Chapter 12 Netherfield
“Louisa, how can this have happened? Is he going to marry Eliza? I can hardly bear to think of it.”
Mrs. Hurst frowned at her sister. “Caroline, I shall be honest with you only this once, and will never throw it at your head again. You are the reason Mr. Darcy is now obliged to marry Miss Elizabeth.”
Caroline lifted her head from the pillow and sat up. “I? How can I be responsible for this atrocity?”
Louisa’s voice was sharp. “You repeated Mr. Darcy’s insult against Miss Elizabeth in company, at the ball, and within her hearing.
She was distressed, and I do not blame her.
In her place, you would likely have struck out at any person who had repeated such a thing in your presence and in public.
She fled to the library to compose herself and was found alone with her cousin, who was trying to comfort her.
She was compromised, and marriage was her only remedy.
Mr. Darcy sacrificed himself because it was his words that brought this harm upon her. ”
Louisa leaned closer, twisting the knife. “You repeated them. You meant to wound Miss Elizabeth, but instead you injured yourself. Now, Mr. Darcy is lost to you forever. He will never be free to marry you.”
Caroline buried her face in the pillow and burst into loud, miserable sobs.
The next morning, Louisa sat in Caroline’s bedchamber, attempting to console her. Caroline had been pacing the room, and now turned to complain.
“Louisa, how could Charles allow this intrusion upon our privacy? To be saddled with Miss Bennet and Miss Eliza is insufferable. What could he have been thinking?”
Louisa stood at the window, watching Mr. Darcy’s carriage approach in the distance.
“They have been close friends since university. You know how kind Mr. Darcy has always been to our brother. When the other boys mocked Charles, Darcy defended him. It is the only reason Charles was able to remain at university. Once Mr. Darcy stood up for him, he was accepted, and now he is a favorite in higher circles. Charles owes him much, and so do we. Doors have opened to us because of his influence.”
Caroline huffed. “A high price for entry into society, if it means opening our home to Eliza Bennet, the woman stealing my intended.”
Louisa sighed. “Mr. Darcy was never your intended, Caroline. Wishing does not make it so. I do not believe he ever had any intention of marrying you. The wisest thing you can do is turn your attention elsewhere. Charles has introduced you to several of his friends. If you would only make yourself more agreeable in company, you might easily attach one of them.”
Caroline frowned. “I do not want one of Charles’s friends. I want Mr. Darcy. He has the finest house in London and the largest estate of any of our brothers’ acquaintances. I could not do better unless I married a peer.”
Louisa sighed again. “Do not let such nonsense take root. We are too closely tied to trade for you to aim that high. If you had a dowry of fifty thousand pounds, perhaps you could secure an impoverished peer, but otherwise you have no chance, so do not think of it.”
Caroline turned on her sister. “You need not sermonize, Louisa. You have repeated that speech so many times that I can recite it by memory. I do not want a peer. I want Mr. Darcy.”
Louisa gave up. “Very well, sister. I am only angering you further. I will be in the drawing room to receive our guests. You may join me if you change your mind.”
She left, but Caroline remained at the window, watching the carriage draw near. Mr. Darcy rode beside it on horseback. Her heart ached. What a cruel twist of fate, that her own words had bound the man she wished to marry to her greatest rival.
She rang for her maid. “Martina, fix my hair. I am going down.”
She pinched her cheeks, dabbed her eyes, and changed her gown. Though her eyes were still red, there was no help for it. When the carriage stopped at the door, she stood beside Louisa in the drawing room.
Charles was waiting outside to hand Miss Jane Bennet down. Caroline watched as Mr. Darcy assisted Miss Elizabeth, then another young woman, Mary Bennet. She turned to Louisa. “Three sisters?”
Louisa shrugged.
The two women waited as the Bennet sisters entered the drawing room. Servants followed, carrying three trunks upstairs. Elizabeth approached and curtsied.
“Miss Bingley, Mrs. Hurst. Please let your housekeeper know that Mary and I will share a bedchamber.”
Louisa said, “Let me show you to your rooms. Miss Elizabeth, there are enough chambers if you would prefer one of your own.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No, thank you, Mrs. Hurst. I prefer to share with my sister Mary.”
The three sisters followed her upstairs.
Meanwhile, Caroline stepped outside to where Mr. Darcy stood. Threading her arm through his, she spoke in a low voice. “Mr. Darcy, is there no way you can free yourself from this entanglement?”
