Chapter 13: A Presumptuous Woman
As she ran after Miss Darcy, Miss Bingley cursed her idea to wear her new gown today. It was so heavy and constricting. Georgiana was wearing a much simpler house dress that looked light and airy, and she could run really fast. As Miss Bingley pushed herself harder and managed to get closer to Miss Darcy, the blonde girl passed by the colonel and Jane, who were conversing and stopped, concerned at her expression and speed.
"Georgie?! What is going on?" the colonel turned after his charge.
"Richard! Grab her! Stop her!" she yelled at her cousin over her shoulder and jumped over a coffee table.
Richard and Jane shared a confused look, but they held onto one of Caroline's arms each. Caroline's speed meant that her feet flew up with inertia when she was held to an abrupt stop.
"Miss Darcy, what is going on?" Jane asked.
"She is planning to compromise my brother! I must find him immediately!"
"He's in the greenhouse!" the colonel replied. "Go!"
Caroline struggled harder than the colonel had ever thought she was capable of. She was furious, her face was flushed, and she was breathing hard. Sweat fell down her face, and her complicated updo was starting to come undone. She looked crazy.
"How dare you even think about compromising Darcy? In his home, no less!" Richard reprimanded her.
"Let go of me, you brute!"
"You will not succeed in your scheme, and even if you did, he would never marry you. Everyone in this estate will have no problem being temporarily blind and deaf to protect him. I don't know what you said to Georgie, to have her react like that, but I have stared at death in the face, and you little hedge-creeper* will not scare me!" [A hedge creeper was an insult. It refers to a prostitute, who presumably works in the countryside. The "creeper" could also be substituted for "prowler" or "ranger")]
Both Jane and Caroline gasped at his insult. Caroline managed to knee the Colonel between his legs as hard as she could. When he let go, falling on his face with a pained grunt, she started to claw at Jane's face and neck to get her to let go. Jane, however, was used to angry girl fits from her younger sisters, and while her scratches hurt and stung, she would not step aside so easily. She felt blood traveling down her neck, but not even that made her let go. Only a slap, as hard as Miss Bingley managed while wearing such an unyielding heavy fabric, got her to stumble to the floor. It was more the shock than the pain that made her fall.
Caroline smirked at them and ran toward the greenhouse. Unfortunately for her, Gigi knew all the shortcuts and was there very quickly. William was indeed there with Mrs. Bennet and Miss Elizabeth. Gigi barely managed to close the doors behind her and lock them with the key that was conveniently placed in the keyhole. Thank heavens! Miss Darcy thought. No sooner than she leaned into the door behind her to catch her breath than Miss Bingley crashed against the outside of the doors and began trying to force them open.
"What on earth-?" William turned to the ruckus.
"Gigi?" Lizzie turned to her with a frown.
"What is wrong, Miss Darcy?" Mrs. Bennet looked up from her basket filled with medicinal herbs.
Georgiana was far too agitated to speak from her long run. She was still trying to catch her breath. Running was not her activity of choice for a reason. Miss Bingley pounded on the doors repeatedly.
"Mr. Darcy, do not listen to all her lies! She misinterpreted everything! She was eavesdropping on a conversation that did not concern her! She wishes to poison you against me! I did not do what she thinks she heard, but she left before I could clear things up!"
Mr. Darcy looked at the blurry orange shape that was Miss Bingley, and then at Gigi, completely perplexed. Miss Elizabeth ran to get a pitcher and poured Gigi some water. She brought the glass to her.
"Here you go, dear."
After a few sips, and some coughing, she croaked a soft, "Thank you."
"Mr. Darcy! I beg of you, hear me before she poisons you against me!"
Mr. Darcy ignored Miss Bingley, "Sweetling, are you alright?"
"No. I am not alright! Miss Bingley just deeply offended Mrs. Reynolds and I!"
"What?!" Mr. Darcy frowned severely.
"I did not!" Caroline yelled.
"In what universe is calling Mrs. Reynolds a HAG and a low-life servant not offensive?!"
Mr. Darcy looked at his sister. She had never been this blunt or spirited about anything, let alone a confrontation. Her face was red. She was sweating from her run, and she was still agitated.
