by Wells, Linda
“You do need to realize that Miss Bingley was quite set on marrying Mr. Darcy, as well.” Jane said quietly. Surprised, Elizabeth looked to her sister along with the rest of the women. “So you will have to take her description with a grain of salt.”
“You?” Cathy laughed. “YOU thought that you would marry Fitzwilliam Darcy? You?”
Before Caroline could speak, Georgiana chimed in, “Yes, she was constantly fawning over him, I saw that enough. I was so afraid that she would find a way to blind him, or put him in a position where he had no choice but to take her.”
“A daughter of a tradesman?” Cathy screeched with laughter as Caroline’s face became increasingly red.
“Impossible!” Anne cried.
“Really, Miss Bingley. That is overreaching in a spectacular way.” Lady Matlock clucked. “At least Mrs. Darcy is a gentlewoman by birth. Perhaps your great granddaughter might marry such a man, when the taint of trade about your person is stale.”
“Tradesmen do have money though.” Lady Catherine sniffed. “To the desperate family, I suppose it would be acceptable to take her dowry. But she would never be welcome in the highest circles. She might make the marriage, but she would be laughed at. I have no doubt of this.” Nodding to Louisa, she said approvingly. “You made the correct step up, Mrs. Hurst. You advanced yourself, not too high, but appropriately. Your children will be well-positioned for moving forward. Your sister should follow your example. A man with a modest estate, or a banker, perhaps. That would be appropriate for a girl such as she.”
“Catherine, Miss Bingley is in the room.” Susan gently chastised her.
“Samuel, perhaps?” Lady Catherine suggested slyly.
Susan bristled. “I think not.”
“A widower might do.” Lady Matlock said thoughtfully. “One whose children are grown, and whose heir is set. An older man, I think. So he would have a companion as he ages. If you are fortunate, he would die soon so you would not have to bear his visits for long, unfortunately, in the meantime, he would probably need a great deal of encouragement to become ready to face you. You would have your work cut out for you.”
Horrified, Caroline stammered, “Work, what sort of work … and what do you mean about him facing me?”
“In your marriage bed, my dear! The man would be taking a wife for one reason only if his family was formed, and that reason would be for gratification. He might be embarrassed to visit the courtesans at that age, if his prowess is reduced. A wife would be able to take all the time that was needed; where a courtesan would be forced to smile as her other clients were taken by her sisters in trade. Well, perhaps he would want companionship, if you have any accomplishments, but he is just as likely to spend his time at his club.” She turned to her sister. “What do you think, Catherine?”
“It is a fine idea.” Lady Catherine nodded. “But she does not have to take such an old man. I know of several men in their late thirties who might do for you. They wore out their first wives with childbirth and are ready to start fresh. They would not mind a pretty girl on their arm, and would likely crow if they got you with child, not that it would inherit, of course. The second family will receive the leavings. You had better have a good marriage contract drawn up. Your son could do that, could he not, Susan? Something to be of service?”
Susan looked from Caroline’s gaping mouth to Elizabeth’s closed eyes. “Yes, he could, but I believe that you are putting the cart before the horse. Miss Bingley must first meet a gentleman.”
“I … I would prefer a man of … younger years.” Caroline croaked.
“Well, we all have preferences, do we not? After all, you presumed to want my cousin.” Cathy laughed unkindly.
“I think that you have made your point, ladies, we do not need to fight each other to create the description of the most disgusting suitor this morning.” Elizabeth said quietly.
“Thank you, Lady Catherine and … all of you. Hopefully Mrs. Darcy’s kind invitation to the ball will give my sister the opportunity to meet the best man for her.” Louisa glanced at her mortified sister. “I believe that she was simply … overwhelmed by our brother’s good fortune to gain a friend like Mr. Darcy and set her hopes high.”
“High?” Anne snorted. “They reached the moon, I think.”
“Hmmph. That is no excuse, she knows her station.” Lady Catherine regarded Caroline. “We have already addressed your shortcomings, Miss Bingley, and I see that they remain. Well, there is nothing for it; we shall have to take you in hand for the days remaining before the ball. I believe that we will begin with your closet.” She began to rise.
