Chapter 28
Mr. Bingley devoted more and more of his attention to Miss Bennet during the week since he arrived. The Saturday before the ball, his attentions became so marked Gardiner asked Bingley to join him in the master’s study.
The first thing Bingley noticed when he entered the room, was the bookshelves full of well-worn books; these were new additions—he had not kept reading material in this same study when he was leasing Netherfield.
Netherfield’s library now also contained a good selection of books.
Like his friend Darcy’s homes, books were read in this household, not merely displayed to impress guests.
“Mr. Bingley, you should not be surprised at my desire to speak with you. A blind man could see the attentions you are paying my daughter, Mary. What are your intentions?” Gardiner asked directly, without preamble.
“My intentions are completely honourable. She has captured my interest and I find that as much of a surprise to me as it is to others,” Bingley admitted.
He explained his past when he sought out beauty in a woman before ever considering her character.
“With Miss Bennet, it is the opposite. It is her intelligence, kindness, humour, excellent character, and accomplishments which captured my attention. That, Sir, is not to say Miss Bennet is not handsome, because I believe she is. However, unlike my past behaviour, her appearance was not what drew me to her.”
“My soon-to-be-son Darcy confirms what you have told me about your tendency to seek a certain look in a woman. It seems you have been courting my daughter unofficially. If you wish to continue, I require a formal courtship. The last thing I wish to see is Mary hurt if you leave suddenly on a whim once again.” Gardiner looked at Bingley as the younger man considered his words.
“I am the first to admit that I used to be somewhat capricious. That is not who I am today,” Bingley stated with steel in his voice.
“In the months since I was master here, I have grown and matured more than I did since my years at Cambridge. My experience with Mrs. Collins showed me, in stark relief, that looking only for physical attributes is absolutely the wrong way to find one’s life partner. ”
“Everything leads me to believe what you say is true. It is the reason I have not spoken to you before this,” Gardiner explained.
“Mr. Gardiner, I request your permission to address Miss Bennet with regards to a formal courtship. If we are as compatible as I believe we are, then I can see myself proposing to her when she is ready to hear my addresses. As of today, I am not in love with her but I can tell you I have started to develop tender feelings for Miss Bennet,” Bingley stated, his back ramrod straight.
“You may address Mary. If she agrees, then I expect to see you back here as soon as may be.” Gardiner dismissed Bingley to find Mary and make his application.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After exiting the study, Bingley went in search of Miss Bennet.
He discovered her at practice in the music room.
Once she completed her piece, he approached her and asked if she would like to take a turn in the rose garden with him.
Mary agreed, and they requested that Kitty and Lilly accompany them as chaperones.
“I did not come here expecting to meet a lady like you, Miss Bennet. But now I have, Mary, I have discovered you are a fascinating woman, one to whom I am attracted and for whom I am developing a tender regard. I have enjoyed the time we have spent talking and discovering our likes, dislikes, and interests. Do you enjoy your time with me as much as I enjoy mine with you?” Bingley asked, hopefully.
“The short answer is yes; I very much enjoy our time together. Without trying to, I find I have started to develop tender feelings for you as well,” Mary responded shyly.
“In that case, will you honour me by granting me a courtship so we can discover if we want to proceed beyond this point? I know we have only known each other for a short time, as when we first met I did not notice or appreciate the woman before me,” Bingley requested.
“My answer is yes, Mr. Bingley. I happily grant your request for a courtship,” Mary agreed.
“Would you please call me Charles when we are not in public?”
“As long as you call me Mary in the same situations.” Mary ignored the fact he had used her familiar name more than once in his speech. She quite enjoyed hearing her name fall from his lips.
“I must request your father’s permission,” an excited Bingley stated. After a short walk, the four returned to the house and Bingley made directly for the study to request Mr. Gardiner’s consent.
Based on what he had seen in Mary, Gardiner was confident she would agree to a courtship, but he wanted it to be Mary’s free choice. As she had made it, he readily bestowed his consent and blessing.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
During Sunday services at Hunsford, Mr. Collins launched into the sermon his patroness had written.
