Chapter II #3
“Because, Miss Bingley,” replied Darcy, fixing her with a pointed look, “civility is the very soul of society. How one treats others, even when one cares little for them, shows more about us than words ever could. One never knows when actions taken in anger or contempt will return to haunt us later.”
As Darcy expected, Miss Bingley did not agree with him, though she returned to her sister and Georgiana, the two ladies departing soon after.
Darcy watched them go and wondered if it was time to inform Bingley that visits to Georgiana would no longer be welcome and instruct the housekeeper to deny them entry.
Though he had no wish to affect Bingley’s standing, visits to his young sister were not proper, and Darcy had little wish to endure the woman in his own home.
“Brother,” came Georgiana’s voice, her expression curious. “Of what were you speaking with Miss Bingley?”
“Nothing of importance, Georgiana,” replied Darcy, his mind still on the visit.
“It seemed to be of significant importance to Miss Bingley,” said Georgiana.
Darcy regarded his sister, then sighed. “She wished to speak about a visit she received from a woman we knew in Hertfordshire, a Miss Bennet.”
Georgiana regarded him, uncertain. “Miss Bennet? Is that the same Miss Bennet of whom you wrote when you were in Hertfordshire?”
Recalling the letters to his sister, Darcy shook his head. “I may have mentioned Miss Bennet, though I do not remember. The lady of whom I wrote was her younger sister, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
“Yes, that was her name,” agreed Georgiana. “As I recall, she and her sister stayed at Mr. Bingley’s estate for some days.”
“They did,” agreed Darcy. “Miss Bennet became ill during a dinner party with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, and Miss Elizabeth came to Netherfield to nurse her sister.”
“To own the truth,” said Georgiana, “I wish that I had been there. From what I recall of your missives, Miss Elizabeth did not hesitate to prick Miss Bingley’s vanity.”
“And you think that Miss Bingley’s vanity needs to be punctured?”
“Do you not think it does?”
With a laugh, Darcy agreed she was correct.
Looking back on the event, Darcy recollected Miss Bingley’s superiority when speaking of her rudeness to Miss Bennet.
If any member of the Bennet family did not deserve such treatment, it was Miss Bennet, for while Darcy had never found her especially interesting, she was as genteel a woman as Darcy had ever met.
It was further evidence of Miss Bingley’s poor character that she could treat such a gentle soul with contempt.
As the matter had happened without his knowledge or interference, there had been nothing he could do—nor would he have attempted to make amends even if it was his place to do so.
At the time, he had still clung to his conviction that it was for the best that Bingley remained separate from Miss Bennet. Now, of course, he was not so certain.
The crux of the matter was whether Darcy had any right to keep the truth from Bingley.
As a man full-grown and master of his own path, Bingley had the right to choose for himself, and if he chose Miss Bennet despite the defects in her situation, what right did Darcy have to question him?
If Bingley decided he wanted Miss Bennet for a wife anyway, he would make much the same calculation that Darcy had made himself.
That was an uncomfortable truth, but no less valid.
Bingley was out of town at present, having left with his family to visit a friend in Buckinghamshire, but Darcy knew he would return soon.
The only reason Miss Bingley had agreed to it at all was that Darcy had been away visiting his aunt in Kent—had he remained in town, he knew Miss Bingley would have insisted they remain too.
Though Darcy could not inform his friend of his new intelligence now, he knew he must do so the moment Bingley returned.
There was no other choice than to confess his error, relate what he had learned from Miss Elizabeth, and allow Bingley to proceed as he wished.
The other matter was, of course, George Wickham himself, the threat he posed to the community.
Though Darcy had vowed not to involve himself in Wickham’s intrigues or cover his debts, his honor would demand that he discharge any debts because he had remained silent in the autumn.
This time, however, it would be different, for Darcy was not about to allow Wickham to escape again.
The truth was that Darcy ought to have dealt with Wickham the previous summer when he had found Wickham in Ramsgate attempting to persuade Georgiana to elope with him.
Darcy would not make that mistake again.
As Wickham had been in Meryton for some months already, Darcy judged that there would be little difference in waiting for Bingley’s return for a few days or making for Meryton that very morning.
Instead, he sent an express to Pemberley asking his steward to send him the stack of Wickham’s debts in both Lambton and Cambridge.
Depending on what debt Wickham had amassed in Meryton, he might not need them, but he preferred to have them on hand.
Once Wickham was in custody, he would petition his uncle to see him transported.
The thought of Wickham laboring in the penal colony on the other side of the world appealed to Darcy.
Wickham would finally be gone from his life forever.