Chapter IV #2
“It can mean nothing,” said Jane, answering her own question. “Mr. Darcy’s lineage is the ancient, distinguished line he must protect. His interest in Mr. Bingley must be for friendship, not for any thoughts of protecting his friend’s legacy.”
“What of Mr. Bingley’s position in society? Mr. Bingley is new to the sort of society that Mr. Darcy inhabits—do you not suppose Mr. Darcy wishes his friend to make a match that will lead to his acceptance?”
“Mayhap he does,” agreed Jane. “But that is a far cry from wishing to separate us for nothing more than caprice.”
Elizabeth shook her head. This conversation was accomplishing nothing—there was no point in arguing.
“In the end, Mr. Darcy’s motivations mean little.” Elizabeth offered her sister a conciliatory smile. “That you are aware of his opposition to Mr. Bingley’s interest in you is enough.”
“I am not unaware of it, though I am not convinced his opposition is as profound as you believe it to be.”
“Again, that is immaterial,” replied Elizabeth. “There is little you can do about it, but to ensure that Mr. Bingley understands your sentiments. If he does, there is nothing Mr. Darcy can do to interfere.”
“Then we are agreed.”
In the ensuing days, the gentlemen visited daily.
Mr. Bingley was his usual pleasant self, but Mr. Darcy was another matter altogether.
He watched, and unless Elizabeth was no judge of the matter at all, he calculated and plotted.
What those designs might portend, Elizabeth could not say, but she was not about to allow him to spin his webs unopposed.
Mr. Darcy rarely had much to say during those visits.
The gentleman sat in their midst and would respond when addressed, but he rarely initiated conversation, even with Elizabeth, who had more of his attention than anyone else in the family.
Elizabeth was quite sanguine about this; considering the gentleman disagreeable as she did, she had little wish to speak to him.
Three days after his first appearance, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley arrived, and matters proceeded much as they ever did. Mrs. Bennet, however, appeared to have some other purpose in mind, for she did not allow much time to pass before she addressed the gentlemen.
“Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, I should like to invite you to join us for dinner when convenient.”
She turned to Mr. Darcy, and despite her distaste for the man, she addressed him with seeming composure. “Mr. Darcy, I believe you mentioned that your sister was to join you at Netherfield Park. Will she arrive soon?”
“Georgiana will come tomorrow,” replied Mr. Darcy, though he appeared disinclined to respond at all.
“That is perfect,” said Mrs. Bennet. “Unless you are otherwise engaged, we should be pleased to host you tomorrow evening. We anticipate making your sister’s acquaintance.”
For a moment, Elizabeth thought Mr. Darcy might offer some excuse about why they could not accept. Before he could open his mouth, however, his friend seized the right of response.
“Thank you for your kindness, Mrs. Bennet. If it is no trouble, it will please us to accept.”
“No trouble at all, Mr. Bingley,” replied Mrs. Bennet, with an air of unmistakable triumph. “We are eager to host you.”
While the visit continued around him, Mr. Darcy appeared most discontented. Elizabeth knew that she should leave well enough alone, that it would be best not to poke at the bear in their midst. The inclination to needle him proved irresistible.
“How excellent it will be to make your sister’s acquaintance, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth, the first time she had addressed him that day. “We shall endeavor to welcome her and make her feel at home.”
Mr. Darcy regarded her but revealed nothing of his feelings. “That is all a loving brother could ever want for his sister, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Aye, it is,” agreed Elizabeth. “Just as a loving sister would wish for her sister.”
The gentleman got the point at once, but Elizabeth was not finished.
“It appears this moment, at least, goes to Jane. I could not be happier for my sister, for she is the gentlest, most deserving soul I know.”
Mr. Darcy did not respond, leaving Elizabeth with the satisfaction of the last word.
For some time, he watched the room, discontent seething, wondering what he could do to alter the score, or Elizabeth was no judge of him at all.
Then Kitty and Lydia, who had walked to Meryton, returned and altered the atmosphere.
“Oh, Mama!” exclaimed Lydia in a loud voice as she entered the room. “You will never guess what happened today!”
“It was such a farce!” cried Kitty, determined to have her part of the conversation.
Elizabeth never learned what had happened, and she did not care to know—it was something about Mr. Denny and Mr. Sanderson, the latter of whom had suffered some embarrassment about which the girls went on at length.
