Chapter 22
ARTS AND ALLUREMENTS
Bingley’s sisters were also in possession of an urgent missive, and now that Mr. Darcy was safe from the likes of Jane Bennet, Miss Bingley was free to express the depths of her contempt to whoever would listen.
“How could I possibly have thought it was a good idea for Charles to divert that woman’s attention away from Mr. Darcy?” Miss Bingley complained.
“Caroline, you must not be too severe on yourself. It was a good plan, and it was working up to a point.”
“Indeed, up to the point where he decided to elope with her, effectively ending my hopes for an alliance between Miss Darcy and him.”
“How could you have known that he would fall in love with Jane?”
“Love! I dare say that particular emotion has nothing at all to do with this travesty. Seeing that she stood no chance of garnering Mr. Darcy’s affections because of his feelings for me, she used her feminine arts and allurements to ensnare our unsuspecting brother.
She drew him in, and now we must forever consider ourselves tied to the likes of those horrible people who lack everything that is most desired among our society. ”
“Caroline, you speak as though it is the end of the world. I assure you there are far worse things that might have happened. She is a gentleman’s daughter, which must surely count for something. What is more, she is very agreeable. I am certain our brother will be quite happy with her.”
Miss Bingley looked at her sister in dismay. “Do you mean to say that you have accepted this—that you will welcome that woman as our sister?”
“I do not see that I have a choice—unless she and Charles changed their minds. That would make for a far worse scandal. No doubt, he would then be obliged to marry her anyway else both of their reputations would be ruined. What would that do for your prospects for an alliance with your Mr. Darcy?”
“You make a fine point, Louisa, I am sure. But that is not to say that I must like this situation one little bit, nor does it mean that I should embrace that little chit. Indeed, I shall go out of my way to see that she suffers for persuading our brother to marry her.”
“Oh, Caroline,” Mrs. Hurst cried.
“Do not judge me, Louisa. I will not abide it,” responded Miss Bingley. Voices outside the doorway drew both ladies’ attention, which put an end to the discussion.
Seconds later, Elizabeth walked into the room. The Bingley sisters were the last people she wished to see, but it could not be helped. If she suffered but one degree of disappointment for Jane, it was that she must forever consider those two her sisters.
Clutching the crumpled missive in her hand, Miss Bingley stood abruptly and marched straight to Elizabeth, stopping just inches away. “No doubt you are very proud of yourself.”
“If what you mean to say is I am happy for my sister, you speak correctly. I could not be happier that she is to be married to a decent and honorable man who also happens to be the man she loves.”
“Love!” Miss Bingley screamed. “I declare if I hear one more person utter that word in connection with this travesty, I shall not be responsible for my conduct.”
“I am certain that how you conduct yourself can have no bearing whatsoever on me. I have said it once, and I shall continue to say it so often as I please. I know my sister very well. Nothing but the deepest love would have compelled her to go away with your brother to be married in Scotland.” Elizabeth crossed one arm over the other.
“There, I said it. Jane loves him and he loves her. Hate my sister, if you dare. I am certain as the wife of Mr. Charles Bingley she shall have no cause to repine, and the opinion of even those who are so closely connected to him as you cannot lessen their admiration for each other.”
“I suppose you have this all sorted out. No doubt, you have written to all your family congratulating yourselves on what a victory it is to be connected by marriage to a gentleman with five thousand pounds a year.”
“I will not deny that this marriage is a cause for great joy, but you are woefully mistaken if you suppose that your brother’s fortune was an inducement for my sister. How dare you give your own brother so little credit.”
“You know nothing at all about my brother. Neither does your sister, for that matter, for if she did she would know that he tends to fall in love with every young lady whom he meets so long as she has an angelic countenance — the face of an angel — as he always waxes poetically. Your sister may have married him, but if she supposes for one second that she will keep his interest from straying to the next angel who crosses his path, she will be severely disappointed.”
Elizabeth was a bit taken aback by this intelligence. Could Mr. Bingley truly be as fickle as his sister suggested? She did not intend to let her adversary know how much she had been affected by this troubling account.
“Those are grave faults in one’s character, indeed, if they are even true, but as your brother has never actually eloped with any one of the angels that preceded my sister, I have every reason to believe he did not love them.
His marrying my sister is all the evidence that I need to trust that what he feels for Jane is beyond comparison to anything he may or may not have felt for anyone in the past.”
Elizabeth grew quite weary of arguing the matter with Miss Bingley. In her mind, Jane’s situation was settled. Nothing would come from dwelling on it, especially considering what was likely transpiring upstairs with the Darcys.
Her mind in a tumult, she turned and headed out the parlor door, nearly bowling over Mr. Bingley’s brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, in the process. “Oh, get out of my way!” she shouted.
Well on her way, Elizabeth heard him ask, “Heavens! What on Earth was that about?”
Thinking she ought not to have taken out her frustrations on the poor gentleman, she thought to turn and offer some sort of apology. Changing her mind, she covered her face with both hands for a second or two to calm herself and then moved hastily toward the doorway leading outside the manor house.
Time and distance away from her sister’s future in-laws were what she needed most. Nothing but a brisk walk around the park would do for she needed to think.
Not only would she need to provide comfort to the Darcys in any way she could, but there was also the matter of comforting her dear father.
How different things had turned out during their stay in Derbyshire.
Indeed, Mr. Bennet was gaining a son-in-law, but he was also losing a dear old friend.