Chapter 28
This would be her last day in town, and Caroline Bingley fully intended to make the most of what little she had left. Her maid a delivered the most disconcerting and vexing intelligence she had even had the displeasure to receive: Mr. Darcy had been turned away.
What right had her brother to ruin her aspirations? Aspirations she had inherited with her fortune; and indeed, that was its purpose, to promote their advancement in high society. Her brother could not truly succeed if his sisters married poorly, or not at all. Charles current hopes for the future abandoned the purpose for which they were bred, schooled, occasionally endured indignities with grace. Yet, still, his conduct implied she were the traitorous one. Whatever Charles feelings at present, his interests had been looked after, and he was more secure for it. What was done with Jane Bennet had been done for the best, she could by no means become Mrs. Bingley.
Mr. Darcy could not have had but one purpose; he would not leave her with all the consequences of their actions. If not for the purpose of protecting his interests, Mr. Darcy would have had no place interfering with her brothers plans. His call was not for Charles, beside the present unpleasant business between them, Mr. Darcy had requested, and been denied an audience with her.
Her maid gestured quietly, indicating it was time to depart. Her part in this escapade was to acquire a hackney, wait until they could not be observed departing through the servants exit, and accompany her on her call. Darcy's sister was in town; she could be called upon, that was her only hope. The indignity of such arts was not lost upon her; she felt the sting of humiliation keenly. She felt disgust and contempt for the brother who left her to resort to such means, thus driving her to engage in such mortifications. But she would not leave Mr. Darcy to think she had abandoned him alongside her brother.
She was not less than one and twenty; she no longer had use of Charles if he meant to put her out in such a manner. Her humiliation would be short lived when she achieved her aim. Circumstance had now made her desperate, and her attentions to Mr. Darcy were by no means over.
She arrived, the butler looked to her and then back at the hired carriage, his additional disapproval hidden aside from the intended slight. He can expect to need a new position. Darcy would be in complete agreement, the future mistress's manner of arriving could, and should, be kept quiet. His pride would surely prohibit any other mode of addressing the matter. He waited some seconds that felt to Miss Bingley like minutes, she raised a threatening eyebrow, and the butler finally inquired as to her call.
You ought to damn well know by now. You can expect to be dismissed without a character. "Miss Bingley for Miss Darcy." He nodded, hoping the young miss would send that foul tempered woman away. He did all in his power, little though it was, to vex her without bringing censure upon himself. If she ever achieved her aim, he would fall down a flight of stairs to escape her. Laid up with a broke appendage or two was far preferable to taking orders from a woman so haughty and crass.
He returned, and showed her into a fashionably, though inadequately, decorated parlor. It was luxurious and tasteful to be sure, but it lacked that certain something that would make it feel refined. All the better, that the rooms have not yet been redone. Those who enter it ought to feel the weight of Darcy's consequence and wealth. That is precisely why he is in need of me, and he knows it.
Georgiana rose to greet her, having just finished Elizabeth's note. Miss Bingley greeted her immediately with profusions of insincere warmth, self-serving flattery, and every exclamation that could possibly be contrived to convey fallacious affection. Georgianna resented it to be sure, but wished she could so easily see everyone's motives.
"Pray, tell your brother I am sorry to have missed his call. I should not have delayed the hope of an event which will secure the happiness of so many, had I known he was to come to see me."
Georgianna's eyes widened, it could not be, her brother had just declared he had no interest in her. Was it because he did not wish for me to be unhappy in my worry for him? Did Aunt Catherine force his hand and make him abandon Miss Bingley? Is that why he expressed guarded admiration for Miss Elizabeth and circumspect denial of Miss Bingley, to put me at ease? But he pointed out they are not of the same circles. Did he mean to marry one woman, to escape the charms of another, until our aunt interfered? Perhaps I should not have told Miss Elizabeth he meant to marry her! When had he called upon Miss Bingley? Before or after our aunt's call? It did not signify, she now realized, it could be no recipe for his happiness. Thinking no good could come from his being distracted from his purpose—regaining Miss Elizabeth's favor—she determined to intervene and discourage Miss Bingley's continued attentions. It could only break his heart to abandon his plans. It would upset Lady Catherine, it would upset her, it would upset him if her brother let this harpy change his mind.
"Anything that made my brother happy, would make me happy as well. Shall I ring for tea?"
"That would be delightful. Surely, your brother will soon be joining us."
"I know him to be out."
"Well, I know I can trust you to do all you might to further his happiness and mine. I can depend upon you for that. I think of you, you know, with such a sisterly affection."
"Of course, Miss Bingley. I wouldn't deny him any happiness for all the world. I believe he meant to call upon Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I shall mention your call directly when he returns."
