Page 53 of The Long Road Back to Yesterday

That afternoon, seeking a brief respite from her books, Elizabeth joined Kitty on the nursery floor, and together they played with little Edward. She watched as her sister amused the energetic child. He would run to Kitty, fling his chubby arms around her neck, and chatter unintelligible words. Then he would leave her as abruptly as he had come, return to his wooden horses, only to repeat his affectionate greeting a few moments later.

When Elizabeth rose to return to her studies, she asked, “Are you coming down to visit with the Bingleys?”

“No, you go on down, Lizzy. I shall remain here in the nursery with Edward.”

“Your spirits have recovered greatly, Kitty. I am glad I returned to Meryton for you.”

“Coming here has saved me, Lizzy. I often wished I might go to sleep and never wake again.”

“So did I, when we first lost Lydia and our parents. But we must exert ourselves to put this behind us and live on.”

* * *

That evening, Miss Bingley sat with Mrs. Gardiner at a table. The older woman was teaching her how to transfer a design onto needlepoint canvas, while Mr. Bingley sat beside Jane on a settee, speaking in low tones of his hope of purchasing an estate and establishing a family.

Elizabeth sat apart at her usual table, fully occupied with her book, but she straightened and stretched when Miss Bingley joined her.

“I have finished my pattern and now wish to spend some time with you, Eliza. My dear friend, whenever you are at your studies, you lose yourself to everything else.”

Elizabeth laid down her quill, rubbed her cramped, ink-stained fingers, and said lightly, “I am quite the bluestocking, am I not?”

Inwardly, however, she felt a pang of impatience. Though she longed to set aside her studies for one evening and enjoy her friend's company, she dared not. She was on a quest for knowledge. Somewhere within these pages might lie the answer to saving her youngest sister, who was lost to all good society and might even now be suffering unimaginable degradations.

Her inner turmoil must have shown upon her countenance, for her friend asked, “Are you unwell, Eliza? I had thought you thoroughly engrossed, but perhaps you are ill.”

Elizabeth quickly recovered herself. Ignoring the question of her health, she forced a little laugh and said, “As you see, I am thoroughly enthralled. I cannot resist reading of fairies, stone circles, and ancient barrows.”

Miss Bingley laughed. “It is difficult to believe so lovely a woman as yourself could find such deadly dull subjects captivating. I should have expected you to concern yourself with beaus rather than barrows.”

Elizabeth pressed her friend’s hand, laughing.

“You are so refreshing, Caroline. You always say exactly what you are thinking, and I love that about you. I always know where I stand. There is never any uncertainty.”

Caroline returned the pressure, enclosing Elizabeth's hand in her own for a brief moment.

“I shall not call tomorrow. My sister and her husband, Mr. Hurst, arrive from Surrey, and I am to dine with them. Eliza, she will have your letter of reference should you ever need it.”

Elizabeth's eyes shone.

“Thank you for the letter. You were very kind to ask Mrs. Hurst to write it for me. Before I enter into service, I shall spend several months with Mrs. Radcliff, Aunt Madeline's sister. She declares in her letter that she means to find me a husband.”

Miss Bingley laughed.

“When you are married, Eliza, invite me to your home and help me find a husband.”

“What of Mr. Darcy? I thought you had set your heart upon him.”

“I have pursued him since I was twenty, and he has not shown the slightest sign of interest. Charles says it is time I looked elsewhere.”

“How did you meet this nonpareil?”

“A mutual friend introduced Charles to Mr. Darcy at Tattersall's. Have you heard of it?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “No.”

“It is an auction house. Charles had gone there to bid on a horse. His university friend, Mr. Allen, accompanied him and introduced him to Mr. Darcy. The gentlemen liked one another so well that Charles invited them both to dine with us that very evening. Charles was but eighteen. I was twenty and knew the moment I saw Mr. Darcy that I wished to marry him.”

“He must be quite extraordinary if your heart was engaged upon so brief an acquaintance.”