Jane Bennet In January – What If Jane Spoke Her Mind?

JaneJan

 

What better way to start the year that to focus on one of Jane Austen’s most beloved characters? Join Austen Variations as we spend January looking into the lovely Jane Bennet.

 


I have often wondered what Jane and Mr. Bingley talked about when they were alone. Austen gives us so few clues. Also, what if Jane was bolder in trying to straighten out the misunderstandings between them when he returned to Hertfordshire after nearly a year of silence?

 

jane“Mr. Darcy is not with you today,” Mrs. Bennet observed after Mr. Bingley arrived at Longbourn alone.

“He had business in town. I am not certain when or if he will return,” Mr. Bingley informed them.

Jane watched her sister Elizabeth’s face, but saw no hint that would give away her thoughts on the matter. For her part, Mrs. Bennet looked smugly pleased, and plunged into bringing their guest up to date on the latest Meryton gossip. Mr. Bingley listened politely and inquired about the health of their mutual acquaintances in the community. When she insisted he join the family for supper that evening, he eagerly agreed. From time to time, he turned to smile at Jane, but she tried to keep her face calm and serene.

Jane let her mother carry the conversation while she allowed her mind to roam over the questions that had been plaguing her for the better part of the past year. Why had Mr. Bingley not returned to Netherfield last autumn after promising to do so? Why he had not called on her when she was in town over the winter? And most importantly, what did he mean by suddenly appearing at Longbourn after such a long period of silence?

She knew she should guard her heart, but it was difficult when he turned that charming smile on her. How could she be certain this time it was something more than just a way for him to pass the time while in the country as it appeared he had done a year ago?

After visiting with the Longbourn ladies for about a quarter hour, Mr. Bingley asked permission to escort Jane for a walk into Meryton.

“A walk into town sounds like a lovely idea,” cooed Mrs. Bennet. “Kitty, run along and chaperon your sister and Mr. Bingley. I would go myself, you understand, but I must confer with the cook about our dinner this evening. I am so pleased you have agreed to join us, Mr. Bingley.”

Jane excused herself and went up to her room briefly to retrieve her gloves, bonnet, and reticule before they walked out. As she descended the stairs, she heard the hum of voices drifting out from the sitting room. There were the higher tones of her mother and sisters’ voices, and the lower pitched sound of his, which sent warmth straight to her heart. How she had missed him!

janeandcharlesOnce outside, Mr. Bingley offered his arm, and she carefully placed her gloved hand lightly upon it. Yes, she remembered how this felt—the strength of his arm, the security of his guiding her. She wanted to trust him again, but even her open, trusting heart was finding it difficult. Each time she saw him, however, a little more of her wariness dissolved.

At first, he talked about mundane things, the change in the weather and the scones he’d been served that day. Gradually, their pace slowed, and after a short time, Kitty had moved far enough ahead that she would not be able to hear them talking.

Jane was just gathering her courage to speak, when Mr. Bingley blurted out, “Please forgive me for being so forward, Miss Bennet, but something has been on my mind for some time. I am just not certain where or how to begin.”

Jane’s heart sank. He was going to tell her he was leaving again. She swallowed down the disappointment as best she could.

“I suspect you have been wondering why I did not return to Netherfield last autumn.”

She started. This was not what she’d been expecting. She had always hoped he would explain but talking openly such personal matters made her uncomfortable. It was simply not done. On the other hand, being polite, quiet, and obedient had been getting her nowhere except hurt. Perhaps, it was time to bend the rules. If they were ever going to be anything to each other except indifferent acquaintances, she would have to be bolder.

“I did wonder. I had thought we were…” she hesitated, searching for the right word, “friends.”

“I thought so, too.”

“Then your behavior has confused me, sir.”

He stopped abruptly and his face took on a reddish hue.

“Oh, blast!” He grew even redder. “Please forgive my language, Miss Bennet.”

“Of course, you are forgiven.”

“You may not think so well of me after you hear what I have to say.”

“Then it is all the more important that you explain,” Jane said.

Bingley looked down and scuffed his boots in the dirt. Finally, he looked up at her.

