Chapter Thirty-eight
“They did not tell me what they were doing either, Mr. Darcy.” Lizzy finally could stand it no longer and had found them in the study. She had been worried for her cousin but found Darcy nearly panting in furry.
“Why cousin? Why would you not tell me what Bingley had planned?”
Bennet decided to answer, “Because he has been your friend for many years. It would be difficult for me to believe if say…Sir William was planning to burn down my house, and someone I had only known a short time told me of his scheme. You are an honorable and honest man; would you have been able to let his plot play out if we had told you? Would you have believed us?”
Lizzy placed her hand on his arm and his breathing almost immediately calmed. He thought for a minute or two. “I do not believe so. I would have said you were mistaken.”
“You and Ethan are very much alike, William. You are loyal to a fault. It’s not a bad thing to be loyal, but sometimes it can be misplaced.
If Bingley was just fantasizing the compromise, and had no intention of doing it, it hurt no one for us to not tell you.
I am very sorry you are hurt by his actions, and our decision not to tell you what we suspected. ”
“Come, we all must return to the ball, or the gossip will be blown all out of proportion. Lizzy, help Beth change. Quickly. Darcy, go get Ethan. We will distract everyone with introductions, and we do not want him to beat your former friend too much. I will go make a toast to John and Charlotte, and hopefully John will find his tongue and toast us back. Go!”
Between Bennet, John, and Sir William, the toasts went on for nearly fifteen minutes.
Ethan and Richard entered the room first, and Bennet went around introducing him to the entire community.
Darcy was next to slip in, and then Lizzy and Beth.
Very few people noticed Beth’s dress went from dark blue to dark green.
She had the same jewels on. Her hair was perfect.
She had been so quickly surrounded by all the cousins during the incident, the rest of the guests started wondering if they saw what they thought they saw.
It was put out that Mr. Bingley hurt himself when he fell, and he sent his regrets, but the ball must go on!
Beth showed no embarrassment at all, so the tittle tattle died before anyone left that night.
~~~~~
“I am so happy you’re here! We are leaving for Pemberley the day after Uncle Thomas and Mamie get married. You’ll be able to see where our father was born. There’s a portrait of him and Uncle George in the gallery. So many of the Darcy’s look similar to us. You’ll see soon!”
“You seem very happy, sister. England has been good to you?”
“Nearly everything has been wonderful. Last night was only the second fortune hunter and rogue we’ve had to deal with since I’ve been here.”
“Trouble just finds you doesn’t it.”
“THAT was Gigi’s trouble. We just stepped in to fix it. You’ll meet our other Darcy cousin this afternoon. She spent the night with the younger Bennet girls.”
“What will be done with that Bingley fellow?”
“William and Hurst are talking to him now. They will decide what is to be done with him. I’m more concerned about Caroline. If what he did gets out, this will ruin her marriage prospects. Who wants to have a brother like him?”
“She has been your friend?”
“I think so. We had a rough start, but she told me Bingley was planning something. She tried to find out what, but he would not say.”
“Could she come to Pemberley with us? Or does she have family far enough away that she could stay with?”
Caroline walked into the small sitting room where Beth and Ethan were conversing. “I do have family in the north. They…uh…know me as I was. I am not sure I would be welcome without Charles. He has everyone there fooled too.”
“And you were the harridan who was too far above yourself. Correct?”
Caroline just nodded. Ethan thought she was rather pretty. Beth had told him how she acted when they first met, and about her nauseating color choices, and blatant flirting with their cousins. It was hard for him to believe this was that same person.
“We’ll speak to William. Richard and Theo said they’d champion you if you continued your improvements.”
Caro smiled softly and said she would send them in tea and pastries, then left quietly.
~~~~~
“Bingley has been advised he no longer will be welcome in London. If he attempts to return there, Lady Matlock will expose who he really is. The Hursts and Miss Bingley will no longer acknowledge him. Bingley has been lying to his younger sister about her allowance and dowry. He has no say in her quarterly payments. She will receive it no matter what he has to say, and her dowry will be released on her marriage or when she turns five and twenty. The Hursts will allow her to live with them. They have no intention of returning to London for at least a year. Mrs. Hurst is expecting.” Darcy was explaining to everyone involved at once.
The younger girls were still at Longbourn for another night.
“So, he’s just being let go? He accosted my sister. He should have to pay for that!”
“You already broke his nose, Ethan. His fondest wish of climbing the social ladder has been destroyed. His pretty face is marred. He’s locked in his room like a naughty little boy.
Everyone will be leaving him in a week. And his lease is being revoked, thanks to Uncle Thomas knowing the owners very well.
By Christmas, his entire castle will be rubble at his feet. What more payment should there be?”
Ethan stuck his lower lip out. “Maybe I should have knocked out a couple of his teeth too.”
That broke the tension in the room, and everyone laughed.
“Well, we have two weddings to witness, and then Christmas at Pemberley! There’s much for the ladies execute, so you gentlemen try to find something useful to do.” Beth led the ladies out of the room. They really did have a great deal to accomplish.
Ethan and William had nearly identical looks on their faces.
Richard could not help himself and started laughing at them.
Theo and Mr. Bennet realized what had tickled his fancy and started laughing too.
When the cousins got the same confused and then annoyed look on their faces, the laughter just got louder.
The ladies smiled to themselves as they walked down the hall.