Many thanks to my Beta Reader Sam. H.
1800–1810, Bingley
The Bingleys had been merchants established in the north of England for several generations. Generation after generation, they had substantially increased their fortune. Mr. Samuel Bingley owned a textile factory whose main customers were wealthy merchants and high-society dressmakers.
In 1800, Samuel, his wife, and three children—two girls, 14-year-old Louisa and 10-year-old Caroline—and one boy, 12-year-old Charles—moved to London.
He wanted his daughters to be accepted in a more refined society, so he settled on large dowries for them and sent them to the best seminary his money could buy. However, because they were merchants' daughters, several ladies treated them with disdain and reminded them that they were socially inferior.
For many years, Samuel divided his time between Scarborough and London, as he knew his fortune depended on the factory's success. Year after year, the new machines were displacing the workers at his factory, and Samuel sensed widespread discontent among the poorest population. He feared that, at some point, a rebellion would take place. Fears of a revolution similar to the one in France were latent.
In 1804, Louisa finished her education at the seminary and entered society. But the coveted invitations to parties and gatherings of London's high society never came, and she had to settle for attending the events of her father's friends and acquaintances, who were mostly merchants.
In 1806, when Charles turned 18, Samuel sent him to Cambridge, wanting him to have the same education as a gentleman. That same year, at a gathering at the home of some acquaintances, he was introduced to Mr. Gardiner, who was already established as a prosperous businessman. Before long, Samuel decided it was time to diversify his sources of income, so he invested a portion of his savings in Mr. Gardiner's import and export company.
In 1807, during a party at the home of one of her few friends from the seminary, Louisa met Mr. Hurst. Mr. Hurst was the only son of a minor gentleman; he had an estate of about £2,000 a year and had debts. After knowing each other for a few months, Mr. Hurst began courting her, and in 1808 they married. While it was not a love match, both were satisfied with it. The Hursts could pay off their debts with a portion of Louisa's dowry, and Louisa, after that, became part of the landed class.
Shortly after Louisa's marriage, Mrs. Bingley died of cancer, preventing Caroline from making her long-awaited societal debut that year.
Towards the end of 1808, Mr. Bingley's health also began to fail, and he asked Charles to return from Cambridge. He knew he was dying and needed to help his son run the businesses and wanted him to sell the factory and purchase an estate. Charles was only 20 and had never participated in the family's business decisions. At first, he felt overwhelmed with all he had to learn in such a short time.
By chance, a few days after Charles returned to London, he met Mr. Darcy at the fencing club. Nobody understood why they became good friends since they were so different in temperament, and Darcy was five years his senior. Charles admired his new friend and, mindlessly trusting his excellent judgment, often asked him for advice.
In the spring of 1809, Mr. Gardiner invited the Bingleys to his home for dinner because he knew that Mr. Bingley Sr. was very ill and wanted to establish a good relationship with his son. Mr. Bingley Sr, Caroline and Charles attended the dinner. There, Charles first saw Mr. Gardiner's niece, Jane Smith, and was struck by her beauty. Since Caroline hated associating with merchants, she said very little the entire evening. However, she conceded that Mrs. Gardiner was refined and elegant for a merchant's wife, and Miss Smith was a demure and pretty young woman. Others followed this meeting, but most of them were among the gentlemen.
In December 1809, Caroline Bingley finally met Fitzwilliam Darcy. The gentleman met all the requirements she dreamt of: he was wealthy, with connections to the nobility, and a very handsome landowner. Caroline believed herself to be in love. From then on, she tried every way she could to get her brother to help her fulfill her dream of being the future Mrs. Darcy.
In early 1810, Mr. Bingley, on his deathbed, had an earnest conversation with Charles that would affect his life forever.
"Charles, listen to me; I know my time is very short." With a lot of effort, Mr. Bingley continued, "You know that in addition to your sisters' dowries, I saved about £100,000 for you... I want you to purchase an estate with that money." He paused again and continued, "You must also make a good marriage. I have seen how you look at Miss Smith, but she has no fortune; she is not a gentleman's daughter, nor does she have a good education to compensate for those shortcomings. Marrying a woman like her would only have negative consequences for your future. You also have to take care of Caroline until she marries."