Chapter XIV #2
With a smile, Jane turned her attention to her sister and the handsome gentleman by her side. “I cannot say, but she has softened of late.”
“Had Darcy come to Hertfordshire in a better mood, their situation might be akin to ours.”
There was no reason to point out the fallacy—and the month’s absence—so Jane ignored the comment. “I am happy for her, for I always thought Mr. Darcy was a better man than he showed us.”
“There is no better man than Darcy,” said Mr. Bingley.
“Then what do you mean to do about Miss Bingley?” asked Jane, turning back to the original topic.
“That depends on her behavior,” replied Bingley.
“If she accepts defeat, however ungracious it may be, Hurst will send for Louisa, and we will continue as we have, though I will make it clear to Caroline that I expect her good behavior. If she persists, then I will need to decide what to do with her.”
Mr. Bingley paused as if considering, then shook his head, his glance back at her unreadable, or perhaps a little cautious. “Hurst and Darcy both expressed their opinion that Caroline might . . . try to take matters with Darcy into her own hands.”
For a moment, Jane did not understand his meaning. Then comprehension flooded into her, and she stared at him, shocked.
“Do you suggest she might try to force his hand?”
“That is exactly what I mean.” Mr. Bingley’s mien was no less than grim. “Darcy has already declared that he will not offer for her regardless of her actions, so if she spawns gossip, it will redound solely to her detriment.”
Mr. Bingley grimaced. “Then again, it would affect us all if it ever reached London. Darcy will weather it, for his standing is sufficiently high, but my standing will suffer, and Caroline will become nigh unmarriageable.”
It was, Jane supposed, the moment that if she decided this was all too complicated, she could let Mr. Bingley know.
Several factors stopped her, the most important being that she was not about to allow Caroline Bingley to determine her happiness.
Jane loved Mr. Bingley, and if he proved himself, nothing was stopping them.
If she sent Mr. Bingley away, that would also disrupt Lizzy’s budding romance with Mr. Darcy, though Jane had enough of a sense of the gentleman’s determination to suspect he would not allow such a minor consideration to come between them.
“Standing does not concern me, Mr. Bingley,” said Jane. “There may be some tittle-tattle in Meryton, but only Sir William has any presence in town, and his influence there is confined to his stories of St. James’s court. There should be no consequences in London.”
The look the gentleman directed her was filled with gratitude mixed with appreciation. “You are correct, of course. Then, with your permission, I shall deal with Caroline based on her behavior. If I must, I will take her north to stay with my family for a time.”
“That is understandable.”
“Whatever happens,” continued he, “she must attend this season in London with the express purpose of finding a husband. I no longer wish to support her, and Hurst wishes her gone from his house.”
Jane nodded, though the notion of throwing off so close a family member pained her. “That would be for the best.”
At that moment, Miss Bingley turned away from Mrs. Bennet, displaying an expression that could only be termed a smirk, while Mrs. Bennet glared at her back.
It appeared Miss Bingley had accomplished her objective with the matron of the house and was now looking for her next victim.
Jane was not about to allow the woman to have the satisfaction.
“Jane,” said Miss Bingley with a sneer she did not bother to conceal, “I see you are here with my brother again.”
“It was my choice to approach Miss Bennet, Caroline,” said Mr. Bingley, a warning in his tone.
It was no surprise when Miss Bingley ignored it. “I hope you have been well, Jane, though I suppose I should not ask, given what I have seen already today.”
“We are all well, indeed,” replied Jane, proud of herself for her level tone.
“And do you still entertain the officers?” Caroline laughed, though it was not a pleasant sound. “Perhaps you and your sisters may find husbands from among their number. You do find them to be quite the extraordinary gentlemen, do you not?”
“On the contrary, Caroline, we have not seen the officers in some days. Though new acquaintances are always welcome, I do not think we appreciate the officers any more than anyone else in the district.”
Caroline looked at her with feigned shock.
“I had understood your youngest sisters relished the sight of a man in regimentals.” Shock turning to studied nonchalance, she added: “Then again, I suppose you must all consider something other than uniforms. Why, when there are men of greater consequence present, such considerations must give way to even a handsome face.”
“Tell us more, Caroline,” said Mr. Bingley, his manner now quite displeased. “After all, if anyone knows about mercenary motivations, I must assume that person is you.”
Jane did not gasp at the direct insult, though it was a near thing. The insult infuriated Miss Bingley, embarrassment coloring her cheeks, but she swallowed her retort and went on the attack.
“I wish you well, Jane, though I cannot but suppose you must look beyond Meryton for your prospects.”
Then Caroline turned a deliberate glance toward Georgiana, her eyes returning to Jane with an ugly smirk. “I see you have met dear Georgiana. How fortunate you have been to make her acquaintance, for I hope she will become a closer connection soon.”
“Is that so?” asked Jane, interrupting whatever Mr. Bingley wished to say.
“Oh, no one who sees Charles in her company can mistake their connection. I apologize if I am blasting your hopes, but it is best to know the truth as soon as possible, is it not?”
For a fleeting moment, Jane almost pitied the woman. “The truth? I wonder if you are seeing the same scenes as I am, Miss Bingley, for you appear to be blind.”
The comment brought out the woman’s ire and her claws, but Jane spoke before she could unsheathe them.
“I have been in company with Mr. Bingley and Georgiana several times, and I have seen nothing out of the common way. Whenever we are together, Mr. Bingley is at my side like he is now. Georgiana is much too young for marriage and shows no affection for your brother. The Bennets are an old and respected family and are not prone to such behavior as you suggest. Please take your poison elsewhere, for I am not interested in it.”
