Darcy in Want of a Wife

Chapter 28

Hired House

Brook Street

London

The Next Day

“Miss Linden is home, Miss Bingley,” the butler said, welcoming her into the house. Caroline shed her pelisse and handed it to a nearby footman as the door was closed behind her, shutting out the chill of the spring. She had come to visit a friend of hers from finishing school, a girl by the name of Julia Linden. Julia was a year younger than her and was the daughter of a respectable gentleman with an estate in Sussex.

While the Bingley family was considerably wealthier than the Linden family, Julia Linden had excellent connections, and thus Caroline had chosen to visit her to learn the latest happenings in Society. The Lindens, while not wealthy enough to own a home in Town, had hired this house for the duration of the Season.

The Linden residence was Caroline’s first stop since arriving here in London. She had considered going to visit her brother and his wife, but had decided against it for now. Charles had been married for several months now, but Caroline suspected that both her brother and his wife were probably still displeased over her attempt to separate them the previous winter. Perhaps it would be better to encounter them in public before calling on them. That depended somewhat on the state of her own finances; she knew that she had been overspending for some time, and might need to cajole Charles into assistance sooner rather than later. But at the very least, she needed to learn what Society thought of her brother’s foolish marriage to a country gentleman’s daughter. If Jane Bingley was a pariah due to her unfortunate connections, Caroline would stay far away from her new sister-in-law!

The butler guided her to the drawing room, where Julia and Mrs. Linden were absorbed in their needlework. Julia’s chestnut tresses were arranged in a simple style – she was pretty, but not extraordinarily so – and she looked up as the door opened.

“Miss Bingley,” the butler announced.

“Caroline!” Miss Linden said, rising to her feet and taking a few steps toward her friend. “How lovely to see you! I did not realize that you were back in Town!”

“I arrived yesterday,” Caroline replied with a genuine smile. Of all her former schoolmates, she liked Miss Linden the most. Along with that, Mrs. Linden, Julia’s mother, was a great gossip and would know all the latest news. “Good morning, Mrs. Linden.”

“Miss Bingley, it is delightful to see you,” the woman replied and gestured to a nearby chair. “Sit down, please, and tell us what you have been doing these last weeks.”

Caroline sighed and said, “I was in Scarborough for two months, as my brother-in-law Hurst was required to spend time with his ailing father. It was incredibly tedious, and I am thankful to be back in London for at least part of the Season.”

“We are glad to have you here,” Julia replied, her blue eyes sparkling. “Mamma’s brother, my uncle Holmes, is having a party in a week, and I am certain we can arrange for you and the Hursts to be invited.”

Caroline smiled gratefully. “Thank you; that would be wonderful.”

“I recently met your new sister-in-law, Mrs. Bingley, at the Greystone Ball,” Mrs. Linden remarked, returning her attention to her needlework. “She is a lovely woman, is she not?”

Caroline managed to keep her nostrils from flaring in annoyance. “Yes, Jane is very handsome, and she is kind and genteel as well. I am certain that Charles and she will be happy together.”

“Who is her father?” Mrs. Linden asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Caroline had no intention of saying anything negative about the Bennets, given that they were now relations by marriage.

“Mr. Bennet is an intelligent man who is master of a fine estate in Hertfordshire,” she explained. “He does not like Town much, so he rarely comes here.”

“I find that odd,” Julia remarked, wrinkling her nose. “Can you imagine preferring the country to London, especially now? There are so many societal events to amuse one, and even on days when there are no parties, we can ride in Hyde Park.”

“I entirely agree with you,” Caroline replied with genuine enthusiasm.

“My Julia has acquired quite a suitor this Season,” Mrs. Linden said with pardonable pride, and Sophia blushed rosily.

“Congratulations,” Caroline said, forcing herself to smile.

“Thank you, though there is nothing settled, of course,” Julia said nervously.

“And who is the lucky gentleman?”

“Mr. Standen, the second son of Viscount Grantham,” Mrs. Linden said with a smile. “Such a fine young gentleman, and he is heir to a small estate in Kent.”

