Meanwhile, in another part of Cheapside...

Jane didn’t really remember how she had got home. Fortunately, she was fairly familiar with the neighbourhood by then and hadn’t got lost. On entering the house, she was relieved on being informed that her aunt had taken the children outside for them to take also benefit of the sun. As it was, she had been able to retire to her room without anyone noticing her current mood. She had, of course, forgotten about the servants who liked her a lot and were, soon, all worried about her.

Because she still hadn’t recovered from the shock of first, meeting, at last, Mr. Bingley and then quarrelling with him as she had. She couldn’t understand neither how she had been able to shout at him some very disagreeable things, nor how he had been able to answer her such unjust reproaches, in that cold and despising tone. The words kept turning in her head, her words ‘… And you deceived us…’, his words ‘… But it was only a game for you! It was only a way to secure a wealthy husband and a comfortable future…’ and she felt dizzy of this horrible Merry-Go-Round that couldn’t be stopped. Her tears, which had dried during her trip back home, had started to pour once again and, face against her pillow, lying across her bed, she tried to silence her sobs so that nobody would be upset for her.

After a while, she stopped crying and she felt empty. She felt she couldn’t cry anymore, she felt she couldn’t think properly anymore and, sitting up on her bed, watching some feeble rays of sun going through the window, she felt alone. O Lizzy, Lizzy, only you could help me! Dear, dear Lizzy, with your caring ways, you would have smoothed my sorrow, with you wit, you would have shown me the humour of our argument, and with your sense, you would have given me some good pieces of advice. But Lizzy was half-a-day far, barely mourning Mr. Wickham’s attentions that had now turned towards Miss King and her ten thousands and there was no way to have her in London. Thinking about her sister’s misfortunes made her aware that she had just succumbed to a very selfish and theatrical fit of nerves and that she really didn’t want to make a habit of it. Therefore, she resolved on acting instead of grizzling and thought that, if she wanted Lizzy’s help, she ought to ask for it, which meant writing her the details of the morning events.

‘My dear Lizzy,

‘Please, don’t be alarmed on receiving a letter from me so soon after the last one, nothing really serious happened, I just find myself in dire need of your caring but sharp understanding. It is all related to an event that happened this morning while I was in Uncle Gardiner’s warehouse, delivering him his forgotten lunch.’

Re-living their fortuitous encounter was thoroughly painful to Jane and she felt the tears coming back. She was not dried, after all! She regained her self-control and resumed her writing.

‘It happened that Mr. Bingley…’ her penning was quivered on that last word ‘… had an appointment at the same time with the good Mr. Corncrop and that we found ourselves facing each other in the corridor (I mean, not with Mr. Corncrop, but with … the other gentleman). Imagine my shock on meeting with him at last, in our uncle’s office. He seemed to be even more shocked than I was. I can’t imagine why, ‘cause he knew I was in town and that such a meeting could happen. You know my feelings for him, Lizzy. After what I’ve been through this past months, I thought I was over him and anything he could say couldn’t hurt me but I was wrong. ‘Cause when he lied to me on purpose, stating that he didn’t know I had met his sisters since my coming in London, it wounded me. And when he told me that I had played a game with him, during last autumn, that I had pretended to be in love to catch a wealthy husband, he tore my heart and my soul apart. How could he?’

By then, she had lost the fight with her tears and was obliged to stop her writing or her sister would notice the stains on the paper.

‘I don’t know what to do, I feel so lost! Should I ask my Aunt and Uncle to send me back to Longbourn? But what about Mama’s feelings? She was so hopeful that my trip would sooth my pain! I’m afraid after today’s encounter, I feel slightly upset. What if she were aware of it? And I wouldn’t want to upset my Aunt and Uncle. They have been so good with me. I wouldn’t want to appear ungrateful.

‘Dear, dear Lizzy, what shall I do?

‘Your truly lost sister,

Jane.’

Jane felt a little relieved on folding her letter, as if she had given herself time to find an action plan.

