1812 How It All Began- Part 2

by Deborah E Pearson

  “Ah yes, those fine eyes you mentioned in Hertfordshire.” The gentlemen present looked at each other uncomfortably. None of the were sure of what Miss Bingley was going to come out with next. Darcy felt particularly uncomfortable. “Oh, and of course you want an extensive reading. What else do you look for?”

  As if I would tell you everything that has attracted me to Elizabeth! Or what I was looking for in a woman before I met Elizabeth. “Miss Bingley what a man looks for in a woman is NOT a discussion for mixed company! Suffice it to say that the common accomplishments do not fit a woman to be a man’s true equal.”

  “Oh, but Mr Darcy I had not thought that we had to stand on ceremony. I thought we were as good as family.” Ugh! I hate to think how much further your depravity goes. “Now I think about it, being a mistress is too good for the Miss Bennets. They have not the skills to survive in society at all.”

  What the hell do you know about such subjects? Oh, God. She’s not, who? Bingley needs to get that harpy under control. Once the shock had worn off that Miss Bingley had stated such openly, Darcy looked at Miss Bingley with new eyes. Her predatory behaviour took on an even more repulsive hue to it. “Georgiana, could I have a word in my study please?” Darcy wanted nothing more than to be out of Miss Bingley’s company. If he didn’t remove himself now he would make her leave that night. It would not matter that she had nowhere to go, nor would it matter that she was a young woman.

  “Of course, Brother” Georgiana and Darcy left the saloon and repaired to the library.

  Once in the library, Darcy and Georgiana both took up books and relaxed in the armchairs either side of the fire. “You wanted to talk to me”

  “No, I wanted to get us both away from Miss Bingley’s vitriol. If I had to listen to one more vile statement out of her mouth it wouldn’t matter that she’s Bingley’s sister. Nor that she had nowhere to go, she would be out of this house before she even knew what happened.”

  “Brother, I am ashamed that she would say such things. If I didn’t know better” Georgiana’s face took on a knowing look that disturbed her brother.

  “Do NOT finish that thought, Georgie!” That is the last image either of us needs in our heads. “I do not wish to think about anything to do with what her comments implied! She’s Bingley’s problem.” Never in his life had Darcy felt so grateful to not be in Bingley’s shoes.

  “I know, Brother. I am sorry. I wouldn’t mind being able to sit like this every night.” Georgiana stated.

  “I know. This is much preferable, but they won’t be here forever. Then we’ll be able to relax.” With that, they relaxed into a comfortable silence. They avoided the salon for the rest of the night leaving Bingley and Hurst to deal with Miss Bingley’s vitriol.

  It was not long afterwards that they heard raised voices coming from Darcy’s study, next to where they sat.

  “I know Darcy won’t mind us using his study for this,” Bingley stated to some quiet objection. “Now Caroline, I want to know what you thought you were doing tonight, speaking of the Miss Bennets like you did!” The silence seemed to stretch out. Miss Bingley was not going to give her brother the respect and satisfaction that he was asking for.

  “Well Caroline, I’m waiting for an answer. Even I couldn’t miss the implication that you know far more than you ought about such matters! You will answer me” The steel that infused Bingley’s tone surprised Darcy. Never had he heard so much strength and willpower in Bingley’s voice. Yet, Bingley still managed to make it sound as if they were having a Sunday afternoon relaxed chat.

  “I don’t know why you are so upset, Charles. You know that they have no chance of making a good match because they do not have the fortune to match. I’ve never known such a group of girls that run wild! Petticoats that are full of mud and running around flirting with the officers. They pry into business that does not concern them. They make a nuisance of themselves far and wide. You know that at least one of them will cause a scandal! Charles, you should be more careful about your love interests. All that is without mentioning that none of them have a proper education.”

  “CAROLINE!!!” Darcy and Georgiana looked at each other in shock. Bingley was such a placid man that to hear his voice raised in anger was more than a shock.

  “Besides Charles, I do think it most likely that the youngest two have no virtue to speak of. They certainly don’t have any modesty. The mother encourages their antics!”