“He is very nice,” Julia agreed and then firmly turned the subject. “Caroline, do I remember correctly that Mr. Darcy of Pemberley is a close friend of your brother, Mr. Bingley?”

“Indeed he is,” Caroline said, lifting her chin proudly. “In fact, he spent more than a month with us in Hertfordshire last autumn, at my brother’s leased estate of Netherfield Park.”

“What is Mr. Darcy like?” Julia asked.

Caroline was confused. “Erm, do you mean his appearance? Or his character?”

“His character,” her friend replied. “I know his appearance very well, as he has been to many a ball and dinner this Season.”

“Has he?” Caroline asked, managing to sound cool and collected.

“Yes, and quite a change that has been!” Mrs. Linden declared. “He is nearing thirty and has never been much for society, though with his fortune and connections to the Earl of Matlock, he is capable of marrying very high indeed!”

“The rumor is that he was secretly engaged to his cousin, Anne de Bourgh, but she broke it off!” Julia chimed in eagerly.

“Truly?” Caroline asked, her cheeks quickly flushing with excitement.

“Yes,” Mrs. Linden said. “Miss de Bourgh is in London now, and her aunt, the Countess of Matlock, is reputedly planning some kind of ball or lavish dinner party to introduce her to society.”

“Given that she is already four and twenty, I doubt that she will be able to attract many suitors,” Julia declared with a wrinkle of her nose. “Especially since I understand she is in poor health.”

“She is heiress of a large estate in Kent, my dear,” Mrs. Linden pointed out. “Many a plain woman has married high indeed when blessed with a lavish dowry; moreover, her uncle is the earl of Matlock.”

“Is Mr. Darcy showing particular interest in any specific lady?” Caroline asked as nonchalantly as she could.

Both Lindens turned curious eyes on her, and Julia said, “He has been dancing with a few ladies regularly. Miss Storey, and Lady Audrey Galpin, and…”

“And one of my friends saw Mr. Darcy riding in a carriage with a Miss Elizabeth Bennet, only yesterday at Hyde Park,” Mrs. Linden remarked.

“Miss Bennet? Perhaps she is Mrs. Bingley’s sister?” Julia suggested.

“Perhaps,” her mother agreed, and then frowned down at her needlework. “Oh, I missed two stitches, and my eyes are not what they were. Julia, can you assist me?”

“Of course, Mamma,” Julia replied. The two ladies worked to repair the older woman’s needlework, which was a huge relief to Caroline as it took their attention off of herself.

It was interesting that Mr. Darcy was not even tacitly engaged to Miss de Bourgh anymore. Caroline had never paid that rumor much heed; it seemed to her that Mr. Darcy would have married his cousin years ago if he was truly interested in the heiress of Rosings. But it had been a niggling concern; Darcy was a quiet man and prone to startling announcements on occasion.

But now the man was free to wed whomever he wanted, and it appeared that he did not want her, but a woman of higher connections in the Upper Ten Thousand. It was disappointing, but not a great surprise. Darcy was a most worthy prospect for any number of young, elegant, wealthy, refined women in society.

No, she could give up Darcy to a society lady with relative equanimity. What did disturb her was the report that Darcy had been seen squiring Elizabeth Bennet in public. Surely, with so many wonderful young ladies in London, he could not be truly interested in impertinent, destitute Elizabeth Bennet?

Surely not.

And yet, Darcy had admired Miss Bennet’s fine eyes…

The very thought was insupportable. She no longer had hope of winning an offer from Mr. Darcy, but she would rather die than watch pert, arch, blowsy Elizabeth Bennet marry the master of Pemberley.

Perhaps she was overreacting. Mr. Darcy might merely be acting as a friend to Charles’s new sister by marriage. Caroline needed to know, though. She absolutely must know whether there was truly danger that Elizabeth Bennet might become Mrs. Darcy.

If so, well, she would stop that relationship if it was the last thing she did.