Mrs. Bennet was the consummate hostess. Elizabeth was amazed. No loud raptures regarding what jewellery and pin money she would have. No disclosures of private information. No discussion on qualities of carriages. No effort whatsoever to embarrass anyone in her family. In fact, Mrs. Bennet was solicitous of everyone in Darcy’s family, and very kind in her memories and discussion of her second daughter’s wedding. All and all, tea was quite pleasant for all in attendance.
*~*~*~*~*
A lone figure stood at an upper window, watching the carriages approach from Longbourn. This was her opportunity. Certainly, such auspicious personages would assist her in pointing out the absurdity of the match. She was certain of it.
As the Fitzwilliam and Darcy party were entering the front entrance of Netherfield, Miss Bingley was floating down the staircase in an orange gown that, if it were appropriate for any occasion at all, would only have been appropriate in a formal ballroom.
She approached Lord and Lady Matlock, and with a deep, formal courtesy said, “My Lord, My Lady, I am so grateful for this opportunity to welcome you to our lovely home. Please come into the parlour as I have prepared some tea and dessert. After such an evening in inferior company, I am sure you would like to experience a more superior respite before retiring.”
Lord and Lady Matlock looked at each other with a frown. Richard and Georgiana shook their heads in confusion and followed. Bingley looked embarrassed. Darcy’s face was angry, so angry that he flushed red. Certainly, if looks could kill Caroline would have been dead, had she any power of discernment of the gentleman in question’s demeanour. But alas, said lady was oblivious of her lack of charm appreciated by said gentleman.
The entire party followed Miss Bingley, reluctantly, into the parlour. She had the finest china, and an elaborate assortment of desserts presented on the table. It appeared that the entire staff of Netherfield was there to assist in presenting this formal tea, a tea that none of them desired. They had all enjoyed their evening repast at Longbourn. After tea, they had continued to visit; having enjoyed dinner, as well as tea and dessert, before they had left Longbourn.
Mr. and Mrs. Hurst were already seated. Randolph Hurst looked about as embarrassed as Charles Bingley. He had stayed at Netherfield that evening, attempting to prevent Caroline from doing just what she was acting on now; that being to embarrass Darcy in front of his family. He had shortly realized that Caroline had planned this event to show what an exemplary hostess she was. Hurst knew that nothing she had planned was appropriate for this late in the evening. He wondered what she could possibly believe she was accomplishing by such a spectacle! Yet, he also knew by allowing her to embarrass herself beyond redemption, he might have a chance to aid Darcy in ending Caroline’s determination to subvert his wedding plans.
“Oh, Lord and Lady Matlock, please take a seat; as well as you, Viscount and Lady Fitzwilliam. Colonel Fitzwilliam, you and Georgiana should sit over here with Mr. Darcy. Charles, I am sure you would like to visit with Louisa and Randolph. Now, are we not comfortable?” Miss Bingley exclaimed, as she sat next to the settee where she had placed Lord and Lady Matlock.
“James and Lucy, please serve the tea,” Miss Bingley instructed. “All of you must be hungry. Please partake of this exemplary dessert our chef has prepared. You know, our chef is from France.”
To everyone’s surprise, it was Georgiana who spoke first, “Miss Bingley, I do not believe I would be speaking out of line, if I told you that none of us are hungry. We had an excellent meal at Longbourn, and we just completed our dessert prior to departure.”
Darcy was astonished by Georgiana’s outburst. It would follow propriety for all of them to simply eat again, to make their hostess happy. Yet, secretly, he was pleased she was determined not to give into Caroline’s machinations.
Richard said, “Georgiana is quite right. I do not know when I have had a more pleasant meal. Everything was prepared quite well indeed.”
“I asked Mrs. Bennet if her cook would provide the recipe to mine for that Sherried Trifle we had for dessert. It was perhaps the best example of the confection I have ever had the pleasure to partake,” Lady Fitzwilliam added.
