Chapter 13

William Darcy was stewing with anger as the Darcy coach bore him, Richard, Giana, and her companion towards the town of Meryton. How could his parents give the authority of who Giana could associate with to Richard? He had been too outraged to write a letter to his parents demanding an explanation for their decision. He was sure by the time they arrived at Netherfield Park his ire would have cooled sufficiently that he would be able to write a respectful letter to them.

He sat in the one corner, on the rear facing bench feigning sleep, creating as much space as he was able to between himself and Richard. Somewhere in his logical brain he was aware Richard had nothing to do with what his parents had decided, but he was still too hurt and irate to allow reason to assert itself. Both Richard and Giana had attempted to speak to him when they had boarded the carriage, but he had closed his eyes almost from the moment the equipage had jerked when the horses strained against the traces. His action had the desired effect, no one had attempted to speak to him since he had begun the charade that he was asleep.

From his position while he was talking to his young cousin, Richard watched William out of the corner of his eye. He was fully aware his cousin was livid about the note from his parents, and he was certain William was pretending to be asleep so he would not have to interact with anyone, more especially himself.

That morning before the departure from Darcy House, William had broken his fast in the sitting room attached to his chambers. He had not shown himself until he entered the coach. Other than a gruff ‘good morning’ he had said nothing. His eyes had closed almost as soon as the footman had closed the door and pushed the step into its recess.

The sad thing was William was not ready to look in the mirror to find the source of his current pique. Richard loved him like another brother, but he had never understood why as part of his persona he projected the haughty, overly prideful mask.

He had once accused William of acting like their late Aunt Catherine and her ‘the preservation of the distinction of rank’ nonsense. As far as Richard knew his cousin had met Lady Catherine only once in his life. That one time, William had been a lad of three or four, so it must be coincidence he behaved in ways similar to the way Mother had told him his late aunt had acted. The only time William had met the old dragon, as she had been described by those who knew her, was one more than Richard had. Even before her hubris had allowed her only daughter to die, his parents had not wanted to be in her company.

As he had deduced William’s behaviour was not learnt from Lady Catherine, Richard was at a loss to understand why that part of his cousin’s character would manifest itself from time to time. He hoped William would not slight the locals in some way. The last thing he wanted was for Miss Jane Bennet to be run off by William’s behaviour, before he had a chance to approach her.

Richard’s hope was Miss Bennet would allow him to explain his actions. He fully accepted he had erred in the way he had gone about things. He should have called and explained himself the day after Mother’s ball more than two years past. He admonished himself for thinking about what he should have done. There was no use fretting over shed milk! If she allowed him, he would apologise profusely. In fact, he would grovel if needs be. All he needed was for her to be willing to hear him, even if she was already attached to another, he knew he owed her an explanation so she would know it was nothing to do with her which had kept him away.

After about two hours the coach and the carriage following behind with the bulk of their trunks and personal servants, made a stop at an inn to rest the horses. Still not desirous of communicating with anyone, and as he had no need to use the privy, William kept his eyes closed and simulated sleep during the break in their journey as well.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~

As the two conveyances were pulled up Meryton’s main street, Jane, Elizabeth, and Mary were exiting the milliner’s shop. Richard had been looking out of the window when he saw the vision of Miss Bennet walking with two young ladies. His eyes locked onto her face; hence he would not have been able to describe either of her friends if his life had depended on it.

William cracked his eye when he had felt the coach slow. He could see they were passing through a town, and it looked vaguely familiar. Then he remembered he and Richard had travelled this way a few years ago. Seeing Richard’s eyes steadily watching someone outside of the vehicle, he sat up and just before they passed the three young ladies who were walking in the opposite direction to which they were travelling, he identified the blonde he had hoped Richard would have forgotten by now. Evidently he had not.

That Richard would give consequence to one who was obviously a member of the lower gentry caused his ire to reignite. However, remembering the rebuke he had received last time he had tried to divert his cousin’s inappropriate attention to the admittedly beautiful woman, he decided in this case discretion was the better part of valour.

Richard had been very close to hitting the ceiling of the cabin with the head of his cane, but he realised that accosting the lady in the street would not win him any favours. He was itching to meet her again. There was no missing the look of disapproval on William’s countenance now that the latter had decided to cease feigning sleep. He cared not for William’s opinion as long as he did nothing to interfere where he was not wanted. He decided to prod William a little.

