Worst of all, every now and then, his dreams would not be dreamlike at all. They would start out well enough. His mind would envision a previous encounter with Elizabeth that he had enjoyed—her playing the piano in Kent, teasing him at Netherfield, or walking with him at Rosings. His pleasant memory would then inevitably turn into his proposal at Hunsford and her rejection. The scene would then become a tedious replay of their conversation. The order of events would get jumbled. He and Elizabeth would repeat certain things that they had said out of sequence so that the conversation would loop back upon itself and never reach resolution.
For the last few nights, though, things had been far more pleasant. He had returned from his dinner at Longbourn in a mix of emotions. He was mortified that he had jumped to so stupid a conclusion about what he had overheard, but he felt relieved that he had spoken plainly to her about his desire to stay in the neighborhood and court her friendship. He found himself in the unfamiliar position of wanting to talk to someone about what had transpired. Unfortunately, he had left Bingley at Longbourn before the night was even half over. He determined to wait for him in order to gain some intelligence as to Elizabeth’s behavior after he left, and to seek his friend’s advice. He had not counted on Bingley’s unending willingness to stay in Miss Bennet’s presence or the effect the several brandies he drank while waiting would have on him. In the end, he stumbled to bed before Bingley returned. He slept in a deep, uninterrupted slumber, the likes of which he had not experienced in months.
The next day, he went hunting with Bingley and several gentlemen from the neighborhood, including John Lucas. Bingley had planned the outing after he learned that the Bennets were to be away from home visiting at their Aunt Philips for the whole of the day. While Lucas was amiable during the outing, Darcy could not help but feel challenged by his presence. He retired for the evening feeling less confident and dreamed, once again, he and Elizabeth were in his bedchamber. But this time, to his astonishment, his progress to the bed was not impeded, and she did not disappear. Instead, she willingly accepted him and no imposter emerged to ruin the encounter.
He spent the next day alone, while Bingley visited Longbourn, distracted by the vivid details of his dream. In an attempt to think of something else, he went to Bingley’s study, with orders that he not be disturbed, and began the arduous task of reviewing his correspondence. As he examined the many letters that required his personal care, he realized how much his obsession with Elizabeth had diverted his attention from his responsibilities. He decided that he should leave for London the next morning to meet with his steward in order to prepare him for his continuing absence from Pemberley. He would also need to speak to his cousin about visiting with Georgiana. It made sense for him to go now, since it was unlikely he would see Elizabeth until after Bingley’s sisters returned and resolved their differences with Miss Bennet. Nonetheless, the idea of leaving filled him with anxiety. His relationship with her was still tenuous, and he had not even seen her since their last misunderstanding and his confession.
He went to bed exhausted, heavy with the weight of his unresolved concerns. When he finally obtained sleep, he had an altogether new dream. He dreamed that he was at Pemberley and that he was walking with Elizabeth in the garden. When she stopped to pick a flower, a thorn cut her finger. He took her glove off to stop the emerging blood from spreading. He supported her bare hand in his, as his other hand firmly held the tip of her finger to stop it from bleeding. They talked of many things as he continued to hold her hand and administer pressure. He then carefully surveyed the damage and kissed her fingertip. Instead of reproaching him for his forward behavior, she smiled her thanks and they walked on. He awoke surprised that it was already morning, and while he regretted that this dream was so chaste, its pervasive pleasantness enveloped him in a sense of well-being. It was only after he recalled his travel plans that his mood blackened.
Caroline Bingley entered the breakfast room, and both men were drawn from their thoughts as they stood to receive her.
Kissing her brother with an exaggerated show of affection, she said, “Charles, it is so good to see you. I missed you exceedingly.” She then moved to the other side of the table so that she could sit beside Darcy. Holding out her hand to greet him, she purred, “Ah, Mr. Darcy, what a pleasure. It is always a joy to see you,” adding in a conspiratorial tone, “even if the location leaves much to be desired.”
With a perfunctory bow, Darcy replied, “Miss Bingley.”
“Caroline, please join us. I trust that you had a pleasant journey?”
“Actually, Charles, the roads were in terrible condition, and the timing of your summons could not have been more inconvenient. I cannot imagine what would have moved you to write such an incomprehensible letter. We came only because we were so worried about you.”
“Miss Bingley, excuse me. You and your brother obviously have matters to discuss. Charles, I will take my leave now. Thank you for all of your hospitality and your friendship. Please give my regards to the Hursts.”
Rising to shake his hand, Bingley replied, “Darcy, thank you. Have a safe journey.”
Sounding more desperate than she hoped, Miss Bingley exclaimed, “Mr. Darcy, you are not leaving? We have just arrived. You are my only hope for civilized conversation in this neighborhood.”
“Yes, I am sorry, but I have some business in town that can no longer be delayed. I will be leaving immediately.”
