Chapter 19 #2
Once Hurst had seen Bingley was willing to face the truth and no longer bury his head in the sand, Bingley had been handed one more letter; this one was from his father to him. In it, his father had laid waste to all of Bingley’s assumptions.
His late father had not minced words in explaining that he simply could not trust his only son to allow his mother and sister, who did not have a good relationship with the truth, to fritter away huge chunks of his fortune which had been earned through force of will and hard work.
Father had been more explicit than in the will regarding an estate.
He repeated that it was up to his son to decide.
He also stated that if Charles decided to take up the management of the business, that it would please him, as long as it was a free choice.
If he chose that, when Uncle John thought him ready, and after his thirtieth birthday, Bingley would receive a controlling share of the carriage works.
He was brought out of his reverie as his sister huffed and stamped her slippered foot to gain his attention. The days of Caroline manipulating him were at an end.
“That lie will no longer work. I went to Hurst House and read the full document which constitutes Father’s Last Will and Testament.
Not only that, but Hurst had a copy of the letter Father wrote to you and the one which would have been given to Mother had she survived him.
Nothing you have been claiming is true, and even worse, you are fully aware of that fact.
Father explained why he had changed his will in the letter to Mother, as well as in one he wrote to me.
It was all because you and Mother could not be honest in the pursuit of your delusional aims.”
Miss Bingley opened and closed her mouth a few times, but no sound came out.
Charles was not supposed to know the truth.
How was she to get her due now? She was sure he would not be able to resist her tears.
She began to force tears from her eyes, not realising how she had to contort her face to achieve her aim.
She had not expected Charles to begin to laugh.
“Really, Caroline, did you honestly think I would give you what you desire because you forced a few tears to fall? While you did that, I was concerned you were suffering an apoplexy. Again, no, we will not go to Matlock House. If you attempt it on your own, I will disown you because you will be ruined, and I refuse to partake in your self-induced ruin,” Bingley said firmly once he had ceased guffawing.
“As to your delusion regarding Darcy, he has only seen you once, and he does not remember the encounter with a friendly eye.
The reason I have not been invited to any of his houses is because he is aware you would come with me, regardless of how the invite was worded.
“None of the men I know are interested in a tradesman’s daughter who thinks she is the daughter of a duke.
As to your plans to compromise Darcy, or failing that Lord Hilldale, none of them will gratify a compromise, and I, sister dear, will not support you.
If you attempt such, all you will achieve is your complete ruin.
By the by, Lord Hilldale is courting a woman.
” Bingley paused as he cogitated for a few moments.
“The sad thing is, had you not been here with me, I would have been invited to the Matlock Ball.
“One last thing. As I am not responsible for you, I will not be paying for anything more for you. Pay from your allowance, or do not purchase it. I will not try to reclaim what I have spent on you from your allowance. I was fool enough to do so, but no more.”
Miss Bingley stared at her brother as if seeing him for the first time. He stood there looking back at her, not flinching, not looking away like he used to; in fact, it was she who looked away this time.
How could it be that all of the plans she and her late mother had made had come to nothing? As much as she wanted it to be otherwise, Charles was not one to dissemble, and if he said his friends had said they would never gratify a compromise, they would not.
Without another word, Miss Bingley turned on her heel and made for her bedchamber. She had much to think on.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Andrew Fitzwilliam, Viscount Hilldale, arrived at Hurst House well before calling hours. He cared not that he had not slept much after his mother’s ball had ended in the small hours of the morning. Even had he wanted to, he was too excited to sleep for very long.
The butler had been told to expect the early caller and admitted the Viscount without delay. Best of all, Jane was waiting for him in the drawing room with her parents, Lizzy, and Miss Lucas.
With a speech about the allowed time and the state of the door, Bennet allowed Hilldale to lead Jane to the study where one of Hurst’s huge footmen stood.
Just ten minutes later, Jane returned and asked Papa to join Andrew. The joy suffusing from her face, radiating from her in waves, told the three ladies in the drawing room what the question and answer had been. Jane had said nothing, but she had not needed to.
In the study, when Hilldale had told him that he cared not that Jane had no dowry, Bennet felt a certain sense of satisfaction in seeing the shock on his future son-in-law’s face on hearing that Jane’s dowry was just shy of four and twenty thousand pounds.
Although he knew Jane loved Hilldale and he her, Bennet had stated his preference for an engagement period of at least four months.
Hilldale had not argued, only saying he would agree to whatever his betrothed wanted.
A few short minutes later, Bennet returned with an equally joyful suitor. “Hilldale here has asked for our Jane’s hand and I have given my permission and blessing. Congratulations, Jane, you will be a very happy woman.”
Fanny pulled her eldest into a hug and did the same with her son-in-law-to-be.
