Vol 2, Chapter 2 #2
“It is simple. Unless it is within a few days of my death, they must get married. What would be a better affirmation of life than a wedding? There is a circle of life, and mine may be ending, but I do not want the world to stop when I go. Rose and I have spoken about this, and she has my wishes in writing. If I am gone by then—in case any jealous harpies of the Ton try to use the wedding so soon after my passing against you, she will be able to step in,” the Duke informed his heir.
“Now, when does your son arrive from Oxford?”
“Tom should return by the last Friday in March, Uncle Sed. Why do you ask?” Bennet was curious, for the man canvassed subjects quickly enough to sometimes even lose him. After being able to follow the four women in his house in conversation, that was impressive.
“My cousin, well, our cousin, would like to meet you and your family. Will your daughter in Kent return to London the same day so you will be able to reveal the connections between us to all of them?” the Duke enquired further.
“Yes, I will send a coach there to collect her that Friday morning. She will not be happy to have her time with her friend curtailed,” Bennet grinned ruefully.
“Did I tell you that Mr. Darcy followed through and apologised completely?” The Duke shook his head.
“He did, and without knowing of our true situation, believing it to be as was reported before you and I met. It seems what Matlock told us about his nephew is all correct.”
“At least you know that his interest in her was before he knew of anything, never mind what is about to be revealed. I met his father, Mr. George Darcy as he was. We transacted some business, and he was an exceptionally good man,” the Duke related.
Bennet knew that there was always more that he would have to learn once he became duke, but the two men did not use all of their time just teaching and learning.
Bennet had grown very fond of his uncle in the short time that he had known him, and for the Duke it almost felt like Thomas Bennet was the son he was never granted.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Miss Caroline had begun having thoughts that she had never allowed before, for she had started to ask herself why she was an anathema to practically everyone she knew.
At first, she reasoned the blame to be all on others as was her habit, but once she had moved past the self-pity, she was forced to try something she had never done before.
She looked at herself and her behaviour through the eyes of others.
The more she considered them, the more her own shame proportionally increased, for how she had acted was wanting in many ways.
Having been denied entry to Pemberley, she had started with her interactions with Mr. Darcy.
As she became more honest with herself, she was forced to admit that it was obvious that Mr. Darcy had never wanted anything to do with her.
Rather than look at her as a possible wife, he looked on her with true abhorrence.
And now that she saw it for herself, she searched for reasons for her behaviour.
She was able to trace much of it back to the seminary that she boasted had made her an estimable lady.
She and Louisa had been looked down upon and derided for their roots in trade by daughters of the Ton.
Rather than take the way she had been treated as an exemplar of how not to treat others, Miss Bingley realised she had aped the behaviour, which had led to her belief in her superiority, and as she was wealthy she could behave exactly as the girls had toward her—except her own behaviour had been far worse.
She could see how she had blatantly cared for none but herself and her own wants, and she had never considered, nor wanted to consider, the consequences of her behaviour.
She had known Mr. Darcy was serious in what he said to Charles, but she had wanted him, so she had not cared who got hurt to further her aim or how much she had had to lie or manipulate others to get there.
She knew her brother was weak-willed, and rather than help him, she had played him like a violin.
Miss Bingley was then forced to also admit to herself that she had never cared about Louisa’s feelings.
She treated her sister somewhat better than she had her brother, but only as long as Louisa did her bidding.
She finally was forced to allow that Jane Bennet had shown clear signs she had no interest in Charles, but not being willing to admit that their money did not impress her, she had fed her brother’s misconception that she cared for him even while railing against her, as it helped her control him.
Miss Bennet had always been a lady, even when she reacted to the barbs being fired at her.
Miss Bingley could not but remember the look of disgust that had flashed across the lady’s features when Miss Bingley had boasted about her dowry, and how vulgar she felt as she reviewed the memory of it.
The regret was crushing, and that night, for the first time in almost a decade, Miss Bingley cried herself to sleep.
She began to accept she had been the author of her problems—nobody else.
She did not know how she would begin to atone for all she had done, but she was sure of one thing, she had to make the attempt.
She was determined to try, even though she did not expect something in return, not even forgiveness, though she hoped some measure was granted.
By the time she woke up the next morning, her resolve had weakened significantly.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Mr. and Miss Darcy, along with Mr. Fitzwilliam, were admitted to the parsonage by the bowing and scraping, ridiculous parson. “What an honour…” he started, about to launch into a sycophantic welcome speech, when his wife rescued the guests.
“Welcome, please join Miss Elizabeth and me in the parlour for tea,” Charlotte invited. Collins was left spluttering as the three followed his wife without a glance in his direction.
Elizabeth smiled warmly and patted the seat next to her for Miss Darcy to join her. “It is good to see you again, Miss Darcy,” Elizabeth welcomed the young girl.
“Please call me, Georgiana, or Gigi, Miss Elizabeth, we are practically family already,” Georgiana invited.
“I agree, Gigi, as long as I am Lizzy to you,” was her pleased response.
Before Georgiana could reply, the huffing and sweating Mr. Collins entered the parlour. “My dear, is it not time for your visit with Lady Catherine?” Charlotte asked deftly.
With one of his low bows, her husband exited the room, pausing only to appreciate his wife for entertaining his guests. The front door was heard closing not long after. Charlotte smiled as peace descended on her home, and her guests politely coughed to stop themselves from bursting into laughter.
The former colonel was still fighting an internal battle. He loved Charlotte, but all he could be forever more was a friend. At least he had just been reassured that she knew how to redirect her husband, so it seemed that she did not have to suffer the buffoon’s company very much.
“Now that my cousin has departed, please tell us what happened to cause a break with Mr. Bingley,” Elizabeth requested.
Darcy readily complied as he no longer wanted secrets between himself and those in the room, including Mrs. Collins, as it was obvious the love she and his cousin shared was not of a weak variety.
He explained how he had tried to advise his friend to take Miss Bingley in hand after her attempted compromise of himself, and the ill-fated trip Bingley had been manipulated into taking to Pemberley.
When he completed his recitation, both Charlotte and Elizabeth agreed there had been no other choice.
“That is why Jane was never interested in him. Papa had had him investigated before he rented Netherfield, and the report presented an irresolute man,” Elizabeth informed the group.
“Wait, your father is the landlord of Netherfield Park?” All the clues he had seen when he resided with Bingley suddenly made sense.