Title: Miss Bingley's Herbal Tea
Setting: Regency
Rating: T
Chapters: 2/17 (PIP)
Blurb: Mr Darcy doesn't want to drink Miss Bingley's new disgusting, sketchy, ancient-super-secret-recipe herbal tea. Lizzy does instead.
I would be very happy if you could let me know about any spelling or grammar mistakes :) Thanks and enjoy the chapter!
Such an eventful day as the one that saw Miss Bingley's herbal tea in action under the old elm, had in truth started in a rather uneventful manner: Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy going on a ride before breakfast.
Mr Darcy in particular had hoped that the physical exertion would help him steer his attention away from… a recent fixation of his.
It seemed to work, at least initially: he did not have a single thought of Miss Elizabeth Bennet until the two horsemen stopped on top of Oakham Mount. He looked at the view and unconsciously tried to recognize the paths that she had followed on her way from Longbourn to Netherfield three days before.
He then recalled how enchanting she had looked upon entering Netherfield's breakfast room, with her blushing complexion and bright eyes, locks of hair free from her hairstyle by the wind that went to caress the nape of her neck and—
And with that, much to his chagrin, he was thinking of her again.
Mr Bingley interrupted his self-chastisement by asking suddenly: "How do you think Miss Bennet fares?"
"I don't know, Bingley. You inquired after her before leaving, not I."
Bingley sighed wistfully but gave no further response.
Darcy eyed his friend with worry. If he hadn't known better, he would have believed Bingley in serious danger at the hands of Miss Bennet. Of course, that was preposterous. Bingley had fallen in and out of love with a certain punctuality ever since his entrance into society and this time it would be no different, especially when the lady and her family were so unsuitable.
However, at the moment his friend appeared quite distressed. Bingley's eyes were on Oakham Mount but his mind appeared far, far away, with the origin of his wistful sighs. Mr Darcy decided to take pity on him.
"Let us go back to Netherfield. I will have breakfast and you can enquire after your guests. Again."
Bingley's whole face brightened at the suggestion. "Why, Darcy. That is a wonderful idea! Should we make a race of it?"
The two friends galloped towards Netherfield, not imagining what was awaiting them in the breakfast room.
In the breakfast room were Miss Bingley, a teapot full of herbal tea and Thomas, a bewildered footman.
It wasn't every day, Thomas reflected, that the mistress of the house rose at the brink of dawn when she usually never rose earlier than eleven, only to have a heated argument with the housekeeper about the correct method of brewing tea, almost arriving to fist-cuffs. Mr Davies, the butler, had had to separate them and was currently in the process of calming down Mrs Nicholls.
Miss Bingley had had the tea brewed exactly like the mysterious tea shop had instructed and then went to sit at the breakfast table. She had sat there, motionless, for hours and hours. without taking a bite of toast or even a sip of said contentious tea.
But Thomas was nothing but a professional and he had stood stoically in a corner of the room for the whole time, waiting for either the lady to ask for his assistance or Mr Davies to lead Miss Bingley to Bedlam.
Miss Bingley felt very aware of the bewildered footman but the opinion of an unimportant servant would not deter her from her purpose: Mr Darcy would drink the herbal tea, that day.
She had awoken at that ungodly hour specifically to make sure that she would not miss Mr Darcy at breakfast, since the man annoyingly kept country hours. And then he had chosen exactly that day to break the habit! That day! Why hadn't he shown up yet?
Miss Bingley squirmed in her seat and peered once again at the longcase clock near the sideboard. She could not wait for much longer. If she did that, she was so tired and famished that she felt that there were equal chances of her fainting in hunger or dozing off on the table.
The only thing keeping her conscious was the reminder that such small sacrifices would one day be rewarded with going back to London as Mr Darcy's bride. Ha! How she would laugh at the Ton's astonished faces then. But, obviously, no one was to know how the engagement had come to be.
Miss Bingley eyed the herbal tea in its elegant teapot once again, wondering how exactly the drink was going to accomplish in a single sip what she had struggled with for years.
