Chapter 6 - Revelation #2
"Charles, my initial intention was to reveal this to you alone. However, I believe it is best if Mr. Darcy also becomes privy to it, for what I am about to disclose concerns both of you. I know there are others present here, but I am going to say it regardless.
During our visit to Caroline last month, you may have observed her subdued demeanour.
Understandably, she grieved the loss of her son, but it was more than that.
The day before we departed from Hull, she confided in me about an incident that occurred seven years ago.
I assure you; I was previously unaware of it until that day.
Charles, Caroline misled you in the past. It was not Mr. Darcy who requested her to withhold Jane's visit to your London home from you.
I believe Mr. Darcy remains oblivious to this fact even now.
Caroline made that decision herself. When you confronted her after learning everything from Jane, she panicked.
Mr. Darcy had never sought to separate you from Jane.
I know I ought to have informed you earlier, but I wished for you and Caroline to finally communicate and heal any divisions within our family. That's why I advised Caroline not to disclose this to you.”
This was certainly not what Bingley expected to hear. He stood up from his seat, feeling not just anger but also a sense of having been manipulated. He endeavoured to restrain himself when he saw Jane walking around the table toward him with fear in her eyes, fear that he might explode.
No, I must maintain composure. I mustn't say anything I'll regret later. But seven years? Why didn't Caroline tell me this sooner? After all, she no longer cared for Darcy and London. A letter would have sufficed, and I would have immediately travelled here to apologise to Darcy.
He had to ask that question.
"Why, Louisa? Why has Caroline chosen to disclose this now? Why not sooner? Seven years—it's been a long time to pen a letter if she feared facing me," he inquired, his voice barely concealing his anger.
"I do not know, Charles. Truly, I do not.
She should have informed you sooner. Caroline has undergone significant changes in recent years.
She truly loved her boy. Perhaps she believes her dear son bore the brunt of her past transgressions.
I can offer no other explanation at present," Louisa responded honestly.
Bingley never placed faith in fate exacting retribution on an innocent's account. It serves no purpose to invoke the name of that poor boy in this matter. Caroline's errors caused suffering for him and Darcy, but introducing her son into this equation does not seem just. Furthermore, he, too, made an error. He shouldn’t have accepted Caroline’s words at face value.
Wait, did I not inquire of Darcy about this?
He immediately turned to his friend.
“Darcy, I asked you—I asked you if you were aware of Jane's presence in town, and you confirmed it. I distinctly remember you saying you had known for around three weeks,” Bingley was having trouble understanding how this all happened.
Darcy met his gaze calmly and replied, "Indeed, Bingley.
I was aware of Mrs. Bingley's presence in London for three weeks.
Mrs. Goulding informed me of it when I encountered her in Kent.
But I was not aware of Mrs. Bingley's visit to your home.
Furthermore, I have not seen your sister since her visit to Georgiana just before my departure for Kent.
At that time, she approached me to express gratitude for convincing you not to return to Netherfield, but I responded that I had done no such thing.
And it stands true—I never convinced you of anything.
I merely wished you to be aware of the facts; the decision was always yours to make, not mine.
And I am glad that you made your decision from your heart. "
Bingley was surprised by the composure with which Darcy absorbed this revelation. Why isn’t he angry?
Elizabeth
Mr. Darcy may or may not have harboured anger, but another person was decidedly furious on his behalf—Elizabeth herself.
The revelation that the former Miss Bingley had withheld this truth for so long, even when she no longer cared about London society, vexed her deeply. Why had she not spoken up sooner?
As she observed the man in question, she surmised that he was indeed perturbed, despite his valiant effort to conceal it from everyone. The calmness in his voice while replying to Charles was merely a facade.
Turning her gaze to her brother, she recognized an emotion all too familiar to her—regret, which had been her constant companion for the past seven years.
Now, Charles appeared to grapple with the same sentiment.
At least now, they have the opportunity to mend their friendship, a matter clearly of great importance to both of them.
