Chapter 9 #3
“It would have wounded more effectively if Miss Bingley’s jealousy were not so transparent. Though I confess I am concerned about what rumors she might be circulating.”
Darcy’s expression hardened. “Whatever they may be, they reflect her character rather than yours. Anyone who knows you would never credit such malice.”
“But many do not know me. And first impressions, once formed, can be difficult to alter, as we have both discovered.”
The reference to their own inauspicious beginning brought a reluctant smile to Darcy’s lips. “A fair point. Though in that case, greater acquaintance led to significant revision of opinion.”
“On both sides. Your defense of me before Lady Catherine was most gratifying.”
“It was nothing less than you deserved. I will not have you disparaged, Elizabeth. Not by my aunt, not by Caroline Bingley, not by anyone whose opinion I once valued but now find irrelevant.”
Her eyes softened, and she tightened her grip on his hands. “Thank you. Your good opinion has become important to me.”
“As yours has to me. It makes my aunt’s threats regarding social and business connections all the more ineffectual. I find I care far less for the approval of society than I once did.”
“Still, we should not dismiss her warnings. If your business interests could suffer because of our marriage, we should prepare ourselves.”
“Any associates so easily swayed by gossip are not partners I wish to maintain. But your concern is noted and appreciated.”
A knock at the door interrupted the moment. Graves entered, his dignified countenance betraying unusual discomfort. “Excuse me, sir, madam. A letter has arrived by express for Miss Darcy.”
“For Georgiana?” Darcy frowned, releasing Elizabeth’s hands to accept the sealed missive. “She rarely receives urgent correspondence.”
“It was delivered with instructions that it reach her without delay. The messenger was most insistent.”
Darcy examined the handwriting on the direction. “This is from Miss Bingley. The timing is suspicious, given Lady Catherine’s mention of her letter to Lady Metcalf.”
He hesitated, torn between respecting his sister’s privacy and concern about Caroline’s potential influence. Elizabeth understood his dilemma immediately.
“Perhaps, given the circumstances and Miss Bingley’s apparent determination to cause difficulty, it might be prudent to speak with Georgiana before she reads it. Not to prevent her from receiving the letter, but to prepare her for its possible contents.”
“A sensible approach. Graves, please locate Miss Darcy and ask her to join us here.”
When Georgiana appeared moments later, she looked from the letter in Darcy’s hand to his serious expression with growing apprehension. “Is something wrong? Has something happened to Mr. Bingley?”
“No, nothing like that. This express is from Miss Bingley, and given what we learned from Lady Catherine about her correspondence with others regarding my marriage, I thought it prudent we discuss it before you read it.”
“You think she might have written something unkind about Elizabeth?”
“It is likely. Miss Bingley made her disapproval of me quite clear during our time in London. Lady Catherine’s remarks suggest she has been actively attempting to discredit me in society.”
Understanding dawned in Georgiana’s expression. “You are concerned she might try to turn me against you as well.”
“We are concerned she might upset you. You should, of course, read her letter. We would not presume to interfere with your correspondence. But perhaps it would be wise to do so with awareness of her likely motives.”
Georgiana surprised both of them by smiling. “I have known Caroline Bingley much longer than I have known Elizabeth. While I cannot claim the same degree of intimacy with either, I believe I have observed enough to form my own assessment of their characters.”
Darcy was caught off guard. His sister continued with growing confidence:
“Miss Bingley has always been very attentive when you were present, Brother. But her manner changes noticeably when you leave the room. She has never shown interest in my music or my feelings, except as they relate to you. Whereas Elizabeth asks about my preferences and listens to my answers. She plays duets with me without making me feel inadequate. She makes Pemberley feel like a home rather than a museum where I must be careful not to disturb anything.”
Before either could respond, Georgiana held out her hand for the letter.
“I would like to read it now, please. Whatever Miss Bingley has written, I assure you I am capable of judging its merits for myself.”
With a mixture of pride and lingering concern, Darcy handed over the sealed express.
Georgiana broke the seal and unfolded the pages, her expression growing troubled as she read. When she finished, she looked up with distress and indignation mingling on her face.
