Another chapter for you! Enjoy!
"Do you think I am being a fool?" Bingley asked Darcy.
"I do not think I am the best person to ask."
"You like the Bennets', yes?"
Darcy sighed, not wanting to have this conversation. "Yes, I do. Your sisters are not wrong, Bingley; they are lacking in some areas Society regards as essential. Your family received its wealth from trade, and you would do well to distance yourself from those connections. The Bennets have close connections in trade and they also have no real inheritance. They are considered poor by our peers."
"But I have plenty of money. And I am making more money every year! Why does it matter if she comes to me with her own wealth? Am I not expected to give her an allowance?"
"It is for her and her children after you pass."
"See, I have never understood that! Jane would inherit first! I would not put her in a position to lose her home because I die! And her children would be my children! I am responsible for more than my heir!"
"There are those who would disagree," he said, thinking of his cousin, who was currently entertaining the ladies in another room. Bingley's sisters had been working hard to convince him that a union with Miss Jane Bennet would be disastrous. At one time, Darcy would agree, and he still did, in a way. Bingley would do better to marry an heiress belonging to a family with no connection to trade, and possibly her own estate. However, as he had been thinking of his own happiness of late, he couldn't support Bingley's sisters completely. "Bingley, if you marry Miss Bennet, many will think you are a fool and her as grasping, but I have no doubt that, once they meet her, they will consider you blessed to have such a beautiful wife, and they will be in awe of her sweetness. Do what you think will make you happy, Bingley. Make the choice you know you can live with."
"Does this mean I have your blessing?" the younger man grinned.
"Do you need my blessing?"
"No, but I should like to have it all the same."
"Then you have it."
"Thank you, Darcy," he said, sincerely. "I always felt that you, like my sisters, hoped I would connect myself with your sister, but,"
"Say nothing more. Georgiana is young and I do not really want to think about it. You would have been a safe choice. I will not settle for anything less than her absolute happiness, but I am content for that to be some years yet."
"Will you come with me to Longbourn today?"
"No, I believe I would only be in the way and I am not sure I could handle Mrs. Bennet's delight once you have secured Miss Bennet's affection and permission from her father."
"I find her excitement refreshing," Bingley laughed.
"You would," Darcy shared a smiled with him. "Now would be a good time to go, if that is your plan. Your sisters are distracted and not likely to stop you."
Once he had gone, Darcy seriously questioned his actions. Why was he letting his disappointment affect him so much? He had always been proud, but he had never seen that pride as a bad thing. Really, pride in oneself could be a very good thing, for if you had no pride in something, you would not take care of it. But what of the damage pride could do? He had hurt Miss Elizabeth's pride before he even knew her, and he deeply regretted it now. Was saving his own pride worth hurting another's?
Now he had Bingley to consider. Bingley was wildly popular in Town, and he had his choice of young women, and it would have been better for his reputation to have taken one of those ladies as his bride. He had no doubt that they would not suffer long the effects of his choice, though; the Bingleys would be gossiped about for maybe a Season, and there would always be whispers, but they would be quite forgotten until any of their children reached the age to make an appearance in public. By that time, who knows what their society would look like.
His uncle believed that times were changing. Those in trade were entering circles they would never have been able to even 50 years before, and many of them were wealthier than the noble peers of the realm. His mother came from a noble family, but his father was gentry, and he still made more than his uncle, the Earl of Matlock. A man who came from nothing could manage to work his way up in some trades. There were many who wished to put a stop to such possibilities, and he could not blame them.
His uncle and his cousin, the Viscount, supplemented their wealth by investing in certain trades. They simply did not make enough from their estate to live fashionable in Town. Darcy, himself, had given into the urgings of his uncle and invested, and had gained much wealth from it. But outside their family circle, they would not say anything about it. Bingley, too, had no intention of giving up the businesses that made his family their wealth, though he did not control them directly; he had managers for that.
It wasn't going to be good for him to keep thinking on it all. He had acted and now he would have to live with that. Finding his bearings, he went to the sitting room where he knew he would find his cousin and sister.
"Oh, Colonel," Miss Bingley giggled, "you do tell the most outrageous stories. I am not sure I believe you!"
