Chapter Seventy-Eight
Mr. Bingley opened his letter at the breakfast table and burst out laughing.
“Bingley?” Darcy asked.
“I just received this from your cousin, Mr. Fitzwilliam.”
“And it is humorous?”
“Very much so. Listen.”
Dear Mr. Bingley,
I write to thank you for your hospitality at Netherfield Park. Certainly I will never forget it, as it is where I found my beloved Charlotte, which could never have happened had you not allowed me to stay with you.
You are always welcome to come and stay at Matlock, though I would prefer that your younger sister not accompany you.
In friendship,
Reginald Fitzwilliam
Mr. Darcy groaned. It was well that Miss Bingley had not yet come down for breakfast.
“Wait, wait, it is not yet done,” Mr. Bingley said, still laughing.
P.S. I nearly forgot. I am to tell you to get on with proposing to Miss Bennet.
“He has a point,” Mr. Darcy said. “Though I cannot imagine who prompted him to say it.”
“Can you not?” Mr. Bingley asked. “I certainly can. It must have been Miss Lucas!”
“I suspect you are quite right,” Mr. Darcy said. “Now that I think on it, I cannot imagine that Reginald even thought of sending a note of thanks unless he had been so instructed.”
“I have waited long enough!” Mr. Bingley declared. “I am off to Longbourn!”