Chapter 23
Mr Darcy sat alone in his study, reflecting upon what a remarkable day they had spent at the museum.
He longed to call upon Elizabeth, but Georgiana had advised him to wait a few days.
Jane Bennet's wedding to Mr Andrews de la Garza was fast approaching, she had explained, and the whole family was occupied with the many preparations that still remained.
Mr Darcy could not help feeling ashamed of himself.
Jane Bennet was now Mrs Sinclair's niece and connected to the Sinclair family.
Yet she had chosen to marry a gentleman who did not belong to the first circles of society.
With her beauty and her new family connections, she might easily have aspired to a more distinguished match.
Instead, she had chosen to marry for love.
It was impossible not to recognise how unjustly he had judged her, and he suspected he had been equally mistaken in his opinion of Mary and Kitty Bennet.
Yet his thoughts always returned to Elizabeth. He had already resolved to call upon her the following day. He knew she was staying at Mrs Sinclair's house, and Georgiana had promised to accompany him.
“Mr Darcy, Mr Bingley and his sister are in the drawing room,” the butler announced.
“Thank you. I shall see them at once,” Mr Darcy said as he rose to his feet and immediately went to greet his guests.
When he entered the room, Charles stood by the window, staring out with an unusually grave expression, while Caroline attempted to entertain Georgiana with an endless stream of conversation.
Georgiana listened politely, though very little of what Miss Bingley said held the slightest interest for her; it was all just gossip.
Caroline seldom spoke of little else, except events, but only if those events were the parties of important people.
She never spoke of any subject based on ideas such as science, art, or philosophy.
“Mr Darcy, you cannot imagine how delighted I am to see you,” Caroline said in her most flattering tone.
“Miss Bingley. Charles, how do you do?” Mr Darcy replied courteously, hoping to prevent Caroline from launching into one of her usual displays of empty prattle.
“I am very well, Mr Darcy, for I have had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with my dear friend Georgiana,” Caroline replied with a smile, pretending a warmth she did not truly feel.
Georgiana rolled her eyes ever so slightly at that comment for the benefit of her brother, as it was easy for her to tell that Caroline was using her friendship as a means to ingratiate herself with her brother.
Of course Caroline missed the look because, at that moment, she had eyes only for her prey, Mr Darcy.
“Not so well, Darcy. I do not know whether you have heard, but my angel is going to marry his aunt's solicitor's son,” Charles said bitterly.
“Yes, I am aware of the engagement,” Mr Darcy replied quietly.
“Oh, Charles, how much longer are you going to talk in that way?
You ought to be thankful that you escaped a woman with such a vulgar family.
Besides, I do not know how many times I must tell you that Lady Campbell is not the Bennet sisters' aunt. They are nothing more than distant relations whom she chose to help out of charity. Lady Campbell is a perfect lady, and I have no doubt she will soon grow tired of them,” offered Caroline.
Georgiana was naturally shy and reserved, but hearing Miss Bingley speak of her friends with such contempt wounded her deeply, which gave her the fortitude with which to reply to the insult.
“Excuse me, Miss Bingley, but you are mistaken.
Lady Campbell is Mr Bennet's sister. Moreover, my friends Mary and Kitty are not vulgar. Indeed, I have never heard either of them speak ill of anyone,” said Georgiana.
“If anyone asked me, that is the definition of vulgar behaviour,” she said as a pointed jab at Caroline.
By the time Georgiana had finished speaking, her cheeks were crimson, and she was breathing rather quickly. Defending her friends had required every ounce of courage she possessed, yet she was quietly proud that she had found the strength to do so.
“My dear Georgiana, I do not think you know all the facts,” Caroline said, hoping to correct her and missing the point of Caroline’s comment entirely.
“No, Miss Bingley,” Mr Darcy interrupted calmly. “You are the one who is mistaken. Eleanor Sinclair, formerly Lady Campbell, is Mr Bennet's only sister, which makes her the Bennet sisters' aunt.”
Caroline disliked seeing how completely Mr Darcy had changed his opinion of the Bennet ladies and that he now allowed Georgiana to associate with them. Nevertheless, she would never openly contradict him, so she wisely remained silent.
“If you say so, Mr Darcy. I will always defer to your knowledge and wisdom, for you are such an intelligent man,” said Caroline.
