Bingley Strikes Back

Prior to Bingley's departure to his newly leased estate, he attends one more party with his family and his friend. After they return home, he is so angry that he finally speaks up. And he isn't done with his anger until he has a heated talk with his friend as well. Will there be reform or has he burned bridges with them all forever?

AN: This is dedicated to pigtails913 who made the request. I hope it fits with what you were looking for.

London, August 1811

Charles was angry; furious even.

Caroline never ceased criticizing the attendees of the Haversham Ball for the entire journey home. Mr. Hurst was a drunken lump beside Charles, sprawled in such a way that Charles was practically being pressed against his side of the carriage. Louisa was bleary-eyed and exhausted, but as usual she murmured words of support for her younger sister's diatribe.

Does she do that because she believes what Caroline is saying, because she is afraid to argue, or because she has learned how to shut out our sister's screeching voice altogether?

It might have been any or all three. It no longer mattered to Charles. He had never been so mortified in his life as he was this night.

They arrived at his town house and everybody piled out. Charles was the only one to turn and thank the coachmen and footmen who had been made to spend the long evening and night waiting for the family. The others proceeded up the stairs as if the servants didn't exist.

It only fueled their brother's growing rage.

While the rest of them slept, Charles paced in his rooms.

By the time they woke, his bags were packed and loaded on his carriage. Their bags were not, of course. But now they would never be, at least not to join him at Netherfield.

They all managed to descend the stairs within a half hour of each other. Hurst was first. He drank his breakfast and was prepared to hurry off to his club, but Charles told him to wait. Harvey Hurst was prepared to refuse until he saw the unnatural fire in his normally placid brother-in-law's eyes. He waited.

Louisa was next. She seemed surprised to see her husband still at home, but she collected her food from the sideboard and took a seat across from him. She could feel the powerful tension in the room, but chose not to question it.

Caroline Bingley descended the stairs in full voice. This morning she was complaining about her lady's maid, the housekeeper, and whoever else came to mind. As soon as she saw her brother, however, her complaints switched to Miss Barker and all such "upstart, pretentious colonials."

Charles said nothing until his sister had safely set her plate on the table, then he slammed an open hand down on the table. "SILENCE!" Everyone jumped. The poor maid who was about to pour tea squeaked. He looked at her with a softer expression and said, "Amy, I need to speak with my family privately. Please leave us for now and inform Mrs. Hartley that we are not to be disturbed."

As the maid curtsied and hurried out, Caroline began to protest again, but for once Charles was able to silence her with a glare. He stood, then leaned forward with his hands on the table, "I have never been so mortified and ashamed in my life as I was last evening... and that is saying much with this family."

The older married couple both made noises of dissent, but Caroline shrilled, "I do not know what you mean. Just because we saved you from that greedy, grasping colonist..."

"BE SILENT, CAROLINE! For once in your life, you will shut your mouth and hear what someone else has to say!"

None of the three had ever seen their brother so angry, so even Caroline chose to still her words.

"First of all, Miss Barker is not a 'colonist,' she is an American. They fought a war against us. They won. They now live in the United States of America. It is its own country which is much larger than Great Britain and promises to become larger still." Caroline seemed ready to make another biting comment, but Charles glared her down.

"Second of all, the Havershams threw the ball out of season for the express purpose of honoring their beloved niece who had only come for a short visit and was soon to depart. The Havershams are not nobility, but they have owned estates for more than three-hundred years and they have been connected to nobility though marriage for all of those centuries. It was only through Mr. Darcy's connections that I was even able to secure an invitation."

Caroline began to praise Mr. Darcy, but again her brother closed her down. With a very cold voice he evenly said, "I told you to be silent. Open your ears and your mind, Sister."

His even, calm voice was even more frightening than his shouts had been. "I did not seek out that invitation for my own sake. Uncle Lawrence wrote to me and asked me to make a connection. He wants to increase his access to cotton for his textile mills and Miss Barker's father has made his fortune in buying and selling that crop."

This time Caroline did not try to speak, but her disdain said as much as a thousand words. "You sneer, Caroline, but you seem determined to forget that Uncle Lawrence is now running the mills that our father built. Every single farthing that we have and that you love to spend comes from our father's fortune made in trade.