Caroline tried to defend herself, "Mr. Darcy, you do not know what happened! She laughed at me! A servant laughed at me! To my face! She was mocking and abominably rude and-!"
"And you tried to order her around! You threatened to dismiss her as soon as you became Mrs. Darcy!"
Mr. Darcy's race started getting red, and he started to take deep, slow breaths to calm down. Mrs. Bennet motioned for Elizabeth to hold his hand. She did. This anchored and calmed him down slightly.
"I did no such thing!" Caroline's tone was shrill and betrayed her lie.
"Did too!" Georgiana turned to the door and stomped her foot.
"Did not!" Caroline banged her closed fists against the doors.
"Ladies! Please calm down," Mrs. Bennet exclaimed. "Perhaps this conversation would be better if you all sit for a spot of tea and talk."
"You do not get to tell me to calm down Mrs. Nervous Fits, who would happily sell her daughter to the highest bidder!" Miss Bingley yelled.
Lizzie gasped at her mother's broken expression. "Mama-"
Mrs. Bennet shook her head and turned away to hide tears.
Mr. Darcy pulled Gigi away from the door and checked her over to make sure she was not hurt. Before he attempted to open it and Miss Bingley jumped into his arms and kissed him or something equally scandalous and ridiculous, as she was sure the crazed woman would attempt, Elizabeth pushed him and Miss Darcy behind herself and opened the doors. As she thought, Caroline let herself fall forward, hoping that Mr. Darcy -if only due to good breeding- would catch her.
Lizzie, however, was used to unruly, tricky sisters, and because of past experiences, she raised her knee defensively in front of her. Caroline pushed the door so hard, and her dress was so heavy that she fell forward. Caroline's nose crashed against Lizzie's raised knee. But not before she savagely held on to Lizzie's dress sleeves and ripped both. She had slightly pulled down the front of her dress as she tried not to fall to her face on the ground. It was not enough to expose her but enough to make her modest dress suddenly very daring.
Caroline grunted in pain and started screaming when she saw the blood. She promptly fainted or pretended to faint, but no one noticed. Lizzie had lost her balance in the struggle, and William caught her immediately. He averted his face away from her body. Mrs. Bennet saw this and thanked her maker for making Mr. Darcy such a good man. Georgiana ran once more, screaming for the colonel. Mr. Darcy was too focused on removing his coat as soon as possible and helping Lizzie put it on and close the front of it. Mrs. Bennet was fretting, checking her daughter and the rest of her dress for tears.
The colonel got to the greenhouse with Miss Bennet and a pale Mr. Bingley, who rushed after them. Mrs. Bennet almost fainted when she saw blood down Jane's face and neck. She was covering the worst of it with a reddened handkerchief.
"Darcy! Georgie! Are you alright?" the colonel walked as fast as he could with a still slightly pained limp.
"Good Lord! Miss Bennet!" Mr. Darcy exclaimed, aghast. "What happened?"
"That crazy bint attacked us! We were talking near the family room, and Georgie ran by us and told us to grab her. We did because Georgie asked, but also because Miss Bingley looked ready to kill someone."
"She hurt the colonel and then turned to hurt me. As I wouldn't let go when she scratched me, she ended up slapping me, which made me fall. Mr. Bingley found us sprawled on the floor."
"Caroline!" Mr. Bingley rushed to his sister and turned her on her back. "What happened to her, Darcy?"
"She got very well acquainted with my knee," Lizzie replied as she rubbed said knee.
"What?! Why?!" Charles asked angrily as he lifted his sister's head and tried to bring her back to consciousness.
"Well, Mr. Darcy moved to open the door, but I suspected she would try something stupid and desperate to compromise him, like lunging and kissing him, so I opened the door instead. She threw herself forward. I was expecting that, so I jumped back and raised my knee protectively. Her nose crashed against my knee, not before she ripped off my dress sleeves and almost exposed my chest! She also called Gigi a liar and offended my mother, who was only trying to help!"
"Caro!" Charles shook her to no avail. He sighed, "I will get her to her room. Darcy-"
"The doctor is coming later to check on Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Gardiner. Take her away immediately. I have more important things to do than to deal with her. We will talk about this later, Bingley."
Charles nodded and grunted. Getting dead weight from the floor was not an easy task. No one moved to help him. The colonel narrowed his eyes at their retreating forms.
