Chapter 10 #3
"I refrained from informing you as I did not deem it of significance at the time. Given your own inner struggle regarding Miss Bennet, I believed that encountering her again would not serve your best interests," Darcy responded honestly.
As he met his friend's anguished countenance, Darcy found himself caught in a web of confusion. What is happening here?
Bingley
Bingley had heard enough.
So Caroline is right. He schemed behind my back. It is not his right to decide what is and what is not important in my life. I need to end this now.
But how could I sever this? Dear God, how deeply I would miss him. Oh Darce, you had to do this to me, didn’t you?
He resumed his restless pacing behind the chair, his thoughts swirling in a tumult. After a while, he resolved to keep his words straightforward, wishing to avoid a heated exchange.
“Darcy, I am grateful for the years of friendship you bestowed upon me. Your assistance has been invaluable throughout our association. However, the time has come for me to forge my own path. Our friendship must come to an end. I implore you to depart this house immediately, never to return. Likewise, I shall keep my distance from you.”
There, I said it.
Darcy
Darcy jolted upright from his seat, utterly astonished.
What in the blazes is transpiring here?
“You are throwing me out? What is it Bingley? What is happening with you?” Darcy managed to ask.
“I have spoken plainly. I yearn to assert my independence. I no longer desire a friend who dictates decisions on my behalf. I insist that you vacate this residence immediately,” Bingley responded.
"But why? What have I done to warrant this?" Darcy remained perplexed, still yearning for an explanation.
“As it happens, the fault lies with me. I allowed myself to be easily swayed and manipulated all these years. I possess a backbone, Darcy, one that I should have leaned on before. But the past is the past. I aim to embark on a path of my choosing. And I don’t see a place for you in my life anymore. ”
Darcy found himself unable to comprehend the true meaning of what he had just heard.
“So you admit your wrongdoing, yet you cast me aside as though I were at fault. What has come over you, Bingley?”
The final query was uttered with genuine concern. Darcy observed Bingley momentarily closing his eyes before responding.
“I implore you to bring this conversation to a close. I asked you to leave this house, Darcy, lest I summon the footman,” Bingley proceeded to stride toward the door to unlock it.
That was the last straw for Darcy. He stormed out of the room.
Caroline
Caroline readied herself for the speech she had to give to her brother.
She knew that whatever she said, he would be very angry with her.
However, she had to figure out a way to get through this conversation.
The idea of completely cutting ties with the Darcys was unbearable; it would destroy all her dreams.
Just then, a maid entered her sitting room, bringing news of her brother's arrival. Caroline stood up, preparing herself for another important conversation in her life.
“But miss, ya can't be seein' 'im right now. The master's in 'is study. 'E's locked the door from the inside and told young James to keep everyone out,” the maid informed her.
That's odd. What is Charles doing alone in his study?
If it were the day before, Caroline would have ignored this warning. However, she was afraid. Her brother is now a different person. She sank back into her seat.
"Inform me when he emerges from his study," she instructed the maid.
“Yes, miss. I'll let ya know. Should I also tell ya when Mr. Darcy leaves?”
Caroline sprang up from her seat. Oh no!
"Is Mr. Darcy present?" she exclaimed, unable to conceal the fear in her voice.
“Yes, miss. The master's with Mr. Darcy in 'is study. No one's allowed to go in,” the maid confirmed.
Caroline ran down the stairs, her heart racing.
Darcy
If one were to inquire of Darcy about the last person he desired to encounter at that very moment, his response would undoubtedly be Miss Caroline Bingley. Thus, it aligned perfectly with his recent streak of ill fortune when he beheld the very lady approaching him.
"Mr. Darcy, when did you arrive? Have you partaken of your morning repast? Shall I instruct the staff to bring you anything?" she inquired.
Morning repast? It is already noon, madam.
For a fleeting moment, he contemplated simply declining her offer and walking away.
After all, he no longer possessed the right to linger within the confines of this building.
However, the seething anger that consumed him hadn’t clouded his judgement.