"And since you seem to think that my fortune makes us all entitled to stake our claim in the first circles, allow me to enlighten you: I inherited one-hundred and thirty-thousand pounds. You each were given dowries of twenty-thousand. Miss Barker's father has built a cotton-trading empire which is believed to have already made him nearly four-hundred thousand, if translated into English pounds. And Miss Barker has her own fortune... not a dowry, mind you, but her own account of fifty-thousand. It is hers and she has much of it invested, so it will only grow over time.

"None of that matters, though, for two reasons: the first is simple, I was not there last night to pay court to Miss Barker. She is a beautiful young woman and worthy in every respect, but I was there in the hopes of establishing a connection for our uncle's sake. The second reason, Caroline, is that Miss Barker is already engaged to another fabulously wealthy man who is waiting for her in the States. Oh, and by the way, Sister, he is the second son of a duke.

"The Havershams graciously extended an invitation to me, through Darcy, and I foolishly allowed you to insert yourselves into my party. That, by itself, was a grievous violation of protocol that I have allowed far too often. That sin falls upon my shoulders. But you attended their private ball and proceeded to insult their beloved niece who was the reason they threw the ball!

"Caroline and Louisa, you are both guilty of this. But what you should know is that Miss Grace Barker is already well known and widely accepted in the first circles far above us. Several men, including the Earl of _, attempted to persuade her to throw off her American fiancé for their sakes. So your insults, your deliberate disdain, and the gossip that you tried to spread only served to blacken your already laughable reputation among the Ton."

This did generate protests. Charles allowed it to go on for more than two minutes as he watched his brother-in-law pour himself another generous drink. Then he pounded both fists on the table, rattling the dishes and causing Mr. Hurst to spill some of his drink, "Enough. And you, Hurst... do you know how embarrassing it is to have to ask for the help of footmen to carry you out to the carriage and shove you into it like some dead carcass? If it were only once, then I might excuse it, but you have managed to drink yourself into a stupor on seven different occasions in the last season!"

Hurst glared at him and deliberately sipped his drink. Charles was silent for a long moment, then said, "Very well. It is clear that I will make no headway with any of you. I have already written to the Havershams, with an added note for Miss Barker, begging forgiveness for everything which happened last night. I have also written to our uncle to explain and urge him to try and make his own connections. He has my full permission to disown us when speaking to that family.

"I also considered completely disowning the lot of you, but have decided against it. I am as much at fault as each of you because I have remained silent concerning your behaviors for so long. But no longer. When I depart today, our housekeeper and my solicitor will have clear instructions to close this house in exactly one more month. In that time frame you will need to see to your own future. Hurst, Louisa, you have an estate. Granted, it is small and far removed from London, but it is your property. Go and live there if you cannot find lodging here.

"Caroline, you have several choices: It is entirely up to the Hursts if they wish to take you in. Considering the way you always insult your brother-in-law and always order around your older sister, I would be surprised if they choose to keep you with them, but that is their own decision, not mine."

"But I am supposed to go with you to your backwater estate and play hostess!" Caroline protested, worried for the first time.

"That will not happen. I wish to succeed in this venture and a part of succeeding will be establishing a good reputation with my neighbors. Last night has convinced me that will never happen with you along. You simply cannot seem to realize that your dowry and my wealth does not place you above others.

"Now, your second choice: There are still quite a few single, eligible men here in London, some of whom have expressed an interest in you in the past... do not make that face. Many of those men were very respectable, could boast large incomes, and some even had minor titles. Yes, they were not dukes, earls, or Mr. Darcy, but let me be blunt: Mr. Darcy has told me in no uncertain terms that he has no interest in you whatsoever and he will never marry you, even if you found a way to compromise him."

Caroline was red-faced with rage, but once again her brother's cold demeanor, so unusual, stopped her from raging. Then he spoke again, "Your third option is for me to release your dowry to you and establish you in your own place with a companion." This led to explosive protests that she was not "on the shelf" and all manner of curses and insults hurled at her brother. The other two remained silent. They exchanged a look which made it clear to Charles that option one was no longer available for his sister.

When she ran out of steam, Charles Bingley calmly said, "I also sent a letter to my solicitor. On my instructions, he will be visiting the dressmakers and shops you frequent to make it clear that you are now fully responsible for any bills. He will pay off everything up to and until this morning. From that point on if the shops extend credit to you, it will be on their own heads. I will not pay a penny more.

