Chapter XIX

I t was obvious upon entering that Bingley was not pleased with his sister. Miss Bingley sat with Mrs. Hurst, Hurst occupying a nearby chair and appearing unconcerned with anything other than the glass in his hand. Nearby, Lady Catherine and Anne sat close together, the lady's countenance showing disapproval, while Anne appeared nothing less than amused.

For Miss Bingley's part, she appeared akin to a dog with a bone, resting with it between its front legs, relishing its treat while considering how best to go about devouring it. While Bingley had intended his family to go north, Miss Bingley had persuaded her brother by marriage to join Bingley at Netherfield. That she discounted Darcy's understanding of her appalling actions toward Miss Bennet and still considered an alliance between them a possibility spoke to an unmistakable measure of hubris. Her behavior in the autumn had been atrocious—when she saw the new beginning Darcy had achieved with Miss Elizabeth, she would no doubt show her true nature.

"Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam," greeted the woman, rising to meet them with her graceful curtsey. "Welcome back to Netherfield."

"Miss Bingley," said Darcy, eyeing the woman while trying to hide his distaste. "What a... surprise it is to see you here."

Unexpected though it was to see her, it was not beyond Darcy's experience for her to dissemble. "I know not why it would be a surprise, for I wish to be here to see to your comfort while you stay with my brother."

"Your gracious welcome humbles us," said Colonel Fitzwilliam. By his tone, Darcy knew his cousin meant to have a bit of fun at Miss Bingley's expense. "To visit your family in the north and return so quickly, you must have traveled with the wind to achieve such a feat."

Now that Darcy recalled, Miss Bingley had made Fitzwilliam's acquaintance but once, and on that occasion, seeing the woman for what she was, he had toyed with her shamelessly, teasing and frustrating her at every opportunity. Miss Bingley remembered the same, for the way she regarded him with narrowed eyes, she must be calculating how she was to endure him. For the moment, she appeared to focus on disingenuity.

"How you came by such a notion I cannot say, Colonel Fitzwilliam. My brother has returned to his country estate, and he requires a hostess. As I have often served in that capacity, I shall not go to the north while he requires my presence."

Bingley appeared as if he wished to say something, but he stayed silent, perhaps mercifully. A fiction though Miss Bingley's pretense was, Bingley would not wish to make her appear any more foolish than she already was.

"Ah, then it becomes clear," replied Fitzwilliam, affecting sage understanding. "It speaks well to your character, Miss Bingley, that you would wish to support him at this time of great consequence to his happiness."

Miss Bingley's smile turned brittle. "I do not know what you mean. We are staying at my brother's country estate for the summer, nothing more. At the first available opportunity, I am certain we shall return to town, for it is so much more interesting than remaining in the country."

"I have lived many years in the country, Miss Bingley," said Lady Catherine. Darcy's aunt did not seem to possess much patience for Miss Bingley, unsurprising as she did not appreciate social climbers.

"From what I heard," said Miss Bingley, returning to her chair, "you live in Kent, which must be superior to anything this county can offer. It is no surprise that you enjoy living in that society."

With a glance at Fitzwilliam, which betrayed his interest in continuing to provoke their new hostess, they joined the company, knowing it would be a long afternoon if they must endure Miss Bingley without making their escape.

What followed was everything Darcy had ever expected, and unnerving in some ways. When Lady Catherine was part of a group, there was very little chance for anyone else to insert their opinions, for when she spoke, she expected others to listen, and rarely had time to allow anyone their part of the conversation. On this occasion, Miss Bingley spoke incessantly, while Lady Catherine watched her, clearly not amused by this social upstart. Mrs. Hurst simpered and agreed with every word that issued from her sister's mouth, proving she was no more adept at reading the room than Miss Bingley. The rest of the party remained quiet, allowing Miss Bingley her head, some annoyed, some amused, some simply wishing they were elsewhere. Darcy felt himself to be a member of all three camps at once, though mostly the last. As Miss Bingley rarely required a response, he most often imagined himself in Miss Elizabeth's company. It helped him endure the afternoon.

Through it all, Fitzwilliam interjected comments designed to provoke Miss Bingley, displaying a savage glee when he succeeded. He could be the most genial man alive when he put his mind to it, but Darcy was also reminded that Fitzwilliam did not suffer fools. Miss Bingley was most certainly being foolish and in more ways than one.