“Aunt Catherine.” Elizabeth said with quiet authority. “Another time.”
“Excuse me.” Caroline stood and left the room. Louisa sent Elizabeth a grateful look and followed her out.
“You know it was for her own good, Elizabeth.” Lady Matlock said seriously. “It is better that she faces it here than in London.”
“Yes, I know. The trial by fire I faced contained ten times the vitriol she heard.”
“That was my fault, I planted the seeds. But you handled it most admirably. And I did make it right in the end.” Lady Catherine glanced at her and looked away.
“It was not the beginning I needed. However, I know that I would have faced something of the sort regardless, and know that I still must face it next spring.”
“But you will not face it alone, my dear. And you will not be a newlywed.” Lady Matlock assured her. “And I have no doubt that you will be brilliant.”
“You … you were purposely distressing her?” Jane gasped..
“Of course.” Lady Matlock looked at her quizzically. “Mrs. Bingley, your sister insulted Mrs. Darcy cruelly, did you not see it? She spoke of her husband like a possession in her own home.”
“But so did Lady Gladney and Lady Cathy.”
Cathy shook her head. “No. We spoke of lost opportunity. A blind man could see that Miss Bingley still fancies herself worthy enough to be the mistress of this estate and superior to Elizabeth. She is not her equal in any way. I put it to you, Mrs. Bingley, if I have not married into such a prominent family, as the daughter of an earl with a dowry to match, why on earth would any similar man take Miss Bingley? She needed to be swatted down like the fly she is.”
Jane listened and asked, “I am married to the son of a tradesman. Do you laugh at me?”
“No, Jane, of course not.” Elizabeth reached for her hand. “Mr. Bingley is an educated man who does not work for a living. He is a gentleman, a new one with new money and perhaps not as … respected as someone like Mr. Darcy, but nonetheless he is a gentleman. And today the landed gentlemen of this house are taking him into their fold, and hopefully he will soon purchase his own estate. Nobody laughs at you, in fact, I can imagine that Lady Cathy and Miss Bingley, and someday Miss Darcy, would feel glad to take such a man’s name.”
“I would be.” Georgiana smiled. “He is lovely.”
“He is tolerable, but, forgive me, I hope to …” Cathy shrugged, “Well, obviously, given who I am …”
“Beggars cannot be choosers.” Anne said snidely. “Spinster.”
“Do you really wish to start with me, Sister?” Cathy glared.
“Ladies.” Elizabeth said tiredly and turned back to Jane. “As Aunt Catherine said to Mrs. Hurst, she married appropriately. That is what you have done with Charles. I am the one who overreached. And I was, as Cathy so adeptly put it, swatted like the fly that I was by my new society.”
“If you were a fly, then Miss Bingley is a cockroach.” Anne noted.
Elizabeth laughed, “Thank you for the distinction.”
“You earned our respect, Niece.” Lady Catherine said seriously. “And our nephew was proven correct once again.”
“I had no idea, Lizzy.” Jane’s distressed gaze moved from her sister to the formidable women gathered in the drawing room, and then back to Elizabeth. “You … you had to endure … taunting like this?”
&
nbsp; “Not precisely, but my worthiness was thoroughly questioned, yes. Fortunately we were not on display for very long. It was another good reason to retreat north.” Elizabeth sighed. “It is water under the bridge, Jane.” Again Jane’s eyes travelled the room and Elizabeth took her hand. “What is on your mind?”
“I faced nothing of this. When … when Mr. Bingley took me to London, we … well, we did not participate in the Season, of course, but we did attend dinners with his friends, and I was introduced to people. I was welcomed without hesitation.”
“Of course, you were the appropriate choice, even without a dowry.”
“His family in Scarborough were very kind. I … I remember how they asked me endless questions about being raised on an estate, and what it was like to be idle.” She blushed while none of Elizabeth’s relatives even blinked.
“How did you answer them?”
“Not as well as you would, I am afraid.” She said with a small smile. “What would you have said?”
