Mrs. Bingley’s Sister (The Austen Novels)

Chapter 5

Bingley helped his wife into the carriage while she held on tightly to their newborn daughter, whom on that day they were to christen as “Elizabeth Jane.” Naming the baby after Elizabeth had been an easy decision.

Who was more important to Jane's happiness than her closest sister?

Bingley figured this out very quickly after Jane first became with child. Jane had been tiring quickly and feeling nauseated all day long. Bingley was at a loss to understand the mysterious ways of womanhood, and he didn't anticipate starting then. He could tell Jane needed something but was resisting asking for anything—that was his Jane, after all, always serene and constant and angelic and kind, never doing a thing for herself before anybody else. So he had to bring in someone who knew how to help her, someone he knew wouldn't allow Jane's good-natured objections against accepting help to stand.

Someone like Jane's headstrong sister, Elizabeth Bennet.

He had always liked Elizabeth, ever since he met her last autumn after moving to Netherfield Park. His friend Darcy, however, never seemed to get along with her very much, which made the revelation of Darcy's proposal to the lady all the more surprising to Bingley. In fact, Bingley would have nearly laughed at it, had he not been in the midst of a crisis with Lydia running off to elope. He had to be off to London, and he had to hope Darcy would be willing to help him. He still wasn't sure why Darcy would have divulged any of his past history with Wickham to Elizabeth (as he wasn't sure how that could be related to the fact that the man proposed and was sorely rejected!) but he hoped Darcy would help them, regardless.

He met with his friend some four days later, after attempting to search all throughout London with Jane's father, Bennet. Many times Bennet wrung his hands and talked about sending an express to his brother Gardiner, but Bingley remembered specifically how Jane didn't want to disturb the Gardiners on their trip to the lakes.

"Lizzy has been so unhappy; we must allow her to enjoy her trip. We cannot allow it to be cut short because of Lydia's foolishness," his dear wife had insisted. Bingley didn't agree, but he could never go against anything Jane wanted, so when Bennet brought up the possibility, Bingley always talked him out of it. He didn't mention Darcy, but he did reassure Bennet that he had help on the way. When Bingley finally received a note from Darcy House, he told Bennet to wait until he returned. The old man was tiring, Bingley could tell, exhausted from days and days of hopelessly searching. Letting the man rest was the sensible thing to do.

"Darcy!" Bingley exclaimed upon his being led into Darcy's study, "Thank the heavens you're here!"

"Has any trace of Wickham been found?"

"No, unfortunately. We've scoured all of London, it seems."

"You haven't scoured all of London."

And it was true. Somehow or other, Darcy had a location in mind to visit, and they went to a more seedy part of town, a place Bingley had rarely visited himself. Darcy spoke harshly with some lady proprietor of a room and boarding house, who then led them to another house around the block. Bingley would never forget the situation in which they found Lydia and Wickham living.

"Mr. Bingley! What a surprise! And what is he doing here?" the foolish girl had exclaimed, narrowing her eyes at Darcy, who ignored her as he burst into the room looking for Wickham. The girl barely had any decent clothing on, so Bingley rushed in to put his coat about her shoulders. She gave him a look but otherwise did not resist; mostly, she kept on and on about why were they there , what were they looking for, her dearest George would be back soon enough—

Just as those words came out of her mouth, there was the scoundrel at the door. Wickham stared at them for merely a moment before turning and running—and incredibly to Bingley, who had never seen Darcy even so much as take a briskly paced walk, the man took off after Wickham at a run, while shouting to Bingley, "Get the girl away from here!"

Bingley and Lydia ran to the doorway to watch what was happening, and they witnessed Darcy tackle Wickham to the ground. Lydia cried out in distress while Bingley nearly laughed at the sight, uncanny as it was, but his concern for Lydia grew as he soberly realized the implications of her situation: she had probably already lain with the man and thus could be with child.

He put a stern grip upon Lydia's arm despite her protests, and making sure the coat was pulled tight to conceal her exposed shift, he dragged her away and shoved her into the carriage. He waited for Darcy for but a moment before recalling specifically that his friend told him to get Lydia away from there, so that was exactly what he did.

They arrived back at Gracechurch Street, where Bennet was staying in his brother's house. The man was incredibly relieved to see his daughter yet very angry with her as well. Lydia tried to laugh it off, acting as if it were all a very amusing situation, but no, it was not very amusing, not very amusing in the slightest. Bingley told Bennet to get Lydia away to Netherfield, discreetly, so that he could work out a marriage settlement.

