A Plethora of Peers Chapter 17 - Reflections, a pride and prejudice fanfic

~~PoP~~

Reflections

Caroline Bingley had retreated to her rooms to lick her metaphorical wounds.

She wanted to rage and blame her relations and their guests for her humiliation, but she had no energy to do so. Instead, she curled up in a tight ball on her bed and cried as she had not done since she was a child.

Ever since she could remember, her mother had petted her and doted on her. Caroline was the youngest child and prettier than Louisa and Mrs Bingley had pinned all her hopes on Caroline to make a brilliant match. After all, she could not be so beautiful for nothing.

Mrs Bingley had pestered her husband for the funds to send her daughters to seminaries to ensure they would learn all they needed, to succeed in society. Since Mr Bingley had hoped to improve his family's status to landed gentry, he had acquiesced.

Louisa had quite enjoyed her time at the school which catered to the daughters of highly successful tradesmen. While the curriculum had focused on the standard accomplishments appropriate for genteel young ladies, the students were also given an introductory course on what was involved in living on an estate.

By the time it was Caroline's turn, Mrs Bingley had managed to arrange a place in a seminary usually reserved for young ladies from the gentry and lower nobility.

Caroline had been excited to attend such a prestigious school, but her illusions were quickly shattered. She soon learnt that those girls had no time for the jumped-up daughter of a tradesman. She was treated with disdain by the other students who mocked her for her origins in trade. But Caroline gritted her teeth and endured the mocking as she applied herself to learn everything she could, including the proper manner to deal with social inferiors. The longer she remained the more determined she became to making the most brilliant marriage, so that she would be in a position to lord it over her tormentors.

While she was still at school, both her parents perished in an accident. Her mother lived just long enough to extract a promise from Caroline to marry into the first circles, as she so richly deserved.

When three years ago, just after leaving the seminary, her brother had introduced her to his friend Darcy, she was convinced it was fate which had brought them together. Even though he did not have a title, he was related to the Earl of Matlock as well as being exceedingly wealthy. Many young ladies of the first circles were eager to become Mrs Darcy.

Because Darcy was her brother's friend, Caroline believed that he would not be averse to a marriage with her. After all, she was beautiful, fashionable, accomplished and had a dowry of twenty thousand pounds. That was a sum even many titled families could not afford.

Yet, the years passed, and Mr Darcy had still not offered for her. This sojourn into the wilds of Hertfordshire had seemed the perfect opportunity to impress the gentleman with her suitability as his wife.

Again, instead of impressing Darcy, she was upstaged, first by her sister and then by her neighbours whom she had considered not worth her notice.

While Miss Bingley was arrogant and ambitious, and allowed her ambitions to blind her to anything which contradicted her wishes, she was not stupid. Now that she had been forced to look at reality, she used her intelligence.

As she analysed her current situation, Caroline came to realise that her mother had not done her any favours by sending her to that seminary. There was a subject which was not taught, as it was assumed that the students would have an ingrained knowledge of the workings of an estate.

Now that she stopped to think about it, during her holidays from the seminary, Louisa had tried to tell her about her own education regarding the duties of the gentry, which Caroline had dismissed as that subject was not taught at her much superior school.

She had always assumed that since tenant farmers were below her in social standing, they, like servants, had no value. How was she to know that they were essential to the profitability of an estate?

Now, when it was too late, Caroline berated herself for not having listened to her sister. As much as she was chagrined by the realisation, it was no wonder that Mr Darcy had not considered her as a suitable mistress of Pemberley.

And before today, it also had never occurred to her that anyone having wealth and true consequence did not have any need to shout it from the rooftops... like the Bennets, who were secure in their position.

As Caroline drifted into exhausted sleep, she lazily wondered about those dresses the Bennet sisters wore. Were they really creations of Madame Dupont?

~PoP~

After the drama, the rest of the party split into several groups, conversing quietly.

Elizabeth and Darcy were sitting near the window.

'I confess that at present I feel rather ashamed of how I treated Miss Bingley,' Elizabeth said with a slight grimace.

'None of us were kind to her but considering how she attempted to tear down you and your sister, I cannot blame you for your reaction,' Darcy reassured her.

Elizabeth shook her head. 'I knew that there is nothing which she can do or say to hurt me. But I was simply tired of her constant sniping at everyone. And not to mention her callousness. But I could have done it more subtly and in private. There was no need to embarrass her in public.'

'Without the rest of us to support your assertions, I doubt that Miss Bingley would have believed you.'

'Still… I could have tried.'

It was Darcy's turn to grimace. 'I mentioned once when she and her brother were staying at Pemberley that tenants are the backbone of an estate and need to be treated with consideration. While she praised my generosity towards the lower classes, she did not appear to grasp the concept. As she was my guest, it would have been rude to lecture her on the subject.'

