Chapter 19: London Nights
Thursday, 21 May 1812
London – the Darcy townhouse
Richard tried to extend his visit to vex his cousin, but Darcy would have none of it. Wishing his sister a good night, he strong-armed his cousin to the door as he bid him a firm farewell. Climbing the stairway to his floor, he thought only of having Elizabeth beside him in his bed once again. He would not disturb her, she needed sleep tonight.
Until the carriage ride to London, he had not realized how little rest she had while at Longbourn. Though he had not known of her late nights with her sister, he should have known that her family would rise early, keeping country hours. That they would gather for breakfast shortly after she returned from her 'walks' giving her no chance to rest before the others arose. Something he had done at Netherfield Park. He chastised himself for not thinking of it earlier.
So little sleep could risk her health. Her aunt was right to be concerned. Darcy undressed as he watched her slumber, leaving his shirt and breeches on as he listened to her soft rhythmic breathing. Most important for him in the next few days was to ensure her well-being, even if it meant not coupling.
He climbed onto the bed, bundling himself around her. He luxuriated being in his own bed, finally feeling her hair on his face, smelling her scents, feeling her soft skin. He would sleep well tonight.
Staying at Netherfield Park had been miserable and not only because of Miss Bingley. He had not been able to find comfort in a bed without her. In his sleeplessness, he found himself wondering about her day. His sister had happily recounted the activities at Longbourn, but it was not the same as having Elizabeth tell him. Or better yet, being there with her. But that would have been too dangerous.
As he lay wrapped around her, not yet ready for slumber, Darcy allowed himself for the first time since this fiasco began to think toward his new future.
Elizabeth was not yet with child. If he used the quickening to prove pregnancy, he would have to remain in her company at least another few months.
Then what would he do?
His affairs were in order. Letters could direct his stewards and solicitor for the foreseeable future. He could easily stay at Rosings Park until Elizabeth finished her contract. He closed his eyes and nuzzled his face into the top of her head as he thought of it, planting a gentle kiss atop her head. Yes, he would stay. Tomorrow he would arrange for some of his ledgers to be sent to Kent so that he could manage from Rosings Park.
He would have another eleven months with her. No, ten. May was nearly complete. He would have ten months with her. Ten months somehow did not seem like such a long time.
What would he do after?
Anne could still be alive when the time came for Elizabeth to return to Hertfordshire. Elizabeth's encouragement had improved her health and stamina over the past two months.
What would he do then?
The past few nights had taught him that he no longer slept well without her. He considered offering his protection to have her stay, but she would never accept it. She would have no reason. With an estate of her own, she would need no one's protection. Not seeing an obvious answer, he was unable to think further on the subject, but he would find a way to remain with her before the next year started.
Then his mind wandered to what would happen when she was to leave. He would have his heir—her child. He would prefer the baby be born at Pemberley, but this would not be the first Darcy born away from his ancestral home. Town offered better physicians, but neither would be possible with their current arrangement. Fortunately, Doctor Pryce had a superior reputation.
As she had not conceived, any child would be born toward the end of her time in Kent. The little Darcy would likely be too young for the arduous journey to Pemberley. As the father, his child belonged to him. As soon as Elizabeth's baby could travel, his heir would leave with him. The townhouse would be the best place for them to stay until the little Darcy was old enough to complete the journey to Derbyshire. He vaguely considered if Elizabeth would consent to stay as Georgiana's guest while the babe was in town.
He reached his hand to cover her belly. You are not there yet, my little Darcy, but you will be, he thought. And through you, I shall always be with her.
~~~oo0oo~~~
Friday, 22 May 1812
It was still dark when he missed her in his bed.
The door of the necessity room quietly clicked as she closed the door behind her. Rather than return to the bed, she stopped in front of the window for a moment. As she gazed out over a quiet London, he decided to share the view with her.
He quietly left the bed, moving silently behind her. She startled when he gently laid his hands on her shoulders, relaxing quickly when she felt him. "It's beautiful is it not?" he softly whispered in her ear.
With a soft smile, she answered. "In its own way, it is. I am surprised it is still so busy."
Darcy rested his chin on her head, sliding his hands across her chest as he cradled her. A few moments later, she leaned back into him, reaching her arms around to grasp the backs of his thighs.
