Chapter 1
The Darcys Had Arrived at Netherfield Park
After a short rest, Darcy and Georgiana joined Miss Bingley and the Hursts in the Netherfield drawing room before dinner.
While Darcy would never confess such to another, he often caught himself looking at Miss Bingley’s throat when she spoke to see if she had an Adam’s apple.
With the barest of feminine endowments, she could only be termed tolerable.
He had seen many male actors on the stage pretending to be women.
He believed she could play both sexes to perfection.
“Miss Darcy, I hope you find in the countryside here inspiration to paint,” Bingley said by way of welcoming her into the room.
“You seem quite happy here, Mr. Bingley.”
Georgiana’s words caught Darcy’s attention and caused him to look at his friend.
His sister was correct, though he would not have noticed had she not said something.
Bingley exuded happiness, or, at the least, contentment, no matter the situation, often to a degree he found annoying.
Perhaps it was because his friend owned the lease and could claim to have a home?
He recognized in Bingley a pleasure comparable to those moments when his friend achieved unqualified successes in their business ventures.
“It gives me great satisfaction to at last return the offer of hospitality.”
“I feel I must apologize for welcoming you to so modest an estate. It pales in comparison to Pemberley. And there is little or naught to say of the provincial neighborhood around it,” Miss Bingley said, wheedling herself between Darcy and his sister.
“Lambton is very much like Meryton. Had we known of your aversion to estates near market towns, we would not have made the mistake of asking you to visit such a provincial situation as Pemberley. We will not make the mistake again. You, of course, are always welcome to visit Pemberley, Mr. Bingley,” Georgiana said, picking up her glass of wine.
“I understand many men seeking wives this Season prefer Town, Miss Bingley. That should see your preferences satisfied. We will not again plan for your accompanying your brother when he visits,” Darcy said.
“That is not what I meant,” Miss Bingley said hastily, grasping Darcy’s arm.
“I am pleased to leave you in Town, Caroline, as your every remark since your arrival is your preference to Town and wishing we were there,” Bingley said.
Darcy had to turn his head to hide his hope that he would never again have Miss Bingley at Pemberley. But it did bring to mind that one should be careful. Careless wishes often came true in the way one would least want. He was content to be the means of their being so granted on this score.
“I am all anticipation to meet your neighbors, Mr. Bingley,” Georgiana said, ignoring Miss Bingley’s efforts to rewrite her own words in the minds of those present.
Mr. Bingley said, “I will make certain you have the opportunity, Miss Darcy. I am assured there are many young ladies near your age in the neighborhood. I will seek those particular families this evening at the assembly in—”
“Hush, Charles. I told you not to mention it again. I am certain Mr. Darcy has no wish to attend. If you feel you must go, do not expect anything to be like those in London,” Miss Bingley said, chiding her brother as if he were an errant child.
“Oh, but he does. This very morning, he assured me he would dance with ladies who are not coy or put on airs, did you not, Brother? I hope you will find those here both kind and sincere.”
“Meryton and Lambton are quite similar. I speculate the society will be equal in their welcoming of all newcomers,” Darcy said dryly when he noted Georgiana’s pert expression.
“I am certain you will know not a bit of contentment. And I imagine there will be enough matchmaking mothers to make you perfectly uncomfortable,” Bingley posited, winking at Georgiana when she laughed behind her hand.
“I do rather think I might be uncomfortable if no mothers attempted to attach their daughters to me.”
“Oh, ho, was that a joke, Darce? You are a very good influence on him, Miss Darcy. I have not seen him in so good a humor these many months. Perhaps years,” Bingley said, raising his glass to Miss Darcy.
“Oh, do not exaggerate, Charles. Mr. Darcy is ever generous when we are with him. I do so look forward to seeing Pemberley again,” Miss Bingley interjected.
Darcy knew Miss Bingley watched him to see if he had taken her comment lightly.
He had never issued her an invitation to his home, but as Bingley’s sister, Miss Bingley was always assumed to be one of the party.
Darcy intended to take greater care in issuing his invitations when she was otherwise occupied.
For Georgiana’s sake, of course. But to know her plans, he would have to listen to her.
A less thrilling prospect than this he could not imagine.
To make certain his sister knew he approved of her playfulness, Darcy leant to whisper, “Good show.”
“I would have to turn down an invitation to Pemberley if you asked us to go tomorrow, my friend,” said Bingley. “This estate is perfect for my needs.”
“I believe it. And you will have less snowfall here than those of us in the north.”
“Mr. Darcy, I beg you not encourage Charles. Fathers of the young ladies he mentioned have come to introduce themselves in droves. It has been quite the invasion,” Miss Bingley said, shaking her head.
“I am glad to know the neighborhood is so welcoming. I often visit the houses of new neighbors in the first two weeks of their arrival. Do you anticipate meeting any daughters of a particular family this evening?” Darcy asked.
