Chapter 24

Bingley was walking the fashionable streets of London. He played a rhythm with his walking stick. He would have liked to whistle if that had been not considered boyish. He was full of energy and purpose. He was on a mission to find the books on the list Darcy had sent over. This was one of the last things he still wanted to do. His business meetings were over, and he was free to do what he wanted.

It was a successful trip. He met with several of his contacts to see into investment opportunities. He had discussed them with Darcy and his man of business and they both supported his instincts. He was in his element when it came to business negotiations. With a gasp, he realized that when he was leasing Netherfield, he did not use his skills to make the best of the deal. As Darcy and the steward told him, he could have got it for less money if he had committed to do some improvements. Why? He thought to himself as he walked toward the next bookshop.

He knew why, immediately. He thought he was out his breath. He let himself be overwhelmed by the act that finally was going to make him a gentleman in truth. He did not think. He just wanted to secure the place. As he thought about it, he was not overly bothered by it; it was already done, and it did land him as a gentleman. He would not make this mistake again. He decided to send his card to the owner there in London. He was going to negotiate a deal. He would solve the drainage problem, in exchange for his quarterly rent. Yes, that was what he was going to do. He had a spring in his steps. Well, one more day then.

Every day he thought of Miss Bennet. Her angelic face would appear in his mind and he would smile. For some reason, it was important to him what she thought of him. He wanted to be the man she could look up to, whom she could trust, whom she would desire. He had never felt this way. It was a totally novel experience. He had often been in and out of love, but only now he realized how insignificant those feelings were to what he experienced now. Possibly, he comprehended, they were simply infatuations. Before, his intention was to talk sweet nothings into the ears of ladies he fancied. Now, he wanted to be a better man for Miss Bennet.

Bingley was not a philosophical man; neither was he very academic. He easily learnt most things, but deeper thinking of things was not in his nature. He enjoyed something that was nice and did not like something that was ugly. Simple as that. On the other hand, now he had to stop in his tracks, so overwhelming was this wish to make Miss Bennet proud that it almost made his knees weak. He wanted to see those beautiful eyes looking at him in awe. A little bit as she looked at him when they danced. That look had such power over him that he had to swallow and shake his head to be able to pay attention.

He passed a shop from which sweet smells of pastry came. He stopped; his mouth watered. An idea came to him and he opened the door. He took a deep breath and looked around. He ordered some sweetmeats: marzipans in the shape of different fruits, and his favourite, a good plate worth of flat discs of bitter chocolate covered in nonpareils. He could not wait to present them to his lady… well, the Bennet family.

In the afternoon, he was going to interview a possible companion to his sister. The Hursts would not be able to chaperone her around in London. They left for Hurst's estate. He considered making her join him back at Netherfield, but that, he thought, would not teach her anything. She went a step too far. He could not let her win this time. Too much was at stake.

He avoided his sister as much as he could. He would not let her speak to him. She would be relentless and she would be unreasonable. Maybe it was a coward's way, but those who would say such a thing did not know their history. There was no talking to her when she put something in her head. She would use all the tricks in the world to get what she wanted, including throwing decorative objects at the head of her opponent. Caroline was a selfish person even as a child. Unfortunately, her mother, wanting to give everything to her girls, spoiled her especially. She just did not know the meaning of 'no'. Louisa, at least, grew out of it, or maybe marrying Hurst settled her. Marry. Now that was a thought. Before he left, he would let it known at the club that he was looking for a possible husband for her sister with a twenty thousand dowry. Then it occurred to him that maybe he should let that information drop with his circle of tradesmen as well. Something must be done about her. She was nearing becoming a spinster.

At home after the interviews, (he chose a gentlewoman who was left without many resources after her husband died. She was not afraid to take on a stubborn woman.), he spoke to his man and charged him to get him ready for the trip back to Netherfield.

The Hursts had left that morning, so it was just Caroline and he in the house. He could not hide any longer. She would find him. He ordered his dinner to be brought into his room. He sat at his table and studied the books he had bought. He did not have to wait for long.

Caroline stormed into his room without knocking.

'What is the meaning of this, Charles?' Am I supposed to have my dinner alone?'

'Good evening, Caroline. Do you realize that you have just entered a men's room without so much as an 'excuse me'?'

'Oh, Charles, do not be ridiculous.' She waved her hand in dismissal.

'Ridiculous? Caroline, do you hear yourself? I could have been indecent. You will give me the respect you owe me, or we have nothing to talk about. Leave my room. I will not be treated like a child by you. I am the head of this family.'

'Then behave as one, Charles. I will follow you.'

'Pardon?'

'You have been avoiding me since we arrived.'

'Wonder why?' He murmured under his nose.