'And you would never be rude…'

'At least not in my own home.'

'Tell me about your home. What do you like most about it?'

Darcy was pleased about the change in subject, especially as he could speak for hours about the delights of Pemberley. Elizabeth was impressed with Darcy's love for his home and listened eagerly to the description of the place which could be her own potential future home.

He was not in the least surprised that Elizabeth was full of interest about the library and the beauty of the grounds, but she also wanted to hear about the tenants. He was ecstatic that instead of commenting about the wealth of Pemberley, Elizabeth said, 'It must be a great responsibility to have so many people depend on you.'

The more time he spent with her, the more he realised that Elizabeth had captured his heart. He could only hope that it would not be long before Elizabeth gave him hers in return.

~PoP~

Across the room another couple held a similar conversation.

Mary too felt bad about her response to Caroline while Fitzwilliam congratulated her on her handling of the situation.

'You misunderstand. If she wants to insult me, I do not particularly care, as there is nothing which she can do to hurt me. But I could not bear her callousness towards Mrs Baker. I shudder to think what she would do if she were to be in charge of tenants who have not the means of defending themselves.'

'I suspect that why most of our peers despise cits and tradesmen. Most of those have not the slightest idea what it means to be a landowner. They do not understand the concept of noblesse oblige.' When Mary nodded in agreement, Fitzwilliam said, 'But tell me about the lessons to which the young scamp referred.'

Mary was happy to tell Fitzwilliam about the lessons which Peter Baker and the other tenant children were receiving. 'Twice a week we hold classes to teach all the children to read and write, as well as arithmetic. And whenever one shows a particular interest or aptitude in a subject, we try to further it. It is our hope that this will give them a chance to better their lives.'

'I noticed that you also teach them how to speak,' the Colonel grinned as he remembered Peter's performance.

'That boy is a natural mimic. I expect that he will go into service rather than become a farmer,' Mary explained with an amused smiled.

'It is very good of you to take such an interest.'

'Under the circumstances, how could I do anything else?'

'Just so,' Fitzwilliam agreed and fell silent as his thoughts drifted to the fact that this lovely young woman was very much what he had been hoping to find. But now that he had found her, he was having scruples because he did not wish to be perceived as a fortune hunter.

Why did things have to be so complicated?

~PoP~

The third separate conversation was between Bingley, Louisa and Hurst.

'Charles, Why did you not tell me about our neighbours' noble connections?' Louisa asked.

'Since our neighbours were not making an issue of their connections, I saw no reason bring it up as you seemed to be getting on quite well with them.

Bingley chuckled. 'I confess that I only discovered the connection by accident. The other night I could not sleep and went to the study as I had no wish to talk should anyone else be awake. I was just opening and closing the drawers in the desk when I came across the Debrett's. Having nothing better to do and to take my mind of things, I flicked through the book and came upon the Bennets.'

Bingley looked shamefaced as he said, 'When I read the entry, I thought I had discovered the reason why Miss Mary was not interested in me. I realised that her pedigree is identical to Darcy, and he would never marry Caroline. And of course, I did not tell Caroline because I was hoping she would make a fool of herself, although I expected she would do so in private. I anticipated that after a particularly insulting episode I would be able to tell Caroline whom she had insulted to drive home the point that her attitude could burn bridges she had hoped to cross.'

'You mean she burned ladders which she hoped to climb,' quipped Hurst before turning more serious. 'My dear, you know how your sister has become the bane of my existence. I felt if she had enough rope, she would hang herself… metaphorically of course, and she would be out of our lives. Either because Charles sends her away where she can do no harm, or she finds somewhere to hide from her public embarrassment.'

Louisa nodded in understanding. 'I wish that you had been able to tell Caroline, but I suppose that she was never going to learn this lesson the easy way. I just hope that this fiasco has forced her to reevaluate her attitude.'

'Let us hope for a miracle,' the men agreed.

~PoP~

Caroline Bingley remained in her rooms for the rest of the day. Louisa Hurst had trays sent to her room but thought it wise to give her sister time to come to terms with her folly.

It was a remarkably congenial group which gathered for dinner and conversation flowed easily.

They did not bother to separate after dinner but moved to the drawing room to enjoy their tea. Elizabeth happened to look out the window and noticed that the rain had eased considerably. 'It seems that we might be able to get home in the morning,' she said in considerable relief.

'If you are going to leave us so soon, would you honour us with some music tonight?' Darcy asked, hoping to hear Elizabeth perform again. 'Perhaps I could turn the pages for you?'

Bingley was amused by Darcy's attentions to Elizabeth as he never left her side all evening. He was less amused when he noticed the Colonel being just as attentive to Miss Mary, although he probably thought that he was being subtle. In the end he decided that if the lady was not interested in himself, at least Fitzwilliam was a good choice.

~PoP~

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