Sudden Awakenings (The Other Paths Collection)

Chapter 16

Darcy found it increasingly difficult to hide his admiration for Elizabeth. She looked absolutely radiant in a pure white gown that highlighted the creaminess of her skin and the beauty of her dark eyes and hair. She moved with ease and grace among the guests at the ball, welcoming friends and neighbors and accepting their congratulations with thanks.

Darcy marveled, knowing how much she must detest having to receive their well-wishes. A lump in his throat formed. Would she always despise him? Would there ever be a time when she could possibly care for him?

Her family, meanwhile, were becoming harder and harder to ignore. Such mortification could scarcely be endured, knowing these were to be his in-laws and in less than a day.

The youngest sisters were presently making a display of themselves, throwing themselves flirtatiously at the Lucas brothers, William Goulding, and even Mr. Robinson, the young fellow who worked as a clerk for their Uncle Phillips. It was clear they had already imbibed from the punch bowl too many times.

Mrs. Collins, meanwhile, installed herself at the pianoforte and displayed her accomplishments–or lack thereof–for a good forty minutes or so before her father came over, slammed the pianoforte shut, and exclaimed loudly that she had delighted them all long enough; the single ladies were now to present their accomplishments.

Mr. Collins was no more conscientious. He proceeded around the room introducing himself as the rector of the Great Lady Catherine de Bourgh. He prattled on about her many virtues, asking guests whether they knew of her, and dropped so many remarks about the grand estate Rosings in each conversation that Darcy was sure the other parties of those conversations could not be more eager to get away.

But the worst behavior of all came from Mrs. Bennet and Jane. Darcy was standing nearby when he overheard Mrs. Bennet speaking to Mrs. Long about her daughter's good fortunes.

“Oh yes, as you can see, my Lizzy is making a most advantageous match,” she crooned. “I am told Mr. Darcy's income exceeds ten thousand per annum, and his estate, Pemberley, is surely the grandest in all of Derbyshire, perhaps even in all the realm!”

Mrs. Long, who had two unmarried nieces of her own, replied dryly, “Yes, you are fortunate. If only all young ladies were as favored as yours.”

Mrs. Bennet bobbed her head. “And just think! My Lizzy's marriage must put her sisters in the way of other rich men. See how Mr. Bingley dotes on Jane. One can tell he is practically in love with her! I am quite certain he will be making her an offer imminently. He was so generous, after all, in offering Netherfield to us for this ball, which he claims is all for the sake of his friend. But I know it to be on Jane's account, that he might hope to impress her. There could be no other explanation for it. His income, though not so bountiful as Mr. Darcy's, is estimated to be somewhere around four or five-thousand per year; quite enough for my Jane, who is used to the country comforts of home. Yes, to see her established at Netherfield would be a fine thing in my opinion. It is my fervent hope that Bingley will purchase it when his lease expires.”

“You must be pleased then,” said Mrs. Long, still unimpressed .

Mrs. Bennet giggled. “Oh, indeed, I cannot think of anything better for my dear girls.”

Darcy suspected her of having had too much wine already that evening. She seemed oblivious, not only to her words, but to his proximity to her.

“Of course, I've told my Jane to do all she can to capture Mr. Bingley,” Mrs. Bennet went on, to Darcy’s utter shock. “It was my idea, of course, to have her come and stay at Netherfield when she was invited. I ensured she went on horseback, though it was a rainy day. Of course, I cannot take credit for having made her ill, the poor dear! But she did recover so quickly, sometimes I wonder if the sly thing had been pretending all along.”

Darcy scarcely believed what he was hearing.

Mrs. Bennet leaned closer to Mrs. Long, as if it would do anything to muffle her loud voice. “I commended her for her efforts, though she denied it all. I encouraged her not to be overly demure, but to put herself forward as best she could. And the next time she saw Mr. Bingley, she did just that; she even wore a daring neckline I had recommended to her that morning.”

It was too much for Darcy, to hear all of Caroline Bingley's fears confirmed right before his very eyes. He needed to be alone to think. The public rooms were all in use, but the door to the study was closed. He could regain his composure, possibly with the assistance of a quality bottle of brandy he knew Bingley kept there. He put his hand on the knob, but before he entered, he heard voices inside. Guests, stolen away for a tête-à-tête , or perhaps a romantic interlude, he conjectured.

