Elizabeth was now certain that Miss Bingley had disliked her mainly because she was jealous of Darcy’s feelings.
So Elizabeth could not help wondering how Miss Bingley would treat her now that they were meeting again at Pemberley.
When Elizabeth and the Gardiners arrived at Pemberley, they were led through the entrance hall into a beautiful sitting room.
The room was perfect for summer. Its windows opened onto the lawn, where tall wooded hills rose behind the house. Large oak trees and chestnuts stood scattered across the grounds.
Georgiana was waiting for them with Mrs. Hurst, Miss Bingley, and Mrs. Annesley, the woman who lived with her in London.
Georgiana greeted them politely.
But she was so nervous and shy that someone who did not know her might easily mistake her behavior for pride.
Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth understood that she was simply uncomfortable around strangers, so they felt sorry for her.
Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley barely acknowledged them with a polite nod.
Once everyone sat down, an awkward silence followed.
Mrs. Annesley finally began talking.
She was pleasant and well-mannered, and it quickly became clear that she was much more genuinely polite than the other two women.
Mrs. Gardiner carried most of the conversation, with Elizabeth occasionally joining in.
Georgiana seemed to want to participate, too.
Sometimes she managed to say a short sentence when she thought there was little chance of anyone paying too much attention to her.
Elizabeth soon realized that Miss Bingley was watching her closely.
Whenever Elizabeth spoke, especially when she spoke directly to Georgiana, Miss Bingley seemed to notice.
Elizabeth would have liked to talk more with Georgiana, but they were sitting too far apart.
She was not particularly disappointed.
Her own thoughts were keeping her busy enough.
She expected Darcy or one of the other gentlemen to enter at any moment.
She both hoped and feared that Darcy would be among them.
She honestly could not decide which feeling was stronger.
After about fifteen minutes, Miss Bingley finally spoke.
“How is your family, Miss Bennet?”
Her voice was cold and polite.
“They are very well, thank you,” Elizabeth replied briefly.
Miss Bingley said nothing more.
Soon afterward, servants entered carrying cold meats, cakes, and a large selection of fresh fruit.
Before they arrived, Mrs. Annesley had given Georgiana several meaningful looks, clearly reminding her that she was supposed to act as hostess.
Now there was something everyone could do.
Even if they had nothing to say to one another, they could at least eat.
Beautiful piles of grapes, peaches, and nectarines quickly drew everyone toward the table.
While they were eating, Elizabeth finally discovered how she really felt about Darcy’s arrival.
Only moments earlier, she had thought she wanted to see him.
But when he actually walked into the room, she suddenly wished he had stayed away.
Darcy had been fishing with Mr. Gardiner and several other gentlemen near the river.
He had only left them after learning that the ladies were visiting Georgiana that morning.
The moment Darcy entered the room, Elizabeth decided that she must remain calm.
She would act as naturally as possible.
That was easier said than done.
Everyone in the room seemed to be watching Darcy and Elizabeth.
Miss Bingley was watching them more closely than anyone else.
She smiled whenever she spoke to Darcy, but her jealousy was obvious.
She still had not given up hope of winning his attention.
Georgiana became much more talkative when her brother entered.
Elizabeth noticed that Darcy was clearly trying to help the two women become friends.
Whenever Elizabeth or Georgiana tried to speak, he encouraged the conversation.
Miss Bingley noticed this, too.
Unable to control her jealousy, she decided to make a cruel remark.
“Miss Eliza, have the militia left Meryton yet?”
Elizabeth understood immediately who she meant.
Miss Bingley could not bring herself to say Wickham’s name in front of Darcy.
But the message was obvious.
“They must be a great loss to your family.”
For a moment, Elizabeth felt uncomfortable.
Wickham’s name brought back memories she would rather forget.
But she quickly recovered and answered calmly.
“Yes, they have left Meryton.”
As she spoke, she accidentally looked at Darcy.
His face had become slightly flushed.
He was watching her intently.
Georgiana looked deeply embarrassed and lowered her eyes.
Miss Bingley had no idea how painful her remark had been for Georgiana.
She only wanted to make Elizabeth uncomfortable.
She believed Elizabeth had once liked Wickham, and hoped that mentioning him would make Elizabeth reveal some emotion in front of Darcy.
She also wanted Darcy to remember the embarrassing connection between Wickham and the Bennet family.
Miss Bingley knew nothing about Georgiana’s past involvement with Wickham.
That secret had been kept very carefully.
Darcy especially wanted to keep it from Miss Bingley and the rest of his family’s circle.
He had once hoped that Bingley might eventually marry Georgiana.
That was another reason he had been so determined to protect his sister’s reputation.
Fortunately, Elizabeth remained completely composed.
Darcy’s concern quickly disappeared.
Miss Bingley, seeing that her attack had failed, did not dare say anything more about Wickham.
Georgiana slowly recovered from her embarrassment, though she was still too shy to speak.
Darcy, meanwhile, seemed even more interested in Elizabeth.
Miss Bingley’s attempt to turn his attention away from her had achieved exactly the opposite.
The visit ended soon afterward.
As Darcy walked Elizabeth and the Gardiners to their carriage, Miss Bingley stayed behind and began criticizing Elizabeth’s appearance, clothes, and manner.
Georgiana refused to join her.
Her brother had spoken so warmly of Elizabeth that Georgiana naturally believed Elizabeth must be a wonderful person.
When Darcy returned to the sitting room, Miss Bingley immediately continued her attack.
“Mr. Darcy, have you noticed how different Eliza Bennet looks?”
She smiled unpleasantly.
“I have never seen anyone change so much since winter. She has become so dark and plain. Louisa and I were saying that we might not have recognized her.”
Darcy remained calm.
“She is simply more tanned from traveling in the summer.”
Miss Bingley was disappointed that he would not criticize Elizabeth.
“I must admit, I never understood why anyone thought she was beautiful.”
Darcy said nothing.
“Her face is too thin. Her complexion is ordinary. Her features are nothing special.”
Still Darcy remained silent.
“Her eyes have always been praised, but I have never seen anything remarkable about them. They look sharp and unpleasant to me.”
She continued without stopping.
“And her whole manner is so confident without having any real elegance. I find it extremely irritating.”
Miss Bingley knew perfectly well that Darcy admired Elizabeth.
She probably hoped that insulting Elizabeth would make him think less of her.
Instead, she only made him uncomfortable.
Seeing that Darcy was becoming irritated, she decided to push him further.
“I remember when we first met her in Hertfordshire. We were all surprised that she was supposed to be beautiful.”
She smiled.
“I especially remember something you said after the Bennets had dinner at Netherfield.”
Darcy looked at her.
“You said, ‘She is beautiful? I might as well call her mother intelligent.’”
Miss Bingley paused.
“But later you seemed to change your opinion. I believe you eventually thought she was rather pretty.”
Darcy could no longer remain silent.
“Yes,” he said. “That was when I first met her.”
He looked at Miss Bingley calmly.
“It has been many months since I began to think of her as one of the most beautiful women I know.”
Then he left the room.
Miss Bingley was furious.
She had wanted to make Darcy criticize Elizabeth.
Instead, she had forced him to praise her.
On the journey back to the inn, Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth talked about everything that had happened during their visit.
They discussed Georgiana.
They discussed Darcy’s friends.
They talked about Pemberley.
They even talked about the fruit they had been served.
But neither woman mentioned the one person they were both thinking about most.
Darcy.
Elizabeth desperately wanted to know what her aunt thought of him.
And Mrs. Gardiner would have been delighted if Elizabeth had asked.