Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
FRIDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 1811
DARCY HOUSE
A lthough the knocker was absent from the door, the Darcys’ arrival did not go unnoticed by those they might have preferred to keep in the dark. Within hours, a message found its way into Lord Matlock’s hands, informing him that Darcy had arrived in London with his wife and sister. As soon as he read the note, he burned it.
He was also informed that the former Miss Anne de Bourgh, accompanied by a young man—likely her new husband—had arrived at Darcy’s home shortly thereafter. From the activity observed, it appeared they intended to stay there as well. However, the informant had been unable to uncover the name of the unknown gentleman, and not for the first time, Lord Matlock cursed the fact that Darcy’s servants were so infuriatingly loyal and damnedly incorruptible.
Unfortunately, Lord Matlock was not the only one aware of Darcy's arrival in town. The unexpected announcement of his marriage had astonished the ton , sparking widespread curiosity. Many eagerly awaited a chance to see the woman who had not only captured the heart of the elusive bachelor but had also convinced the esteemed gentleman to elope with her—a scandalous and unprecedented act for someone of his standing.
While Darcy’s household remained notoriously resistant to bribery, others were not so scrupulous. Shopkeepers and suppliers readily gave up information for a price. As soon as orders were placed, signalling the family’s imminent arrival, notes were dispatched to several households willing to pay handsomely for such intelligence.
One of those was Caroline Bingley, who spared no expense to be notified immediately of any arrivals at Darcy House. The morning after the Darcys returned to town, Miss Bingley acted quickly, determined to assert her closeness to Mr. and Miss Darcy and show the new Mrs. Darcy her place. She still could not comprehend how that country girl, Elizabeth Bennet, had managed to captivate Darcy so completely and convince him to elope the very night they met. During her brief stay in Hertfordshire after Darcy’s abrupt departure, Caroline had thoroughly investigated the Bennet family, particularly Elizabeth. What she learned failed to impress her—at least by her standards—and she remained mystified by whatever quality Elizabeth possessed that had so thoroughly won Darcy’s attention and affection.
To Caroline, it seemed incomprehensible that Darcy, a man of such impeccable taste and refinement, could have been drawn to someone so vastly beneath him in status and connections. But she would rectify this. Today’s visit, she thought, would remind him of what he had overlooked.
She wasted no time in calling at Darcy House after learning of their arrival. Several times, she had attempted to bribe the housekeepers of both Darcy House and Pemberley for details, only to be met with firm refusal. She remained blissfully unaware that Darcy knew of these efforts, and if she had recognised his true opinion of her, she would have been mortified. Despite his words to her at the assembly in Meryton, her self-assurance was as high as ever as she arrived on his doorstep at the earliest hour acceptable for visiting.
When she noticed the absence of the knocker, Caroline hesitated briefly, a flicker of concern crossing her features. Her gloved hand twitched, but she quickly waved it off, instructing her footman to knock anyway.
The first knock was met with silence. Caroline shifted impatiently, adjusting the folds of her gown, her lips thinning in displeasure. She glanced around, hoping no one had noticed her waiting. After a few moments, she gave a sharp nod to the footman, who knocked again, harder this time.
As the second knock echoed, she tapped her foot and drew her shawl closer against the cool air, her growing irritation evident. “Honestly,” she muttered, casting a glance towards the upper windows, “you would think they would be eager to receive visitors after such an absence.”
Still, there was no response.
Caroline’s brow furrowed. She glanced at her footman, the corners of her mouth tightening. “Knock once more,” she ordered, her voice sharp.
Before the footman could comply, the door creaked open, revealing a stone-faced butler. His expression was impeccably neutral, but there was no mistaking the hint of cool detachment in his eyes.
“Madam,” he greeted stiffly, bowing. “The Darcys are not receiving visitors today.”
Caroline blinked, clearly taken aback by the blunt refusal. She opened her mouth to argue, her gloved hand fluttering at her throat. “Not receiving visitors? Surely you jest. They must have forgotten to make an exception for me. I am a very close friend of Mr. Darcy’s.” She offered a brittle smile, hoping to press her advantage.
The butler’s expression remained unchanged. “I assure you, Miss, that Mrs. Darcy are not receiving anyone at present.” He emphasised the name, subtly pointing out how improper it was for a single lady to pay a call on a married man.
Caroline’s face flushed, her composure cracking ever so slightly. “Surely, you could inform Mr. Darcy that I am here? I am certain he would wish to see me. I wish to congratulate him on his recent marriage. Mrs. Darcy, too, for I met her in Hertfordshire.”
The butler inclined his head, unperturbed. “I have been given strict instructions to admit no visitors, except those specifically invited, Miss. If you would like to leave your card, I will see that it is passed along to Mrs. Darcy.”
Caroline hesitated, the rejection stinging more than she cared to admit. Her pride wavered as she struggled to maintain her poise. “Very well,” she said tightly, withdrawing a small card from her reticule. “Please ensure Mr. Darcy knows that I called.”
With that, she turned on her heel, her footman scrambling to follow. As the door shut softly behind her, Caroline’s lips thinned further, her mind racing to figure out why she had been so summarily dismissed. “That impertinent butler,” she muttered.
When she arrived back at her brother's townhouse, she was in a foul mood. She marched into the front parlour, her hands trembling in her gloves—whether from the chill or the humiliation of her failed visit, even she could not say. Without removing her bonnet or shawl, she stormed into the room where her brother sat with a cup of tea, reading a letter with an easy smile on his face.