“Very well. My sisters told me they were certain you did not have any special feelings for me, that you were just pretending interest in me because your mother encouraged it.”

Jane turned away and looked at the ground. Her eyes filled with tears that she did not want him to see.

“I am so very sorry I allowed them to influence me. I knew it couldn’t be true, but…”

His feet appeared in front of her, but she still refused to look up at him.

“Miss Bennet, is something wrong?”

She wanted to shout at him that of course, something was wrong, but instead she controlled her voice and asked, “What did I do that made your sisters think that?”

“They did not say.”

“And yet you believed them?” Her voice came out shriller than she’d been hoping.

Bingley scrubbed a hand over his face. “Oh, what a mess I have made of this.”

Jane had to get though this. She had to say what was on her mind no matter what happened.

“You said you would return in a few days, but instead I received a letter from Caroline saying you were settled in London for the winter. She made it clear your…interests…were in another direction.”

“Interests? I do not understand. To what other interests did she refer?”

Was he truly this thick? Was he going to make her say the words aloud? When she stared at him silently, he gave her a reassuring smile.

“Shall we sit over here?” he said, indicating a fallen tree near the road. Jane allowed him to guide her there. When she sat down, Bingley took a seat beside her. Not too close, but close enough that Jane’s heartbeat quickened until she could hear her pulse thrumming in her ears. It was now or never. She was simply going to have to tell him what his sister had said.

When she finally finished telling him about Caroline’s letter and her intimations about Miss Darcy, he was silent for a minute or two, during which time she waited in dread for his response. Had she made a mistake? Losing him again would serve her right for being so forward. In Jane’s experience, nothing good ever came of speaking your mind. She plucked at her gown anxiously.

“Miss Bennet, I am speechless. My sister’s impertinence in writing those things to you shocks me. I do not know what she could have been thinking.”

His response made her braver again. “I believe her intent was quite clear.”

“I have never been interested in that way in Miss Darcy. She is a lovely girl, but I have always looked upon her more as a younger sister. I assure you I have never entertained any serious idea of courting her.”

The pained look on his face convinced Jane he was telling the truth. “At the time I received the letter, I thought…well, you may imagine what I thought.”

“I knew Caroline had written but had no idea this was what she had told you. I am so sorry, Miss Bennet. Can you ever forgive me?” His eyes seemed to plead with her. She of all people understood what it was like to have a relative whose behavior could be an embarrassment.

“You cannot be held responsible for your sister’s actions,” Jane replied softly.

“Did you write back to her?”

She nodded.

Bingley took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Caroline led me to believe you never answered her. Every time we talked about it, she tried to convince me your silence meant your only thought was for my fortune. She even implied you had another beau in the neighborhood, who was courting you. I thought I had no chance.”

Jane shifted uncomfortably. “I was always taught it was not polite or ladylike to display one’s feelings too eagerly.”

Bingley hung his head. “Miss Bennet, what a mess I have made of things!”

The silence between them seemed to go on interminably.

“So Caroline knew you were coming to town this past winter?”

Still astonished at the turn this conversation had taken, Jane managed to find her voice again. “Yes, I wrote, but when I arrived, I heard nothing from her. After several weeks, I called on your sisters, thinking perhaps my letter had somehow become lost.”

“You called on them? But they never mentioned this to me.”

“I was not there five minutes before I realized I had made a mistake.”

He frowned but did not ask her to explain. “Did she return your call?”

“Yes, but only after several weeks.”

Bingley put a hand over his eyes and sighed. “I apologize for my sister’s rudeness. I had no idea of any of this.”

“She made it quite clear you were busy with other pursuits. That is why I was so surprised when you and Mr. Darcy came to call last week.”

Bingley anxiously ran a hand through his hair. “How you must despise me! I understand if you wish me to return you home immediately. I cannot believe you received me at all after what happened.”

Jane was confused. “You think I despise you?”

He looked at the ground and nodded his head.

Jane tried to think of how she could explain to him what she was feeling, but she had no idea how to express what she was thinking. When she saw his hand resting on the bench between them, she simply set her hand over his. “I do not despise you, nor do I wish to return home now.”

