Chapter Forty-One
Longbourn
The next day saw the Darcy carriage pulling up to Longbourn’s front entryway.
Georgiana tumbled out of the carriage and ran into the house, greeted by hugs from Mary, Kitty and Lydia, who had seen the carriage arriving.
They went into the parlour and squeezed in together on a sofa, with Georgiana in the center.
Elizabeth greeted Georgiana warmly, and then went to the front door to greet Mr. Darcy. He smiled at Elizabeth and said, “I come to warn the Bennets, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Warn us? Of what?”
“The Bingley are on my heels.”
“Both Bingleys?”
“Yes; Miss Bingley has decided to become a decent human being, or so she says.” He rolled his eyes, showing his clear opinion of this. “I had them come in a separate carriage, in case Georgiana wished to remain longer with her friends here at Longbourn.”
Elizabeth chuckled. “Turnabout is fair play; I must warn you as well.”
“Indeed?”
“Yes; my father’s heir, a Mr. Collins, is visiting us. He is a rector.” Her moué of distaste was marked.
“He has not earned your favour, I take it?”
“Perhaps I should not prejudice your opinion, Mr. Darcy.”
“I would be surprised if our opinions did not agree, Miss Elizabeth, on anything of importance.” He spoke more warmly than he had intended, and she noted it as well; she blushed and looked away.
The blush added colour to her lovely skin, Mr. Darcy noted, and then realised that he truly admired her very much.
She was not just beautiful, but intelligent, well-mannered…
he reined in his thoughts as he followed her into the parlour, noting almost absently that Georgiana was surrounded by her friends and required none of his attention.
Miss Bennet rose and curtsied to him. In response to her unspoken question, he said, “Mr. Bingley is on his way, Miss Bennet. And Miss Bingley is with him,” he added.
A slight strain appeared on Miss Bennet’s face at that, though she smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy.”
Mrs. Bennet welcomed everyone warmly, saying how delighted she was to have Miss Darcy here again; would she not stay for the entire day?
A minute later, the Bingleys entered and were greeted with every courtesy. Mr. Bingley found his way next to Miss Bennet, and Miss Bingley was left to find her own seat.
The sound of a throat being cleared got everyone’s attention. “Oh, Mr. Collins,” Mrs. Bennet said. “Do come in.” Her words were polite, though her tone lacked enthusiasm.
Everyone looked up. The gentlemen rose, politely, as Mrs. Bennet performed the introductions.
So this was the cousin, Mr. Darcy thought. He was not a handsome specimen, but surely that alone would not be enough to earn Miss Elizabeth’s disapprobation. He noticed, then, that the man was staring at Georgiana. She saw it as well, for she began to shrink back into her seat.
Mr. Collins repeated the names he had heard. “Mr. Darcy? Miss Darcy? Of Pemberley?”
Then Mr. Collins turned to Mrs. Bennet and said, quite severely, “I must warn you, Mrs. Bennet, that you are hosting two of society’s outcasts in your home today – the Darcys. I suggest that you ask them to leave at once, lest their mere presence contaminate my innocent cousins!”
The room erupted. Mrs. Bennet demanded that the man apologise at once. Mr. Bingley rose, standing in front of Miss Bennet as if to defend her from an enemy.
Georgiana burst into tears.
Mr. Darcy rose and walked rapidly to Mr. Collins, quite evidently intent on doing him an injury; to his surprise, Miss Bingley, who was seated closest to the door, got there first. She rose, ran to Mr. Collins and slapped – actually slapped! – Mr. Collins across the face.
Mr. Collins stepped back, astonished at this unknown lady’s action, but she was not done, for she spat at him. “How dare you, sir! How dare you insult your hostess’ guests in such a manner! And a young girl, to boot!”
Mr. Darcy’s poor opinion of Miss Bingley underwent an immediate reversal.
Elizabeth went to Mary and murmured in her sister’s ear.
Mary rose. “Come, Georgiana.” She pulled Georgiana up and led her out of the room.
“Wait for us!” Lydia cried. She and Kitty ran to Mary and Georgiana, and the four of them vanished upstairs.
Mrs. Bennet stood beside Miss Bingley and said, “I cannot believe you would make such a statement, Mr. Collins. I must ask that you leave the room at once.”
Mr. Collins stood firm, shaking his head. “No, Mrs. Bennet, I must insist that you hear me out. My patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh –“
Mr. Darcy interrupted him. “Oh, good Lord. You are Aunt Catherine’s rector?”
Frowning at him, Mr. Collins said, “Yes, it is my good fortune that my patroness is Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and she has told me all about you and your sister! Moreover, she very wisely had her daughter withdraw from her engagement to you.”
“I was never engaged to her daughter, no matter what she says,” Mr. Darcy said, shortly, doing his best to control his rage. “And, in any case, how do you dare to repeat scurrilous gossip about my sister?”
