He chastised Lizzy mildly, all the while amused when she dubbed themthe superior sistersbefore meeting them. Lizzy had gleaned from the report that Mr. Bingley’s sisters believed themselves above almost everyone except the very top of the first circles, even though the sisters were naught but a tradesman’s daughters.
Chapter 2
Resplendent in the blue regimentals of the Household Cavalry, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam strutted into Whites Gentleman’s Club and handed his great coat, hat, and gloves to the attendant on duty. His mind was pleasantly engaged, thinking about the young woman he had been courting—unofficially—for more than two years.
It was his intention to request a formal courtship on her nineteenth birthday, now only a few short weeks hence. Richard Fitzwilliam was hopelessly and irrevocably in love with Miss Mary Bennet. Her father, Thomas Bennet, was the best friend of his father, the Earl of Matlock. The families were so close they counted each other more as family than friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet had told him as much as they would love for him to become their son, they wanted him to wait until Mary was nineteen before he declared himself. That way, Mary would have a year after her coming-out before he requested a courtship.
The wait was so they could be sure Mary would find her happiness where she currently believed it lay if her intent remained constant. Further, they had told the Colonel the courtship, and the subsequent engagement if they both decided on it, would be a minimum of six months each. Not normally a patient man, the Colonel had accepted those restrictions as his love for his raven-haired beauty, Mary Bennet, was deep. He would wait as long as her parents required to be able to ask for her hand.
Other than his parents, his brother, and his sister-in-law, no one in his family, not even his cousin Darcy—with whom he shared guardianship of Darcy’s young sister, Georgiana—knew Richard Fitzwilliam was in love with Mary Bennet.
He was snapped out of his reverie when he saw his cousin’s best friend, Charles Bingley, sitting and staring into space as he nursed a drink. Charles Bingley was the best natured of his cousin Darcy’s small group of friends. Bingley always tried to see the best in everyone and every situation, which frequently reminded him of Jane Bennet, as she shared that trait.
The Colonel enjoyed Bingley’s company and outlook on life; it was similar to his own. Bingley had an ebullient and affable character, the opposite of his sometimes dour and occasionally taciturn cousin Darcy.
The Colonel, who usually liked or tolerated everyone, had no time for Bingley’s sisters, especially the younger one. He suspected the older sister was not as bad, and she only went along with the younger one to keep the peace.
They were daughters of a tradesman, which in and of itself was not an issue. The problem was the two sisters acted as if they believed themselves above almost everyone they encountered, when, in fact, their station was near the bottom of the social ladder, regardless of their wealth.
His dislike for the younger sister, Caroline, was deep. In his mind she lacked even physical beauty, her perfume was cloying and too generously applied. Her personality was the embodiment of those characteristics which most men detested; she was shrewish, a social climber, and an obvious fortune hunter. In addition, she had made the mistake of setting her cap at his cousin Darcy after she saw Pemberley for the first time; she was the only one who did not realise her desire would never be realised.
He could not hold the sister’s behaviour against Bingley, as he did not choose who his relations were. How could he judge Bingley for his sisters when he had the dubious honour of having Lady Catherine de Bourgh as an aunt?
The Colonel walked over to Bingley, who rose to shake his hand and invited the Colonel to sit and have a drink with him. Once they had ordered, Richard noticed Bingley was not his normal affable self; he seemed worried.
Bingley greeted him with as much warmth as he could muster, saying, “Colonel, it has been a long time. How are you? I have not seen you since you returned from the continent. Congratulations on your promotion to full Colonel.” He prattled on as he looked the Colonel up and down, seeking to find evidence of his injuries from the Battles of Badajoz during the Peninsular Campaign.
“Thank you, Bingley. It is gratifying to earn one’s rank, not purchase it. As you can see, I am as well as can be expected. I have no visible wounds from my foray on the continent fighting the little tyrant’s troops. I trust you are doing well. Have you seen Darcy lately, and is my cousin still in a dark mood?” Richard asked with concern for a cousin who was as much a brother to him as his brother Andrew, Viscount Hilldale.
Bingley’s smile did not reach his eyes. Richard surmised that was because of his concern for Darcy. “His mood is as bad as I have ever seen it. He seems to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. When I ask what is troubling him, all he says is it is a private family matter,” Bingley related, then continued in a lighter vein, “other than worrying about Darce, I am well, thank you.
“I have just signed the lease for an estate in Hertfordshire. I was going to buy, but I was advised to lease first to get my feet wet. It is just more than twenty miles from Town; proximity to Town was one of my requirements. The landlord’s agent is a solicitor named Mr. Philips, who tells me the area is a pleasant one. We are to move in next week. When I went to sign the lease, I also heard tell there are some uncommonly pretty young ladies in the neighbourhood,” he stated with a dreamy look, so much so Richard could practically see his visions of his next angel dancing in his mind’s eye. The name Philips should have stirred the Colonel’s memory, but his active mind skipped over it.