It was perhaps an hour before dinner when they finally escaped her company, Anne and Lady Catherine looking equally relieved. Miss Bingley excused herself to go to her rooms to change for dinner, and while Anne and Lady Catherine retreated to their chambers, the men sequestered themselves in the billiards room, taking their frustrations out on the billiard balls. Soon, the sounds of clacking balls accompanied the conversation of the men as they played. Other than Hurst, for he contented himself with watching them while sipping on a glass of port.

"Darcy, I apologize for my sister." Bingley shook his head in frustration. "Though I sent her to the north, it seems she had other plans, and those plans appear to be aimed at frustrating my designs."

"The question is, Bingley," said Fitzwilliam before Darcy could respond, "is there any chance she can confound your efforts at lovemaking?"

"Caroline believes it to be so," said Bingley, making a face. "Her insistence there is nothing of importance here tells that story without the possibility of misunderstanding."

"This I understand. I was asking if you mean to allow her to gain the upper hand."

"I do not." Bingley's reply was far curter than usual. "As I spoke with Miss Bennet and comprehend her feelings, I have confirmation that Caroline's opinion is in error."

"It is not only in error, Bingley," said Darcy. "She is being willfully blind."

"That much is apparent," said Bingley with a grimace. Bingley turned his attention back to Fitzwilliam. "The short answer to your question is that I will pursue Miss Bennet until she gives me her consent to an engagement. I do not think it will take long at all; in fact, I mean to be about the business in the most expeditious manner possible without being unseemly."

"Then if you hold to your purpose," said Fitzwilliam, lining up a shot, "there is no need to concern yourself with what she might do. Darcy here is the one who must be wary of her machinations."

"Aye, that is the truth," said Hurst, then draining his glass, he reached for the decanter and poured himself another portion. "If you had listened to Caroline's diatribes these past days, you would know that her brother's fascination with Miss Bennet is a distant second to her concerns regarding Darcy."

He turned to peer at Darcy. "Did you know she suspects you of harboring ‘improper interest'—her words—in Miss Elizabeth Bennet?"

"That is interesting," said Darcy, feeling the urge to find the house's mistress and throttle her himself, "for she has no right to determine what is proper for me."

Hurst shrugged and sipped his drink again. "Who can understand the mind of a woman? Caroline is worse than most, for she always sees what she wishes colored by the brush of self-interest."

"I suppose she refused to go to the north?" asked Bingley.

"You are well enough aware of her character to understand exactly what happened." Hurst glared at Bingley. "I apologize for saying it, Bingley, but Caroline is your concern, not mine . While she gets on with Louisa and prefers to be in her company, you are her brother and control her dowry until she marries. As I have a healthy respect for her ability to make my life miserable, I shall not force her to go where she does not wish, for I will suffer the consequences."

"I never said she was your responsibility," grumbled Bingley.

"No, you did not," replied Hurst agreeably. "Yet when you discovered their duplicity, you immediately took yourself from their company so you could return here. You should have known Caroline would not go easily to York, especially since she suspected Darcy would accompany you."

Darcy eyed Hurst for a long moment. "Can you tell me how far Miss Bingley means to take this determination to prevent me from offering for another woman?"

"If you are asking if she would attempt a compromise," replied Hurst, "the simple answer is that I do not know. My previous method of gaining information from the ladies no longer works, for they always check the room now before they plot."

Bingley laughed. "I am not surprised they would. That scene in my house was mortifying for Caroline."

"If she possessed any shame I would agree," retorted Hurst.

"Agreed," replied Bingley.

With a nod, Hurst returned his attention to Darcy. "I suspect Caroline is far too confident in her abilities to contemplate such a step as a compromise, and your aunt's presence may provide an additional check. If she felt her defeat was imminent, I cannot say how far she will go."

"I shall alert the housekeeper," said Bingley. "Mrs. Nichols cannot hold back the keys to the estate should my sister request them, but she can watch for anything untoward."

"She could refuse your sister if you instructed her to do so," said Darcy.

"It would be better," said Fitzwilliam, "to allow Miss Bingley to believe she has some possibility of success should her thoughts turn in that direction. Warning your housekeeper and ensuring she comes to you should Miss Bingley act will be sufficient to foil whatever she plans."

