Chapter 11 #2
“I agree with Mr Darcy,” Jane stated. She walked over to the governess, nursemaid, and footman, informing them she and Lord Hadlock were returning to the house.
Taking her suitor’s arm, Jane led the other two men across the street.
The butler opened the door for Jane. “Marlow, the other two gentlemen are calling on us; I will inform my aunt.”
Darcy was very impressed. The house was decorated with understated elegance. Even though he was sure this was the abode of the Bennet sisters’ tradesman uncle, it looked like a house of which any gentleman would be proud. Perhaps some of his prejudices had been unfounded.
Maddie was working on some embroidery when Jane, Jamey, and two unknown gentlemen entered the sitting room. She put her work in the basket and stood.
Jane made the introductions. “Please sit. Now, Mr Bingley, while Lord Hadlock stated things in a blunter fashion than I might have chosen, nothing he said was inaccurate. That being said, please explain what you are doing here since you abandoned me?”
“Miss Bennet, if I may. I gave Bingley some advice which I suspected was not true but was given for selfish reasons. He did want to come back to see you as he had planned,” Darcy admitted. He did not miss the anger as Bingley looked at him.
“We know that Mr Bingley’s sisters were involved in keeping him away from Netherfield Park, and Lizzy especially believed you had a hand in persuading Mr Bingley against me.
However, allow me to ask a few simple questions.
Did you, his sisters, or any other restrain Mr Bingley against his wishes?
Was he locked in a windowless room? Was he bound by ropes? Was he manacled?” Jane responded.
Neither Bingley nor Darcy recognised this assertive Miss Bennet. “I believed them and did not come see for myself,” Bingley admitted.
“And that, Mr Bingley, aside from the fact you have a harpy for a sister and another who follows her blindly, is why I could never marry you. I did believe myself to be in love with you, but as soon as I understood your tendency to capriciousness and how you allow your younger sister to lead you about by the nose, I knew I could never accept you as my husband. You need to become your own man and mature significantly before you should seek a wife.” Jane turned to Mr Darcy.
“I assume what Miss Bingley wrote about Mr Bingley courting Miss Darcy and her imminent marriage to you is not true?”
“Miss Elizabeth mentioned the contents of the letter to me, which is one of the reasons I wanted to see you.” Darcy then faced his friend.
“With regards to my motivation for not wanting to see you and Miss Bennet together, I will happily explain all to you on our way back to White’s.
But, Bingley, how many times have I told you that your sister would ruin herself?
” Darcy looked at Miss Bennet. “Do you perchance have the letter in London?”
“I do; allow me to retrieve it,” Jane said and left the sitting room.
“While we wait for Jane, I do not think you remember me, Mr Darcy, but I was Madeline Lambert, and I lived in Lambton until I married,” Maddie stated.
“I do remember you, Miss Maddie. How are you connected to the Bennets?” Darcy enquired.
“That is through me,” Gardiner stated as he entered the sitting room. On his Maddie’s orders, the butler had sent a boy to have the master return home. “Fanny Bennet, whom I understand you have met, is my sister.”
It took Darcy seconds to tell this man was no vulgar tradesman. Had he not known what the man’s profession was, Darcy would have guessed him gently born.
“You may have it, Mr Darcy,” Jane stated as she handed the offending missive over.
“If you would like to read it, Mr Darcy, please be seated again; you too, Mr Bingley,” Maddie offered. “While you read, I will order tea.”
Darcy held the epistle so both he and Bingley could read it together. The former almost jumped up and ran all the way to Hurst House on Curzon Street when he read a group of paragraphs.
… I really do not think Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance, and accomplishments; and the affection she inspires in Louisa and myself is heightened into something still more interesting, as it will not be long before she will be our sister.
I do not know whether I ever before mentioned to you my feelings on this subject, but I will not leave the country without confiding them, and I trust you see they are not unreasonable.
My brother admires Miss Darcy greatly already; he will have frequent opportunities now of seeing her on the most intimate footing to continue the courtship they began before we came into Hertfordshire.
Her relations all wish for the connection as much as his do.
A sister’s partiality is not misleading me that what we desire will soon come to pass.
Charles is most capable of engaging any woman’s heart, but towards you it was naught but mild flirtation.
As I will soon be Mrs Darcy, the familial ties will be so much …
“Bingley, your sister is done in society,” Darcy stated emphatically.
“My aunt was to post letters about Miss Bingley to many of her friends. I asked her to wait until I gained proof. I will write to Lady Matlock and tell her I now have it and to do as she wishes. This will redound poorly on you and the Hursts as well, I am afraid.”
“Miss Bennet, my sister saw you entering Holder House and made some rather vile assertions, which I, to my chagrin, almost accused you of when I saw you in the park a few minutes ago. I am ashamed of what I was about to say. What she said about your character and being a kept woman were more of her lies, were they not?” Bingley queried.
“I am courting Miss Bennet,” Hadlock announced.
“I believe the day your very soon-to-be-ruined sister saw Jane—Miss Bennet—she was with me. A maid was chaperoning us as we arrived at my parents’ house to inform them and my sisters of our courtship.
My mother will add her voice to Lady Matlock’s, and your pernicious sister will not find any doors of high society open to her.
Before you ask, my parents are more than pleased that we are courting.
Also, Miss Bennet told me all about her family, her connections, the entailed estate, lack of dowry, and you.
None of that was important to me, as I see a woman as more than a dowry and connections. ”
Darcy felt that Hadlock was speaking directly to him.
Was he wrong to take all of the things Hadlock mentioned as unimportant into account?
Was not that what Father meant when he told him to make a brilliant match?
At least so far, he had not let the anger and humiliation of being rejected by Miss Elizabeth show.
When he had nothing else on his mind, he knew that was all he would think about.
At first, he had wanted to tell himself that Miss Bennet had turned to a better prospect, which was Hadlock’s main attraction to her.
Seeing them together and the way they looked at one another gave lie to that thought.
He realised he was the last person in the world who should judge the feelings of others.
He needed to speak to Bingley, which he could do on the way back to White’s.
Darcy decided that after he went to see Anna at Matlock House that he needed to make for Pemberley.
With Anne on her deathbed, and with all the Fitzwilliams at Rosings Park, he would not be needed.
He had much over which to cogitate, and as he felt most at peace at Pemberley, it was imperative to go there.
Tea was enjoyed, and seeing that both Darcy and Bingley were subdued, no one attempted to engage with them more than either man chose to. At the end of the refreshments, Gardiner, who judged his presence was no longer needed, returned to his warehouse.
Bingley stood and faced Miss Bennet. “Please pardon me for the way I behaved. I need to take responsibility for my own decisions, regardless of what others advise. As you correctly said, had I wanted to, nothing would have stopped me from returning to Hertfordshire and seeing you. I wish you everything good for the future.”
“We appreciate the grace you showed in receiving us when we arrived here uninvited and unannounced, Mrs Gardiner.” Darcy then faced Miss Bennet.
“For the part I played in separating you and Bingley, I apologise, and I promise you that Miss Bingley will not be allowed to slander you.” After bows and curtsies, the two friends departed.
“I think they have much to discuss,” Maddie opined after the front door closed.