“Oh.” She laughed. “I suppose I would say that I find their industry far more fascinating than my idleness, and I would assure them that despite appearances, they may just have the better situation.”
“Mrs. Darcy, really.” Lady Matlock shook her head.
“Would I truly wish to insult my new relatives in their home or would I rather want them to like me?” Elizabeth tilted her head and watched the colour rise on the countess’s cheeks.
“Well, that was sneaky.” Cathy laughed.
“It may even be true.” She sighed when the women stared at her with disbelief. “Or not.”
“I sincerely doubt that you would give up Pemberley for a bobbin, Mrs. Darcy.” Lady Catherine said pointedly. “No matter what your ideals are.”
“That was not the point I was trying to make, Lady Catherine.”
Lady Matlock observed Jane’s expression. “I find it curious, Mrs. Bingley, you neither leapt to Miss Bingley’s defence, nor your sister’s? Have you no idea what Elizabeth has endured over the months of her marriage?”
“She has endured more than snide comments.” Georgiana said quietly. Sophie regarded her approvingly.
“It has been a difficult time for all of us.” Elizabeth spoke up quickly and held Georgiana’s eye before looking to Lady Matlock, “And Jane did defend me, Aunt Grace. I think that you are used to my more direct style.”
“Your style was lacking today, my dear, you started out well but have faded at the end.” Lady Catherine observed her critically. “Are you well?”
“I am fatigued.” She admitted reluctantly and raised her hand to her face. “This is a quite an undertaking.”
“Then we will help you through, Elizabeth. You do not need to shoulder it alone.” Susan looked around the room. “Does she?”
“Certainly not!” Lady Matlock cried. “Pemberley has not hosted a ball of this magnitude in years. I am stunned by the preparations you have accomplished already, but there is always something to be done.”
Lady Catherine’s sharp mind began toting up items on a mental checklist as she studied Elizabeth. “I am not the least surprised that you did not ask for help, Niece, but now that it has been offered, I expect you to accept it graciously. Refusal is out of the question.”
“I did ask for advice …” Elizabeth felt tears welling up from her family’s unprecedented offer of support, while simultaneously wanting to laugh at hearing Lady Catherine lecture her on being gracious. “Thank you. I … If you will excuse me for a moment … I need to have a word with Mrs. Reynolds. But I will return.” She stood, and her good humour won out over the tears as a sparkle returned to her eye. “To answer your question, Cathy, Mr. Darcy lifted me to my feet, wrapped me in his embrace, and kissed me until I said yes.” She smiled at their rapt attention. “It was my first kiss, and it seemed to last for days. It was indescribably tender and if I close my eyes, I can feel it as if it was happening all over again.” She hugged herself and let go, “Fortunately, I only have to wait for him to come home.” Looking out of the window at the empty drive, she sighed. “I hope that it is soon.”
“Oh.” Cathy breathed.
“I missed the proposal, but I have heard that it was quite breathtaking.” Jane confirmed and looked to her sister, “In fact, what I witnessed after the proposal was heartbreakingly endearing as well.”
“Yes. He … was very sincere. And so … ” Elizabeth smiled down to her clasped hands and then looked to the doorway to hide the emotion that was overwhelming her. “Well, I see that Mrs. Reynolds is hovering, I am afraid that I must return to my duties.”
“I think that I will go practice my pianoforte.” Georgiana slipped from the room. Elizabeth nodded at Mrs. Annesley as she quickly followed.
“I think that I will speak with Caroline, but I will return.” Jane touched Elizabeth’s hand. “I would like to help if I could.”
“So would I.” Sophie stood with her.
“Of course.” She drew a breath and looked around the room. “And thank you.”
Chapter 39
“Honestly Caroline, I do not understand you.” Louisa paced around the bedchamber while her sister stared out of the window. “Mrs. Darcy, Mr. Darcy … Charles have all warned you to stop your behaviour. Do you not see the favour they are doing you? You have not attended a single affair this Season that comes remotely close to meeting people of the station you will at the ball. Can you not be grateful for it, instead of continually wishing for something that was never possible to begin with?”