Mrs. Bennet, proving her lack of sense, tittered and jested along with her youngest daughters, creating quite a spectacle in their sitting-room.
The three were so loud that not only did Mr. Darcy glare at them in disapproval, but Mr. Bingley noticed, watching with a measure of concern.
When the gentlemen rose to depart, Mr. Darcy did not do so without stepping close to Elizabeth and whispering in her ear.
“It appears Miss Elizabeth, that the score is once again even.”
Then, with an insufferably self-satisfied expression, he followed Mr. Bingley from the room, leaving a fuming Elizabeth behind.
“MISS DARCY!” WAS BINGLEY’S enthusiastic greeting the moment Georgiana alighted from the carriage. “Welcome to Netherfield Park. I cannot tell you how pleased I am that you have joined us here.”
The way Georgiana regarded him, Darcy knew that she was a little confused. “You are happy for my coming, Mr. Bingley?” asked Georgiana, a hint of timidity entering her voice. Darcy had not heard that tone in some time, since she had begun to recover from Wickham’s actions.
“I am,” replied Bingley, seeing nothing of her hesitation.
“For you see, I have no mistress at Netherfield, and consequently no ability to host. Though I would not tax your abilities, knowing your tender age, should you consent to act as my hostess for a dinner one evening, I would be most obliged.”
It was clear that Georgiana did not know what to say—Darcy stepped in. “Perhaps now is not the time to discuss such things, Bingley. Georgiana has not been here for five minutes.”
“Of course, of course,” said Bingley, appearing not at all chastened. “If you follow Mrs. Nichols, she will see you to your room.”
“That will not be necessary, Bingley,” replied Darcy. “I shall take my sister to her room.”
“Then I shall await your arrival in the sitting-room.”
As they were walking upstairs, Georgiana, who had remained quiet, turned her attention to Darcy. “What was that about, Brother?”
Though Darcy was loath to mention Bingley’s infatuation with Miss Bennet, he decided an oblique reference was good enough for now. Georgiana, he knew, would learn of the matter before long, but he did not wish to appear supportive, even to his sister.
“Bingley was speaking of his neighbors to the west, the Bennets. Since our arrival, they have hosted Bingley at least twice—he wishes to repay their kindness.”
“Oh!” cried Georgiana, relieved. “I had thought . . .” Georgiana paused and swallowed. “Well . . . it seemed like Mr. Bingley was happy to see me.”
Darcy regarded her with interest. “Is the notion of Bingley’s esteem onerous to you?”
“Mr. Bingley is an excellent man, and I am fond of him, but I do not see him that way.”
“Yet you are aware of Miss Bingley’s ambitions on that front.”
The rolling of Georgiana’s eyes was no surprise. “I would need to be blind and deaf to have missed it.”
Darcy smiled at his sister and allowed her to enter her room. While she was refreshing herself from her journey, Darcy considered the situation. For a moment, he irrationally considered the notion of presenting Georgiana as a potential bride.
Sanity reasserted itself at once. Darcy had no interest in placing Georgiana forward for consideration to help Bingley regain his senses, and she had already stated her disinclination.
Darcy had considered the notion of Georgiana and Bingley marrying one day, but only as idle speculation.
Besides, his cousin Fitzwilliam would never forgive him if he knew Darcy had even considered such a thing.
When Georgiana emerged, her appearance repaired, Darcy escorted her down to the sitting-room.
Bingley, he noted, was waiting with unconcealed impatience, though why he would be in such a state was beyond Darcy’s comprehension.
Then again, of late, he had often found his friend with more energy than he could easily suppress.
Darcy wondered if this was what it meant to be in love.
Or perhaps it was just how a man in the throes of infatuation behaved—Darcy hoped it was the latter, for it would be easier to turn him aside if all he felt was fascination.
“I hope, Darcy,” said Bingley when they entered, “that Miss Darcy’s coming means you are settled here for Christmas.”
“That would be agreeable to me,” said Georgiana before Darcy could respond, surprising him with her enthusiasm. “We would usually be at Pemberley at this time of year, but Netherfield is lovely.”
Then Georgiana’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Excuse me, Mr. Bingley, but what about your sisters? I understood from my brother that they were to remain in town—do you not wish to be in your sisters’ company for the season?”
