“I am sorry, my friend, for the disappointment you have endured,” he offered gently.
Bingley raised his brows, then quickly put on a mask of cheerfulness. “I am well out of it. But speaking of marriage, I see how you look at Miss Elizabeth. And fortunately for you, I do not think she has a duplicitous bone in her body.”
“I am inclined to agree most heartily,” Darcy said.
“And?” Bingley pressed.
Darcy tugged on the reins and brought his horse to a halt. Bingley did the same, waiting with an amused smile. “It is true — I am in love with Miss Elizabeth. I did not know I could have such depth of feeling, but I do. For some time, I have been wrestling with the expectation that I will marry for wealth and connections. My father told me many times what was expected of me. And those are both things that Miss Elizabeth does not possess.”
“No,” Bingley agreed simply, though judging by the look on his face, he did not seem to think it of very great matter.
Darcy smiled crookedly. “I suppose it does not matter, for I cannot deny the way I feel about her. My father is no longer here to raise objections, although I know I will hear an earful from at least one of my aunts.” Lady Catherine de Bourgh would be livid when she found out he was not to marry her daughter, the sickly Anne de Bourgh. He loved his cousin, of course, but with nothing but a familial love. More importantly, he could not imagine sharing his life with anyone but Elizabeth.
“The countess will not object, I think. I was quite intimidated when you introduced me to your aunt, but she showed no sign of disdaining the son of a merchant,” Bingley offered.
“That is true.” Darcy nodded, sighing as he thought over the obstacles that might stand in their way. No objections could really matter to him but Georgiana’s, and she would make none. Quite the contrary. She would be ecstatic when she learned of his feelings for Elizabeth, if she did not know already.
“Well, it is not as if you need more wealth or connections, Darcy. You have enough money to supply both of your comforts ten times over for the rest of your lives. Nor have you any need of more consequence, for the master of Pemberley needs none,” Bingley said with a chuckle. “Besides, I am convinced that Miss Elizabeth is in love with you. She is a very fine woman. Unlike her eldest sister.”
Darcy wished he could take away some of the bitterness Bingley felt. “I am disturbed by Miss Bennet’s treatment of her sister. Miss Elizabeth was taken entirely aback. She spoke of Miss Jane Bennet to me with great affection in Scotland. Her sister must have once been very different from what she is now.”
“Or she always was like this, and she was only keeping it to herself until she was securely wed. I have heard Caroline say such things to our sister when she thought I was not listening. Are all women so conniving?” Bingley asked. He spurred his horse on, and Darcy followed suit.
Bingley reined in his horse at the crest of the next hill and turned to speak again. “It is a shame when family relations suffer a breach. I had it on good authority that Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth were very close when we first moved to the area. I hate to think I have brought out the worst in her in some way.”
“Miss Bennet has made her own decision to be spiteful,” Darcy said. “There was nothing you could have done to prevent that. Indeed, it was for the best that you found out sooner rather than later.” He hated to think of the miserable position his friend would be in later in life if he had married Miss Bennet, only for her to show her true colours once he was tied to her for life.
“Well, the good news is that if you marry Miss Elizabeth, she will not only gain a husband who will cherish her all her days, but she will also gain a sister who adores her. I was glad to see that Miss Darcy had found a friend in her. They seem to be kindred spirits.” Bingley’s face brightened as he spoke about Georgiana. Darcy suppressed a smile.
“I agree. Georgiana would be thrilled to have her as a sister-in-law. I am still astonished at the change that Miss Elizabeth was able to work in Georgiana. Well, you remember what she was like when she was younger. She is so much more confident now, and carries herself with a far more elegant air, do not you agree?”
“I do,” Bingley replied. However, he seemed a little uncomfortable. He shifted in the saddle and looked out over the landscape. “It is a beautiful morning.”
“Yes, it is.”
It was quiet for a long while before Bingley spoke again. “Your sister was always sweet, of course, and intelligent. But she has suddenly blossomed into a beautiful, elegant young lady.” He glanced over at Darcy, as if he were afraid that he would be called out for complimenting Georgiana.
Darcy gave a wry smile. “I thought I was beginning to see some interest on your part.” Bingley would barely look at him now. “She has caught your eye, has she not?”
Bingley loosened his cravat as if he were growing over-warm. “It would be difficult to be a man and not notice her beauty,” he admitted. He kept his eyes trained ahead, as though afraid to look at Darcy. As though at a sudden thought, he looked at his friend in alarm. “I would never dream of considering myself worthy of Georgiana, I hope you know that,” he said. “Caroline may dream of advantageous matches, but I know better. It is your friendship I want, Darcy, not your connections — or Georgiana’s dowry.”
Ah, so it is ‘Georgiana’ now, is it? You do like her, my friend.Mindful of his friend’s dignity, Darcy kept his amusement to himself. “I know, Bingley. Your friendship is perfectly sincere — of that, I have no doubt. But perhaps you will allow me to say something of my own thoughts and hopes. If you were interested in Georgiana, I should not think you a fortune-hunter. Far from it. Nothing could delight me more than to receive my closest friend as a brother-in-law one day, for I do not know another man to whom I would rather entrust my sister.”
Bingley was silent for a moment, strong emotion moving over his face. Though he obviously had not expected to receive such encouragement, Darcy could think of no one else he would rather give permission to court Georgiana. His friend was youngand inexperienced, but these qualities were nothing compared to his warm heart, good sense, and generous nature. When the time came, Georgiana would be hard-pressed to find a man more worthy of her.
At last, Bingley spoke. “I am honoured you would even ask. She is still a little young, do not you think? She has only just come out in society.”
“Well, she has not even come out officially,” Darcy corrected. “But it will not be long, perhaps two years, when she turns eighteen.”
“I do not want to rush her. One should not be forced to grow up too quickly. But if we both feel the same way when she is eighteen, I will ask to court her.” He smiled at Darcy. “I do not know how to describe what I feel, Darcy, only that she makes me want to be a better man.”
“As a good woman should. Well, I heartily approve. If Georgiana wishes it, I will be delighted to have you court her when the time comes. Nothing would make me happier than to have my best friend as a brother-in-law one day. And there is no one to whom I would be so happy to give my beloved little sister. You would make her a good husband and cherish her all her life — of that, I am certain.”
“I would do my best to make her happy, it is true. Well, I shall not make the mistake of rushing in again. I need have no doubts of Georgiana’s character, but there is still the matter of how well we are suited to each other. Two years is nothing when one has such a motive. I am so struck by her, Darcy, but it is all nothing if she does not feel the same. She ought to come out first, I expect, and see more gentlemen. She ought to have a proper choice. But when she does, with your blessing, I shall do all I can to see that I am her choice.” At his friend’s words,Darcy nodded. There was so much of good sense in them, so much of caution and respect. It seemed that Georgiana and care for Georgiana was already adding a steadiness and caution to Bingley’s character. He took the prospect of waiting with great equanimity. Darcy knew that he himself could not have taken the prospect of waiting two years to court Elizabeth half so calmly —
With an effort, he forced himself to come back to the subject of Bingley and Georgiana. “My sister has always known you, Bingley. It is not like I am giving my consent for a stranger to court her,” he said. “Besides, you still have two years to get to know one another better before you get too serious.”
“It is true. Much can happen in two years,” Bingley agreed. Leaning out of the saddle, he stuck out his hand so they could shake on it. “I am deeply touched that you would trust me with your sister’s heart.” He gave a mischievous smile. “And with that matter settled, should we not discuss your own happiness? You are much closer to your marital bliss than I. How will you propose to Miss Elizabeth?”