The way her nostrils flared in offense, Jane knew she had struck a nerve. To own the truth, Jane was rather proud of herself. She had pushed back with calmness and no overt unkindness, acting more like Elizabeth than herself.
“Brother, it is time to leave this place,” snapped Miss Bingley. “I insist upon it.”
“You may insist all you like, but it will not move me,” replied Mr. Bingley. “We will leave when the time for our visit concludes and not until then. If you wish to leave first, you may take the carriage—Hurst and I will return with the Darcys.”
Then he stepped closer and said in a low tone: “Perhaps you should not speak at all, since nothing of worth emerges from your mouth. Do not insult my neighbors any more than you already have, for I shall not tolerate it.”
For a moment, she glared at him, confused that he had not obeyed her. Then she flounced away, her next target Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
“She will be the death of me,” muttered Mr. Bingley, shaking his head.
“Do you suppose we should prevent her?”
“No need,” said Mr. Bingley. “Darcy will not listen to her, and your sister is more likely to flay her with words than accept her unkindness.”
Jane nodded and put Miss Bingley from her mind. But she remained watchful, wondering how Lizzy would handle her. If Jane knew her sister at all, she suspected Miss Bingley would not relish the experience.
“DO YOU SEE, MR. DARCY? This is what happens when you pay undue attention to those who are unworthy of it.”
Elizabeth had been enjoying a pleasant conversation with Mr. Darcy when Miss Bingley inserted herself like a thunderstorm with an attitude.
Though she had not been ignorant of the woman’s activities, she had paid more attention to Mr. Darcy, knowing that a confrontation with Miss Bingley was nigh inevitable.
She had not expected it to appear so suddenly, but Elizabeth was not taken aback.
For the moment, the first right of response was Mr. Darcy’s, so she allowed him to take the lead.
“Yes, Miss Bingley, I suppose you are correct.” His eyes fell on Miss Bingley, leaving her in no doubt of whom he was speaking. “Those who display misplaced pride and a haughtiness far beyond their actual standing are the most contemptible of all, would you not agree?”
Miss Bingley glared at Elizabeth as if it were her fault. “And you, Miss Eliza? Do you stand there and smirk before your betters, enjoying the sight of your sister imposing upon my brother?”
“If there has been any imposition, Miss Bingley,” replied Elizabeth coolly, “it has been on your brother’s side. Jane has never attempted to capture his attention—she had it without artifice.”
“You claim sophistication and intelligence when I know you are nothing but a pretender.”
“And I understand your character is as vicious as your behavior is lacking.”
Miss Bingley’s eyes blazed, but she instead turned to Mr. Darcy. “I shall not endure the mewling of a witless woman. Come, Mr. Darcy. We shall speak together until we escape the pollution of this place.”
“I am comfortable where I am, Miss Bingley,” replied Mr. Darcy, his dislike plain to see. “You may keep yourself aloof if you wish, but I am not so fastidious as to push good people aside for your vanity.”
When it appeared as if Miss Bingley would make a greater fuss, Mr. Darcy stepped closer. “Your best option is to retreat. Do not make me call you out in front of everyone.”
“Do you suppose I care for these people’s opinions?”
“Not at all. But if you persist, Bingley is even now considering removing you from the room. I would not test him if I were you.”
Though Elizabeth thought she might persist, she proved she was not as confident as she portrayed, instead turning and stalking away.
Miss Bingley took a position away from everyone else, glaring at them all and counting the minutes until she could leave.
Elizabeth shook her head at the woman’s determination, which was quite misjudged in this instance.
“What a woman she is, Mr. Darcy. I have never seen one as blind as she, and willfully so.”
Elizabeth had not intended it, but it seemed Mr. Darcy had heard something in her comment, considering his response.
“Pardon me for bringing up objectionable subjects, Miss Elizabeth, but might I suppose you once considered me in the same light?”
Surprised though she was by his comment, Elizabeth did not retreat. “When you came to Meryton in the autumn, I will confess that I did, Mr. Darcy.”
The gentleman nodded, having expected her response. “I suppose I have my own behavior to blame for your opinion.”
“You were not in the best humor,” said Elizabeth, trying to be diplomatic.
Mr. Darcy offered her a soft smile. “As my cousin Fitzwilliam would say, I was cranky as a bear newly awake in the spring.”
“Perhaps you were, but you are different now.”
“It is possible that I have discovered a woman worthy of being pleased.”
For the first time in Mr. Darcy’s presence, Elizabeth’s heart fluttered a little at his words. To cover her sudden breathlessness, she turned to teasing.
“You have? But I thought I was not handsome enough, Mr. Darcy.”
The gentleman’s gaze never wavered from her. “More than handsome enough, Miss Elizabeth. The man who said those words was out of his wits—either that or completely blind.”
“This is all so new,” said Elizabeth, not knowing what else to say.
“Yes, I suppose it is.” Mr. Darcy fell silent, regarding her.
“Miss Elizabeth, I shall not dissemble. When I came to Meryton, I did so expecting to find nothing that pleased me, carrying an exaggerated opinion of myself. What I found here, however, was a rare woman, the sort of woman I can imagine knowing for a lifetime. I am not perfect, but I am a man you have captured without effort. It is much too soon, but if you are willing, I should very much like to discover what we can be to each other.”
“To give anything other than an enthusiastic assent would be churlish, and I have never thought myself ill-bred.” Elizabeth grinned at him.
“If you believe you can come to love a woman of common background, then I am willing to discover everything with you, Mr. Darcy. Be warned, however, that I will accept you only if you make me love you. Anything less is insufficient.”
Mr. Darcy reached down and clasped her hand, bringing it to his lips, heedless of all eyes upon him. “I would have it no other way, Miss Elizabeth.”