Perhaps it would not have been that bad of an idea to try some of it herself before serving it to Mr Darcy. Hadn't Louisa said something about her not knowing the tea's true effects? After all, it could not make her wish to marry Mr Darcy more than she already did. And she was so very hungry and thirsty. Only a small sip…
As her hand reached for the teapot, the doors opened and the gentlemen finally entered the room.
"Charles, Mr Darcy. I have just arrived myself." Thomas looked at Miss Bingley as if she had just grown another head but no one noticed. "How are you today?"
Miss Bingley hid her vexation behind a poised smile. She had not considered the possibility of him arriving with Charles. Her brother woke up even later than her at times. Still, she smiled. She would not allow him to disrupt her plans.
Mr Bingley was reflecting on Mrs Nicholls' intelligence about Miss Bennet — the lady was still fighting against the fever — and gave her sister's inquiry no notice so Darcy answered in his stead. "We have just come back from a ride. It is a fine morning."
"It is indeed, Mr Darcy." Answered Miss Bingley.
The gentlemen then proceeded to silently fill their plates at the sideboard, while Miss Bingley finally allowed herself to take a sip of coffee and a bite from a lemon cake. Oh yes, finally.
Mr Darcy and Charles took their seats. Mr Darcy sat as far away as possible from Miss Bingley, something that she found exceedingly disappointing. But she was not to be deterred.
As soon as the man reached out his hand towards the choice of beverages on the table, she started saying: "Mr Darcy! I would like for you to try—"
But before she could finish the sentence, another obstacle presented itself: Elizabeth Bennet had entered the room.
Elizabeth Bennet was as tired and hungry as Miss Bingley even if for a different reason: she had spent the night tending to Jane, without sleeping a wink.
Going to the breakfast room she had hoped to find some relief from her worries but that plan was abandoned as soon as she had seen its current occupants. The thought of having to deal with Miss Bingley's venom and Mr Darcy's disdain first thing in the morning was not appealing in the least. If nothing else, she was bringing good news.
After the usual "how do you dos" and small civilities she informed the breakfast party that Jane's conditions had improved considerably?
"Oh, thank Heavens." Cried Mr Bingley, who felt as if a great weight had finally been lifted from his shoulders. "This is jolly good news! Is it not, Caroline?"
"Indeed, indeed." Answered Miss Bingley. "And do you think that our dear Jane will be back on her feet very soon?"
When are you going to leave? Was the implied question.
Elizabeth perfectly understood her, and was forced to use all her self-command to make it appear that she did not. "I hope she will be in enough forces to leave her room for a couple of hours this evening."
"Lovely."
Mr Bingley again expressed his joy before leaving to give directions to Mrs Nicholls about the number of blankets to be brought to Miss Bennet's room.
Only Elizabeth, Miss Bingley and Mr Darcy remained in the room now but without Mr Bingley's cheery pleasure no one seemed inclined to speak. Elizabeth finished filling her plate at the sideboard and then went to take a seat.
"What will you have, Miss Eliza?" Suddenly asked Miss Bingley. "Hot chocolate, coffee… Tea?"
"Thank you, Miss Bingley. I will have some coffee."
Elizabeth was too tired to notice or care about Miss Bingley's strangely merry smile while Thomas brought her a cup of coffee, or really to notice anything else. She started feeling like herself again only after drinking the first sip and realized that the seat she had chosen placed her exactly next to Mr Darcy. He was busy spreading jam on a slice of bread. Had Mr Darcy congratulated her on Jane's good news or even opened his mouth ever since she had entered the room? She believed not. Such a rude, insufferable man.
She felt a twisted kind of pleasure when Miss Bingley addressed him and he was forced to speak. "And you, Mr Darcy, I see that you have not yet taken your usual cup of tea."
"Well—"
"Mr Darcy really loves tea. No one in my acquaintance is more knowledgeable than him when it comes to tea."
"On the contrary, I know very little of—"
"Well, Mr Darcy, as I was telling you before Miss Eliza interrupted our conversation — to bring us news of our dear Jane, of course — yesterday we received a new tea blend that I would like you to try."
