She smiled. “Then you must not stay away long.”
“About a week, I think, for the documents to be prepared and my sister to make ready to accompany me back.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Will you join your sister for the tour of Netherfield today?”
She nodded. “I intend to keep very busy this week.”
Fitzwilliam placed a light kiss on each of her hands and released them. “Good. The time will pass slowly, but it will pass.” He sighed. “I must go, dearest.”
Elizabeth bid him a final farewell and waved him off until the carriage trundled around a curve and was lost from sight.
“Bah,” Lydia said from behind her. “You did not even ask him to bring you something back! I should have asked for a new bonnet at the very least!”
Elizabeth whirled around to see her three younger sisters standing just inside the door.
“He has already given her the best gift.” Kitty sighed, her romantic sensibilities entirely engaged. “His love.”
Mary rolled her eyes comically.
“Love is very well and good,” Lydia declared, “but you cannot wear it.”
The Tuesday after Lady Catherine’s terrible scene in the chapel and one week to the day after the ball at Netherfield, Miss Bingley and the Hursts returned to Netherfield. Their arrival occurred while Mrs. Nicholls was leading Jane and Elizabeth on an extensive tour of the house, and therefore no one was available to meet them.
“You were not expected today,” Mr. Bingley told his sisters as they all met on the first-floor landing.
“I need not announce myself,” Miss Bingley replied tartly. “I am the mistress here.”
“Not anymore,” Mr. Bingley reminded her. “For you closed the house down. When it officially reopens, Mrs. Bingley will have that privilege.”
Miss Bingley’s countenance pinched tightly, as though she had eaten something very sour.
“Ladies, Hurst,” Mr. Bingley said cheerfully but somehow also sternly, “I expect your congratulations, for Miss Bennet and I are to wed soon after the new year.”
Mrs. Hurst closed her eyes, and Mr. Hurst nodded. “Excellent choice,” he grumbled. “Is there any breakfast still?”
After a few more tepid but congratulatory remarks, the Hursts headed to their chambers, but Mr. Bingley held Miss Bingley back.
“Charles, I really must refresh myself,” she said peevishly.
“No, Caroline,” Mr. Bingley said. “I beg your pardon, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, but what my sister really must do is offer you her apologies.”
It was nearly as uncomfortable a moment for Elizabeth as it must be for Miss Bingley. An apology one was compelled to make meant nothing, but she understood Mr. Bingley’s need to show his sister that there were consequences for her rudeness.
“I should like to point out, Caroline,” Mr. Bingley was saying, “that if your intention was to keep me in London and away from Jane’s company, you accomplished the opposite when you tossed Miss Elizabeth’s note into the fire without opening it.”
Jane blushed, and Miss Bingley frowned.
Her brother continued. “Because you did not bother to read Miss Elizabeth’s message, you did not know that I was at Longbourn. Because you closed up this house, I was forced toremainat Longbourn. And because I was forced to remain at Longbourn, I enjoyed enough time with Jane to determine, conclusively, that she is the woman I want to marry. Thankfully, she said yes.”
If Elizabeth was not mistaken, Miss Bingley’s indiscreet “Hmph” was not a sign of approbation.
“What have you to say for yourself, Caroline?” Mr. Bingley asked.
Miss Bingley sighed, but her nose tipped up in the air as she said, “I am very sorry, Charles.”
It was not an apology to either Bennet woman, and they all knew it. To his credit, Mr. Bingley did not say anything else. He simply stared at his sister.
“Very well,” Miss Bingley said when her brother’s glare became too much to bear. “I beg your pardon, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth. It was badly done on my part.”
It was still not really an apology, but it was perhaps the best they could hope for.