"And it would prevent my sister from contemplating even more drastic actions," mused Bingley. "If she requests the keys and does not get them, she might contemplate stratagems we cannot predict."

"That is the spirit, Bingley," said Fitzwilliam. "Spoken like a master tactician."

Bingley grinned and agreed, stooping over the table to take his shot. For some time thereafter, they concentrated on the game, though it would not be correct to say they did not consider the situation with Bingley's sister. Darcy had no concern that Miss Bingley would prevail, for even if she should compromise him in the middle of Meryton's town square it would avail her nothing. The gossip would stain her much more than him if it even made its way to London. That was no certainty, given the sleepy nature of this town, where the only connections to town—the Bennets to their relations and Sir William with his knighthood—were so tenuous as to be almost nonexistent.

Darcy had been in society since about a year following his father's passing, and he had become adept at not only spotting fortune hunters but eluding the traps they set for him. Miss Bingley was more his personal nemesis rather than a truly dangerous woman, for there were far more predatory ladies by far, and more conniving. If Darcy could avoid all their machinations, he suspected he could avoid Miss Bingley with little trouble.

"To own the truth," said Fitzwilliam after a time, "I am quite looking forward to the upcoming dance. Darcy has long avoided those ladies who wish to dispense with his single status—I cannot wait to see what methods he employs to evade your sister."

"It was amusing last autumn," replied Bingley. "Darcy ignored her, disagreed with her when she least expected it, spent an inordinate amount of time on his horse, and often used the excuse of business to sequester himself in his room."

Bingley laughed, adding: "I specifically recall one instance in which Caroline had taken up a book to emulate your cousin's propensity for the written word. Coincidentally, it was the second volume of the book Darcy was reading."

Darcy remembered that incident, shaking his head in exasperation. "It was clear Miss Bingley had never read the first, let alone any of the book she had nominally begun to read. She asked me several questions, but when I referred her back to the book in my hands, she eventually desisted."

"And none too graciously as I recall!" exclaimed Bingley, much to Fitzwilliam's amusement. "I say, Darcy, was that not when Miss Elizabeth was staying here?"

"Oho!" exclaimed Fitzwilliam. "I have heard nothing of this. Are you telling me that Miss Elizabeth Bennet stayed in your house for a time? That is no less than astonishing."

"A matter of five or six days, as I recall," said Darcy.

"Miss Bennet had come to Netherfield to dine with my sisters," explained Bingley, "and had taken ill during supper. The next morning, Miss Elizabeth marched across three miles of sodden terrain, for it had rained so much the night before that I feared a second flood. All this she did as she thought no one could nurse her sister back to health so well as she."

"That does not surprise me," replied Fitzwilliam, "for Miss Elizabeth is the most intrepid young lady I have ever had the good fortune to meet."

Then Fitzwilliam turned a speculative look on Darcy. "Does your admiration for the fair Miss Elizabeth stem from that time?"

Hearing that, Hurst sat up straight. "You admire Miss Elizabeth Bennet?"

One look at Darcy's reaction must have informed Hurst of the truth, for he broke out into laughter, such that Darcy thought he might roll on the floor with little provocation.

"This is admirable, indeed, Darcy!" chortled Hurst. "I had not thought Caroline's concerns anything other than paranoid delusions predicated on her desperate need to attach herself to you. It seems she is correct to concern herself, though I will own I saw nothing of preference on your part when she stayed here in the autumn."

"My fascination with her stems from even earlier than that," said Darcy.

"That is a surprise, Darcy," said Bingley. "I specifically remember a comment about the fate of young ladies slighted by other men directed at Miss Elizabeth. I also recall you suggesting her mother was more likely to be a wit than to allow Miss Elizabeth to be one of the local beauties."

"That is right!" agreed Hurst. "I do not remember the first, but the second exchange was the night of the assembly."

"Were you not asleep?" asked Darcy.

Hurst shrugged. "When in company, I am not sleeping nearly so much as you might think. Too much racket and Caroline has an especially piercing voice."

"Come, Darcy," said Fitzwilliam, "you cannot think to remain silent. If you said such things, I must think you are out of your wits, and I know you are not deficient."

"I said them," confessed Darcy. "In my defense, I shall only say that certain events immediately before my residence at Netherfield rendered me unfit for company."

