Chapter 18 ~Spreading Rumours
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:5-8, ESV)
Little more than an hour after the Gardiners were surprised by the unexpected arrival of thier niece Bingley recieved a summons to Darcy house urging him to call 'without delay.' It was the sort of request that a person only makes of their true friends. He had known Darcy a little for two years before he began to receive invitations from him. The previous year invitations became more frequent and in the autumn they had seen one another daily. Suddenly in February he found he was being fobbed off. Bingley was not one to hold grudges and with fellows like Darcy he rather expected them to be a little whimsical in their civilities. Though their friendship appeared recently to have cooled, Bingley was incapable of ignoring so unusual a summons. Coming as it did during a dinner party at the Hursts', he slipped out during his sisters' favourite duet quite ready to assist a friend in need.
When he was shown into Darcy's dressing room he was shocked by the appearence of his friend. The man looked mad, something had discoloured his face. The usually impeccably dressed gentleman stood in his dressing gown before a blazing fire.
"Ah! Bingley you have come at last. I require something of you, my man. I wish to have the use of your house at Netherfield."
Still distracted by the unnatural hue of the man's face Mr. Bingley disregarded his question and prodded, "Are you unwell?"
Observing Darcy's confused expression his friend made an uncertain gesture around his own face. Confusion turned to scorn.
"Oh, no, there was simply an accident with a bottle of ink. But what of the house when can it be made available?" Pretending to doubt his friends willingness he added belatedly, "I mean if you are willing to give me the use of it."
"Very soon I think. I must only write my housekeeper, but I shall accompany you."
"Oh that will not be necessary, I will only be there a few days – a fortnight at most."
"Excellent! I have decided that I should attempt at least to woo Miss Bennet. She may, in time, return my–"
"No, Bingley, you had better not." Observing the expression on the other man's face he explained, "She is not worthy of you, besides she is in London."
"In London? Where–? How did you learn of–" These were the questions that escaped from the dozens spinning in his mind.
"There is no hurry, I, um, should hide away a few days more – until this colour fades"
"Yes," choosing like his friend to ignore his own questions, "I believe there was some small problem at the house. I must write to my steward. I will send you a note when I hear from him."
"I had hoped to be there on Tuesday. Would that be possible?"
"I can promise nothing at the moment but I believe so." Tuesday, he had a week, well he had five days there was little he could do today and on Sunday, nothing at all.
Darcy smiled and Bingley noticed that the discolouration was heaviest around his hairline – very similar to his Aunt Maisy. She married later in life and claimed she was thirty-two for twenty years at least.
"Very good. I think I should get back to my sister's guests, if there is nothing else? I'll send round a note." If Darcy had ever bothered to really get to know him, his change in speech pattern and awkward movements would have been a warning that something was amiss with Bingley. As it happened Darcy was not even looking at him but at the door as eager to end this interview as his guest.
A young man who dyes his hair is either a liar or a fool and Fitzwilliam Darcy was no fool. There had been stories since they met a few years ago but that there could be such evil in the whole of mankind was inconceivable, and the honest young man did not credit them. Making his money from a brothel. Darcy had a prosperous estate what did he need of such filthy lucre. Surely he wouldn't be accepted in society if it were true, but then perhaps those men had reasons to keep his secrets. This thought was vile and made him wish to buy an estate far from town for his bride. This thought brought to mind the one lady he very much wished to wed.
It was disloyal to think so little of a man he so recently called a friend, yet Darcy knew Miss Bennet was in town and did not inform him. That was not the action of a friend. Had he ever truly been a friend? There were always little things that caused him pause but they were easily explained away if not by himself then by Darcy who only scoffed at every rumour. That he would disinvite him to his own house was high-handed at best but at worst both rude and suspicious. Was he wooing Miss Bennet behind his back? Worse?! She must be warned against him.
With that motive, now of first importance, Charles returned home. After their guests had gone away, with more guile than his sisters had heretofore dreamed he could be capable of, he mentioned "those sisters in Herfordshire with their relations in trade." Sneering very like his younger sister he queried, "Didn't they have relations in Cheapside? I can't recall the street–"
Mrs. Hurst promptly supplied, "36 Gracechurch Street" and immediately yelped for Caroline had trod on her toes.
"Yes, well, I shall take myself to bed. Goodnight Louisa, Ehm It seems Reg has already drifted off, sleep well Caroline." Proving he was not at all tired he bounded up the steps two at a time.
The next day was Wednesday and Bingley called in Gracechurch Street. Mrs. Gardiner refused his card and when he persisted she told the footman to direct him to Mr. Gardiner's warehouse. Bingley confidently navigated his way through the narrow streets and spoke to a gentleman not at all disposed to approve of him. When Bingley explained that he had only just discovered his friend's perfidy Mr. Gardiner was convinced by the young man's demeanor and the reverent way he spoke of Jane that he was not the lying scoundrel his friend was. He shared with him Darcy's behaviour towards both Jane and Elizabeth. After he was informed Elizabeth had been threatened with a ruined reputation he wondered if perhaps Jane would be willing to marry him even without affection, she may afterwards grow to love him. It might help to restore her sister's reputation by proving to the neighbourhood that Mr. Darcy had no credibility with him.
