“Come, Mary, let us check on the coffee,” she declared, and pulled her sister down the hall with her.
By Sunday evening, Jane had recovered enough to come downstairs, and by Monday morning, they were all once again gathered at the table for breakfast. The men congratulated Jane as they all sat down to their meal.
“We saw Mr. Bingley at church yesterday,” Mr. Fitzwilliam said as he sipped his coffee. “He sent particular wishes for your good health, Miss Bennet.”
Jane blushed.
“Bingley intends to hold a ball at Netherfield,” Papa added as he reached for the preserves. “He wished to be certain you would be well enough to attend before he set a date.” He did not sound as though he approved.
“He can hardly hold a ball with his road in disrepair,” Mary said flatly. “Has he contacted the owners?”
Mr. Darcy nodded. “He has. They have been working on the repairs for a few days already.”
Mary nodded, apparently satisfied.
Elizabeth wished to tease Jane about Mr. Bingley, but she would not do it before the men. It would have to wait until they were alone.
Near the end of the meal, Papa set down his fork. “I do have an announcement,” he said grandly, though Elizabeth detected his sarcasm. “Mr. Collins, the heir to Longbourn, may arrive soon for a visit.”
“When, Papa?” Jane asked. “I will have to speak to Mrs. Hill.”
“He will be here today, or so he tells me.”
“So soon?” Jane began to rise.
“Do not trouble yourself, Jane,” Papa said warmly. Jane hesitated, but he shook his head at her, and she sank back down into her chair.
Elizabeth set down her fork. “Why are you are only informing us now, Papa?”
With a flick of his wrist, Papa opened a letter. “Because I did not invite him, Lizzy. He wrote to me a month ago, and I replied a fortnight later to explain that we already had guests. Last week I had another missive from him in which he explained, very graciously, that it was no inconvenience to him, and that he would see me on the appointed day. Unfortunately, that letter arrived the morning after we dined with the officers, and given certain events, I did not read through last week’s post until this morning.” He handed the letter to Jane, who read it silently and then handed it to Elizabeth.
“Dear Lord,” Elizabeth whispered as she swiftly read the missive, then recited, aloud, “I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends . . .” She narrowed her eyes and addressed her father. “What does he mean?” She thought she knew, but hoped she was mistaken.
Papa’s smile was almost feral. “He means to marry one of you, Lizzy, so that you may all remain in this house when I die. I believe that is his delicately phrased intention.”
“I say,” exclaimed Mr. Fitzwilliam. “That was badly done.”
Mr. Darcy was silent, but his eyes were stormy. Elizabeth’s emotions reflected his, but she was confident Papa would not allow the man to harass them. As much as he loved absurdity, Papa might, in fact, have plans for Mr. Collins. She handed the letter back to her father with a lighter heart.
“Ah, you see through me now, do you not, Lizzy?” her father joked.
“He does not seem a sensible man, sir,” she told him seriously.
“Indeed, I have every hope of finding him quite the reverse,” her father said with a chuckle. “And I shall allow him to feel his foolishness, should he possess the audacity to be standing at my door at three o’clock this afternoon.”
“Should I ask Mrs. Hill to make up a room?” Jane asked hesitantly.
“No,” her father said. “For all he knows, I never received his last letter. Perhaps I am mistaken, and he will not impose himself on us, but having known other men ridiculous enough to pen such drivel” —he waved the letter— “I will not count on it.”
Elizabeth caught her bottom lip between her teeth and chanced a glance at Mr. Darcy. He was staring at her father with a contracted brow and serious mien. “I should be pleased to play a part in whatever you have planned, Bennet,” he said.
His voice was low and gruff.
Fitzwilliam added, “Oh, I would not miss this. As long as you do not mind sharing, Bennet?”
Papa took some time to consider the offers but eventually nodded. “I almost hope he does appear, now.”
Darcy could not believe it.