Chapter 6
Darcy made his way to Hurst’s townhome on Grosvenor Street. The house was too large and too expensive for Hurst to manage on his own, so he and Bingley split the cost of lighting, heating, and servants in exchange for Bingley and Miss Bingley staying there whenever they were in town.
Darcy suspected that Hurst used this arrangement to charge Bingley a higher price than what was fair, but the one time he had said as much to Bingley, his friend had nearly exploded in his defense of his brother-in-law.
When Darcy was shown into the parlor, he was disappointed to see that Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were already there. He had hoped to get there before them, but apparently by going to see Georgiana first, he had lost the head start he had gained by leaving Netherfield first.
“Mr. Darcy, what a pleasant surprise,” said Miss Bingley. “We were just telling my brother how unwise it would be to return to Netherfield. Do come and add your wisdom to the conversation.”
Bingley was looking a little hen-pecked and more than a little overwhelmed. “Yes, please join us,” said Bingley, though he looked as though he was asking to be saved from his sisters rather than asking for advice.
“Actually, I have come on a private matter,” said Darcy. “If it is not too inconvenient, I would like to have a quiet word with you, Bingley.”
Relief flooded his friend’s face as he practically leaped from his chair. “Of course, Darcy. Let’s go to my study.”
Once the two friends were in the study with the door closed, Bingley asked, “What can I do for you?”
“I will be returning to Hertfordshire either tomorrow or the next day, but your sister has closed the house,” said Darcy. “I was hoping to stay at Netherfield, but if you won’t be returning, I will need to make other arrangements.”
“Honestly, Darcy, I don’t know what to do,” said Bingley.
“If it was just that Caroline and Louisa thought Miss Bennet was unsuitable, I think I could get past that, but Caroline is telling me that she doesn’t think Miss Bennet returns my affection.
How can I go back to Hertfordshire simply to face a painful one-sided attraction? ”
Bingley’s problem resonated with Darcy more than he expected. He, too, was now facing the prospect of an unrequited love. “I don’t know that I can tell you what to do,” said Darcy. “However, I can tell you what I would do, what I am doing, in fact.”
It took a moment for Bingley to understand what Darcy was hinting at, but when he did, he suddenly sat up straighter.
“You? You have an unrequited love?” When Darcy nodded, Bingley asked, “Who? It can’t be someone in Hertfordshire.
I mean, you barely spoke to anyone. And it can’t be Caroline, either.
She would trip over herself and fall flat on her face if it meant you would marry her. So, who is it?”
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” said Darcy, trying to hide his chagrin. Bingley was right that Darcy had barely spoken to anyone, and it only reinforced what Mr. Bennet had said, that he had given off the impression that he did not respect anyone he considered lower than himself.
“Miss Elizabeth,” said Bingley, surprise and wonder lacing his words. “But I clearly remember you saying she was barely tolerable.”
Darcy’s mask slipped, and a groan escaped his throat.
“I know. I was wrong. So wrong. It didn’t take long before I realized that the intelligence and humor in her eyes completely transforms her face.
But it is more than her beauty, even more than her intelligence.
She is brave enough to stand up to me and argue with me.
She is kind enough and loyal enough to put up with your sister’s begrudging hospitality to nurse her own sister back to health.
She is the perfect lady, and I have been a fool to attempt to suppress my own attraction to her. ”
Bingley just stared at him, his eyes wide and his jaw slightly dropped. Eventually, he pulled himself together. “You implied that she does not return your affections, but that is hardly believable. The great Mr. Darcy of Pemberley can have any lady he wishes. No woman of sense would turn you down.”
Darcy shook his head. “No woman of sense would marry a man who so clearly disdains her and everyone she knows,” he said. “That is the impression Miss Elizabeth has of me. Since that is the case, I can hardly blame her for it.”
“Does that mean you have asked her to marry you, and she has declined?” asked Bingley.
“Not yet. The subject came up when I was speaking with her father on a different matter. It was only then that I realized that Miss Elizabeth Bennet practically despises me.”
“So, what will you do?” asked Bingley. “I assume that, since you will be returning to Hertfordshire, you are not simply giving up.”
“Exactly,” said Darcy. “I am not giving up. I wish to at least try to convince her to love me or at least respect me enough to marry me. Failing that, at the very least, I will do what I can to ensure her long-term happiness.”
“Is that what you recommend I do?” asked Bingley.
“I told you before that I cannot tell you what you should do,” answered Darcy.
“Your situation is different. You have not made a fool of yourself by parading manners and arrogance among people who care nothing for such things. Whether Miss Bennet loves you, I cannot say, but I am certain she does not despise you the way Miss Elizabeth does me.”
“Caroline claims that Miss Bennet is indifferent to me,” said Bingley. “It seems easier to change hate to love than to change indifference to love, especially since I haven’t exactly hidden how I feel about her. If she truly is indifferent now, she is likely to remain so.”
Bingley had a point. At least with hatred, there was still passion. Darcy was certain Miss Elizabeth was not indifferent to him. The few times they had conversed, there was always passion and liveliness in her eyes, even if she seldom actually smiled at him.
“Will you give her up, then?” asked Darcy.
“Perhaps?” said Bingley, though it was more a question than a statement.
This was one of the few things about Bingley that genuinely irritated Darcy.
Bingley was a friendly fellow, easy in any type of company.
Darcy admired him greatly for his social skills.
However, Bingley was also a bit indecisive, a bit too dependent on the opinions and advice of others.
At times Darcy had found this convenient for himself, but now, when it mattered most, Bingley did not seem to have the necessary drive to do what needed to be done.
