“She certainly will, sister,” he promised. “You are dearer to me than any person alive, Georgie, the only link I have left to our mother and father. I should never select a lady who would do aught but adore you. Miss Elizabeth has four sisters, and I know she is greatly looking forward to meeting you.”
“When will we meet her, William? Will she visit London?” begged Georgiana as their Uncle Reggie entered the music room.
“Her father has travelled with me to London, where he is staying with his relations on Gracechurch Street while he attends some business. I was hoping you would accompany me back to Meryton in three days' time.”
His aunt and cousin began vocally expressing their great desire to accompany them into Hertfordshire, insisting that he would need all of the feminine support and advice that he could muster, and refusing to be left behind. Darcy had no desire to have his courtship become a family spectacle, but he knew that the ladies would never let the matter rest.
“You do understand that you will be the guests of Miss Bingley,” he informed them. “If you can tolerate that, I shallsolicit an invitation from Bingley for you.” They were not to be swayed, though they had previously refused all attempts by the woman to gain an introduction in the past.
“If her brother is to be your relation, then we shall have no choice but to take the woman in hand,” sighed Aunt Eleanor. “We might as well begin directly.”
“Oh, Mother! Must we?” whined Priscilla, and with good reason. Miss Bingley in the presence of those she felt superior to was bad enough. Miss Bingley in the presence of those whose ranks she aspired to was nearly overpowering.
“I cannot make you like her, but if she is to be connected with us, then she needs to learn how not to embarrass us,” her mother insisted. Lady Matlock immediately sent an invitation to dinner around to the Gardiners and Mr Bennet for the following evening, which was accepted in short order; and Sir Henry Maulver, was included at their request. Darcy and the Fitzwilliams knew Sir Henry well enough from town, though Darcy did not notice that the man owned the house that Bingley leased until Mr Bennet pointed it out. Darcy knew that Bennet’s business in town was to meet with the man, but nothing more.
Bingley was to attend dinner at Matlock House as well, and was enthusiastic in his invitation for as many relations and friends as Darcy wished to come to Netherfield and stay. “I could hardly complain, I cannot count how many times my sisters have insisted upon accompanying me even when they werenotinvited,” Bingley laughed.
The Gardiners arrived, accompanied by Mr Bennet and Sir Henry Maulver, who they learned was godfather to both Mary and Elizabeth. Mr Bennet and Sir Henry, they quickly learned, were hatching a scheme as an engagement present for Mary and Mr Collins, but the plan was a complete secret until they arrived back in Meryton.
“Bingley!” cried Sir Henry. “Might I beg a bed for a night or two in my house until this grand engagement dinner Bennet has instructed Fanny to plan?”
“Of course, Sir Henry!” I shall send a messenger ahead of us, instructing my sister to prepare the master’s chamber. I can stay in another room, my sister is preparing the entire house for a large party.”
“I will not hear of it!Youare the master of Netherfield until you give up your lease! The Mayfair room in the guest wing will suit me fine, boy,” the man insisted. “I am certain your sister will wish to house Lord and Lady Matlock in the Cavendish suite, and quite right, too.”
Sir Henry Maulver was in his late forties – three or four years younger than Mr Bennet’s two and fifty – and had been widowed ten years ago with no children. His wife, Lady Alice Maulver, had doted upon Elizabeth and Mary. Jane was also liked very well by both of the Maulvers, but being Fanny’s favourite, Lady Maulver found less opportunity to dote upon the girl, for Mrs Bennet had kept Jane very close in her youth. When Lady Maulver died in childbed in her third attempt to deliver an heir, Sir Henry gave up the house where they had been so happy, and moved permanently to London. His heir was his nephew, the son of his late younger brother. The young man had been rather wild at university, and had been sent to the militia to steady him until it was time for him to inherit. The neighbourhood did their best not to hold Sir Henry’s subsequent neglect of his tenants against him. His wife had been very attentive to her duties, and beloved by their tenants, and he could not bear the remembrance.
The Bennets had not seen Mr Philip Maulver since he was a boy – he was now a young man of about five and twenty. Mrs Bennet had railed against the fates – and Sir Henry’s obstinate nature – for preventing him from reopening Netherfield and bringing the young man into society with her daughters foryears. Having a daughter installed at Netherfield had long been a dream of Fanny Bennet’s.
The dinner was exceedingly enjoyable, Lord and Lady Matlock liked Mr Bennet well enough, and Lord Matlock was already acquainted with Mr Gardiner on business matters. Darcy regretted that Elizabeth should not be present when his family came to know hers, though she had suggested that if his family met her father and uncle, and approved of her by association, that her nerves would be more at ease when she met them herself. Darcy had assured her of his aunt and uncle’s friendly and gregarious nature, but Elizabeth still had difficulty believing that she might be accepted by an earl and his countess, particularly when that earl was also the foreign secretary. She was surprised that Lord Matlock did not wish for his relations to make politically advantageous marriages, but Darcy informed her that the earl believed that political matches invariably fell prone to scandal when the participants were unhappy, and so were not worth the trouble, particularly when so many politicians were so corrupt they could not be expected to keep their promises.
