Page 44 of Roses from Pemberley
She had looked to Bingley as she spoke but it was Elizabeth who said, “Mr. Darcy thought that Jane was a fortune hunter.”
Darcy looked surprised, and hastened to say, “No, not at all. I mean, not precisely. I just mean that your sister is a dutiful person…”
“Yes? And?”
“And your mother did announce to her friends that evening that Bingley would throw you and your younger sisters into the path of other rich men once he was married to Miss Bennet.”
Jane gasped. “Did you really say that, Mamma?”
“Well, I…”
Elizabeth looked down at her hands as Jane continued, “Did Mamma actually say that, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth sighed and answered, “Yes, during dinner. And Mr. Darcy overheard everything.” She looked reprovingly at her mother and added, “I did warn you to keep your voice down, Mamma.”
Mrs. Bennet closed her eyes for a moment as everyone awaited her response. “I just never thought it mattered…what I said.”
“Apparently it does,” said Elizabeth, unable to hide her annoyance. And then something occurred to her and she turned to Darcy. “But you cannot judge a lady solely by her relations.For they should not signify if the couple in question were truly attached…”
“Yes, and I apologise,” said Darcy. “But in my defense, I also studied Miss Bennet that evening and noticed that she showed no particular sign of fondness for my friend.”
“But how was I supposed to behave, Mr. Darcy?” asked Jane abruptly. “I am a lady and cannot wear my heart on my sleeve. Did you expect me to pursue him? Look longingly at him? Throw myself at him as his sister threw herself at you?”
Bingley suddenly choked on his tea, whereupon Jane added, “I apologise, Mr. Bingley.”
“It is perfectly alright, Miss Bennet,” he said quietly, trying to clear his throat.
Darcy, on the other hand, said, “No, that is not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?” asked Elizabeth.
“I simply thought that, being a dutiful daughter, your sister would have done your mother's bidding.”
He looked at Jane quizzically and so did everyone else.
Elizabeth never thought of it before, but her sister was dutiful and probably would have married even Mr. Collins, if her parents had demanded it of her. They probably would not even have had to demand it as Jane would have willingly sacrificed herself for them.
“So would you have done it, Jane?” Elizabeth asked, looking curiously at her sister.
“Would I have done what?”
“Would you have married a man you did not love, if the gentleman were pleasant and wealthy and, particularly, if Mamma had asked it of you?”
Jane looked steadily at the floor and about a minute went by before she finally answered, “Yes, I suppose I would have.”
Bingley stared at her, but Jane’s eyes remained focused on the floor.
Darcy broke the silence by saying, “I do not think dutifulness is a character flaw, Miss Bennet. Not at all.”
“You are too kind, Mr. Darcy,” murmured Jane. Elizabeth did not know if she was being sarcastic or not.
“There is nothing wrong with being respectful towards your parents’ wishes,” continued Darcy, still addressing Jane. “But in this case, it matters not, because I was wrong about your feelings in the first place. And I apologise…again.”
“All is well, Mr. Darcy,” said Jane with a sad smile. “Perhaps my feelings were too little displayed. And I suppose you were only thinking about your friend.”
“Yes, well,” said Darcy with a glance at Bingley, “I do not think he needs looking after anymore. And in future, I shall be sure to leave him alone.”
“I am here, you know,” said Bingley. “You do not have to speak as if I were not in the room.”