Caroline turned to Lord and Lady Matlock, determined to make her point, “I am sure you are only being polite. I cannot imagine you have ever had to partake of dinner in such company. Surely, you do not agree with your other relatives? I am certain that after the Bennet’s have made such a spectacle of themselves, you are wondering how to impress upon Mr. Darcy just what a catastrophic mistake he is making in this match. Perhaps, it is not too late to convince him of this. I will be more than happy to assist you in impressing upon him the importance of changing his mind before it is too late.”
A collective gasp was heard around the room, as all in attendance were shocked at Caroline’s open rudeness. Caroline, of course, had only said this to Lord and Lady Matlock, but everyone in the room had heard her. The Viscount and his wife, not knowing either the Bennet’s or the Bingley’s before tonight, felt it was Miss Bingley making the spectacle of herself, not the Bennets. Richard and Georgiana were shocked to hear Miss Bingley’s blatant rudeness in her offensive words towards Darcy and his fiancée’s family. Darcy rose and strode to the window in an attempt to calm his angry thoughts, before he said something that would damage his relationship with his friend’s family. Mr. Bingley and the Hursts were preparing to intervene, however before they could, it was Lady Matlock that spoke.
“Miss Bingley perhaps you, as well as my husband and I, could step into another room. I know I would like to speak with you,” she said with a raised brow, that her husband and nephews recognized as mischievous.
Caroline, thinking that she had been victorious, asked to be temporarily excused from her company and escorted Lord and Lady Matlock across the hall to the library. She closed the door; and as soon as she did, the Viscount and Lady Fitzwilliam as well as the colonel found a reason to leave the room, only to walk across the hall to listen to the interaction. Darcy, Georgiana, Mr. Bingley, and the Hursts remained in the parlour.
After Caroline had invited the Fitzwilliams to sit, she sat on a chair across from them. Lady Matlock began, “Miss Bingley, I asked you to follow me out of the room because I did not want to embarrass you in front of my family and yours. What I want to say to you is quite important. I know that I am a guest in your home. I will leave and stay elsewhere, if you like. But I will not, and I repeat will not, have you disparage my nephew’s family-to-be. They are the finest of gentle persons, and I am quite grateful to have made their acquaintance this evening.”
“However, I cannot say the same thing for you. You have attempted to belittle my nephew’s future family, and embarrass him in front of his relations. This I will not have! Do you understand me? I will not have it! I will take my entire family elsewhere if necessary. We are here for Darcy’s wedding. We are here to celebrate a union our family has hoped might happen for a very long time.”
“But, Lady Matlock, I know you must be quite shocked that Mr. Darcy would connect himself with such an impertinent chit, with no family connections or fortune…”
Lord Matlock interrupted, “Miss Bingley, we will not have it! Do you understand? Miss Elizabeth Bennet is everything that is lovely and proper, which is more than I can say for you! I am quite sorry I have to be so blunt. It is not appropriate for me to say so, but I must. How can you disparage Darcy’s fiancée, and think you will stay in his good graces? He is your brother’s best friend, is he not? Do you want to be banished from his homes and his company? For I assure you, if you do not change this behaviour now, I will encourage him to do so.”
“But Lord Matlock, do you not know that the Bennets have no connections…” Caroline started.
Lord Matlock continued, “Enough, Miss Bingley, I will not hear it. Do you understand? The Bennets have quite good connections, if you believe me to be such. Thomas Bennet is one of my best friends in the whole world. I will not have him, or his family disrespe
cted! Now, I would like to return to my family.”
“Yes, sir,” was all Caroline could say. She was shocked. She had been certain that this plan would work.
The evening soon came to an end and, all retired to their chambers. No one had the words to discuss what had just happened in the parlour.
For Caroline Bingley, sleep did not come easily. She stood looking out her window long into the night. She certainly thought his family would be against this match--they would not possibly believe that Darcy, married to that chit, would be acceptable to the London ton. She had planned so carefully only to be thwarted. She was desperate. There had to be a way. There simply had to be away to stop this marriage before it was too late.
