Chapter Six
“My feelings in every respect forbid it.”
THE MORNING FOLLOWING THE NETHERFIELD BALL FOUND DARCY pacing his bedchamber.
The decision he made the previous evening would impact both his and Bingley’s lives forever; it was not one to be taken lightly.
Both were infatuated with the eldest Bennet sisters.
Darcy realized he could defer Elizabeth’s allurements by putting distance and time between them.
Forcing Bingley to divorce himself from the situation might prove more difficult.
His friend wore his heart on his sleeve, but he did trust Darcy’s opinions implicitly; and Darcy would use that influence.
Fortunately for the household, Bingley had departed for London for business. Darcy’s actions would require a secret alliance with Bingley’s sisters, but his friend would thank them all later. Thinking so, Darcy sought Caroline and Louisa in the morning room.
“Ah, Mr. Darcy, you appear well rested.” Caroline looked up from her morning meal.
“I am, thank you,” he began, “but there is something of which I wish to speak to you.”
As expected, the Bingley sisters held similar concerns regarding Charles’s attention to Miss Jane Bennet.
They agreed Miss Bennet was a congenial young lady, and they were willing to have her as an acquaintance.
Yet, the possibility of her becoming an intimate member of their family created a different story.
During the conversation, they ridiculed the Bennet family’s lack of civilities during the ball, but Darcy remained silent.
He could not place Elizabeth among the offenders.
Other than Miss Bingley loosely confiding that Elizabeth had ignored Caroline’s warnings regarding Mr. Wickham’s character during the evening, little was said against Elizabeth directly.
Louisa even commented that “poor Miss Elizabeth” appeared mortified with the actions of her family.
Darcy was thankful they had not attacked her.
He was still too vulnerable to her charms.
“So, we are agreed. We will quit Netherfield immediately and follow your brother to Town. There, we will do whatever we must do to save Bingley from his folly.”
Louisa added, “It is of the utmost importance we distract Charles from this recklessness. We must divert his thoughts from this woman by exposing him to the society of his equals or his superiors.”
Bingley knew surprise at discovering his sisters and Mr. Hurst in London. Darcy casually reminded Bingley that he too had postponed business until after the ball. “Naturally, your sisters did not wish to remain with both of us gone.”
“We have so many preparations for the Festive Season,” Louisa explained.
Caroline chimed, “Louisa and I could not think of our not spending Christmastide with Mr. Darcy and lovely Georgiana. We cannot think of returning to Hertfordshire until well after Twelfth Night.”
“But I told Miss Bennet I would be at Netherfield for the Festive Season,” Bingley protested. “I was to dine at Longbourn at the end of the week.”
Louisa insisted, “Mr. Darcy cannot spend the season at Netherfield and neglect his sister. We have been their guests at Darcy House since your friendship began.”
“I sent Miss Bennet our regrets regarding the dinner invitation. I explained we would be spending Christmastide in London.” Caroline reassured him. “Miss Bennet’s family circle will demand all her attention during the celebrations, would you not think?”
“You would not wish to disappoint Miss Darcy, would you?” Darcy added. “She so enjoys your company. You are one of the few people who can draw her out of her shyness. She has practiced some special pieces for a private concert. It is only for a few weeks.”
“Of course, I would not wish to disappoint Miss Darcy,” his friend murmured.
“You will be my guest at Darcy House,” Darcy added quickly. “I can send for Georgiana sooner than I expected, with both of us available to escort her to festive gatherings. She will be so pleased.”
Once Darcy, Caroline, and Louisa had Bingley sequestered in London, they surreptitiously attacked Bingley’s feelings for Miss Jane Bennet.
His sisters made casual comments about how women made fools of men by using feminine charms. Each “means of seduction” they ridiculed was a characteristic Miss Bennet possessed.
Darcy added his concerns about whether Miss Bennet really cared for Bingley.
“She listens attentively, but I observed her doing the same in other conversations. What I did not observe,” Darcy insinuated, “was an exclusive feeling in your respect. I believe she would accept your proposals. It would benefit Miss Bennet and her family substantially, but you always said you would prefer a relationship which included mutual affection.”