“I just noticed Miss Bennet, you remember William, the young lady I danced two sets with at Mother’s ball in ’06.” His younger cousin just grunted, not saying anything. “You know her father is the chess master Mr. Thomas Bennet, who by the by, is connected to your father as well as our uncles, and his second daughter is the one you have been trying to beat in chess for…how many years is it now, William?”

“I am aware of those facts,” William averred haughtily. “And I have won three times against her.”

“And she has won how many games against you?” Richard ribbed.

“Yes, well,” William responded as he looked out of the window again doing his best to ignore his annoying cousin.

Giana was smiling as she watched the interplay between her brother and cousin. She, for one, was looking forward to meeting the extraordinary Miss Elizabeth who had won countless games of chess against William, and not a few against Papa, over the years. Richard had mentioned one or two sisters close to her own age, so Giana hoped Miss Elizabeth would not object to knowing her.

Soon enough, the occupants of the conveyance felt it make a turn to the left.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~

Bennet did his duty and called on Mr. Bingley in the morning when the hour for calls began. He was shown into the drawing room where Mr. and Miss Bingley, and the Hursts were waiting.

“Mr. Thomas Bennet, the master of Longbourn,” Nichols announced before he withdrew from the drawing room. It was not hard to see there was an air of familiarity between the butler and the guest. At least it was observed by anyone not named Caroline Bingley.

Bingley introduced himself, his younger sister who was acting as his hostess, and his older married sister along with her husband. “Do you have sons and daughters, Mr. Bennet?” Bingley asked once they all took their seats.

“We were not blessed with a son, but I do have five wonderful daughters,” Bennet related.

Bingley hoped one of the daughters would be able to fit the role of his next angel. He did not know how to ask if Mr. Bennet’s daughters were comely, or more information about them without seeming rude, or worse, like a potential rake.

“Mr. Bennet I noticed our butler seemed to be very comfortable with you,” Hurst stated.

“Very observant Mr. Hurst. Mrs. Nichols is the younger sister of Longbourn’s housekeeper, so yes, we know the Nichols well, and have done so for many years,” Bennet averred.

“How quaint that you keep company with servants,” Miss Bingley sneered. “At our level of society we do not consort with servants.”

“Excuse my ignorance,” Bennet responded innocently, “but I did not realise that a daughter of a tradesman never spoke to her senior staff and servants. Is that the level of society to which you were referring?”

Miss Bingley’s face turned a shade of puce. How could this nobody country mushroom dare mention their ties to trade? At the same time the two Hursts did their best to hide their mirth as Mr. Bennet, whose eyes were crinkled as he fought not to grin, subtly put Caroline in her place.

“I see it is time for me to say my farewells. In case Sir William Lucas has not called yet, are you aware there is an assembly in Meryton on the morrow?” Bennet asked as he stood.

“Yes, Sir William called yester-afternoon and invited the whole of our party to the assembly,” Bingley responded. He was happy to be distracted from his fuming sister next to him. He was sure an explosion was coming. To defer dealing with his furious younger sister, Bingley guided Mr. Bennet out of the house, all the way to the drive, where his horse had been held ready by a groom.

“Until the assembly,” Bennet doffed his beaver and wheeled his stallion and began to ride down the drive as three men on horses approached from the other direction. Without looking at them, Bennet doffed his hat and kicked the horse into a canter. Not two minutes later, he passed a coach turning into the estate’s drive.

To Jamey the man he saw briefly looked vaguely familiar, but he could not place him. Saul and Philip had been admiring the park and had not seen the man except for a blur as he passed them. The three heard the crunch of carriage wheels. They were sure the following carriage with the trunks and servants had not reached Bingley’s estate yet, so all three brought their mounts to a halt and turned to see what was behind them.

“It is a Darcy coach,” Jamey related to his brother and cousin. They waited until the conveyance was abreast of them, and rode alongside it for the hundred yards or so to the manor house.

Bingley was greatly pleased that the arrivals meant he could remain outside to greet them rather then return to the drawing room and Caroline’s tantrum. An added benefit was her absence allowing his friends and their family members to alight unmolested by his sister. He felt a tinge of guilt that he had decided not to warn them of Caroline’s plans, but he dismissed the feeling. He was sure all would be well.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~

When Bennet arrived back at Longbourn, his three eldest daughters had returned from their foray into Meryton. He found them in the drawing room with his wife and mother. Five pairs of eyes looked at him expectantly. He made as if he needed to check the post in his one hand, all the while knowing his womenfolk were waiting for his report regarding the tenants at Netherfield Park.