"That woman is an actress! I bet you whatever you want that she was faking it."
Darcy nodded. He turned to Gigi, "Come here."
He hugged her tightly for a long moment and kissed her forehead. "Through all this madness, half of which I still do not understand well enough, one thing is clear to me. You were defending us, and you have my full support. Thank you, Gigi."
"Brother, we need to talk and bring Mrs. Reynolds in on the conversation, too."
"Of course," Darcy turned to Jane, "I will have the kitchens send a wash basin and a pitcher of medicinal water so you can clean your scratches, Miss Bennet. I am so sorry this happened at Pemberley. I will order a balm to try and prevent any scarring."
"Thank you, Mr. Darcy. I want to go clean myself and change."
"Of course. Richard, please escort her to her room."
"Absolutely," Richard offered her his arm, and they left.
Mr. Darcy turned to Mrs. Bennet, "Are you alright, madam?"
Mrs. Bennet nodded, "I have been called worse, sir."
"That saddens me," he took her hands. "You are a wonderful hostess and a very loving mother. I am so glad you are here with us, despite the circumstances. We would all be lost without your knowledge of pregnancy... and your baking," he smiled down at the older woman, who blushed.
"I am glad to be of service, Mr. Darcy."
"Gigi, please accompany Mrs. Bennet upstairs so she can help Miss Bennet. Then, wait for me in my study. I will go get Mrs. Reynolds. Miss Elizabeth, will you come with me, please?"
"Of course, sir. I am at your disposal."
Mrs. Reynolds was packing her things. She was sure the pernicious Miss Bingley had already demanded she be removed. She sighed. She should not have laughed at the woman, but the situation was so absurd and delusional. A knock stopped her. She went to open the door. She found a pale Mr. Darcy outside. He got in and took her hands.
"Sir?"
"Mrs. Reynolds, are you hurt? Did Miss Bingley attack you, too?"
"Too?" Mrs. Reynolds paled.
"She kicked Richard. Then, she scratched and slapped Miss Bennet. She chased Gigi all the way to the greenhouse. She said a lot of unkind things. Then, her nose got intimately acquainted with Elizabeth's knee. I believe her nose is broken. She fainted after that. Richard is sure it is all pretend. I tend to agree."
"She did not get physical with me, sir," Mrs. Reynolds replied. She noticed his use of Miss Elizabeth's name and hoped things were moving forward between them. Even if she did not get to see them marry, she would love to know they would reach happiness together.
"Thank God! Please follow me," Mr. Darcy motioned for her to get out of her room.
Mrs. Reynolds sighed, "Yes, sir. Let me close my luggage. I hope you will forgive my indiscretion and that you will keep Mr. Reynolds in your employ-"
She managed, with effort, to close the trunk. Putting decades of your life in a trunk takes a lot out of a person. Because her back was turned, she missed Mr. Darcy's rare panicked expression.
"What are you doing?! Where are you going?!"
"Well, leaving, sir. I… You asked me to follow you. After my behavior, I-"
"Mrs. Reynolds, I know Miss Bingley mistreated and offended you, but you cannot leave us. I apologize for the horrible moment you were forced to experience. Please… I… We would be entirely lost without you. You are like a mother to us. You are the only mother Gigi has ever known. I will do anything to keep you here with us. Just name it."
"You do not want me to leave?! I just thought… I… I offended Miss Bingley. I laughed at her, sir. I allowed her to get Miss Darcy really upset. They left, chasing each other before I could follow them. I was sure you would dismiss me."
"D-Dismiss you?!" his jaw fell.
She nodded, and tears fell. He took out a handkerchief and dabbed them away.
"Mrs. Reynolds, absolutely not! You are family to us. You are not going anywhere. Miss Bingley will have to explain herself to me. Now, unfortunately, I cannot guarantee she will be willing to apologize to you, as I would prefer, but you are a senior member of this household. I will toss her out, never to return, before I lose you. I do not care if it costs me my friendship with Bingley."
"Sir, are you sure? I do not want to be an inconvenience or to come between you and your friend. I-"
Lizzie's hand on his back nudged him a bit forward. "I am positive. Mrs. Reynolds, I am going to hug you now."
