When they were in the vicinity, he would not be averse to visiting a certain young lady again. He hoped the Bennets were close by, although no distance was too great to ride to see his Mary. Hertfordshire was not such a large shire that it would be a hardship to visit her, no matter the distance. She was to turn nineteen soon, and he would then request a courtship from her and permission from her parents.
Darcy sent a message via courier to Bingley, who was staying at the Hurst townhouse, to inform him that he was accepting the invitation and would arrive later in the same day that Bingley was to arrive. He also informed Bingley the Colonel and his sister would be joining them a few days later.
Bingley’s younger sister loudly lamented the fact Mr. Darcy was not travelling with them to the backwater county where her brother was taking them. Bingley, rather than inform her Darcy had almost declined the invitation due to her presence, went into Hurst’s study, leaving a pinch-faced Miss Bingley to her own devices.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On the appointed day, a Darcy coach left Darcy House and journeyed to Bingley’s newly-leased estate in Hertfordshire, carrying both Darcy and his valet, Carstens.
Bingley had not bothered to pass on his sister’s entreaty for Darcy to travel with them in their coach, no matter how many times Caroline beseeched him to do so.
He was aware Darcy would never countenance travelling in the same carriage as his sister. Considering Darcy’s current surliness, however, he might have delivered the set-down his sister desperately needed. The Bingley coach departed early that morning, but Darcy had business to attend to before his departure, and so began his journey after midday.
Before he departed, Darcy left a note for his cousin with direction to Netherfield Park, the estate Bingley had leased. Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, after reading the note some hours later, was ecstatic. He would be but three miles from his beloved and her well-loved family, and would be staying in a house they owned.
Darcy appreciated that Bingley understood his reason to avoid being trapped in a coach with Caroline Bingley, even though the journey would be for a little more than twenty miles on good road.
Darcy was overjoyed his sister was excited about this trip. Georgie was looking forward to something for the first time since Ramsgate. She prayed this change of scenery would lighten her brother’s spirits. She was also delighted that Richard would be there to help shield her from the Bingley sisters, especially the disingenuous Caroline Bingley.
Chapter 4
Mr. Thomas Bennet, the largest landholder in the area, rode to Netherfield Park mounted on a fine piece of horseflesh, his stallion Apollo. He intended to be there to welcome the Bingleys and Hursts to the neighbourhood when they arrived this afternoon.
The Bingleys were not aware Netherfield Park belonged to the Bennets, although Thomas Bennet intended to disclose that fact to him soon.
After he was welcomed into the drawing room by Mr. Bingley, he saw Bingley’s brother-in-law, Harold Hurst, snoring on a chaise, and his sisters with their noses in the air. Bennet smiled to himself, realising Lizzy had aptly named them the superior sisters, even though they were anything but superior.
After waking his brother-in-law, Bingley shook Bennet’s hand. “My friend, Mr. Darcy, will arrive later today. His sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy, and his cousin, the Honourable Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, will join us on Monday.” Bingley offered a genuine, easy smile. “Richard is a Colonel in the regulars and the son of Lord Matlock,” he disclosed affably.
“Yes, I know Richard, the Earl, Reginald Fitzwilliam, and the rest of his family well. Reggie and I were at school together. He is one of my best friends, as is his family to mine. My wife and Elaine Fitzwilliam correspond regularly,” Bennet related as he inclined his head.
Miss Bingley had never learnt, and likely never would, given her age, that when angered she was not wise. She often lacked any sense or decorum and never understood the only person she injured with her rude and cutting comments was herself.
She was already in a bad mood because her brother had refused to persuade Mr. Darcy to ride with them to Netherfield Park. She spoke snidely to their guest, not bothering to offer him the courtesy due a gentleman, regardless of what she thought of his means.
“How dare you refer to an earl and his countess so familiarly? We are close to the family and know he would never allow an insignificant country nobody of no fortune or standing to address him so,” Miss Bingley stated in her grating voice.
She conveniently ignored the fact Lord Matlock and his family had steadfastly refused to be in her company or to be introduced to her. She believed they were merely waiting for Mr. Darcy to propose to her before they did so.
“The pretentions you have, claiming a connection with Lord and Lady Matlock and their family!” Miss Bingley added in a derisive and mocking tone, “What grasping, insignificant people you are. I cannot believe your temerity or your blatant attempt at social climbing. You should be aware you are in company with your betters,” Miss Bingley sneered.
“Caroline,” Bingley chastised her in a slightly elevated tone due to company in the room. He was about to say more when Mr. Bennet raised his hand to stop him.
Bingley and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst were mortified, but after Mr. Bennet’s sign for them to be silent for now, they did not say anything to the shrew.
“So, Miss Bingley,” Bennet stood and faced her calmly, “you, a tradesman’s daughter, thinks she knows who my friends are and how I am allowed to address them? Just when did the spawn of a tradesman become higher than a landed gentleman?” he asked as easily as he would ask his daughters for a cup of coffee. He enjoyed watching the shrew change colours, in a pallet of reds and purples. Without guilt, he continued his line of conversation.
“Mayhap you can tell me, with yoursuperiorknowledge, how many times you have been hosted at one of the Earl and Countess’s residences? How many times they have stayed at your estate? You did not grow up on an estate, did you? Your reputation as a social-climbing shrew has preceded you, Miss Bingley. I see that, in the flesh, you do not disappoint.” Bennet then waited calmly.
“How dare you speak to your betters in such a way you…” she screeched, not only ignoring the fact Bennet was above her as a landed gentleman but was her brother’s guest. “You, you, worthless nobody! I myself have twenty thousand pounds, which is more than an insignificant owner of an unheard-of estate will see in his lifetime!” The enraged women spat out.
As she finished her diatribe, Miss Bingley, whose face had turned almost purple with rage, looked for support in the room. She found none, not even from her sister who was looking on in mortification. She spat some expletives that would be harsh even to the ears of sailors and sashayed from the room.
“Mr. Bingley, I beseech you to accept my apology. I should have held my tongue, but having someone denigrate me and mine without knowing anything about me and my family, and assuming they know better than I about the oldest friendship I have, did not allow me to remain silent.” Bennet looked at Bingley contritely.
“Mr. Bennet, if there is an apology to be made it is on behalf of my sister’s unfounded comments, and it will come from me. Please do not judge the rest of us based on her actions. If she had any sense, she would know a guest should never have been treated so. I am ashamed for her most unladylike outburst.” Bingley winced visibly as he faced the elder gentleman.
“I will not hold it against you, Mr. Bingley, but I suggest you make sure both of your sisters understand,” he stated while looking directly at Louisa, “that if there is a repeat of this kind of behaviour, it will not be good for their future in society. One word from me to Elaine—Lady Matlock to you—and her daughter Marie—Lady Hilldale to you—and anyone who dares to behave in this manner will be irrevocably ruined in society.