"Do not test me on this, Caroline. The Hursts will do what they choose. This house will close. You have a little more than a month to see to your own interests. Oh, and lest you think you can force your presence on me at Netherfield, do not even try. I will send you back without unloading your trunks.

"But what about Mr. Darcy?"

Charles' face remained stony, "He will not be there either. Good day, all of you." And with that their brother departed.

Fifteen minutes later found the man in Darcy House, where his "friend" saw him in his office. Darcy barely looked up from his voluminous correspondence, but when Charles remained silent, he finally did set his work aside. "What is wrong, Bingley?"

For the next half hour Charles laid into his friend for his part in the night's fiasco. Darcy had scowled at everyone, managed to insult several ladies, and had not danced even once. His clear disdain for everyone had only served to irritate one and all and make Charles' evening that much harder.

Finally he wound down and said, "I do not think that you should join me at Netherfield after all."

Darcy, already irritated and feeling guilty, demanded, "Why not? I thought you needed my help to learn how to manage an estate?"

"I did want your help, but I want to do more than just learn how to run a farm and tenants, Darcy. I want to become a gentleman. I want to join a community! I want to make friends and attend events and become a respected and liked part of the area! Yes, I know that I could benefit from your expertise in running an estate, but I feel that you will only be a hindrance in my other goals!

"Ever since your father passed, you have withdrawn more and more. And ever since this past two months, whatever happened with your sister... and don't think that I haven't noticed how withdrawn Georgiana has become... you have been worse than just withdrawn! The friend I used to know was a gentleman of the highest order. He would never have spoken such hurtful words about a young lady as you did last evening! Darcy, you sounded like Caroline!"

Darcy jerked back, angry but also shocked. Bingley looked sad as he continued, "You will always be my friend, William... but I cannot have the man from last night with me at my new home. If my old friend happens to find his way back again, then he will always be welcome. Until then, friend, I will see to matters in Meryton on my own. Good day."

~oOo~

Bingley took up residence in his new home a full seven-day before he had originally planned. He was not a man who usually became angry, so he could not stay angry for long. Nevertheless, he was resolved. His correspondence with his solicitor showed no evidence that any of his family was behaving any different. Because he have given in so often in the past, they most likely expected it again.

Therefore he had Mr. Salinger, his solicitor, send in a steady troop of men to make his point. The first was a man who dealt in finding homes for his clients. With an entire crew of carpenters and craftsmen, they tromped around the house with impunity, measuring, marking, and making lists of what required repair. Bingley's sisters tried to demand their removal, but Mr. Salinger had accompanied the group with letters for both the housekeeper and butler. The men were not interfered with.

Then the carpenters and craftsmen returned with their tools to begin the work which had been identified. They had been told to make noise freely and they went about their work with gusto. Mr. and Mrs. Hurst decided that their brother was determined this time. They began immediately to make plans for an extended sojourn to the Hurst estate... without Caroline.

~oOo~

Charles was surprised on Michaelmas when Mr. Darcy rode into the drive, followed soon after by his carriage. Bingley smiled at his friend, but it was the fixed smile of a determined man. Thankfully Darcy was just as determined to make things right, "You were right, Charles. I have allowed my grief and my distaste for the Ton to turn me into a man I cannot be proud of. By you I have been well and truly chastened and humbled. But Charles, I have very few true friends in this world and I cannot lose my best friend.

"Will you forgive me and allow me to pay you a short visit? I will not impose on you long, only long enough to insure that this camaraderie which I hold dear is not lost forever?"

Charles saw the sincerity in his friend's eyes and his smile widened, though there was a suspicious glimmer, "Fair enough. I would also hate to lose our friendship. Please come into the house... oh... yes... but I have a condition: There is an assembly dance this very evening in the community. I have met many of my neighbors and I like them all. If you stay, then you must attend with me."

Darcy fought back a grimace, but Charles was not done yet, "Oh, and you have to talk to people... and dance at least six dances with the ladies." Charles ginned maliciously and Darcy groaned.

"I shall do as you ask. I shall even try to be pleasant."

By the end of that night, one young man had nothing in his mind but blond hair, blue eyes, and a gentle smile... he might have thought of a very pleasing figure too, but let us let him have his moment. The other passenger also thought of a young lady. This one had dark, wavy hair, a light and pleasing figure, and the finest eyes he had ever had the pleasure of seeing. The intelligence and humor in those eyes made him want to know her every thought.