After several moments of silence while Darcy gave Bingley time to think, Darcy said, “Well, if you will not be returning to Netherfield, may I purchase the lease from you? I will need a place to stay for at least a month, hopefully more, and Georgiana and Richard wish to join me. I may even invite a few other friends as well to give ourselves a jolly Christmas.”
Bingley looked wistful, as if he wished to deny his friend’s request and return to Miss Bennet himself.
“Do you really believe Miss Bennet doesn’t love me?” asked Bingley, apparently not yet willing to let the subject drop.
Darcy thought carefully about Miss Bennet’s behavior.
She was universally kind, universally cheerful.
Her manners and mannerisms were the same no matter who she spoke to.
Darcy had never been able to detect any amount of peculiar regard toward his friend.
At the same time, however, Darcy was reminded that no one had been able to detect his affection for Miss Elizabeth.
Perhaps, Miss Bennet was simply adept at hiding her own feelings, though why she would do such a thing was beyond him.
“I genuinely don’t know,” said Darcy, “and even if I did, I don’t think I would say. This is a matter between you and Miss Bennet.”
Another round of silence followed. Then, Bingley said, “I think I will take you up on your offer to purchase the lease. It was a mistake. The whole thing was one big mistake.”
“Very well,” said Darcy. “Do you have time to go to your solicitor tomorrow morning to make the arrangements? I would prefer it if I could head back to Netherfield sometime tomorrow.”
Bingley thought for a moment. “Of course,” he said. “I shall meet you there at eleven.”
Darcy wished it could be earlier, but Bingley was never a particularly early riser. Most days, he didn’t leave the house until after noon, so his agreement to meet at eleven was quite generous.
“Thank you, Bingley,” said Darcy
~~~~~
After informing Georgiana and Richard that he would be ready to return to Hertfordshire the next day, around three in the afternoon, Darcy spent the rest of the evening at his club.
There were a few friends he wished to greet while he was in town, but there was one in particular that he wished to see, Jonathon Masters.
Masters was of a similar age to Darcy, and he held a similar social standing to Bingley, though some would consider him to be lower.
Both Masters and Bingley were independently wealthy from the recent industrialist boom.
Bingley had sold all his business concerns, hoping to attain the status of landed gentleman by purchasing an estate somewhere.
Masters, however, still owned several mills in Manchester and even one in London.
Even though he was not a true gentleman, since he was very much involved with his business, Masters was a man Darcy felt a strong friendship with.
He was steady and decisive and usually quite serious, though like Darcy, he had an occasional sense of humor.
On this day, Darcy sought out his friend’s company, because he craved the steadiness of Masters’ character as an antidote to the fickleness of Bingley’s charm.
Darcy was in luck.
“Masters,” he said, cheerfully greeting his friend. “It is good to see you.”
Masters nodded. “And you as well. I don’t believe we have crossed paths since last spring.”
“True. I spent the summer at Pemberley and a couple of other places. Then I spent the majority of this autumn in Hertfordshire with Bingley and his family,” said Darcy.
“What little time I spent in London in between was taken up with business. Even now, I am on my way back to Hertfordshire tomorrow.”
Masters’ eyebrows rose. “There must be something particular to draw you back there,” he said.
“There is,” said Darcy, “and I will be happy to tell you all about her once you tell me that you will be willing to accompany me.”
Confusion clouded Masters’ features. “You know Bingley and I don’t particularly get along,” he said.
“Every time we attempt to converse we end up at cross purposes as to the role we should play in the business that made us wealthy. Even if we are only supposed to be talking about cards or women or even food, it always comes back to that.” After a pause, he added, “And don’t think I didn’t notice that you mentioned a lady as the reason you will be going back to Hertfordshire. ”
Darcy chuckled. “Nothing gets past you,” he said. “As for Bingley, he won’t be there. He decided to give up the lease, and I have purchased it. It will only be Richard, Georgiana, Georgiana’s companion, and myself, unless you decide to break up our little family clique and join us.”
“How long?” asked Masters after a brief moment of thought.
“At least until Christmas, though if things go well, it might be an additional few weeks.”
“You don’t mind me joining you for Christmas?” asked Masters.
Darcy felt a pang of guilt that he had never spent much time with his friend during the festive season in the past. Masters had no family except a sister in Manchester.
He had, once or twice, made the journey to see her at Christmas, but most years he claimed it was too much traveling simply to see someone for a few days.
“Of course not,” said Darcy. “I am certain you shall liven up our holiday admirably.”
Masters raised one doubtful eyebrow at him, and Darcy laughed again. “Perhaps I should say that we shall liven up your holiday, and we will benefit from the effort. Now, do say you will join us.”
“If you are certain, then I believe I will join you,” said Masters. “It would be nice to get away from the city. I haven’t spent any time in the country in years. But I will need to bring my assistant and a couple of riders with me. Will there be room for them as well?”
Since much of Masters’ business was in Manchester, he employed two men whose sole task was to take messages back and forth. Darcy had once asked him why he didn’t just move back to Manchester, but Masters had replied that London was more interesting and that it was worth the cost.
“Of course,” said Darcy. “Can you be ready to go by three tomorrow?”
“So soon?” asked Masters. Darcy nodded. “Well, I suppose there is nothing keeping me here. Very well, my staff, my carriage, and I shall be ready at noon. If you will stop by my house on your way out of the city, I will follow you to our destination.”
“Excellent,” said Darcy, and he clasped his friend’s hand in a firm handshake.
The following morning, Darcy and Bingley signed the paperwork to transfer the lease of Netherfield over to Darcy.
The unexpected expense of four hundred pounds was no small change, but it was entirely manageable and would be absolutely worth it if he could secure the most perfect woman in England as his wife.