Chapter 4 #2
Louisa Hurst winced but tried not to react. She knew she would be having a contentious discussion with her headstrong younger sister. If Caroline refused to heed her, she would be on her own. Louisa would not sacrifice her place in society for Caroline.
She had always indulged Caroline to keep the peace, even to the detriment of her relationship with her husband.
The price would be too high to pay this time.
She could see in this instance; Caroline had finally gone too far.
She noticed Mr. Bennet’s clothes were very fine, and were form-fitting and tailored just as those worn by members of the Ton.
There was no way he was a man of little standing and no fortune as Caroline had believed and expounded during her tirade.
Reasoning no one would claim a non-existent connection other than her sister, who regularly lied about hers, she decided that were Caroline to cause any more trouble, she would no longer support her.
Louisa determined it was high time she grew a backbone and stood up to Caroline rather than continuously placating the youngest Bingley.
After Mr. Bennet left, Bingley called a footman and had him escort Caroline back to the drawing room. As soon as she entered, he gestured for her to sit on the settee. “Caroline, how could you?” he demanded.
“Me!” She shrieked, never sounding more like a harridan. Me? I did not do anything wrong. That country lowlife insulted me, and no one defended me! You should all be ashamed of yourselves!” she shrieked in her high-pitched voice.
Before her brother could answer, Mrs. Hurst spoke up, to the surprise of both her brother and her husband.
“Shut up, Caroline,” she spat out, secretly gloating when her sister looked shocked.
“For too long I have sat by and allowed you to persist in this delusion that you are higher in society than those that are, in fact, far higher than ourselves.
“Besides being intimate with the Matlocks and the rest of the Fitzwilliams, Mr. Bennet is a land-owning gentleman. As such, he is far above you, me, and Charles. He did not seem to judge us for being so far below him. He even wished to be in our company—except for you. Did you not notice his clothes? Are you so blind you think our fortune and our seminary education is what counts?”
Before Caroline could spew her vitriol, Louisa continued as if she had not known Caroline wanted to respond.
“It is birth that counts. None of your airs or graces will ever change the fact you are naught but a tradesman’s daughter, just as I am, and Charles is the son of one.
In this you are on your own. If you ruin yourself, you will ruin yourself alone.
Mr. Bennet told us if there is one more problem from you he will inform Lady Matlock and you will be ruined in society forever. ”
“Lady Matlock indeed! She would never deign to associate with country bumpkins like the Bennets. He is nothing but a name-dropping nobody and he is a liar!” Caroline retorted, then lifted her nose in the air before she rose and left, convinced as she always was that she was correct.
Her brother and sister looked on as she stormed out, knowing the only way she would learn would be the hard way. “No, Caroline, the only name-dropping, social-climbing liar we know is you,” Bingley said quietly to himself.
“I am proud of you, my dear.” Mr. Hurst smiled at his wife as he patted her hand.
“I appreciate you saying so, Mr. Hurst, but what do you mean?” She frowned, thinking she had just made an embarrassing scene.
“Louisa, when I married you, I loved spending time with you, but the more your sister was around, the more distance opened between us. I have been disappointed by the way you placate her rather than following your own good sense, which I know you possess.
“She is a shrew, and if you knew how men speak about her, you would be more ashamed of her than you are now. My dear, I am not asleep when you see me reclining in drawing rooms, and I do not drink the amount people think I do. I pretend to drink and sleep to avoid interacting with Caroline! It has gotten to the point I was about to give you a choice, her or me. Luckily, you seem to have made the correct choice on your own.” He chuckled at her surprise.
“You would have left me if I chose Caroline?” She stared at him in fear and surprise.
“Yes, Louisa, although it would have pained me. I long have hoped you would come to your senses; if you had not done so soon, I would have separated from you permanently,” Mr. Hurst said, edging closer to his wife as she grew upset.
“B-B-But I thought you loved me, Harold,” she whispered as big tears rolled down her cheeks, realising what her sister almost cost her.
“It is not a question of love, Louisa. I do love you, but I did not like the person you had transformed into, always deferring to Caroline. Even though ours was an arranged marriage, I came to love the woman I married, the same one I saw again just now when she finally took her sister to task. Better late than never.” He looked at her with a smile and a twinkle she had not seen in his eyes for too long, realising just how much she had missed it.