CHAPTER 15
Two days later, the large caravan set out from London. Darcy’s carriage was followed by Lord Matlock’s and Sir Henry’s. During the carriage ride, when she was alone with Darcy and Richard, Georgiana learned that Wickham was in Meryton, and that he was to be punished for his deeds, and removed from good society.
“Must Miss Elizabeth know? What will she think of me?” Georgiana panicked.
“Sister, Wickham told her many falsehoods about both of us,nothing ruinous,” Darcy assured her, “but nothing pleasant either. It was obvious that he was attempting to use her, seduce her young sister, and at least two other girls, and cheat the merchants of Meryton out of a great sum of money. I found it necessary to confide the matter to her, considering that she and her sister were at such a risk from him. I assure you, I never would have done so if I was not entirely sure of Miss Elizabeth, and I am not speaking as a lovesick boy. You will understand when you meet her. She is entirely to be trusted, and a truly supportive and caring friend. She will lend you courage, I am certain of it.”
Georgiana was unsure of many things, but she trusted her brother, and hoped for the very best. If William thought the young lady was splendid, then she must be.
Later that afternoon,when the caravan had deposited Mr Bennet at Longbourn, they continued to Netherfield, and concluded their journey. Miss Bingley, exalted at hosting the foreign secretary and his wife, was determined to use this opportunity to show Mr Darcy’s titled family whysheand not Eliza Bennet, was the perfect wife for their relation. Caroline felt certain that once she had obtained the friendship of Lady Matlock – which she was confident she would do in short order – that the lady would know how to detach her nephew from that harlot’s claws. If not, Caroline had invited another who would certainly shake the scheming trollop from Mr Darcy.
Lady Matlock and Lady Priscilla were both pleasant as Miss Bingley, her sister, and her sister’s husband were presented to them, and Miss Bingley showed them both to their rooms personally. Everyone was installed in their apartments and situated, and by mutual agreement, met in the drawing room before dinner.
They learned that evening that Miss Bingley would not give up Mr Darcy without a fight. By the time they arrived downstairs, she had already accosted him in the hallway upstairs, and Richard had vowed not to leave him alone in the house. The moment the men arrived in the drawing room, she attached herself to Darcy’s arm, and spent the night batting her lashes and cooing at him. Because everyone at the table was a higher rank than Caroline, the lady actually exerted herself tobe friendly, which all of them appreciated, though her attentions were cloying.
The next day Miss Bingley showed her determination again not to give up on Mr Darcy. For the first time since arriving in Meryton, she insisted upon being included when the party called upon Longbourn, and it quickly became obvious that it was not due to her ladyship’s presence, but rather a determination not to allow Eliza Bennet a single moment alone with Mr Darcy. “I do not know what you mean, Charles,of courseI wish to call upon dear Jane. I have been so kept up with preparing for your surprise house party, we have not seen a soul since you left for town!”
Mr Bennet very much enjoyed watching his wife’s panic upon meeting the foreign secretary and his countess in her drawing room. Rarely was Frances Bennet rendered speechless, but on this occasion, she was entirely bereft of conversation, watching her daughter Elizabeth and her family being acknowledged so kindly by Mr Darcy’s noble relations. Lady Matlock quickly put Mrs Bennet at ease, though the sensation still did not render that lady particularly loquacious. Mr Bennet invited Lord Matlock and Sir Maulver to join him in his study, while Mr Bingley acquainted Lady Priscilla better with Jane, Mary, and Mr Collins. Richard undertook to distract the younger ladies with stories from the front, and Georgiana attempted to become familiar with Elizabeth, however, Miss Bingley sought to prevent such endeavours. The lady barely had time to make a pest of herself, however, when there was a great deal of shouting from the hall.
“Out of my way! Out, I say! Where is my nephew? Where is my brother! I demand to speak with Darcy! Where is my brother, Lord Matlock? I was told at Netherfield that they are here, and I will see them at once!” shouted a woman's voice from the hall. Darcy and Richard’s brows raised in astonishment.Lady Priscilla and Lady Matlock both covered their eyes in embarrassment, and Georgiana and Mr Collins both went white with terror as the ruckus drew closer, and the drawing room door burst open.
“Darcy! Where is she? Where is this scheming jezebel who dares to aspire to my sister’s place? To my daughter Anne’s place!” shrieked the madwoman who had pushed Mrs Hill aside and forced her way into the room. She pointed her cane at Jane. “Is it you?”
“Lady Catherine cease this at once! Mr Collins, is this your doing?” Darcy barked.
“Y-y-you cured me of meddling in your af-f-fairs the very day we were introduced, Mr D-darcy, I assure you,” stammered Collins.