“I do,” Bingley added with apparent uncomfortableness, “but I thought she returned my regard.”
Darcy continued, “I have more experience than you with pandering mothers and desperate daughters looking for a husband. Miss Bennet appears to be schooled in such manners. You observed Mrs. Bennet’s behavior.
Do you suppose Mr. Bennet, a landed gentleman, would have made such an inappropriate match if Mrs. Bennet at one time or another did not know how to rein in her enthusiasm and to appear a genial young woman?
Now, look at how Mrs. Bennet’s behavior makes the Bennet family the laughingstock of the county.
Their vulgar actions at your ball were a warning as to what you may expect if you align yourself with such a family.
You are not simply choosing for yourself, Charles; you are bringing all the Bennets into your family.
Without wishing an offense, the Bennets’ connection to trade will undo all your efforts for your family’s acceptance in Society. ”
Although Bingley reluctantly agreed, he did not welcome the news, and Darcy noted how Bingley, when others were not looking, stared off, as if elsewhere in his mind.
Darcy knew Bingley’s position well; he often found himself ruminating over Elizabeth.
How could she not see through to his character?
I do not get on at all. I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly.
It had not taken her so very long to know Mr. Wickham’s attributes!
She had used Darcy ill. Deserted and disappointed him.
And worse, she had displayed a weakness of character.
She had given him up to oblige others. She had accepted Mr. Wickham’s “tales of woe.” With regret, Darcy set his mind to forget an auburn-haired miss with fine eyes.
Even in doing so, he would feel no triumph—only the pity at having loved and lost would remain.
The Festive Season in London had never held the inducements for Darcy as those spent at Pemberley, but since the death of his father, he could no longer bear to be at Pemberley at Christmastide.
For the past five years, he and Georgiana had spent their time at Darcy House.
Yet, even having Georgiana with him did not appease the emptiness he had experienced since leaving Netherfield, and, try as he may, nothing erased the memory of Elizabeth’s countenance.
After the Twelfth Night celebrations, Darcy reluctantly returned to Society.
He spent many evenings with Bingley and his sisters, but where he had once thought of Caroline’s civilities as refined, he now found them affected and boring.
He made an effort to encounter eligible young women in Town, often calling on acquaintances and accepting more invitations than he was known to do.
He once found a Miss Donnelly attractive, but then she told him that her given name was “Elizabeth,” and he was lost again in a reverie of depression.
Realizing he required more time to find the solace he sought, Darcy abandoned his pursuit of new social connections.
In late January, despite the weather and the terrible condition of the roads, he made a brief journey to Scotland to the Fitzwilliam property there to observe firsthand some of the new agricultural methods being utilized in the Americas.
He hoped to include such methods at Pemberley in the upcoming planting season.
Darcy could easily have read about the methods, but examining the type of soil and the crops involved lent him a good excuse to be alone with his thoughts.
Upon his return, he threw himself into the business of improvements for Pemberley, which granted him relief from the contrasting memories.
One evening, only Georgiana kept him company at his London town house.
Mrs. Annesley had the evening off to visit a beloved nephew.
They enjoyed a light repast before lounging leisurely in conversation in the drawing room.
Darcy had partaken of more brandy than he should.
He was not drunk, but the warmth of the liquid had lowered his defenses.
“Will you travel to Kent to attend our aunt at Easter?” Georgiana asked casually.
“I will. Our cousin arranged a reprieve from his military duties so we may address our aunt’s estate books together. It is not a journey to which I look forward. Our aunt can be so …”
“Demanding,” Georgiana added mayhap a little too quickly.
Darcy arched an eyebrow at his sister’s response. Although she had never expressed such opinions beyond her brother’s hearing, Georgiana had become more opinionated of late. “Our aunt can be very solicitous. Has she said something to you, my dear?”
“Just our aunt’s usual reproofs to practice my music and to maintain the proper manners. Sometimes I resent her constant remarks.” She said with a blush, “I know I should not feel these things about a beloved relative …”
“Our aunt can irritate even the most devout. You must show her respect, but her opinions are not absolutes.”
He noted she hesitated. “William, was not Mr. Bingley satisfied with his estate in Hertfordshire?”