Chapter 47 Predatory
Despite her initial reluctance to accept the Bennet family's hospitality for dinner, Miss Bingley could not resist an opportunity to impress and entice Sir Phillip.
She immediately insisted on returning home so she could properly dress for dinner.
When Mrs. Bennet assured her that no one would think the less of her for coming as she was, Miss Bingley reiterated that she truly needed to leave right away to make some additional arrangements ahead of the arrival of their guests the following day and she wanted to inform the housekeeper as early as possible that they would not need dinner that evening.
Mrs. Bennet accepted the excuses at face value as signs of a considerate and conscientious hostess. In the corner where the men had clumped together defensively, Bingley rolled his eyes at the other two men.
"Mark my words," he whispered to Sir Phillip, "she will return dressed for a London ballroom, hoping to outshine every other woman here in a bid to catch your attention."
"So, should I be frightened or amused?" Sir Phillip asked in a return whisper.
"A little of both, I would say," Bingley replied. "Darcy, here, can tell you she is both relentless and tricky."
"Indeed, she is," Darcy whispered. "She caught me off my guard once years ago and would have reeled me in if Bingley had not put me wise to her actions.
His older sister made an obvious play for me when she learned my father was wealthy.
When I made it clear I was not interested, she returned to her original target who is now her husband.
Miss Bingley saw I was not to be taken by the obvious approach, so she made her play so subtly I had no idea what she was up to.
I think she may have become more obvious now that she is feeling desperate but be cautious all the same. "
Lizzy, who had quietly joined them, nudged Darcy gently with her elbow.
"Your strategy session is becoming too obvious, even if you are speaking quietly enough not to be heard by Miss Bingley or my mother," she whispered.
Then, with a bright smile she added for Sir Phillip.
"If she gets to be too much for you, just run to Jane or me for help.
We will divert her for you, and you need not fear being trapped by either of us.
" She winked at Darcy, still smiling, and then turned back to the other ladies in the room.
Mrs. de Bourgh must have guessed the subject of their conversation.
She gave her son a fond look, shaking her head slightly as she did.
All three men took the hint. Bingley broke up their group as he stepped forward and offered to take his sister home right away so she could see to matters at Netherfield.
She looked at him in surprise at his cooperation but stood nonetheless and graciously thanked Mrs. Bennet for her hospitality.
She said her adieus to the rest of the room, offering Sir Phillip a coy smile as she curtsied to him.
After the Bingleys departed, Mrs. Bennet excused herself to warn Mrs. Hill of the additions to their dinner party.
Her departure left just Mrs. de Bourgh, Sir Phillip, Darcy, Jane and Lizzy in the room after Kitty and Lydia also excused themselves so they could return to their lessons with Miss Parks.
"If you young men are going to talk about any of the ladies present, I suggest you leave the room next time," Mrs. de Bourgh chided once the others had left.
"While I doubt Miss Bingley noticed, it was clear to me, at least, that you were discussing her obvious interest in Phillip's title.
It would have been most awkward had she realized. "
Darcy and Sir Phillip both colored, and Darcy realized he had been caught out again essentially gossiping about a woman. He cringed inside as it hit him that Lizzy not only knew, she had actually heard him.
Darcy bowed. "Thank you for speaking up, Mrs. de Bourgh.
Although, once again, my intentions were helpful, it appears I have unwittingly repeated behavior that has gotten me into trouble in the past and which I was trying to avoid for the future.
Clearly, I must watch myself better. I would not have realized if you had not said something. "
"Mr. Darcy, I did not intend to take you to task for speaking, merely for having a private conversation about someone in plain view of that person," Mrs. de Bourgh replied.
Lizzy spoke up. "Mrs. de Bourgh, I understand the reference to the earlier situation to which Mr. Darcy refers, as does my sister.
Rest assured, Mr. Darcy, having heard most of the conversation between the men, although I was not intentionally eavesdropping, I know that it was not started by you, and you only replied to clarify a point when asked.
It was a conversation better held elsewhere, that is true, but you do not bear the blame of starting it nor was it truly malicious gossip.
