Chapter Seventy-Four

C aroline Bingley was fuming. Wait in the library? In her own home? That butler would be the first to go, she thought. Whoever Charles had married would be no match for Caroline when it came to ruling a household! In fact, Charles would doubtless be grateful that Caroline had returned to take charge of things.

When the door opened, she turned to see a frowning Charles.

"What are you doing here?"

"I heard you had married, Charles; I have come to offer my congratulations and support in helping the new Mrs. Bingley with her role as mistress of Netherfield. I am quite experienced as mistress of this estate, as you know."

"What do you mean, that you heard I had married?"

"Well – just that. You did not bother to tell me; I heard it from a friend in London."

"I have not the pleasure of understanding you, Caroline. You were at my wedding yourself."

"Why, whatever do you mean, Charles?"

"Just that! You were there when Georgiana and I were married this past summer."

Miss Bingley was speechless. Finally, "Are you dicked in the nob, Charles?"

Her brother gasped in shock. "Wherever did you hear such speech, Caroline?"

"No matter; you know quite well that I was not at your wedding. And Georgiana? What Georgiana? The only Georgiana I know is Georgiana Darcy, and it cannot possibly be her."

"I beg to differ in every respect. You were at my wedding, dressed in a gown of green. I recall it because Georgiana commented on how well the colour became your complexion. You sat in the front row, smiling at everyone, clearly delighted to gain such a lovely sister. All that being the case, I ask again – why are you here?"

Miss Bingley's mouth opened and then closed. "Charles, I was never at your wedding, and you certainly are not married to Georgiana Darcy!'

"Am I not? Wait here."

Mr. Bingley left and returned with his wife beside him.

"Oh, Caroline! I was not told that you were expected. I have not seen you since the wedding," Georgiana said, eyes wide in sincerity.

Miss Bingley stared at Georgiana Darcy Bingley. Her gaze traveled down Mrs. Bingley's gown to her abdomen; her eyes widened in horror. "But – you are expecting!"

"This can hardly be a surprise, Caroline, given that your brother and I have been married since June. I know you are a maiden; surely, we should not be discussing such things. I apologise most sincerely. But wait; I am certain Louisa would wish to greet you before you return to London."

She turned toward the door, but Mr. Bingley said he would not hear of her walking any further. "Sit, my darling; I will get our sister."

When he left the room, Miss Bingley stared at Mrs. Bingley hard. "Look here, I know not what game this is, but I will not be made a fool of. You know as well as I that there was no wedding!"

Mrs. Bingley replied, in the saddest imaginable voice, "I cannot believe you would be so cruel as to taunt me in this manner, Caroline. I know we have not been good friends, but to deny your own brother's wedding! I had not thought anyone – even you – capable of such a thing."

"Very well, then; how is it you were not here at Netherfield this past fall, when I was acting as hostess?"

"You know very well that I was in London with my aunt and uncle, the Earl and Countess of Matlock, hoping to reconcile them to my marriage with Mr. Bingley. Your brother is everything estimable, but my relatives were hoping for a more suitable match for me."

"I have been in London these past weeks and have never seen you."

Mrs. Bingley put her nose in the air in a perfect imitation of Miss Bingley and replied, "My relatives and I move in rather different social circles than you, I imagine."

At that moment, Louisa entered the room with her husband. Miss Bingley jumped up in relief. "Oh, thank heavens! Louisa, our brother and Georgiana here are trying to convince me that they wed this past summer!"

Louisa called upon all her acting skills and managed to look confused. "But – but you were there, Caroline. Have you truly forgotten? That is indeed cause for concern. Perhaps you should visit Harley Street."

Miss Bingley's eyes narrowed. "Very well, then, Louisa. What was I wearing?"

"Oh, I recall it quite well. You and I had a long discussion as to the most fashionable shade of green. I declared it to be emerald green, and you said I was quite wrong, it was Pomona green. So you had a gown made for the event in that colour, trimmed in white lace. You would have had it trimmed in fur, you said, had it not been a summer wedding and far too warm for fur."

Mr. Hurst added, "It was quite fetching, I thought. Was there not a matching hat?"

"There was, indeed, my dear. How clever of you to recall it!" The Hursts beamed at one another.

Mrs. Hurst added, "And we will be aunts this spring, Caroline! Is that not exciting?"

Miss Bingley's head was swimming. It was not possible that she had attended her brother's wedding and then forgotten the event! They were bamming her, were they not?

Mr. Bingley interrupted his sister's whirling thoughts. "I told you that you and I were not going to live together again, Caroline, so I am at a loss to account for your presence here."

Miss Bingley thought quickly. "Well, Charles, given your recent marriage –"

"Recent? We were married this past summer, you will recall."

