Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

A fter they had successfully fished Miss Bingley from the lake, the rest of the party had naturally dissolved. Darcy, Bingley, and Mr Gardiner all required a change of clothing every bit as much as the distressed damsel, and while the former two might have adjourned to the house temporarily, the latter was required to return to his Lambton lodgings for the purpose. With Mrs Hurst, Mrs Annesley, and Georgiana all attending the overwrought Miss Bingley, that left only Hurst to entertain Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner, so it was deemed best for them to accompany Mr Gardiner back to the Blue Lady.

Darcy was disappointed to bid Elizabeth farewell so soon, especially after that promising interlude disrupted by Miss Bingley's clumsiness, but at least he could console himself with seeing her on the morrow. It had been a stroke of genius on his part to suggest a tea party for the ladies, if he said so himself. So long as he remained dry in his beloved's presence—a state that seemed to elude him lately—he would consider the gathering a success. If he were truly fortunate, perhaps he would be afforded the opportunity to resume their truncated walk. There were numerous secluded spots in the gardens where they would be protected from the interruptions of meddling houseguests.

"How good it is to sit down at a table!" opined Miss Bingley as they gathered for dinner that evening. She spoke as if she had been following the drum for a twelvemonth instead of enduring a genteel picnic at a lavish estate. Admittedly, the fête had not ended well for her, but then she had complained of her suffering from the beginning.

The lady's comment was met with acknowledging smiles and nods but was otherwise disregarded in favour of their meal. This seemed more than enough encouragement for her to elaborate on her grievances, for she proceeded to lament, at length, every particular that had made her experience so harrowing throughout the entire soup course and into the fish. The heat, the insects, the mud—in general, the outdoorsy-ness of it all.

"Not that I blame you, dear Miss Darcy!" she said once she had at last exhausted her list, patting his sister patronisingly upon the hand. She glanced Darcy's way as she did this, as if anticipating praise. "You have not had the advantage of being out much in society yet, as is good and proper for a girl your age. For your next attempt, I have some ideas, such as providing proper seating for your guests."

Georgiana thanked her demurely and withdrew her hand, returning to her trout. Darcy gritted his teeth against the suggestion that Miss Bingley mind her own business and stop pestering his sister with her particular ‘ideas' of what an elegant hostess should and should not do. What did the daughter of a tradesman truly know about being the mistress of an estate? And what sort of ninny would require a table and chairs for an informal picnic? They did not stand on such ceremony at Pemberley, even if some other great houses insisted upon pomp and circumstance for each inconsequential foray out of doors. The Darcys were not of the opinion that every occasion must require an elaborate production. Miss Bingley obviously believed otherwise, but he was of no mind to indulge her outlandish expectations of what a summer house party should be.

Mrs Hurst, to her credit, seemed to recognise his irritation where her sister did not and made the effort to change the subject. "I understand that the gentlemen are to have a fishing party." This was, of course, well known to everyone at the table, but it was a far better discussion point than listening to Miss Bingley carp.

Her husband, who had retained steadfast focus on his plate during Miss Bingley's monopoly of the conversation, perked up and confirmed this with enthusiasm. "And if Gardiner is half the angler he claims, it ought to be quite an excursion."

Bingley seconded this notion, while his younger sister snorted and rolled her eyes. Blessedly, she did not actually say anything, but her opinion was apparent despite the lack. Darcy inhaled deeply to stave off his mounting frustration with her.

"I think we have everything in hand for the ladies' tea party as well," Mrs Annesley said, nodding at her young charge to elaborate.

Georgiana darted a wary glance at Miss Bingley. "Yes, I believe we shall host it on the terrace off the music room. It is recently redecorated, thanks to my brother's generosity"—she smiled at Darcy, and some of the tension in his chest loosened—"and has a lovely view of the gardens. It also has the added benefit of allowing the gentlemen to join us directly. Is the stream not just beyond the lawn, a little into the woods?"