  “Caroline, I will have the truth from you, are you someone’s mistress? So, help me, I have had enough of your antics. Why you continue to throw yourself at Darcy is beyond me! I’ve let you make a fool of yourself knowing that Darcy is honourable. He would never take advantage of the situation. Your behaviour this evening is the end! You are and have been an embarrassment to me everywhere that we have gone over the last ten years. Now answer me once and for all - what is going on?”

  “You really don’t want the answer, Charles.” At this Darcy and Georgiana knew that what they had surmised from her comments was correct.

  “Go to bed, Georgiana,” Darcy whispered to her. He neither wanted Georgiana exposed to any more of Miss Bingley’s vileness. Nor that the Bingley’s should know that he was on the other side of the ajar door. Georgiana made no objection and swiftly left the library and ran up to her rooms.

  “Caroline, I know that you wish that Darcy,” at this Darcy’s ears pricked up further, “would marry you. That will never happen especially now he is in love with Miss Elizabeth, you have no chance. Be careful you are treading on thin ice. I’m surprised that he didn’t throw you out after your performance tonight. Now tell me the truth, whose mistress, are you?” The edge now in Bingley’s voice was sharp.

  “Nobody’s now, Charles. I was tossed aside like a piece of rubbish,” Miss Bingley sounded almost hysterical. “Charles, you must get Darcy to marry me,” You think I would take you? You are a vile piece of rubbish! You always were looking to marry above your station, now who will take you? Someone who is very impoverished and desperate for your dowry. Then again, they might not if they know that about you!

  “No, Caroline I cannot. I will not do that to my best friend. You’d make him miserable. Besides I would not give him the pain of being without the woman he loves.” Once more guilt punched Darcy full in the stomach. He knew that he should tell Bingley everything. He determined that Bingley would know everything! He needed to work out how to tell Bingley. Indeed, Darcy knew that if he had not been ill he would already have told Bingley everything. He was buying time before taking the bitter pill of his confession.

  "Envy is a declaration of inferiority."

  - Napoleon Bonaparte

  The next morning found Darcy in his study poring over the maps and plans of Pemberley. When he heard Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst meet and plan in the shrubbery before breakfast. He smirked as he realised that they did not know that they were too close to his open study window. His amusement disappeared in anger as he listened to their conversation.

  "Caroline," started Mrs Hurst. "Have you noticed that none of the men has been the same since last autumn when we were all in Hertfordshire?"

  "I did notice that last night Mr Hurst seemed to be very different. Charles, of course, has changed ever since we left Hertfordshire. I had not noticed anything different about Mr Darcy." Said Miss Bingley laughing.

  "Caroline, this is serious. We must do something. My husband is not usually so vocal. I am convinced that Jane and Eliza Bennet have a lot of power over Charles and Mr Darcy. We must find a way to make them forget the Miss Bennets."

  "I know what you mean Louisa, but I do not know what else to do. We must be careful. Mr Darcy does not answer to either of us. As much as I have tried to attract him, I don’t know why he doesn’t respond to my overtures. It is through Charles that we must work, and I am dependent on Charles. Last night Charles seemed to show a much different side to himself than we have seen before. I’m not too sure how he’s going to respond if we try and interfere much mor
e. He’s stronger somehow, and… I don’t know... different. In November we separated Charles from Miss Bennet. We convinced both him and Mr Darcy that Miss Bennet was indifferent to Charles. We have prevented any return to Netherfield so far, and that's all we can do. Do not forget we are dependent on them rather than the other way around." Miss Bingley answered.

  "I can see one way, but it is dangerous. Next time we see Miss Eliza Bennet you must in some way or another remind Mr Darcy of her fancy for Mr Wickham."

  "Remember that Mr Darcy does not allow any mention of that name in his house."

  "You'll find a way. Remember he's a part of the _ Militia, and you can safely allude to him via that means."

  "Maybe I can do it.” Miss Bingley was jealous enough that she did not need Louisa's prompting. “I must gain Mr Darcy’s attention and I must marry him, Louisa! Oh, don’t look at me like that I have not lost my heart to him or anyone else! He has the perfect social standing to raise us all from being the children of a tradesman!” I knew that all you wanted my fortune, that’s why you never succeeded in attracting me.

