Chapter 12
Darcy and Richard requested a word with Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, and Miss Lucas.
The two men followed the three ladies to a small parlour.
“We have a favour to of ask you. Would it be too much of an imposition to request you host Gigi here?” Darcy inquired.
“It would be Gigi only, for I granted her companion’s request for time off to be with her daughter during the lady’s first confinement. ”
“I assume you do not want her to be in Miss Bingley’s company,” Charlotte surmised.
“Correct, Miss Lucas. That lady believes if she fawns over our Gigi, it will somehow translate into William offering for her,” Richard explained.
“From the time I spent at Netherfield when Jane was ill, it seems to me Miss Bingley only hears that which fits her preconceived notions,” Elizabeth opined.
“I could not have described the woman any better myself, Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy averred.
“Hearing this, I understand; Charlotte and Elizabeth were correct when they warned me Miss Bingley is a false friend,” Jane realised.
“It was perceptive of Miss Lucas and Miss Elizabeth to tell you such, Miss Bennet. Miss Bingley cares for no one other than herself. In private, and sometimes in public, she displays a selfish disdain for the feelings of others,” Darcy informed Jane.
“Mr. Darcy, I know you are his friend, but is Mr. Bingley very biddable and somewhat capricious?” Jane blushed, knowing her question was most forward.
“May I ask to what this question tends, Miss Bennet?” Darcy asked.
“Initially, I felt an attraction to Mr. Bingley. Charlotte opined he may not have much resolve and is easily led, which would not bode well for a long-term relationship. As I have been in company with Mr. Bingley since I was ill, I have observed your friend, and I think I agree with Charlotte. You are under no obligation to answer, but I am seeking confirmation, as I might be in error.” Darcy had never heard so long a speech from Miss Bennet before and wanted to fully understand her intentions before he answered.
“Given his wealth, would you not accept him even with these flaws?” he asked, realizing his mistake as soon as he saw the anger and outrage evident on both Bennet’s and Miss Lucas’s countenances.
“Neither Jane nor I will marry for anything but the deepest love! It says more about you than us that you would ask such a question!” Elizabeth hissed and started to rise.
“Miss Elizabeth, I do not believe you or your sister to be fortune hunters. I am sorry, I asked a question I should not have,” Darcy tried to recover.
“Then why ask the question if you do not believe Jane or Elizabeth to be fortune hunters, Mr. Darcy?” Charlotte demanded.
“When Miss Bennet asked about Bingley, I wanted to test my theory she was not of that ilk, and I did it in a bad way. It was not meant to offend. I proffer my deepest apology to both of you.” Darcy held his breath as the sisters looked at one another to communicate silently, Miss Elizabeth waiting until Miss Bennet gave her a slight nod.
“We forgive you, Mr. Darcy, but we suggest you think about what you want to say before you open your mouth in future,” Elizabeth admonished him.
“My cousin here is not always the most articulate man when he speaks; however, in writing, I find few who match him,” Richard stated in support of his cousin who was trying to extricate his Hessian from his mouth.
“I suggest he practice,” Miss Lucas stated succinctly.
“Excuse me, practice?” Darcy looked confused.
“I am not the most proficient harpist, but I have always blamed it on my lack of inclination to practice. So I suggest you practice, Mr. Darcy,” Charlotte clarified.
Darcy bowed his head to Miss Lucas. “In answer to your question, Miss Bennet, and as much as it pains me to admit it, both Miss Lucas’s and your observations are on point.
” Darcy turned towards Elizabeth. “I assume you remember his statement at Netherfield about Town and the country, Miss Elizabeth?”
“I do, though I did not think about it when Charlotte advised Jane, but I did disclose it to her later when we discussed my stay at Netherfield.” Elizabeth related to Richard and Jane how Mr. Bingley had spoken about how quickly he would decide to leave a place and the way he excused his bad handwriting by stating there were too many ideas jumping in and out of his head.
“Now that I think on what he said in hindsight, it seems he is unable to order his thoughts and has not chosen to improve his writing,” Elizabeth suggested.
“In that case, I am glad my heart was not engaged. It may have been by now had Charlotte not given me reason to be cautious. If he requests a second set tonight, I will refuse him,” Jane stated evenly. “I do not want to give rise to expectations which will never be met.”
