Chapter Forty-Seven
The same servants’ grapevine that had brought the news of Caroline Bingley to Longbourn also brought the news of Mr. Bingley’s interest in Jane Bennet to Nancy, who immediately repeated it to her mistress.
“It cannot be,” Miss Bingley said, sharply.
Nancy shrugged. She did not much care if her mistress believed it or not; she had reported it, and so she considered her job done.
“Well, I shall have to find out for myself,” Miss Bingley muttered.
Going downstairs, she found her brother and the Darcys already seated at breakfast. The two men rose as she entered, and Georgiana – Miss Darcy – nodded at her. “Charles,” she began, in the honeyed voice that her brother knew meant trouble.
He eyed her cautiously. “Caroline,” he replied.
“I believe you mentioned that the Bennets had hosted you for dinner; is that not right?”
“Yes, some time ago.”
“Well, then, it is only right that we return their hospitality. I thought to invite them for dinner on Friday.”
“I am certain they would be happy to accept,” Mr. Bingley said, his tone still wary.
“And remind me, how many are there?”
Georgiana said, “Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mary, Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia. Seven in all.”
“Oh, my, you are quite familiar with them, are you not?” Caroline gave a little titter that she doubtless thought was a laugh. “I shall go today to issue the invitation.”
“And I shall accompany you,” Georgiana said at once, not trusting Miss Bingley alone with her friends.
“As shall I,” Mr. Bingley added. “Darcy?”
“Absolutely,” he said, firmly.
***
Miss Bingley began her diatribe against the Bennets the moment she caught sight of the house. How very small it was! And how old! Why, it should be torn down and rebuilt from the ground up!
Georgiana could not keep still. “I hope you do not intend to express such opinions to the Bennets, Miss Bingley.”
“Of course –“
“For it would immediately reveal you to be of a lower social rank than they.”
“A lower – whatever can you mean?”
“Why, only that the landed gentry understand that old is good; I am told there have been Bennets at Longbourn for at least two centuries. But as you are not of the landed gentry class, I would not expect you to understand the importance of that.”
Miss Bingley could think of nothing to say to this; she clamped her mouth shut and allowed her brother to assist her out of the carriage.
Mr. Darcy shook his head at Georgiana; she had gone too far. But Georgiana only shrugged. She would not allow Miss Bingley to insult her friends.
They went inside and introductions were performed. Since the Bennet girls had already been warned as to Miss Bingley’s character, they did not give her any attention beyond what politeness required.
Miss Bingley, having been so thoroughly chastised by Miss Darcy, kept her observations as to the age of the furnishings and the state of the rugs entirely to herself.
She also silently observed how her brother went at once to sit beside Miss Bennet, Mr. Darcy to Miss Elizabeth, and Miss Darcy to Miss Mary.
Watching her brother laugh and tease Miss Bennet, it was evident that the gossip about her brother’s interest in Miss Bennet was accurate.
She considered this. Jane Bennet was certainly very pretty, and she seemed sweet and amiable.
Miss Darcy’s derogatory comment about the Bingley family not being landed gentry was certainly true enough.
Viewed in that light, it would be good for Charles to marry someone like Miss Bennet.
But far more worrisome was the sight of Mr. Darcy speaking easily with Miss Elizabeth. How serious was this? She had heard no gossip about it from Nancy, so it could not be anything for her to worry about. Could it?
Miss Bennet suddenly felt rather isolated, sitting in the Bennet parlour, watching everyone else. No one seemed at all interested in her. Feeling suddenly cold, she shivered.
“Come closer to the fire, Miss Bingley,” Mrs. Bennet said, interrupting Caroline’s thoughts.
“Oh! No, I am fine –“
“You most certainly are not; I saw you shiver, and it is a cold day outside, too cold to wear such a thin dress, pretty as it is. Come, dear, here is a better seat for you.” Mrs. Bennet would brook no refusal, and in short order, Caroline found herself in a comfortable chair near the fire, Mrs. Bennet’s shawl around her shoulders, and a hot cup of tea in her hand. “There! Is that not better?”
Caroline’s mother had been dead for many years, and she could not recall the last time anyone had taken care of her like this. “I thank you, Mrs. Bennet,” she whispered. “You are very kind.”
“Now, then, tell me – what brings you to Netherfield? For your brother said you had an aversion to dirt.” Mrs. Bennet chuckled as she spoke.
To Caroline’s surprise, she found herself telling Mrs. Bennet about the note that had been found, and that once she understood that Mr. Darcy was at Netherfield, why, of course she had to come at once.
“Have your eye on him, do you? I cannot blame you. He is handsome enough, and that is a fact. But let me tell you something, Miss Bingley. It is a bad idea to marry someone who is a good deal cleverer than you are. No, no, do not protest, I mean no disrespect to you. He has been here several times, and I know him to be a highly educated man. Speaks Greek and Latin and heaven knows what else, does he not? Reads books all the time, thinks about things?”
When Caroline nodded, Mrs. Bennet went on.
“I am married to such a man. I admired him, you know; his mind, his education, his cleverness. And some years after we were married, he began to dislike me because I had no education and was not particularly clever. Now we barely speak to one another. It is not a pleasant situation, Miss Bingley, and one to be avoided at all costs.”
Caroline was speechless. She could not believe she was hearing this from a woman who was a complete stranger! But she was fascinated by the story. “Go on,” she said.
Mrs. Bennet said, softly, “It seems to me, looking back, that like should marry like, if there is to be marital happiness.”
“Why did he marry you, then?” Caroline managed to ask.
“Looking at me now, you may not believe it, but I was very pretty. Pretty as my Jane, there.” Mrs. Bennet nodded toward her eldest. “But it would have served me better had I instead been clever, like my Lizzy.” She looked toward the young lady deep in conversation with Mr. Darcy.
“She has all that Greek and Latin, and mathematics, as well. Clever like her father, she is, and she will need a clever man to marry, or she will learn to despise him. Not necessarily Mr. Darcy, you understand, she will not look as high as that, but someone as clever as he.”
“And Mr. Darcy will need a clever woman or he will learn to despise her; is that what you are telling me?”
“Exactly. Do not make the mistake that I did, Miss Bingley. And, if you are adverse to country dirt, remember that being the mistress of a large estate does involve a good deal of it.”
The two women locked eyes. Then Miss Bingley said, softly, “It is difficult to speak of one’s regrets. I am deeply grateful that you told me of yours.”
Mrs. Bennet nodded. “It is easier to live with regret if what you have learnt helps another.”
Mr. Bingley managed to wrest his attention away from Miss Bennet long enough to note his sister speaking earnestly with Mrs. Bennet. ‘Now what on earth could this be about?’ he wondered.
As the visit drew to a close, Miss Bingley recalled the purpose of her visit and issued her dinner invitation. It was accepted at once.