Chapter 9
Matthew was furious with himself. He could not understand what came over him whenever he was near that beautiful young lady.
He behaved like a complete fool. The first time he had seen her, he had nearly stood frozen, staring at her; now he had actually spoken aloud the very thoughts that had been running through his mind.
Fortunately, whenever his emotions overwhelmed him, he instinctively reverted to the language he had spoken with his mother since childhood.
When Miss Bennet looked at him, blushed, and asked him to translate what he had just said, the fool that he was had actually begun to do so.
Thankfully, someone interrupted him before he could utter another word.
He silently thanked the stranger for saving him from making a fool of himself before the entire company.
He was a respected solicitor and a successful businessman.
He could not afford to behave like an infatuated schoolboy.
At twenty-eight years of age, he ought to conduct himself with the dignity expected of a gentleman of his position.
Caroline Bingley had chosen her gown with particular care.
She fully expected to see Mr Darcy at Lady Campbell's house and hoped to show him how perfectly she belonged among the highest circles of society.
Ever since hearing how admired Lady Campbell had become within the Ton, and how eager everyone was to make her acquaintance, Caroline had resolved to cultivate the baroness's friendship.
She considered this gathering the perfect opportunity to do so.
That was precisely why she was so enraged when she caught sight of Jane Bennet.
"Miss Bennet, you cannot imagine how delighted I am to see you again."
Jane reluctantly broke eye contact with Mr Andrews de la Garza and found Mr Bingley standing before her.
Watching the scene from across the room, Caroline leaned towards her sister and muttered,
"What is that wretched Jane Bennet doing here?"
"I do not know, Caroline," Louisa replied, equally displeased, "but I believe all our efforts to keep that woman away from Charles have been in vain."
"I am certain Jane merely came to call on Lady Campbell and somehow contrived to invite herself to an event so far above her station."
Before she had even finished speaking, her eyes fell upon Elizabeth, who was engaged in lively conversation with Lady Campbell and several distinguished guests.
"Louisa... Eliza is here as well."
Caroline's voice trembled with indignation. What irritated her even more was seeing Elizabeth elegantly dressed in a beautiful gown, her hair arranged with impeccable taste.
"And there are two more Bennet girls, Caroline," Louisa added, nodding towards the pianoforte, where Mary was playing while Kitty turned the pages for her.
Mr Hurst rolled his eyes in exasperation. He had looked forward to a quiet evening filled with good food and excellent wine. Instead, he knew his wife and sister-in-law would spend the rest of the night devising new schemes against Miss Bennet and her sisters.
"We must speak to Lady Campbell and tell her exactly what sort of people the Bennets are. But first, we must prevent Charles from making a dreadful mistake."
Caroline and Louisa immediately made their way towards the group where their brother was talking with Jane, while Mr Hurst headed straight for the refreshment table.
Jane was completely flustered. Mr Andrews de la Garza had awakened feelings she had never experienced before. She wanted nothing more than to hear him speak again in that beautiful language and to see him look at her with the same warmth and intensity.
She could not understand herself. She had always been reserved and shy, rarely revealing even her deepest feelings to Elizabeth. Yet here she was, unable to conceal how deeply this intriguing and handsome gentleman had affected her.
"Miss Bennet," Mr Bingley repeated, realising she had not even noticed his arrival.
"Mr Bingley," Jane replied, reluctantly breaking eye contact with Mr Andrews de la Garza.
“You cannot imagine the pleasure it gives me to see you again, Miss Bennet. How long have you been in town? And why have you not called on us?" Mr Bingley asked with genuine curiosity.
He was delighted to find Jane at Lady Campbell's dinner party.
He had recently begun considering a return to Netherfield, but now there seemed little reason to do so if Miss Bennet was in London.
Besides, she looked more beautiful than ever that evening.
A delicate blush coloured her cheeks, and her eyes sparkled with unusual brightness.
Before Jane could answer, Caroline and Louisa joined the group, greeting her with all the warmth of old friends—a display of cordiality that was entirely feigned.
Fortunately, at that very moment, Lady Campbell approached with Elizabeth to welcome the newly arrived guests.