Mrs. Reynolds let out something between a laugh and a sob, opened her arms to him like she did when he was growing up, and sneaked into the kitchen to 'steal' his favorite treats. Lizzie smiled happily as they hugged. Mrs. Reynolds was such a gem.
Mr. Darcy let go of her slowly, "I would like you to be present when I talk to my sister. Unless you would rather not…"
"Oh, no. I would love to be there, sir. You should be very proud of Miss Darcy. I had never seen her so upset. She has never been so… gutsy."
"Gutsy?" Lizzie blinked her mirth away. She loved to have a chance to see this side of Mr. Darcy.
"Yes."
"Wow. Okay, come to the study as soon as you can."
"Of course, sir. As soon as I unpack."
Caroline was freaking out. Charles kept shaking her. She refused to open her eyes, even with the horrible pain of a broken nose. Charles left her room, and she stayed in the same awkward position he put her in. Louisa brought her horrible perfume to place it under her nose. Caroline complained and turned her face away but did not open her eyes.
"What are we to do, Charles? This fainting spell is lasting too long," Louisa sighed. She sat on a chair by the window. "Maybe we need some alcohol?"
"We could dump a pitcher of cold water on her head," Charles narrowed his eyes at her form. He was really upset with his sister. She had attacked Miss Bennet. Things would already be an uphill battle to be given a second chance, and now… Now, it seemed less likely than ever. What if those scratches left marks on her beautiful face and graceful neck? She would never forgive Caroline or himself.
"Excuse me," a very serious Mary Bennet said from the door. To anyone who knew her well, she looked ready to explode.
"Yes?" Louisa frowned slightly. She was not expecting anyone from the Bennets to come. She had heard a summary of what occurred from Charles as he took Caroline upstairs.
"I see you are having difficulty rousing her," Mary raised one brow.
"Yes, we are."
"I know a couple of ways to awaken stubborn patients. Do you mind if I try?" She asked, trying to look genuinely concerned.
"No, please. Come in."
Mary asked Mr. Bingley to maneuver his sister to a sitting position and to hold the back of her head so it would not loll to the sides.
"Like this?"
"Yes, perfect," Mary smiled to Mr. Bingley. "I hope you will eventually see my reasoning behind this intense approach."
Mary pulled up her dress sleeves slowly and cracked her knuckles. She then slapped Caroline so hard that her strength almost took both Caroline and Mr. Bingley from sitting on the bed to lying on the floor next to the bed.
Caroline 'miraculously' jumped up, and she yelled, "YOU CRAZY BINT! HOW DARE YOU LAY A HAND ON ME?!"
"There," Mary smiled at a flummoxed Mr. Bingley. "One cannot control one's reactions to pain. She was not unconscious. She was only pretending… buying time to concoct some ridiculous story which -no matter how crazy- would never justify her accosting a staff member in a household that is not hers to command, her hostess who is indubitably too kind and too young for them to fight in equal footing, her hostess' cousin, or her hostess' guest."
"Shut it! You saw nothing!"
"I just saw your claw marks on my sister's face and neck. She is still bleeding!"
"I barely grazed her."
"Funny how life works. I just barely grazed you just now. There is something you need to know about us poor country girls. We do a lot more than just lay around in rooms, embroider, and look decorative. We work on our estate. I could have hit you a lot harder. These arms have split wood with an axe for years, since father is not strong enough to do that anymore and is very particular about how wood should be chopped. You are not in any way harder than wood."
"You wanted to break my jaw! Is my nose not enough for one day? I did nothing to you! This is none of your business!"
Mary laughed a dry, sardonic smile. "You scratching and slapping my sister Jane, who has never raised one finger to purposefully hurt anyone, is completely my business! Jane is ten times the woman you will ever be, and if you so much as look at her with malice ever again, I will show you how much harder I can swing!"
"How Christian of you, you gibfaced* girl! A lumberjack like you could never be decorative!" [An ugly person, especially one with a heavy lower jaw]
"You do not get to lecture me on the Scripture all the while you have been planning to compromise Mr. Darcy in his own estate!"
"Caroline!" Mrs. Hurst exclaimed, shocked. "Have you taken leave of your senses?"
