup, Mrs. Darcy. Thank you.” While she readied his tea, Bingley studied Mrs. Darcy. Most people did not see any familial resemblance between Miss Bennet and Mrs. Darcy, but he could see it clearly.
The two oldest Bennet daughters may have been night and day, dark brown hair versus shining blonde, emerald eyes instead of sapphire ones, but he saw where they were the same. They had the same arch in their brows and their noses had the same pert tip. Their beauty aside, it was what lay beneath that truly made the sisters alike. While some did not see it because Miss Bennet always wore her smile like armor, both sisters were unending kindness wrapped around a core of steel.
Accepting his cup of tea, Bingley took an eager sip, nearly scalding his tongue. It was just this side of too hot. He looked up from his cup of tea just in time to watch Darcy and his wife have a silent conversation with their eyes. It ended with her raised eyebrows and a tilt of her head, while Darcy was grinning wide enough to show off his dimples.
Turning to Bingley, Mrs. Darcy said, “I will leave you two gentlemen to reminisce. I think your usual room should be ready soon, but I will go check on things while you talk.” She left the room, but not without glancing over her shoulder at her husband with a grin.
Darcy watched her go before turning back to Bingley and asking, “So why were you studying my Elizabeth so closely?” Stretching out his legs, he crossed them at the ankles before continuing, “I know you do not have designs on my wife, but I am still curious.”
Feeling his cheeks heat in a slight blush, Bingley muttered, “You saw that, did you?”
“Yes.”
Sighing, Bingley took another sip of his tea to fortify himself for the conversation he thought was at hand. “Your wife looks very much like her sister.”
Nodding at the explanation, Darcy took a sip of his own teacup but said nothing. Bingley knew his friend’s behavior was designed to get him to confess all. It was, in fact, a practice he had seen his own father use. You let the silence continue until your opponent felt the need to cover the silence with their words. He knew Darcy did not see him as an opponent, but it seemed that Darcy, or possibly Mrs. Darcy, wanted to get something out of him.
Well, it was not like he was trying to hide anything. Not really, anyway. “The way she raised her eyebrows just a bit, Miss Bennet does the same when she is concerned about someone. In that moment, I realized I could see a lot of Miss Bennet’s traits in her younger sister.”
Looking at his friend in a discerning way, Darcy said, “I am surprised that you would want to come here and not go to London for the season.”
Shaking his head, Bingley said, “I could not watch her being followed by all the sycophants anymore. I know I encouraged her to spread her wings and enjoy the season, and I want that for her, I do, but it was eating me up.” Putting his teacup down on a side table, Bingley began to pace, running his hands through his hair as he did so. “None of them see her for what she is. They only chase after her for her beauty, and it is not fair to her.”
“Do you see her for what she is?” Darcy did not move from his chair, but watched his friend sympathetically as he moved around the room.
“How could I not? You know, I think I have spent more time with her than any woman besides my family.” Stopping to gaze at the fire, Bingley attempted to assemble his thoughts into a more cogent pattern. “I have seen her stand up for what was important to her. How she stood up to Caroline was magnificent. While she is almost always kind, she never allows that kindness to prevent her from doing what must be done. It does not make her weak either. Though I have seen people in London try to take advantage of her, she has always stood firm.”
“It seems as if you know her. Does she know that?” Darcy questioned, his head tilted and eyebrows drawn.
“I am uncertain. You know how all the Bennet ladies suffered at Longbourn. I have not wanted to pressure her into anything that would cause her discomfort.” Sitting back down, Bingley leaned forward in his chair, facing Darcy with enthusiasm. “But despite trying not to pressure her, I have had the time to study her, to learn about her. I have come to know how truly beautiful she is.”
“I do not think there is a man in England who would disagree with you.” Darcy took a sip of his tea before adding, “Though you will forgive me if I prefer my wife’s looks to that of her sister.”
“We never had similar tastes when it came to women.” Bingley rubbed at the back of his neck, smiling ruefully. “While I agree that any man in the world and see her beauty, it is not what I mean when I say that.”
Stopping to take his teacup back up, Bingley took a sip. Then, looking at Darcy, he wondered if he was trying to play the devil’s advocate. Bingley knew Darcy had become very protective of all the Bennet ladies, even Mrs. Bennet. It was possible that Darcy was testing him, getting him to prove his worth to them both.
“Jane’s beauty is in how she loves, the way that she protects those that need it, and her willingness to sacrifice for the good of others. It makes me want to protect her and make sure that there is at least one person who is looking out for her when she is not always looking out for herself.” Bingley’s words felt as if they had been drawn from his very being, as if he had never said anything so true before that moment.
“Then I approve.” Darcy tipped his teacup to Bingley in a salute.