She took the teapot in her hands and smiled candidly at Mr Darcy. Mr Darcy gulped. The truth was that Mr Darcy hated tea with a passion. He had never understood the Englishmen's passion for it. Dried leaves in hot water? No, thank you. He had banished it from Pemberley and tried to avoid it as much as possible while in company, only drinking it when outmanoeuvred. Miss Bingley was clearly trying to accomplish that feat.
"It is from Twinings, a special blend." She insisted.
"I see." Mercy in Heaven, I have to get away. Special blends from Twinings are the worst.
An awkward pause ensued. Mr Darcy was unsure of how to deal with the situation. The teapot was still in Miss Bingley's hands. She was clearly waiting for him to resign himself and accept that cup of tea. Miss Elizabeth, instead, was quietly sipping her coffee with an angelic expression.
Angelic? Am I becoming Bingley?
But Miss Elizabeth was not angelic, oh no. She raised her eyes to Miss Bingley's teapot and smirked before taking a bite from a biscuit.
Was she laughing at Miss Bingley? At the scene? Or at him? He did not know why she would laugh at him, precisely, but the mere possibility irked him. At that moment, Mr Darcy swore that he would not allow himself to be ridiculed in such a way in front of the woman he lov— ahem, that he esteemed.
He had to make a decision, and quick. But he could not drink hot chocolate, he had his athletic figure to maintain. And choosing coffee would look as if he approved of Miss Elizabeth's choice of beverage and it would both raise her hopes and increase Miss Bingley's anger and–
"I shall have a glass of water, thank you."
Miss Bingley was shocked. She was not prepared for Mr Darcy's resistance.
"But, Mr Darcy!" Mr Darcy started and stopped reaching for the water jug. "This is a very special blend! I had to bribe clerks to get my hands on it."
"I appreciate your efforts, Miss Bingley, but I am not in the vein of tea this morning."
Miss Bingley poured him a cup anyway and gave it to Thomas. "Oh. But it is not tea! Why, Mr Darcy, it is a herbal tea. An ancient recipe directly from China."
"To my knowledge, every variety of tea comes from China." Replied dryly Mr Darcy while Thomas placed the cup next to his plate.
Miss Elizabeth made a low, indistinct sound. Everyone turned towards her but she had brought a napkin to her lips, hiding her expression. "Excuse me." She said. "Please, continue."
She was laughing outright this time. The thought startled Mr Darcy. Why? Was it possible that she had been laughing at his dry humour instead of at him? He had made her laugh. He felt his face grow hot, glowering with pride and embarrassment at the same time.
Right at that moment, Mr Bingley burst into the room. "Caroline! You must come immediately! Mrs Nicholls has taken ill. Something upset her this morning but no one will tell me what it was. Please come, we have to discover who made Mrs Nicholls upset! Thomas, do you know anything about it?"
"I have a suspicion, sir." Miss Bingley's eyes shot daggers.
"Perfect, then come with us. We will get to the heart of this matter!"
"But, Charles, I am having breakfast!"
"Breakfast can wait, Caroline. This supersedes everything."
Oh, Charles! Thought Miss Bingley. He was going to be the death of her. But she still had to play the role of the perfect hostess in front of Mr Darcy. She sighed and rose from her chair. "If it can't be helped." And lastly, smiling at Mr Darcy. "Sir, do not leave. We will continue our conversation after my return."
The Bingleys exited the room, leaving Elizabeth and Mr Darcy alone without realizing it.
Mr Darcy realized it immediately. He also realized that Miss Bingley was not there anymore to force him to drink the herbal tea, but on the other hand, the cup had already been poured. Could he pretend to forget it on the table? But disguise of every sort was his abhorrence.
"I suppose you are still not in the vein of Chinese herbal teas, Mr Darcy?" Asked Elizabeth with a mixture of archness and sweetness in her eyes. "In that case, could I drink the cup that Miss Bingley has so kindly poured for you?"
He almost started. Elizabeth had noticed his distress and had devised a way to help him escape that unpleasant situation!
Mr Darcy was almost right. Elizabeth had noticed his distress during the conversation with Miss Bingley but now she was thinking nothing of it. She simply wanted to try the mysterious blend from China, as she loved tea with a passion.
Unknowingly of what were her true opinions and intents, Mr Darcy agreed and handed her the cup with solicitude and almost tenderness.
