Chapter XV #2
“If she renders her continued residence here impossible, I shall take her north. There she will stay until she agrees to accept the possibility of a man other than Darcy paying his addresses to her. Should she decide to leave, I shall take her to London and engage a companion, but I will make it clear that I will only pay for the woman’s employment on the condition that she entertain other men as potential husbands. ”
Though Hurst was skeptical, he did not protest. “That is as reasonable a stance as any. Should you need to act against her, you will have my support.”
THE ENSUING DAY WAS uncomfortable for them all.
Miss Bingley did not stay in her chambers so long as any of them might have wished, and her company was not welcome.
The rest of that day and the one following, she made little comments designed to dig at her brother’s confidence, portray the Bennets in a poor light, and assert her interest in the matter of her brother’s future.
This, of course, led to several testy exchanges between siblings, until Bingley took the simple expedient of commanding her to silence the moment she opened her mouth.
It was no surprise to anyone that she ignored his directives and continued to speak, regardless.
To Darcy, she said little, and for that, Darcy was grateful.
He studied her during those hours, wondering if she thought her objections would change her brother’s mind.
She seemed to believe that if she badgered him enough, he would acknowledge the superiority of her position—it was a bit of self-delusion Darcy would not have expected of her, even knowing her disposition.
She seemed to dismiss Darcy’s burgeoning comfort with Miss Elizabeth as being of no consequence, something she could dispense with at any time of her choosing.
She, Caroline Bingley, was the obvious superior between them, needing only to remind him of her excellence to draw him away from Miss Elizabeth.
If she had understood the truth of Darcy’s feelings about superiority, she would not be so smug, but Darcy would not illuminate her understanding unless it became necessary.
“You know she means to ensure we are late tonight, do you not?”
Bingley looked up from his contemplation, an attitude that had become more prevalent since their return to Netherfield but had been almost unheard of before. Hurst was watching him, no trace of irony about him. Darcy had considered this possibility and knew he was correct.
“It is nothing I do not expect,” replied Bingley. “She knows I have the first dance with Miss Bennet and will wish to disrupt it.”
“She may even suspect that I have Miss Elizabeth’s first set,” said Darcy.
The grin Bingley directed at him told Darcy all he needed to know about his friend’s feelings on the matter. “Then perhaps we should act to ensure she does not get her way.”
“That is the spirit, Bingley,” said an approving Hurst. “Caroline will not like it, but by the time we reveal our hand, it will be too late to stop anything.”
Bingley nodded and rose to make the arrangements.
THAT EVENING, DARCY entered the assembly rooms in Meryton with fifteen minutes to spare, eyes searching.
Only a moment after he entered, Darcy spotted her, standing with her elder sister and Miss Lucas, appearing as lovely as she had the night Darcy had danced with her at Netherfield.
As he looked at her, feeling like he was slipping into a trance, Darcy reflected that she had never looked anything other than perfect in his sight.
His footsteps drew him to her side as if she were a magnet, no conscious thought guiding his movements.
Miss Elizabeth saw him before he arrived, and she turned to face him, Miss Lucas looking on with interest—Miss Bennet was already distracted by Bingley’s presence at Darcy’s side.
“Miss Elizabeth,” said he, catching her hand and bowing to kiss it. “You are a vision tonight.”
There was something in her eyes and the curve of her mouth that suggested she was as affected by him as he was by her.
Darcy grasped the notion like a branch in a raging torrent, striving not to drown in the experience.
When Miss Elizabeth smiled in greeting, he felt like his heart would burst out of his chest.
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy. I am pleased to see you.”
“I hope you have not forgotten that I hold your first set, Miss Bennet.”
Her soft laughter brought joy to his heart. “Not at all, sir.”
“Then I hope you will allow me to claim your last set, too.” Darcy grinned. “If this is a ball and there is a supper, I should also like to claim your supper set.”
This time, Miss Bennet’s mirth contained a measure of wonder. “There will be no dinner, Mr. Darcy. Are you certain you wish to make such a statement as the first and last dances will display?”
