Chapter 7 #3
If only they had not lied and kept Charles away from Miss Jane Bennet.
Knowing what she knew now, she acknowledged the connection they would have achieved, that all that their pretentious behaviour had never succeeded in gaining them: a direct connection to the first circles.
Far from being penniless, Jane Bennet’s own wealth exceeded the Bingleys, and many more times over at that!
Knowing her sister, Louisa was sure that after licking her wounds for some days, Caroline would again lie to herself, believe the lie, and attempt to go out into society again.
They would be cut by all and Hurst would be most displeased, as his avenues for invitations to eat and drink with no expense to himself would all but dry up.
Mrs Hurst knew what the problem was: her over-indulged, selfish, and delusional sister Caroline, but what could she do?
She had pledged to her Papa to look after her on his deathbed.
She knew even though her family would soon be utterly ruined in society, that she would follow her sister Caroline like a sheep follows its shepherd.
Charles Bingley walked into the breakfast room and joined his pensive older sister, the sister who had become a de-facto mother after their own had passed.
After helping himself to some breakfast from the offerings arrayed on the sideboard, he sat heavily, and after taking a large gulp of hot coffee, he looked at his sister as he thought back to his disastrous interview with the Bennet sisters yesterday.
Hat in hand, Bingley had knocked on the door of the impressive mansion named Gardiner House on Portman Square.
He had handed the butler his card and asked if he may call on Miss Bennet.
The butler had asked him to wait in the entrance hall.
Bingley had stood there awed at the understated elegance in evidence with each new thing he espied.
If he had any question about the veracity of the reported wealth of the family, they were driven away in that instant.
Mr Baire returned and asked Bingley to follow him.
They walked up one flight of stairs and he was led into a drawing room that showed the same good taste as he had seen in the entryway.
He saw one lady sitting with the Misses Bennet that he did not know.
After observing the accepted greetings, Miss Elizabeth introduced their aunt, Mrs Madeline Gardiner.
As hostess, she ordered tea which came with some pastries, cake, and fresh fruits.
After tea was complete, knowing that he would not be left alone without her companions, he cleared his throat and addressed the subject that hung-over room causing tension that was growing thicker by the moment.
“Miss Bennet you have my deepest apology. Until a few days ago I was unaware of your presence here in town. Due to being convinced that you did not reciprocate my feelings, I did not return to Hertfordshire, as I had said I would.” As the words left his mouth, he knew he had made a mistake.
The usually serene Miss Bennet got a steely look in her eye and her companions looked on him with disdain.
“Are you a good Christian, Mr Bingley?” The question was delivered by Miss Bennet with utter coldness.
“O-o-of course I am, Miss Bennet. How could you question my devotion to Christianity?” he frowned, wondering how that tied in with his not returning to Netherfield Park.
“It is not your devotion to Christianity I question, Mr Bingley, but your knowledge of the bible. Do you remember that in more than one passage we are taught how God Almighty endowed us with free will?” she challenged.
“Y-yes, I am aware of that, Miss Bennet.” He flushed with shame but she did not let his eyes go.
“Then, Mr Bingley, can you explain how you were incapacitated, restrained, or physically unable to return to Hertfordshire to ascertain the truth of my feelings? Were you clapped in irons or locked in a gaol cell, Mr Bingley? What physical impediment was there that stopped you making said trip?” She waited.
The answer was in his expression long before his words were offered as Bingley was flummoxed. Who was this woman that showed the strength and an iron will that he now faced? Where was the serene, and as he had mistakenly thought, biddable Miss Jane Bennet?
“I was under no physical restriction, but I could not imagine that my sisters and Darcy were all wrong.” He was perceptibly sweating though it was cool, and he pulled at his collar that felt more and more tight on his throat.
“I am confused, Mr Bingley. At what point did Mr Darcy or your sisters acquire the ability to read my mind? With respect to your friend Mr Darcy, are you able to tell what he is thinking and feeling at any time, and if not, why?” she pushed him to answer truthfully in a way that would most illuminate his own wrongs.
“Darcy is reserved.” He purposefully ignored the other question, realising that any answer would have been nonsensical.