Miss Elizabeth took a long sip before almost spitting it out.
"Is something the matter?" Asked Mr Darcy handing her his napkin.
"It is… Lukewarm. Almost cold."
He nodded gravely and looked into her eyes: "You don't have to drink it if you don't want to."
Elizabeth didn't pay him any attention and took another long sip from the cup of herbal tea, this time knowing better what to expect. She closed her eyes. Aside from the cold temperature, the tea was excellent. She could detect wild rosebuds, a touch of liquorice and a flowery scent that she could not recognize.
She drank the rest of the cup without hesitation and she poured herself a second one and then a third, but before she could drink that too, a maid came into the breakfast room to tell her that her sister had woken up and was asking for her.
Elizabeth excused herself from Mr Darcy, who had continued with his breakfast watching her sidelong and raised from her chair without knowing that the herbal tea had already begun to take effect.
She felt dizzy all of a sudden and fell back in her seat.
Mr Darcy was immediately by her side. "Are you feeling unwell, Miss Elizabeth?"
"No, no, I am fine."
"Can I bring you something for your present comfort? A glass of water, maybe?"
"Truly, I am fine, just tired. It is probably because I did not sleep much last night."
"You should take care of your health if you are to tend to your sister."
Elizabeth stiffened. His words felt like icy spears. He had once again found her wanting and communicated it with cruel honesty. She could have slapped him.
"Thank you, Mr Darcy. I feel fine."
"Are you sure? I can ask a footman to—"
"I am fine, thank you. I will go to my sister now."
She shook his hand off her arm and left the room, striving to hide her rage.
Completely unaware of the hostile emotions he had created in Elizabeth, Mr Darcy regained his place at the breakfast table and poured himself a cup of coffee.
Mr and Miss Bingley found him still there when they came back some minutes later. "Did you discover what ails Mrs Nicholls, Bingley?"
"Oh, yes, yes. The price for eggs is higher than it was last month. I assured her that it would not be a problem, but the good woman was worried about the household accounts. She has come back to work, thankfully. We are lucky to have her, isn't that right Caroline?"
"Extremely lucky." Replied Miss Bingley. They would not stay lucky for much longer if she had her way.
"But what about Miss Elizabeth?" Continued Mr Bingley.
"She returned to her sister."
"Mr Darcy!" Cried them Miss Bingley. "You have not drunk your herbal tea."
Mr Darcy suddenly remembered that Elizabeth had gone upstairs before drinking her last cup of tea, which lay completely full near him. Her sacrifice had been useless.
"I would have gladly drank it, Miss Bingley," he improvised, "but I found that it was lukewarm, too cold for an autumnal day."
"But—" Miss Bingley touched tentatively the teapot and found that it was indeed cold. "Mr Darcy, I will ring the kitchen and have it brewed again."
"No matter, Miss Bingley. 'Tis not—"
Mr Darcy did not finish his sentence, as he saw through the window in front of him the figure of Miss Elizabeth Bennet running out of Netherfield. She was in such a rush that she hadn't put on her bonnet and now it dangled from her arm while she adjusted her gloves. Wasn't she supposed to be resting?
It was puzzling but back in the breakfast room, Miss Bingley was still insisting that he tries the herbal tea.
"It is truly not necessary. I am quite satisfied with my cup of coffee."
"Dear Caroline," said Bingley. "you have talked so much of this tea that now I'm quite curious my—"
"NO!"
Both gentlemen started. Miss Bingley tried to regain her composure. "I beg your pardon. I insist that Mr Darcy, being our guest, be the first one to try this new blend."
Miss Elizabeth tried it first, though. Thought Darcy with a half-smile.
He rose from the table. "I thank you for your consideration, but I'm quite finished with my breakfast. I shall go now."
"Mr Darcy, I—"
"Perhaps the next time, Miss Bingley." As soon as the promise left his mouth, he regretted it. Miss Bingley's eyes were already glittering with expectation.
"Caroline, don't pester Darcy. Darcy, why don't you wait for me in the billiard room and then we can play a game? I'll be with you in a moment."
"I thank you for the offer, Bingley, but not this time. I am going out for a walk."