He removed her arm sharply and spoke to her with anger. “Miss Bingley, you do understand that you caused this?”
She flushed. “I did not mean to cause harm.”
His gaze was steady. “Yes, you did. You meant to embarrass Miss Elizabeth, and you succeeded. She fled your spiteful words, and now she and I will be married in a week’s time. You may congratulate yourself, madam. Now, if you will excuse me.”
He turned and walked away. “Charles, may I speak with you in your study?”
Bingley followed. “I say, Darcy, I am truly sorry you have been drawn into this. I always knew Caroline could be spiteful, but I never thought she would be so unprincipled in public. I had hoped one of my friends might court her, but she has ensured that none will ever look at her twice.”
Darcy took a seat. “Bingley, Miss Elizabeth is marrying a stranger. One of her requests was to have two of her sisters as guests at Pemberley. Would you consider spending the summer with us there? It might help her to adjust more comfortably.”
Bingley considered. “Darcy, if I go, you know I must bring Caroline. That means Louisa and Hurst as well. Louisa is the only one who can manage her. Caroline hates Miss Elizabeth.”
Darcy frowned. “Yes, that is unfortunate. Still, I would appreciate your company. The truth is, Miss Elizabeth and I have not courted. I promised her father I would not visit her bed until she had come to know me better. If you and your party come to Pemberley, we can occupy ourselves with hunting, fishing, and riding, and I shall not be too constantly in her company. Miss Elizabeth likes Louisa, and with her sisters there, she will not feel pressed or uncomfortable. The only challenge is Caroline, but perhaps you could warn her. Tell her that if she misbehaves, you will send her to your relations in Yorkshire.”
Bingley laughed. “I could do that. Caroline might even behave if she knew she would be exiled from Pemberley, her favorite place in the world.”
Darcy’s lips twitched. “Think about it. Speak with Louisa and Hurst. Perhaps they already have plans for the summer.”
Bingley nodded and poured them each a drink. “Darcy, what are your plans now?”
Darcy took a swallow. “I will travel to London for a common license and to prepare the marriage settlement. I wish to bring Georgiana and Richard back with me. I will not tell the rest of my family until after the wedding. It will serve no purpose, and I know they will be displeased. Can you take on two more guests?”
“Yes, that will be no problem,” Bingley said.
“Thank you, Charles. Once we are married, we will depart directly for Pemberley. I hope you, your family, and my cousin Richard can join us, though I will understand if you cannot.”
Bingley finished his drink and stood. “I will have an answer for you when you return. When do you leave?”
“Now,” Darcy replied. “My man is loading my trunk. I will bid farewell to my betrothed and then depart.”
Bingley followed him out and went to wait in the drawing room.
Meanwhile, Darcy climbed the stairs to the chamber assigned to Elizabeth. He knocked, and the muffled conversation within ceased. Elizabeth opened the door and stepped out.
“Miss Elizabeth, I am leaving for London. I will be away for most of the week, depending on how long it takes to obtain the license and for my solicitor to prepare the settlement. Your father will need to review and sign it before the ceremony.”
Elizabeth flushed. “Mr. Darcy, are you certain you wish to go through with this? It is not too late.”
He looked pained. “Miss Elizabeth, is this your way of saying you wish to be released? Have you decided against marrying me?”
She faltered. “No, sir. I am determined. I must marry, and I prefer to marry an honorable man rather than a scoundrel. But I am sorry for you, sir. This marriage has taken away your freedom to choose.”
A wry smile tugged at his mouth. “Well, madam, I am glad you do not think me the scoundrel, though if you truly think about it, it was my unruly tongue that caused this debacle.”
“I will not argue, sir, as we would only go round and round in endless reasoning. I wish you safe travels.”
“Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. Do not walk out alone. Take a groom. I moved you here because I do not trust your cousin, and I would not put it beyond him to attempt something even now.”
She shivered. “No, sir. I will stay within the house or gardens, and I will take one of my sisters with me when I take the air. It was a hard lesson, but it is learned.”
He nodded. “Very well, madam. I will see you in five to seven days.”
He took her hand, pressed it gently, and turned to leave.
Elizabeth watched him descend the staircase.
He was a fine-looking man, and, even after all that had passed, she was reminded of her first sight of him and how she had thought him the gallant Sir Lancelot.
And now, here he was, rescuing her from her own folly.