Bingley’s expression cooled, but he moderated his tone instead of answering angrily. “Thank you for asking, Miss Darcy, but my sisters are content with London and will not come to Netherfield. As I am settled here for the season, I shall spend it apart from them.”
Then Bingley’s dourness evaporated in favor of his usual bright smile. “If you consent to stay, then I shall not be alone. Well, I shall not be alone anyway, as I am certain the Bennets will invite me—all of us—to Longbourn for the day.”
“The Bennets?” asked Georgiana, her eyes finding Darcy.
“Yes, my nearest neighbors to the west.”
Georgiana’s gaze was no less than assessing. “Brother, did you not write to me about the Bennets when you stayed here last month?”
Darcy wished he had not, with all his heart, especially when he saw Bingley’s eyes widening.
“Your brother wrote about the Bennets?”
“Miss Elizabeth in particular,” said Darcy, though he did not wish to speak of it. “If you recall, Miss Elizabeth and your sister engaged in some memorable debates when she was here caring for her sister. I told Georgiana about them.”
For several moments, Bingley stared at Darcy as if lacking comprehension. Then he burst into peals of laughter.
“Darcy! Do you mean to tell me that you wrote to Miss Darcy about Miss Elizabeth, a woman my sister despises above all others, right under her nose, while they were arguing in my sitting-room?”
“Why Miss Bingley’s antipathy for Miss Elizabeth should concern me is beyond my comprehension. All I did was amuse my sister with some anecdotes I thought she would enjoy.”
“At my sister’s expense, no doubt.”
When Darcy protested, Bingley only waved him away. “Do not apologize, Darcy. I am feeling less than charitable for her feelings myself. If you portrayed my sister in a negative light, I dare say she deserved it.”
The way Georgiana glanced back and forth between Darcy and Bingley, he was certain she sensed there was more to the story than she knew.
As a well-bred young woman, Georgiana did not ask.
But Darcy knew she would not forget, would remain watchful to learn what she could.
Darcy wondered if he could keep her occupied enough that she would forget to ask her questions.
“To own the truth,” said Georgiana, pushing her curiosity away, “I have been most interested to make Miss Elizabeth’s acquaintance ever since my brother mentioned her in his letters. William never writes about ladies of his acquaintance.”
Bingley turned to Darcy, his look assessing, as if he’d never considered it before. “Then you should be prepared for barbed comments and discord, Miss Darcy. Miss Elizabeth and your brother have never gotten on well.”
Eyes wide, Georgiana turned to him. “You do not get on with Miss Elizabeth?” she demanded as if she had never heard of such a thing. “Then why did you write about her?”
“I also wrote about Miss Bingley, if you recall.”
“But I know Miss Bingley. I have never met Miss Elizabeth.”
Darcy shrugged, not wishing to confess, not wishing to acknowledge, and above all, not wanting Georgiana to learn he had any extraordinary feelings for the most bewitching woman he had ever met.
Miss Elizabeth was also determined to press her indifferent sister on Darcy’s friend in defiance of all decency—Darcy had best keep that firmly in mind.
“Then you shall have your wish, Miss Darcy,” said Bingley before Darcy could respond. “The Bennets have invited us for dinner at Longbourn tonight.”
“Tonight?” asked Georgiana, with only a little of the apprehension Darcy might have expected in her voice.
“Yes. When Mrs. Bennet learned you were coming today, she would not rest until she had our consent to a dinner engagement. The Bennets are eager to make your acquaintance.”
Georgiana’s eyes darted back and forth between Darcy and Bingley. “That is precipitous.”
“I hope it meets your approval,” said Bingley, sincerity warring with his desire to be in Miss Bennet’s company again.
“Yes, I should be happy to make their acquaintance.” Georgiana’s tone was not at all convincing. “Can you tell me about them?”
Bingley was only too happy to oblige, spending several long minutes explaining what he knew about the family.
Darcy, who was watching, noted the slow understanding that transformed Georgiana’s face.
By the time he fell silent, she knew that Bingley admired Miss Bennet, and, after a moment’s reflection, did not appear at all put out by it.
Her stated disinterest in Bingley as a prospective husband had been sincere.
Darcy did not know whether to feel relieved or disappointed.
In the end, he chose pride in his sister for knowing what she wanted. Georgiana would make some man an excellent wife in some distant future. Until then, he could find pleasure in having her with him. The was no cause to regret that she was not a convenient means of reclaiming his friend.