One floor bellow, Mrs. Gardiner and the children had come back and, while the children were being scrubbed from the remaining of the splashes they had got while running in the damp alleys of the park, she was discreetly informed by her housekeeper that a very upset Miss Bennet had returned from her outing to the warehouse and that she had kept to her room ever since. She inquired further to learn that the lady hadn’t seemed to have suffered from any injury or robbery but that she obviously had been crying.

This news upset wildly Mrs. Gardiner. While she was about to climb the stairs to inquire of Jane, her husband entered the house.

“Why, Edward, what are you doing here?” she asked, startled by this untimely arrival. “Didn’t Jane bring you your lunch? I have been told that she came back very upset from her outing and was about to go to see her.”

“I can understand why she was upset.”

“Why, what happened? Why didn’t you escort her home if you knew she was not well?”

“Dearest, please, calm yourself. I witnessed everything and I can assure you that some very good could come out of it.” Mr. Gardiner was trying to be reassuring but, obviously, it didn’t help his wife.

“But what did you witness? Will you please tell me?” She was almost shouting at him by then.

One quarrel a day being quite enough, he led her to the drawing-room, closed the door and tried to be as synthetic as possible.

“She encountered her Mr. Bingley at the warehouse and they quarreled harshly.”

“Her Mr. Bingley? But what was he doing over there? And why did they quarrel? Jane is much too reserved and well-bred to quarrel with anyone, least of all with him and in public.”

“You would have been as amazed as I was. First, Mr. Bingley is one of my new customers. I wasn’t aware of it since Corncrop is his contact and he wasn’t aware that Jane was my niece. Fate or destiny, choose which you like, made them fall face to face in the corridor.

“At first the discussion was inexistent, both being too shocked to say anything. Then it was civil but not fluent. And then, Mr. Bingley expressed his astonishment at knowing that Jane had seen his sisters. And to the utter amazement of all, including herself probably, Jane started to accuse him of being a coward and a deceiver. Although I thought I couldn’t be surprised any longer, I must say that the gentleman’s answer was beyond predictability. In almost the same sentence, he stated that he had fallen in love with her for all her qualities we know, that he had been very close to propose and that she had only toyed with him, chasing a wealthy husband for the sake of herself and her family.”

Mrs. Gardiner was speechless, her eyes wide. She had sat down during this amazing tale.

“That’s when she ran out from the warehouse and I must say I was too shocked to even think of following her. That’s why I came back as soon as I could. I am happy to learn that she did come back home safely.”

She recovered her power of speech. “’Tis not true, is it?”

He sat near her, took her hands in his and answered. “Yes, Madeline, it is. He told her that she had pretended to return his affections. I still cannot understand how he could have believed that.”

“Still?”

“Yes, I said I came back as soon as I could ‘cause I couldn’t let him get away without expressing my deep discontentment with his attitude. And, as this day was meant to be one of the most astounding of my life, the gentleman broke down in front of me. He told me his side of the story. I must say it was quite an interesting one. Before telling it to you, you must know that Bingley and Jane are meant for each other. They are both of a very good nature, looking on the world with kind eyes if not very self-confident. Their main difference is that she is much more reserved than he is. And the quiet ways she might have expressed her feelings for him last autumn were answered by the open signs we have been described by everyone at Christmas.”

“So he is trustworthy.”

“I think so. And that’s why I believed him when he told me that, before today, he wasn’t aware of her being in London.”

“But she has written and seen his sister twice!”

“I know, but he didn’t.”

“And now, he does?”

“Yes… I didn’t know quite right to do. But I couldn’t let him think ill of Jane. She is the sweetest creature in the world, apart from you, Dearest, and if she has a chance of happiness with this man, I couldn’t not help her a little.”

She smiled. “I don’t think sweetness is my best quality but I‘m good for the rest of it.”

He went on. “The point is that Miss Bingley and his friend, Mr. Darcy, convinced him that marrying our Jane would be a mistake and that, afterwards, his sister concealed him her encounters with Jane.”

“Why?”

“That, I cannot answer and neither could Mr. Bingley but I think he will soon know. He was very angry with his sister when he left and I think he hasn’t stop arguing for today!”