Yet, what about herself? Ever since that night at the stable, Mr. Darcy had resumed his practice of avoiding her, and Elizabeth could not fathom the reason.
She wondered if Charles's words that evening had led him to doubt her affection for him.
How could she possibly convey to him that she cared for him deeply?
Unexpectedly, a wave of sadness engulfed her, surprising even herself.
All the pain and regret she had endured over the past seven years resurfaced.
She quickly lowered her gaze to wipe her eyes, hoping no one would notice.
However, when she looked up again, she saw Louisa’s eyes on her.
It was then she realized that Louisa had more to disclose, and it somehow pertained to her.
"Elizabeth, there is another matter I wish to share with you.
Unlike the previous matter, I have been aware of this for the past seven years.
In fact, I was an active participant," Louisa began, turning to face Mr. Darcy before continuing, "Mr. Darcy, you may find this interesting to you as well.
Do you recall the assembly in Hertfordshire, on our first day in Netherfield? "
"Yes, I do remember," he replied.
Elizabeth noticed Louisa pausing, seemingly unsure of how to proceed with the story. Her next statement confirmed this uncertainty.
"I am not certain how to convey this. Mr. Darcy, I need not inform you that Caroline had targeted you as her prospective husband at that time.
It is no secret that she never loved you; she only sought your wealth and connections to elevate herself in society.
Mistakenly, I felt a sisterly obligation to assist her in achieving this goal.
In my misguided effort to secure an alliance for my sister that would elevate our family, I was prepared to support her endeavours. "
Another pause ensued, as Louisa tried to collect her thoughts.
Elizabeth couldn’t help but admire Louisa's courage for confessing this in front of everyone.
Rather than orchestrating a private moment with her brother to disclose all this, Louisa chose the most public occasion, ready to endure whatever ridicule she might face.
"Mr. Darcy, Caroline only came to Hertfordshire because you were there.
She saw it as an opportunity to have you nearby for an extended period without significant competition.
For her, every young, unmarried lady in your circle was a potential rival.
As soon as she arrived in Hertfordshire, she engaged the servants there to learn that the Bennet daughters were the most admired young ladies in the area.
It was crucial for her to ensure that you, Mr. Darcy, would not be ensnared in matrimony by anyone there.
So she sought to gather information about the Bennets, often relying on one or two servants whom she could manipulate for this purpose, while completely alienating the rest."
Louisa then turned her gaze back to Elizabeth.
"During that assembly, Caroline concocted the notion that you, Elizabeth, posed a potential threat to Mr. Darcy's affections.
She devised a scheme to keep the two of you apart, both physically and emotionally.
Regrettably, I must confess that I chose to join in her schemes. "
Elizabeth was at a loss for where this conversation was headed, but then Louisa locked eyes with her and declared.
"Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy never uttered those disparaging words about you on that day. It was all part of the drama we enacted in front of your sister, young Catherine. Mr. Darcy could never insult any lady, let alone you; it is not in his nature."
Elizabeth heard these words as if in a trance.
Why does it feel like it is the most obvious thing I heard in my life?
Darcy
In the depths of his heart, Darcy had always known that a misunderstanding lay behind the fracture of his friendship with Bingley.
He would have endeavoured to rectify it much earlier, were it not for the painful prospect of witnessing her as another man's wife.
Thus, he took the cowardly route of using the severed friendship with Bingley as a shield to avoid encountering her.
That is why he suppressed his anger, for he knew that it was not just Mrs. Elliot, the former Miss Bingley, who caused the prolonged estrangement between himself and Bingley. His own cowardice was an equal culprit.
However, the second revelation by Mrs. Hurst was an entirely different matter.
To learn that all his tribulations with Elizabeth, the agonies he had borne over the years, and the gnawing self-doubts he carried were the consequences of the selfish machinations of a social-climbing woman, was something Darcy could not avert his eyes from.
The truth shook him to the core, and he would have sprung up in anger and uttered words he would later rue, if not for his aunt's calming grasp on his arm.
Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply to regain his composure and settled back into his seat.