wish you would stay!" Bingley entreated. "But I know it probably is best. Your family is most likely anxious for you to return home. I shall look forward to my returning to Netherfield within the week and visiting Longbourn to talk to your father about my offer of marriage!" He looked at Jane and grinned and she returned one back to him.
Elizabeth remembered the reason she had come down and said, "I think I shall go see about our plans for our departure tomorrow. If you will excuse me."
She left them and walked toward the dining room and kitchen area, where she thought she would find Mrs. Reynolds. When she was not there, she inquired from the kitchen staff and they informed her she was outside.
Elizabeth went out to look for her, and as she did, her heart was gripped with a strong pang of regret. As she looked around, she realized how much she would miss this place. How she had enjoyed the few walks through these fine grounds that she had stolen; how almost every window in the house afforded a splendid view; and the house itself Elizabeth considered very fine.
Instead of finding Mrs. Reynolds, she encountered Winston. She informed him of their desire to leave first thing in the morning and he assured her that it would be no difficulty; that the carriage would be available to take them to Lambton. From there he would make arrangements for them to hire a carriage that would take them home. He then let her know how much he regretted their leaving and hoped that they would return someday soon.
As Elizabeth walked back, she shook her head. Perhaps her sister might grace these grounds again, being married to Mr. Darcy’s good friend, but she most likely would not. With that thought, she decided to take one last walk. It would be a few hours yet before the sun set and as she had nothing to do in the house, felt a walk would be the best thing for her.
As she walked down one path, she recalled her first amble out here with Georgiana and how they had shared a special connection. She recollected how she had been drawn to the young, shy girl, and how humbled she was that Georgiana seemed to trust her and open up to her.
She walked mindlessly, taking paths that had beckoned to her earlier. When she saw that the sun was about to set, she turned back toward the house. Upon approaching it, her eyes glanced to the window of the study. She felt a peculiar regret about having to leave; particularly leaving things the way they were with Mr. Darcy. She settled that she would go to him before she left and apologize. He did not have to accept it, but for her own peace of mind she would do it.
Climbing the steps to the house, a chill enveloped her as the sun dipped below the horizon. She entered the warm house and was greeted with the smell of supper cooking. Walking into the sitting room and then the dining room, she found them both empty. Inquiring when the meal would be served, she was told that Miss Darcy would be eating with her brother in the study and that she, Miss Bennet , and Mr. Bingley could come to the dining room at any time.
She thanked them and left to find her sister. Remembering, however, that she had her handkerchief when she was in the infirmary the night before, she decided to first check to see if it was still there.
When she went in to the infirmary, all the linens had been stripped from the bed and the room cleaned. She looked under the bed but knew that with such a thorough cleaning, it would most likely be gone. As she took leave of the room, she encountered one of the servants and mentioned her handkerchief.
"I am the one who cleaned this room, Miss, and I am sorry, but I did not see a handkerchief."
"Thank you," Elizabeth said with a little disappointment. "I am not quite certain where I left it, but I do recall having it in here last night. If you do find it after I have left, could you give it to Miss Darcy to send to me or bring with her when she comes for Charles’ and Jane’s wedding? It has my
Elizabeth remembered the reason she had come down and said, "I think I shall go see about our plans for our departure tomorrow. If you will excuse me."
She left them and walked toward the dining room and kitchen area, where she thought she would find Mrs. Reynolds. When she was not there, she inquired from the kitchen staff and they informed her she was outside.
Elizabeth went out to look for her, and as she did, her heart was gripped with a strong pang of regret. As she looked around, she realized how much she would miss this place. How she had enjoyed the few walks through these fine grounds that she had stolen; how almost every window in the house afforded a splendid view; and the house itself Elizabeth considered very fine.
Instead of finding Mrs. Reynolds, she encountered Winston. She informed him of their desire to leave first thing in the morning and he assured her that it would be no difficulty; that the carriage would be available to take them to Lambton. From there he would make arrangements for them to hire a carriage that would take them home. He then let her know how much he regretted their leaving and hoped that they would return someday soon.
As Elizabeth walked back, she shook her head. Perhaps her sister might grace these grounds again, being married to Mr. Darcy’s good friend, but she most likely would not. With that thought, she decided to take one last walk. It would be a few hours yet before the sun set and as she had nothing to do in the house, felt a walk would be the best thing for her.
As she walked down one path, she recalled her first amble out here with Georgiana and how they had shared a special connection. She recollected how she had been drawn to the young, shy girl, and how humbled she was that Georgiana seemed to trust her and open up to her.
She walked mindlessly, taking paths that had beckoned to her earlier. When she saw that the sun was about to set, she turned back toward the house. Upon approaching it, her eyes glanced to the window of the study. She felt a peculiar regret about having to leave; particularly leaving things the way they were with Mr. Darcy. She settled that she would go to him before she left and apologize. He did not have to accept it, but for her own peace of mind she would do it.
Climbing the steps to the house, a chill enveloped her as the sun dipped below the horizon. She entered the warm house and was greeted with the smell of supper cooking. Walking into the sitting room and then the dining room, she found them both empty. Inquiring when the meal would be served, she was told that Miss Darcy would be eating with her brother in the study and that she, Miss Bennet , and Mr. Bingley could come to the dining room at any time.
She thanked them and left to find her sister. Remembering, however, that she had her handkerchief when she was in the infirmary the night before, she decided to first check to see if it was still there.
When she went in to the infirmary, all the linens had been stripped from the bed and the room cleaned. She looked under the bed but knew that with such a thorough cleaning, it would most likely be gone. As she took leave of the room, she encountered one of the servants and mentioned her handkerchief.
"I am the one who cleaned this room, Miss, and I am sorry, but I did not see a handkerchief."
"Thank you," Elizabeth said with a little disappointment. "I am not quite certain where I left it, but I do recall having it in here last night. If you do find it after I have left, could you give it to Miss Darcy to send to me or bring with her when she comes for Charles’ and Jane’s wedding? It has my
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