Both Bingleys were vastly disappointed when they were shown into a drawing room where only Mr and Mrs Bennet and the older Mrs Bennet awaited them within. Bingley bowed while his sister gave a deep curtsy.
“Lady Rebecca, how kind of you to receive us today…” Miss Bingley began but ceased speaking when the lady raised her hand.
“Miss Bingley, let me be rightly understood. Firstly, as you were informed at the assembly, I go byMrsBennet here. Secondly, I did notchooseto receive you. You ignored protocol and called without invitation or a call from myself and my daughters first. To me, it seems that your roots as a tradesman’s daughter have made you forget the education you received at the seminary in London. My husband, mother-in-law, and I only allowed you entry to our house so that you hear from my lips that you are not welcome here without an invitation from me. Now you may return to your leased estate.”
Becca rang for Hill and asked him to show the Bingleys out. He was under orders to notify those waiting upstairs once the two uninvited guests had left the house. The younger set were out in the park under the watchful eyes of Brian, John, and some of their men.
When Lady Rebecca…rather, when Mrs Bennet spoke, Bingley’s ears turned purple with embarrassment. He had onlyhimself to blame. He knew it was wrong to importune the Bennets, but he had not stood up to Caroline. How many times had Darce warned him his name would be ruined unless he stood up to his sister and took her in hand? Surely his friend would help mitigate any damage Caroline wrought?
Caroline Bingley stood sputtering, not knowing what to say. When she had envisaged ingratiating herself with the Bennets, this had not been the result for which she had hoped. Before she could think of something to say, the butler and a footman materialised to show them out.
The Bingley coach had been pulled around the circular drive, waiting and ready to return them to Netherfield Park. Bingley turned and saw his sister staring off into the park. “Come, Caroline, we must depart before things get worse,” Bingley stated insotto voce.
“No, Charles, you and I are going to take a walk in the park first,” Miss Bingley insisted.
She refused to accept defeat. Caroline Maleficent Bingley would not retire from the field just because the Bennet parents told her to leave! As if by providence she saw something in the park that could be the answer to her prayers. As she stood watching those walking, she was struck by inspiration. How dare these country Bennets, regardless of their connections, attempt to deny her? She was not used to brooking disappointment, and she did not intend to begin now. Thankfully, her spineless brother would follow her orders without question.
“B-but we were dismissed from the house,” Bingley whined plaintively.
“The house yes, but we are not in the house now, are we? The park is not the drawing room, is it?” Miss Bingley responded calculatingly as she stared at a group walking in the park, some of whom she recognised. She pulled her brother away from theconveyance and to the corner of the house. “Look! Miss Bennet and the older son are walking in that group of people over there. You will approach Miss Bennet and kiss her while I fall into the son’s arms. We will become part of this family rather than being rejected by them!”
If he was being honest with himself, Bingley would admit that he agreed to his sister’s scheme because he was still upset that Miss Bennet had been so cold to him and showed no interest in him at all. He lied to himself thinking that he was simply complying with Caroline’s orders to keep the peace.
His desire to have Miss Bennet overrode all of the warnings Darcy had delivered. He seemed wilfully blind to Miss Bennet’s obvious disinterest in him, as well as the fact she was being courted by no less than a viscount.
Intent on their mission, the Bingley siblings made their way towards the group walking in the park as surreptitiously as they were able.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
If Andrew thought that alighting from the coach and pushing it would have propelled him towards Longbourn and Jane faster, he would have done so. He had been sorely tempted to ride Prometheus, his stallion, and arrive at the Bennets’ home sooner, but two things had swayed his decision not to do so.
The last thing he wanted when he begged Jane for her hand was to be smelling of sweat and horseflesh. Also, he had given his mother his word he would remain with them in the carriage. As much as he wanted to be with Jane already, he could understand Mother’s desire to spend time with him after she had not seen him for two years.
His mind drifted to the previous afternoon when he and Rich had gone to Hilldale House. Andrew had been deeplyindebted to his younger brother. Rich had made sure that the house was in perfect order, and he had seen to it that Prometheus had been ridden every day or two.
By the time they had arrived, thanks to his valet Samuelson’s arrival with the trunks, the staff and servants were aware of his imminent return. Not only that, Samuelson also had the trunks unpacked; everything clean was put away, while the rest had been left for the women who did the laundry three times a week. Rich had returned to Matlock House—with a detour to the jewellers—as soon as he made sure there were no more questions for him.
After a good shave, Andrew had enjoyed a long bath, where he had made sure he was scrubbed from head to toe. Once his man assisted in drying him off, he had dressed in a crisp, pressed jacket, waistcoat, and trousers over a sparkling white shirt, with a white, expertly tied cravat, thanks to Samuelson. Rather than hessians, he had donned a pair of black shoes. As soon as he was ready, he had called for his coach and returned to Grosvenor Square and his family. He had been amazed at how much Giana had grown, and had Richard not explained that everything was worked out with Fitz, he would have wanted to thrash his cousin for almost causing Giana to be lost to them.
To him, the hours and minutes had dragged by slowly, but praise be, the time to depart at first light had arrived.
With the lead coach slowing—the personal servants were in the carriage following—Andrew snapped out of his woolgathering. They had just entered Meryton! Soon they would turn to the east, and then in less than a mile, they would arrive at Longbourn. His wait of two years to see Jane was very nearly at an end.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Why on earth are those two in the park and walking towards us?” Henry asked acerbically. He turned to where Biggs was standing unobtrusively and cocked his head towards the two approaching. The huge man nodded and signalled Johns and the other men to be on their guard.
Although vigilant, the guards did not move much closer as the Bingley’s were not considered a physical threat to any of the walkers they were protecting.
It was easy to see that the two approaching the group in the park were unarmed. Had the guards suspected that either of them had a weapon, both would already have been flat on their backs.
“You go directly to Miss Bennet, and I will approach Henry Bennet,” Miss Bingley hissed near her brother’s ear. All he did was nod. She could taste their rise in society as soon as she and Charles compromised their respective Bennet sibling. As she stalked her prey, in her mind’s eye she saw all her dreams being finally realised.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Mr Hill let those waiting in the family sitting room know that the two interlopers had left the house per his instructions from the Master and Mistress.
“So the two Bingleys have departed?” Lady Anna enquired when she led the others back into the drawing room. The three Bennets within nodded. “Well as the bard wrote inTroilus and Cressida, a good riddance. We will not miss those unwanted people.”