Mr. Bingley saw his lawyers to draft a settlement that afternoon and in the evening he went to his club to learn what he always before refused to hear about his friend. On Thursday morning he called on some influential ladies and casually and innocently mentioned the marks on Mr. Darcy's skin. This was enough to make a number of ladies titter behind their hands. He was able to accomplish far more on on one particular visit though he had only one elderly dowager to hear his tale. The younger ladies of the household being out he was lead ito the sunny parlour intending only a very brief visit.
After subtlely mentioning the marks he asked the lady what she thought it could be and what she thought of such a man. She shook her head, with little flicks of her wrist she revived her ruffles as a bird fluffs its feathers then with one brow lifted above her otherwise serious mien she answered,
"Well he's a vain cad. I have known that much before – flirting with every debutante until she falls madly in love and suddenly moving on to another young innocent. Every society mama I think believed her grandchildren would be Darcys at one time or another. And those without daughters secretly despise him because he has lured one or another of their young sons to the gaming tables."
Bingley shook his head sorrowfully, "I dislike that I so recently called him my friend. When I came into my inheritance he invited me to one of those places and after I refused he paid me little attention until last year. I thought his reputation must be exaggerated. Had I known then what I know now about him I would never have allowed him near my sisters– pardon me I shouldn't speak of these things to a Lady."
"I have buried two husbands, young man, and there has been talk – even among the ladies – that he leads impressionable young men astray with more than gaming tables."
"I thought he indulged casually like many young men I did not think it possible that he owned such an establishment – the poor girls who have been entrapped for that purpose- -"
"Entrapped! It is very charitable of you to say. I call them brazen – but they were innocent once, I suppose and the gentlemen corrupting them are only winked at by society. Now if he dared to treat a gentlewoman in that way he would be disgraced." She saw her vistor's pained expression and pressed him. "There is more I suppose, go on."
When he sought me out several months ago he seemed a likable chap and I thought he must have given up those habits – "
"Those sort never do, go on my boy."
"I had occasion to observe his behaviour with some gentle women of my acquaintance. He attempted to get one of them to consent to an elopement. When she refused he threatened her reputation."
"That peacock! Barmaids and street wenches are no longer enough for him! Oh he will not be received after this. The poor countess will be shocked but she has long disapproved of her nephew. Where he learned his tricks heaven only knows, his father – well he was also devilishly handsome but he was angelically good. Such a shame, the Darcy's were always very respectable people."
The ladies of the ton had no reason to keep his secrets and every motive to expose him and so they did. By the time Bingley arrived in Hertfordshire Darcy was a by-word all over London.
His reputation in Hertfordshire, however, was improving as the good people of that county began to embellish the gossip that won Elizabeth their sympathy earlier in the week. After the the story had been repeated for the third time to Mrs. King, she – envious of the Bennet girls' beauty – tsked maliciously and her shrug suggested a different story lay beneath. The other ladies did begin to whisper that Mr. Darcy was indeed very handsome and very rich; why should he trouble a gentlewoman? Soon it was openly discussed how the advantage indeed was all on her side and everybody knew how Miss Gardiner became Mrs. Bennet. Those girls were like their mother – all of them out for what they can get. Most of the ladies quite readily excepted Jane, such a shame that she was born into such a family and others remarked that Miss Elizabeth had always behaved quite properly.
Lady Lucas responded, fearing the turn the gossip had taken,
"She is a prettily behaved, clever sort of girl."
Mrs. Goulding exhaultantly added, "not quite clever enough" which bon mot was tittered over in every drawing room until Saturday when everyone talked instead of Mr. Bingley's return.
'Mrs. Nicholls has run around all day, she does not say that he surprised her but she is terribly busy and anxious for a woman who was prepared to open the house. Oh poor Jane. She has no chance of catching him now!'
That last phrase echoed through Meryton with mingled pity and triumph until it needed to be swallowed like the bitterest gall. The banns for Mr. Charles Bingley and Miss Jane Bennet were read the very next day but that was not their only surprise.
On Friday Bingley had called at Longbourn before he even stopped at his own house. He met first with Mr. Bennet to explain what he learned of Mr. Darcy and further that the other man planned to be in Hertfordshire on Tuesday. To this news Mr. Bennet only smiled ruefully and shook his head.
"I believe your friend will be terribly disappointed to learn that our neighbours have already sullied my little Lizzy's reputation with their own suspicious minds."
Mr. Bingley sighed. That was disappointing news and there was little hope of convincing Mr. Darcy to marry Elizabeth nor was it at all likely that it would be a felicitous union if they did.
"I suppose I will need to find her a husband but she is blameless. I questioned her and aside from imposing two kisses on her she is unharmed. Nevertheless, I shall need to coerce some young man to marry her."
Bingley was now feeling most uncomfortable fearing he may be expected to do that duty. Wishing to make his intentions clear he began to speak fragments of thoughts exactly as they swam into his head: "It would not quite wash away the stain on Miss Elizabeth's reputation. Perhaps, - - I hope at least that it might dilute it. I would not wish you to think- I mean those are not my reasons and though Miss Bennet may not have the same feelings, mine are quite engaged."
Somehow from these disconnected thoughts Mr. Bennet understood that the gentleman had other designs and Jane was summoned. Unwilling to leave his daughters alone with any gentleman after recent events Jane heard Mr. Bingley's plea in the presence of her father. He expressed his shame for introducing such a man to the neighbourhood, his sorrow that they had been so badly treated, a hope of earning her regard, and then he offered his hand. No sooner had this been settled than a very agitated Mr. Wickham insisted on an audience with Mr. Bennet.