27. The Beauty of Her Eyes
The Beauty of Her Eyes
Darcy listened, astonished, as Elizabeth delivered a severe yet somehow cordial set-down to Bingley, listing his sins and those of his sister as if she were merely curious rather than angry.
Bingley seemed stunned hearing the sister of the lady he purported to esteem voice the same accusations Darcy had levelled only hours earlier.
A glance at Miss Bennet’s usually placid expression showed that she too was startled.
Mrs Gardiner held a hand to her lips. Although she appeared to be frowning, her eyes were not disapproving.
But Elizabeth—her eyes were alight with righteous anger, yet somehow, her voice held an equal share of warmth.
How impressive she was, how brilliant in laying out Bingley’s failures!
It could not bring her pleasure, but it had had to be done; he had failed to make Bingley understand, but Elizabeth, in her magnificent way, was jolting him into cognisance.
Darcy saw that while she grasped her sister’s hand firmly, the other trembled at her side.
Perhaps feeling his scrutiny, she lifted it and smoothed her skirts.
He willed her to look at him, desperate that she understand how well she had done, how much he supported her in everything she had said.
But when she finished, she looked away from Bingley but not to himself as he had hoped.
Bingley mumbled some words, ridiculously begging for Miss Bennet’s patience, and rose gracelessly. Fearing his friend might toss his accounts here in the Gardiners’ parlour, Darcy stood and got them out into the street as soon as possible.
Elizabeth never looked at him.
He led Bingley to his carriage and climbed in to sit opposite him.
Once assured he was well, Darcy told him, with finality, what his capriciousness and Caroline’s perfidy had cost him.
“I understand that Miss Bennet has another suitor, a good man on the verge of proposing.” Seeing that his friend was stricken, he urged him to leave town.
“You must get away from women—from the ladies your name has been linked to, but especially your sisters—if you wish to retain your reputation.”
Bingley stared morosely at the floor of the carriage. “So that is it? Leave town, let Caroline run riot.”
“I have my own words to say to your sister. In determining herself the arbiter of your heart, she imperilled my sister’s reputation—and our friendship.”
Bingley looked up sharply. Darcy reached out to pat his arm.
“All can be well between us, but you must absent yourself from town.” Darcy paused, watching Bingley to ensure he was listening, before continuing.
“Do not tell your sisters where you will be. Miss Bingley is of age, but you still control her fortune and thus can direct her life. Release half of her money to her now and separate yourself from her. Advise Hurst to do the same. She must be in her own establishment, with a companion, in order to cause less harm to your family name.”
Bingley’s genial countenance clouded. Darcy knew family meant a great deal to him, no matter the unequal affection and care between them. He was asking Bingley to make a decision that he himself would find near impossible. He patted his friend’s shoulder in reassurance.
“Miss Bingley will never again be welcomed at my homes,” said Darcy.
“Had she not injured her own lady’s maid, I would not have sent for Nora to replace her temporarily, and you would not have been seen meeting with her about your sister’s temperament.
Miss Elizabeth’s inadvertent observation of your tête-à-têtes with a young maid precipitated all of these subsequent events. ”
“That is what Miss Elizabeth referred to? She thinks I—? With the pretty servant girl from town? It was innocent. I simply asked after Caroline’s mood and her injured maid.” He put his head in his hands and groaned. “It was foolish of me.”
“I have explained to Miss Elizabeth the events that led to the meetings, and while her view of you has improved, her opinion of Miss Bingley has only worsened.”
“Caroline has always been difficult, Darcy, but this past year has been a challenge. I had hoped she would receive an offer and take her sulks off with a husband, to an estate far away. But Yorke was not interested, and her hopes, however, remain fixed on you.” Bingley raised his head. “I am sorry for that.”
“I will be certain she understands any connexion to me and my family has ended,” Darcy said, not quite willing to tell Bingley his plans to cut her publicly, if needed.
“You must tend to your own affairs now. You are a good man, but your will suffers when in company with your sisters. Fabricating an attachment between you and Georgiana in order to discourage Miss Bennet is but the culmination of her campaign against any connexion between you and the lady and her family. Any woman you hope to wed will suffer similarly if your sister does not approve.”
Bingley met Darcy’s steady gaze. The distress which had marked his countenance faded, replaced by a cool, determined expression.
“I shall take great joy in finding a lady who disapproves of Caroline in equal measure.”
“That is the spirit, old man, so long as the lady cares for you as much as you esteem her.”
Bingley nodded and averred he had much to do before he left town. “Brighton, I think, would be an interesting place to visit. I shall write to you when I am settled.”
“Reston House is a fine establishment there,” Darcy observed before chastising himself for again trying to manage his friend’s life.
“Thank you.”
With Bingley’s simple acknowledgement, Darcy climbed out of the carriage and watched his friend’s vehicle as it drove away.
He looked at his own conveyance and then back at the Gardiners’ home.
It was a handsome brick house of some three storeys with a bright-blue door that beckoned to him.
He should return to the ladies and assure them Bingley would not return.
He could invite Elizabeth and her family to dine at Darcy House.
It was a ridiculous idea but so had been his excuse for his call, ‘returning’ to Elizabeth a book which had arrived from Hatchards only yesterday.
What else was he to do after learning she was in town?
She must think him a fool, as well as a feckless goosecap for abandoning her to Lady Catherine’s invective.
But she had not looked at him with anger or disappointment, merely surprise and confusion.
If only he had been able to speak to her and explain the situation.
At the risk of further humiliating himself, he could do so now.
Darcy was startled from his indecision by the merry voices of two men walking towards the Gardiners’ house.
Turning slightly to avoid being seen, he recognised the taller man as Gil Catesby, who had been with him at Cambridge.
The other man, dressed in the uniform of a Navy captain, was clearly his brother.
“Please give my regards to Miss Bennet and her aunt and ask her to include my best wishes in her next letter to Miss Elizabeth. I hope to see her returned to town before my ship leaves. I am sorry I have not leisure to go in.”
“I promise I shall, just as I promised not ten minutes ago.”
“Ha, well I know you have much on your mind, Brother. Go see your lady and make your proposal. I expect a full recounting this evening.” The captain shook his brother’s hand and sauntered back towards the high street.
As Catesby walked up the Gardiners’ steps, Darcy slipped into his carriage.