“Thomas!” Fanny admonished lightly.

He relented and told of his impressions of the individuals he had met. He did not varnish the truth of what he thought of each one and fully related Miss Bingley’s speech to his family members.

“Miss Bingley spoke to you as if you are a nothing when she is the daughter of a tradesman?” Elizabeth stated angrily. “The presumption of that woman. She is exactly like the investigator reported.”

“We are lucky we were forewarned thanks to Frank allowing your father to read the report,” Fanny noted.

“I said we need to withhold judgment until we see her, but it is difficult to see her behaviour with anything but abhorrence,” Jane pronounced.

“Brava, Janey,” Beth Bennet applauded, “That is the most unforgiving speech I ever heard you utter. Good girl! It would vex me indeed to see you the dupe of one like Miss Bingley who would only pretend regard.”

There were none present in the drawing room who disagreed with Jane’s panegyric or Beth Bennet’s response.

“With people like these who hold social standing and wealth far above character, it is all the more important to keep the knowledge of our wealth, property, and your dowries from them,” Bennet reminded the assembled ladies. “I heard something of him being joined by friends, and I passed three young men on fine looking horses as I departed, and not very far behind them were two carriages. As he informed me, he and his party will attend the assembly, so you will see them on the morrow, and be able to form your own judgements.”

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~

Once Bingley had greeted all six of his guests and welcomed them to Netherfield Park, he hoped sufficient time had passed in order for his younger sister to vent her spleen. He guided the new arrivals to the front doors and left them in Mrs. Nichols hands to show them to their suites.

He burned with embarrassment when everyone passed the drawing room to Caroline’s screeching and the sound of something breaking. He entered the room and pushed the door closed as Mrs. Nichols led everyone up to the guest floor.

Miss Bingley had instructed her to place the three eligible men on the family floor, close to her chambers. Mrs. Hurst had come to the housekeeper and countermanded that order. Mr. and Miss Darcy would share a suite, their bedchambers either side of a shared sitting room, the Viscount and Mr. Fitzwilliam another, and then Lord Rhys-Davies with Mr. Carrington.

While Mrs. Nichols was showing the guests to their suites, Bingley attempted to calm his irate sister. “Caroline…” he attempted to garner her attention.

“How could you allow that country bumpkin to speak to one of my level of society the way he did,” Miss Bingley spat accusatorially at her brother.

“Caroline, you are in fact socially far lower than Mr. Bennet,” Mrs. Hurst pointed out.

“I am more wealthy than him and his nothing family,” Miss Bingley screeched back.

“Caroline, our guests have arrived,” Bingley interjected in an attempt to divert his sister.

It worked. Miss Bingley calmed in an instant and smoothed her dress. “Let me go greet and welcome my guests.”

“They are in their rooms changing, Mrs. Nichols will show them to the drawing room as soon as they have completed their ablutions,” Bingley managed. “We need to have this room put to rights before they enter. You do not want them to see that broken vase, do you?”

Miss Bingley pulled the cord to ring the bell with much force. “Clean up this mess some clumsy servant made,” Miss Bingley instructed after the maid curtsied.

Mrs. Hurst was about to point out the fallacy in her sister’s words, but she held her peace when her brother shot her an imploring look. It was something else he would have to pay for.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~

“Miss Bingley seems to be in rare form,” Richard observed when the six new arrivals met in William and Giana’s sitting room. “I wonder what caused that unladylike display we heard on our arrival.”

“Richard and William, may I remain in my chambers with Mrs. Annesley and plead the need to recover from the journey?” Georgiana requested.

William looked at Richard who nodded his head. “We see no reason for you not to remain here. I will make sure a tray is delivered to you for dinner. If we could, I think all of us would like to join you rather then make our way to the drawing room,” William responded. There were four nods of agreement.

“Unfortunately, we must make an appearance,” Jamey stated.

“Come it is time to be in the company of the beast who is Miss Bingley,” Richard jested. “It is a pity she is the only one who does not know she is not a beauty.” Grinning at his own joke, he led the four other men out of the suite.