Chapter 4 Deception
Netherfield (two days before the ball)
Darcy
Darcy dismissed Oliver upon hearing the latest report on Wickham. It appears that Wickham is conducting himself well. Oliver did not hear anyone repeating Wickham's favourite tale about the denied church living either. What a relief!
As he sat in the Netherfield library, contemplating his next course of action, Miss Bingley walked in.
Is she alone? God, should I be concerned?
He needn't have worried. Mr. and Mrs. Hurst also entered. This was not a pitiful compromise attempt. This was a much more elaborate scheme.
Caroline
Caroline had the entire plan mapped out.
She was certain about two things. First, her brother's resolve could not be swayed while he remained at Netherfield.
Distance from the Bennets was imperative for her plan to succeed.
Second, she needed the support of Mr. Darcy.
Charles always heeded Mr. Darcy's counsel.
Mr. Darcy was the most vital cog in her scheme.
Caroline was privy to her brother's intention to depart for London for a week after the forthcoming ball.
Her scheme involved permanently closing Netherfield and accompanying Charles to London, never to return.
Convincing him to not return was the challenging part.
Here, Mr. Darcy's role found significance.
She needed Mr. Darcy to sway Charles, to convince him that the Bennets were undeserving of their consideration and that Netherfield is an unworthy investment.
Louisa
Louisa harboured doubts regarding Caroline's scheme. She did not believe Mr. Darcy would consent to act covertly behind her brother's back. Mr. Darcy is honest to a fault. And Charles is his best friend.
She tried to tell Caroline this. But Caroline chose to not listen.
When has she ever heeded my advice? Let’s see how it goes then.
Hurst
Hurst was oblivious to the occurrences at the assembly and Caroline's discovery of a rival for Mr. Darcy's attention.
Thus, when Caroline began her assaults on the Bennet family from the next day onwards, he assumed it was because Charles had taken an interest in one of the Bennet sisters.
Such occurrences were common—both Charles's infatuations and the subsequent morning parlour attacks from Caroline.
Consequently, nothing struck him as remarkable.
However, during the Bennet ladies' stay at Netherfield, Hurst observed Mr. Darcy's engaged conversations and lively debates with Miss Elizabeth.
It was then that he realized Mr. Darcy had a genuine interest in a worthy lady.
Caroline has a right to be worried this time.
Hurst couldn't help but overhear Caroline plotting with Louisa and comprehended the entirety of her strategy.
Caroline never seemed to consider Hurst as an individual with perception, or understanding.
She talked as though he were miles away, even though he was sitting just five feet away.
He also overheard Louisa expressing doubts about Caroline's plan.
Good girl. She has perception. Why doesn’t she use it when I am concerned?
Desiring not to miss Mr. Darcy's reaction upon learning of Caroline's intentions, Hurst decided to join the discussion in the library.
I am invisible anyway.
Darcy
Darcy couldn’t believe the audacity of the woman.
Is she truly expecting me to conspire against my friend? Who does she believe herself to be? How did I fail to see this side of her before?
Suppressing the anger that threatened to erupt, Darcy pondered his options. One thing was certain: he could never adopt Miss Bingley's suggested course of action. Participating in her schemes was entirely out of the question.
But her consideration has some merit. Bingley is showing exclusive, marked attention to Miss Bennet from day one. With his impetuous nature, he might even ask for her hand without fully comprehending the depth of their feelings for each other.
More importantly. Bingley is showing attention to Miss Bennet without revealing his true intention to her guardians. This is not London. A scandal will completely ruin the life of the lady and her family. I can’t let that happen to, ahem, any of the Bennet ladies.
Darcy attempted to recall every interaction he had witnessed between Bingley and Miss Jane Bennet.
He had never sensed a deep romantic attachment from Miss Bennet towards Bingley.
Her warm and welcoming demeanour was part of her natural charm, a quality she extended to all her acquaintances, not exclusive to Bingley.
Then, there were the matters of her mother and younger sisters.
They were, in many ways, brash, improper, and vulgar.
These relations would become Bingley’s immediate family upon marriage, and he would be obligated to support them if anything untoward happened to Mr. Bennet.
The Bennet property, being entailed to some distant cousin, meant that Miss Jane Bennet would bring little material wealth to the union.
There is also the matter of Miss Elizabeth. If Bingley marries her sister, I will be forced to be in company with her, which is not ideal. But I shouldn’t let it affect my decision. This is Bingley’s life, not mine.
Miss Bingley was still waiting for his answer and Darcy decided to make it clear that he would never participate in her schemes.
"Miss Bingley, I comprehend your apprehension concerning your brother’s growing affection for Miss Jane Bennet.
I would be lying if I denied harbouring concerns on my part as well.
