"Have you heard the absolutely ridiculous rumor?" Miss Bingley's voice was sharp, cutting like a knife through his flesh, and Mr. Darcy did his best not to grit his teeth from where he stood at the drawing room windows, wishing himself anywhere but there.
She had come to call, along with her brother who was much more welcome a guest, and brought along some matron of the Ton, a Mrs. Pope who seemed to have an appetite for cakes and bad conversation.
"No doubt we will hear it now," Darcy muttered under his breath, and a few feet from him, Fitzwilliam quickly coughed to hide a laugh.
Mrs. Pope had taken a chair near the fireplace, a plate of cakes balanced in her lap.
The weather had taken a decidedly chilly turn, and although the morning was fine, the clouds threatened rain, or snow even. Darcy wished he could hole up in his study, or even his bed, taking in the warmth of a fire and enjoying the quiet luxury of a book to read.
But needs must. And he needed to be making society as much as possible if he was to find a wife in the next few months...
"It's quite shocking, absolutely shocking, I say," Mrs. Pope said, around a mouthful of cake, that had Fitzwilliam's shoulders shaking with silent laughter. Neither ladies seemed to notice, although Bingley, from where he stood near his sister's perch on a settee, leveled the colonel with a quelling glare.
"I would love to hear the news," Colonel Fitzwilliam finally interjected, a bit too late, but the ladies didn't seem to care, not when there was some fresh gossip to be told.
"There are two new young ladies in town," Mrs. Pope said, and Caroline made a face, although Mrs. Pope continued without pausing, "and they have been given the highest honors, a sponsor, and a dressmaker that has taken them up in preference over all the rest of the Ton. It is quite absurd. Imagine, two women, and no one even knows where they are from, or anything of them at all!"
"How do you know that, and yet I have not heard a word of it?" Bingley asked, and Darcy gave him a withering look.
"They are speaking of Miss Jane Bennet and Miss Elizabeth Bennet," he said and immediately Bingley frowned at his sister and Mrs. Pope.
"And I believe that they are from Hertfordshire," Bingley added, "but I rather think you're being-" to which Caroline rolled her eyes and Mrs. Pope scoffed, cutting him off.
"Yes, yes, and that is where they are from, but not where they were born. There are rumors, you see, of a foreign prince!"
"I did not know there were any foreign princes left in England," Darcy commented, causing Fitzwilliam to let out a low bark of a laugh.
"You don't have to say it that way," Caroline complained, huffing in irritation. "I know that we are friends, but really, you must know how it is, to be seen as a joke in London. We have a reputation here, and this sort of behavior from these country misses will reflect on the rest of us, you see. And if they are born on the wrong side of the sheets-"
Darcy felt his irritation grow. Truly, Miss Bingley stopped at no opportunity to be an absolute harpy, especially regarding other women she felt posed a threat. And it was clear that she thought she could speak her mind with the greatest of freedom.
She was about to be rudely introduced to reality.
"If you think that, then you are a fool," he told her bluntly, causing her eyes to widen and her jaw to drop. "Do you think, either of you, that the Dowager Marchioness of Ashford would sponsor two women of uncertain lineage? For a minute, let alone the entire Season?"
A embroidery needle could have dropped, the silence in the room was so great, and Darcy found himself under great scrutiny, not from just the two astonished women, but from Colonel Fitzwilliam himself.
"What?" He finally snapped, feeling his temper rise.
"Oh, nothing, you simply never cease to surprise me," Fitzwilliam murmured, and then cleared his throat. "Although, Darcy is correct, there is no way that the Dowager, a woman I am most acquainted with, would have taken such pains and gone through such lengths to sponsor any young ladies who had not come from good breeding, or excellent character. Even with her patronage, they would not have the same success in Town as you are thinking, if they were of questionable origin." He cocked an eyebrow and Caroline gave a small sputtering noise. Mrs. Pope had ceased eating cake. Darcy felt the urge to leave the room, nay, the house, and take a walk in the fresh air.
Even if it was drizzling outside.
"They were both lovely young ladies," Bingley said, his voice a tad higher than usual.
"Oh, and you feel as if you have met them have you?" Caroline snapped. "Truly become acquainted?"
"We have," Bingley answered.
"At a single dinner," she muttered, and Mrs. Pope blinked languidly before reaching for more cake.
"Well, a dinner is no small thing," she commented. "Why, Mrs. Budgens, a dear friend of mine, she met her husband over dinner and had secured a proposal before the fish course."
Caroline's lips thinned.
"And she has not regretted her choice, or been cast aside since," Mrs. Pope continued. "You, dear child, must learn to have faith in the good hearts of men, and of women. Although I was quite interested if they were truly the offspring of some prince... if your brother thinks them of good character, hadn't you ought to listen?"
Darcy was sure if had been in her own family's home, Caroline might have picked up a vase and flung it heartily across the room.
As it was, she visibly sulked, until she caught an admonishing glance from her brother, at which point she smiled, although the expression was far from real.
"I will endeavor to reserve my opinion," she said, with false sweetness, before rising. "I will see you at the Waverly's dinner, I'm sure," she commented to Mrs. Pope. "Brother, Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam." She bobbed her head in curtsy, and quit the room, Bingley trailing behind her.