When he looked up at her hopefully, she felt unsteady.

“Are you certain you do not wish me out of your sight?” he asked, sounding almost like a sheepish little boy.

“Yes.”

“Is that a ‘yes’ you wish me to stay or a ‘yes’ you wish me to go?”

“It is my wish that we begin again, but only if that is what you desire, also.” She held her breath.

“More than anything.” Bingley squeezed her hand. “May we be friends again?”

Jane looked away so he would not see the tears in her eyes. “Nothing would make me happier, Mr. Bingley,” she whispered.

She felt a light touch of his fingers on her chin as he gently turned her face towards him. “I hear your words, but you do not look happy, my dear sweet Jane.”

Had she heard him correctly? My dear sweet Jane? Her heart began to race as if she had just run all the way from Longbourn to Meryton. Taking a deep breath, she looked up and gave him her warmest smile. “Truly, I am very happy now.”

“In spite of the tears?” He brushed the wetness from her cheek with his thumb.

She nodded.

“I plan to speak harshly to Caroline about this.”

“I would prefer if you did not. I am certain she was only doing what she thought was right for you.”

“I would never want you to be hurt, especially if it were over something I could prevent.”

Any last remaining doubts she might have had about him fell away, and she tumbled back into love even more than she had been before.

charles“I would not blame you if you did not forgive me.” Then turning his clear blue eyes on her, he said, “But I pray that you do.”

Jane felt a shiver all the way down to her toes. “There is nothing to forgive. You are here now and that is all that matters.”

“You are generosity itself, Miss Bennet. How I have missed talking with you! You always seem to make me feel as if all is right in the world.”

 

That night, Jane lay awake long after the rest of the household was asleep. Moving to the window, she looked out across the countryside in the direction of Netherfield. Was Mr. Bingley awake, too, thinking of her? Could the months of loneliness and heartbreak finally be behind her? No matter what happened now, she was glad she had taken a chance and told him what she was thinking.


 

What have you imagined they talked about when they were alone?

 

35 comments

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    • Carol on February 1, 2016 at 2:24 am
    • Reply

    Commitment, their feelings and dreams for he future, I hope. Surely not about Caroline.

    1. Jane remains a true lady – she never really says anything bad about Caroline. She just tells the truth and when Bingley says he’ll speak harshly to his sister, Jane remains true to her nature and asks him not to do that. Thanks for reading and commenting, Carol.

        • Ann Garland on February 1, 2016 at 6:20 pm
        • Reply

        I do hope that he DOES speak harshly to Caroline (she deserves HARSHER treatment).

  1. How very sweet! I’m glad Jane actually spoke up. It cleared the air. I really enjoyed the scene, Susan!

    1. Thanks, Monica. And thanks for tweeting about this scene

    • Glynis on February 1, 2016 at 6:39 am
    • Reply

    All those wasted months!! Thank goodness Jane finally allowed her feelings to show and Bingley realised what a ***** his sister was. Thanks for this scene Susan.

    1. I think Jane just showed Bingley what he already knew about Caroline and she did it in such a graceful way.

    • Madenna on February 1, 2016 at 7:48 am
    • Reply

    A wonderful “missing” scene! Thank you

    1. Thanks for taking the time to stop by Austen Variations and for reading my scene.

    • Meg on February 1, 2016 at 9:25 am
    • Reply

    What a lovely missing scene. Thank you for sharing.

    1. Thank you for reading and commenting. I love to hear when people like these scenes.

    • Hollis on February 1, 2016 at 11:19 am
    • Reply

    Jane is always a lady. The most daring thing she did was to speak her mind, even though I wish she had lost her temper in a ladylike manner!!

    1. Hmm…now I’m imagining what it would be like if Jane lost her temper – as you say, in a very ladylike manner. That might be fun to write! Wouldn’t you love to see her put Caroline in her place?

        • Ann Garland on February 1, 2016 at 6:21 pm
        • Reply

        YES!!