Darcy nodded and swallowed his mouthful. "Indeed it is. So long as we do not fall in…" Belatedly becoming aware of his accidental jest, he paused to clear his throat, hiding his emerging smile behind his fist. He noticed he was not the only one at the table forced to similar manoeuvres in order to cover their amusement. Miss Bingley was not amongst them. "Excuse me. That is, so long as we are presentable, I see no reason we ought not. You can expect our appearance a little past one."

Miss Bingley sat stiffly in her chair as a servant reached around her to remove her plate and replace it with a clean one. This being an informal dinner, dessert was next to be served, and Darcy was glad of it. He longed for the separation of the sexes if it meant a reprieve from his presumptuous houseguest.

They ate their syllabub largely in silence, all of them likely feeling it to be the safest choice. An occasional compliment to Darcy's cook was offered, but otherwise the gathered company seemed to agree that it was wiser to say nothing than to prolong the awkward tension that had plagued them throughout the meal.

All save Miss Bingley, apparently. "I must say, I am glad we shall be partaking in more civilised activities tomorrow, even if we are still plagued by certain…nuisances."

Darcy's spoon fell to his dish with a clatter, his patience entirely at an end. "Miss Bingley, I will thank you to keep your opinions on any additional guests to yourself. It is not your prerogative to pass judgment on anyone I see fit to invite to my home."

"Oh, but surely you can plainly see how Eliza and her grasping relations are taking advantage?—"

"I see nothing of the sort," he interrupted. Miss Bingley's teeth came back together with a satisfying clack. "Miss Bennet and the Gardiners have behaved with the utmost civility and decorum whilst they have been with us"— which is far more than could be said of you, madam —"and I will hear no unfounded disparagement of their characters. Have I made myself entirely clear?"

Miss Bingley swallowed tightly and offered a single nod.

"Good. The subject is now closed."

The silence following Darcy's pronouncement became the ringing sort in which the lack of noise was somehow more pronounced than the presence of it. Bingley sat to his left red-faced and mortified, Mrs Hurst was biting her lip so hard he feared it might start bleeding, and even Hurst appeared uneasy. Miss Bingley herself had turned a shade of puce that did not flatter her gown at all, and her expression was hardened into the sort of rictus that might have been painful. He could not say she looked chastened, but she was certainly angry.

Darcy had never held any great opinion of Miss Bingley, but he had never before seen her act with such flagrant disregard for propriety. To openly insult someone else's guests was the height of bad manners, and he had thought her more capable of controlling herself than that, if only for the sake of maintaining her own dignity. He could only assume that paying court to Elizabeth right in front of her had made the lady desperate, and desperate people often resorted to desperate measures. Well, she will not succeed with me. I shall instruct Bailey to keep the spare key to my chambers on his person at all times, and should Miss Bingley still make some sort of attempt to compromise my honour, she will learn to regret it.

He returned to his syllabub, and it was no more than a handful of minutes later that Georgiana, without even being reminded of her duty by Mrs Annesley, rose and led the ladies out of the room. Good riddance.

Caroline stalked from the dining room with as much poise and nobility as she could muster, but she still felt the sting of Mr Darcy's chastisement in her cheeks. How could he? Do Eliza's ‘fine eyes' really bewitch him so much that he cannot see what is right in front of him? Apparently so.

Mr Darcy's set down was merely the final blow to a terrible, no good, exceptionally bad day. Not only had two of her most favourite gowns been utterly ruined—no matter what Warren said, Caroline could still see the splotch of strawberry jam, and no amount of awkward embroidery would successfully disguise it—but she had been forced to witness Mr Darcy pitch woo at Eliza. She had made a good beginning in successfully keeping them apart, but the moment her back was turned they had disappeared into that wretched willow grove and somehow ended up in one another's arms. Worse, she had been utterly humiliated by her ungainly fall and had not even Mr Darcy carrying her from the water to show for it. She intended to plead a headache and retire to her room as soon as possible so that she might have time to herself to consider what must be done to repair the damage wrought.