"Good evening, Mr Bingley, Mrs Hurst, Miss Bingley. I am delighted that you were able to come and allow me, in some small measure, to return the kindness you showed me in Hertfordshire."
Caroline answered before Charles had the opportunity to speak.
"My dear Lady Campbell, the honour was entirely ours. It was a privilege to receive a lady of your distinction in our home, and, for my part, I was delighted to act as your hostess."
Then, glancing towards Jane and Elizabeth, she added with deliberate emphasis, "I must confess that I never imagined I should meet a lady of your rank and refinement in a place like Meryton."
Her remark created an awkward silence.
Eleanor, however, understood perfectly well what Caroline intended and calmly took control of the conversation.
"Allow me to introduce you to some of my dearest friends.
Mr and Mrs Gardiner are my nieces' uncle and aunt and have long been among my most valued friends.
Mr James Andrews is the gentleman who advises me in all my business affairs, and this is his son, Mr Matthew Andrews de la Garza, who works alongside his father. "
After making the introductions, she continued, "Of course, you already know Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
What you may not know is that they are my nieces.
Thanks to you, Mr Bingley, I was able to reconnect with a part of my family.
They are spending The Season with me, and we have been greatly enjoying our time together. "
"Your nieces?" Mr Bingley exclaimed, visibly surprised. "What a wonderful discovery! Miss Bennet, I hope you will not object if I call upon you here, at your aunt's house."
Elizabeth intervened when she noticed that Jane was becoming visibly uncomfortable.
"Jane is not staying here with Aunt Eleanor. She is staying with Aunt and Uncle Gardiner."
Mr Bingley turned immediately to the Gardiners.
"Then, Mr and Mrs Gardiner, I hope you will not object if I call upon Miss Bennet at your house."
"You will be most welcome, Mr Bingley," Mrs Gardiner replied with a kind smile. "Jane and all of us shall be delighted to receive you."
"Thank you, Mrs Gardiner," Mr Bingley said with evident pleasure. "Then, if it is convenient for you, I shall call the day after tomorrow."
"We shall be expecting you," Mrs Gardiner replied warmly.
Jane, however, was uncertain how she felt. She had longed for so many months to see Mr Bingley again, yet now that he stood before her, it somehow felt too late.
Caroline and Louisa remained unusually silent after learning that the Bennet sisters were Lady Campbell's nieces. They resolved to discover more before deciding how to proceed.
Matthew observed everything with growing curiosity. He wondered who the gentleman was who looked at Miss Bennet with such unmistakable affection and seemed so eager to visit her. For reasons he could not explain, he disliked the thought that Jane might already have a suitor she cared for.
Caroline had noticed the handsome young gentleman as well.
She considered him even more attractive than Mr Darcy.
However, when Lady Campbell introduced him as a solicitor, any interest she might have felt vanished immediately.
No matter how handsome he was, she would never consider a gentleman beneath her social standing.
Even so, she quickly decided he might prove useful in keeping Jane away from her brother.
Until she learned more about Lady Campbell's connection to the Bennets, she intended to keep Charles as far from Jane as possible.
"You know, Mr Andrews," Caroline said with affected sweetness, "dear Miss Bennet has an uncle who is a solicitor, just like you."
Matthew looked at her calmly. Although he did not yet understand the history between the ladies, he immediately recognised Caroline as precisely the sort of social climber, and worse, the type of shallow woman, he so often encountered in London society.
You could discern them immediately. It was a look in their eyes and written into the lines on their faces from a lifetime of constantly calculating the worth of everything around themselves, from objects to people, but without a single care for that crucial value of human kindness.
Their faces seemed to constantly sneer ever so slightly.
These women were naturally predisposed to condescend towards everything as insufficient of their approval except for the rarest of occasions when their self-interest was pleased.
They always acted as if they had been granted a divine right to judge others and everything else simply because they were born with certain facial features such as high cheekbones or strong jaw lines.
Even the ostensibly "prettiest" face was ruined for him once he detected that evident heartlessness behind the eyes of such women.
"Were you speaking to me, madam?" he asked politely.
"Yes. Is Mr Andrews not your name?" Caroline replied with undisguised defiance.
"My father is Mr Andrews," Matthew answered with perfect composure. "I am Mr Andrews de la Garza."
He paused for a moment before continuing.