Chapter Forty
Netherfield Park
She is truly repentant, Charles.”
“I am not certain that your opinion can be trusted when it comes to Caroline,” Mr. Bingley replied.
“Then speak to her yourself, if you will not take me at my word,” Mrs. Hurst suggested.
***
Miss Bingley was glad to see her brother at her door. She welcomed him and bade him sit in the comfortable chair by the window, while she remained standing. “I have behaved very badly, Charles,” she began.
“We all know that, Caroline,” her brother replied, impatiently. “The question is whether or not you will continue to behave badly. I accept that I have been very wrong in letting your behaviour go uncorrected for so long, but I will not continue down that path.”
“I will not cause you any further embarrassment, Charles. I will be polite to everyone.”
“Polite is good; kind is better,” Mr. Bingley said.
“I do not know why it is that you are unable to be kind. Do you not see that our guests need kindness just now? Whether or not Miss Darcy is guilty of some sort of poor judgement is not the issue; the issue is simply that our friends need and deserve our kindness.” He was clearly exasperated.
“You are a good friend, Charles,” Miss Bingley said. There was a catch in her voice. “I wish I could say the same about myself. I will try to become kind.”
“Very well,” Mr. Bingley said. “Tomorrow I will pay a call on the Bennets. You may accompany me. But first, you must make amends with the Darcys.”
***
That afternoon, Miss Bingley joined the other occupants of Netherfield Park for tea.
This was her first appearance since she had been sent to her room.
Georgiana was immediately uncomfortable and changed her seat so that she might sit beside her brother.
Mr. Darcy put an arm around his sister, clearly intent on protecting her.
Miss Bingley went at once to Georgiana and knelt before her, dismayed to see the young girl – scarcely more than a child, really – shrink away from her.
Her voice faltered as she spoke. “Miss Darcy, I have no excuse for saying such terrible things to you. I was completely, utterly wrong to do so, and my words were false. Miss Darcy, you are lovely, accomplished, well-born and well-connected; you will have no difficulties at all in making an excellent marriage. I suspect that I am simply jealous of all that, and that is why I spoke as I did. I beg you to forgive me and give me the chance to be a better friend to you.”
Georgiana was speechless. She had no idea how to respond to such a plea.
She looked up at her brother, who simply nodded encouragingly at her.
She straightened her spine and looked at Miss Bingley.
Speaking quietly, but sincerely, she said, “Miss Bingley, your words did hurt me. More than that, they frightened me, and I was already quite frightened when I arrived here. I cannot say that we are now friends, but I accept your apology.”
“Thank you, Miss Darcy. I will do my best to become your friend, but for now, your forgiveness is enough.”
Miss Bingley stood up then, and looked down at Mr. Darcy.
“Mr. Darcy, I was unkind to you as well. The truth is that I hoped you would someday make me an offer; the newspaper article made me think that now I could not marry you even if you did make me an offer. I was angry and upset, and I spoke out of turn as a result. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
Mr. Darcy looked up at Miss Bingley for a long minute.
Then he stood. “Miss Bingley, I care very little about how you speak to me, but I care a great deal about how you speak to my sister. She has accepted your apology, so I must as well. But take care, Miss Bingley. Despite the latest gossip, I am still the nephew of the Earl and Countess of Matlock. Should I ask it, my aunt would cut you in London, and you would not survive that.”
Miss Bingley went white and took a step back. “I will give you no cause for such reprisals, Mr. Darcy,” she whispered. Then she curtsied to both Darcys and took a seat on the other side of the room.
***
Over dinner, Mr. Bingley announced his intention of calling on the Bennets the following day.
“May I accompany you, Charles?” Miss Bingley asked. “I hope to make amends for any past insults.”