Having her reaching out to him, Darcy would give whatever pleasure he could tonight. Nestling his nose in her hair, he gently took her earlobe between his teeth savoring the taste of her. He traced lightly over the swell of her breasts, then under the remaining curve. HIs hands glided down her belly to her hips, before reversing their course to tracing a path to her shoulders. His fingertips brushed along the outside of her arms down until he could entwine their fingers while he lowered his mouth to taste of her neck.
When she released a soft sigh, Darcy went farther down onto her soft shoulder. Wrapping their hands around her belly, his mouth began to explore her other side.
When she turned her head back to look at him, he moved his kisses to her mouth and encouraged her hands to touch him. His response grew quickly as her gentle hands began feeling and stroking. Untying the ribbon holding her nightgown and pushing it from her shoulders, he groaned with the pleasure her hands were giving,
Darcy pulled her tightly to him. Moving to an empty spot on the wall, he removed her nightgown and turned her to face him. As she reached down to stroke him, he laced his hands under her bottom with the whispered directive: "put your legs around me." Once she did, he lifted her further, pressing his body against hers to hold her to the wall. One of her hands gripped his shoulder while the other provided guidance.
It was a fantasy come true. After leaving Netherfield Park, he had dreamed of being in this room and doing this with her. He watched her breasts move in rhythm with their motion, nipples begging to be suckled though he could not reach them, the most ungodly and wonderful sounds coming from her. Seeing her hand doing–whatever it was doing. It all culminated in the most glorious five minutes of his life.
Immediately after completion, he carried her to bed before his strength depleted. Lying on his back with her above him, she still had more energy to be used. He was happy to be St. George to her dragon until she reached exhaustion. Not bothering to remove himself, he held her on top of him, whispering a command that she "must stay in bed with me each night from this moment on. It is where you belong," as both fell asleep.
~~~oo0oo~~~
When Elizabeth awoke again, the sun was about to begin its journey across the sky. Spying the mantel clock, she saw it to be half-past five.
She looked at the gentleman lying under her, his hands lying lightly upon her thighs. She grinned, realizing she was still coupled with him. It was a different sensation, now being so soft. Not wanting to move and risk awakening him, she left it.
Resting the side of her face on his chest, she listened to his heart beating while her head rose and fell with his breath. The gentleman below (and in) her was an enigma.
Outside, he was the same Mr. Darcy that he presented upon his entry to Hertfordshire. He was haughty and dismissive, rarely bothering to speak to her. He would sit at breakfast, reading the paper or looking over a book, barely acknowledging her arrival, frequently excusing himself as she sat to eat. She would rarely see him during the morning. (1) When she did happen to pass him, he would afford her only the briefest of glances before looking away and sweeping past her.
Meals were unappetizing affairs. They were forced to be in each other's company as Lady Catherine insisted on proper dinners. Sitting on one end of the long table, Lady Catherine faced Mr. Darcy sitting at the other end. Anne sat beside Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth next to Lady Catherine. (2) Mr. Darcy and Anne said little beyond the required pleasantries to each other. Lady Catherine demanded Elizabeth listen to her tales of the mundane, it required only a slight feigned enthusiasm to sate her. There was some pleasure to be had in the ridiculousness of it all. It kept Elizabeth from going mad.
After the meal, they would retire to the parlor, where Elizabeth was expected to play a few songs or read until Anne would excuse herself, requiring Mr. Darcy to escort her to her room. Lady Catherine would keep her another quarter-hour on some pretense before they retired as well.
That was when this version of Mr. Darcy showed up, the Bedroom Mr. Darcy. He was a wholly different man than Outside Mr. Darcy. This was the gentleman who smiled at her, told her of his day, and asked of hers. This gentleman kissed her passionately and confided in her. This was the gentleman she had always dreamt of marrying. This gentleman softened her heart every night, but this gentleman disappeared once he left the bedroom.
Of all the marriages with which she was acquainted, only the Gardiners sought each other's company. Jane and Mr. Bingley would likely be the same, but such felicity in marriage seemed to be uncommon. Contentment in a union was her desire, she had always known she was unlikely to obtain it. The only man who ever stirred her heart in such a way was this gentleman—but he was not real.