Chapter 16
9 December 1811
The following morning, Elizabeth woke before dawn, her thoughts full of William and the day before. She knew she should feel regret or shame; her upbringing insisted that she ought, yet she could not. Nothing about her relationship with her William had been normal, so why should their wedding night not be an engagement afternoon? She was so relieved that nothing of intimacy was as she had feared. Truly, she had never thought to know such pleasure.
Knowing she had an appointment to keep, she rose and began to ready herself for her walk with William. She was eager to see him, and if she were honest with herself, eager to practice her lessons. She was also grateful the hot bath she had the afternoon before, along with her night of rest, had eased the soreness from their intimate activities.
Once dressed, she left the house and walked towards the path. Upon arriving, she saw there were three persons waiting, not just one.
As Darcy approached her, his eyes swept over her body and his thoughts were transported back to yesterday, thinking with lustful fondness of what she had felt like in his arms. But as they were not alone, he lifted her hand and placed a gentle kiss upon her fingers.
“Good morning, my love. Richard and Georgiana have insisted on joining us this morning. They wanted the opportunity to visit with you, and thought they would serve as chaperones.”
As they gazed into each other’s eyes, they blushed in fond remembrance of the previous afternoon. Breaking the spell, Elizabeth exchanged greetings with Georgiana and Richard, and they began their walk. The initial partnering had Elizabeth and William leading and Richard and Georgiana following a ways behind. It was distance enough to allow them to talk without anyone overhearing.
“I am very sorry not to have this time alone with you, Elizabeth,” Darcy began. “I could not find a way to dissuade my sister and cousin.”
“Do not think of it, William. We have enjoyed our time alone quite well. We will have a great deal of pleasant solitude in but two days.”
Darcy glanced behind him to be sure they were a sufficient distance away from Richard and Georgiana, and whispered, “Lizzy, are you quite well this morning? I should have asked prior to starting out if you felt well enough to walk.”
“I am quite well, William. I have very little soreness, almost none at all. Though, I am quite grateful for your kind attention. I know this is not always the case after such an… experience. Thank you for everything.”
“You need not thank me. It is I who should be thanking you. I have never felt such joy…”
Elizabeth interrupted him with a slight laugh and whispered, “Oh, William, let us just agree we are both grateful of our day at the Great House at Stoke, and be happy to know there will be a lifetime filled with many more.”
“Very well, but I would have you know I am anxious for the day I may hold you again in my arms--two days hence. Now, I do have a couple things I would share with you today,” Darcy said.
“Yes, William?”
“Your father gave me a clipping from the London paper. He suggested I tell you of it instead of him,” he pulled the clipping out of his pocket. “Would you like to read it?”
Elizabeth took the clipping. She slowed her pace, but continued to walk as she read. “My word, Mr. Collins is dead! And in such a fashion! It is quite shocking, indeed!” She looked up at Darcy, who was trying to hide a smirk.
Once Elizabeth had looked at him, neither of them could help themselves. In their amusement, both stopped on the path and laughed so hard that Richard and Georgiana caught up with them, watching them with curiosity.
“What in the world has transpired to cause my staid cousin to act in this manner, Darcy?” Richard asked.
This caused a renewal of their amusement, and soon, tears were running down their cheeks. Whenever they tried to stop, they would look at each other and begin laughing again.
“Brother, are you well? Please tell us what is so funny. We would really like to know. Elizabeth can you tell me?” Georgiana asked.
Elizabeth handed the article to Georgiana and Richard and they read it. In the meantime, Darcy and Elizabeth managed to get themselves under control.
Richard started chuckling as he finished the article, “You mean, this was my aunt’s parson? That this was his demise?” Richard started laughing. Georgiana, still not quite understanding, looked to her brother.