However, we must remember that this is Bingley's life, and the ultimate decision lies with him.
He must ascertain his own heart, understand the lady's sentiments, evaluate their compatibility, and then make an informed choice.
While I am versed in estate and tenant matters and could offer guidance in those areas, matters of the heart require his own navigation.
I pledge my support for whatever decisions he deems appropriate.
Yet, let it be crystal clear that I shall not partake in any covert actions behind Bingley's back.
As his friend, I will stand by him and provide assistance as long as he seeks it," Darcy concluded.
Mr. Hurst raised his gaze and shook his head. Mrs. Hurst avoided eye contact by looking down. Miss Bingley attempted to come up with new arguments, but Darcy swiftly raised his hand.
"No, Miss Bingley, in this matter, I will not yield to your persuasion. I have never attempted to sway your opinions before. I implore you to extend me the same courtesy," Darcy asserted firmly.
Darcy saw Miss Bingley’s anger, yet he remained unswayed. It was not her prerogative to dictate his course of action. He made that unequivocally clear.
"But, if we—myself, Louisa, and Hurst—decide to accompany Charles and return to London, what shall you do? Do you intend to remain here until Charles comes back?" inquired Miss Bingley.
Bingley would never return if she gets her way in this. Darcy was certain of it.
“I am a guest here and I have no place here without a host. Thus, I will follow you to my residence in London.
I am eager to reunite with my sister anyway.
Should Bingley choose to return and require further assistance, I shall accompany him back to Hertfordshire," Darcy replied, addressing her query with clarity.
Hurst
Hurst was impressed with Mr. Darcy’s loyalty to Charles.
Yet, he was disappointed because Caroline deserved a more cutting answer.
She had essentially tried to recruit Mr. Darcy, one of the most honest and steadfast gentlemen in all of England, for her dastardly scheme as if he were a servant.
The fact that she got away with it disappointed Hurst, which is why he shook his head.
Mr. Darcy, you are too proper for your own good. That was a good opportunity to put Caroline in her place. You squandered it.
Darcy
Darcy found himself alone in the library, his thoughts swirling in confusion.
Should I inform Bingley about his sisters' treacherous designs? Even Hurst seems to be involved in their scheme. Good heavens! As though I had no other concerns to weigh upon me.
Resolving to distance himself from the situation, Darcy decided to travel straight to his London Townhouse if Miss Bingley decides to shut down Netherfield.
They can try to convince Bingley as much as they want. I won’t be a part of it. After all these, if Bingley decides to return, I will accompany him. If not, I will support him no matter what.
Caroline
Caroline had enough of this discussion. There was no point in talking with Mr. Darcy anymore.
His blasted sense of honour and loyalty.
I need to work on Miss Bennet now. I will not be able to convince Charles on my own.
I somehow need to make it clear to Miss Bennet that Charles’s affection lies elsewhere.
If Charles decides to return, she needs to protect herself and stay away.
She needs to be indifferent and not welcoming.
I need someone to represent the lady whom Charles is interested in. Who could that be?
Miss Darcy’s name immediately came to her mind. She always wanted her brother to marry Miss Georgiana Darcy, thereby solidifying their position in society. Yet, Miss Darcy remained a mere fifteen years old girl and still not out in society.
I need to be convincing. Charles’s friendship with Mr. Darcy will give some credence to my assertion. Miss Darcy it is then.
Caroline also decided to do this alone. Requesting Mr. Darcy’s help in persuading Charles against Miss Bennet is one thing. Using Miss Darcy’s name to scare off Miss Bennet is a different matter entirely. If Mr. Darcy were ever to discover her actions, it would spell disaster for them all.
Louisa will never allow me to do this. I will send a letter to Miss Bennet, just before our departure from here. I don’t want any of the Bennets arriving here with the letter.
Longbourn, Hertfordshire
Elizabeth
Amidst the events unfolding at Netherfield, Elizabeth faced her own set of predicaments, all of which were tied to a particular individual hailing from Kent.
How dare he have the audacity to request two dances at the ball? Why didn’t I decline?
The truth of the matter was that she couldn’t easily decline.
Mr. Collins had made his request right in the midst of a bustling room, with her mother and sisters as witnesses.
A refusal would have meant the end of her enjoyment at the ball.
Moreover, she knew all too well that her mother wouldn't let her hear the end of it.
I won’t be able to dance with Mr. Wickham if I don’t go to the ball. I don’t want to miss out on that. If I have to suffer through two dances with Mr. Collins, so be it.
Elizabeth had a growing awareness that Mr. Collins would likely propose to her, and likely sooner than she'd prefer. She tried to make her lack of interest apparent, but Mr. Collins seemed impervious to such signals, seeing only what he wished.
I will have to refuse when he asks. I hope papa supports me on this.