She would never marry. She had decided long ago that she would not live the misery of being a man's property. Her circumstances would no longer allow marriage, which, she convinced herself, was a relief. As a single lady, her estate would remain her own. The only desirable thing a marriage could offer her were children, but now she would be free to adopt a niece or nephew to bequeath Longbourn too, thus keeping it in the Bennet family.
Colonel Fitzwilliam had asked her to consider him for marriage. She would not. He was charming but whimsical. He was still a member of the disreputable peerage, though a younger son. She now understood even more that the ton kept a different moral code than her own. She could not live that type of life, willing to risk neither her estate nor her future to one so accustomed to extravagance. Once she left Rosings Park, she would retire to Longbourn and have no more to do with this family.
This Bedroom Mr. Darcy had eaten his way into her heart. Thankfully, Outside Mr. Darcy reminded her every day how menial she was in his world.
But Bedroom Mr. Darcy kept coming back—kept tearing down her defenses. Her first time being in his bed, she was perplexed that he would share such a vulnerable part of his life.
Reflecting on the many women who lost beloved husbands in battle or from illness or injury, she began to consider her options. She already divided her life into two identities that she kept separate from each other. What if she separated Bedroom Mr. Darcy as a different person from Outside Mr. Darcy? The only thing they shared were looks.
What if she allowed herself to love Bedroom Mr. Darcy? He would only be in her life a few more months. Once she was with child, as Mary had said, he would leave. When he left, she could consider him as having died, remaining only as an ideal figure in her memory. She would have experienced that love she dreamed of and have it console her into old age.
He would be her only opportunity to feel this kind of love, even if he did not truly love her. She could give her love to this man, the one beneath her, and experience what she could of it. She would embrace the man in bed, just as she had embraced her choice to save her family. Maybe sometime later she would meet one who could replace him and who would understand, but if not, she would subsist on the memories of this.
Earlier, when she had looked out over the city in the dark, workers were making London hum as others slept. When he came to her, she decided then she would treat him as her lover. When he wrapped his arms around her, she gave license to her own cravings. Sighing into his hold, she stretched her hands to feel his derrière, but his height caused her to land only on his legs. Finding she greatly enjoyed the feel of the musculature, she left her hands there.
What followed was unrestrained passion by both. She no longer withheld parts of herself and he responded in kind. When she demanded, he gave. He did not last long but compensated by his willingness to indulge her once in the bed, rather than allowing himself to sleep.
She wrapped her arms along his sides, rubbing her cheek in the fur of his chest as she continued to rise and fall with his breathing. Impulsively, she lifted her head to kiss his chest before again nuzzling back into the curls.
She felt him begin to wake up. It was an unusual sensation to feel him changing to his utile self inside her. She brought her hands to his chest, one on top of the other, and then rested her chin on her hands as she watched him fully awaken.
He inhaled deeply as he stretched and opened his eyes. Realizing she was watching him, he cocked an eyebrow in mischief. "Am I to be this morning's entertainment?"
An impish grin spread across her face. She moved her hips ensuring he understood his starting position before she answered, "Yes."
Letting out a playful growl, he sat up, pulling her legs behind him. He then wrapped his arms around her, making short work of his morning arousal.
~~~oo0oo~~~
When once again reclining on the pillows, he separated from her to express his concern about her early mornings and late nights with no rest between. "You need to stay well. Clean yourself and come rest again. You are too important to us for you to become ill." Me, you are too important to me, he thought but could not say. How could he tell her how important she had become to him? He was married to Anne, though in no way felt it.
When she returned, he stroked her hair and asked about her visit with her family. She told him more of her father's mending health, of looking over estate books with her father and uncle, of walks with Georgiana, of sewing with her sisters and aunt, and of preparing the wedding with her mother.
"At least one of us enjoyed their visit," Darcy sighed. "You rest now, I can tell of mine later." With that, he closed the bed drapes a bit tighter and held her a bit closer.
~~~oo0oo~~~
When the mantel clock struck quarter 'til eight, Mr. Darcy woke Elizabeth and escorted her back to the room beside Georgiana. He tucked her under the coverlet, quietly encouraging her to sleep again while he prepared to attend his meeting that morning. He left her with a kiss on the forehead.
After lying abed for a half-hour, Elizabeth heard Mr. Darcy's carriage leave. Deciding she would get no further sleep, she called for Peeke. Georgiana would not leave her rooms until closer to noon, so she went to explore Mr. Darcy's library.
