The more it went, the more confident Mr. Bingley was feeling. The delivery of the seeds had happened as planned. His steward in Netherfield had assured him that they had been put in a place in the basement where they should find the fresh, slightly humid air they required. He had thought on going to Hertfordshire, just to check, but that neighbourhood was still very painful to think of and he had resolved against the scheme. A week after the delivery, the meeting with Mr. Corncrop was to happen.

At the breakfast table, Mr. Bingley was explaining his sisters and brother:

“And you see Caroline, in two months time, once the weather has turned to sun and rain and the earth is warm again, our tenants shall sow the seeds in the field which is just half a mile south from the house. With any luck, if the foliage of the trees is not too dense, we might even be able to see it from the main drawing-room!”

“Really, Charles?” sighed Caroline, looking doubtfully at her sister.

“Yes, and then, about two weeks after, once the stem is out, they will surround it with some earth,” he went on enthusiastically, miming the surrounding of the precious plants.

“How very interesting!” answered Louisa while her husband was filling his mouth clearly beyond its capacity.

“Anyway, today is a big day, I shall lay down the last part of the payment and those “royal kidneys” will be mine!” At this point he was almost ecstatic. “I must hurry if I’m not to be late for my appointment. I shall see Darcy afterwards, don’t expect me too soon.”

This woke up Caroline. “Dear Mr. Darcy! I’ve longed to see him. And dear Georgiana! You should invite him to come for diner with his sister soon! Shouldn’t he Louisa?”

But Louisa didn’t have to answer, their brother having already run to his appointment.

“Really, what a fuss for potatoes!” was her reaction.

“True… but since he found that new passion, he seems to have almost forgotten Jane Bennet. It is far less dangerous, is it not?”

“It is, my dear, it is. And he has appeared more cheerful for a month.”

“Indeed. And as he has reappeared for his friends, we already see much more of the Darcys.”

“True Caroline, true…” It was Louisa’s turn to sigh now.

On that sunny but frigid morning, Mr. Gardiner had been late and had run from home, forgetting his lunch basket. Mrs. Gardiner could have asked a servant to bring it to the warehouse but she thought better of it and asked Jane instead. Jane was glad to go out and take benefit of those first rays of sun since one week and readily agreed. When she arrived, her uncle was in a meeting with his assistant and she waited, idly chatting with his secretary. Soon she was welcomed in his office where she saluted Mr. Corncrop and asked about his children. Having some papers to gather before his next appointment, the assistant excused himself quickly, leaving the niece kindly scolding her uncle.

“Dear Uncle, you actually planned to skip lunch? Mrs. Gardiner would never have allowed that!”

Smiling, Mr. Gardiner answered: ”No my dear. I had thought you looked a trifle pale this morning and that an outing would do you good. So I left it on purpose!”

“Sir, I don’t believe you. Had not my aunt reminded you to put your hat on, you would have left bareheaded. That would have been because your hair was a trifle pale also?”

Mr. Gardiner was now laughing. “Lizzy, I recognised you, you can quit your mask!”

Jane’s attitude changed and she asked seriously: “Really, Uncle, you think so?”

She didn't need to be more precise. Mr. Gardiner had understood his niece’s question. So he stopped joking also and answered:

“Yes Jane, you've changed. Of course, you're still looking on the world with far kinder eyes than your sister. But you'd never have answered like that three months ago. We’ve always loved you because of your sweetness of character but your aunt and I have also always been afraid for you, because of it. You now appear to us better armed to confront the World. We are glad to see where you stand now even though we deeply regret what happened.”

There was a pause before Jane concluded, her voice constrained: “It’s by no means your fault and I start to think that it wasn’t mine either. But I’d rather not speak about it.” After another pause, her voice steadier, she went on. “I think I have taken enough of your time, I shall leave and go back to Gracechurch Street.” And, after he had opened his office’s door, she said, looking at him and getting out: “I bid you a good day, Uncle”. And then she turned her head towards the corridor and found herself staring into the disbelieving eyes of an obviously shocked Charles Bingley.

Indeed, on running up the stairs to the offices area, he had been, once again, deep in thoughts. There was still a point he had to clear with Mr. Corncrop regarding the exact size of the stems when they were to be surrounded. He didn’t even think that it was a question that concerned more his steward than himself, being wholly dedicated to his new passion. So, he barely paid attention to his surroundings. But the noise of a door being opened disturbed his concentration and he stopped in his track and shot his head up when he heard that voice. His thoughts rushed. Good God, I’d have sworn ‘tis hers. But no, ‘tis not possible. She’s in Meryton. What could she be doing in London? What could she be doing in a warehouse in Cheapside? Come on Man, you’ve got to get over her, and he resumed his climbing. Still shaken, he entered the corridor and found himself facing the most beautiful creature he had ever beheld, the one he would have never thought seeing there, the one because of whom he had been despaired and still was deeply unhappy.

