Chapter 9 #2
“Yes, and Mrs. Gardiner told me a few things about the woman. I have already tasked one footman to be on guard outside Miss Bingley’s chambers and another stationed in the family wing.
There will be others in the servants’ passages in that wing, and I have informed the staff that the lady’s maid is to be escorted everywhere.
Neither she nor Miss Bingley will be able to go anywhere within the grounds of Pemberley without being observed by someone. ”
“Thank you, Mrs. Reynolds. I intended to ask you to do exactly as you have already done. As usual, it seems you have anticipated my thoughts and ensured that everything is taken care of as it should be. Please have someone assigned to serve Miss Bingley all her meals, as I do not wish for her to join the family at those times either. She will have to attend church with us in the morning, but she will ride with her brother in their carriage, not in mine. They will not sit in our pew; it will be full on the morrow,” Darcy finished.
“I met the woman only briefly, but she is the sort to cause trouble, if allowed. Her brother will have a time finding someone to marry her, and she obviously wishes it to be you or someone like you. I will ensure your father is well looked after as well, though I do not think she would try anything with him. Your father would refuse to marry her even if she managed a compromise, as he still views himself as married to your mother,” Mrs. Reynolds said, flushing when she realised how bold she had been in speaking to the almost-master about a guest, even one who was uninvited.
No one saw Bingley again until that evening.
It was obvious from his demeanour that he had a difficult afternoon while speaking with his sister.
“Darcy, I cannot say enough how sorry I am for my sister’s actions.
She was quite displeased to learn that she would not be able to ingratiate herself into your presence and was livid when the maid arrived to bring her the meal.
I was unfortunately passing by her room when the maid scurried out of the room, carrying the ruined tray.
Caroline will not be satisfied until she has made a fool of herself.
I am astonished that the younger sister I once knew could have turned into such a harpy, but I am afraid that school did more to ruin her than to help her. ”
Darcy, who was sitting with Elizabeth, stood and clasped his friend on the shoulder in silent acceptance. “Has she entered society yet?”
Bingley shook his head. “No. Our mourning for our father has only just ended. That is why Louisa is finally to marry; she and Gilbert Hurst preferred to wait until the mourning period was over, so no one thought ill of us for rushing things. Caroline finished at the girls’ school my father enrolled her in just this past spring and has decided, based on what she had heard me say, that you are the ideal suitor to raise her standing within the ton.
She was insistent that once you met her, you would be convinced she is the perfect woman to become the mistress of such a grand estate. ”
“After her behaviour today, especially arriving as she did, it is unlikely I would have ever considered her for such a position. It is likely I will soon be in mourning myself and do not intend to seek a bride for several more years. When I do, it will be with a woman I can genuinely care for and who values me more for myself than for Pemberley,” Darcy told him.
“From the look in her eye when she stepped down from her carriage, Miss Bingley desires Pemberley for itself, and could not care less about the man who comes with it.”
At this, Elizabeth trilled a light, happy laugh. “I am uncertain about that, William. I noticed her expression when she first saw you. While she might be eager to take Pemberley regardless of its owner, she certainly seemed quite taken with your handsome appearance this afternoon.”
When Darcy’s face turned a brilliant shade of red, Elizabeth laughed cheerfully again.
After a moment of stunned surprise, first Bingley, then Darcy joined her in the laughter.
The Gardiners and the elder Mr. Darcy were surprised at the sounds they heard coming from the room when they joined the young people.
“Here now,” the elder Mr. Darcy said insistently, “what is the cause of all of this mirth? I expected to find the lot of you in an ill-humour after our unexpected arrival, and while I am pleased to find you in good spirits, I am curious to know what caused it.”
For some reason, this statement made Bingley laugh harder and it was Darcy who finally found his voice and responded to his father.
“It is probably not that amusing, sir, but Miss Elizabeth here mentioned how pleased Miss Bingley was at my appearance. It disconcerted me somewhat, and then we all found it rather amusing.”
Elizabeth’s uncle frowned. “Were you impolite, Elizabeth?”
Elizabeth shook her head, but before she could defend herself, Darcy interjected.
“Not at all, sir. I usually find Miss Elizabeth’s opinions and her direct way of expressing them quite refreshing, and that was certainly the case this time as well.
She simply caught me by surprise, that is all.
She is a remarkably astute young lady, very skilled at reading others and getting to the heart of the matter. ”
Gardiner merely nodded, eyeing the young man and his niece for several long moments. Concluding nothing was amiss, he continued: “Bingley, how was your conversation with your sister? I gather that she was not pleased to learn her machinations would not work?”
Once again, Bingley hung his head slightly and shook it as though to clear a memory.
“I am convinced that school did her no favours. Caroline believes that a man will overlook her status as a tradesman’s daughter and wish to marry her for her accomplishments and her fortune.
While that might be true in some cases, almost all the men she desires to wed—for she believes she is destined for a wealthy gentleman at least, if not a member of the peerage—would find it difficult to accept her as a bride, unless he direly needed that fortune, due to her status as the daughter of a tradesman.
Forgive me, I do not mean to speak ill of anyone, but I know, Darcy, that were it not for your friendship with me, I would not be as accepted as I am in society.
There are simply too many well-dowered and much better-connected women available for men like you to choose from.
Caroline has little to offer a man like you, but you are precisely the kind of man she desires. ”
“As I said earlier, Bingley, your sister is the opposite of what a man like me wants in a wife. And that has little to do with her status,” Darcy replied.
“Let us change the topic to a more pleasant one,” Mrs. Gardiner interjected, believing this conversation had gone on long enough.
“Mr. Bingley, you are to depart on Monday for your sister’s wedding, are you not?
” At his nod, she continued. “Then we should make tonight’s dinner something of a farewell.
I have a feeling tomorrow will be eventful.
Your gardeners warned of a summer storm on the morrow and informed me and the children that they are a sight to behold. ”
With this, the conversation turned more general, and the topic of Caroline Bingley was avoided for the rest of the evening.
The party soon moved to the dining room, where they enjoyed a sumptuous meal, before retiring to the music room, where Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth both graced the party with music.