"I hope you're not being too terribly improper, Richard. It wouldn't be a good influence on Georgiana," he said, as he entered the room.
"He was telling Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley about the time the Viscount burned Lady Catherine's favorite rug and then how he rolled it up and tried to toss it out of the window," Georgiana giggled.
"I don't think your brother will appreciate you sharing that story."
"He shouldn't have been telling stories on me then," Richard smirked.
"Mr. Darcy," Miss Bingley began, "where is Charles?"
"He left for the Bennets about a half an hour ago," he answered, taking the seat next to his sister.
The sisters looked panicked. "To the Bennets?!"
"Yes, he was very eager to get there."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Georgiana asked. "I haven't seen Mary or Kitty for two days and I need to speak with them!"
"We will go see them tomorrow, Georgie. He needed to go on his own today."
"Why?"
"Why do you think?" he smiled down at her.
"Oh! Is he finally going to propose to Jane?"
The two sisters across from his seriously looked as though they would faint. "I believe that is his intention."
Georgiana let out a small squeal of joy, and while a part of him wanted to correct it, he found he could not. It was too good to see her in such happy spirits. Bingley's sisters quickly excused themselves. "I am sorry we could not see your friends today, but if we went, then his sisters might have insisted on going as well."
"You can wait one more day to ask them what you wish to ask them," Richard said. "Though, they might not be able to if their sister is soon to marry."
"Ask them what?" Darcy asked.
"Oh!" said Georgiana. "My aunt has sent me a letter. I had asked if I could have two friends come to stay with me when she and I stay at Pemberley while you lot hunt at Matlock. It's perfect! Aunt Matlock will not always feel as though she must entertain me, and I will not have to go visiting with her because she feels guilty for leaving me behind!"
Darcy was stunned. His aunt, the Countess of Matlock, was happy to stay in a house with two poor country girls for the sake of her niece? He looked over at Richard who mouthed that he would explain later. "I am happy for you, Georgie, but I wish you had told me first. Be prepared for them to have to delay their stay, however. I am sure their sister would wish them to be here for her wedding."
"So do I! Jane will be a beautiful bride!"
"Well, Georgie, since we shall not be leaving the house to visit today, would you be so kind as to entertain us. I am eager to hear that new piece you were working on a few weeks ago," Richard said.
She eagerly went to get her music, and when she was gone Richard began to explain. "I have conspired with Mr. Bennet to send his youngest daughter to school so that her worst behavior might be curbed. I wrote to my mother whose friend, Lady Annabelle, is interested in sponsoring her. It really is a wonderful opportunity for Miss Lydia. However, when Georgie wrote to mother asking about her friends, mother wrote me to ask about them. If Lady Annabelle is going to sponsor someone, mother wants to be 'charitable' as well. I, of course, wrote a glowing review of the Miss Bennets and mother is happy to have them, and is especially happy to perhaps have someone to mentor. If they will listen to her, so will Georgie. I think it will be good for them. They are not likely to find suitable matches here, and mother does so enjoy matchmaking."
"No," Darcy said, "they will not." The neighborhood had many young ladies, but few young men to marry them. For a second, he began to suspect the Miss Bennets, until he reminded himself that he brought Georgie there and they hadn't asked anything of her in that time. It did not seem they asked for an invitation either. A thought occurred to him. "Why are you suddenly so interested in seeing them all married?"
"I don't know," he said, sighing heavily. "I wouldn't say I am interested in seeing them married so much as I feel for their plight; they are lovely young women with little to recommend them, a circumstance of their birth. We do not ask to be born into the family that we are or in the order that we are born, but we must suffer the consequences of it. Though, Bingley being married to their sister will increase their chances."
"Indeed. I just do not know what my aunt thinks she will accomplish with this? What man in her circle would marry either of them to? Not all men are Bingley."
"It would be a better world if they were."
Kitty sat by the window and tried to ignore her mother's lamenting. It hadn't stopped in the days since the news that Charlotte Lucas was to marry their cousin, and thus one day become mistress of Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet did not blame one daughter, no; she blamed them all. She momentarily wished she had cried a headache as Lydia did, and was hidden away in her room to escape her mother.
