“There is nothing safe about your study,” Darcy retorted.
While his two friends chattered, Darcy tried to determine the gentlest way to approach the subject of Bingley with Georgiana. If only his conversation with her would go as well as his talk with Bingley.
The ladies were in the music room. Georgiana practiced a new piece while Miss Bingley sat beside her on the bench. Serafina, Angelina, and Arthur napped in the sunny window seat at the far end of the room while Mr. Hurst napped on the settee opposite and Mrs. Hurst attended to some needlework.
Richard burst into the room first, scooping up Crusoe when the kitten attempted to clamber up his leg. “Not that way, young man. We do not climb the master’s leg like a savage, but we politely ask for a hand up to his shoulder. Like so, you see?” The kitten clambered from Richard’s hand to the top of his shoulder, happily meowing.
Miss Bingley was unamused. “Will you teach it to fence with its claws next?” She barked a dry laugh at her own joke.
Georgiana smiled. “Only if Richard promises to make Crusoe a fine pair of boots.”
“Like Puss in Boots.” Miss Bingley tittered, finally understanding the reference she had inadvertently made. “Oh, but he will need a castle and a change of clothes if he is to charm the princess.”
“Only if he means to prove that disguise is the way to the heart of a worthy lady. I always thought the real moral of the tale promoted the virtues of industry and dexterity.” Richard rubbed his finger against Crusoe’s cheek.
Miss Bingley tsked. “Unless the estate is entailed to the next male relative, in which case, the princess will have to marry the heir presumptive whether she likes it or not.”
The room fell silent.
Richard pounced on the opportunity to goad Miss Bingley. “Like Longbourn? I did not know you thought so highly of the Bennet sisters! Which one do you consider the princess?”
Miss Bingley huffed. “Miss Jane Bennet’s beauty is highly praised amongst the locals. In wider circles, I dare say she is only average.”
Bingley looked struck. “I thought she was your friend.”
“I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet. She really is a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart that she were well settled. But with such a father and mother and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of her marrying better than Mr. Collins. She shall make a lovely mistress of Longbourn. Goodness knows the house could use some improvements. It is barely livable as it is. I would be ashamed to invite my friends into that garish parlor.” She leaned into Georgiana and laughed behind her hand.
Georgiana tried to smile but, to her credit, she did not join Miss Bingley’s spiteful laughter.
Richard’s face flushed red. “If you speak so meanly about a friend, I wonder what you think of the rest of her family.”
“Me? Mean? I only speak the truth as I see it. From the moment we arrived at Netherfield Park, I have heard of little else but the eldest Misses Bennets’ beauty. I own that Miss Bennet deserves the reputation, but I confess that I cannot say the same about Miss Eliza.”
“Really? Do tell!” prodded Richard.
Miss Bingley was happy to oblige. “Her face is too thin, her complexion has no brilliancy, and her features are not at all handsome. Her nose wants character—there is nothing marked in its lines. Her teeth are tolerable, but not out of the common way; and as for her eyes, which have sometimes been called so fine, I could never see anything extraordinary in them. They have a sharp, shrewish look.”
“The only shrew I see is right in front of me.” Darcy was hot with indignation. “You dare malign my betrothed, the woman I love more dearly than anyone, to my face? What is that if not mean?”
“Jealous, spiteful, peevish,” Richard commented.
And this was the lady Darcy had allowed to befriend his sister.
Mrs. Hurst added her protests to her sister’s, but Darcy’s low tone cut through their cries. “You pretend to be my sister’s friend for the advantages she gives you, and how do you return the favor? With empty, self-serving flattery. You have no eye for real beauty if you cannot see it in every inch of Elizabeth’s person. Though I could describe what I love about every feature you criticize, my tongue cannot do justice to her inner beauty.”
Miss Bingley’s face was as red as a ripe tomato. She pointed at her brother. “Georgiana is ten times more accomplished than Jane Bennet. I would rather die an old maid in a house infested with cats than allow my stupid brother to ruin his prospects with an unrefined young woman.”
“That can be arranged!” Bingley cried.
Serafina leapt into Georgiana’s lap, and Georgie buried her face in the cat’s fur. Angry people are rarely wise. Miss Bingley, in her ire, had unwittingly said aloud the words certain to break the heart of her so-called dearest friend.
Darcy moved closer to his sister.
“You would go against your plan and let your closest friend ruin himself by marrying into that dreadful, scandalous family?” Miss Bingley demanded of him.
Speaking slowly to ensure he was understood, Darcy said, “Miss Bennet is as gracious as my mother was. It is my dearest wish that Georgiana become close friends with her and Elizabeth.” Folding his arms over his chest, he considered Miss Bingley sternly. “What I want to know is how you knew of a conversation you were not privy to.”
Mr. Hurst woke up then. “What is this? What has she done now?” he asked his wife.