Startled, she cried, "Why would he call upon that hoyden?" He would not make his sister aware of his vulgar infatuation. He knew her family to be insupportable when we were in Hertfordshire. Miss Bingley's resentment rose with her recollections of Mr. Darcy's musings on subject of Eliza Bennet's fine eyes.
Taken aback, Miss Darcy said, "I cannot know what you mean Miss Bingley. I have always found her delightful, and remarkably genteel. She is every bit the lady. I hope that I shall be able to follow her example."
You have not spent nearly enough time in school if you know so little of the sort of connections you ought to be obtaining. Vexed, feeling anything but sisterly affection, and desperately grasping for information, Miss Bingley said, "For what purpose could you have possibly made her acquaintance? She must have importuned your brother in public. He is too much the gentleman to ignore even an undeserving acquaintance. You must not feel obliged to receive her, your brother would not require it of you, in fact I am sure he would wish to cut the acquaintance entirely."
"Oh, no, not at all. She is meant to call upon me shortly and with my brothers blessing. His has quite encouraged the connection." She said as innocently as she could contrive. "We must be speaking of different people. He always spoke so fondly of her when he wrote from Netherfield. I don't think he's ever admired anything as much as her singing and playing, except, perhaps the liveliness of her mind." There, thought Georgianna, perhaps my brother will return in time to see your true character if I can so provoke you with the truth.
Incensed, but attempting to maintain decorum, Miss Bingley said, in a sickening sweet tone. "Indeed, we must speak of different persons. The Eliza Bennet to which I refer was often the subject of your brother's disapprobation. Indeed, the night her family was introduced he claimed it would be a punishment to stand up with her."
Georgianna nearly exclaimed her brother would not say such a thing, but then remembered his remarks. Is that what he meant by saying her disapprobation was his own doing? She then recollected Miss Elizabeth's story, and Miss Bingley's assertions suddenly made sense. Georgianna wished to defend him but was at loss as to what to say that would not make her to appear a fool, the brother she knew would never, and yet, it seemed he had!
Miss Bingley, readily guessing at her feelings, snidely spoke again seeking to find advantage in Miss Darcy's confusion. "And I quite remember him agreeing, when she appeared a Netherfield with her petticoat six inches deep in mud, mind you, that she showed a conceited sort of independence and a country town indifference to decorum. He quite declared he would not wish you to make such an exhibition." She need not know about her brother's admiration for Eliza's fine eyes. Let her think what an embarrassment such a sister would be. Miss Bingley fully felt the threat of Miss Elizabeth's charms, she had witnessed how easily Darcy was distracted by her.
"I do recollect him writing of the pleasing care and consideration she had shown her sister while she was ill. Perhaps you misunderstood his purpose and he only meant to express concern for her safety. He is excessively attentive to such things, having a young sister of his own to care for. I know he would never wish me to put my health at risk to see to his." Georgiana answered resolutely, but her confidence wavered. She could not help but to wonder why her brother had been insulting Miss Elizabeth, and to a woman like Miss Bingley. Perhaps it was only when he first knew her. It was confusing and did not seem at all like the man she thought she knew her brother to be.
Miss Bingley's countenance began to change color as her vexation increased, and, in the imprudence of anger, took the first opportunity of saying, with sneering civility: "He must wish to share with you only that which is admirable. Brothers, you know, continue to see sisters as young girls, however much they have grown. You are almost out yourself; I can hardly think it right to keep such things from you. As you are in my confidence, I must fill you in on all he has left out. I would by no means leave you ignorant of that mother of theirs, and heaven forbid that the younger sisters that might impress upon your kindness to condescend to be acquainted with them. The youngest two do nothing but chase officers. Their flirtations were so disgraceful that they may very well have the distinction of being the most vulgar thing I have ever had the displeasure of witnessing. Except, perhaps, their mother, who gave no thought whatso ever to declaring, quite publicly, how she had instructed her daughter to "catch" my brother. Imagine the humiliation you would feel to have such ladies known to be acquainted with you. You brother quite sees the danger in them, he declared the entire family insupportable."
Colonel Fitzwilliam cleared his throat at the door, bowing first to Georgianna while winking, and then to Miss Bingley.
"Dear Colonel, how delighted I am to see you." Said Miss Bingley, with genuine warmth. He was just the sort of alli she was in need of. He could speak frankly and move more freely in the world than the daft, insipid, little girl she had come to call upon.
"Miss Bingley," he nodded, smiling mischievously. "I suppose we are not to have the pleasure of your brother's company as well?"