Mary went on, "I am a decent Christian woman. I know I will probably end up a spinster because I am not much to look at, Miss Bingley, but at least I will live a righteous life that is not embarrassing to my loved ones. A man will not save you. Only the Lord can do that! And just so you know, because I am sure your lack of humility does not allow you to study the word of God, you heathen, God knows wrath perfectly well. Isaiah 13:13 says, 'Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of theLordof hosts in the day of his fierce anger.'"
"Shut up! Get her out of my room, Louisa!"
"No need," Mary lifted her hand to stop Louisa. "I will walk myself out, Miss Bingley. I leave you with a warning. Stay away from my mother and my sisters! Stay away from Miss Darcy! If you try to hurt anyone I love again, I will slap your other cheek twice as hard! I am a woman of my word. Do not test me!" Mary turned and left briskly.
"Louisa, close the door!"
Mrs. Hurst did what her sister asked. Mostly because she was entirely too shocked at everything that had just happened.
Once the door was closed, Bingley got up and pulled up a chair next to the bed.
"You better start talking, Caroline. Do not lie to me. If you do, I will drag you out of here myself."
"I do not have to explain myself to you!"
"Yes, you do. If you want to continue living the life you are accustomed to on my tab… You have to tell me."
"Please, Charles… I am in pain," she pointed at her nose that was still caked with blood and at her quickly swelling up face. Can this conversation not wait? Did you send for the doctor yet?"
"He was already coming to check on other guests."
"You did not have him come right away?"
"You are conscious and breathing. You will be fine. Now, I will hear what Miss Darcy has to say. You are not to leave this room or speak to anyone besides Louisa. Am I making myself clear?"
Louisa nodded.
"That sounded like a threat."
"Good. It was a threat. You disregard my order, and I will get you to Scarborough on horseback to live with our wretched aunt myself!"
"You would not dare!"
"As Miss Mary so eloquently put it just now… DO NOT TEST ME!" He left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Mr. Darcy had Miss Elizabeth join him for what he was sure would be a very charged conversation. Once Charles and the Colonel came in, Mr. Darcy said he wanted Miss Darcy and Mrs. Reynolds to explain what happened from their perspective uninterrupted. All questions were to wait until the end. Before they began, Miss Mary and Mrs. Bennet requested to be allowed to attend. Jane did not want to leave her room. The doctor had been sent to check on Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Reynolds, and Miss Bingley.
"I am so ashamed, Darcy. I had no idea she was this insane. I do not even know what to say… Mrs. Reynolds, I am so sorry for how she treated you."
"I am sorry to have laughed at her."
"It was an appropriate response. I would have laughed until she attacked me if I had been you," Richard shrugged. He side-eyed Miss Mary. She had been discreetly massaging her right wrist. What is that about? That was what he did when he punched someone hard. His eyes widened. Did she-? No… Not Miss Mary.
"She was so rude, William… I know I should not have gone off on her like that, but she threatened to compromise you, and I lost it! You do not deserve that!" Georgiana sighed. "You are the best of brothers, and you deserve an equal match with someone who loves you, someone who would not besmirch your honor for her personal gain," Gigi looked at Miss Elizabeth quickly and back at her brother.
"I am exceedingly proud of you, Gigi."
"And I of you," she replied cheekily.
"Mrs. Reynolds, you are the crown jewel of our staff. Your love and loyalty are so important to us. We appreciate everything you do. Pemberley would crumble without you," Mr. Darcy smiled at her.
"Th-Thank you, sir. May I be excused?"
"Of course."
Mrs. Reynolds stood up, curtsied, and moved toward the door.
"Mrs. Reynolds, wait!" Georgiana grabbed her arm and pulled her in for a tight hug. "I love you. Do not ever think about leaving us again… Or if you ever do… take us with you!"
"I second that!" the Colonel smiled.
"You are not leaving me behind," Mr. Darcy added.
"Oh, you wild children! I would gladly take you with me," she smiled at the three of them and left.
"What are we to do about Caroline, Darcy?"
"We?" Darcy raised an angry brow at Bingley.
"Well, yes. It is your home. If she stays here, I fear she will get inured further," his eyes flew to Mary but did not linger.
"Mr. Darcy, I would like to apologize," Mary sighed and hung her head.
William looked at Gigi questioningly, but she shrugged. She knew nothing, "Apologize? Whatever for, Miss Mary?"
"I slapped Miss Bingley awake."