Exasperated, she let her temper flare, exclaiming, “You see, Charles, no one would willingly stay here.” Tempering her voice somewhat, she added, “We must follow Mr. Darcy’s lead and also go to town. There is so much going on there now. It would be a crime to miss it for the likes of what the society here has to offer.”
With a rarely displayed stern countenance, Bingley replied in an even but firm manner, “Caroline. That will be enough. I will brook no more criticism of the neighborhood. Netherfield is my home; you will not disrespect my neighbors.”
Shocked by his words and his manner, she colored and exclaimed, “Charles, what has gotten into you? Mr. Darcy, you must help me speak sense to him. He is acting most strangely…”
Interrupting her mid-sentence, Darcy answered, “Miss Bingley, I suggest you give the area another chance. I believe it will grow on you. Despite my previous misconceptions, I have found that the society here has much to offer.”
After Darcy left, Caroline added in a shrill tone, “Charles, see what you have done; you have driven him away. I will be surprised if he returns at all. You must go after him.”
Exasperated, Bingley replied, “Caroline, that is enough. I can assure you, Darcy will return as soon as he is able. But that is beside the point; I want to speak to you about Netherfield. You and I need to talk about your future.”
Losing her composure, she replied, “My future, Charles? I think you need to think about your own future, about what you are doing here. You are making a fool of yourself. Louisa and I both agree. It was all we could talk about on the journey here. For you to come back here, to pursue Jane Bennet, the thought of it is mortifying. You know she does not return your affections. She is simply obliging her mother by paying you any heed. You simply must forget her. In Scarborough, you were introduced to several lovely women. You must admit that Miss McClennen was particularly charming and her connections are impeccable. I believe she has quite a fortune of her own. After your departure, she inquired of you twice. If we return immediately, I believe you could call on her before she leaves.”
“Caroline. I am staying here, and for the moment, so are you.”
“Charles, I am only thinking about you. I do not want to see you hurt.”
Bingley bowed his head, trying to gather his thoughts. He then stood and crossed the table to sit beside his sister. Taking her hand, he began speaking in a very tender tone. “Caroline, I want you to listen to me now. It is very important to me. I love you, and I respect your opinion, but I am not leaving Hertfordshire. I have spent a great deal o
f time of late with Miss Bennet, and I intend to spend even more time in her company in the future. I know full well what I am about, and I believe I, alone, am the best judge of Miss Bennet’s motivations. My only concern is that your relationship with her has not been all that it should be. I want you to rectify that. I want you to call on her with me this afternoon, and when you do, I want you to welcome her as you would a sister. In doing so, I also expect you to treat her family with respect. I know this will pain you, but I must tell you that I was very angry with you when I discovered that you had concealed Miss Bennet’s visit this winter. But I do not want to dwell on that. What I want is for you to accept Miss Bennet and make her feel welcome at Netherfield.”
Dropping his hand in contempt, Caroline replied defensively, “Charles, I can only imagine the nonsense that she must be telling you. The misunderstanding regarding her visit has been exaggerated out of proportion, no doubt to suit her mother’s devious intent. I do not think…”
Raising his hand to indicate he had heard enough, Charles stood and continued in a firmer tone, “Caroline, I will not argue over who was at fault this winter because I know that, in the end, the lion’s share of the responsibility belongs to me. I let other people make my decisions for me, and if I am now unsatisfied with the result, I have no one to blame but myself. It has taught me a valuable lesson, though. My plans are no longer open for debate. I am staying here and courting Miss Bennet. The question is whether you will be staying here too. If you do not believe you can receive Miss Bennet in the manner that I expect, then I will not allow you to stay on here or in the townhouse in London. I am not sure how you will be able to make your way on your income, but I will try to help you get started. I want to see you happy, and I hope it can be at my side, but if it cannot, I will understand.”
Caroline looked at him aghast, formulating her next move. While she had never had the interest or patience to learn chess, she analyzed her options in a manner befitting the game. Determining that the connection to her brother and, by association, Darcy, was her utmost concern, she calculated that her best move was to stay at Netherfield. If in the process, an opportunity to help minimize Charles’s chances of winning Miss Bennet presented itself, all the better.
“Charles, you have misunderstood me. If you believe that Miss Bennet returns your affection, then I am nothing but happy for you both. But in any case, I am more than happy to further the acquaintance. I would rather call tomorrow, though; I have so many things to do today. The household is in utter disarray. It appears I must oversee every detail personally or nothing will be done properly.”
“Caroline, I must insist that you come with me today. I think after the misunderstandings that have passed between you, your calling so soon after your arrival will demonstrate your eagerness to improve your relationship. While you are there, you can invite Miss Bennet’s family to dine with us tomorrow night.”
“That is impossible, Charles! I could not possibly get this household in shape on such short notice.”