The one advantage arising from the dissolution of his friendship with Bingley was the liberation it granted him from the company of Miss Bingley.
While Georgiana would undoubtedly be disheartened by the news of their severed bond with Bingley, she would derive consolation from being relieved of the presence of Miss Bingley, whom she had tolerated solely on account of her brother’s friendship.
At the very least, he could make it abundantly clear to Miss Bingley that her visits to Georgiana were henceforth forbidden.
“No, Miss Bingley. I have no need for sustenance. In truth, I am departing for home. Your brother has just requested my immediate departure from this house. Our friendship is severed, and I am no longer welcome.”
Disregarding the astonishment etched upon her countenance, he continued.
"I also wish to inform you that you are likewise unwelcome in any of my residences, whether it be Pemberley or Darcy House.
I implore you not to trouble me and, more importantly, my sister, henceforth.
Our connection is irrevocably severed. Should I discover any attempts on your part to exploit our name or association, rest assured that I will make it widely known that our ties have been severed.
Therefore, I kindly request that you keep your distance from both myself and my sister. "
There, that was clear and to the point.
Caroline
As she stood there, listening to Mr. Darcy's words about their severed connection and his request to stay away from them, it became evident to her that her brother had already informed Mr. Darcy everything.
There was no point in conversing with her brother now.
But instead of drowning in disappointment, for the first time in her life, she was starting to see things clearly.
It was as if a veil had been lifted from her eyes.
Caroline hadn't truly believed her brother's words about Mr. Darcy holding her in contempt.
She had regarded it as his way of pressuring her into securing a hasty marriage.
But now, for the first time, she discerned it plainly upon Mr. Darcy's countenance.
It was not as if he looked at her differently now.
He had always looked at her the same way.
It was just that Caroline had only seen it now.
For the first time since their acquaintance began, Caroline beheld Mr. Darcy as a man, not merely as Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley. In a startling revelation, she comprehended that she had never been a contender in the battle to become Mrs. Darcy. She had never even entered the competition.
She contemplated the years she had wasted pursuing this man, a man who had always regarded her with disdain.
She pondered the proposals and opportunities she had rejected over the years, all to ensure her availability for this man whenever he might decide to offer for her.
It dawned upon her that all of London saw her just as Mr. Darcy did now.
She was an outcast in this society, a laughing stock.
She was suddenly angry, as angry as she had ever been.
One measure of personal growth resides in the manner one responds to circumstances such as these.
Caroline, utterly defeated and overwhelmed by despair, had two options before her.
She could have swallowed her shattered hopes and endeavoured to mend her brother's friendship, thus acting for the greater good.
Alternatively, she could have clung to her resentment toward both herself and Mr. Darcy, perpetuating the division between her brother and his friend.
Unfortunately for the two gentlemen concerned in this matter, she chose the wrong option.
It would take time for her anger to find a constructive outlet.
It would take even longer for her to mature enough to realize the colossal mistake she had made in driving a wedge between two dear friends on this very day.
Regrettably, at this particular juncture in her life, she was at a stage of growth where her anger and despair overpowered her every other consideration.
Without uttering a word, she stepped to her side to let Mr. Darcy pass through. Without looking back at his receding form, she walked towards her brother’s study with purposeful strides.
Bingley
The moment Darcy stormed out of his study, Bingley sank into his chair and closed his eyes, consumed by utter despair.
Bingley's first encounter with Darcy took place during their time at Cambridge.
Being the son of a tradesman, Bingley found himself subjected to relentless bullying by the sons of other gentlemen.
His desolation reached such depths that he contemplated abandoning it all and returning home.
It was then Darcy came to his rescue, extending the offer of friendship.
This act of kindness changed everything.
A friend of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, the esteemed heir of Pemberley and nephew to an earl, could no longer be subjected to such torment.
Bingley still remained unsure of what Darcy saw in him.
But he always loved Darcy as a brother. And his heart was breaking at this sudden severance of their connection.