She first spent some time examining the shelves to see what the room offered. The first book she looked into was old, titled the Domesday Book. As she looked through it, she realized it was a list of property from shortly after William the Conqueror rose to power. Wondering if Mr. Darcy's property was listed but not willing to risk damaging such an old book, she returned it gently to its home. Taking another ancient book to look at, she found the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. She delicately turned the pages but did not recognize the words. Not knowing the language, she briefly admired the ornate scripts before again gently returning it to its shelf. While the first two books were beautiful, she decided to choose from the more modern tomes that she could read. (3)
She found an interesting text: Jacques the Fatalist by Denis Diderot. (4) She easily immersed herself in the witty dialogue between the master and his valet and the various characters that interrupt them. Shocked when the characters discussed intimate relations, she realized this was obviously not appropriate reading material for a maiden gentlewoman and went to return it.
She suddenly realized: What reason did she have to refrain from reading such novels? Looking forward to her newly expanded literary selection, she made herself comfortable and lost herself.
Laughing as the discussion between the master and Jacques was once again interrupted, Elizabeth was surprised by a man's voice. "If it is that good, I must know the name of the book." She turned in surprise to see Colonel Fitzwilliam leaning against the doorway. As he pushed himself off the frame, he moved toward her with a smile. "What are you reading?"
Suddenly embarrassed, she laid the book to her side saying, "Just a silly novel I found diverting." This was the maiden gentlewoman part of her life. She chided herself for reading such books outside the bedroom.
Regaining her composure, she rose and curtseyed to the Colonel, offering a proper greeting, which he returned.
"Have my cousins abandoned you?" the Colonel said as he looked around. "I must call them to task for neglecting their duties as hosts. Never fear, I am now here to entertain you," he offered brightly.
"It is no concern, sir. I am most thoroughly entertained by the library. Miss Darcy will rise soon, we have planned to spend some time shopping," she told him. Although the door was open and there was a footman just outside, as was proper, she had been enjoying the time spent in privacy thus had no wish to encourage him to remain.
He did not take her hint, moving to sit in the chair across from hers. "So how was your visit to Hertfordshire? You were quite exhausted last night," he asked cheerfully.
She told him of enjoying time with her family, recounted a few amusing anecdotes, then asked about his past month in London.
"Oh, just the usual. Balls and banquets. What else is there for a younger son to do?" He laughed as he donned his mask of boredom. After earning a smile from her, he grew more serious. "My general has me ferrying messages to different divisions. My horse has become my closest confidant these last few weeks."
Elizabeth expressed her sympathy along with a grin. She considered a topic to continue the conversation with but was surprised by Colonel Fitzwilliam leaning forward with a concerned look on his face. "I was hoping to speak with you before you returned to Rosings Park. How are you? Are you doing well?" he asked in a low voice.
Her eyes growing wide, she had not expected such a topic! She answered curtly with "I am doing well, thank you."
"Is everyone treating you well at Rosings Park?"
"Sir, I am well. Everyone is treating me well." Lowering her own voice to a growl, she bit back, "Sir, I have no intention of having such a discussion here!"
Richard looked at her with care. "Madam, your well-being is paramount not only to my family but also to me." He lifted her hand, bringing it to his mouth then stopped. A curious look crossed his face, then a grin. He waited for a heartbeat and then pressed his lips to her fingers before releasing her hand.
"Sir! What are you doing?" Elizabeth asked quietly as she pulled her hand away from him. He did not reply but looked toward the door with that grin still on his face. She turned to see what he was looking at.
Darcy was standing in the doorway watching them, his face expressionless. He said nothing as he moved into the room, planting himself behind Elizabeth's chair.
"Cousin! Just who I was looking for." Richard looked up cheerfully, rising to greet Darcy. "How did your meeting go?"
"Well. Why are you here?" Darcy demanded.
"As I said, to see how your meeting went. I also thought to check on my ward since she is staying here rather than with my parents. What did you and Lord Huron decide about Miss Bingley?" Richard raised his eyebrows in question.
Darcy relaxed a bit. "I told him that during my stay at Netherfield Park, Miss Bingley was quite …"
"Drunk!" Miss Darcy offered as she joined them. "The whole time. She is the most scandalous person, Richard. Simply horrid," the girl huffed, still offended at Miss Bingley's treatment of her brother, she felt she must repeat it from last night.
