Chapter 17:
Mr. Rogers was a faithful servant. He had risen to the position of Butler in the Bingley's London (and only) residence and he was quite happy with his position and situation in life. The other servants, however, were not as keen. Mr. Bingley was affable and as kind as any servant could wish their master to be. But Miss Bingley, goodness, she was a force to be reckoned with but he had already discussed with Mrs. Smith, the housekeeper, that they were most likely two lose another footman this week, who had enough of Miss Bingley's mistreatment.
"It seems her lady's maid might leave as well" shared Mrs. Smith, in guarded whispers during the servant's breakfast that morning, where they sat for a few minutes to enjoy hot porridge.
"Again?" asked Mr. Rogers, his eyes widening. "People might think something is wrong with how we run the place."
"Oh, I hope not" said Mrs. Smith, letting out a heavy sigh, she took a drink from hot tea and added, "I do not want to leave this position, however, I do not envy the maid that needs to tend to her every need."
"Indeed" said Mr. Rogers, rolling his eyes. That thought was absolutely dreadful.
After breaking his fast, Mr. Rogers went into his study, as they called it, where he, and only he, had the key to the silver. He took the key from his pocket, opened the cabinet, and began taking out the few pieces that he would take care of today. They were not expecting any company, though the Mistress of the house kept mumbling about Mr. Darcy.
Foolish, thought Mr. Rogers with a wry smile.
He spent a few hours with the silver, tended to the footmen, oversaw the supplies that were brought in and discussed the supplies they needed to order with Mrs. Smith. After the family and the servants had their late supper as was fashionable according to the Mistress, much to everyone's dismay, he went upstairs to ensure the proper fires were lit and to see if Mr. Bingley needed anything further.
He was about to knock on the Master's study, where he was having a cigar and a drink, when he heard a knock on the front door. It was much too late to receive callers, but as the Butler, it was his prestige to ensure that those that called were properly welcomed and received.
Mr. Rogers opened to the door and to his great surprise, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy stood before him, accompanied by another fellow, dressed in similar finery, but incredibly less handsome.
"Is Mr. Bingley home?" asked Mr. Darcy, knowing the servant would not speak to him unless he was spoken to.
"Yes, Sir. Please do come in, I shall get him immediately" said Mr. Rogers, bowing.
"I thank you" said Mr. Darcy, and took off his hat, handed it to the Butler and walked into the drawing room. Mr. Darcy remembered the gaudy decorations. He remembered Hertfordshire and being there with Bingley, he did not quite remember the ball, except now a vision of dancing with Elizabeth haunted him, but he did remember almost everything, or what he thought it was everything, up until Rosings. There was where things became more fuzzy, he thought, rubbing his temple, a habit now when he was forcing himself to remember.
Not a second after Mr. Rogers had left, the most atrocious voice called to him, making his skin recoil. He did in fact remember Miss Bingley, but even if he did not, his body would tell him to run away as fast as possible. With a smile at the thought, he turned around to receive her greeting.
"Mr. Darcy! What a pleasant surprise! If you had given us a warning, we would have set up a room for you!" she declared, walking in elegantly, swaying her hips in the hope that he would notice her fine figure. But he did not, he only saw her hungry eyes and had to fight back the urge to run away. It would be worth it to lose his memory only to not have to remember know her, he thought with a smile. She misunderstood that smile to mean he liked what he saw. Foolish people do something act very foolishly indeed.
"I thank you" she murmured, blushing becomingly. Richard stood there, holding back laughter at the sight before him. The truth was she was quite beautiful and he imagined, she could be quite charming, but she stank of the same delusional grandeur that Wickham always had, and he could not help but laugh at the thought.
"Oh" she said, now noticing the Colonel for the first time. "Would you do me the honor of introducing me?" she asked to Mr. Darcy, batting her eyelashes.
Mr. Darcy opened his mouth to speak but was saved by the jovial greeting of Mr. Bingley, who practically bounced into the room.
"Darce!" he said warmly, walking over and greeting him, "I had no idea you were coming, please do sit down. Have you eaten? Shall I ask the cook to prepare you something?"
"I would not want to inconvenience her, it is quite late" said Mr. Darcy politely.