The silence that followed this statement was deafening. The colonel looked at her in awe. Mrs. Bennet was shocked. She did not expect this from her Mary.
"I will not make any excuses. I had just helped Jane clean her wounds and apply some healing herb paste. I have never seen her so distraught. My sister is a kind soul who did not deserve such treatment. Mr. Bingley was trying to wake his sister. She refused to open her eyes. I figured pain will make you react whether you want to or not, and I admit that I wanted to hurt her back for what she did to Miss Darcy, Jane, Lizzie, and my mother. I understand if you would like me to leave, seeing as I cannot be a good influence on your sister. I can go to my uncle's in London tomorrow morning. I only ask to remain the night to stay up with my father as per the schedule. I will not apologize to Mr. Bingley because I am still upset at how much he hurt my sister."
Bingley covered his face with his hands.
Mr. Darcy opened and closed his mouth several times. He was having difficulty imagining sedate, kind Mary slapping anyone at all. Mr. Bingley was blushing. The colonel would have clapped for her. Mrs. Bennet was pale.
"Punch her next time," the colonel whispered. In the quiet room, everyone heard him. "I can teach you the proper way, so you do not get hurt."
Darcy would have laughed if the situation was not so serious. "Richard!"
"What?! All ladies should learn how to throw a mean punch in case they ever need to defend themselves."
"I want to learn, brother!" Gigi beamed.
Richard grinned proudly at her.
"I would not object to my daughters learning something like that in case it is needed," Mrs. Bennet said.
"Wonderful!"
A footman knocked on the door. "Mr. Darcy, pray excuse the interruption. Mr. Benner is starting to talk, and the doctor says he is demanding that he talk to you immediately."
"Everyone, excuse me. We can continue this conversation later. Bingley, get your sister ready to leave my house as soon as the doctor clears her. She is not to move through Pemberley alone. She is not to enter the family wing. She is not to talk to anyone who is not a Bingley or a Hurst. White, tell the staff, please. They should help pack her things."
"Darcy, wait. Do you want us all to leave?"
"I do not mind the rest of your party. I leave it up to you whether you choose to stay. Ladies, Richard," Darcy nodded and left.
Mr. Darcy took a few deep breaths before he went into Mr. Bennet's room. He suspected he would need patience. The doctor came out.
"Mr. Darcy," the doctor pulled him a few paces away from the door.
"Is he well?"
"He seems to be coherent enough. A bit fuzzy on the details, but it is promising. I advice patience. Do not ask him many questions. Try to listen. Make sure he does not move. He is in a slightly more seated up position now. He should sleep like that. He told me he was feeling numbness in his feet"
Mr. Darcy frowned, "That is not good. Is it?"
"No, sir. It is good. He was feeling nothing at all yesterday. I tested his reactions and got nothing. Perhaps this new position will improve circulation, and that will help."
"Oh, good. Do you need to prescribe anything else?"
"It would be good for him to get some exercise with his arms, even in bed. Bending the joints slowly. Rotating the wrists. Flexing and relaxing his fingers. Moving his shoulders… Things like that. But it must be done very slowly, and any strong pain means that motion must stop. I am leaving instructions in writing."
"I understand. Thank you. Have you seen Miss Bennet yet?"
"I thought I was to see Miss Bingley first, sir."
"No. She should be in pain for a while. That may teach her a lesson..."
The doctor frowned, puzzled.
"Please see Miss Bennet first. She was hurt by Miss Bingley."
"Oh... I see. Have a good evening, sir."
Mr. Darcy entered the room and sat on a chair vacated by a maid. She rushed to gather all the dirty bandages and leftover supplies.
"Mr. Darcy, may I be excused?"
"Absolutely. Thank you for all your work. Please take the rest of the day off to rest."
Mr. Bennet scoffed. Mr. Darcy refused to react to his provocation. If there was something Darcy was good at, it was keeping a leveled head under stress. Mr. Bennet would not push him to his breaking point. He recalled his ill father wasting away in bed. That cooled off any animosity completely.
"Mr. Bennet, the doctor said you wanted to talk to me."
"I d-do."
"Well, sir. I am at your disposal. How can I help you?"
Mr. Bennet sighed, "H-How… How much do I o-owe you for all th-this?"