Turnabout Chapter 8, a pride and prejudice fanfic

I thoroughly enjoyed your comments. Thanks.

I have to confess that I did not think that all my readers are so bloodthirsty. Not one of you objected to the Colonel's chastisement of Darcy. 😊

I will be away for a couple of days and probably won't post anything in that time.

I hope you enjoy today's chapter.

~~DGH~~

Caroline and Friends

Caroline Bingley felt torn. While she was pleased to be back in London, she was furious for missing her chance to display her skills as a hostess to Mr Darcy.

She was also smarting that a woman like Mrs Bennet seemed to have been the driving force to have her brother evicted from Netherfield.

Yes, the solicitor had said that that Charles had a choice and technically her brother had cancelled the lease of his own free will, but it had been a Hobson's choice. That was to say, no choice at all.

One good thing had come out of this fiasco.

Her brother was in London and his latest angel had stayed behind, although now he was moping about the house moaning about a lost opportunity and that Miss Bennet had been the woman for him. There had never been anyone like her nor would there ever again. Miss Bingley gritted her teeth and held onto her frayed nerves.

Another and even more important reason for her being out of temper was that they were again living in Hurst's townhouse on Bedford Avenue, but Mr Darcy had not visited since their return.

Caroline had suggested on several occasions that it would only be polite if they called on the gentleman, but her brother was so out of sorts that he refused to go anywhere.

Unfortunately for her, London was still deserted as the start of the little season was several weeks away yet. As a consequence, she was bored. She could not even console herself by shopping since she had had already spent in excess of her allowance to acquire a complete new wardrobe before their ill-fated sojourn to the wilds of Hertfordshire, where she had meant to impress Mr Darcy.

~~DGH~~

Mr Bingley was indeed moping, or perhaps it would be closer to the truth to say that he was sulking.

When he had arrived at Netherfield Park, he had had high hopes of fulfilling his father's dreams. The manor was all that he had hoped for – large, elegant, and well maintained. The vicinity to London was also a big point in its favour since it would allow him to partake of the season at a moment's notice as the travel time to town was only three to four hours. A negligible amount of time.

Netherfield also had a good steward to oversee the day to day running of the estate. It would have been the perfect situation for him to settle down when he bought the estate.

Admittedly he remembered that the agent told him that Netherfield was only for lease, not for sale, but he was sure that he would have changed his tune if offered the right price. After all, his father had taught him that everything was for sale.

And then to top it off the first neighbour whom he visited had the most beautiful daughter he had ever beheld. She was everything he had dreamed about… beautiful, genteel, softspoken, and best of all she had displayed proper decorum by not openly flirting with him, which so many of the young women in London did.

After that first meeting, he was determined to marry her. All the men of his acquaintance would envy him when he attended a function with such a beautiful creature on his arm.

Then that beautiful dream was shattered by the behaviour of is sisters and even his friend.

When he was first asked to cancel the lease, he had been so disheartened that he had complied without thinking, a choice he was regretting more and more since it had taken him away from the angelic Miss Bennet. How could he court her when he was in London, and she continued to reside in Hertfordshire?

At present he was irate with his sisters and even his friend, which was why he refused Caroline's demands to visit Darcy.

In his present mood, Bingley was afraid that he would say something unforgivable to his friend and he did not want to jeopardise his friendship.

A very small part of his conscience whispered that he did not wish to lose Darcy's continued support and invitations to events which he would not otherwise receive. While Hurst was a gentleman who owned this house in London, he did not move in the same circles as Darcy frequented.

Presently he could not find an outlet for his frustrations since arguing with Caroline was pointless as she never listened to anything he said. Instead, he sat in his chambers and stewed.

~~DGH~~

Caroline Bingley lost patience with her brother and decided to visit Mr Darcy without him and asked her sister to accompany her for propriety's sake.

'Caroline, I do not believe that is a good idea. You know that Mr Darcy is a stickler for propriety.'

'But we have the perfect reason for seeing Mr Darcy. Charles has been moping in his room ever since our return and has refused to speak to anyone. I am convinced that he would listen if Mr Darcy told him to stop acting like a child.'

Louisa Hurst did not look completely convinced but rather than arguing with Caroline, which she knew to be pointless, she agreed to accompany her sister.

~~ DGH~~

As the sisters approached the door to Darcy House, they saw that the knocker had been taken down.

Caroline was undeterred and knocked on the door using the handle of her parasol. When the door was opened at last, she immediately pushed into the foyer and demanded, 'Please inform Mr Darcy that Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst must see him on a matter of utmost urgency. It is in regard to our brother.'

The footman looked uncertain how to deal with this demand but was relieved to see that Mr Perkins, the butler had arrived on the scene.

Since Perkins knew that Darcy was friends with Bingley, he asked them to wait in the foyer. Having arrived unannounced and uninvited he was not going to go further than that. 'I will see if Mr Darcy is available.'

He went to the study where Darcy was dealing with correspondence, and announced, 'Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst are here to see you. They claim there is a matter of urgency with Mr Bingley.'

Darcy groaned as he carefully moved to look at his butler out of the one eye which was not swollen and purpling spectacularly. He grated, 'Does that woman not understand the most common courtesy? To intrude on a gentleman when the knocker is down… No, I will not see her.' He winced as he moved too quickly and frowned. 'If there is a problem with Mr Bingley with which I can help, I am certain that Mr Hurst could have sent me a message.'

He sighed as he carefully stretched his back. 'Please tell the ladies that I will be unavailable for the next several weeks.'