“I have never been more certain.”
Though her eyes searched his, Miss Elizabeth did not demur. “Then the last set is yours, too, Mr. Darcy.”
She then turned playful. “Excuse me, sir, but though I see Mr. Bingley with Jane, Mr. Hurst near the refreshment tables, and your excellent sister already chattering with mine, I do not see Miss Bingley. Did she decide the evening would be too rustic for her sensibilities?”
Having waited for this exact question, Darcy could not keep the smugness from his lips. “So far as I am aware, Miss Bingley has every intention of attending, Miss Elizabeth. There was a slight . . . difficulty when we left, and she did not travel with us.”
“Oh?” asked she, eyebrow raised. “You cannot impart that information and not explain, Mr. Darcy. I insist on being satisfied!”
Darcy chuckled. “Then I shall tell you—the story will amuse you, I am certain.”
DARCY PREPARED FOR the evening with unusual care.
Snell, his valet, looked on him with curiosity as Darcy ensured his appearance was as flawless as it could be, noting in his usual quietude the difference between that evening and Darcy’s usual behavior.
As was his custom, he said little, fulfilling his duties with the efficiency born of experience, though he could not allow Darcy to depart without a comment or two.
“If you will pardon me, Mr. Darcy, this evening appears to be an important one for you.”
“It is,” replied Darcy, studying his reflection in the mirror.
Snell continued to regard him. “I apologize if I am overstepping, sir, but would it be improper for me to express the hope that your fastidiousness tonight is not a result of the young lady in residence?”
It was all Darcy could do not to laugh. Though Snell had never raised the subject and no one else in his employ aside from Mrs. Reynolds was close enough to ask such a question, Darcy was aware of how Miss Bingley had behaved when she visited Pemberley.
Her demanding nature and her interest in the house, when her position as a guest did not warrant it, had not gone unnoticed by the staff.
A man’s choice of wife directly affected the servants—Miss Bingley would not be an agreeable mistress, any more than she would be an agreeable wife to Darcy.
“No, Snell, it is not because of Miss Bingley. I have known that lady for three years now, and I have no more interest in her than I did then. My knowledge of her character renders her unpalatable as a wife.”
A nod was all Snell ventured in response—Darcy had known he would say nothing more. It was not proper for a servant to intrude upon the master’s business. Snell had pushed the boundaries with even his oblique comment.
Satisfied, Darcy turned to his longtime valet. “There is no need to wait up for me tonight, Snell. Take a well-deserved break tonight. I shall not require your services until the morning.”
“Very good, Mr. Darcy.”
When Snell left, Darcy looked at himself in the mirror once more and then departed from the room. Out in the hallway, he loitered for a few minutes until his sister emerged from her room and joined him, accepting the offer of his arm.
“You look beautiful tonight, Georgiana,” said Darcy. “If you were not bound by the restrictions of a young girl attending her first event, I might worry about every man in attendance trying to spirit you away.”
Georgiana turned to him with laughing eyes. “Maybe you should anyway. If I am that stunning, the men at the ball will not wait for a dance.”
Darcy chuckled and patted her arm. “Just take care not to let Kitty and Lydia Bennet draw you into the worst of their intrigues.”
“Do not concern yourself, Brother,” said Georgiana, a trace of smugness clear. “I shall be fine. Perhaps they will even surprise you with their decorum.”
With a smile, Darcy led her down the hall, but as they were approaching the stairs, he noticed a door shift as they walked past—the door to Miss Bingley’s room.
Taking care to give no appearance of seeing it, Darcy led his sister to the stairs and down to the entrance hall.
When they were out of earshot, Georgiana turned to him and drew close, whispering.
“You saw?”
Darcy nodded. “She means to delay for at least fifteen minutes.”
Georgiana glanced heavenward. “Then it is well that we have planned for that eventuality. You would not wish to miss your dance with Miss Elizabeth.”
“No, I would not.”