'A true head of this family would know what his duty is. I cannot marry up without you facilitating it. First by becoming part of it yourself and promoting me.'

'Caroline, I am tired. I do not want to listen to your arguments. I know them. It is always about you, is it not? You sit down now, and hear me.' He stood up as he said all this. 'I said sit down.' Miss Bingley sat with a huff and a roll of her eyes.

'I saw that.' Bingley said. 'It was not your place, Caroline. You should not have left Netherfield. You were its mistress not its master. You took it upon yourself to decide what is good for me. I will not have it.'

'Charles, I did it to make you see that this is where you belong.'

'Where I belong? No, Caroline. You mean that you think you belong here and you do not want anything to jeopardize that. You think that if I marry Miss Bennet, you will not be able to show your face here. Well, let me tell you if you do not know yourself. The only reason the ton entertains the notion of accepting us is because of Darcy. If not for him, we would have no chance of being really accepted by them.'

'That is why it is essential that you marry one of them. You need to find a family with a daughter who is in financial trouble. Through such a connection, you could be considered one of them.'

'This is the crux of the matter, is it not? As long as I sacrifice myself, you are not bothered. The important thing is that you can pretend to be one of them. You will never be one of them. Especially not through Darcy.' Bingley watched his sister's reactions to his words. She did not show any remorse, any regret. She fully believed that she was in the right.

'When I am his wife, people will bow to me.' He looked at his sister in shock.

'You are serious, are you not?'

'Of course, I am.'

'Caroline, he will never have you.'

'You do not know that.'

'Yes, I know. He just left Miss Elizabeth behind. He liked her more than he ever liked you. Also, she is a gentlewoman, unlike you.'

'Of course, he left her behind. She is a country nobody.'

'Caroline, you know nothing. Hear me. He said so himself. He is not going to offer for you. What is more, he is embarrassed for you for your constant trying.' Miss Bingley looked at her brother as if he had just grown two heads.

'What are you talking about? Why would he not marry me? You are his best friend. I was trained at the best seminary. I have a good dowry. He dances with me every opportunity he gets… He-he needs more time. That is all.' Her voice shook.

'Good Heavens! Caroline, he dances with you out of obligation as a female member of his group. He dances with Louisa as well. If you do not listen to me and give up this unrealistic expectation, you will end up an old maid soon. You could make a good match with your dowry but Darcy will not have you.' Charles was shouting at this point. His sister was stubborn to the level of stupidity. He was at his wit's end. What can one do with an delusional person?

'I will not discuss things with you if you shout at me.'

'Look who is talking? Is that not what you did when you stormed in here? Caroline, a companion will arrive tomorrow. You will stay here in London. Please, see where you get in the ton. I will take the carriages, so you will have to use cabs if you want to go somewhere. I will leave some money with the housekeeper, but as I have a household to manage, it cannot be much.'

'Where are you going?'

'To Netherfield.'

'What? That cannot be. I have closed the house.'

'And I have opened it up in a letter. As I said, it was not your decision to make. I am not going to live my life to make you happy. My happiness lies or does not lie with the ton. It they take me, fine, but I am not going to marry some stranger to appease you and to become a part of them.'

'Are you going to pursue Miss Bennet? Is that it?'

'That is still open. But for the first time in my life, I want to see where the acquaintance takes us. Miss Bennet is different. And before you say it is because of her looks, you are mistaken. I actually like her.'

'You will get bored with her. I just hope that is going to be before it is too late.'

'You are not listening to me. I like her. I like her very much.'

'There are a dozen like her in the ton. Are you going to throw away our parents' dream?

'I am making that dream come true by becoming a landowner. I am aiming to marry a gentlewoman. Anything more is only in your head. And it will be your ruin, if you insist on your imaginings.

'Charles, listen to me. Miss Bennet is not cut out for the life that we want to live. I do not think she loves you either. You would give up everything for a woman who does not even love you? Charles, let us accept the invitations in the tray. I help you choose your bride. I promise that you do not have to marry someone you cannot abide.'

'Caroline, hear me. I have had a revelation of sorts. I have found that I have to take things more seriously if I am ever to be taken seriously by a woman, the ton, business, etc. I suggest you also open your eyes and see the truth. Spare me the part that comes next when you start shouting. I would like to keep these decorations. Your crying at the end will not move me. I have seen it all.'

'But Charles,…'

'No, Wilkins, see my sister to the door.'

'Charles, what is the meaning of this? You cannot do this to me. I will be a laughing stock with a paid chaperone. You should stay in London. Get your hands off me! Charles, I need you. I am your sister…'

Bingley took a deep calming breath after the door closed behind his sister. He poured himself a drink and saluted his reflection.

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