“Ah, yes, the Bennets. They have five daughters, Ana. We will make certain you meet them. Can you imagine having so many sisters?” Mr. Bingley said, joining them on the settee.
“Five daughters?”
“By all accounts, they are genteel and well-respected girls, Miss Darcy. Their father quite brought your brother to my mind. Found him a man of dry wit, Darce. He said nothing of his daughters other than our being in the neighborhood is causing quite a stir at Longbourn.”
“Of course, we are, Charles,” Miss Bingley said, coming to stand at Darcy’s side.
“It seems every man and woman who seeks someone with whom they suit are fortune hunters, Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Hurst said, nursing a drink.
“Louisa, please silence him,” Miss Bingley said over her shoulder, narrowing her eyes on her brother-in-law.
“From the Lucas heir, their neighbor, I heard the youngest Bennets are a bit exuberant. The middle daughter, he calls a quiet sort who enjoys the pianoforte and the study of theology. He exalted the eldest two. But that is all I will say on that matter, that you might make your own judgment, Darcy.” Bingley also ignored his sister’s glaring at him.
Darcy had to clear his throat to suppress his humor.
With that expression, he might easily cast Miss Bingley as the figure of the ice queen in a home theatrical.
He could all but see the icicles shooting from her eyes to impale her brother for daring to detract the attention from her by speaking of other young women in his presence.
“Five daughters? Surely I might make at least one friend from among them,” Georgiana said with a wistful look.
“I am remiss in not asking how you like your room, Miss Darcy?” Bingley asked.
“It is much like Mother’s room at Darcy House,” Georgiana said with enthusiasm. “The rose-colored accents are just what I believe she might have chosen. I am certain to be very happy here. Thank you, Mr. Bingley.”
“My room, I believe called the blue room, and our adjoined sitting room, are also quite comfortable, Bingley,” Darcy said. “All the more after I learnt your sister had intended I stay in the yellow room next to her own, but there was no key to give my valet.”
“No key?”
“When they were not accounted for, your housekeeper placed me in a different room and, at my request, made certain we had all copies to our rooms and the sitting room between them.”
Seeing Miss Bingley’s pinched expression, Darcy knew he had ended her schemes where he was concerned.
Furthermore, he would have to find a way to reward Georgiana for asking him to consider his future in earnest. He was often thought serious when contemplating every matter, but only now realizing he was too serious in matters that were not nearly so important as those he had long ignored.
“Oh, I do so look forward to meeting the Miss Bennets, Brother. Did you learn any more about the family, Mr. Bingley?”
“Very little, so I cannot speak long on the subject at dinner. I should warn you, Hurst will discuss shooting ad nauseam if we do not introduce other topics. It has been his favored since our arrival,” Bingley said when dinner was announced.
“Too right. Fine shooting,” Hurst said as he and his wife followed Bingley and Miss Bingley to the dining room.
Darcy felt his sister tug his arm, holding him in place.
“I have charged you to seek a wife in earnest, Brother. You claimed it a difficult process, but in truth, it is quite simple. Miss Bingley’s opposite is who you must find.”
“A wise suggestion. And though I am pleased your spirits are returned, do not allow yourself to follow Miss Bingley’s example by disparaging even her character.”
“I apologize, Brother.”
“Come, let us go, or Bingley will again accuse me of locking you in an attic.”
As Darcy led his sister to the dining room, neither noticed Miss Bingley had been close enough to overhear their conversation.
The Fallout from the Darcys’ Short Conversation
Caroline knew that listening at doors was the height of bad manners, but she had expected to hear them speaking favorably of herself in Darcy and his sister’s private exchange.
Perhaps even when she would be invited to Pemberley again.
Nothing could have been more in opposition, her expectations and what was spoken.
Her hand pressed over her racing heart, Caroline was forced to accept that Georgiana had seen through her stratagem to gain any advantage with her brother.
That was bad enough. But to hear Darcy agree that her opposite would make an excellent wife?
That he said his sister should not follow her example?
Her darkest nightmare had come to fruition.
Caroline hurried to an adjacent room. She picked up a small pillow from a settee, pressed it to her face, and screamed.
“I am being foolish. He is only frustrated because my brother has forced us to attend this country assembly,” Caroline said to herself.
Away too long, she joined the others in the dining room, though Caroline had little appetite.
After dinner, she returned to her apartment to change for the assembly.
She chose one in a color she knew none in Meryton would dare wear.
But on her in particular, the burnt gold satin overlay highlighted the red in her hair.
As a final coup de grace, she applied extra scented water.
Caroline examined herself in the looking glass whilst smoothing her gown, believing how little effort was required to outshine these rustics.
But she could no longer ignore that her being in a room mattered little to Darcy, if at all.
Smiling at her reflection, Caroline was certain she would rouse Darcy’s interest. To secure his attention, she would accept every request to dance, give every appearance of enjoying herself that the evening afforded.
Once he was driven to jealousy, Darcy would, no doubt, offer for her. Perhaps even before the holidays.