Darcy resisted a chuckle at her characterization. “Pemberley is not holy ground, Miss Bingley. To many, it is a large and prosperous estate or an imposing house. To me, however, it is home. I said as much to Mrs. Bennet if you recall.
“It is not my intention to offend, but if I received your brother at Pemberley, I cannot imagine I would balk at receiving relations of whom Miss Elizabeth speaks highly. I am not so proud as to hold myself as superior to such people.”
“The measure of anyone is in their character,” observed Fitzwilliam, for once not appearing glib in the slightest. “That is the first lesson one learns on the field of battle, for I witnessed many a noble officer run at the first sign of trouble, while a common soldier, wounded nigh unto death, will take up whatever weapon he can find in defense of a comrade.”
“Yes, yes, we all understand this,” said Lady Catherine, the one member of the companyleastlikely to accept such a creed. “This is an entirely different matter.”
“If it is, I should like to know how,” replied Darcy. “You know my sentiments about Miss Elizabeth, Aunt. How do you think she would see me if I treated her beloved relations with contempt because of their profession?
“But this is not the only reason for my determination to accept them. To state it clearly and without artifice, I will receive them because it is proper that I do. My father taught me to treat all men with respect and dignity. I neglected his teaching for a time,this I will own. I shall not do so again.”
“Well spoken, Darcy,” murmured Anne, Fitzwilliam nodding in agreement.
Lady Catherine watched him, her gaze searching, as if she wished to discover how resolved Darcy was. She might not have bothered, for Darcy was as immovable as a mountain once he determined his course. Georgiana, Anne noted, was shining with approval for the brother she idolized, and while Miss Bingley looked on Darcy with confusion and not a little horror, Anne thought she saw a hint of acceptance. Hopefully, it would take root, for there were few in Anne’s experience more in need of humbling than Miss Bingley.
“Then it appears there is nothing to be done,” said Lady Catherine at length, appearing resigned. “If you are determined to do this, then so be it. When you return to Pemberley, I shall accompany you.”
“For what reason?” was Darcy’s blunt response.
“Why, so that I can take their measure for myself and ensure they will be no detriment to your noble house.”
Darcy regarded her with such a measure of alarm that Anne could not repress her hilarity, though she made a valiant attempt. The rest of the company, with notable exceptions, were grinning with delight at Darcy’s predicament. Trust Fitzwilliam to sum up the entire matter and tie it in a bow.
“What an excellent notion! With Lady Catherine’s help, Darcy, you cannot fail!”
Though Darcy glared, Fitzwilliam was far too jovial to allow it to affect him. She thought he would offer a caustic reply, but he appeared to think better of it, for he remained silent.
“While I cannot say for certain that I wish for Darcy’s success,” replied Lady Catherine, ignoring their humorous byplay, “I will not see the family shamed.”
“You are, of course, welcome,” said Darcy. “Please remember,Lady Catherine, that these people will bemyguests. I do not wish to offend them or Miss Elizabeth.”
“Do not concern yourself.” Lady Catherine’s airy wave of her hand did nothing to reassure Darcy. “I wish to understand their characters, not frighten them away.”
So, it was settled. The outcome pleased Anne in one respect—she would keep Elizabeth’s company for at least the summer, and when they married, she could stay with them whenever she wished.
One at Netherfield was not nearly so pleased with Mr. Darcy’s intention to host those of trade, and she did not understand it. To say that the Bingleys’ situation was the same as these relations of the Bennets was an insult and nothing less, for were the Bingleys not rising from their common origins to become something more? Caroline would not have confessed it before, but it was obvious now that she had never known Mr. Darcy nearly so well as she had thought.
This entire endeavor was a failure. It had never been the certainty that Caroline had thought it was, and now she had no choice but to acknowledge it. Three years of pursuing Mr. Darcy, of agreeing with his every opinion, of simpering, beguiling smiles, and showing him what a perfect match she would be were all wasted. Mr. Darcy had never intended to offer for her, not if he was so enamored with an insignificant country miss such as Eliza Bennet. Had Caroline known of these character flaws from the beginning, she would have given her attention to a more worthy subject.
Mr. Darcy had seemed like the perfect solution to the Bingley family’s problem. As eager to forget her origins though she was, Caroline was no fool. The behavior of many of the higher-born ladies in the seminary she attended—Lady Catherine be damned, for there were many of exceptionally high status insuch institutions! —had informed Caroline with no opportunity to misunderstand what they thought of an upstart from new money. For the Bingleys to rise above their common origin, it would hasten their acceptance, though they still needed time for the stench of the shop to dissipate.
For Caroline, it had been enough to know that as the wife of Fitzwilliam Darcy and niece by marriage of an earl,shewould finally be the one looking down on others. Those of the highest sets might still titter behind their hands at the upstart who had captured such an eligible man, but her success would have blunted that displeasure. Then Caroline would have all she ever wanted. At least the veneer of it would be enough to make her happy, or so she thought.
Now it was all ashes, revealed as nothing more than hubris. Mr. Darcy had never wanted her. The double failure to prevent Charles from marrying the chit’s sister was an even further affront. Yet there was nothing Caroline could do. If only Charles had not overheard them speaking! Then they might have gone to the north and prevented this calamity. Yet Caroline knew that too was a delusion, for Charles had made that fact abundantly clear.
“If you think to interfere with my courtship with Miss Bennet,” Charles had said the night they had arrived unannounced at Netherfield, “you had best reconsider. I will tolerate no further meddling in my affairs.”
“That is not the reason for our coming, Charles.”
The reply had been Louisa’s, for Caroline had been engaged in studying her brother to determine the extent of his resolve. She had not liked what she found—not in the slightest.
“Good, because I intend to make Miss Bennet my wife. If you presume to persuade me against her, I will evict you from the house, sisters or not.”
“Surely you would not be so callous as to throw us out!”exclaimed Caroline, not believing her ears.
“Surely you would not be so callous as to treat Miss Bennet infamously, lie to me, and conspire to ruin my happiness and that of a wonderful woman who has never done you harm.”
There was a mocking note in Charles’s voice that, again, Caroline did not like.