"Indeed not," she said, tearing up with affected distress. "Forgive me for being overcome. His ingratitude toward Darcy is astounding, and his contempt for his own relations, even his own sister, is worse still. My intimacy with Darcy has caused him to put me from his house." She burst into sobs and continued. "Yet everything Darcy and I conspired to do, was purely for his own good, entirely to his benefit and for the purpose of the family." Miss Bingley had not intended to bring that matter up in front of Georgianna, lest she set her heart against Charles, but nothing else could be done. If Charles had his way, it would be impossible to unite them, and Georgianna's gulling defense of Eliza only accomplished Miss Bingley discarding all of her previous approbation. The younger son of an earl would take pity on her and believe Darcy honor bound to marry her. The matter could be settled expediently if some of his illustrious relations took up her cause; a special license was desirable, as she could not now marry from her brother's house in Town. After choking on a few sobs, Miss Bingley said, "And now I am to hear, after being thrown from the house on his behalf, that he has been prevailed upon to marry his cousin, though I cannot believe he would so abandon me."
Georgianna and Richard looked at one another, with affected incredulity. Darcy would by no means marry Anne.
Colonel Fitzwilliam feigned shock, "And who is the source of this rumor? I have not heard Darcy confirm any plans with Anne."
Miss Bingley perked up, having finally some evidence she could encourage herself with. "I knew better than to believe it of him, of course, but hearing of the matter directly from your aunt and then to have my brother so callously send Mr. Darcy away. I suppose you could blame me for feeling he might be sufficiently discouraged."
"Is that so, perhaps I am misinformed," he said, winking discreetly at his ward as Miss Bingley reached for her tea. Miss Darcy fought to hide her amusement behind her teacup.
"It is a dreadful business to be sure. I would never have believed Charles capable of behaving having so ungraciously."
The Colonel leaned in, feigning consideration, and handed her his handkerchief. Giving her a few moments, to collect herself, he eventually said. "I understand your lament, madam. It is indeed an odd thing in society for the persons who spreads scandalous falsehoods to be punished for the crime. Very often such schemers suffer no ill effects at all, while the innocent live in infamy, but that is the way of our society."
Miss Bingley made no attempt to hide her confusion. Colonel Fitzwilliam continued, nonchalantly, "It is a welcome turn of events to see a young lady effectively turn the tables and expose the deceit without getting caught in the snare. I quite understand your confusion though, typically a lie makes it all over London before the truth is offered and dismissed in so much as a single drawing room. It is a hard punishment indeed, for someone so unuse to the notion of consequences, though I could not be brought to think ill of Bingley for such an action. One does not go in to battle without counting the cost, it was a risk you took rather willingly I understand."
Miss Bingley made to speak hoping to expose Eliza Bennet and rescue herself from any blame, but the Colonel again cut her off. "You surely cannot expect any sympathy from myself after the tales you spread about my ward? Tell me, what action had you hoped your story would provoke me to?"
"Nay, you entirely misunderstand me sir. I come only on the account of making Mr. Darcy aware of my plight. As to dearest Georgianna, upon my word, I have never in the whole of my acquaintance spoken so much as an unkind turn of phrase in connection with her. You quite mistake the matter! I wish her for a sister twice over, harming her could only slight my own consequence."
Losing his cool, Colonel Fitzwilliam said, "Madam, you had the nerve to insinuate a connection between my ward to your brother and in letters to persons wholly unconnected to our family. It is fortunate for you that the young ladies you so sought to deceive were too well breed to share the content with anyone other than my aunt. If their nature was half as malicious as yours, you would now have all of good society against you. Both my mother and Lady Catherine would not have stopped until your family was nothing but fodder for scorn and ridicule had you comprised Georgianna's reputation in a way. Do you believe they would allow Darcy's sister to become connected with your brother under any circumstances? Allow me to correct your perspective," he said, seeing the disbelief on her countenance, "they would have found a broke nobleman to marry her. As to Darcy, he is well aware of your situation, your brother relayed his intent before they parted. Darcy called merely to apologize for his interference and hoped you might relay the message. Perhaps you should have considered the consequences before you so willing got into bed with the devil."
Georgianna gasped, Miss Bingley shrieked, "How dare you accuse your cousin of taking my virtue! It is outlandish."
Darcy, who had just been returning home, instantly came running. Miss Bingley spied him first, and cried, now in hysterics, "Thank God you have come home! Your cousin has accused you of taking my virtue and in front of your sister. You know it is not so! Pray, insist that they hear the truth." Darcy glanced to his sister, and by the look on her face he could only believe he had been so accused. Before Darcy could find his voice, Miss Bingley started again, "My reputation shall never recover what it has suffered at the hands of your family. Your aunt has threatened to tell society I belong in brothel, your cousin declares I have been to bed with you! I beg of you, you can not allow this to stand! I have done all that you asked of me, and even more still. I am to lose my home, the care of my brother, and even my respectability for the sake of my alliance with you. Pray, Mr. Darcy, do not abandon me now, when I suffer for your instruction. Surely, your honor will not allow it."