"Yes. She was quite appalling and to have said such things in front of Georgiana is unforgivable. I will have nothing more to do with her, thus the meeting with Lord Huron." Looking at his sister, Darcy suggested, "Georgiana, would you check on breakfast and have the servants prepare the carriage for your outing with Miss Bennet."
Georgiana reluctantly curtseyed to do as her brother requested.
"What, exactly, did that woman say in front of Georgiana?" Colonel Fitzwilliam asked in disgust as he moved toward the fireplace with Darcy.
"She called me a fortune hunter, insulted Anne in a myriad of ways, including calling her barren and commenting on her not having been presented at court, then went on to suggest I use Elizabeth as a mistress. The cit started her days drinking wine at breakfast and was stoned the entirety of each day," Darcy spat. (5)
"She is a bitter fool. She knows nothing of what is happening at Rosings Park. She's only resentful because she wanted an alliance with our family and her chances are gone. She learned you were engaged to Anne at the same time Bingley announced his intention to return to Hertfordshire. Mother was disgusted with how quickly the woman used the information about your engagement to Anne to gain access to drawing-rooms." Smiling slyly, Richard recounted, "I understand she tried to ridicule you in one drawing room by confiding to the women that you were marrying Anne for her estate. Most of the women in the room laughed asking what did she expect! It seemed enough to silence her as the ladies had much more to discuss with you removed from the marriage market."
"Is there nothing else they can speak of?"
"Apparently not. Not the group Miss Bingley frequents anyway. So how did your meeting with Lord Huron go?" (6)
"It went well. I warned him of Miss Bingley's indiscretion." Darcy smirked before going on. "He laughed at her hypocrisy but given her social-climbing ambitions, he expected something of the sort. He will have provisions written into the marriage articles to keep her on the estate if she should misbehave."
Colonel Fitzwilliam snickered. "Care to wager on how long it takes him to implement that article? I give him less than a year."
Darcy returned his amusement. "No. I do not take sure losers."
Elizabeth watched the men discuss their friend and Miss Bingley, wondering if they remembered she was still in the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam may have defended Mr. Darcy, but everything Caroline Bingley suggested in her drunkenness was true.
"So how does Huron feel about the whole thing," Colonel Fitzwilliam asked.
"He's resigned to it. With the estate in shambles, he can do no better. They both get what they want: him a dowry, her a title. Neither expects more from marriage," Darcy said flatly. "She is only required to give him her dowry, an heir, and not disgrace the family name."
"Will he keep his mistress? He has said he would marry her if he could afford it," the Colonel asked.
Elizabeth was shocked at the indelicacy of the conversation. Her mother and other ladies taught young gentlewomen about the ways of society, so she knew many gentlemen kept mistresses, but she had never heard of men speaking of such things in front of gentlewomen.
"I have no concern for his private affairs, only those affairs that involve me. I needed to inform him of my reasons for cutting the lady he will be taking as wife. If he is able to control her, I will overlook the past few days for the sake of our friendship," Darcy responded.
Colonel Fitzwilliam lowered his voice so she could barely hear. "Huron might benefit from an arrangement like the one you have. Would save Miss Bingley from having a child, would save Huron from having to lie with Miss Bingley."
Darcy scowled, not to be gainsaid. "You must never suggest it. I will not abide by anything that may raise questions."
The Colonel nodded. "Of course."
At that moment, Georgiana entered the library once again. "Breakfast is ready. Richard, will you join us?"
Glancing at Mr. Darcy, the Colonel replied, "Who am I to turn down a good meal?"
As the men turned toward the door, Georgiana turned to Elizabeth. "I hope you enjoy our offerings this morning. We have a fine selection of fresh fruits, and I believe Cook makes the best scones in the country."
The men turned to her in surprise, seemingly having forgotten she was there. Colonel Fitzwilliam recovered first, moving to her, and offering her his arm as an escort to breakfast. Darcy walked with his sister.
After a subdued but pleasant meal, Miss Darcy and Elizabeth went to prepare for their outing. As Peeke helped Elizabeth into her dress, Elizabeth told her of Miss Bingley's drunken suggestions and her own fears of Miss Bingley spreading such rumors among the ton.
