Chapter 6

By the time Fitzwilliam returned to Netherfield, the principal inhabitants were gathered for a late breakfast. Miss Bingley offered to have the cook make anything he would like when Mr. Darcy took only coffee for breakfast.

"No thank you, I have already eaten and been for a ride this morning. I have never gotten used to town hours, no matter how much time I spend in London."

"Town hours? Of course we do not keep town hours when we are in the country, sir!" exclaimed Miss Bingley.

"Well, by town hours I meant taking breakfast after eight in the morning. At Pemberley I usually have had a several mile ride and have conferred with my steward, my head gardener or my stable master before breakfast. There is always so much to do when running an estate; it is not all throwing balls and entertaining guests."

"But surely since you are our guest you can relax a bit."

"Yes, last evening was very enjoyable, but now it is time to get down to the task of showing your brother what he needs to know in running an estate."

"Last night was enjoyable? How you jest Mr. Darcy. I can not remember a time I enjoyed less than last night! The noise and yet the nothingness of all these people. We would have been better off to stay home," expounded Miss Bingley.

Her brother interceded, "I enjoyed myself immensely too, Caroline. My dances with the ladies of Meryton were some of the most enjoyable in my memory. Especially with the eldest Miss Bennet. I am looking forward to having a Harvest Ball here in the near future. It would be a good chance for you to show your hostessing skills to the locals, Caroline."

"Why should I care what they think of my hostessing skills? I have no interest in these people. A bunch of rustics, the lot of them. Did you see all those Bennets last night? Not a pretty face among them; and their mother, oh goodness, how that woman can talk! Surely you can not be serious Charles. Ask Mr. Darcy, I very much doubt he would look forward to your silly dance."

"Actually Miss Bingley, I very much like the idea of having a ball. I heartily enjoyed myself last night and look forward to doing so again. If you'll excuse me," and with that Mr. Darcy got up and left the room.

Miss Bingley's mouth hung open. Her sister had been sitting quietly during the discussion but merely turned to her sister and said, "How was your dance with Mr. Darcy last night? Mine was very enjoyable," and with that she stood up and left the room.

Charles looked pointedly at his sister. "Fitzwilliam did not dance with you last night?" She stared angrily at her brother. "Hm. And yet he said he had an enjoyable time last night. What have I been telling you Caroline? He will never offer for you; he has told me as much in the past. You need to give up on this fairy tale and go back to London and find a husband. You will not find one in Meryton," and he left her alone with only the servants for company.

The next few days were very quiet at Netherfield. Darcy and Bingley spent most of their time meeting with the steward and the tenants and riding the estate. Fitzwilliam was disappointed that he did not see Miss Elizabeth again on his early morning rides.

Caroline had been suspiciously quiet around Mr. Darcy. She did not spend her evenings walking around the room, attempting to catch his eye, nor spend the evening commenting on his handwriting or offering empty platitudes about his sister as she so often did. He was glad; but a part of him wondered what she was up to. He had discussed with Charles the conversation that ensued after he had left the breakfast room the morning after the assembly. He had finally been very blunt with his friend, telling him that if his sister tried to force a compromise on him, he would not offer for her. His reputation would survive the attempt; hers would not.

Caroline was not about to 'give up on this fairy tale'. She did not believe that Mr. Darcy would ever have told her brother that he would not offer for her. No, Charles must be mistaken. They were meant to be together and staying in the same house for several weeks would surely give him the opportunity to propose to her. She spent her time pondering the best way to make that happen. Soon.

She rang for her maid as she paced in her room pondering what to do. As her maid helped her change, she expounded out loud as she worked out her next step. "The only impediment to his proposing is that country nobody, Eliza Bennet. He had his little infatuation for one night, fine. I would not care if he wanted to take her as his mistress AFTER we are married. Rich men are like that. As long as I am Mrs. Darcy, and Mistress of Pemberley, I do not much care what he does otherwise.

"I need to make sure Mr. Darcy does not see her as a potential wife. No, I need to make sure no one could ever see Eliza Bennet as a potential wife. That country mouse could never be his Mistress; I would never allow the competition if I thought he preferred this country rustic to me. She needs to be brought so low that no gentleman would ever dare be connected with her. And if this little scheme ruins the rest of her sisters, including that fortune hunting older sister of hers, well, why would I care about that?"

Before she finally dismissed her maid for the evening, she reminded Sarah that she expected her maid to keep what she had heard to herself if she wished to keep her position.