    • Clytie Koehler on February 1, 2016 at 12:58 pm
    • Reply

    Maybe a little peeper in Jane’s response would have been good – even though she is so gentle and kind. But the only thing I really wanted was an immediate request (impulsive, of course) from Mr Bingley for a courtship! Loved it; and thank you for the sweet scene!

    1. Bingley pretty much declared himself but in a very Regency roundabout sort of way. I think Jane got the message.

    • Kimberly T on February 1, 2016 at 2:45 pm
    • Reply

    A lovely interpretation and just how I would believe it would go. Nicely done.

    1. Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.

    • Sheila L. M. on February 1, 2016 at 7:09 pm
    • Reply

    I keep remembering Mr. Bennet’s comments about the couple after their engagement is announced. They are just too NICE. If they didn’t have a conversation like the one described above I believe life would soon have forced such. If nothing else the event of children would have made them take some stands about behavior. Caroline deserves the harshest reprimand.

    I also keep remembering conversations between Elizabeth and Jane. It took Jane a long time to admit that Bingley’s sisters were not all that warm in their admiration of her or in their behaviors towards her.

    But thank you for this excerpt which is a reflection of what we readers would have wished Jane would have said and Bingley to have admitted to in this tale.

    1. Yes, they are portrayed as “just too nice” and I’ve always wanted to make them a little more open at least with each other.

    • Carole in Canada on February 1, 2016 at 8:45 pm
    • Reply

    Delightful! I do think that Jane would not be a door mat for Caroline once married though. Jane, in her own sweet way, would give her a polite but perfectly understood set down!

  2. I totally agree, Carole!

    • Ruth on February 1, 2016 at 9:55 pm
    • Reply

    this was lovely. You did a good job of filling in things that Miss A neglected while still being true to the things the author did describe. I loved seeing Jane get the nerve to speak openly about her feelings. Susan, please write another book. I liked the first one and all your contributions to the group. Another novel, please.

    1. Thank you so much, Ruth. I’m working on several new stories. I’ve had a lot going on in my personal life, but not things have settled down and I’ll be getting back to work.

    • Deborah on February 2, 2016 at 7:13 am
    • Reply

    How beautifully written is this scene. I would’ve thought it would take more prompting on Jane’s part for Bingley to give her answers. I always thought Bingley was amiable but a bit dense. I hope he Gives Caroline, ‘what for’, but I somehow doubt it.

    1. Now that would be a fun scene to write! I’d love to see Charles leave his sister speechless.

    • Theresa M on February 2, 2016 at 9:13 am
    • Reply

    I love it….the conversation certainly bodes well for a happy marriage!

    1. They’re so sweet together. Mr. Bennet’s comments about their compatibility always rubbed me the wrong way. I think they’ll be fantastic together.

  3. I admire Jane for speaking her mind, yet her kindness and generosity allows her to do so truthfully yet gently, without direct rebuke which would hurt Mr. Bingley. This is a conversation that she will not regret,unlike Elizabeth’s conversation with Mr. Darcy on the same topic at Rosings. 😉

    Thank you for a delightful vignette!!

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    1. Jane is modest, sweet and always sees the best in people, but I don’t see her as a doormat. I think these qualities will make her a wonderful wife and mother.

  4. Hopefully, dear Jane will become this person now that she knows that she has the love of Mr. Bingley!

    1. I’ve always thought they would make each other stronger.

  5. Good for Jane! I feel like even when she’s being direct, she’s still so reserved, but that’s just her nature. Perhaps now she’s spoken out and gotten good results, she’ll always be able to tell Bingley how she feels. I don’t think she’d let Caroline push her around again and the best revenge they can give to her is to be blissfully happy and completely oblivious to Caroline’s opinions.

  6. Did you read my proposal scene from January 15th? I think it’s good complement to this one.
    https://austenvariations.com/jane-bennet-in-january-the-proposal/

    • Joan Brand on July 2, 2019 at 5:21 pm
    • Reply

    Jane is too complacent for my tastes. She pales in comparison to Lizzy, so I guess that they balance each other. However, Elizabeth’s lively ways, wit, and intelligence capture Darcy’s attention and his affection.

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