Miss Bingley ignored that. "In any case, I thought Georgiana might need some support in learning how to be the mistress of Netherfield."

Mrs. Bingley drew herself up to her full height. Suddenly, she was no longer Mrs. Bingley; now she was Miss Georgiana Darcy, the niece of an earl, the Princess of Pemberley. She spoke sternly. "Caroline, need I remind you that I have been trained by my brother to run Pemberley? I do not intend to be rude, but we could fit all of Netherfield's house into the east wing of Pemberley; I assure you that I need no help to perform my role, despite my condition." She turned to her husband. "I find myself weary, Charles."

Mr. Bingley immediately sprang into action. "Of course, dearest." He gave her his arm and led her out the door of the study. Then he paused, looked back over his shoulder and said, "I will have the carriage readied to return you to London immediately, Caroline. It is still early enough in the day that you will be back in your townhome before dark."

"Wait," Miss Bingley said. "Might I not stay the night? I would like to hear news of our neighbours, the Bennets." If I can stay for one night, I can unmask this charade in its entirety, she thought.

"I will agree only if you promise to leave tomorrow immediately after breakfast, with no further fuss or discussion," Mr. Bingley replied.

"Of course, Charles. I certainly have no wish to cause any trouble."

***

Mr. Darcy and Mr. Fitzwilliam returned to Netherfield after enjoying dinner with their fiancées. "So you did it! I congratulate you, Darcy; Miss Elizabeth is perfect for you."

"I could not be happier," Mr. Darcy replied and, in truth, his face was wreathed with smiles.

"When will you marry?"

Mr. Darcy turned to face his cousin. "She and I spoke about the possibility of a double wedding on the twelfth of January, but she will speak with Miss Bennet privately on the matter to see if this is acceptable to her. I presume you would not mind, Richard?"

"Mind? I should be delighted, Darcy, you must know that. And then we could travel together to Derbyshire. What could be more perfect?"

"Let us see what Miss Bennet has to say. Meanwhile, you understand what is expected of us now?"

"I do."

Minutes later, the two gentlemen joined the Bingleys and the Hursts in Netherfield's drawing room.

"Mr. Darcy!" Miss Bingley all but jumped to her feet in her haste to speak with the gentleman.

"I believe you know my cousin, Miss Bingley?" Mr. Darcy said, quickly, reminding Miss Bingley of her manners.

"Oh, indeed. Good evening, Colonel." She dropped a slight curtsey.

"Colonel no longer, Miss Bingley," he replied, affably.

"Oh?"

"Yes; I am to be married, so Darcy here very kindly gifted me an estate. I resigned my commission on the spot."

"And who is the fortunate lady?"

"Miss Jane Bennet."

Miss Bingley looked triumphant; her meddling had resulted in great good fortune for the Bingley family. Denied the opportunity to marry Jane Bennet, he had instead married Georgiana Darcy! Or he had married Georgiana Darcy before leasing Netherfield? No, no. That was not right.

"Mr. Darcy," she said, with great determination. "My brother and your sister are attempting to convince me that they were married this past summer."

"And?"

"What do you mean?"

"I do not know why you would require convincing when you yourself were present." Mr. Darcy wrinkled his brow, as if very confused.

Miss Bingley stamped her foot. "You know very well that it is not so!"

Mr. Fitzwilliam stared at her. "Miss Bingley, it must be obvious to you that my cousin, Georgiana, is in an interesting condition."

"Yes."

"And clearly that interesting condition began some months ago. Are you suggesting that she was not married when that interesting condition began? Because if that is the case, I must tell you that I – and by extension, my entire family, including the Earl and Countess of Matlock – will be deeply offended."

Miss Bingley finally understood. "I apologise, Mr. Fitzwilliam. It has been a difficult time for me, and I am not myself."

"Very well, Miss Bingley. But I expect to hear no more on the subject."

Mr. Bingley stood. "I think your journey has tired you out, and you have another long journey ahead of you tomorrow. Perhaps you should seek repose, Caroline."

Silently, Miss Bingley curtsied to the occupants of the drawing room and went upstairs to her room to think over what had just occurred. Of course, her brother and Georgiana had only recently wed, and in secret at that. But she had no interest in spreading any gossip about Georgiana Darcy. What was far more interesting was that she was now related to the Darcys of Pemberley and, by extension, the Earl and Countess of Matlock. They would not acknowledge the relationship, of course, but that did not matter. She could hardly wait to get back to London and inform all her friends.

She did not hear the peals of laughter emanating from the drawing room. Nor did she hear Mr. Fitzwilliam say, "I take it back, Bingley. You are every bit as clever as your sister."