'Very well, sir.' Perkins nodded sympathetically and left the study. He could fully understand that his master did not wish to be seen by anyone in his current state.

Perkins returned to the foyer. 'If there is a problem with Mr Bingley, perhaps Mr Hurst could send a note, explaining the matter,' suggested the butler as he opened the front door in an unmistakable gesture.

'But surely –' Miss Bingley started to protest only to be cut off.

'Mr Darcy will be unavailable for visits for the next several weeks,' said Perkins and gestured to the open door.

Caroline threw up her head. 'Mr Darcy will hear of your insolence,' she exclaimed as she stalked out the door, followed by her sister.

Perkins closed the door promptly. 'I am sure he will be delighted,' he muttered.

~~DGH~~

Darcy slumped in his chair and sighed.

The bruising and swelling had reached its peak and was starting to heal, but it would be at least another week or more likely two before he would be able to be seen in public. Richard had been very determined to drive home his message.

Darcy suspected that his cousin's lesson might have been unnecessary.

Once his anger at the happenings in Hertfordshire had faded and he was thinking clearly again, he had admitted to himself that Richard as well as the residents of Meryton had been correct.

He had let his arrogance and his irritation with the Bingleys get the better of him.

He was now ashamed that he had been so rude to the pretty lady. She had not deserved to be the recipient of his foul humour and he owed her an apology.

Admittedly, he thought it a shame that she was just a country nobody. The fire in her eyes and her whole demeanour had been refreshing to see, surrounded as he usually was by sycophants. But he knew that his family expected him to select a bride from his own sphere and a country Miss without connections and wealth would simply not do… no matter how fine her eyes.

He sighed again. Yes, when his bruises had healed, he would make a quick trip to Meryton and apologise. After that he would do his best to forget those eyes.

~~DGH~~

After her unsuccessful foray to Darcy House, Miss Bingley was still fuming over that incident as well as having been evicted from Netherfield. That was her state of mind when she visited her dear friend Miss Gantry a few days later.

It did not help when the lady asked with a mug smile, 'My dear Miss Bingley, I had not expected to see you in town again so soon. Did you not find the company in the country as congenial as you had hoped?'

'Indeed not. I have never before in my life encountered such savages.'

'Pray tell what happened?' Miss Gantry asked with pretended sympathy in the hopes of juicy gossip.

'Would you believe that those yokels had the nerve to imply that the manners of our party were not suitable for their benighted town. That impertinent solicitor of the owner of Netherfield claimed that my family is in trade, and he even went so far as to call Mr Darcy an unmannered Cit,' Caroline exclaimed, declaring the worst offense they had suffered at Netherfield.

Miss Gantry gasped in apparent outrage while inwardly chuckling that those people had immediately taken the measure of her dear friend. Not wishing to lose her source of gossip by asking about Caroline's obviously atrocious behaviour, she focused on the other accusation. 'What could have happened that they would accuse a gentleman of Mr Darcy's status to being a Cit? Surely, they must have confused him with someone else.'

'You are too generous with your estimation, but they knew exactly who he was. Would you believe their attitude was occasioned by his rightful refusal to give consequence to one of their local so-called beauties.'

'Indeed? Did this beauty throw herself at Mr Darcy and was upset because she was rebuffed?'

'She never had a chance to throw herself at him. But you know my brother. He was dancing every dance and urged his friend to do the same. But Mr Darcy had enough sense to reject the lady whom Charles wanted to introduce to him, since he could immediately see that she was merely tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt him, and he said so to my brother in no uncertain terms.'

Caroline tittered. 'I am persuaded that after that comment on her supposed beauty, the chit was under no illusions that Mr Darcy had better taste than to dally with her.'

'You mean to tell me that Mr Darcy said so in her hearing?'

'Indeed, he did. He even looked her in the eye when he said it,' Miss Bingley replied without even trying to hide her gloating.

'And you say that the community took exception to his comments?'

'They most certainly did.'

'Imagine that…'

While no one in society would be discourteous to Mr Darcy to his face, he had upset enough people with his dismissive attitude that any number of ladies would be only too pleased to hear that someone had had the audacity to turn the tables on him.

Since unlike Miss Bingley, Miss Grantly was never openly dismissive of members of the gentry, she had not been snubbed to the extent which Caroline had just experienced. She could therefore delight in the comeuppance Miss Bingley had received from those delightful savages.

Miss Grantly looked forward to spreading these delicious bits of gossip.

~~DGH~~

While Darcy was in London recovering from his cousin's lesson and the Bingley's were licking their metaphorical wounds, the Bennet sisters were getting ready to travel to London.

On the Monday before they were due to leave, Mr Bennet informed his wife and daughters that they would have a visitor. 'It is a person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life.'

After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he explained, 'About a month ago I received this letter; and about a fortnight ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases.'

'Why would that odious man wish to inflict his presence on us?' asked Mrs Bennet querulously. 'I can see no reason why we should receive him. As for his turning us out of the house, you must remember that we have no fear on that score. Aunt Mary's cottage will be a most pleasant home to occupy as it is so very close to my sister.'

'It appears that Mr Collins is unaware of your accommodation, he wishes to extend an olive branch towards the family by marrying one of our daughters to keep Longbourn in the family.'

While Mrs Bennet was uncertain about that prospect, she decided that it could not hurt to meet the gentleman. After all, since he wanted to make peace, he might be a pleasant man and appeal to one of her daughters.

~~DGH~~