Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
The following afternoon, Darcy was in his preferred parlour in his town house.
Vaguely, he heard the voices of Fitzwilliam and Bingley, but he was too distracted to pay proper attention to what they were saying.
The two men chatted quickly and easily, having been friends since the day Darcy had introduced them several years earlier.
As usual, Elizabeth was the chief reason his thoughts had drifted.
He was remembering the way she had looked and the relative ease of their conversation the previous day—until the end of the exchange, that was.
He turned his eyes to Bingley and knew he must tell him what Elizabeth had said about Miss Bennet.
When he heard Fitzwilliam say her name, he was suddenly alert; his cousin’s words—and Bingley’s answering ones—became clear.
“It really has been the most tremendous surprise,” Fitzwilliam said.
“I can imagine!” Bingley said, his expression open and eager. “To discover you have a grown cousin none of you knew existed. Do tell me more about her, more than that her name is Elizabeth.”
“She is everything a young lady should be, although I suppose a stickler would say her manners are not those of our circle. She can learn whatever is necessary.” Fitzwilliam shrugged, suggesting it mattered not, a sentiment with which Darcy agreed.
His cousin’s colour was higher than usual, and he seemed unable to stop himself from grinning.
He made a sound like a gasp of realisation and said, “But Bingley, you know her! I have only just recalled that she and Darcy met when he was in Hertfordshire with you. She was known to you as Elizabeth Bennet.”
Bingley started and cried, “What? I cannot believe it! Miss Elizabeth is the countess’s niece? We had heard that she was adopted, but I never would have imagined she was connected to your mother.”
Both men turned to Darcy and, at almost the same time, asked him why he had not mentioned it.
Forced to join the conversation, he said, “We have not seen each other since I learnt of it.”
“You might have written him a note,” his cousin said. “You are forever writing letters and what have you.”
“I suppose I have been so distracted by the startling news I did not think of it,” Darcy retorted.
Fitzwilliam snorted. “I know exactly why you have been distracted by Elizabeth—”
“Desist!” Darcy hissed, heat rising up the back of his neck.
Fortunately, Bingley did not appear to notice or care what Fitzwilliam was hinting.
He said, “This is wonderful. Fantastical, too, to be sure. What a coincidence! I can well imagine why you did not think to inform me. I would like to see Miss Elizabeth— Oh. What do I call her now?” He glanced between Fitzwilliam and Darcy.
“Miss Sterling,” Fitzwilliam responded.
“Of course!” Bingley said, shaking his head as though the answer should have been obvious. “The viscount was named for your mother’s people. I would like to see her,” he repeated. “Congratulate her on discovering her family. She must be thrilled.”
“Better not attempt it at present,” his cousin advised. “The countess is keeping her busy, and with Christmas, the mayhem is even greater. Perhaps after the twenty-fifth, but if not, you will see her at the Twelfth Night ball. You are attending it, are you not?”
Bingley nodded vigorously. “Lady Romsley was gracious enough to invite us again. I shall try to be patient, but please do give Miss Sterling my regards.” He laughed.
“It will be strange to address her as such and see her in such a different setting, but now I am anticipating the ball even more than I usually would.”
At Bingley’s prompting, Fitzwilliam briefly explained how the truth had been uncovered, and between him and Darcy, they assured Bingley that Elizabeth had been embraced by everyone she had met, including Georgiana and his Darcy relations.
Fitzwilliam announced that he should depart. “There is a dinner with some fellow officers I must attend. If I do not go home to prepare for it soon, I shall be tardy.”
Darcy indicated that Bingley should remain. “Indeed, you ought to dine with Georgiana and me, unless you have other plans?”
“I do not,” Bingley said. “Thank you.”
Darcy cleared his throat before introducing the awkward subject that had been looming over his head. “I was shocked to learn that Elizabeth’s father was Thomas Sterling. No doubt you recall there was some question about her parentage and the circumstances of her birth?”
Bingley sat back in the chair, his expression reflecting Darcy’s serious tone; he scratched his upper lip and nodded.
“We know now that there was nothing irregular about it. Her parents were married long enough before her birth for there to be no question of impropriety. Beyond that of eloping, which is bad enough.”
“But it was so long ago!” Bingley said.
“I agree,” Darcy was quick to say. “My entire family does, as well. I believe Elizabeth was anxious she might not be accepted because of it and because old Mr Sterling disowned his son. But no one judges her for her parents’ actions.”
“I always liked her, as you might remember. She is such a charming lady and so quick-witted. But, Darcy, does her staying with your aunt mean she has left Longbourn for good?”
“I do not know,” he admitted. In his mind was that she might marry before there was any question of her going to live in Hertfordshire again.
If I can convince her to esteem me, by spring, her home will be in Derbyshire, at Pemberley.
“In January, she will go to Northamptonshire to the Sterling estate and meet her uncle and his family. The earl and countess will then take her to Romsley Hall. What happens after that is yet to be decided, as far as I am aware.” Again, he cleared his throat.
“About the Bennets—about Miss Bennet—I wanted to share with you something Elizabeth told me just yesterday.” He proceeded to recount the snippet of conversation and added, “Obviously, there is no longer any concern of scandal attached to Elizabeth’s past or how Mr and Mrs Bennet acted, if that played a role in you staying away from Netherfield Park. ”
“I do not know if it did,” Bingley said.
A deep crease appeared between his eyes, and he nibbled his lower lip for a moment before continuing.
“Once we were all in town, there was so much to do! Louisa and Caroline have kept me busy, going to this party or that, needing me to accompany them shopping, et cetera.”
So that you will buy them numerous ‘gifts’, Darcy thought. In his opinion, his sisters often took advantage of Bingley’s good nature.
“But I did like her. Very much,” Bingley added, his tone and expression wistful.
“In the end, you must decide what to do about Netherfield Park and Miss Bennet,” Darcy said.
“What do you want? Think not of what Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley would like but rather what you want, what makes you happiest. Miss Bennet would not be a great match, because she has no fortune or connexions, but she is a gentleman’s daughter, and no one would say an unkind word about her character or worthiness. ”
“And she is so lovely.” Bingley gave a sad sigh. “Do you know, just speaking of her these last few minutes has made me realise how much I miss her? That must mean there is no true dilemma for me to reflect on, do you not think?”
Darcy gestured to indicate he had nothing to say. After a brief pause, he changed the topic entirely.