“Angry?”

“Yes, angry. ‘Cause he still loves Jane. And I think that was the main reason for his being so bitter in his accusations.”

“What is he going to do?”

“Apart from finding the truth about his sister’s behaviour? I don’t know… he was very upset when he understood that he had unjustly accused Jane. He asked me a favour I didn’t deny him.”

“And that would be?”

“He begged me to authorise him to send a letter of excuses to her.”

“Do you have it?” she asked eagerly.

“No. I don’t think he was composed enough to write anything consistent. And, moreover, he still has to find out the whole truth.”

There was a silence after that last sentence. Eventually, Mrs. Gardiner summed up the situation. “So he loves her, there is a chance that she still loves him too and he is resolved in trying his luck once again?

“We should live some interesting days, soon, shouldn’t we?”

He nodded.

“I’m sure we will,” was his final comment before he stood up and went to the door.

“Wait Edward! What are we to do with Jane? Do you want to tell her what he told you?”

He went back to sit by her.

“Bingley didn’t ask me to do such a thing. It might interfere with his letter.”

“But we cannot let Jane despair if there is no reason!” She was adamant to relieve her niece’s sufferings.

“She was so furious, I’m not sure she’s ready to hear his good qualities!”

“Fury, anger, those are so unnatural in Jane’s character. How do you think she lives with them?”

“My dear, ever since you’ve met her and her sister, you have been much closer to them that I ever could. I think you can answer that better than I.”

Mrs. Gardiner thought a while and answered: “She must feel lost. She has been very secretive regarding the whole Bingley business. The only one with whom she has been able to open up a little was Lizzy. I’m not sure she would talk with me on that matter.”

The idea underlying in her answer was not lost for her husband.

“Why don’t we invite Lizzy? She is supposed to go to Kent in a couple of months or so. She could stop for a while in London on her way there!”

“That seems a good idea. But I’d rather talk to Jane before, if you don’t mind.”

“Of course, Dearest. I shall prepare an express to Bennet and you might add a word or two for Lizzy. And if you’re convinced ‘tis the good course of action, I will send it after dinner.”

Before parting, she towards Jane’s door and he towards his office, he kissed her tenderly. Somewhat surprised by this unusual display of affection outside their bedchamber, she raised an eyebrow. He whispered in his ear his answer: “Because I love you and this argument reminded me how lucky I am that you love me too.”

She whispered playfully: “Shall we discuss on that topic tonight?”

He smiled and they quitted the room.

Jane didn’t feel like facing her family for dinner and had asked to have it brought to her room. Nevertheless, she was surprised on hearing the light knock on her door for it was still to early for dinner. She answered positively anyway and understood her error on seeing her aunt entering.

Mrs. Gardiner went to sit by her and, with a concerned look, asked her:

“How are you Jane? I hear you’ve asked to have your dinner in your room and you don’t look very well. What happened?”

“I’d rather not talk about it. Let’s just say I’ve finally met Mr. Bingley and it has not been agreeable at all. But do not worry. I’m sure it will pass with some rest.” Jane’s composure was better than her aunt had expected. She had obviously been crying for some time but she seemed to be resolved to present a more steadfast face to the world. It was the knowledge that she was able to break down any moment that made her desirous to remain in her bedchamber.

Mrs. Gardiner felt slightly relieved and agreed to her wish. “If you say so, my Dear. I will leave you.”

“Thank you my Aunt. And please, do not worry over me, I don’t deserve it.”

Taking Jane’s hand, she answered. “On the contrary, no one deserves it more than you do. Is there really nothing I can do?”

“Well… yes… Would you mind posting that letter for me, please, Aunt?”

“Of course, Jane... Until tomorrow, then…”

“Until tomorrow Aunt.”

On exiting the room, Mrs. Gardiner read the name of the correspondent to whom Jane was sending a letter. And soon after, two letters were on their way to Longbourn, Hertfordshire.

Sow Potatoes, See What you Shall Reap, Chapter 6