He was prepared to walk away when he caught the name “Mr. Bingley” uttered by a female voice from within. He had just seen Miss Bingley dancing, and Mrs. Hurst attending the punch bowl. It could not be one of them. His first inclination was to not interfere. Bingley was a grown man and might have a perfectly valid reason to be alone in a closed room with a lady. Then again, Bingley was also hopelessly naive. If anyone else found him there, the lady might be compromised, and Bingley’s fate sealed as surely as his own was. With this consideration in mind, Darcy entered the study, shutting the door behind him. He discovered Jane Bennet crawling on the floor with Bingley standing over her. Darcy blushed at the indecorous position he had found them in, especially Miss Bennet. Upon seeing him, she sat up suddenly, brushing back the tendrils of hair that had fallen from her coiffure.

“Mr. Bingley was helping me to look for my necklace. I am certain I lost it here the last time we visited, or perhaps during my stay while I was ill.”

Darcy could not recall a time that Miss Bennet had ever been in the study, either during their dinner or her stay, but that mattered little.

“Miss Bennet, surely you could have asked one of the maids to assist you,” Darcy said, unable to disguise the displeasure in his voice.

“The door to the study was locked, and only Mr. Bingley had the key,” she explained.

“Yes, Darcy, it is entirely my fault. When I heard Miss Bennet had lost her pendant, I offered to help her look for it. I suppose, in hindsight, I could have asked a servant.” Bingley’s cheeks were reddened, indicating he at least had some realization of the impropriety of the situation.

“Perhaps when the evening is over, you might ask the servants to search the house for it while they are in the business of cleaning up,” Darcy recommended. “I doubt if you will have much success finding it now.”

“Yes, of course, you are correct, as usual, Darcy.” Bingley’s head nodded quickly. “We should return to the party.”

Darcy opened the door, ushering Miss Bennet out. “After you, madam.” But before Bingley could follow her, Darcy shut the door again.

“Bingley, I hope you realize the gross error of your behavior.”

“Yes, Darcy. It was foolish of me to put myself in a situation which might have been misinterpreted. But it was entirely innocent, I assure you! We did nothing aside from searching beneath the cushions and the desk.”

“I hope the view was worth your trouble,” Darcy chided. “But you must exercise more caution in the future, lest you find yourself bound to the lady in a manner not unlike myself.”

Shock fell over Bingley’s face. “I had not considered that.”

“If you love the lady,” Darcy continued, “then by all means, propose to her. But let it be a proposal of your own choosing, to avoid the possibility of resentment on either side.”

A nervous chuckle came from Bingley’s lips. “You speak quite seriously, Darcy.”

“The situation is more grave than you realize, Bingley. Miss Bennet is…to put it bluntly, after your fortune.”

“Preposterous!”

“Can you honestly say tonight’s incident was not an attempt orchestrated on her part to entrap you into marriage?”

“Without a doubt! Miss Bennet would never stoop to such lengths.”

“Not even under orders from her mamma?” He related what he had heard Mrs. Bennet tell Mrs. Long. Bingley listened soberly.

“Mrs. Bennet, I will concede, is everything you have represented her to be,” he admitted. “But I contest that Jane– er, Miss Bennet– does not share her mother’s values.”

“Does she not? How can you be certain? Bingley, you are on unstable ground, you know. Miss Bennet is not the first young lady to grasp at your fortune, nor will she be the last, unless she succeeds in doing it. I urge you to consider whether Miss Bennet is worth losing your head over, if she does not love you in return.”

Bingley blinked. “You do not believe she loves me?”

“I cannot be certain of anything. Do you love her, Bingley? Do you love Miss Bennet enough to marry her?”

“Love! All this talk of love, and yet, we barely know each other still. I am in love with her, that much is certain. Whether I love her enough to marry her is another matter. We have known each other for only five weeks. How can anyone determine their future in such a short span?”

“If you are as of yet unsure, then you ought to consider the duration of your stay here at Netherfield. As this evening has proved, you are a hair’s breadth shy of finding yourself compromised. If you do not wish a repeat of tonight– one which might prove more fatal to your happiness, then perhaps it would be better if you were to remove yourself from Miss Bennet’s presence for a time. Go to London, until you can sort out your head and your heart. If your feelings for her have not abated after a month or two, then return and propose to her. But if your affection is as fleeting as it was for your last lady-loves, then you would do better to give up your lease and take up residence in another county altogether.”

“You must have been speaking to my sisters,” Bingley said, with a touch of bitterness, “for your words echo their own.”

“I will admit, Miss Bingley did urge me to speak with you. But I did not do so until I had formed a judgment of my own.”

“Well! Since you have all conspired to tell me the same advice, I suppose I would be a fool not to take it. Very well, Darcy, my mind is made up. The day after your wedding, my sisters and I shall quit Netherfield Park.”