“Very well, Caroline. Come with me today, and invite just Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth to tea tomorrow. You can put off hosting her entire family for a few days longer. I must say, I think it is wonderful that you are so concerned about making a good impression. But even if the dinner cannot occur immediately, let us extend the invitation today. I will leave you now; you obviously have much to do. We leave for Longbourn in two hours. I will see if Louisa wishes to accompany us.”
As Caroline watched him go, she made a mental note not to underestimate Charles’s tactical ability again.
***
Elizabeth approached Netherfield with a sense of apprehension that she could barely comprehend. She knew it was not on account of seeing either Caroline Bingley or Louisa Hurst again. When they had called the previous afternoon at Longbourn, they greeted Jane and, by extension, herself, with all that was civil and insincere. Jane accepted their attention with a graciousness that Elizabeth knew she could never have mustered. Nonetheless, the visit passed pleasantly and without incident. At its close, Mr. Bingley’s sisters insisted that Jane and Elizabeth come to tea at Netherfield the following afternoon. For Jane’s sake, Elizabeth willingly accepted the invitation.
As the time for the visit approached, however, she was surprised to find that her stomach felt as if it contained butterflies. She knew that her anxiety stemmed from the fact that she would be seeing Mr. Darcy for the first time since their misunderstanding outside Longbourn. She chastised herself for getting into such a state. She usually left the art of useless worry to her mother. While her opinion of Mr. Darcy had taken a decided turn for the better, she thought they had little in common. In the past, on the few occasions when her prejudice against him had not colored her judgment completely, she had felt that it was either impossible to read him well enough to determine what he was thinking or she had not bothered to even try. Maybe their further acquaintance was a good idea. If nothing else, it might allow her an opportunity to ascertain who he really was.
As they entered the drawing room, Mr. Bingley excitedly welcomed them both. Caroline and Louisa parroted his greeting without any of his enthusiasm. They briefly talked of Netherfield and the renovation that Miss Bingley believed it required. Mr. Bingley’s earnest attempts to garner Jane’s opinion on the subject made it manifest that her thoughts carried more weight than Caroline’s. Elizabeth was heartened by the turn of the discussion. It not only showed that Caroline was resolved to the fact that Mr. Bingley would be keeping Netherfield for the distant future, but it also revealed Mr. Bingley’s belief that he could not envision his home without Jane’s imprimatur. Despite her interest in the topic, Elizabeth found herself distracted. She wondered if Mr. Bingley’s friend would be joining them. She had to admit that even though she was nervous about seeing him again, she was more disappointed that he had not yet paid his respects. Maybe he regretted what he had said about their friendship. He may have thought better of it in the cold light of day. She was surprised that the thought was sufficient to unnerve her.
As the visit began to come to a close, Elizabeth realized that she had been far too silent. In an attempt mask her inattentiveness she addressed Miss Bingley. “Do you intend then to stay on here for the summer?”
It was clear from Caroline’s reaction that Elizabeth had hit on a sore subject. Caroline coldly responded, “Our plans, as of yet, are unfixed.”
“Well, Caroline, that is not exactly accurate,” interrupted Bingley. “I intend to stay on indefinitely. Darcy had invited us to Pemberley for the end of the summer, but that is not certain, as I am not sure that he has fixed his own plans yet.”
At this Jane spoke up, “Mr. Bingley, how is Mr. Darcy? I had hoped to see him today so that we could finish our discussion about poetry.”
Nodding in a knowing manner, Bingley took Jane’s hint. “He had to leave on business yesterday, but I know he will very much regret missing your visit.”
Seeing her moment to shine, Caroline said, “Oh, Jane, I did not know you were interested in poetry. I so love a good verse. Mr. Darcy and I have talked many times about poetry. He is such a proficient reader and his tastes are so varied. I always look forward to our literary discussions. I was inconsolable when he had to go to town, but he specifically promised to return to us at his earliest convenience.”
“Yes, well…” sputtered Bingley, looking uncomprehendingly at his sister, “I do expect him to return when he is able.”
Jane replied, “I am sure we all look forward to his arrival. But I am afraid we must take our leave. Caroline, thank you so much for your lovely hospitality. I am in your debt. Louisa, it so good to see you again.”
With a perfunctory nod, Caroline replied, “Oh, you are quite welcome. You must come again soon.”
Standing to kiss Jane’s hand, Bingley addressed his sister, “Caroline, did you not have another invitation to offer? I remember yesterday when we left Longbourn, you were lamenting that you had forgotten to broach the subject
.”
With false cheerfulness, Caroline thanked her brother for the reminder and turned to Jane. “My brother is quite right. I do not know what has come over me. I was hoping your entire family could dine here in five days’ time for a small family dinner, if that is convenient. If not, we can choose a later date.”
“Oh, Caroline, how lovely of you. I believe that would be fine, and I know my mother would want me to accept on her behalf.”
Clapping his hands, Bingley responded with an infectious smile, “Then it is all settled. Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, let me escort you to your carriage.”
Mr. Darcy and the Secret of Becoming a Gentleman Page 16