Jane was hardly less shocked. Every time she had been to a public place, she had prepared herself for fear of seeing, or even worse, meeting him. But here, in her uncle’s warehouse, every rampart was down and she had been wholly unprepared for that happening. She cast her eyes down, hopeful that on raising them he would have disappeared. But no, it was not meant to be, he was not some kind of ghost drawn here by her thoughts some minutes ago. Charles Bingley was in front of her.

Edward Gardiner was wondering on the scene he was witnessing. What was happening? Why were those two frozen, staring at each other? Had Time stopped its course? Not being acquainted with the gentleman, he didn’t dare interfere.

Eventually, Jane recovered enough to speak and to curtsy slightly. “Mr. Bingley.”

“Mmmm Mmmm Miss Bennet!” and, as woken up from a trance, he bowed rigidly.

Jane went on. “I didn’t know you would be here or I...” or I what? Or I would not have come? Surely, but I cannot be that uncivil!

But Mr. Bingley didn’t seem to find odd that she would not finish her sentence. His thoughts were still in turmoil. “I… I have an appointment with Mr. Corncrop, I’m buying seeds for Netherfield. Potatoe seeds. But… I cannot believe you’re here, in front of me.”

Jane held on to this last part. At least, it was a practical one she could answer easily. “Mr. Corncrop is Mr. Gardiner’s assistant. Mr. Gardiner is my uncle. I’ve been staying with him and his family for a month now. As for meeting at last, I guess that it was bound to happen. Your sister said you were much engaged but you and I being in London…” Her saying ‘you and I’ had been too painful and she couldn’t go on with her answer.

But, if, that morning, she wasn’t meant to finish a sentence, he wasn’t meant to seem to care either. The reference to his sister made him confused. “My sister? Caroline? You met Caroline in London?”

Had Jane’s thoughts been steadier, had her heart not been broken, had she been the old Jane, had she not been so angry and so disappointed, she would have believed him, she would have heard he was sincere, but she didn’t. And being new in dealing with Good and Bad (at least the Worse she could feel), she couldn’t get the control over her feelings and Anger spoke instead of Breeding.

“Indeed I did, Sir. And you’re well aware of it, as Miss Bingley told me. I’m very disappointed to see you hiding behind your sister. She was barely civil when she called on me at my aunt’s but at least, she called. You, sir, didn’t even take the trouble of it.

“But, on second thoughts, it didn’t surprise me. The way you fled from Netherfield in November was a good indication of your ignoring the feelings of others. We had all been happy of having you in the neighbourhood, we all thought that you were not like those proud Londoners who think themselves above the country people, but we were wrong. And you deceived us.” Her chin was high, her cheeks flushed with anger.

Mr. Bingley had, at first, been utterly surprised by the narrative of his sister’s actions. And, although anger towards his sister was bubbling inside of him, he was ready to apologise and to explain Jane he was wholly unaware of her presence in London. But the second part of her answer changed the recipient of his fury. And the more Jane was speaking, the more furious he felt. He had been deceived too, while in Hertfordshire. She had encouraged his attentions without returning his affection. He had been honest and trustful with her and she was now saying those horrible things to him. All his unhappiness surfaced and expressed itself fiercely:

“I deceived you? I deceived you?” Jane gasped, he went on.

“From the very beginning of our acquaintance, I had been impressed by your beauty. Soon after, your sweetness and your manners had made you a delightful neighbour. Those qualities only improved with each meeting and, very quickly, I found myself longing for your presence and relishing the moments we spent together.” Jane was bewildered. His message was sweet but his tone bitter, and so was the last part of his speech.

“I made myself quite clear regarding my affections for you and you seemed to return them. But it was only a game for you! It was only a way to secure a wealthy husband and a comfortable future. I am too gullible and you used it. Once I had been informed of your deception, I had no choice but not return to Netherfield. I had been laughed at enough. So I ask you, who was the one deceived?”

By now, the shock had been too much for Jane. Tears running on her cheeks, she couldn’t bear any longer so unjust accusations. And, while she was running down the corridor and the stairs, the sound of her sobs was clearly heard by the two men.

Sow Potatoes, See What you Shall Reap, Chapter 4