“As am I, Mr Bingley. If you had taken the trouble to ride three hours and approach me with your concerns, I would have been able to assuage them in an instant.
At that point I loved you and your coming, especially in the face of negative advice from a trusted friend, coupled with the lies and machinations of your sisters, would have demonstrated your true love for me.
“Do not insult any of our intelligence to try and transfer responsibility to anyone but yourself. What I see is a weak, inconsistent, and irresolute man, one who allows his life to be directed by others and never troubles himself to make his own decisions so that he can shift the responsibility to others. I never could nor would I accept a man such as that, Mr Bingley. I demand, and I dare say deserve, true love, a love that you would want to defend with your very life, not give up and run with your tail between your legs like a chastised puppy.”
Miss Bennet caused Bingley to think of his thoughts from a day or two ago and he wondered if she also had the ability to read his mind.
No, Jane Bennet was anything but biddable and possessed something that Bingley was missing, a strong backbone.
And hers had to be made of something like granite or steel, as she was now officially the strongest person he knew, not just for a woman.
Even Colonel Fitzwilliam could learn a thing or two from her, he was sure.
“I-I-I am sorry for taking so much of your time ladies. I can see that you have been long desiring my departure.” Bingley bowed to them and almost fled from the room.
“He does seem to be well accomplished at running away does he not?” Elizabeth asked as he was fleeing and he did not hear the reply as he took flight.
Now Bingley sat, wondering if it was more truth than he hoped, his memories of yesterday bitter as he faced his utter and complete humiliation.
“Louisa, do I rely on others to make decisions for me too much? Am I irresolute and always look for the path of least resistance?” he asked seriously.
“Why do you ask Charles?” Louisa asked quietly.
After Bingley repeated the tale of his humiliation at Gardiner House, he took a steadying breath.
“When Darce was here the other night, he said something similar to me in the study. I almost dismissed it, but after the setdown Miss Bennet delivered, I cannot ignore the matter anymore. Please tell me that Darcy was confused when he told me that Caroline wrote to Miss Bennet and indicated that I had meddled with her feelings and I was about to become betrothed to Miss Darcy?” He roiled with frustration.
“I wish I could deny it Charles, but it is true.” As chagrined as she was to admit it, Mrs Hurst answered her brother honestly.
She then proceeded to reveal the whole of the visit Miss Bennet made, the way that she and her sister had treated her while she was there, and admitted the details of the visit they returned weeks later and the cutting of the acquaintance.
She finished her retelling with the humiliation that Caroline had experienced as she was denied entrance to Darcy House, after ignoring the occupant’s directives.
“Darcy told me of their connections. If we are not ruined already, the Bedfords and the Jerseys will see that we are if Caroline ever repeats those vile assertions, we know to be patently false.” As he said it, he knew that he had never stood up to his wilful younger sister, and more than likely still would not. It was just too hard.
“Had we not interfered, what wealth and connections we would have gained. Now instead we are looking at possible ruination!” Louisa winced.
Although Charles Bingley was not as delusional as his younger sister, he did like to think that everything would be well, regardless of the facts, as he hated confrontation.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On receiving the notes from Lady Jersey and the Duchess of Bedford, Lady Matlock had immediately replied, inviting them to join the tea with the Bennets.
Her husband, Reginald Fitzwilliam, had relaxed a great deal when he heard about the plans for the upcoming event the ladies hid under the guise of ‘tea.’ He was sure that if he had fallen into disfavour following his nephew William’s atrocious behaviour, the Duchess, Countess, and the Bennet sisters would not be attending tea at Matlock House.
Elaine and Marie Fitzwilliam welcomed their guests, and once introductions were made and all were seated, tea was ordered.
The tea arrived along with a lavish spread including pastries, cakes, biscuits, finger sandwiches, and fruit.
Once tea was drunk and treats eaten with discussion of polite and inconsequential subjects like the weather, the tea and spread were removed and the doors closed, leaving the ladies alone with no servant present.
Rosamond Rhys-Davies, Duchess of Bedford opened the conversation now that the ladies had privacy.