Looking across the carriage at his friend, Darcy said, "Perhaps I will stay a little longer, Charles. I truly would like to help you learn how to run an estate."

~oOo~

When Mr. Salinger wrote to say that Caroline showed no indication that she was preparing, Bingley wrote to several of his friends. With the help of their wives, sisters, and mothers they got the rumor started that Miss Bingley must marry this season or be put on the shelf. Special emphasis was put on the size of her dowry. Within a day the Bingley townhouse was inundated with callers, all single men in need of funds.

Bingley knew that his sister would not respond so easily to pressure, so he had the true prize, a baronet, hold back for a full two weeks. Then an invitation was sent by Sir Walter Turnbow's mother, inviting Caroline to a small, intimate gathering. Caroline did not know the family well, but she did know that the family was old, titled, wealthy, landed, and connected. That was enough for her. She was so sick of the constant flood of foolish, ne'er-do-well men at her door that she was open for the approach of a worthwhile man.

Of course Caroline's sparse information did not tell her that Sir Walter, though a good man himself, was doing all that he could to save his estate after his father had almost bankrupted the place. She also did not know that the family was from the south of England and seldom visited London. And finally, she did not know that Sir Walter's mother, Lady Patricia, was healthy, hearty, and determined to teach any daughter-in-law how to behave before she would ever turn over the reins.

When Caroline accidentally learned that Mr. Darcy was staying at Netherfield, she almost ruined everything by purchasing a carriage ride there. But thankfully Sir Walter chose that day to invite her for an open carriage ride. Miss Bingley might have a sharp tongue, but she was beautiful and she did come with a large enough dowry to get the estate back on its feet. Walter was a good man and he believed that Caroline could improve... with his mother's assistance, of course.

The carriage ride had two purposes. The first was to make their courtship public and the second was to make Caroline feel appreciated and even admired. When Sir Walter brought her back home and stole a kiss, she found that she did not mind. For the rest of that week she scribbled "Lady Turnbow" on every scrap of paper in the house. When Sir Walter proposed on the following week, she was more than happy to accept.

Charles Bingley was making progress with his courtship of Jane by that point, so he hated to leave even for a day. He left Mr. Darcy to hold the fort while he made a rapid journey to Town to sign the settlement papers and arrange for the settlement of his sister's dowry. The Hursts were already ready to depart, but Louisa promised to wait until her sister's wedding. This provided the perfect excuse for a quick wedding rather than the long engagement parade that Caroline desired.

It was another month full, after the bans had been read at St. Paul's three times, that Caroline Bingley walked down the aisle and became Lady Caroline Turnbow. Bingley and several of Sir Walter's relatives had contributed to make the wedding stylish and pleasing, if not spectacular. Caroline was even persuaded to wear white instead of orange for a wedding dress.

She was not so pleased when they left London to make the long journey to Cornwall.

This is not Caroline's story, so there will be no description here of the trials and travails of her early marriage. Suffice it to say that she found that Sir Walter was not as malleable as she had hoped and her mother-in-law was much more present than Caroline could ever have wished for. Yet in the end she came to care for her husband and even respect her mother-in-law. By the time that her children... all seven of them... were old enough to know the difference, their mother was no longer the spoiled, self-important woman of earlier years. The estate prospered and grew and when Lady Patricia passed, nobody felt the loss more than Caroline. She resolved to always live up to the example set by her second mother.

~oOo~

Back at Meryton it was a race to see which of the two men at Netherfield would propose to a Bennet daughter first. Bingley was delayed by dealing with his sister's wedding. Darcy was delayed by having to arrange for Lieutenant Wickham's departure to a distant shore. Both men were engaged before Christmas.

It was a much less arrogant Mr. Darcy who advised his friend that he and his new bride might be happier purchasing an estate elsewhere. Since both Bingley's wife Jane and Darcy's wife Elizabeth agreed with the sentiment, it was not another year before the Bingleys purchased an estate far away from Mrs. Bennet and only twenty miles from the Darcy's own estate of Pemberley. The two families remained close for many generations and are still closely bound to this very day.

Charles never regretted the day he finally struck back and took the steps necessary for his own happiness. He may have lost his temper, but he gained so much more.