  “We cannot afford to fail. Remember that you lose Pemberley and any hope of a decent marriage if you lose Darcy. We don’t want to damage our precarious position in society. Especially after the truth came out about your little affair. You dear sister face certain ruin if you don’t marry quickly. My marriage to Hurst didn’t raise us as much as I would have liked. You must make sure that you marry high, and Darcy would really be a feather in all our caps!”

  “I shall try, Louisa. However, Charles seems to think I have no chance now, and that Mr Darcy’s lost his heart to Miss Elizabeth.”

  Louisa laughed. “Since when did matters of the heart come into making a good marriage? Marriage my dear sister is a business deal and one that you have failed in arranging. We need to show him how flawed and unsuitable Elizabeth Bennet is. Remove Elizabeth Bennet from the equation. You will have a much greater chance of succeeding.”

  The two ladies had not realised was that where they were standing, though they thought themselves to be safe and private, the shrubbery was outside Darcy’s study window and that he had heard every single word they had spoken. So that’s your game, is it? You mean, petty bitches! Don’t you realise that one word from me could ruin you in society? Don’t you realise that it is Bingley and Bingley alone that maintains your social situation? You both still want to make Bingley and myself miserable because of your petty squabbles. If you carry out your little game, then you’ll hurt my sister also. If Bingley and I succeed with Elizabeth and Jane, I will bridle your tongues and clip your wings! You are making me your enemy! I SHALL be speaking to Bingley as soon as may be. Neither of you will find yourselves in a position to manipulate either of us again, I guarantee it! Darcy pulled on the bell.

  When the servant arrived Darcy quietly asked for Bingley to come into his study. Bingley arrived very quickly and heard more of the plot. The ladies had not yet moved away from the shrubbery. Darcy and Bingley agreed between themselves that they would enlist Mr Hurst to help. They would control the ladies. They decided to plan and outmanoeuvre the ladies and forcing them to show their true selves. Only after the ladies had moved on did Darcy fill Bingley in on what he had overheard.

  After breakfast, the ladies disappeared to the morning room. The gentlemen went to Darcy’s study to discuss and plan. Darcy took the opportunity to confess his part in Bingley’s removal from Netherfield. He knew that Bingley needed to vent his anger over Darcy’s part before anything else would be decided.

  “Bingley I’m afraid to admit that I have something to confess to you before we discuss your sisters.” Darcy started, shifting in his chair. He was not sure how he was going to confess his part in the scheme. He wasn’t sure where his own conflicts over Elizabeth ended and his assumption that Jane did not care began. Darcy sighed. It was now or never. Nothing would ever change if he did not start talking to Bingley. “Bingley, I don’t know how to make this confession, but it have to do it. I fear that I was a willing pawn in Miss Bingley’s plot to separate you and Miss Bennet. No, I do not blame Miss Bingley, well not entirely anyway. I was experiencing conflict over my growing admiration of Miss Elizabeth. I wanted to see you enter a marriage of equal regard, and not trapped by a fortune hunter. Someone who didn’t have the same depth, of feeling for you. Where the one ended and the other began I do not know. The objections I made were those same objections that I myself felt honour bound to consider. I lost sight of where your situation ended and mine began. I was considering the same things to see if I could or should make Miss Elizabeth my wife. I can only apologise to you for my part of hurting you back in the winter. I did not see that Miss Bennet had any regard for you. I have since received information that would show that I was wrong. I understand that Miss Bennet has suffered because of the separation. The information came from a source that I would regard as being very reliable. Bingley, I made the most catastrophic error last winter. It was at Netherfield, that I became aware of the expectation of your marriage. I had the opportunity to ask someone who knew Miss Bennet but chose to wait. I asked your pernicious sister, instead, about Miss Bennet’s feelings for you. To say I’m sorry does not even begin to cover the amount of remorse I have for my involvement in this situation. Not to mention how angry I am to have been a pawn in her revolting scheme.”

  While Darcy made this speech Bingley's face had gone from fair to a horrible mottled purple. Darcy was afraid at one point that Bingley would have an apoplexy in front of him. “FITZWILLIAM DARCY! That is such a pretty speech. How dare you be involved in such a horrendous scheme? Caroline and Louisa think of nothing and no one beyond themselves, but you?! I expected you to behave with more decorum and dignity! I never thought you would be the one whose advice hurt me so much.” After the initial explosion, Bingley’s voice became quieter and tighter the more he spoke. His anger and the steel in his voice gave Darcy pause. This was a side of Bingley he had never seen before, a side that Darcy didn’t know how to respond to. “How dare you? Do you realise how much hurt you have inflicted on Jane and me?” Bingley’s slip of using Jane’s first name did not go unnoticed, but Darcy chose to ignore it.

