Chapter 24

After their meeting at the Meryton Assembly, scarcely a day passed when Mr. Bingley did not pay a call at Longbourn house. To Elizabeth it seemed obvious that Mr. Bingley's purpose was to court her sister Jane. However, no one else seemed to view the matter this way. Indeed, it seemed to Elizabeth that she could scarce turn around without being met by some sly remark about "her" Mr. Bingley. Even the man's sisters seemed to have singled Elizabeth out for special attention.

A few short weeks after arriving at Netherfield, Mr. Bingley's sister Caroline send a note inviting Elizabeth to dine at Netherfield while the gentlemen of the party were dining out. Elizabeth had no desire to accept the invitation. She had no particular dislike for Caroline, who seemed to be an intelligent young lady who was particularly keen on gaining Elizabeth's favor. However, Elizabeth understood that such a visit would serve to increase the unwanted speculation of her neighbors.

"I think I shall decline," Elizabeth announced to her family, who had watched her receive the invitation.

"What will Mr. Bingley think?" Mrs. Bennet worriedly wondered.

"Mr. Bingley need not think on it at all!" Elizabeth retorted, "It is his sister who has issued the invitation. Most likely, he will not even be present to greet me."

"Nonetheless, I think you should go," Mr. Bennet interjected firmly.

"Do you not need the horses for the farm?" Elizabeth's could not hide the hopefulness in her voice.

"I can spare them today."

Elizabeth sighed. It looked like there was no chance of avoiding a visit to Netherfield. Then she spied her sister Jane, whose countenance bore displeasure, although Elizabeth did not know with whom her sister was displeased. Still, watching her sister gave Elizabeth an idea.

"I should not wish to travel so far by myself," Elizabeth declared allowing her parents to believe her fear greater than it was. However, despite evoking their sympathy, this did not change their intention of sending Elizabeth.

"You may take one of your sisters for the journey. And the governess if you wish. And I will send a footman. Indeed, I will even accompany you myself," assured Mr. Bennet.

"Can I come, too, Papa?" chimed Lydia, who still adored her father above all others.

"Mary and I would also like to come," added Kitty, without bothering to consult Mary. "We were trying to write poetry and need more inspiration."

Mary offered no objection, instead suggesting, "Tommy might like to ride with us. You know how he likes to stop at the bridge and look for frogs in the creek."

"But I cannot let Tommy go so far without me!" decreed Mrs. Bennet protectively.

At that moment, Elizabeth heard and unladylike snort, and was startled to realize it had originated from Jane. Elizabeth smiled at her older sister.

"There will scarce be room in the carriage for Elizabeth!" giggled Jane. Elizabeth, too, began to giggle.

"I could ride in the box, with the driver."

"You will do no such thing!" Mr. and Mrs. Bennet decreed simultaneously. Observing her parents' disapproval of this suggestion, Elizabeth feigned laughter, so that they might think she had been joking.

Then Jane quietly piped in, "I was thinking of offering to accompany you, Lizzy, but I think you have enough company already." This offering delighted Elizabeth. She hadconvinced herself that she no longer mourned her sister's indifference; however, the eagerness with which she grasped this tiny crumb of affection revealed her self deception.

"Oh Jane! I should love to have your company." Jane seemed almost taken aback by her sister's enthusiastic response.

"Would you truly?" she inquired bashfully.

"Of course, I would." To Elizabeth's astonishment, Jane beamed at her answer.

"Then it is settled," declared Mrs. Bennet, "Jane shall accompany you to Netherfield."

Thus, late that afternoon, Elizabeth and Jane set off for Netherfield together.

Before they had traveled far, Jane looked at her sister curiously, "Does it truly make you uncomfortable to travel so far in a carriage alone?" Elizabeth nodded. Though her excuse had been something of a prevarication, she did not like to travel by carriage.

"In truth, I am always uncomfortable in carriages. I have been ever since the accident."

"Did you not travel in carriages often," Jane paused and gulped, "when you were away from us?"

"Only a very few times. The Clippers were not so well off as to keep a carriage." Jane looked doubtful.

"But Mr. Clipper has a carriage. Two if you count his gig."

"He did not have a carriage when I lived with him. Mostly, we walked wherever we needed to go."

"Oh."

"When I have companions with me, it distracts me from my fear. Except when I travel with Mama."