"Well, this has been a lovely visit," Mrs. Pope said, finishing her cake. "But I'm afraid I must be off." She rose, setting the empty plate down on a table.
Fitzwilliam hastened to assist her to the door, leaving Darcy to his thoughts.
It was a short respite.
"So, Darcy, I wonder," Fitzwilliam said as he returned, shutting the door behind him.
"Yes?" Darcy was not going to give an inch.
"I wonder if you're still set upon finding a wife, or if you've perhaps already found one?" Fitzwilliam's smile was full of merriment.
"What in God's name are you talking about?" Darcy demanded, although he knew what his cousin was saying.
"Oh, come, it was clear to see that you were not a fan of the Misses Bingley's opinion, or Miss Bingley at all," Fitzwilliam commented, crossing the room to pour a brandy, before offering one to Darcy.
"And so what if I am not," Darcy muttered, although he accepted the glass.
"It means that you might find yourself engaged before the season is up, to the surprise of the whole of London."
"Don't be absurd."
"It would mean avoiding an entanglement with Miss Bingley, she seems so insistent on setting her cap at you," Fitzwilliam said, and Darcy had to grudgingly admit that seemed true. Caroline Bingley seemed to feel since her brother was Darcy's best friend, that the two of them might... strike up an understanding.
So far the only understanding he had was that she was truly odious, inside and out.
"And, the sooner you find a wife, the sooner Lady Catherine ceases to have issue, especially if you should find a love match-"
"She would rather I choke on a chicken bone than find a love match, that I'm sure of. She's convinced that only Anne can bring me happiness," Darcy muttered, his feelings black as a sky boiling with thunder-clouds.
"You're certain you haven't found your love match, have you?" Fitzwilliam's words were soft, but Darcy did not need his cousin to specify what, or who, he meant.
Fitzwilliam knew him better than almost anyone, as close as Bingley, or even Darcy's own sister.
"She's not..."
"Not what?" Fitzwilliam pressed, and Darcy turned away.
"Not from the right kind of background. If my father was here, he would forbid me from even considering her," he finally ground out, and Fitzwilliam was silent for a moment.
"You can't think of your father in this. He is gone, and while he was a good man, he would not want you to be unhappy. Would he not rather see you happy, and living your life to the fullest, rather than miserable, and following the rules laid out before you?" Fitzwilliam's words were like a lance to the gut, and Darcy's stomach dropped.
He would never know the answer to that question, for his father was gone.
"At the very least, the girl's captured your attentions," Fitzwilliam said. "I don't think I've ever seen you so distracted. It's not as if she's a terrible choice-"
"Her aunt is from Cheapeside," Darcy said flatly, and Fitzwilliam frowned.
"And her mother is from Hertfordshire, so, I am unsure of what you are trying to imply. Aren't all women in possession of some relations from all parts of the country? Go back far enough in your own family line and I'm sure you'll find the offspring of some offspring of some second son that lives in Cheapeside now." Fitzwilliam's smile was grim, and Darcy knew the man had to be thinking of his own future heirs and their chances.
What would happen if Fitzwilliam couldn't find the right woman to marry, with the right dowery and connections attached?
Relations in Cheapeside, Darcy supposed.
"You're being rather snobbish about this, Darcy, and while I can recommend you for your many good qualities, this is one that I wish you would abandon. Some of us work for a living," Fitzwilliam teased, his expression lightening. "You've never sought to divest yourself from my company for being in a uniform."
"I could never," Darcy replied instantly, offended at the very thought.
"And you shouldn't, I have more than proven myself as a man, a gentleman, and a warrior. I may not have a grand estate, and no title, but I have the respect of the king, and Wellington, and the army. My peers laud my heroism, my friends my company, and you, my apt and accurate knowing of your heart. You are interested, my dear cousin, and I think you should pursue this interest. A young lady who is causing a stir in the Ton already, despite a lack of high connections and barely a dowery to speak of? That is a young lady worth knowing, at least until she finds some way to fall from your favor. Perhaps let us invite Mr. Gardiner to dine, or to share some brandy, and get to know those Cheapeside relations a little more."
Darcy could find no argument that came to mind that would be proof against his cousin's insistence. And she did have much to recommend her already...
And a beautiful set of very fine and lively eyes...
Hello dear friends,
I hope you are doing so very well! I am really beginning to feel better, although I am being cautious to guard my energy levels and take extra care to eat well. My husband is doting on me with lots of cups of tea, so that I can focus on resting and also writing.
I have read all your feedback from last week's update, and I hope this chapter is satisfying to you and a bit of fun. Who doesn't love a Miss Bingley being absolutely horrid? I adore it. Anyway... work is underway on my website diligently, and my newsletter should be launching shortly with chapters of my new novella that is a special gift for subscribers and won't be put up for sale, Confessions and Convictions, is halfway finished. I have been most productive while laid up on the couch, covered in cats and dogs!
Sending you all the love from my cosy front room,
Nora
I am so pleased to announce that Duty and Desire is now available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple iBooks, and more, just search for 'Nora Kipling - Duty and Desire'! You may purchase it right away or wait for a new chapter to be uploaded here. Thank you for all your loving support.