Georgiana excused herself and retired to her room, unable to endure another moment of Caroline's excessive flattery. Had Caroline not realised by now that such empty praise affected her brother not at all? Georgiana marvelled at how terribly unobservant and stupid Caroline could be.
“Thank you, Miss Bingley,” replied Mr Darcy, his tone flat because he was only replying due to the social necessity of basic courtesy.
As soon as Georgiana had left, Mr Bingley could contain himself no longer.
“I hope you are as happy as my sisters seem to be, Darcy. I have lost Jane, and I blame all of you,” said Mr Bingley plaintively.
Mr Darcy's first impulse was one of anger, but the sight of his friend's misery awakened only compassion. He answered as gently as he could.
“Charles, I acknowledge that I was wrong. I misjudged Miss Bennet, and I should never have advised you to keep away from her. I am now convinced that I had no right to interfere in your private affairs. I ought to have allowed you to make your own decision. I was wrong, and I sincerely apologise. I give you my word that I shall never make the same mistake again.”
“At least you admit it,” Bingley replied, casting a meaningful glance at his sister.
“Yes, I admit that I was wrong to meddle in your affairs. But the final decision was yours, Charles, and I hope you recognise that as well. You are a grown man. Whatever advice your family or your friends may offer, the final decision must always be your own.”
Mr Darcy believed it was time for his friend to assume greater responsibility for his own life.
“Besides, Charles, you are young, well connected, and have a thoroughly sufficient income. I daresay you will have no trouble attracting many more lovely admirers in the very near future. Is not there some phrase about ‘many more fish in the sea’?”
Charles sighed, “I suppose you are right, Darcy. Things are not so bad. In fact, that is precisely why I have come to see you. I have terminated the lease on Netherfield and have begun looking for an estate of my own. I wish to settle down as soon as possible and learn everything I can about managing an estate. I hoped I might count on your guidance.”
“Of course you may, Charles.”
From that moment, the conversation became much more cordial.
Mr Darcy longed to tell his friend about his feelings for Elizabeth Bennet, but he had no desire to do so while Caroline remained in the room.
She would treat the subject as if he suggested drinking a deadly poison.
Nearly an hour later, the Bingleys took their leave, and Darcy returned to his study.
The following day, he sent Charles a note asking him to call alone, as he wished to discuss a matter of some importance.
When Mr Bingley heard his friend confess his feelings for Miss Elizabeth Bennet, he could not help laughing for several minutes.
The irony of the situation was simply too much for him.
Darcy had fallen deeply in love with the very woman he had managed to insult before he had even properly come to know her.
Yet, as his laughter subsided, Bingley realised that he himself had behaved even more foolishly.
He had followed Darcy's advice without trusting either his own judgement or Jane's character.
At that moment, he could not help feeling that he had proven himself unworthy of so beautiful and of so kind a lady as Miss Bennet.
◆◆◆
Colonel Fitzwilliam was extremely nervous. The day before, he and Claire had agreed that he would formally seek her father's permission to court her.
“Come in, Colonel,” Lord Rockwell said. “I must confess, Fitzwilliam, that I am rather intrigued by the purpose of your visit. However, if your father has sent you to persuade me to overlook what Lady Catherine did to my niece Elizabeth, I must warn you that you are wasting your time.”
Richard was quick to assure him that his visit had nothing to do with that matter.
“No, my Lord. I have come for an entirely different reason.”
He paused for a moment to steady himself before continuing.
“Lord Rockwell, I have come to ask your permission to pay my addresses to your daughter, Lady Claire.”
That was the very last thing Reginald had expected to hear.
He had always assumed that Claire would never marry.
She was so quiet and unassuming that he could not imagine any respectable gentleman taking notice of her.
Claire possessed a fortune of thirty thousand pounds, money that had come from her mother's dowry and which Reginald had never touched.
He hated his wife and everything connected with her.
At least no fortune hunter had ever dared approach Claire, knowing that she enjoyed General Sinclair's protection.
“Fitzwilliam, I shall be perfectly frank with you. I have no objection to your suit. However, my approval must wait until my brother, General Sinclair, has given his consent. If he agrees, then so shall I.”
Richard found Lord Rockwell's answer rather unusual. Still, he assumed that, as a fellow soldier, General Sinclair was the man best placed to judge both his character and his intentions towards Lady Claire.