Chapter 20
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Caroline was getting very nervous. They had reached the outskirts of London. She did not think through what to say to Charles or how to make him stay.
'Louisa, we need to discuss how to approach Charles.'
'Now you want my opinion?'
'What do you mean? I always want your opinion.'
'No, you do not. Did you not just close Netherfield with an ultimatum to us? No, Caroline, you only want my opinion if it coincides with yours.' Mr. Hurst took his wife's hand into his.
'You created this situation, you solve it. Leave us out of it.' he spoke up.
'But-but we are family. You have to help me.'
'Yes, unfortunately, you only remember it when you need us, like now.' Louisa had enough.
'In a few days, we are going home, to our estate, Caroline. We decided to make the best of this sudden change of plans. As you know, after the last time with my mother, you are not welcome there.' Hurst announced with glee.
'But why? Louisa, you cannot leave me. I will not have a chaperone.'
'That is your problem. Hire a companion. We left with you because when you get into one of your states, there is no talking to you. But we agreed with Mr. Hurst that it was time for us to go home and learn about the estate.' She looked lovingly at her husband. He patted her hand in return.
'Oh, no, everybody has gone insane in this family! First Charles, now you.'
'Think what you will. You are on your own.' Louisa sagged into her husband.
'Louisa, listen to me. We have to stop Charles from going back to Netherfield. If he goes back, he will end up marrying that Bennet chit.'
'Caroline, is this a way to talk about your friend? Did you not claim that she was such a lovely girl?' Mr. Hurst mocked her. Caroline's daggers in her eyes could not hurt him. He was enjoying the idea of leaving Caroline to her own devices. She would learn her place. He long had had enough of her social-climbing pretentions. He was not against the ton per se, but he knew his place. He was born into it.
'Oh, hush. When there is a chance that she could become Mrs. Bingley, the answer is a definite yes. Louisa, how are we going to make Charles see sense?'
'I do not want to be a part of this. Why should I do this for you? All you do is mock me about my husband.'
'Oh, please. This is important, Louisa. He sounded serious in the carriage. What if he pursues her?'
'She seems a nice enough girl to me. Beautiful and graceful. Do you not want your brother to be happy? If she is his choice…'
'Happy? This is not about happiness. This is about elevating our family; this is what our parents wanted. His task is to marry someone who does this for our family. Besides, he is not mature enough to make such a commitment.'
'He is his own man. Has been for several years, and she is a gentleman's daughter.'
'Of a small estate with a non-existent dowry. Connections to trade. Does that sound like elevation? Do not be ridiculous. Money counts.'
'Charles by marrying a gentleman's daughter elevates himself. Yes, not a lot, but maybe people will just forget where he came from.'
'You need to think about getting married. In a few short years, you will be on the shelf, sister. Time is your enemy, and so far you have wasted it. Darcy will not have you.' Louisa winced hearing her husband's harsh comment. She looked at Caroline to see how she took it.
'Just how am I to do that when you all leave me? Mr. Darcy, it seems, needs more time.'
'Caroline, you must stop this. He did not look like someone who just needed more time. Mr. Darcy will not offer for you. He was not interested. He showed more interest in Mrs. Bennet than you. Do not forget that, like it or not, we are at best first generation. Your money is from trade. The ton knows that. When Mr. Darcy marries, he will have to marry someone from the highest circles.'
'Well, at least he left Eliza behind. I thought she would be a problem. There was just not enough time.'
'You would be better off marrying some barrister or judge. Louisa told me how you did not like the idea of becoming a real mistress of an estate.'
'I just do not understand why I have to involve myself with peasants.'
'Oh, Caroline. You do not understand anything. I am quite surprised. You are clever. Being a mistress is work, sometimes a lot of work. It is not just about dinners and balls. On the other hand, my husband is right. Organizing the social life of a judge or an upcoming barrister would be perfect for you. You would not have to live in the country.' Louisa tried to reason with her. Caroline only listened with one ear.
'I cannot think about it now. We are almost home. Will you help me convince Charles or not?'
'No, she will not.' Mr. Hurst spoke for his wife.
'Caroline, Louisa! What are you doing here?!' Bingley stopped in his tracks.
Bingley was just about to meet Darcy at Angelo's. He wanted to go to the club to meet, but Darcy sent a message that he wished for some exercise. He almost did not believe his eyes when he saw his sisters.
'Hello, Charles. Your sister, Caroline here decided that the country air was too much for her and closed Netherfield.'
'You closed Netherfield? Why? What do you mean? I was going back there next week.'