"What have I done to deserve such undutiful daughters?! Who will maintain you when your father is dead? Shall you live with the Collins's?"
"Uncle Phillips and Uncle Gardiner will not have us live in the hedgegroves, Mama," Lizzy answered, the only one who dared to.
Their mother ignored her. "So many opportunities offered to you and you squander them all. Such ungrateful, inconsiderate…"
It could be hard to tune her out. In a way, she could understand her fears; Mary had often mentioned the precarious position women were in, but why couldn't their mother see how vile Mr. Collins was? Looking out the window, Kitty caught a happy sight.
"Mama! Mr. Bingley comes!" she cried, turning to the room. "And, he comes alone!"
All the sisters looked to Jane who began to blush all over.
"Really?!" Mrs. Bennet cried, rising quickly from her place and rushing to the window. "It is him! And not another member of his party in sight! Oh Jane! He has come to propose!"
"Mama," Jane stuttered, "we do not know that."
"Well, what other reason could he have to come alone?! Quickly, you must go but on your blue gown! No! There is no time! He is here, already. Sit over there. The rest of you, find something to do elsewhere!"
"Mama!" Lizzy cried in protest. She did not want to leave Jane alone and vulnerable.
"Now, Lizzy!" she demanded, sitting herself gracefully in a chair across from Jane.
Kitty and Mary did not argue, and left the room, slipping into the large linen closet next to the parlor. Kitty grabbed Lizzy as she went by.
"What are you doing?" she whispered.
"Staying nearby," Mary answered. Lizzy was happy to stay with them. Kitty had to force herself not to giggle at the ridiculousness of it; the three of the squished together with their ear pressed to the wall, trying to hear what was going on in the next room.
There could hear very little, only muffled voices, making out only the occasional word. They knew the moment Mr. Bingley was announced, and they all groaned lowly when they heard what they knew were their mother's high pitched exaltations. Poor Jane. To give their mother credit, the woman did stay in the room for a few minutes before excusing herself.
"I knew she would do this," Lizzy growled. "I must go to Jane!"
"No, Lizzy," Kitty said, "he must be given opportunity. Jane will not be harmed; we are nearby."
Reluctantly, she stayed, but both of her sisters could tell she was impatient. Then, all they heard was the muffled voice of Mr. Bingley. He was speaking so lowly, that all Kitty could tell was that he didn't sound quite himself. He was always so jovial, but now he seemed, perhaps, serious? After only a small moment of silence, they heard Jane speak. Why did she have to always speak so softly? Mr. Bingley was speaking again and then they heard the door open. Lizzy was out of the room far too quickly for she or Mary to stop her, not that they would have; they were right behind her!
They entered the room to find Jane smiling and crying. "He loves me. He asked me to marry him!"
"Oh, Jane!" Lizzy cried, and pulled Jane in for an embrace. Kitty squealed a bit herself.
"He has gone to speak with Papa! Oh, Lizzy, I must go to Mama! She will be so happy!"
Jane hugged both Mary and Kitty as went by. "Jane's getting married!" Kitty squealed again. "She'll be the most beautiful bride!"
"Yes, she will," Lizzy said, coming to stand by them. "Thank you, for keeping me from coming in here to save Jane. I would have hated myself for ruining her proposal."
"No one will ever doubt that you love Jane, Lizzy," said Mary. "I would be hard pressed to leave Kitty alone in the presence of a man, but she is not as shy as Jane, even if she is as innocent."
"Mary!" Kitty pouted.
Lizzy laughed and pulled them both in for an embrace, the first in a number of weeks. "Well, Jane is happy, and Mama will be happy, which means we have about three weeks to a month before Mama begins to lament on our unmarried status again."
"Three weeks to a month?" Mary mused.
"Yes; three weeks for the preparations for the wedding, because we know Mama will not give Mr. Bingley time to change his mind, and, if we are very lucky, a week after the wedding before the newness of Jane's marriage dissipates."
It was at that moment that they heard their mother's exclamations from upstairs. Though they laughed, they knew they were in for a long few weeks.