“This is unkind. Miss Bingley writes as though she believes herself to do me a service by warning me against Elizabeth’s influence.”
“May I?” Elizabeth asked gently, holding out her hand.
Georgiana hesitated only briefly before passing over the letter. “I apologize for the hurtful things you will read. They do not reflect my feelings in the slightest.”
Elizabeth scanned the pages, her expression remaining composed despite the color that rose in her cheeks. When she had finished, she handed the letter to Darcy without comment, though the tightness around her mouth spoke volumes.
My dearest Georgiana,
I write to you as one who has long regarded you with the deepest sisterly affection, and who cannot remain silent when I perceive a threat to your happiness and consequence.
It pains me to address so delicate a subject, but affection compels me to offer counsel you may not receive from others in your family.
News of your brother’s hasty marriage reached London with considerable speculation attached.
While I am certain Mr. Darcy acted from the noblest of motives in securing the reputation of a young woman compromised through her own carelessness, I fear the consequences for you may not have been adequately considered.
Mrs. Darcy comes from a family wholly unsuited to the elevated sphere she now inhabits.
Her mother’s vulgarity is notorious even in Hertfordshire, her younger sisters are wild to the point of scandal, and her uncle resides in Cheapside, engaged in trade.
These are not the connections that benefit a young lady of your birth and fortune when she enters society.
More concerning still is the nature of Mrs. Darcy’s character.
During her time in Hertfordshire, she was observed walking alone at all hours, engaging gentlemen in spirited debate without proper decorum, and expressing opinions on subjects beyond a lady’s sphere.
Such independence of manner, while perhaps tolerated in country society, will reflect poorly upon your family in town.
I fear that as mistress of Pemberley, she may seek to diminish your position in the household.
A woman of her grasping nature, having secured your brother through compromise, will naturally wish to establish herself as sole object of his attention and primary beneficiary of his affection.
Your own consequence may be reduced as she asserts her authority.
I write not to distress you, dear Georgiana, but to prepare you. Guard your heart and your position. Trust in those who have known your family longest, and be wary of a woman whose entire history suggests calculation rather than genuine feeling.
Your devoted friend,
Caroline Bingley
Darcy’s hands clenched around the letter. Miss Bingley’s poison was much more direct when put to paper.
“This exceeds even what I expected from Caroline. To drive a wedge between you and Elizabeth under the guise of friendly concern is unconscionable.”
“It will not succeed. I know my own mind, Brother. And my own heart.”
Elizabeth, who had moved to stand by the window during Darcy’s reading, turned back to them with evident emotion. “Thank you, Georgiana. Your faith in me means a great deal, especially when others are determined to think the worst.”
“They do not know you. I do. At least, I am beginning to. And I prefer my own observations to Miss Bingley’s assertions.”
Darcy felt a surge of pride in his sister’s growth.
“What shall we do about this?” Elizabeth asked. “Between Lady Catherine’s threats and Miss Bingley’s campaign of whispers, we face a coordinated effort to undermine our marriage in society.”
“We face it together. Lady Catherine’s influence, while considerable in certain circles, is limited by her own difficult personality. As for Caroline...” He considered carefully before continuing. “I believe a direct approach may be necessary there.”
“You would confront her?”
“Not I. Such a confrontation would only fuel further gossip. But her brother might be made aware of her activities.”
“Mr. Bingley’s renewed attentions to Jane have progressed rapidly, according to her letters,” Elizabeth said. “He might be motivated to address his sister’s behavior if he understood how it could affect his own prospects.”
“Exactly. A letter to Bingley appears the most prudent first step.”
“And Lady Catherine?” Georgiana asked hesitantly. “Will she continue her campaign against Elizabeth as well?”
Darcy exchanged a glance with his wife, finding unexpected assurance in her steady gaze. “That remains to be seen. But whatever approach she takes, we will address it as we have today—with unity and truth rather than concession or compromise.”
The declaration settled over the room like a promise.