  “Yes, Bingley, I know how much pain I’ve inflicted. I desired nothing more than to protect you.” Darcy whispered, wincing and hoping that Bingley would not push the issue.

  Bingley was not in a mood to notice his friend's pain. He was suffering too much of his own. “I’m not going to forgive you Darce! Not until I’ve made Miss Bennet my bride!”

  “Does that mean I won’t be welcome to go to Netherfield with you for the shooting season?” Darcy’s heart constricted. Would he be able to go down to see Elizabeth when they all removed from Derbyshire in a few weeks’ time.

  “Of course, you will be welcome. I can’t hate you, Darce! You’ve helped me become the man I am today. Just don’t expect me to forgive you quickly.” Bingley’s anger towards his friend was already abating, but it would not be gone for a couple of months yet.

  “So, now that is out of the way, how are we going to deal with your sisters, Bingley?” Hurst spoke up. This opened a general discussion about the Bingley women. The gentlemen’s discussion took up the rest of the morning until it was time to change for dinner. By the time they went upstairs to change for dinner, they had a solid plan that they were about to put in place.

  Now, as he changed Darcy’s excitement was palpable. Elizabeth would be in his home for the whole of the evening. He hoped that Elizabeth would arrive early so that he could give her a tour of Pemberley before dinner. He had no patience to change his attire. He was anxious to return to the salon, where he would meet his guests. So impatient was he that he was the first to go down to the salon. Darcy savoured the few minutes peace before his sister and guests arrived downstairs. Luck seemed to be on Darcy’s side. Georgiana had barely arrived downstairs before the Gardiners and Miss Elizabeth arrived. Darcy welcomed them as host and then offered Elizabeth a tour of Pemberley.
Elizabeth thanked him and requested they leave such a tour until after the meal. This Darcy agreed to. Miss Bingley was the last to enter the salon. The sneer on her face was obvious and her jealousy palpable. Her sullen attitude was not missed by Darcy, but he thought it better for Bingley to control his sister.

  Dinner was uneventful. Darcy had the pleasure of seating Elizabeth by himself. Mrs Gardener and Mrs Annesley discussed educating young ladies. Georgiana performed her tasks as hostess to perfection. Darcy noticed how grown up she had become after her disappointment a year ago. At sixteen, almost seventeen it was the right time for Georgiana came out. Darcy would talk to Mrs Annesley, in the morning, about Georgiana’s presentation at court. His aunt Lady Matlock would be ecstatic at the decision to present Georgiana. She had desired to take Georgiana into society since Georgiana had turned fifteen. At the end of dinner, Georgiana led the ladies from the room. The gentlemen didn’t linger over the port and cigars. Despite the good conversation, Darcy was eager to get back to the drawing room. He was eager to continue his conversation with Elizabeth and give her the promised tour.

  As soon as the gentlemen entered the drawing room it was obvious trouble was brewing. The atmosphere could was frigid. Miss Elizabeth had drawn Georgiana over to the piano. They seemed to be intent on playing rather too loud for the present room or group. Mrs Gardiner and Mrs Annesley seemed as if they didn’t know where to put their faces. Miss Bingley was waxing lyrical about something or other. It wasn’t until the gentlemen were almost behind here that they heard the topic of Miss Bingley’s discourse. Bingley seemed ready to burst with embarrassment and indignation. Darcy and Mr Hurst held him back, as they felt the time was not yet right for Miss Bingley’s comeuppance. She was doing a fine job of digging her own pit from which she would not emerge from her own ruin. I am so glad that I never trusted her not to try a compromise. Bloody hell, the woman has no limits about what she will discuss. There is no way that she could EVER have been a suitable woman to consider as a possible wife. Ugh! I should drop a few hints around town that only Bingley and the Hursts are my intimate friends. That will have to wait. If Elizabeth agrees to be my wife, then I will discuss with her how to maintain Bingley’s place in society. Yet ostracise his revolting bitch of a sister.