Peeke now cared for Miss Bennet as much as she cared for Anne. She would not fail to uphold her duty to protect the de Bourgh family and knew just how to keep the horrid woman from ruining her Miss Anne. "Not a thing to worry about, Miss," she assured Elizabeth. "I know just what to say down below. Those that work for the genteel talk amongst themselves, the valets and lady's maids talk to the genteel. I'll get together with Mr. Darcy's valet. We'll get word around about what happened at Netherfield Park to protect you both." Halting a moment, she looked up at Elizabeth in askance. "Ma'am, I'll tell them you and Mr. Darcy don't get along too well. Rosings Park's servants already believe that, though I haven't said anything. Just how they see him act around you made them start talking of it."
Elizabeth nodded. So the servants see how he is toward me as well, she thought.
Peeke noted her agreement and went on. "They don't rightly understand it, Mr. Darcy is nice enough to most folks, and we all are grateful he is now the one we answer to instead of Lady Catherine. It works well enough for what we have to do though, so I'll keep it up."
"Where would we be without your help?" Elizabeth exclaimed. "Anne and I both thank you for everything you have done to keep our arrangement from becoming known."
"I have worked for the de Bourghs since before Miss Anne was born. She's almost like my own child." Peeke told her. "I do what I can to help her. The servants downstairs here are talking about Mr. Darcy clearing the upstairs for you to sleep, wondering why he would do that. One young groom made a suggestion about you, the young boys like to make suggestions, but I told them it was because your family feared you were becoming ill. I told them of you staying up late with your favorite sister and rising early to help care for the farm. They accepted that and began speaking of their own favorite siblings and the farms they grew up on."
Elizabeth had not thought about what the servants would say about Mr. Darcy's unusual request, but Peeke was skilled at managing the gossip. She could only thank the industrious and loyal lady's maid once again and commend her for her quick thinking.
After changing, Elizabeth met with Georgiana. On their ride to Bond Street, Miss Darcy looked first at Mrs. Annesley. Receiving a nod from her companion, she turned to Elizabeth. "Miss Bennet, we have known each other a month now, and I feel we have become friends. I would appreciate your doing me the honor of calling me Georgiana."
Surprised, Elizabeth smiled. "I am the one who is honored. Please, call me Elizabeth."
Georgiana smiled radiantly. After having spent more time in company with Elizabeth and her family, Georgiana grew comfortable speaking with her, and the two carried on a fluid conversation. They had a lovely shopping experience, with Mrs. Annesley only adding to the enjoyment of the pair.
~~~oo0oo~~~
(1) According to the annotated P&P, at that time "morning" meant from breakfast until dinner time.
(2) This isn't necessarily how people in Regency would have sat at the table. I was reading up on their dining room seating. It sounds like the lead man of the family and lead woman of the family would sit across from one another with the guests sitting in rank from most important (or oldest) to least (or youngest) sitting beside them. I'm having Lady Catherine keep herself at the head of the table, even though Anne probably should go there. I imagine that is a battle Anne doesn't see any point in fighting as it would be a pyrrhic victory.
(3) The Domesday Book was ordered by William the Conqueror to survey England. It was completed in 1086. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles is a set of very old, very important texts chronicling the major events in England starting from 60 BC. It wasn't actually started until the late ninth century (so it's not accurate history to our standards) but was actively updated until 1154. The Chronicles are a very important source for the transition from Old English to Middle English, so would look to most of us like they are written in a different language. Not only does old English use different spellings, pronunciations, and words than modern English, Old English also had letters in its alphabet that we no longer use. (Eth, thorn, and ash are a few.) Both are very interesting books if you want to look them up. I do realize real people who actually owed these extremely old and extremely rare books likely would have stored somewhere much safer.
(4) Seemed appropriate since I made Darcy born on the day the author died. This book was published in 1796.
(5) I know, 'stoned' wasn't officially used to mean 'drunk' until the 1950s. But it was used to mean 'pelted with stones' in the 1400s, as in "Before his crucifixion, Mary dreamed Jesus was to be stoned." Also, the English word 'stone' is cognate with the German word 'stein' which we all love to hold that beer we use to get stoned. [This is mostly humor, please don't take it too seriously.]
(6) The hypocrisy is intended: them gossiping about the women gossiping and that every one of Miss Bingley's offensive suggestions is actually what they are doing.