As my Aunt Madeline once clarified for me, sometimes you do need to speak ill of people, even family, but one must make sure it is both necessary and also strictly truthful. "
"I realize that," he said, "but I am still disappointed in myself for having carried on with the conversation. The better course would have been silence."
"I am not certain I agree with you," Sir Phillip said.
"While it would probably have been better if we had stepped outside, I greatly appreciate Bingley's warning that Miss Bingley might be overenthusiastic in her pursuit of my title and your confirmation that it was, indeed, a danger based on your past history with her. "
"But Mr. Darcy has no title, has he?" Jane asked.
"No, Miss Bennet," Darcy replied. "Instead, I have wealth and a fine estate and was almost a captive audience as a friend and visitor with her brother when I was younger.
She made it very clear that she would happily accept the position of Mistress of Pemberley if I could be maneuvered into offering for her.
I meant no disrespect towards Miss Bingley.
She is a fine-looking woman, as well as being intelligent.
Our personalities simply do not go well together, and I am not interested in her as a wife.
From an earlier conversation I suspected the same is true for Sir Phillip.
Miss Bingley is very ambitious and has extremely different goals for her life than I do for mine.
She wants to reach as high up the social ladder as she can, even after she is married, while I am perfectly satisfied with my current place. It would be a major point of conflict."
"I see," said Jane, nodding. "So, you and Mr. Bingley were simply warning Sir Phillip to be cautious if that is not what he hopes for in a marriage?"
"Precisely," Darcy said. "Bingley was also speculating that his sister wanted to leave in part so she can dress in a way that will outshine all of you and hopefully entice Sir Phillip to consider her as a partner."
"Well, we shall see when they arrive how well her brother knows her," Mrs. de Bourgh said with a smile. "I do not think my Phillip will have his head turned by a pretty gown, no matter how elegant the lace on it may be."
"I should hope not," said Sir Phillip indignantly, causing all the others to laugh.
~o~
The gown Miss Bingley wore to dinner was as fine as the one Jane, Lizzy and Mary had found so impressive the night Bingley met the Bennet sisters at the ball in London.
While Mrs. Bennet and Lydia exclaimed over the fabrics, colors and trims on her arrival, Darcy had to contain his laughter at the amused look shared by Mrs. de Bourgh, Lizzy and Jane.
It seemed Bingley knew his sister very well.
When he saw her, Sir Phillip's look was less amused than panicked.
On their return to the parlor to gather before dinner, he had taken a seat next to Kitty and the two had been quietly talking.
When Bingley and his sister arrived, he took one quick glance at the pair, noted the gown and quickly turned back to his conversational partner while studiously ignoring the louder side of the room.
Kitty was perfectly willing to have his attention all to herself, although she did not know why he had chosen to keep talking instead of greeting the newcomers.
On seeing Sir Phillip's reaction, Darcy chuckled softly, drawing the attention of Lizzy, who was sitting next to him on the small settee. "He has been warned," she said softly, "but perhaps we should have warned Kitty as well."
"Um hmm," Darcy said, unwilling to enter yet another private conversation in the presence of the one being discussed.
Lizzy nudged his arm. He turned to see her smiling as well, the amusement radiating off her and brightening her lovely eyes. He forgot about Miss Bingley for a moment, but a slight jerk of Lizzy's head called him back to the show.
After finally managing to escape from Mrs. Bennet and Lydia, delightful though their adulation over her gown had been, Miss Bingley now made her way across the room to Sir Phillip, moving with all the grace she could, while attempting to display her looks and figure to best advantage.
Darcy and Lizzy had to hold in their amusement at the faint hint of frustration that appeared on her face when Sir Phillip did not even look her way.
Forcing the situation, she moved so close to the side-by-side chairs in which Sir Phillip and Kitty sat that they could not avoid greeting her. Sir Phillip stood and bowed, while Kitty offered a very neat curtsy.
"Miss Bingley, good evening," Sir Phillip said politely. "I am glad to see you and your brother were able to finish your tasks at Netherfield and return in time for dinner."