“I insist upon being heard!” Mr. Collins said. “My family’s reputation is in danger!”
Mr. Darcy looked at Mr. Bingley; no words were required. The two of them dragged the man bodily out of the room, through the kitchen, and out the back door.
By the time the two gentlemen returned, Mr. Bennet had heard the fracas and had appeared in the parlour. “I must ask, what on earth is going on here?”
Several voices tried to answer at once. Mrs. Bennet began, “Mr. Collins said…”
And Mr. Bingley began, “I apologise, Mr. Bennet, but…”
And Mr. Darcy began, “Evidently your cousin is my Aunt Catherine’s rector…”
But it was Elizabeth who stepped in front of her father and said, “Papa, Mr. Collins said the most dreadful things about Mr. Darcy and Georgiana, and had to be forcibly removed from the company.”
“I have no difficulty in believing that my cousin was unpleasant in company, but bodily removing the man seems a strong reaction,” Mr. Bennet observed, calmly.
Mr. Darcy felt it was now his responsibility to set matters straight. “If I may have everyone’s attention for a few minutes, I will attempt to explain what has just occurred.”
Elizabeth said at once, “Mr. Darcy, there is no need for you to defend yourself. We have no suspicions whatsoever about you and Georgiana, no matter what Mr. Collins says.”
Mr. Darcy drew a deep breath. “I thank you for that, Miss Elizabeth, but I think it best that I explain.”
All eyes went to Mr. Darcy. Mr. Bennet sat beside his wife and took her hand.
“Some months ago, I hired a companion for my sister. I did not check the references, and so did not realise that they were forged. The woman who became Georgiana’s companion was, in actuality, in league with a man who has long hated me.
That man is the son of my father’s steward, and has all his life been envious of what I have and what he does not have.
He is, moreover, a liar, a cheat, and a practiced seducer.
I allowed Georgiana and her companion to take a holiday at Ramsgate, and while they were there, the companion engineered a meeting between Georgiana and this man. ”
Miss Bingley gasped.
Mr. Darcy turned to her. “Ah, Miss Bingley, you begin to understand. Georgiana has known this man since childhood, but never knew his true character. I protected her from that knowledge, and that error, combined with my carelessness in hiring the companion, allowed him to form a romantic relationship with her, encouraged by the companion.”
Mrs. Bennet, who already had heard most of this tale, immediately called out, “None of this was Miss Darcy’s fault!”
“No, not at all. I arrived in time to prevent the relationship from going any further. But one or both of the rascals gave the story to a newspaper and it was printed. And now the reputation of the Darcy family is tainted.”
Miss Bennet asked, timidly, “But how does Mr. Collins know of all this?”
“Unfortunately, it appears that he works for my Aunt Catherine.”
“The great and mighty Lady Catherine de Bourgh is your aunt?” Mr. Bennet snorted.
“Yes; my aunt is very unhappy with me and has doubtless told Mr. Collins all about our situation. Once he heard who I was, he evidently felt compelled to tell you of the so-called taint on my family.”
“I apologise for my cousin, Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Bennet said, heavily. “He had no right to force you to tell us your family secrets.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bennet, but the decision to reveal the details was mine. I hope you all understand that Georgiana has been deeply scarred by all that has happened. She has never had a good deal of confidence in herself to begin with, but being so taken in by two people she believed were her friends almost destroyed her. Before we came to Netherfield Park, she had locked herself in her room and refused to come out.”
“Poor Georgiana,” Elizabeth whispered.
“Indeed; when Bingley here sent us a letter inviting us to come to Netherfield, it was a lifeline. I all but dragged her from her room and into our carriage.”
Miss Bingley, doubtless remembering what she had said, buried her face in her hands.
“I hope I may count on all of you to keep what you have heard a secret; it will do my sister no good to have word of her…difficulties…spread about town.”
Everyone murmured assurances that the Darcy secret would go no further.
Mr. Darcy went on. “But I must add that the affection and companionship she has found here at Longbourn had transformed her. I cannot thank you all enough. Especially you, Mrs. Bennet. She has no mother, as you know, but I believe in you she has found one.”
Mrs. Bennet was wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. “As far as I am concerned, she is a Bennet girl.”
“I will get her,” Elizabeth said. “She is doubtless worrying about what is being said here.”
She was gone for several minutes, but returned with Georgiana, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia.
“Georgiana is completely innocent!” Lydia exclaimed as soon as she entered the room. “And can you imagine? Lady Catherine de Bourgh is Georgiana’s aunt!”
“Yes, Lydia, we all know,” her mother returned. “Georgiana, my dear, everyone here is a friend to you.”
Georgiana looked around the room before running to her brother and being enveloped in his arms. He held her close and whispered to her. After a few minutes, she pulled away and surveyed the room. “Thank you,” she said, tears pooling in her eyes.