The Hursts, including Arthur and Tisha, joined the celebration in the drawing room, adding their voices to those wishing the engaged couple the best for their shared life.
The youngest two Hursts did not understand what the celebration was about, but they understood everyone was happy and that was enough for them.
It did not stop them from asking Lizzy for a morning story.
The Bennet carriage was ready to depart as soon as Bennet was. He was making his farewells when Jane and Hilldale approached him.
“May I have Jane accompany me to Matlock House to inform my parents?” Hilldale requested. “I have my coach here, and either a maid, or perhaps Lizzy and Miss Lucas would agree to accompany us? We will break our fasts there, if that is acceptable to the Hursts.”
“As long as there is adequate chaperonage, I give my consent,” Bennet agreed. After his final goodbyes, he took his leave.
“Lizzy and Charlotte, would you two agree to accompany us?” Jane asked.
Elizabeth looked at Charlotte, who nodded. She then turned to her mother. “Mamma, you do not object if we are not here to break our fasts, do you?”
Fanny looked to Leticia and Louisa; neither indicated an objection. “Go, we will be here when you return. I am so very happy for you, Jane. You, as do all of my children, deserve a very felicitous marriage with a solicitous partner.”
Arthur noticed that Lizzy was leaving. He was about to object when he saw Papa shake his head. He pouted but said nothing. Thankfully, Tisha had been distracted at that moment.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Even though the three Fitzwilliams at Matlock House had known what Andrew was about that morning, they were effusive in their joy in welcoming Jane and, through her, Lizzy to the family.
While the engagement was being discussed, Charlotte looked up and saw Mr Fitzwilliam looking at her intently.
She could not stop a blush from forming.
When Lady Matlock asked about a wedding date, a calendar was consulted. Keeping in mind her father’s desire for at least four months, Jane suggested the final Friday in October, which was more like five months away. It was tentatively chosen subject to Jane’s mother’s approval.
Before the meal, Hilldale called Jane aside and presented her with an engagement ring which had a large sapphire in the centre surrounded by six smaller diamonds.
Although she did not need anything to prove how much Andrew loved her, Jane appreciated the beautiful token of his esteem.
After a very enjoyable meal, Hilldale conveyed his affianced, her sister and friend back to Hurst House. There was one more in the coach on its return; Fitzwilliam had remembered he needed to speak to Hurst so he joined the others.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The day before Fanny and her daughters were to call at Buckingham House, the butler presented Hurst with a card.
It was Bingley’s, and he was accompanied by his younger sister.
Not wanting their guests to witness an unpleasant scene, Louisa and Hurst told the retainer to show the Bingleys to the study.
On entering, Hurst was pleased to see the way Bingley stood, his spine stiffened. It seemed what he had said to his brother-in-law at White’s, combined with what Bingley had read in this study, had had a positive impact.
Per the master’s orders, the butler had directed a footman to place a chair behind the desk next to the master’s.
On entering the study, before greeting the two Bingleys, Louisa and Hurst sat and did not invite the other two to sit. “Charles, Caroline, what brings you here?” Louisa enquired.
“Caroline,” Bingley prompted.
“I am here to convey my contrition to you for the way I behaved when I was a guest in this house some years past,” Miss Bingley began. “I realise that my behaviour was unacceptable. I now know that I was reaching too high in setting my cap at men who were so far above me.”
“One of whom was recently engaged. Did you miss the announcement in this morning’s papers?” Hurst was watching his sister-in-law when he spoke; he saw the way her face was about to pinch before she schooled it. ‘She is playing a persona.’
“Who was it? If I am ever in his company, I will convey my best wishes for him and his future wife,” Miss Bingley stated evenly.
“Lord Hilldale,” Louisa responded.
“What I was attempting to say is that I know it will not be easy, but I am trying to change and be a better person. All I can do is beg your forgiveness and ask for another chance,” Miss Bingley said.
‘She should be on the boards at the Drury Lane,’ Hurst thought.
‘I will give her all the rope she needs to hang herself. If she continues to behave, then we all win.’ “If we allow you back into our home, you will have but one chance,” he said aloud.
“If you abuse it, there will never be another one.”
“Caroline, remember what I told you. If this is not genuine and just some ploy, you will truly be on your own. Never forget that the executors have the power to reduce or remove your dowry if need be,” Bingley warned.
She showed the expected contrition. Caroline was sure she would fool all of them.
She knew she could not compromise Mr Darcy, but if he came to know her, and she showed him she was the perfect woman for him, all would be well.
It was a pity Viscount Hilldale was engaged, so Mr Darcy was her only option now.
She still believed Hurst was a drunken sot, and at some point, her brother’s resolve would weaken.