Bingley was not in his usual affable mood the day after the assembly. As much as he would not try to pursue ladies who did not desire him as a suitor, he could not understand how it was that these two angels had so soundly rejected his advances. He decided to speak to Darcy as his perspectives were more often than not clear-eyed.
After his return from Longbourn, Darcy listened as his friend spoke. He was pleased that Richard and de Bourgh were visiting certain ladies because in the past Bingley had not been willing to pay attention to what his cousin had to say. When he was done, Darcy cogitated before he responded. At first, he thought to soften the blow like he had so many times in the past, but he stopped himself. A good friend would be honest, and that is what Darcy needed to do now, tell the brutal truth. “Bingley, these ladies have heard about you and your habit of exciting expectations, then moving on without fulfilling them. They were also aware of your refusal to check Miss Bingley and that you allowed her to lead you about by the nose. An irresolute man is not attractive to a potential life partner, especially one who cares not for your wealth,” he stated.
What Darcy said felt like body blows delivered at Gentleman Jack’s in London. Whatever Bingley had expected, it had not been that. “But Caroline told me that it is all ladies care about, that is wealth, position in society, and connections,” he responded after he began to recover from the shock of the way Darcy was speaking to him.
“If you take what your younger sister says as true, thenyou are a fool. Think about it. All she was doing was describing howshethinks,” Darcy pointed out.
“Are you calling Caroline a fortune hunter?” Bingley asked indignantly.
“I am, and she is a social climber as well.” Darcy held up his hand to delay the protests forming on Bingley’s lips. “Do you think that Richard, de Bourgh, and I do not speak? What kind of inflated opinion does she have of herself where she switched her desires from one man, me, to another, de Bourgh? As he told you, he would never accept her either. Your sister is far too high in the instep. You and your sisters are the offspring of a tradesman, yet Miss Bingley walks about looking down her nose on those who are far above her in society. She thinks that wealth equates to social position, but it does not. She does not want to hear this, but in this neighbourhood her dowry is a pittance compared to many others.”
All of the fight went out of Bingley as he could not refute Darcy’s words without being patently dishonest. “What do I need to do?” Bingley wondered.
“First, you need to grow up and become a man. Next, and connected to that, you must stiffen your spine and take charge of your sister. No matter what her opinions, you are the head of the Bingley family, and you control the purse strings. You have far more power to regulate her behaviour than you think you do,” Darcy responded.
“It will not be easy, will it?” Bingley realised.
“Nothing truly worth doing ever is,” Darcy opined. “Did you send her to London, or was that her choice?”
“Hers. Given the way she behaved, it should have been me to send her away, and not to London, but to Aunt Hildebrand in Scarborough. Our aunt is one of the few people who is able to cow Caroline.” Bingley paused as he thought of the previous night. “At least, she accepted that none of you are interested in her as a potential mate.”
“That is good, however, unless she makes some changes, she will repeat her behaviour with someone else.”
“I need to make for London, and as you said, take charge of her. I will take her to Aunt Hildebrand’s and see if our aunt can effect some changes in my younger sister. I should go pack…” Bingley stopped speaking when Darcy raised his hand again.
“You know where your sister is. Delay your departure by one day, your landlord wanted to speak to you on Monday. Allow me to go see him and ask if we can meet today.”
Although Bingley knew not why the landlord, whom he had never met, wanted to see him, he agreed to the delay Darcy requested.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Darcy had sent one of his footmen to Netherfield Park’s dower house which resulted in a carriage arriving at the manor house about an hour after the note had been delivered.
A footman assisted Mr Bennet to alight. Before the footman could assist Miss Lizzy, he stepped aside as one of the gents cleared his throat.
Seeing that the second Miss Bennet was with her uncle, not something he was surprised to note, Darcy stepped forward and handed Miss Elizabeth down from the carriage.
“Why thank you, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth said so Uncle Henry would know who was present. “It is good to see you again, Mr Bingley.”
Elizabeth offered her arm to Uncle Henry and led him up the steps. A maid took her outerwear while Mr Nichols took her great-uncle’s. She was impressed that Mr Darcy suggested the parlour just off the entrance hall so that Uncle Henry did not need to climb the stairs to the first floor. She smiled and inclined her head to him in thanks which earned her a dimple revealing smile in return.
“Mr Bingley, my uncle and I will not remain for long, so there is no need to ring for beverages and something to eat,” Elizabeth said when she saw their host reach for the bellpull. “Besides, we broke our fast not long ago.”
Henry felt Lizzy guide him until he felt a seat behind his legs, he sat, and she took the seat next to him. “As you have surmised, this is my estate,” he began. “I need the use of my house, which as you know is covered in the lease, so you have two options. You can choose to leave which will gain you a full refund of your lease payment, minus anything that has been broken or damaged during your stay, or if you desire to remain in the neighbourhood, the dower house of this estate will be available. You can ask William about the quality of the house and its size before you make a decision. I ask that you stop at Phillips’s law office on your way to London, and tell him which option you prefer. If you take the second option, you will be refunded one third of the money you paid on the lease.”
As Mr Phillips had insisted, he read every word in the lease before signing it, Bingley was aware that the owner of the estate had the legal right to do what he was planning to do. He appreciated that Mr Bennet was not demanding a reply at that moment, as Bingley preferred to speak to Darcy before he made a final decision. “I will have a decision for you by the time I make for Town on the morrow,” he vowed.
He stood and bowed in the direction from which the voice had come. Henry waited until he felt Lizzy take his arm as she guided him from the room.
Once they had seen Mr and Miss Bennet to the coach, the friends returned inside. They climbed the stairs to the first floor and made for the study. Darcy sat and Bingley offered him some port.
“Too early for me,” Darcy replied.
Bingley poured himself a splash in a cut crystal tumbler. “What think you, Darce?” he enquired.
“Part of growing up is to make your own decisions. Once you do I will offer my perspective, but I will, only once you have made your decision, discuss it with you with pleasure and offer my opinion,” Darcy responded.
Rather than sit behind the desk, Bingley stood and paced back and forth while he cogitated. Darcy remained quiet, waiting for his friend to speak.
