“I am not sure what you know, Miss Elizabeth, but Darcy has a history with Wickham. He felt that if he had made known the defects in his character, your sister would never have left Brighton with him. He recruited my brother, George, in the search, and it is my understanding that it was George’s men who found the couple. But knowing Darcy, I am sure he has been working behind the scenes to do what he could to help your sister.”
So she had guessed correctly. Darcy had left the inn at Lambton with the intention of finding Lydia, and now that he had succeeded, what would be his next step? Would he return to her or close the book on their relationship, especially since Lydia’s marriage would make George Wickham his brother-in-law? For the present, she must put those thoughts aside and concentrate on Jane. What on earth was taking her so long?
When Jane went into the parlor, she found Mr. Nesbitt happily conversing with Mary about all the headaches involved in probating wills, with her sister hanging on every word as if each was a pearl of wisdom. But upon seeing Jane, Mary immediately left the room.
“Miss Bennet, it is a pleasure to see you again,” Mr. Nesbitt said, rising.
“I must confess, sir, that in light of your last letter, I am surprised to find you at Longbourn.”
“That is why I am here. My mother urged me to write the letter, and now I have come to tell you that I regard it as a cowardly act. Even though no plans were formalized, and thus no promises made, I should have come in person to tell you of the change in circumstances that prompted such an action. But before you think ill of my mother, please allow me to explain that she has raised me from the time of my father’s death when I was five years old. I have been her life’s work, and when she heard the news about your sister, she believed my career would be jeopardized if we married. But I have studied the law for most of my adult life. Although I believe your sister has made a grievous error in judgment, you cannot, by association, be held accountable for her actions. You are completely innocent of all wrongdoing, and as such, should not be punished. The law is very clear on this.”
Jane wondered what constituted punishment: Mr. Nesbitt’s ending the relationship or his attempt to begin anew? If it was the latter, then Jane had some sad news for the gentleman sitting across from her. As soon as Charles began speaking, stumbling through his sentences, every feeling she had for him had returned. His halting speech was one of the things she loved best about him, but instead of being with him, she was listening to Mr. Nesbitt instruct her as to her legal rights. At times, life could be very unfair.
“In the days since I wrote that letter,” Mr. Nesbitt continued, “I have spent hours thinking about our time together. In hindsight, I could see that although you are pleasant company, Miss Bennet, I noted our conversations were strained. I had no such difficulty when talking to your sister Mary.”
Jane, who had been avoiding making eye contact with Mr. Nesbitt, fearing he might find encouragement there, now looked at him right in his eyes.
“Mary? Are you saying that you are interested in Mary?”
“I have no wish to hurt you, Miss Bennet, but the purpose of my visit is to ask permission to call on Miss Mary. As I have discussed with you on previous visits, it is my intention to study for the bar. As a result, the length of any courtship may be considerable and…”
Jane jumped out of her chair and made no attempt to pretend his news had upset her. Instead, she asked if she might go tell Mary the good news.
Mr. Nesbitt, who had been prepared for the possibility of Jane shedding a tear or two, was relieved to find her quite pleased with his decision to court her younger sister. Jane did not have far to go to find her as she was standing outside the door. Despite her proximity, she had been unable to hear what the two soft-spoken parties had been saying to each other. When Jane told her the purpose of Mr. Nesbitt’s visit, she stepped back from her sister.
“Of all people, Jane, I never thought that you would be so cruel. How can you say these things when you know how I feel about Mr. Nesbitt?”
“Mary, I am not in jest. Mr. Nesbitt is not here for me. He is here for you!”
It was another few minutes before Mary was convinced, but Jane finally pushed her toward the door. “I have business in the parlor, and you have business in the sitting room. Now, let us go to it.”
When Jane returned to the parlor, she was positively glowing.
“It seems we are to have a wedding here at Longbourn.”
“Oh, Jane,” Lizzy whispered. She felt as if she was going to be ill, and from Mr. Bingley’s expression, she was sure he was in a similar state.
“Mr. Nesbitt has come to Longbourn to ask for permission to court… Mary.”
“Oh, heavens!” Lizzy said, collapsing into the sofa. “What wonderful news! Mary, you say?” Lizzy’s eyes filled with tears of relief. “I must go to her immediately,” but did so only after giving Mr. Bingley a big smile.
“Miss Bennet, may I offer my congratulations. There is nothing like an impending marriage to bring joy to a house. Well, possibly the birth of a child. However, you must have the wedding first. Although that is not always the case, but usually it is.”
“I am in complete agreement, Mr. Bingley. There is nothing sweeter than finding the right person to love and cherish and to share your hopes and dreams with.”
“Even if that person is a dunderhead?”
“Especially if that person is a dunderhead as he is most in need of affection,” Jane said, smiling broadly.
Charles immediately crossed the room, and on bended knee, asked, “Miss Bennet, may I…”
“Yes.”
“Yes what?”
“Never mind. Go ahead.”
“Miss Bennet, may I ask for your hand in…”
“Yes.”
“…marriage.”
And Jane leaned over and firmly kissed her future husband on his lips, and the quiet Mr. Bingley let out a whoop that brought everyone in the house to the parlor.
Mr. Bennet had been in the study listening to Mr. Nesbitt’s reasons for his choosing Mary over Jane. He had obviously given the subject a lot of thought as he had a litany of Mary’s attributes at the ready. Because of his detailed presentation, Mr. Bennet was seeing his middle daughter in a different light. After calling Mary into the study and seeing how her love for this man had transformed her, he readily gave his consent. It was during Nesbitt’s recitation regarding his legal aspirations that they had heard Mr. Bingley’s shout.
When Mrs. Bennet realized that not only was Jane to be married, but Mary was to wed Mr. Nesbitt, she nearly collapsed, and Kitty had to pour her a glass of wine to calm her nerves.
“Oh, Mr. Bingley! Oh, Mr. Nesbitt! What happy news! You are perfectly suited for each other. Well, I don’t mean each other. I mean for Jane and Mary. What I am trying to say is I wish to add my blessing to your unions,” and she started to cry profusely with tears of joy. “Mary is to be married! Who would have ever thought?” And looking at Kitty, she remarked, “Now it is just you and Lizzy who must find husbands, but perhaps Mr. Bingley and Mr. Nesbitt have friends who are in need of a wife,” a comment Kitty did not appreciate, but one that Lizzy had expected. Her mother would not be happy until all five of her daughters were married, and Lizzy’s thoughts turned to Mr. Darcy in London.
Chapter 50
Anne was near to exhaustion, but during the carriage ride to London, while Mrs. Jenkinson and Lord Fitzwilliam were sleeping, she continued to plan her next step to bring Elizabeth and Will together. She had come too far to concede defeat because of the actions of an irresponsible sixteen-year-old girl and a thirty-year-old degenerate. If it had not been for the change in circumstances brought about as a result of Lydia and Wickham’s escapade, she might have accepted Antony’s offer to visit with him for a month or so. She knew she could do some good there. With his daughters constantly in his thoughts, it seemed as if he really did want to begin a program of reform. It was one thing to embarrass one’s spouse, especially Antony’s mean-spirited wife, who put her in mind of Caroline Bingley, and quite another to humiliate two impressionable young girls, whom he loved dearly.