As he droned on, neither he nor Lady Catherine, who was sitting in her front pew alone with Anne not feeling too well, saw the entire congregation, with the exception of his wife, had walked out of the church.
Now knowing none of Lady Catherine’s threats would become reality, none of the parishioners wished to listen to more of the woman’s drivel delivered in a sleep-inducing monotone by her lacky.
Lady Catherine was accustomed to being paid the deference she felt she deserved when she exited the church. Normally, all of the congregation stood and, by her order, bowed their heads as she made her way down the aisle, with Mr. Collins trailing behind.
She started her regal walk towards the vestibule doors when she noticed the church was empty, other than Mrs. Collins. She turned to her parson, whose face had turned to a colour between white and grey, and who was sweating more profusely than usual.
“MR. COLLINS,” Lady Catherine screamed, “why are there none here to pay me the deference I deserve?”
“W-when I s-stood to c-commence your sermon, t-they were a-all in their s-seats,” Collins stammered, trying to wipe away the sweat pouring into his eyes.
“Mrs. Collins! Why did you not stop them from leaving before me?” Lady Catherine demanded.
“It pains me they all left your Ladyship, but I was doing as you and my husband ordered. I was concentrating on your lesson that he was delivering, and I was not paying attention to the parishioners,” Jane stated innocently.
She knew ahead of time what the congregants intended to do and supported them whole-heartedly. They came to church for spiritual nourishment, not to hear her husband repeat nonsense his patroness wrote.
Lady Catherine was in a quandary. She wanted to chastise Mrs. Collins for not stopping the exodus of the parishioners, but if she did, she would contradict her own order—as she was never wrong, she could not allow herself to do so.
“I want the names of all of those who slighted me so,” Lady Catherine ordered as she swept out of the church, her nose held high in the air, while Mr. Collins bowed and scraped as he followed her.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On Monday morning, the day of the ball, Darcy’s solicitor arrived.
He brought Darcy’s special license and the settlement papers.
A messenger was dispatched to Phillips immediately, asking him to join them.
Gardiner was familiar with business contracts, but he had never before reviewed a marriage settlement for one of his daughters.
Once Phillips arrived, Elizabeth was invited to join the four men.
After she read her settlement, she was amazed at the amount of Darcy’s income.
Darcy was also surprised, as he was not expecting any dowry, let alone one larger than his sister’s.
The only major change to the settlement was proposed by Darcy; he insisted Elizabeth’s fortune would remain under her control to do with what she wished.
When she tried to argue she had no need for the additional funds given the exorbitant sum Darcy was settling on her, he told her he would not be moved on this.
Elizabeth promptly proposed her funds be used to set up ten-thousand-pound dowries for each of her three younger sisters who had grown up with her at Longbourn.
The remaining five thousand pounds would be used for charities she planned to support.
Phillips and Gardiner both objected, stating they had dowered the three young ladies themselves; Elizabeth simply stated now they each had ten thousand pounds more. Knowing how stubborn his daughter could be if she chose, Gardiner left well enough alone.
Thanks to his foresight, Phillips had brought one of his clerks with him, so the man was able to prepare final drafts as they waited in the study. Once the settlement was reviewed a last time and no further changes required, Gardiner and Darcy affixed their signatures to each of the copies.
“Now that you have signed the settlement, there is no escaping, William,” Elizabeth teased as they exited the study, “You will have to marry me.”
“Just as I planned,” Darcy responded. His statement earned him one of her tinkling laughs which he dearly loved to hear.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Neither Kitty nor Lydia argued when their respective guardians had put them back in. They both understood a girl was not ready to come out at fifteen and she certainly did not need to be trying to catch a husband at that age.
Hence, there was no arguments from either when the rules for the ball were explained to all four of the young ladies of fifteen or older who were not yet out.
They would wear age-appropriate gowns, not low cut, and no lace.
Only family and close friends, pre-approved by their guardians, would be allowed to dance with them and they would leave the ball directly after supper.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~