A moment later, they reached the entrance and greeted Hurst and Bingley, who were talking together in tones meant to avoid being overheard.
Nothing of consequence passed between them as they stood and waited for the hour to arrive, but as they had expected, Miss Bingley did not descend at the appointed time.
When the time came and went, Bingley directed a look at Hurst, who shrugged.
Then he turned to Mrs. Nichols, the housekeeper, and directed her to send a maid to Caroline’s room.
“Please inform Caroline that if she does not join us within five minutes, we will depart without her.”
Mrs. Nichols, who had been standing nearby waiting for their departure, curtseyed and left to do his bidding, but Darcy saw a look of satisfaction.
Servants at an estate were expected to keep their opinions to themselves and give no reaction when instructed, but Darcy could not blame Mrs. Nichols for her slight lapse.
Not only had Miss Bingley been unreasonable since her arrival, but her behavior the previous autumn with the servants was intolerable.
Mrs. Nichols would need to endure Miss Bingley when the woman discovered they had left without her, but Darcy did not suppose she would suffer long; Miss Bingley would wish to depart at once.
“Do you suppose Miss Bingley will rush down when she realizes we are leaving?” asked Georgiana.
Bingley snorted. “You forget, Georgiana—Caroline’s room overlooks the gardens, not the drive. I doubt she will even deign to show her face until she feels she has delayed us enough.”
When the five minutes elapsed and there was no sign of Miss Bingley, the four left the house where two carriages were waiting, entered Darcy’s conveyance, and then they were off.
No howls of protest or hurried footsteps followed them from the estate, proving Bingley correct.
Miss Bingley would be furious when she descended.
BY THE TIME DARCY ENDED his tale, Miss Elizabeth was laughing. “Well played, Mr. Darcy!”
Darcy shrugged. “It was the obvious response to Miss Bingley’s machinations.”
“I am surprised at Mr. Bingley. I did not suppose he would act in such a way toward his sister. Not only will she be angry when she arrives, but it will be no less than humiliating for her to arrive alone when the rest of your party is already here.”
“Though I beg your pardon, I cannot find any sympathy in my heart for Miss Bingley’s plight.”
“No, I did not suppose you could.”
“You will not hold it against me? I know you considered me uncaring about the feelings of others. I hope you do not believe that anymore.”
The way Miss Elizabeth regarded him, Darcy felt himself measured and judged, though it was not an unpleasant sensation.
For the first time in their acquaintance, Darcy wondered if she was seeing the real man, not the one hiding behind his reticence or his reputation or his flaws.
Just a man, sincere and striving to be better.
“No, Mr. Darcy, I do not see you as uncaring about the feelings of others, and in the matter of Miss Bingley, I do not blame you at all. Miss Bingley has created your opinion of her with her behavior.”
“That she has.”
Miss Elizabeth shook her head. ‘If you will pardon me, I would rather not speak of Miss Bingley.”
“I agree without reservation.”
For the few minutes remaining until the dancing started, they carried on a lively discussion about nothing in particular, but even more interesting because it was with Miss Elizabeth.
They were, he noted, something of a curiosity, gaining several looks that appeared surprised or puzzled.
Darcy attributed that to their previous interactions and his previous behavior.
As no one approached them, Darcy felt justified in ignoring them for the moment and concentrating his attention on Miss Elizabeth.
The dance, when it came, was both more enjoyable and subtly altered from the dance they had shared at Netherfield.
Gone were the tension, the fraught discussion of Wickham, the sense of disharmony—replaced with interest, pleasure, and perhaps even a hint of growing desire.
It was still early and there were many miles yet to travel, but Darcy thought they were taking the first steps on the road to happiness.
Then, as if a storm cloud had entered the room, Miss Bingley appeared—eyes blazing, jaw set in a line that bespoke utter fury.
It was twenty minutes after the dancing started, even later than Darcy had expected.
Whatever else happened, Darcy suspected there would be no choice but to make his sentiments known to her tonight. The question was how she would respond.