Chapter 2
Bingley
As soon as he arrived, Bingley knew that something was wrong.
Both of Darcy’s carriages were gone, and Gulltoppr was, as well.
The arrangement had been that Georgiana and Darcy would remain at Netherfield, continuing to visit Elizabeth, until the wedding.
Darcy had specifically said that he would try to give Bingley a few more lessons on estate management in the fortnight between the debacle with Caroline and the wedding.
He hurried to the house, anxious to know what had occurred to change Darcy’s plans.
Halfway there, he slowed and stopped. Could Darcy and Elizabeth have broken their engagement?
The shocking thought was made all the more disquieting by the feeling of joy he experienced in its aftermath.
Bingley squelched his thoughts and feelings, telling himself that of course the two were irrevocably pledged. Of course they were both in love. Something had happened—but not that.
Continuing into the house, Bingley ran into Hurst, who said, “There you are! Darcy had to rush off to London. Here.” He thrust a note towards Bingley, who read the brief note and paled.
“Oh, no.” It was shocking to consider that the colonel, who had less than a fortnight ago been striding through Bingley’s house, helping to solve a mystery and handle a familial disaster, could be lying at death’s door in London—well! It was just terrible.
The end of the note read, “Obv. will be back before wedding. Thank you for everything. — F.D.”
Bingley nodded. Even when he was rushing to his cousin’s side, of course Darcy would think of Elizabeth. A part of him felt regret, but a part of him felt that the world would be a scarier, less predictable place if those two lovers could not be counted on to stay together.
Somehow the idea that Darcy was on such a dire mission made Bingley’s idea of hosting a house party seem more…selfish. But, on the other hand, without Darcy, Georgiana, or Caroline, Netherfield and Meryton were feeling much less entertaining.
Bingley accompanied Hurst back towards the drawing room. He said, tentatively, “I had decided to invite a few people for a house party and shooting opportunity, but perhaps now is not the best time.”
Hurst said, “If you invite some of Darcy’s particular friends, they could stay for the wedding; it might be a very gracious thing to do.”
“But if the colonel should die….”
“Darcy will still come for the wedding. He might appreciate the support of his friends. But…do you know his friends well enough to invite them?”
“I know Johnson, and he will know the others!” Bingley felt his smile grow, and he entered the drawing room with a spring in his step, ready to sit down and write out invita—
Suddenly realising that nobody would be able to read his invitations if he wrote them, Bingley breathed a sigh of relief that he had already hired a secretary to help with such things.
He remembered arranging (with Darcy’s help, of course) that the man would start work the day after his planned arrival.
Which was the very next day. Things were working out quite well.
“You look very cheery,” Louisa said. “What could you possibly be feeling happy about?”
Bingley carefully dropped the smile and adopted a serious mien, and he greeted his sister with sincere affection. “I am dreadfully sorry to hear about the colonel, and I feel so bad for Georgina and Darce as they rush to deal with this…and so close to his wedding day!”
“Well, yes, I feel for them all, too, of course. But I was really thinking about how empty this place feels without Caroline!”
“Oh, yes, I miss her, too. But I will not miss the headaches she caused me with her inappropriate behaviours.”
“Criminal behaviours, you mean!” Hurst interjected.
"The fault is great in man or woman,
Who steals a goose from off a common;
But what can plead that man's excuse,
Who steals the common from the goose?"
“I do not think I understand your poem,” Bingley said.
“However, of course Caroline’s actions were against the law; I understand that.
I am so pleased that the colonel and Darcy were able to restore the heirlooms to their rightful owners.
Not to mention their invaluable help in choosing caregivers. What do I not owe those two?”
He held Louisa’s two hands in his own and declared, “And to that point, Hurst and I had the most wonderful idea: we will host a house party in honour of Darcy and his cousin. It will distract us from missing Caroline, and it will give us something to do, and ultimately it will liven this place up.”
“Oh. Well…I suppose….” Louisa looked very uncertain, but Bingley’s smile broke out again as he considered how many people Netherfield could comfortably house, and he considered inviting Johnson back…but what were those other fellows’ names…?
Bingley was so looking forward to the part in which Netherfield would be livened up!
Hopefully with ladies!