"Is that why you never want to ride out with her to make calls?" Elizabeth nodded, bashfully.

"You ought to have told her so." Elizabeth bristled, believing Jane meant to scold her, Then she glanced at Jane's countenance and saw only sincere concern.

"I try not to refuse her too often." Elizabeth bowed her head, feeling she had again failed her parents. Jane placed a gentle hand on Ellizabeth's arm. The gentle touch startled Elizabeth, and all the pain of her sister's rejection overwhelmed her. She could not stop the tears from pouring forth.

"Oh Lizzy," Jane whispered, as she handed her sister a handkerchief.

After a few minutes, Lizzy wiped away her tears and smiled. Jane gaped at her sister in astonishment. Had she not witnessed her sister sobbing, Jane never would have imagined her sister had been in any distress.

"Will Miss Bingley notice do you think?" Elizabeth inquired.

"Not at all, my dear," Elizabeth sighed, and almost began to cry again. She wondered why her sister who had been so cold for years was suddenly demonstrating affection toward her.

The two young ladies remained mostly silent until they arrived at Netherfield's front door, where Miss Bingley eagerly awaited Elizabeth. After the footman handed Elizabeth from the carriage, Miss Bingley approached her with outstretched hands. Despite feeling the familiarity was unwarranted, Elizabeth willingly accepted Miss Bingley's hands. After all, to do otherwise would seem incredibly rude.

"My dear Miss Elizabeth, you may certainly invite your maid to come inside and wait for you in the kitchens with our servants." Elizabeth blushed hoping her sister had not heard.

"It is my sister in the carriage, not a servant. She rode with me to keep me company on the journey here." Now it was Miss Bingley's turn to blush.

"Pardon me. Would she care to join us for tea?"

"I believe so, if it would not be an imposition."

"Not at all," Miss Bingley replied, as she rushed toward the carriage.

The visit that followed could only be described as awkward. Jane felt too strongly the imposition of attending where she had not originally been invited, Elizabeth was still recovering from the emotional encounter with her sister, and Miss Bingley felt so guilty for having misread the relationship between the sisters, when she had valiantly been striving to befriend Miss Elizabeth for both the sake of her brother and for her own social standing.

Thankfully, their awkward interactions were eventually interrupted by the arrival of Mr. Bingley. When the young man entered the parlor where the ladies were taking tea, his countenance immediately brightened.

"Miss Bennet, I had no idea you were here! I am delighted to see you!" Miss Bingley glanced at her brother in puzzlement. She knew she had informed him that Elizabeth would be joining her that afternoon. Her confusion increased when her brother seated himself beside the elder sister, until she finally grew to understand that her brother had become infatuated with the wrong sister. Miss Bingley sighed with relief when she observed that Miss Elizabeth did not seem troubled by Charles' interest in the wrong sister. She hoped that she would yet be able to convince Charles to turn his affections in the appropriate direction.

After the Bennet sisters departed from Netherfield, Miss Bingley confronted her brother, "Charles, whatever can you mean?"

"I mean to know Miss Bennet better. Is she not an angel?"

"She seems like a lovely girl, and I am sure you will ample time to know her better when she becomes your sister!"

"My sister! No indeed! I mean for Miss Bennet to become my wife!" Miss Bingley huffed in frustration.

"You cannot mean that! It is Miss Elizabeth whom you are to wed."

"And why should it matter? I see no reason you should favor one sister above the other. I know that Miss Elizabeth is your particular friend, but such friendship would only be furthered if I marry Jane, for surely Jane will wish to have her dearest sister with her often."

"But Charles!"

"This is not your business!" Charles Bingley snapped at his sister, having lost all of his patience.

"It means nothing to you that Mr. Bennet plans to give this estate to his second daughter? Or that Miss Elizabeth has a larger dowry? You absolutely must have the young lady with a perfect form and golden curls, with beautiful eyes and no conversation whatsoever!"

"Caroline! Miss Bennet is not just a beautiful lady, she is a good person, and she does not deserve your vitriol."

Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Jane returned to Longbourn in near silence, both sisters feeling so much that they did not know how to speak. Both sighed in relief when the carriage finally halted at Longbourn's front step.

Before the servant could open the front door to allow them into the house, Mrs. Bennet came barreling out of it.

"My girls, how good that you are home! Your father's odious cousin has come for a visit, and I am at my wit's end."