"La! It is no inconvenience!" said Miss Bingley, with a laugh, "She is here to serve" she added with a smile, not realizing how repulsive her words had been interpreted. "I shall go speak with her" she said graciously, picking up her skirts and hastily leaving the room, her hips swaying from side to side. If her own brother was not in the room, Richard was sure he would have surely burst out laughing.
Mr. Darcy sat down, feeling very awkward in this drawing room, it reminded him of the feeling he felt when he would visit his Aunt, Lady Catherine, at Rosings. The décor was not inviting and Mr. Darcy pitied Mr. Bingley, for he so badly wanted to be accepted in society and Mr. Darcy thought that Miss Bingley was making it very unlikely.
"Are you unwell?" asked Mr. Bingley, sitting down as well and motioning for the Colonel to sit.
"No" said Mr. Darcy, ignoring the Colonel's smirk. "I am well, I have come to request a piece of information, if you were so kind."
"Of course" said Mr. Bingley, smiling, "What can I get for you?"
"Do you know where the Bennet's Uncle from Cheapside resides?" asked Mr. Darcy, noting immediately the blush on Mr. Bingley's cheeks as he mentioned the Bennets.
"The Bennets?" asked Mr. Bingley, incredulously, "From Hertfordshire?"
"Yes, I must speak with Miss Elizabeth" said Mr. Darcy passionately.
Mr. Bingley may not be the smartest man in the room but he was not stupid and he saw, at once, that Mr. Darcy was in love. With the woman whose family he had warned him against! Mr. Bingley stood up suddenly, pacing the room.
"Are you in love with her?" he asked, now stopping and looking at him straight in the eyes.
"Indeed" said Mr. Darcy.
"Did you not tell me to drop my pursuit of Miss Jane Bennet? You warned me against her family and their lowly connections and I have not stopped thinking about her!" he declared with emotion, "Not even for one day" he added softly. "And now you wish to court her sister?"
"I said that?" asked Mr. Darcy, his turn to look at his friend incredulously.
"Yes, you did" said Mr. Bingley, now looking at Mr. Darcy with a concerned look. "Do you not remember?"
"No, I mean, yes, vaguely, but I believe I was mistaken" he said, not really remembering but seeing how attached his friend was, if he was keept away from Elizabeth he would be miserable and Mr. Bingley must feel the same way. And though they did not have high connections, the truth was that Miss Bennet would be an improvement to Mr. Bingley's social standing, she was, after all, a gentleman's daughter. Why would he have said otherwise? He could not ask Mr. Bingley, for he would then know that his memory had been affected and though it was now better than it was, he did not want anyone to know. It was a risk that any man would not be willing to take.
Mr. Bingley looked at Mr. Darcy with utter surprise and he was about to correct him, to argue with him, to ask him to explain himself, but he so badly wanted to see Miss Bennet, that he decided against it. If Mr. Darcy had now changed his mind then perhaps, it was time to be reunited with his angel.
"I do not know" said Mr. Bingley after a moment's silence, "Where their Uncle lives but perhaps Caroline does, she corresponds with Miss Bennet, I believe." As if on cue, Miss Caroline Bingley entered the room, smiling, her grin from ear to ear. She could not believe her luck! Mr. Darcy had called on her on his arrival in London, surely, this must mean something. Would he finally declare his feelings for her?
Her smile dropped when she noticed the serious looks on everyone's face, except the Colonel who found this all amusing, for he knew what Mr. Darcy had told Mr. Bingley, since he had confessed it to him in Rosings and now realizing that the lady in question had been Elizabeth's sister, Richard knew that this turn of events was the right course of action.
"Do you know where the Bennet's Uncle lives in Cheapside?" asked Mr. Bingley.
"I beg your pardon?" she stuttered, the mere mention of the Bennets almost sending her into hysterics.
"Please, Miss Bingley" said Mr. Darcy, now standing and approaching her. "Do you know where he lives?"
"Err" said Miss Bingley, enthralled momentarily by Mr. Darcy's eyes, there was something in them, an emotion that she could not quite understand but that left her speechless. Her hesitation, however, was enough to reveal that she did in fact know the location and they were all waiting for her to continue, as she hesitantly said, "I do."
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