" And as cranky as a bear woken from its winter sleep," added Bingley.

While Fitzwilliam grinned at Bingley's jest, the significant look he directed at Darcy spoke to his understanding of Darcy's meaning. That was not a subject to discuss outside the family, however, so he did not press the issue.

"It was not long after that," said Darcy, "when I began to understand that what I said of Miss Elizabeth was the grossest of falsehoods. Soon thereafter I realized she was among the handsomest women of my acquaintance."

"I remember something about fine eyes," supplied Bingley.

"That came from an incautious remark I made during Sir William's gathering in October."

"There seems to be a story here, Darcy," prompted Fitzwilliam when Darcy did not elaborate.

While Darcy was of two minds about speaking further on the subject, he could not refuse to speak now that Bingley had brought it up.

"I do not recall the exact sequence of events," said Darcy. "Sir William—a local knight—had, as I recall, presented Miss Elizabeth as a desirable dance partner, but she declaimed any interest in dancing that night. That was perhaps the first time I realized how foolish my earlier comments were.

"Miss Bingley came close thereafter and suggested it was an insipid affair, insinuating that I might wish to be somewhere else; unfortunately, she caught me at a moment of inattention. As I recall, I said something to the effect that I was admiring Miss Elizabeth's fine eyes without considering how she would take it."

Bingley and Fitzwilliam looked at each other and howled with laughter, while Hurst grinned, shaking his head at Darcy's faux pas. For several moments, none of them could speak for their mirth, so Darcy focused on the game, sinking three shots in succession.

"No wonder my sister hates Miss Elizabeth!" cried Bingley.

"You could not have done that lady a greater disservice, Darcy!" added Fitzwilliam.

"To say as much was to set the weasel among the chickens," said Hurst. "Given how Caroline has assiduously protected her interests, I am no longer surprised at the strength of her dislike or the quickness with which she displayed it."

"You have my apologies, Hurst," said Darcy firmly, "but where I am concerned, Miss Bingley has no concerns."

"Tell her that," rejoined Hurst.

"If you think it will do any good, I shall do just that," replied Darcy. "I refrained because of my friendship with Bingley and my wish to avoid mortifying his sister."

"A little mortification might do her good," said Bingley, still chuckling.

"And make life easier for you," added Fitzwilliam.

"Yet it is not done," said Darcy. "Not unless Miss Bingley were to grow many times worse."

"Then I suppose we must endure her until she understands she has no chance," said Bingley, mirth giving way to regret. "I tried to hint at the impossibility of her wishes, but she will not listen."

"Could we somehow draft Lady Catherine to our cause?" asked Fitzwilliam.

Darcy grimaced and shook his head. "Can you imagine how she would react should sure knowledge of Miss Bingley's ambitions reach her ears?"

Fitzwilliam blanched and did not hesitate to agree. "Mortifying her feelings would be the least of Miss Bingley's concerns."

"It would," said Darcy. "At least Lady Catherine now only has the suspicion of Miss Bingley's wishes rather than the certainty. That is all that held her back from making her opinion known this afternoon."

"Then that is an event to be avoided at all costs," said Bingley. "Much though my sister frustrates me, I am responsible for her."

"You have my condolences, Bingley," said Fitzwilliam.

The three of them laughed again, and as Darcy had no desire to stay with a pack of laughing hyenas, he excused himself to return to his room. There he had an important conversation with his manservant, though Darcy knew Snell was not unaware of the challenges of staying in a house over which Miss Bingley presided. They had spent nearly two months in this house, after all.

Dinner was the same as the afternoon had been. Had the self-congratulations been any thicker, Darcy might have thrown all caution to the wind and criticized something of Miss Bingley's arrangements if only to provoke a bit of peace. As it was, since Fitzwilliam was the son of an earl, he outranked Darcy, allowing Darcy to escape her cloying attentions and escort Anne into the dining-room—Lady Catherine, of course, entered on Bingley's arm, while Hurst escorted his wife. Fitzwilliam accepted the challenge with aplomb, speaking with Miss Bingley incessantly, subjecting her to the same treatment the company had suffered that afternoon, and preventing her from focusing all her attention on Darcy.

"This dinner is quite amazing, Miss Bingley," said Fitzwilliam during one exchange Darcy and Anne overheard late in the dinner hour. "I am struck speechless by the authority you exert over this house, to offer fare of this quality. My compliments to your efforts, and to the cook who prepared such a delicious repast."