Louisa Hurst thanked God for the strength He granted her, enabling her to stand up to her younger sister, finally.
“Sister, I always knew you were intelligent and knew your own mind, so I never understood why you bowed to Caroline’s wishes and fed her delusion she would become Mrs. Darcy.” Bingley smiled at the sister he, too, had missed.
“Charles, I know it was not the right thing to do, but I found it more peaceful. You know how she is when she does not get what she wants. I do know it was wrong, and I am so sorry. Will you both forgive me, please? I did not see the harm in her chasing Mr. Darcy, but I admit she has gone too far in her obsession.” Louisa looked from her husband to her brother.
“Darcy does not just find her annoying, he dislikes her intensely. He will never offer for her, even if she is ill advised enough to try and compromise him. I would absolutely support him if she tried to do so. He hates that both of you use his name to gain entry to society events. You may have noticed any invitations that include my sisters are now few and far between, have you not?” Charles pressed, needing Louisa to understand how much damage had been done to their standing, and that some could yet be avoided.
“I had noticed, Charles; why is that?” Mrs. Hurst asked softly, then nodded in resignation. “Is it because of her constant pursuit of Mr. Darcy?”
“No, but it is simple. Darcy has let it be known although he is my friend, he has never given leave for anyone to use his name to gain entry to the ton and any rumour circulating about the possibility of his marrying Caroline is false.” Bingley frowned, realising the damage his younger sister had wrought had almost ruined them in society.
There was still time to repair the damage she had done, but she could not be allowed to continue to act as she had. He intended to make sure she did not.
Louisa’s lips made a perfect “O” after she understood how close she had come to committing social suicide. She decided she would never again defer to Caroline and looked forward to rebuilding the relationship with the husband she had come to love.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When Bennet returned home, there were five expectant female faces waiting for him in the drawing room. “What are you and your daughters waiting for, Fanny?” he asked with a smile, knowing full well what they wanted to know.
“Papa!” Kitty whined.
“Miss Catherine, ladies do not whine,” Mrs. Chandler rebuked her gently with a smile on her face as she sat in a corner doing needlework.
“I will not keep you in suspense,” Bennet chuckled.
“Mr. Bingley is a very affable young man. His brother Mr. Hurst was asleep when I arrived and had to be woken and never said a word, so I have no idea what he is like. But the sisters! I can attest one sister thinks herself superior but has the manners and vocabulary of a sailor. I did not wish to do so, but I was forced to give her a set-down. The older sister had the good sense to refrain from speaking and seemed ashamed of the younger’s behaviour, so there is hope for her yet. ”
“Papa, what did she do?” Lizzy asked with an inquisitive look on her face.
“Bingley mentioned his friend Mr. Darcy would be joining him and that Mr. Darcy’s sister and his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam will be arriving on Monday.” He winked at Fanny as Mary jolted and looked up at him with wide, hopeful eyes he pretended not to see.
“Richard is coming?” the girls chorused. Mary’s eyes quickly changed to a dreamy look as she thought about the man she loved.
“Correct,” affirmed Bennet “When he mentioned this, I told them that Reggie was one of my best friends and Miss Caroline Bingley thought it was her duty to take me to task on the manner in which I addressed my friend.” Bennet smirked playfully.
“She did not!” was the chorus of incredulous female voices.
“She most certainly did. I took it upon myself to point out our societal differences from the daughter of a tradesman, and I told the rest after she exited from the room that I would speak with Elaine and Marie about her if she did not behave herself. I am of the opinion she will be unable to amend her behaviour. It probably will be necessary to put her in her place,” Bennet stated with resignation.
“Mayhap I was wrong in naming them the superior sisters;” Lizzy said slyly, “it should be the self-proclaimed superior sister!” This started giggles and laughter in the room; once they died down, the Bennet matriarch grew serious and addressed her family.
“Then she will pay the price and it will be on her head,” Fanny Bennet pointed out. “Elaine and Marie will not stand for that kind of behaviour as they consider us family; neither would I stand for any slight to the Fitzwilliams.”