A very short vignette written very quickly, and a long note.
First of all, thanks again for all your comments on this story.
Second, a note about Bingley: I really don't know his motivations here. He did plan to go back to Netherfield at some point in January; he was held back in London by his sisters under some pretext or other. At that point, though, he might be under the impression that D&E wish to Court Indefinitely Until Gossip Dies Down (which was more or less their first plan). Also, he's young, he'll grow up.
Regarding Mrs Bennet: I truly think Canon Mrs Bennet means well; after all she dislikes Darcy (instead of throwing one of her daughters at him) after he slights Eizabeth. So Lizzy may be "the least dear" of her daughters, but she does love her anyways (otherwise, why would she want her to be the future mistress of Longbourn, with the risk that they would live together forever, when it would have been easy to steer Mr Collins (or at least try steering him) towards Mary)? Hem. All this to say that I like to write her in a positive light.
And now, hoping that there are not too many typos there (or, worse, misused words because there's a similar word with a completely different meaning in the French dictionnary), is what I picture happened with that table.
The corridor would have been pitch black, if not for the candelabra Adams the footman carried. The house was quiet, nothing was out of place. A faint noise could be heard from Miss Bennet's room: her younger sister must have gone to her. Glancing further, Adams noticed that something was out of place after all. The small table that was between the first two guest rooms was slightly askew. Adams surmised Miss Elizabeth had bumped into it on her way to see her sister and was about to rectify its alignment, when he reasoned that the lady would encounter the same problem on her way back to her room.
Putting the candelabra on the floor, he picked up the table and moved it to a new position. Observing his work, he gave a satisfied nod and went to continue his tour before heading to bed, happy to have been of service to his master's guest.
His satisfaction lasted until he heard the gossip the day after. Adams thought to own his responsibility in the whole mess, but thought that nothing would be gained if he did. If anything, Miss Bingley would certainly push her brother to end his employment for having destroyed her hopes! Miss Elizabeth, though generally nice, was known to have a resentful streak and it would be difficult for him to find local employment for a while; likewise Mr Darcy could make it difficult for him to find any in London. It was for the best if he stayed silent.
When everything turned for the best, Adams began to breathe freely again, but he never told anyone that he had been the means of uniting Mr and Mrs Darcy.