"It is no trouble, Colonel Fitzwilliam," said Miss Bingley, completely forgetting about her distaste for him in favor of his praise. "While I expected an improvement because of my oversight, I am gratified to know you appreciate my efforts."

"Very much so," said Fitzwilliam. "But I must correct you and say that the only meals for which I have any direct knowledge happened today. Yesterday, we dined at Longbourn."

Miss Bingley's face fell as Darcy expected. Then, also expected, she sniffed with disdain.

"Well, I am certain Netherfield's fare must be far superior to that estate, so at least you still have something to compare."

"Not at all, Miss Bingley," said Fitzwilliam. "Everything at Longbourn was excellent last night, and this even though Mrs. Bennet was not expecting to host double the number of her family party."

"Mrs. Bennet was not expecting you?" demanded Miss Bingley, regarding him suspiciously.

"We arrived late in the day," said Fitzwilliam blandly. "But it all was excellent, such that we departed Longbourn satisfied. I believe my party agrees with me, for Bingley appeared as if he would stay at Longbourn forever if he could, and even my aunt appreciated our experience. For that matter, Darcy did not wish to leave either, for Miss Elizabeth devoted herself to seeing to his amusement."

A soft giggle by his side caught his attention, and Darcy looked away to see Anne pulling her napkin from her lips, her face impassive but her eyes dancing with mirth. When Darcy risked turning back, he noticed Miss Bingley glaring at him out of the corner of his eye. No matter what it might cost him, Darcy would not meet Miss Bingley's eyes, keeping his attention resolutely on his meal.

"Tell me, Miss Bingley," continued Fitzwilliam, sounding oblivious to her reaction, "I understand you have been in society several years and possess attributes to make any man take notice. What do you think of men wearing scarlet?"

This time Anne's reaction was nearly a snort—had she been eating soup, Darcy was certain it would have oozed from her nose. Darcy regarded her with an upraised eyebrow, and Anne did not even try to hide a grin.

"Fitzwilliam is laying it on a little thick, is he not?"

"Perhaps he is," replied Darcy, "but I appreciate his efforts. She seems so flummoxed that I may even have a little peace tonight."

"I am quite disappointed in him," said Anne, affecting disapproval. "I might have thought he would possess more finesse than this."

When Darcy told Fitzwilliam later that evening after the ladies had departed for the sitting-room, he could not contain his mirth, and the other two jesters joined him.

"When confronted with Miss Bingley's single-mindedness," said Fitzwilliam, "one has no choice but to exaggerate. I doubt I would get her attention if I did not."

"Too true!" exclaimed Bingley. "Everything I said on the subject has come to naught. If you can distract her, perhaps that is the best we can hope."

"Perhaps it is," murmured Darcy. "Bingley, there is something about which I wished to speak to you. I informed Georgiana I would inquire about an invitation for her to join us at the first opportunity."

Bingley affected astonishment. "Do you mean to say that you wish to subject your sister to mine?"

Hurst snorted and Fitzwilliam grinned, but Darcy took no notice of them. "Georgiana wishes to be in the country, and I suspect she would enjoy meeting certain young ladies of our acquaintance."

"Then, of course, you may invite her whenever convenient."

Darcy turned to Fitzwilliam. "When do you suppose Wickham will be ready for transportation?"

"As soon as a ship is available," said Fitzwilliam. "My father plans to make inquiries while he is arranging Wickham's disposition."

"Then that is soon enough," said Darcy. "When we take Wickham to London, I shall return with Georgiana."

"You may stay as long as that takes?" asked Bingley of Fitzwilliam.

"Wickham will not leave Meryton unless I am on hand to ensure he makes it to his ship," replied Fitzwilliam. "I have already written to my commander to inform him."

"Very well," said Bingley. "You are welcome to stay as long as you like."

"Thank you, Bingley," replied Fitzwilliam.

With a nod, Bingley drained his glass and rose. "While we might prefer to stay and exchange tales, I suspect we had best join the ladies."

"Then we may excuse ourselves all the earlier!" exclaimed Fitzwilliam.

Four laughing men made their way to rejoin the ladies. While Darcy wished to excuse himself at once, a lifetime of good manners would not allow it.