Georgianna gasped again, how had this gone so wrong, and so fast? She had only hoped to provoke Miss Bingley into exposing her true character to brother. She could feel only gratitude when Richard declared no one should pity someone who so deserved their punishment. She had not meant for them to make Miss Bingley so desperate. She glanced anxiously towards her brother, fearing he would feel some way bound, but Colonel Fitzwilliam surprised her by speaking next.
"I in no way meant to imply Darcy meant any assault on your virtue, as I suspect you already know." declared Colonel Fitzwilliam angerly. Darcy's eyes bulged from his head and so did Miss Darcy's, but Miss Bingley only glared. "To be in bed with the devil merely means to do his work."
Miss Bingley huffed. "And is this all the explanation I am to receive? After you so unceremoniously leveled such an accusation against a maiden? And what excuse could you possibly have for your aunt, who had the audacity to accuse me of belonging in a brothel for my dealings with you." She finished, turning towards Darcy. "It is unjust sir, that after all my work on behalf of your family, that such slander, and from the very people I assisted, should be what ruins me."
"Miss Bingley, allow me to assure you that what has been said by my relations will not become a topic of conversation in society." Darcy paused, turning to glare at Colonel Fitzwilliam, then looked back to Miss Bingley. "We can both only regret the disservice we dealt your brother. In time, I hope sincere apologies on both our parts will begin to pave the way forgiveness. As to your arts in my drawing room, I can only recommend you consider that you have known me long enough to be sure I remain unmoved. I wish you a pleasant day Miss Bingley, and a happy life wherever you settle with your sister." He promptly punctuated the last sentiment with a curt bow and motioned to the footman to escort her out.
Miss Bingley maintained her dignity, but inside she was seething. He owes me this. His implied unwillingness to be connected with the Bennet's brought this all about. I would not have gone through the trouble merely to match Charles with a socially inept heiress of good breeding. Very well then, she thought, looking him square in the eye, you may find yourself connected to gossip you cannot like. She lifted her chin and paraded past him as though she were born to all the dignity of a duchess.
As she left, Darcy turned to Colonel Fitzwilliam, but Georgianna spoke first, while Miss Bingley was barely within earshot. "How was your call to Miss Elizabeth?"
"She was not at home. I shall try again tomorrow."
"Pray, do not trouble yourself," she said smiling, handing him a note, "I received this shortly after your left, it no longer signifies, I am sure now she doesn't think ill of me. She shall call tomorrow."
Colonel Fitzwilliam raised an eyebrow, and Darcy said. "I had attempted to tell you yesterday, but you had departed before I could see you and were not yet in company before I left. Georgianna wrote Miss Elizabeth explaining her matter for the purpose of defending me. Last night at the ball we had another disagreement, though she assured me she was never harm Georgianna, it seemed she continued in her sympathies for Wickham. I went to call to her at Aunt Catherine's, hoping, perhaps, through some sort of veiled discourse to cause her to reconsider Wickham."
"Good god, I could not imagine anyone more ill-suited to the task! Think man! It is not merely your inability to contrive a sentence without giving her offence, but added to that, she can hardly trust you to judge anyone's character scrupulously. Not after what you thought of her sister, whom, need I remind you, you interfered with without so much as sharing a conversation. And what has been done to recover the letter? You cannot mean to leave it out there in the world, and in your sister's own hand!"
"But you need not worry, Miss…"
Darcy interrupted, "You need not worry yourself over the matter. Colonel Fitzwilliam will best relay the considerations to Miss Elizabeth. I promised you she would not think ill of you, did I not? She probably faults me for separating you from Wickham. Once Colonel Fitzwilliam speaks with her, I am sure she shall come around. My fear is not for your reputation, but that her pity for him, expressed again last evening, will cause her to attempt to reunite the two of you."
"Yes, but, she had not read my letter until this morning, and she promises to bring it with her when she comes to call. She says she does not wish me to worry whether it's really been consigned to the fire."
Both Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam let out a brief sigh of relief.
"I am sorry to have caused you so much trouble, I wish now that I had not spoken, only to worry you without cause." She said, blushing.
"Georgianna there simply cannot be such evidence against you. You must promise me never to write such a letter again or speak of it without consulting Darcy first. Not everyone will so easily believe the best of you, or even some that do, might speak without thinking of the consequences. The fewer people who know, the less likely you are to be exposed." Colonel Fitzwilliam said firmly.
"Yes, of course, but felt it my duty at the time, considering I believed that I provoked the disagreement." Feeling the sting of the censure for penning the first missive, she thought in better not to tell them about her second. She had responded most immediately to Miss Elizabeth's note.
The butler interrupted with a call from Darcy's man of business, and he excused himself begrudgingly.
"As to that I believe Miss Bingley's call was rather enlightening." Colonel Fitzwilliam said. She nodded, not knowing what to make of this other version of her brother. She found herself quite curious how he behaved in society, were the most recent reports sufficiently like him?