Chapter 17 #3
“I am sure that you do not, so let me illustrate the point. One who is a tradesman’s daughter and looks down on others in trade is a hypocrite.
You and your sister, who thought that your pittance of a dowry somehow elevated you beyond your roots in trade regardless of your years at the seminary that you boast of, learnt naught.
It is not money that changes one’s status, but birth, character, or elevation.
You were born a tradesman’s daughter; you have no character, and you will never be elevated.
You are naught but a grasping, fortune hunting, social climber.
“When Prince Edward and Princess Elizabeth arrive shortly, I will be sure to let them know what you think of the people that the Queen and the Regent saw fit to elevate. As you seem to know better than all, maybe the royal family would like your wise counsel,” Elizabeth stated clearly with deep sarcasm.
“You and your family were invited by my aunts to give you a chance. If you had behaved with decorum, there would have been no censure unless and until you shared your vile and slanderous lies about me to anyone. You, however, and as we surmised, could not control yourself and your lies and slander spilled from your poisonous tongue to my godmother, aunt, and soon to be aunt. You are nothing but jealous and grasping. I think that the time for you depart has come, Caro dear!” Elizabeth commanded.
‘Good God,’ Darcy thought, ‘how I love this woman. She is magnificent!’
“My sister, Elizabeth and I could not have stated it better.” The Prince broke the silence.
No one had noticed the arrival of the royals during the current entertainment.
All assembled, besides the shocked and now shaking woman, genuflected to the Prince and Princess.
“We will have to inform our mother and brother that you, the daughter of a tradesman, know better than they. We are sure that the family will be exceedingly diverted by your pretentions and slander against a family held in high esteem by ours,” he smirked at Caroline.
“I warned you what would happen if you did not control that harridan. We are to be divorced, and I want all of the Bingleys out of my townhouse tonight!” Hurst announced before anyone else had broken the silence.
Seeing that his soon to be ex-wife was about to say something, he held up his hand to waylay her.
“The two of you have enabled this behaviour and are responsible for the consequences that will be visited on you. Even if my standing in society remains damaged and I am not allowed back into my clubs, I will be rid of all Bingleys.”
“We,” the Duke of Bedford indicated to the Earls of Jersey, Matlock, and Longbourn, “will make sure that your divorce proceeds with all speed and will have no impediments.”
“We will support the application with no reservation, and we will ask Mr Darcy’s cousin,” the Prince inclined his head toward the man, “the Archbishop of Canterbury if he will annul the marriage.”
“You have my deepest gratitude for your assistance your Highness,” Hurst genuflected to the royals, “and you my Lords.” He bowed to all three peers. Darcy, his two cousins, and the hosts of the ball turned toward the three Bingleys.
“It is time to take your disgraced family and leave Bingley. Perhaps you finally learn that peace at all costs has a very high price,” said Bingley’s former friend, verbalising the sentiments of many.
Bingley led his two sobbing sisters out of the ballroom, and they were escorted from the premises by three rather angry looking footmen. They hied back to the Hurst townhouse to pack and find rooms in a hotel until they decided how to proceed.
Just before the Duchess indicated that the musicians resume playing, Hurst turned to find Sir Edward and Lord Longbourn approaching him.
“Your membership will be reinstated at both Whites and Boodles tomorrow, Mr Hurst,” Gardiner informed him.
“You have my deepest gratitude Sir Edward, your Lordship, but how can you know that?” a confused Hurst asked him.
“If you will keep a secret Mr Hurst,” Hurst nodded his acceptance to the brothers, “Bennet and I own the two clubs. We are sorry you were caught up in the actions that we took against the Bingleys. We and all of society saw tonight that you are not like them nor do you support them, so your position in society will be fully restored. It did not hurt that the Prince pledged the royals’ support for your annulment. ” Gardiner smirked.
For the rest of the evening, the ball was as an enjoyable one as had ever been, as the business they had intended to deal with was concluded as expected, if not as preferred.
There were a number of disappointed matchmaking mamas when they saw Darcy dance a second set, the supper dances no less, and then the final waltz with Lady Elizabeth and the Bedford’s heir dance two sets with Lady Mary.
It was not only mothers that lamented the evident loss of the two, but also not a small number of debutants who had wanted to be either the next Marchioness of Birchington or Mrs Darcy of Pemberley.
Their claws remained well and truly sheathed, as no one wanted to face the combined wrath that the disgraced Caroline Bingley had.
Disappointed they were, but none wanted to commit societal suicide as had been witnessed that evening.
It was good that three men had requested dances from their respective Bennet lady ahead of time, as within moments of arriving at the ball all three had full dance cards.
Just before the supper set, the Earl and Countess of Longbourn, along with the three daughters attending the ball, were formally introduced by the Duke of Bedford.
The introduction of the new Baronet and his wife followed.
At dinner the three Bennet daughters sat with a betrothed, one almost re-declared suitor, and one who was seriously considering the step.
Dinner conversation was very pleasant for all after the gallant gentlemen brought a plate of food for the sister that he was paying court to, and by mutual, unspoken agreement, the Bingleys were not mentioned.
“I trust that you are having an enjoyable evening now that the unpleasantness has been dealt with. If you will allow it Lady Elizabeth, I would like to tell you that you are a vision of loveliness tonight. I cannot believe that the words ‘she is tolerable but not handsome enough…’ ever passed my lips. It was not long after the infamous assembly that I considered you the handsomest woman of my acquaintance,” Darcy offered.
He quietly leaned in close to his Elizabeth, breathing her lavender scent in since it was difficult to catch her eyes that he had called very fine more than once.
Elizabeth blushed furiously, which she did more than she cared for in this man’s presence.
She could now see the true character of Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.
He had no improper pride or vanity and had fully addressed all of her reproofs.
Time and time again he had demonstrated his ardency and consistency, and she had absolutely no doubt that he was the best of men.
She was now certain that the hypocrite was gone and the man that he was meant to be was the one that sat and stared adoringly at her.
Understanding that he had never looked upon her to find fault, she could easily see that he looked at her with love and approbation.
She understood his seemingly hot and cold behaviour at Netherfield Park and in Kent.
He had been fighting a battle between his head and his heart and the heart eventually won, even if his head tried to intervene by delivering the most insulting proposal in the history of proposals.
With such thoughts running through her head, she shook herself out of her introspection and met the eyes of the man that was patiently waiting for her to reply.
“Yes, Mr Darcy, the evening is more than enjoyable, and I find my dinner companion’s company far better than just tolerable,” she teased to win a smile she was proud to claim when it appeared.
Darcy correctly interpreted the meaning of her quip to be that she had forgiven him and was ready to advance their relationship.
“May I humbly request a private audience with you on the morrow at eleven o’clock in the morning Lady Elizabeth?” he dared to ask.
“You may, Mr Darcy,” his beloved replied with an arched eyebrow.
‘I must offer the option of betrothal or courtship; I do not want to presume too much. My life’s happiness is within my grasp after I nearly destroyed my chances with that awful proposal and equally bad, hypocritical behaviour.
This time I will do things as they should be done!
” Darcy pledged, berating himself for his past arrogance and unwarranted pride.
Lord Hugh, as much as he would have wanted to, did not request the final set from Lady Mary.
He was not confident that she had any warm or tender feelings for him as of yet.
He did not want to push her too hard and possibly scare her away.
After dinner a number of the ladies exhibited, and for the first time, members of the Ton were introduced to the Bennet sisters’ musical prowess and the exquisite singing voices of the eldest two.
The rest of the ball passed with no further incident, and it was the early hours of the morning when the joyful attendees finally found their beds and happily slipped into the arms of Morpheus.