“Brother, I do not understand. This man was a parson? He was given the living at Hunsford? Is that it? Elizabeth, did you know him as well?”
Elizabeth calmed her self and said, “Oh, Georgiana, I did know him. He was my cousin. He was to have inherited Longbourn upon my father’s passing. He also,” she glanced at Darcy, “Made me an offer of marriage, that your brother happened to walk in on. It happened the same day your brother proposed to me. So you see, we have already laughed at the absurdity of this man’s presence in our life. I know that it is not proper to laugh at another’s demise. But to have died in such a way…” she giggled, in vain she attempted to prevent herself from laughing again.
“Georgiana, do not think us unfeeling. Mr. Collins was such a pious, overbearing man; that to think of him attempting a liaison in such a manner is beyond ridiculous.”
“But, Elizabeth…” Georgiana began. “What does this mean for the entailment? Does your father have another relative?”
“You know, I have no idea. I am sure that my father will investigate the matter. Come, Georgiana, walk with me for a bit. Let us get to know each other, as we are to be sisters,” Elizabeth said as she linked her arm with Georgiana.
Darcy and Richard fell into step behind them, following at a distance.
“Darcy, I do not think I have ever seen you so happy. Not even as a boy! You were always such a serious lad. I am very happy for you, old man. Very happy, indeed.”
“Thank you, Richard, I am very happy. Elizabeth is oh, she is so many things, and I cannot even voice them all. She is bright and intelligent. She is generous and devoted to all those she loves. She is beautiful. Her liveliness infiltrates my spirit. It is as though she is a bright light that has found a way to shine into my soul. I feel alive, maybe for the first time. I do not think I knew how desolate and dark my life had become until I knew her.”
Richard looked at him. “The ton will be quite surprised, I think, that you have connected yourself with a woman of no fortune and no connections.”
Darcy glared at him, challenging him with his eyes, “Richard, I will not have you question me! I managed to control myself with Caroline’s vitriol last night, but I will not endure yours as well!”
Richard, surprised by the expediency with which he had raised Darcy’s ire, quickly moved to amend himself.
“Darcy, I am not questioning you. I am certainly not degrading your choice, or challenging your judgment as that orange nightmare did last night. But you must know your decision will be looked upon with curiosity.”
Darcy calmed a bit, “Richard, she is not without connections. Her father was best friend to my father, and your father as well, I believe. Mr. Bennet is my second godfather. As you see, her family is well connected with mine, and yours as well. As far as her fortune, she has dowry enough to satisfy the inquiring minds of yourself and the ton. As it is, I am not at libert
y to speak of it, but Mr. Bennet has been quite prudent in his financial dealings. He has had my father and yours as a guide, among others.”
“So he is the Tom my father spoke of? He is also the T.B. that now owns Wickham’s debts here in Meryton, I take it?”
“Yes, he is, Richard. But if you wish to know more, I ask you to speak with your father. The rest of the story is not mine to tell.”
They walked on for a bit before Richard ventured, “Darcy, old man… ah… I… by the way your Elizabeth looks at you with such adoration… she looks quite plucked, cousin. Should I have waited to send you that book until later, old man?”
“Richard, I will not have you speak such…” Darcy turned and gave him a cold, piercing gaze.
“Oh, do not worry that anyone else will notice. But as a man of the world, I recognize the signs. There is an intimacy between the two of you that transmits it, I dare say.”
“Richard, I insist that you say no more!” Darcy replied angrily.
“But you do not deny it, either, cousin. She is all that is lovely!” He said as he waggled his eyebrows at Darcy.
Darcy grabbed Richard’s collar and drug him behind a tree, and out of the sight of the ladies. He pushed him up against a tree as his glare was as sharp as the cold steel of his rapier’s blade. “I will not have this!”
Richard was startled but unwisely said, “Close to the words my mother spoke to Miss Bingley last evening. All right, I will not speak of it. But you walk differently as well, cousin...”
White Lies and Other Half Truths Page 16