Richard’s positive opinion of the Bennet sisters and their soon-to-be stepmother only grew, and he had not been sorry to witness his reserved cousin being called out for his badly phrased words.
It was not every day someone called the master of Pemberley to account for anything; there were times everyone needed it.
Elizabeth’s thoughts returned to their original subject.
“We never gave you an answer about Gigi.” Darcy was most pleased the lady he loved, and had just deeply offended, was on a first name basis with his sister.
“I will confirm with my father, but for our part,” Elizabeth indicated her sister and friend, “we would welcome Gigi with open arms.”
“I think I can say without contradiction that your father will have no objection, Eliza,” Charlotte opined.
“In that case, yes, she may stay as long as she desires,” Jane stated.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Fitzwilliam Darcy had gone from ‘intensely disliked’ to ‘folk hero’ in the space of a few days’ time.
Once the truth about both men became known, Darcy was acquitted of all the lies Wickham had spread.
After the money was received, money that for some tradesmen meant the difference between solvency and ruin, he became the most popular man in the region.
There was a similar reaction at the militia encampment, as everything Wickham owed was paid to rightful recipients, including debts of honour, as Mr. Darcy had pledged to do.
The morale in the camp had never been higher.
Mr. Darcy was owed a debt of gratitude by Colonel Forster for repairing the damage to the unit’s reputation in Meryton and making his men whole, which led to an extremely positive change among his officers and men.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On the group of five’s return to the drawing room, Charlotte whispered in her betrothed’s ear, and he nodded vigorously. Miss Lucas had been correct about Gigi remaining at Longbourn. Said young lady was engrossed in a discussion with Mary, both having an abiding love of music.
Darcy instructed his footmen to bring in his sister’s trunk. As there was a vacant spot in Kitty’s room, Gigi would share with her. Kitty was most pleased her new roommate came with her own lady’s maid who could assist Kitty in dressing and with her coiffures.
Once they saw Gigi was well settled, Andrew retrieved his father from the study, where he and Bennet had retired and were locked in a battle of chess.
It was agreed among those traveling to Netherfield Park that no one would mention Gigi’s presence in the neighbourhood to the shrew who was mistress of Netherfield.
When they arrived, Bingley, Miss Bingley, and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst stood outside to welcome the arriving party. “Welcome to Netherfield Park, your Lordship and Ladyship,” Miss Bingley said, attempting to display her superior abilities as a hostess.
All she achieved was pointing out her lack of manners by cutting her brother off before he, as host, was able to welcome the arrivals.
Once they all gained the drawing room, the Earl requested introductions.
Darcy performed the office, although the Earl was certain he could have forgone one to the red-haired harpy attempting to act like the highest of sticklers, thinking it proved her position in society.
He and his Countess had seen it time and again, and not once had it been someone worth spending any time with.
“Darce, I thought you were to depart London this morning? How come you only arrived now, and did you not bring your sister? I forgot you had said you might bring her until now, when I see she is not among you,” Bingley asked, forgetting his friend had requested he not mention Darcy's sister’s presence to Miss Bingley.
“Where is dear Georgiana? How I miss her,” Miss Bingley interjected insincerely.
“Miss Bingley, when did my sister allow you to address her so informally?” Darcy asked pointedly.
The days of his allowing the woman’s pretentions regarding him or his sister were over.
Miss Bingley got a pinched look, and after a glance at the Earl and Countess, who seemed to resent the disrespect shown to their niece, she receded.
“I was about to tell you before I was interrupted that my sister is being hosted by a family who will not offer her false friendship in an attempt to gain my notice.” Darcy, who abhorred deceit, was happy he said nothing untrue.
“As to your question, Mr. Bingley, we did leave London at the time we planned, but we stopped to visit friends in the neighbourhood before we came here,” Andrew related.
“You know people in this backwater town?” Miss Bingley asked, aghast, her hand covering her heart as she stared at them all in surprise.
“Yes,” Lady Elaine averred, “I think you may know them, the Bennets of Longbourn.”
For some seconds Miss Bingley looked like a fish out of water as her mouth opened and closed but made no sound.
She was furious her guests should have stopped to visit those people first. It was supposed to be her triumph to welcome them to the neighbourhood!
As has been often noted, angry people are seldom wise.