'Oh, Charles. We wished to join you here. We had just enough of Hertfordshire. It will be nice to just relax, then Christmas will be here, and in the new year the parliament opens and how much fun it will be in London then.'
'Caroline, it was not your decision to make. How am I supposed to become a proper landowner if I am here? Is that not what we all wanted? For me to settle? There are a lot decisions to make if we want to start the planting season right. Or did you think to abandon Hertfordshire all together?'
'I do not think Hertfordshire is the place for you.'
'Why Caroline, you think you will make that decision for me? Enlighten me why is Hertfordshire not for me? Caroline? Because it is an easy distance from London? Because it is a nice house with fertile land with plenty of sunshine? Because it is in a small, convenient community? And as you know the lease is for at least a year. You would have me waste the money I spent? Which part of it says it must not be Hertfordshire?'
'Well, we are here now and the house is closed. So why do not we enjoy a nice dinner this evening, and then we can look into what entertainment is available?'
'I am going out now. I do not have time for this. This conversation is not over. Louisa, Hurst why would you let Caroline do this?'
'You know how she gets. She already had done everything when we were told that we were leaving.' Hurst answered with a shrug. Caroline, with a huff, started on the stairs. Bingley watched her back retreating.
'You will not believe me what has just happened.' Bingley stormed into the dressing room. Darcy was already there.
'Let me guess. Your family showed up.' Charles's eyes grew wide.
'How do you know?'
'Miss Bingley tried to join me when I was leaving the day after you left. She was anxious to leave Hertfordshire.'
'Seriously, Darcy, I do not know what I will do with her.'
'That would be easy enough, but you always take the easy road with her. In the end, she always gets what she wants.' Charles, for the first time, really heard his friend.
'Good Lord, you are right. True, I hate confrontations with her. She talks to me as if I were a child.'
'Are you?' Charles was taken aback by his friends' challenge.
'I-I am the man of the house.'
'Then act as if you mean it. Act as the man of the house.'
'Uh, that is easy for you to say. You have an angel for a sister.'
'Charles, believe me, my sister would know her place even if she were not.'
'What shall I do?' Darcy looked at him in exasperation. 'She has closed the house. She closed Netherfield.' Darcy shook his head.
'What do you want to do?'
'I want to go back.'
'Well, then you have a choice. Give in to your sister and stay in London or go back and continue what you have started.'
'Hmm.'
'What is her reason? Why did she do this?'
'She just does not want to be there anymore.'
'I do not understand. Does she not understand that if you are to become a gentleman, you have to own and manage an estate? I thought that is what you all wanted.'
'It is what we want… Oh, how stupid I am. Of course. It all makes sense now. This has nothing to do with me and becoming a gentleman. I think I know why Caroline made this move all of a sudden.'
'Why?' Darcy slanted his head in question.
'Miss Bennet.'
'Miss Bennet? What about her?'
'She does not want me to attach myself to her. She is afraid that this would ruin her ambitions of becoming part of the ton. When we went to issue our invitations to the ball to the Bennets, I might have let it slip that I was seriously considering her. Stupidly I thought that my sisters would be happy for me. Big mistake. She behaved rather rudely with the Bennets after that.'
'You what?'
'You heard me.'
'You-you are considering her?' Bingley nodded. 'Why?'
'What a stupid question is that, Darce? Why would a man consider a woman?'
'I mean why her? Are you sure? You hardly know each other.'
'Well, that is the point. Caroline wants to separate me from her. That is her purpose for coming after me. She thinks I will quickly forget her.'
'What if she is right?'
'Will you forget Miss Elizabeth quickly?' Darcy froze. His expression became hard in an instant. 'I did not think so.'
'Bingley, how? Why would you…?'
'I am not blind, my man. I am maybe flighty, and exuberant, but I have eyes and I see. You have never shown as much interest in a woman as Miss Elizabeth. You voluntarily talk and dance? Come on, man. It was not hard to figure it out. And I am not surprised. She is a treasure. What I do not understand is how you could leave her behind. I presume that was your intention with this sudden decision to leave. It is not like the world is full of such women, Darce.'
'You do not understand.'
'Really? Let me see. You like her, you like her very much, but you are a coward and left.'
'Excuse me? Are you calling me a coward?!'
'Yes. Uh, perfect. Come, try me. Let's fence.'
'You cannot just say something like that and expect me to let it go.'
'No, I expect you to fight me. Maybe this time you can better me, Darce. What shall it be? Will you let the insult stand?'
'Charles, what has got into you?'
'I want you to feel. Feel, not think. Live a little. If I can teach you anything in return for all your benevolence toward me is this. Live, Darcy.' He turned and walked toward the big room where the familiar clashing of swords called him.'