“I cannot seem to stop myself.” Caroline said helplessly. “I do not know why. Returning to this estate brings back all of the dreams I had last year. I was living here and every day I woke and imagined that I was the mistress. After a month, I felt so comfortable. And I knew Mr. Darcy’s habits and learned his preferences for … everything!” She turned away to face Louisa. “It just felt so natural, you and I, and Georgiana spending the day together … and then the evening with him. Playing for him and … He danced with me once, and we sat together in church, and he would sometimes escort me to dinner and he thought that I was amusing, I am sure of it! I am sure that he smiled.”
“I believe that he might have. But that was long before he met Mrs. Darcy.” Louisa said with a sigh. “Caroline. He is married, almost a year. And you are a guest in his house, and he is fully within his rights to send you away if he feels you are upsetting his household and most of all, his wife. Mrs. Darcy’s forbearance and willingness to stop the cut you were receiving was very kind.”
“Do you think that … what they said was true?” Caroline looked down at her hands and played with her bracelets. “What Mr. Darcy’s acquaintances would do to me if I was his wife?”
“You are not his wife.” They looked up when Jane entered and closed the door behind her. “You are not going to be his wife, ever. Even if my sister left this earth for heaven.” Jane closed her eyes and then drew herself up. “Every day since we arrived here, I have watched Lizzy work. She has a wonderful staff, but she works so hard. I know enough what Mama had to do to host a dinner party, and here Lizzy is doing it daily. And every night, we have had different entertainment, music one time, cards, last night it was charades … word games tonight … who do you think organizes all of that? Add to that the ball preparations? Mr. Darcy will hold a hunt tomorrow … there are more guests coming any day now … and then there is that group of … harridans she must call her family now!” Jane waved her hand at the door. “Good heavens! I would have never survived. Would you? You may have a sharp tongue that might match them for a moment, Caroline, but to survive them; you need to be far more accomplished than any of us will ever be. My sister … my sister grew up being told how unattractive she is, and now look at her. That room was filled with women who are rightfully proud of their positions, but it was Lizzy who they all looked to for direction. My sister! And I dared to think ill of her because she was devoted to her husband, when I have done nothing to …” She began to sob.
> “Jane, that is not so …” Louisa rubbed her shoulder.
“Yes it is.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Elizabeth’s first kiss was more passionate than anything I have ever felt with my husband, and I know it is my fault. She gives herself over to everything she does while I stand back and wait for it to animate me.” She looked to Louisa. “You said it yourself, at the ball when I thought that I was so nervous and excited, you said that I was serene. No wonder my husband is disappointed.” She whispered.
“He is?” Caroline asked.
Jane woke from her thoughts. “This is not about me. This is about my sister. Now … she deserves your respect. She is doing a great favour by allowing you in her home. So … if you do not … apologize to her and stop acting like a petulant ninny, then I will … I will ask Mr. Bingley to … hire a coach and send you to Scarborough to stay with Aunt Bingley.” She looked at Louisa, whose mouth was gaping. “You have hosted her long enough, and … if Mr. Bing … Charles and I are to establish our own home, then we need to do it without … without interference.” She lifted her chin, “And … if you do not like it, then … I suggest that you select an unmarried gentleman at this ball and … make yourself irresistible. I have no idea how to do that, but Lady Catherine seems to think she can help. Go avail yourself of her expertise.” Jane opened the door and stood on the threshold. “And that is all I have to say.”
The clatter of buckets and mops being dropped by a maid startled the sisters from their stunned silence. “Have you ever heard her speak so much?” Louisa said softly.
“No.” Caroline stared.
“Perhaps we should listen?” Louisa looked at her seriously. “I hope that you find someone, Caroline. You just met two other women who harboured the same fantasy you did, two women who justifiably had far greater chances than you ever did, and they laugh about it now.” She walked to the door and looked back at her. “It is time to get on with your life’s work. And it is not here.”
“WHAT BECAME OF that tenant of yours, Darcy? What was the fellow’s name?” Lord Matlock chewed his lip while Darcy waited patiently. “Wastrel? Now that is not it.”
