Chapter 6 #3
He noticed it, and his smile deepened. “Do not make yourself uneasy, Miss Elizabeth. Both Georgiana and I would love for you and your family to visit Pemberley. It is, after all, less than two hours by carriage from Snowhaven. I have been considering taking the Earl to task for not bringing you to see us. How pleased we would have been had he done so.” He grinned, relief and pride filling him when she laughed.
They had no chance to continue their conversation because the explosion they all expected, but had hoped would not happen, took place.
After entering the assembly rooms and garnering none of the notice she thought her due, hearing persons of low standing daring to snicker after noticing her outfit, and then noticing the raven-haired beauty dancing with her Mr. Darcy—that last straw broke the camel’s back—Caroline told herself, ‘Pemberley is mine! No country chit will take what is mine from me! He has never danced the first set with me!’
When the Master of Ceremonies came to offer his services to Miss Bingley and make introductions, she soon discovered the chit dancing the first set with her Mr. Darcy was none other than one of the Bennet daughters.
She now despised anyone named Bennet. The Mr. Bennet she had met displayed such pretensions!
The rest of his family could be no different.
It was, however, the smile on Darcy’s face that made Caroline see red.
Ignoring the rules of the floor, she strode directly to where the grasping Bennet father was standing with a group of other never-will-be’s.
She had no idea who any of them were, but they were here—that was all she needed to know about their standing in society.
She had her fill of those so low being amused at her expense.
Louisa tried to rein her in, but Caroline slapped her hand away.
As soon as she reached Mr. Bennet and the other persons of no consequence, she launched into her speech, which was naught more than another of her tirades.
“It is time to expose your lies once and for all!” she screeched at Mr. Bennet, not noticing—or caring—that everyone in the assembly rooms had gone silent—all dancing having halted.
Getting no reaction from him, she pushed herself even closer to carry her point, which to all others in the room was merely an inappropriate tirade of a ridiculous woman.
“Just who do you think you are? You have lied about your connection to my friends the Fitzwilliams, who are Mr. Darcy’s family.
The Earl and Countess are far above you, as I am.
Now you have presumed to push your grasping daughter to dance with my Mr. Darcy!
I know your daughters have but five thousand pounds, which is nothing to my twenty thousand.
You will gain nothing from your attempts.
Your machinations will not go unpunished.
I will be sure to ensure everyone learns of your pathetic attempts to raise your status,” Miss Bingley shrieked in a high-pitched voice.
“You are a nobody. No one in my circle would deign to recognise you, you insignificant cockroach!” She stopped to take a breath, nose in the air and pleased with the set-down she had delivered, then glanced around to see how much her words had been appreciated.
It was only then she noticed the disgust on every face—all directed at her. “What are you staring at? Do you not know your betters when you see them,” she hissed.
“Enough!” A voice too near her for comfort exclaimed.
It was a lady unknown to Caroline standing next to Mr. Bennet. How dare she address her in such a manner!
While Miss Bingley paused to take a breath before responding, the woman did not wait for her to speak, asking with calm assurance, “Do you know who I am?
I am confused, since you have used my name as if you are known to me.
Since you appear ignorant of it, I am Lady Elaine Fitzwilliam, Countess of Matlock.
“When you were rude to our friend, Mr. Bennet, in his own home, mind you, did he not warn your family what he would do if your behaviour was repeated? I find it pitiable when someone naught but a tradesman’s daughter makes the presumptions you have.
” Lady Matlock stopped herself from speaking before she could say anything that might stoop to the same level as the virago before her.
Then she turned to the man on her right and asked, “Since when have tradesmen’s daughters been included in our circle, Thomas? ”
“Elaine, only the angels on high are in the same circle with you and my Fanny. As for the society in which we partake, few use their power with compassion and care. They do not emulate the best of their circle; it is always the worst they follow.” Bennet bowed to her and winked at his Fanny, causing Lord Matlock to chuckle and approve, demonstrated by his clapping Thomas on the back.
Miss Bingley stood frozen in place, the haze of her anger receding only far enough for her to register the unknown lady had said in his own house, which meant that Mr. Bennet owned Netherfield Park. She had a sinking feeling, although she attempted to maintain an outward display of confidence.
Forcing herself to realise what else had been said, her world began to splinter when she finally realised who she had just denigrated. The woman was the Countess of Matlock, Mr. Darcy’s aunt, the woman she had wanted to meet but had never succeeded in doing so.
‘What have I done?’ she thought, then she heard the Countess speak again.
“William, be a dear and introduce us to this...lady.” The Countess’ voice remained pleasant, but her tone dripped with disdain.
“With pleasure, Aunt Elaine.” Darcy turned to his aunt and bowed.
“Aunt Elaine, Uncle Reggie, Andrew, and Marie, this is Miss Caroline Bingley, daughter of a most respected tradesman and sister to my very good friend, Charles Bingley. Richard and I have often related tales of her social gaffes to you. Miss Bingley, my uncle and aunt, the Earl and Countess of Matlock; my cousins, the Viscount and Viscountess Hilldale; and my cousin, the Honourable Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.”
After that introduction, the finality of what she had done hit Caroline.
Before her, in an assembly far from the ton, in a shire she had never heard anyone speak of, stood the very persons she had wished to ingratiate herself with—but they looked at her as if she was below a speck of dirt on their shoes.
Hearing the Countess inhale, she knew this nightmare was not yet over.