Rolling his eyes, Bingley accepted the approval. Not that he ever truly thought his friend would disapprove of the match. “Thank you, but I do not see what good that does me. She is in London being courted by other men, and I am here.”
Darcy’s brown eyes seemed to hold a mischievous gleam that was quite rare to see. Quirking his lips in a half smile, he said, “And that is where you would be wrong.”
Bingley’s grip tightened on his teacup before he carefully put it down with numb fingers. Could his friend be implying what he thought he was implying? “Pardon?”
Smiling rather smugly, Darcy replied, “My sister by marriage is currently on the road from London with the rest of her sisters and mother. They should arrive sometime tomorrow.” He waited a moment, and Bingley found himself swallowing convulsively before Darcy added, “In fact, we thought it was them coming up the drive when you showed up just now.”
“I cannot believe the coincidence.” Jumping back up to pace some more, Bingley’s mind started filtering through too many questions and hopes to process. “Do you know why they are returning early? Are they well? Do you think I have a chance at winning her heart? Do you know of any estates up for sale nearby in case I do?”
Standing up, Darcy went to his friend and clasped him on the shoulder, waiting for him to run out of steam before saying, “As far as I know, they are all well, but as for why they left London, I think you will have to ask Jane yourself. You have a better chance of winning her than anyone else I know, and I know of one or two estates that might suit, but you should probably wait until you are further along in the relationship before purchasing anything.” Darcy started guiding his friend towards the hall. “Your room should be ready by now. You can wash and rest before we dine tonight. Get a good night’s sleep. It will probably be better if you do not look exhausted when you see her tomorrow.”
Chapter Three
Looking out the window of the carriage, Jane was grateful to recognize the landmarks that meant they were near Pemberley. She was uncertain if she would have been able to manage another day of travel. She had developed a headache the morning before, and no matter what she did to combat the pain, it had lingered and only worsened.
Even the quiet chatter between Kitty and Lydia was sending shards of pain through her skull. Settling back into the cushions of the carriage, Jane forced a smile onto her face. That morning, she had been able to pretend to sleep and block out the light, but it would not do at the moment, not when they were so close to their destination. Maybe the headache would recede when they finally stopped rocking back and forth.
To take her mind off her suffering, Jane tried to list the things that she wanted to do now that she had finally escaped the city. She wanted to check in on the herb garden. It had only been a month or so since she had explored the garden last, but there was such a difference in the garden once spring was evident. Now, with spring spreading its eager tendrils, she was sure she could get a better picture of what she had to work with. An estate’s still room depended so much on what they were able to grow and what was available to purchase. For that reason, it was important for all that the garden was well maintained.
Elizabeth had said there was already so much for her to get used to in being the mistress of such an expansive estate and was more than happy to let Jane help oversee the garden and still room. It made sense. Jane enjoyed the task so much and she had the most experience, for that matter.
Then there was the still room itself. Jane would need to inventory the supplies and find out if Pemberley produced its own soaps and lotions, or whether they purchased them. She would also need to stock up on tinctures for spring colds. With all her planning, Jane managed to keep her mind distracted until they finally came to a stop at the steps of Pemberley. Still, her distraction meant that the moment her mind returned to the situation at hand, she became even more aware of her affliction.
Waiting at the bottom of the steps with her husband gave Elizabeth the strange sense of déjà vu. Had it only been the day before that they had welcomed Bingley? At least this time, they hadn’t been caught distracted. Rushing forward to hug her mother as she descended the steps of the carriage, Elizabeth rejoiced at having her family back home with her. She knew that most new brides would expect to be separated from their families, but Elizabeth could not help but be glad that was not the case for her, at least not yet.
Like metal in a fiery forge, the bond between her and her mother and sisters had been tested and strengthened during their time at Longbourn. They were closer than typical families, having depended upon each other for everything for so long. She loved William, but as much as she loved him, it felt as though part of her was missing when her mother and sisters had left.
Now it was as if all the missing pieces of her heart had been found, and she felt complete. Gazing around the circle, she took them all in—Kitty and Lydia were chatting, and though Kitty seemed the same, it looked as though Lydia had once again grown. Lydia would soon be the tallest of them all. Mary was much the same as the last she had seen her. The only change she noticed was that Mary was wearing a new dress that Elizabeth thought was very flattering for traveling attire.
Elizabeth had worried that things had gone badly in London when her mother had written about their desire to leave the metropolis. Her fears were confirmed when she spotted Jane coming out of the carriage. Jane had changed in a way that did not sit well with Elizabeth at all. Though Jane’s smile remained, little lines around her eyes and the brittleness of her expression spoke of pain, both emotional and physical. Going to Jane, she wrapped her in a hug and then linked arms with her, escorting her into the house.