"They must be married, do you understand?" he said sternly to Bennet, not wanting to injure the man with the revelation of precisely how they found the scoundrel and his youngest daughter: living as man and wife in squalor, in the some of the most derelict conditions to be found in London. It had been abominable, and Bingley didn't have it in him to be so candid with the poor old man. So, off they went to Netherfield, Bingley penning an express to his wife to inform her, and then he headed to Darcy House to be done with the sordid affair.

As Bingley expected, Darcy was there, but he was also met with Darcy's cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.

"Hello," Bingley said to the man, in surprise, "I hadn't known you were staying here."

"Oh, I wasn't. I merely just arrived to apply a little much-needed pressure on our mutual friend," the man said with a smirk as he put a hand on the saber at his hilt, "Wickham is a little less combative when I'm in the room, for some reason."

This made Bingley laugh, and then Darcy entered the room. He looked at both of them and nodded his head in the direction of the hall.

"Let us begin our talk with the scoundrel," he said gruffly, frowning, "as it is very clear he must be made to marry the girl."

They followed Darcy down the hall into another room—not his study, but a less-used sitting room, one Bingley had maybe only seen a handful of times. Wickham was sitting at a table in a chair, looking annoyed, but he paled upon spying Fitzwilliam.

"Colonel!" he exclaimed, his voice high-pitched.

"Yes, it is me," the colonel said gruffly, giving him a hard stare, "I have been meaning to pay you a visit, ever since Ramsgate."

Bingley noticed Darcy shooting the colonel a look before turning his attention to Wickham. Bingley realized they did not know of his knowledge of the Ramsgate affair, and he decided to keep it that way; he didn't want to have to divulge to Darcy his knowledge of the man's rejected proposal at Hunsford. Bingley wished to spare his reserved, private friend and himself the mutual embarrassment.

They went back and forth with Wickham for many days before an agreement was settled upon. Despite the objections of both the colonel and Bingley, Darcy agreed to pay Wickham three thousand pounds.

"I cannot let you do this," Bingley said to him firmly. "Lydia is my family; it is my obligation to settle this for the Bennets ."

"No," Darcy answered just as firmly, "Wickham's wrongdoings are my fault. Had I disclosed to the people of Meryton the kind of snake that was in their midst, this may not have ever even happened."

"Oh, come now, Darcy," the colonel scoffed with a disapproving shake of his head. "You cannot hold yourself responsible for this scoundrel's actions."

Darcy shook his head and continued to insist on paying the money himself. Bingley was perplexed as to why. He didn't understand. Why would Darcy take the trouble?

"Do not disclose that I made this payment," Darcy said quietly to him after it was all over and done with. They had met at Darcy House once more after Bingley attended the wedding. Darcy had stayed behind, citing his inability to witness Wickham and his smugness as he married the silliest Bennet girl, all while receiving a fat pay day.

"I won't," Bingley said slowly, looking at Darcy in curiosity. "But Jane would appreciate you more if she knew how you helped us—how you saved Lydia, I should say."

Darcy shook his head sharply. "No. Do not tell Mrs. Bingley. She very well may reveal it to Elizab—"

He cut off with a turn, his back now to Bingley as he stared out the window. Bingley let it be. He knew it was never good to try and push Darcy. And so, he promised his friend that their secret would remain safe with him.

He never told anyone, not even Jane.

So here they were, just a few months later, riding in the carriage to the christening. Bingley, Jane with the baby, and Elizabeth were in one carriage, and Darcy was following along in his own, as the man apparently intended to leave as soon as the ceremony was concluded.

There was no noise in the carriage, except for the fussing of the babe. Bingley cleared his throat.

"It is too bad Darcy is leaving so soon," he said, casting a glance at Elizabeth, wondering if he could discern any evidence of feeling upon her countenance. She stared out the window, only momentarily shifting at the sound of Darcy's name being spoken. He could not tell a thing.

"I, too, wish he would stay longer," Jane said with a sigh, "but Derbyshire is a far journey north, and the weather will turn very soon."

The conversation did not continue, Elizabeth's silence being uncanny and unusual to both the Bingleys. Very soon they arrived at the church for the christening, and Bingley helped his wife out of the carriage, their baby in her arms. He placed a reverent kiss on her hair before they entered the church.

How he loved his Jane. He was happy enough that, whatever strange feelings between Elizabeth and Darcy, they were both their for this little baby's sake.