The housekeeper opened the door. “Come in, sir. Let me take your hat and coat.” Once divested of their outerwear, they were shown into the drawing room. It was a modestly appointed but spacious chamber. Mrs. Bennet and three daughters stood to greet them.
“Mr. Bingley, please be seated. There is space on the settee near Jane. Mr. Darcy, this chair here is very comfortable, sir. Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, please come in. You pay us a great compliment with your visit. Please be seated.”
Elizabeth rose from her chair and moved to a straight-backed one to make room for the Hursts on the couch. Mary sat near her mother. Bingley was annoyed with his sister for forcing her company upon him. He had hoped to take Jane out to the gardenfor a walk, and now he was confined indoors for the duration of the visit. But Mrs. Bennet surprised him.
“Mr. Bingley, Jane mentioned to me that you have a great love of the outdoors and of roses in particular. My purple rose is in bloom. Perhaps you would like to see it?”
He seized the opportunity and rose at once. “Yes indeed, Mrs. Bennet. I have never seen a purple rose in my life.”
Jane coughed politely. “I would not wish for you to be disappointed, sir. It is closer to lavender than purple, but it is my favorite rose.” She stood, and he followed her out.
Miss Bingley asked, “Mr. Darcy, will you escort me? I have a mind to see the rose myself.”
Mrs. Bennet said, “Why do we not all move to the courtyard? I can have the tea tray brought out. I have a red rose so dark it is almost black.”
Mrs. Hurst’s eyes widened. “I, too, have a great curiosity to see your roses, Mrs. Bennet.”
Mrs. Hill and Alice helped the ladies and gentlemen retrieve their hats and bonnets, and they all spilled out into the courtyard and from there to the rose garden. Elizabeth was glad to be on her feet. Her heart had lurched when she saw Mr. Darcy walk into the drawing room. She had been rude to him on the hill and could not lift her eyes to meet his. Her cheeks burned with shame. What must he think of her, and of the Bennets through her example?
Darcy watched Elizabeth as she moved through the garden. She wore no bonnet, and where the sunlight touched her hair, streaks of bronze and copper gleamed. Her eyes, deep brown and fringed with long lashes, drew him in. Lost tohis surroundings, he murmured, “What a simple pleasure to contemplate a pair of fine eyes in the face of a beautiful woman.” But he had called her tolerable, and that at a public assembly, within hearing of her friends, her neighbors, and herself. Now she despised him. His gaze drifted down her figure. Her gown, though at least three years old judging from the style of the sleeves, fitted her perfectly. He was lost in admiration when Miss Bingley tugged at his arm. Her hand clutched at him in a way he found tiresome.
He turned and found she was frowning at him.
Then, in a voice meant to be heard by Elizabeth, she added, “Mr. Darcy, what do you find so very intriguing, sir? I declare, if I did not know better, I would say you were staring at Miss Elizabeth, but since you yourself declared that she is barely tolerable, I must be mistaken.”
Her voice was sharp, and he flushed. Elizabeth heard her, as did the Hursts and Mrs. Bennet. But Caroline was not finished. She bent near to his ear and whispered, “Sir, you think she has fine eyes? Your taste in women is sadly wanting.”
Before he could respond, Mrs. Bennet spoke.
“Perhaps he is admiring my eldest daughter, Miss Bingley. Jane is a renowned beauty in our neighborhood. When she was but fifteen, a gentleman who lived at Netherfield wrote verse about her beauty of face and character.” She gestured towards Elizabeth. “No one notices Lizzy. She has a reputation for being an obstinate, headstrong girl. No, I am sure he is admiring my eldest. Miss Bingley, may I pour you a cup of tea?”
Mr. and Mrs. Hurst exchanged glances. Miss Bingley tittered and released Darcy to sit beside the Hursts. Darcy glanced at Elizabeth. Her face was pinched, her cheeks flushed, and therewas a sharp glint in her eye when she turned her gaze on him. She had been insulted again, at Caroline’s hand but with his words, his insult. He would insist upon leaving Caroline behind on the next visit to Longbourn, even if he had to remain at Netherfield himself as an inducement.
He continued to watch her, and in turn, her gaze remained fixed on his face. She was angry, and he could not blame her. By now, she must hate him. He deserved whatever she thought of him. How he got through the remainder of that visit, he never knew. Bingley had missed the whole of it. He and Miss Bennet were strolling at the far end of the garden, oblivious to everything around them. Darcy had felt that way once. He grimaced. Never again.
The following morning, Darcy sat at the breakfast table reading the paper. “Darcy, did you hear Caroline insult Miss Elizabeth yesterday?”
Darcy grunted. “Bingley, you need to take your sister in hand. She told Miss Elizabeth that I found her unattractive. She was repeating the insult I uttered at the assembly.”
Bingley shut his eyes. “Miss Elizabeth must think us no better than brutes.”
Darcy looked down at his plate, though his appetite was now ruined. “I do not dare show my face there again. It was humiliating to both her and me to hear my wretched words dragged back into the open and thrown at her a second time. There was fire in her eyes when she looked at me.”
Bingley paced. “Do I dare return? What must Miss Bennet think of me, seeing how ill-bred my sister is?”
Darcy shook his head. “One thing is certain. You must forbid your sister from visiting Longbourn again. She dislikes Miss Elizabeth and, likely, Miss Bennet as well. Charles, I have never known your sister to behave in this manner.”
Bingley stopped pacing. “I must return today. I must apologize for my sister. Miss Bennet is a gentle woman and loves Elizabeth best among her family. She is probably suffering over this slight now.” He turned. “You must come too. You must apologize for what you said at the assembly. It is the least you can do.”
Darcy stared at his untouched food. He had tried to apologize. She would have none of it. It would be better for all if he stayed away, but he knew he could not. He must try again.
“How do you propose to apologize?” he asked.
Bingley sat down. “I have my phaeton. I will take her for a drive.”
Darcy nodded. How was he to find a way to speak to Miss Elizabeth alone? He considered it, then said, “Bingley, there is a Bailey castle and a medieval motte near Stevenage, in the village of Bennington. We could drive there in an hour. If we took the carriage, the three sisters could ride in comfort. If Mr. and Mrs. Hurst act as chaperones, we could make a day of it. Cook could pack a picnic basket. It would be a good place to apologize.”
Bingley stood. “Yes, it will do. I shall send a note of invitation to Longbourn before it gets any later.” As he walked towards the door, he turned and said, “I’ll insist Louisa attend us. It is the least she can do to help set things right. She had a hand in spoiling Caroline; she was her little darling. Now she must help me smooth matters over.”