"Charles!" she snapped, her voice sharp enough to startle him from his pleasant reverie. "I demand an explanation for this—this outrageous treatment! Mr. Adams had the gall to tell me that they were not receiving visitors. Not receiving visitors! After all I have done to be a steadfast friend to him—this is the thanks I receive?"
Bingley blinked at the onslaught, setting his teacup down and folding his letter. He sighed, recognising the storm that was about to hit. "Caroline, do calm down. What are you on about now? What is this about Mr. Adams?” he asked. "Do you mean Darcy's butler? Why would you have called at Darcy House uninvited and with no one to accompany you? How did you even know he was in town? I have only just received word of it myself.”
"I have my ways, Charles," Caroline said with a wave of her hand.
"Darcy intends to be in town for only a short time. He asked me to meet with him tomorrow at his club to discuss some business. I imagine he will have something to say about his new wife as well, and I confess to being most eager to learn how it all came to be. I could scarcely believe it when I saw the announcement in the paper, especially when I realised his new wife was one of the lovely Miss Bennets we met in Hertfordshire."
"That is exactly what I wish to know, brother. You must respond to his note and insist he come here. Then we can both ask our questions about how he came to be married to such an impertinent chit. Surely, she must have trapped him to persuade such a steadfast man as Mr. Darcy to elope," Caroline stated vehemently.
Bingley raised his brow at his sister. " Our questions, dear sister? Why do you think Darcy must answer you? I cannot imagine you mean to do anything other than to use the information you gather to spread gossip. While I might not know all the details of Darcy's marriage, I can assure you he was not tricked into anything. If he eloped with Miss Elizabeth Bennet, with anyone, it was because he desired it. Darcy is the most honourable, trustworthy man I have ever known, and he would not have acted in such a scandalous manner without a good reason. He does not owe you any explanation of his actions. Nor will I share with you what he says to me. No, Caroline, I will not demand Darcy meet me here so you can have your curiosity satisfied, and I would recommend that you not visit Darcy House again without an invitation from Mrs. Darcy."
Caroline again scowled at this, but try as she might, she could not persuade her brother to do as she wished in this matter.
From her seat by the window in the library, Elizabeth watched the angry woman stalk away from the house. She and Darcy had been discussing their plans for the next several days while they waited on the others to come down to break their fasts.
“She was rather displeased to be sent away, Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth giggled. “I could nearly make out her voice from here, even with the door closed.”
Darcy rolled his eyes as he nuzzled his wife's neck from his position seated next to her. A month of marriage had not deterred his desire to keep her close and to touch her as frequently as possible. “Miss Bingley presumed a closeness with both my sister and me that did not exist. Did you not hear her ask to pay a call on me ? Even before our marriage, for her to call on a single man would have been highly improper. In her frustration, she forgot that her purpose ought to have been to call on Miss Darcy. At least that would have been proper.”
Elizabeth giggled, as much from the sensation on her neck as his words. “Enough, sir. We have only a short time in town and many things to do. Tuesday, Georgiana and I will be away from home all day, visiting Georgiana's modiste . I hope this is the only fitting I must endure, and that the dressmaker has completed most of the dresses we ordered. You will interview the two potential solicitors on Monday; is that correct? They will come here?” she asked, trying to redirect her husband's attention.
Grudgingly, he allowed his attention to be redirected to their plans and allowed Elizabeth to continue her questioning. “You mentioned inviting your Aunt and Uncle Matlock to pay a visit so you can introduce them to me. Do you wish to invite them for tea or for a meal? I intended to ask my aunt and uncle to dine with us early next week. Do you still believe our arrival will go unheralded, or should we attempt a night at the theatre?”
Darcy sighed, slumping back against the settee. “Miss Bingley's arrival demonstrated that there is little I can do in town that goes unnoticed. I am certain the gossips will be panting for the sight of you. The footmen I hired to act as your guards will need to accompany you and Georgiana everywhere. One should be close to you at all times, Elizabeth. The attack on our way here only goes to show how important it is to remain vigilant. We still need to deal with Lady Catherine and learn if anyone else was involved in her plot.”
Blowing out a breath, Elizabeth nodded reluctantly. “I can tolerate it better in town than I would be able to do at Pemberley. It is not as though I could have gone out and walked in the park by myself, regardless of how close it might be. Do not worry, Fitzwilliam, I will accept the guards accompanying me as long as you deem it necessary.”
The two discussed the other questions that Elizabeth asked, deciding to invite both families for dinner on different nights during their stay. Whether they would attend any events depended in part on how quickly the gossip spread about their presence in town.
In the next issue of the paper, an item appeared in the local gossip columns, much to the chagrin of the Darcys and the Bingleys although it was for entirely different reasons.
A certain FD of P___ in Derbyshire has arrived in town accompanied by his new bride and his sister. The morning after the gentleman’s arrival, an unmarried lady, a Miss CB, was seen on his doorstep and was heard asking to call on the gentleman. I think that Miss CB might have lost her senses after learning that her prey had chosen another for her to have disregarded propriety in such a way. Fortunately for Mr. and Mrs. D, the lady was turned away after the butler reminded her how improper her actions were. I would hate to have been the lady’s brother, a Mr. CB, when the… lady arrived back home.