Before she could advance more than a few steps down the corridor, the familiar grasp of her elder sister's hand on her elbow drew her to a halt. Oh, wonderful. Now I shall be subjected to Louisa's strictures on deportment as well.

Miss Darcy and Mrs Annesley paused ahead of them and turned round, but Louisa forced a smile for their benefit. "We shall be along directly. I merely wish a quick word with my sister."

Caroline sneered. She doubted very much that Louisa meant to be quick with her remonstrations.

Once the young lady of the house and her companion had disappeared into the withdrawing room, Louisa's pleasant veneer was dropped, and she presented Caroline with the full expression of her wrath. She was almost inclined to shrink back at the unmitigated fury. "How dare you expose yourself in such a manner? Has your mind been addled by your ridiculous pursuit of Mr Darcy?"

"My mind is perfectly sound!"

"Then why, for heaven's sake, did you provoke Mr Darcy? Even were he not obviously infatuated with Eliza, he could never have allowed any insult of his guests to stand. If nothing else, doing so questions his judgment, and men prefer to consider themselves the superior intellect."

Caroline had not considered that aspect when she had disparaged Eliza and the Gardiners, but Louisa was correct. Men did like to think well of themselves, even—or perhaps especially—when they were wrong.

"All you have achieved is to make yourself appear the harridan. Even were Mr Darcy inclined in your favour before this, you have disqualified yourself from his consideration with how you have behaved. Not just this evening but since we arrived at Pemberley. I am absolutely disgusted with you!"

Caroline snatched her arm away, rubbing at the soreness Louisa's fingers left behind. "You make far too much of this, I am sure. Once Mr Darcy?—"

"No." Louisa cut her off by stepping forwards and raising a finger beneath Caroline's nose. She shook it at her sister with tightly reined fury. "You are done chasing after Mr Darcy. Assuming he does not throw us from the estate after breakfast, you will begin comporting yourself in a submissive, ladylike manner and leave him be for the remainder of our stay here. Once we return to London for the Season, we shall seek out a gentleman who might actually have you and let Mr Darcy pursue Eliza or whomsoever he pleases without further interference. Am I rightly understood?"

"You have no right to make such demands of me!"

" Au contraire, ma soeur ," Louisa retorted. "I am your elder sister and have every right to demand things of you. Even if I did not, Charles does, and you are not the only one capable of influencing him. After the way you have embarrassed him tonight before his greatest friend, do not think he will take your part against mine or that he will wish to retain you as his hostess. None of us can afford your ill-bred behaviour if we are to raise ourselves in this world, and I shall make sure he sees that."

Caroline's jaw was clenched so tightly that her teeth began to ache. "I will not forget this betrayal. When I am married and far out of your reach, you will come to regret this day."

"I would not do anything stupid, were I you," Louisa cautioned fiercely. "I am telling you now that you cannot count on me, Hurst, or Charles to support you if you overstep."

She was astonished for a moment at the vehemence of her sister's warning but shook it off in the next. "Very well, then. Do not expect an invitation to the wedding."

The lights along the corridor all dimmed simultaneously, casting the sisters into temporary darkness. They flared back to life an instant later as if nothing unusual had occurred. Caroline rubbed at her arms as a sudden, inexplicable chill assailed her. This house is terribly draughty!

Louisa blinked uncomprehendingly at the nearest wall sconce before turning back to Caroline. "I shall be speaking to Charles about sending you off to Aunt Bingley as soon as the gentlemen have finished their port. Do not test my resolve in this matter, or it shall go ill for you."

"The day I am fearful of our brother's wrath is the day I start believing that Pemberley itself means to eject me, for the latter is far more likely."

With this final word, she pivoted on her heel and retreated, leaving Louisa to make whatever excuse she chose on Caroline's behalf. If her family were set on underestimating her abilities, then she would just have to prove them wrong. She needed to speak to Warren immediately and begin setting plans in motion.