“Darcy is correct; it is a family matter. I hope he snaps out of his mood soon. As to your second piece of news, Bingley, I have never met anyone who falls in and out of love with an angel as fast as you do. I suggest, since you will be living in the area, that you be a little more circumspect before displaying the outward signs of falling in love only to find out again that it is not real love,” Richard gently chastised him.
“That has only happened three—well, four—times. After the last time, when I was almost compromised by one of the harpies Caroline tried to foist on me, I have learnt my lesson. I will be on my guard and a great deal more careful in the future.” After he thought about Darcy’s reluctance for a moment, Bingley decided to extend an invitation to the Colonel. “If you have leave available, you should join us when we take possession of the house next week. It would be my supreme pleasure to host you since I have never been able to do so before. If you join us, perhaps Darcy will as well. He told me when I acquired an estate, he would help me, but just now he is not sure he will be able to join me.
“I told him if he does come, he should use his own carriage so he will not be forced into my sister’s company for a four-hour carriage ride in cramped quarters. I extended the invitation to include Miss Darcy, although he said he doubted she could accompany him. Given how my sister fawns over both of the Darcys, I cannot say I blame Miss Darcy if she chooses to remain at Darcy House with Mrs. Annesley, even if her brother relents.” He added as an afterthought, “I suspect Caroline is also the reason for Darcy’s hesitancy. However, I move to the estate in less than a sennight and would appreciate his assistance,” Bingley admitted.
“I am not sure I can get away by the time you plan to leave. I may be able to join you the following week, duty to King and country, you know,” Richard drawled in an affected manner, full of put on self-importance and sporting a grin; then he sobered. “I am sorry if this is an impertinent or indecorous thing to ask, but do you realise the reason Darcy is hesitant is he cannot tolerate your sisters’ behaviour anymore, and most especially Miss Bingley’s?” Richard asked Bingley as delicately as he could. “As you yourself just hinted, that may be the principal reason he is thinking about not joining you, as I assume they are part of your family party.”
He suspected Bingley was aware of his cousin’s feelings on the subject, but he needed to know for sure. Richard knew his parent’s best friends lived near Meryton in Hertfordshire, and he had been to their estate many times, but because the knowledge was so innate to him, he neglected to mention this nugget of information to Bingley or ask him for the name of the estate he was leasing.
“Yes,” Bingley said, chagrined, “you are correct in your assumption; both my sisters and Hurst are coming with me. I also suspect what you pointed out about Caroline is the reason why Darcy is hedging about joining me. I need a hostess in order to entertain, and my sisters are my only options. Caroline has condescended to fill that office and take on the duties of mistress of the estate. My aim is to meet and entertain the surrounding neighbours. Without a hostess I cannot do that. So, as long as Caroline behaves and does not manage to alienate the neighbourhood, she will act as my hostess,” Bingley sighed in resignation.
“If I am able to join you, I suspect my presence may deflect attention from Darcy and make it easier for him to accept your invitation. My military mind can help us devise schemes to keep him away from your sisters. I am sorry, Bingley.” Richard’s unrepentant grin took the sting out of his words even as it showed he was not sorry in the slightest.
“You have no need to apologise. I am aware of Darcy’s feelings and would appreciate your help. You are correct, it may make it easier for him to accept my invitation. I would like you to know you are welcome to come whether or not he accepts. I am loath to admit it, but your help in protecting him was one of my initial reasons for inviting you.
“When you are free from your duties and if you choose to come, send me a note, or just arrive. I will have a bedchamber waiting for you since it is my fervent hope you will be able to join us.” Bingley noticed the time on the longcase clock against the wall and he used it as an excuse to end the uncomfortable conversation about his sisters. “I am sorry; I must away. I have business to attend to before I depart from London.”
“Before you go, I have decided I will come and visit you, Bingley. I am sure General Atherton will spare me after my pressing duties have been completed. I will see Darcy later today and inform him as soon as I know the date the General can release me,” Richard said as he settled into his chair with the ease of a man who knew his path forward.
“Thank you, Colonel. I look forward to hosting you and I hope Darcy will choose to come now as well,” Bingley stated as he prepared to stand.
Bingley had not missed the moue of distaste on the Colonel’s face when he mentioned his sisters. He knew their social-climbing ways, especially pronounced in his younger, unmarried sister Caroline, were only tolerated because of his friendship with Darcy and the Colonel.