“I will make sure, as will my daughter, Lady Hilldale, that you will never be received in polite society again. Your transgressions are too numerous to name, but you have forgotten your place. You thought yourself above gently bred landowners and were not merely rude; you were as uncouth as a woman of the streets. You are far too high in the instep! Allow me to inform you, Miss Bingley, the Bennets have owned their land for many generations. They are members of the first circles, something you will never be. Insulting our friend in his own house was beyond the pale!”
Caroline now realised how wrong she had been, and wished her actions undone, but that horse had left the barn. The Bennets owned Netherfield Park; they were members of the first circles; everything Mr. Bennet had said was true.
As she looked at the Bennet ladies, Caroline finally noticed their dresses and jewellery were of the quality one might expect of those of the first circles.
Her brother was merely a Bennet tenant. She felt she might cast up her accounts.
She thought it could not grow worse when she heard her brother speak.
“You will return to Netherfield immediately. Your trunks have been packed already. You will be moved to the inn; your maid will act as your chaperone. At first light tomorrow, the footmen I will send to the inn to ensure you cause no further mischief will make sure you are on the post. One of them will accompany you to Scarborough. When you arrive, what is left of your dowry after I deduct funds to replace what you have broken in Mr. Bennet’s house will be released to you, and you will be on your own thereafter.
“Lady Matlock warned you to never show your face in Town again; I suggest you heed her warning,” Bingley stated with a look of cold fury on his face, then he looked towards Jane.
He saw steely resolve and approval on Jane’s face, then her barely contained anger for the way Caroline had treated her family.
He knew then he had made the right decision.
“But Charles...” Miss Bingley beseeched, white as a ghost. Then she glanced up and saw distaste on Darcy’s face; she could no longer deny he could not abide her presence.
Charles then said, “By the grace of God, those here will not hold the rest of our family responsible for your actions. You would have ruined us all! I am grateful everyone who matters to both Louisa and me knows you alone are the problem. You have done this to yourself even after ample warning; now you must live with the consequences. No matter your plan, no matter had it succeeded, I would never have forced Darcy to marry you. He deserves happiness and Miss Elizabeth is a better match for him than you could ever be.”
After listening to her brother, Miss Bingley realised her plan to compromise Mr. Darcy had died along with her hopes of a life in society.
“By the way, Caroline, the Bennet daughters have more than forty thousand pounds each, so your twenty thousand is nothing to theirs. Their true value, however, is their compassion, love of family, and accomplishments.”
There were audible gasps from Miss Bingley and the neighbours, who until then had believed the story of five-thousand-pound dowries. Bingley looked apologetically at Bennet for revealing the last, but it seemed Bennet would not hold the slip against him.
His speech completed, he turned his back on Caroline and walked toward Jane Bennet, giving his sister the cut direct. Everyone at the assembly followed his example, even Mrs. Hurst.
A footman escorted a chastised and dejected Caroline Bingley from the room. To her detriment, she had learnt nothing from the experience. She continued to blame her downfall on everyone except herself.
After she left, Sir William ask the musicians to resume playing and everyone went back to enjoying the assembly.
Jane, Lizzy, and Mary each danced a total of three times with the gentlemen they had opened the assembly with.
The faces of their family, friends, and neighbours sported knowing smiles.
There was little doubt of the preferences of the gentlemen.
“I could not be happier for soon we will be more than friends; we will be family,” the Countess whispered to Fanny Bennet.
“Elaine, I cannot wait to call Richard, son.” Fanny held the hand of the sister of her heart.
“What about William?” The countess inclined her head in the direction of her nephew, who was dancing with Lizzy.
Both could see their mutual attraction. “She is the first young woman to catch his attention. He never dances the first and never has danced more than once with any young lady. He has been careful about not raising expectations until he met our Lizzy.”
“If he is who Lizzy wants and they love, respect, and esteem each other, I will be happy to welcome Mr. Darcy as a son as well.” Fanny smiled sweetly at the couple few could take their eyes from.
“I have known him since birth, and I have never seen the boy besotted before. His entire countenance has brightened. After what almost happened, I never thought I would see him smile again. Oh, I have said too much...” Elaine looked at Darcy in fearful apology.
“Do not worry, Elaine; I know all. He unburdened himself to Thomas; there are no secrets between us. Thomas shared with me and that is as far as it will ever go. Since he spoke to Thomas and was set straight about things beyond his control, I have noticed he has displayed a brighter countenance. As my Lizzy says, he is handsome when he remembers to smile,” Fanny said, beaming at her second eldest, who seemed lost in something Mr. Darcy said to her.
“It is a relief to know he has given over blaming himself for what happened. Your acceptance of Georgie even after you learnt of her folly warms my heart. Reggie and I will be grateful forever to both you and Thomas. Since both their parents passed, we have been more parents than aunt and uncle to the Darcys.” Elaine pressed her hand to her chest, her heart swelling with love and affection.
“That is obvious to anyone who sees you together. It is a pity we only recently met the Darcys. I understand George and Lady Anne were wonderful people. How well Georgiana gets along with my girls! She seems to have formed a strong bond with Kitty, as they are so close in age,” Fanny said.
“Please hug them both more. They were stiff as boards when I hugged them the day they arrived.” She winked at Elaine, whose rich laughter rang out and made those who heard it smile.
“I will make it my life’s mission,” the Countess promised. “At least, I will until Lizzy makes it hers,” she teased. This time Fanny’s laugh filled the air. They linked arms, waiting for the final dance to end, knowing that there was more happiness on the horizon for their families.