Whatever external forces might threaten the still-evolving bond between them, Darcy realized with growing certainty that he and Elizabeth had already formed an alliance stronger than he had dared to hope for when circumstance first threw them together.
Later that evening, after a painfully formal dinner during which Lady Catherine maintained frigid courtesy while directing most of her conversation to Georgiana, Darcy found himself alone with Elizabeth in the library.
His aunt had retired early, pleading fatigue from her journey, though her announcement that she would depart for Kent the following morning suggested her retreat stemmed more from strategic reconsideration than genuine weariness.
“She has not abandoned her opposition, just her direct approach. Lady Catherine strikes me as a woman who rarely surrenders a firmly held position.”
“Never, in my experience.” Darcy watched firelight play across his wife’s features.
The simple white evening gown she wore, less elaborate than London fashion dictated but suited to country hours, enhanced rather than disguised her natural beauty.
“But her influence has limits, contrary to her own assessment. And I find I care less about the opinions of those who might be swayed by either her disapproval or Caroline’s insinuations. ”
Elizabeth looked at him with genuine curiosity. “That represents quite a change from the man I first met in Hertfordshire. You appeared most conscious of rank and consequence then.”
“I was. Excessively so, in many respects. It was how I was raised—to value connection and position as evidence of worth. Yet I find those considerations hollow compared with more substantial qualities.”
“Such as?”
“Integrity. Intelligence. The courage to speak truth regardless of consequence.” He held her gaze steadily. “Qualities you have demonstrated consistently, from our first meeting when you contradicted me at the assembly to today when you faced my aunt with such composure.”
Color rose in her cheeks, visible even in the firelight. “I was terrified. Lady Catherine is as formidable as her reputation suggests.”
“Yet you did not falter. Your defense of me regarding my father’s expectations was unexpected. And appreciated.”
Elizabeth glanced down, appearing almost shy—an unusual quality in a woman generally so confident in her opinions.
“It was unjust, using your father’s memory as a weapon against you.
Especially when everything I have observed suggests you honor his legacy through your care for Pemberley and its dependents. ”
How many years had he strived to live up to the example his father had set, never certain if he measured up to that standard? That Elizabeth would recognize and articulate this effort...
“Thank you.”
Elizabeth offered a small smile before changing the subject. “What do you think Lady Catherine will do now? She has not accepted our marriage as irreversible.”
“She will return to Kent and reconsider her approach. Possibly she will attempt to influence others against us socially, though her own difficult personality limits her effectiveness in that arena. More concerning is the possibility that she might attempt to damage business relationships, as she threatened.”
“Could she affect the canal project she mentioned?”
“Possibly. Lord Harrington values her opinion, and his committee has significant influence over the proposed route. If the canal were diverted from Pemberley lands, it would reduce the value of certain agricultural exports due to increased transportation costs.”
Elizabeth considered this with evident concern. “Is there anything we might do to counter such influence? Some approach to Lord Harrington directly, perhaps?”
“There may be. Lord Harrington’s son is a friend of Colonel Fitzwilliam. My cousin might be persuaded to intervene discreetly.”
“Your cousin has been a valuable ally.”
“Fitzwilliam has always seen more clearly than most. He recognized your worth immediately, which speaks well of his judgment.”
“And perhaps of your choice of wife?” Elizabeth suggested with a flash of her usual spirit, the teasing note in her voice a welcome return after the tension of the day.
“Undoubtedly.”
A rider’s arrival interrupted them—hoofbeats on gravel, urgent voices in the entrance hall below. Darcy rose, exchanging a glance with Elizabeth. Visitors at this hour were uncommon.
Graves appeared at the library door, his expression grave. “Mr. Darcy, a messenger has arrived from Lambton. There has been an incident at the village assembly. A gentleman claiming acquaintance with the family has been making inquiries about Miss Darcy and her whereabouts.”
Darcy went still. “What manner of inquiries?”
“The messenger did not know specifics, sir. But the landlord at the Green Man thought you should be informed immediately.”
Ice settled in Darcy’s chest. Only one person would make such inquiries in Lambton.
George Wickham had returned to Derbyshire.