“Miss Darcy,” said Miss Bingley about halfway through the meal, “I heard Mr. Darcy introduce you as a cousin, but I was not aware he had any close cousins.”
Georgiana, though she shot a look at Darcy, did not hesitate to respond. “We are cousins, though not first cousins. My brother was Jameson Darcy, the former master of Pemberley. William has been so good as to take on my care and become one of my guardians in my brother’s stead.”
“Your brother!” said Miss Bingley, her eyes darting to Darcy.
Though she said nothing of the connection, Darcy was certain she was recalling her encounter with Jameson Darcy the previous season. To Darcy’s eyes, Miss Bingley was considering this connection, perhaps determining to use another approach with him.
“I offer my condolences, though belated,” said Miss Bingley, turning a kind eye on Georgiana. “As Charles and I have lost our parents, I understand your loss.”
“Thank you, Miss Bingley,” said Georgiana. “I miss my brother, but I am pleased to now be part of William’s life.”
Thereafter, they carried on a pleasant conversation in which Miss Bingley learned several pieces of information about Georgiana, including her age, that she had two guardians, and the confirmation of her connection to the Earl of Matlock. Whether she wished to learn the extent of Georgiana’s dowry, Darcy did not know, for she was circumspect enough not to reference it. Before long, Darcy wondered if she considered Georgiana a potential match for her brother. Given Bingley’s interest in Jane Bennet, Darcy did not expect he would remain single long enough for Georgiana to come out. Darcy supposed he should not suspect the woman of such things, but knowing her character as he did, he did not think his guesses were in error.
When he retired that night, Darcy felt a hint of relief, for if Miss Bingley was still an ambitious woman, he did not suppose she would lose all control of herself and entertain reprehensible acts to force his hand. With any luck, Mrs. Bennet would agree with him, and he would marry Elizabeth with all haste. Once he was married, he no longer needed to concern himself with Miss Bingley’s machinations.
Chapter XX
The previous evening turned out to be nothing more than an appetizer, for the main course was to arrive the following morning. It was a feast for which Darcy had no appetite, and one he had hoped the previous night would not even appear. The first indication he had that he would not escape became evident the moment he descended the stairs to partake of breakfast that morning.
“Mr. Darcy,” said Miss Bingley, the woman giving every impression of loitering at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for his appearance, “how excellent it is to see you this morning. Shall you not escort me to the dining-room?”
The way she regarded him, a hint of breathless anticipation seasoned by a coquettish lilt and a hint of fluttering about her eyelashes, told Darcy that the Miss Bingley he had not seen the previous evening had made an appearance. To do anything other than offer her arm was rude, so Darcy did his duty as a host and accepted her request. That did not stay her ambition, for she did not allow a hint of silence to persist unfilled.
“I understand this estate has been in your family for some time, sir.”
“It has,” replied Darcy with an absence of mind, still curious about how far she would take her interest. “My grandfather received Netherfield from his father, the master of Pemberley at the time. He was a second son, you see.”
“Yes, but now you aretheDarcy of Pemberley. Though Netherfield must be familiar to you, I cannot but suppose your home in the north is much more than this estate.”
“No one who has ever seen Pemberley can disagree,” replied Darcy. Then, feeling a measure of Elizabeth’s mischief settle over him, he added: “Have you ever toured Pemberley?”
The way Miss Bingley’s frank gaze rested on him, Darcy was certain he had made a calculated error. “No, Mr. Darcy, I have not had that pleasure, though I hope to see it someday.”
“Perhaps you may tour it sometime when you have the opportunity,” said Darcy, opting for a bland reply. “As I understand, your roots are in the north.”
“They are,” agreed Miss Bingley, not deterred at all by Darcy’s noncommittal reply. “Perhaps I shall, as you say. As I have heard of the place from others who boast some familiarity, it must be a blessing to anyone who calls it home.”
In her comment was, of course, a concealed desire thatshemight call it home in the future. Darcy ignored it, leading her into the dining-room where the others waited, where he seated her and took his position at the table. Bingley, he noted, was watching his sister, likely suspecting something of her behavior already. Darcy shrugged, and Bingley nodded, the message exchanged and accepted.
Had that been all Bingley’s evidence, he still would have watched his sister, but soon the truth of her interest was revealed in her actions. While the Miss Bingley of the previous evening had remained silent and watchful, this version of the woman rarely let quiet settle between them, her comments comprising his good fortune, compliments about his person, Georgiana, and everything else that crossed her mind. Though she always couched her predatory comments in enough ambiguity to render her meaning uncertain, Darcy understood her very well. Caroline Bingley was an ambitious woman, onewho wished to rise above her station, and while Darcy suspected she was not confident in her ability to turn him away from Elizabeth, she was not about to allow the opportunity to pass her by without at least trying.
It should be noted that Darcy was not unaware of the wiles young women searching for wealthy husbands might employ; even as a gentleman of much less appeal in society than he possessed now, there had been ladies who found his position agreeable, indeed. Thus, Darcy’s subsequent anger at her blatant attempts to play the flirtatious miss with him was not so much because ofherbehavior as the upheavals and uncertainties he had endured these past weeks. What happened after was not so much because of Miss Bingley’s actions as a combination of factors—Lady Catherine’s meddling, coupled with the long wait to have Elizabeth as a wife, and the frustration attendant upon the delay.
“This has been a most interesting conversation,” said Miss Bingley two hours later, after a long-winded discourse that had consisted almost entirely of her comments and Darcy’s noncommittal grunts. “If you do not mind, I shall retire to my room for a brief rest, for yesterday’s travel has quite tired me.”
While Miss Bingley offered him a coy smile that Darcy could not misunderstand, he allowed her to depart with little comment, certain that while she would have welcomed his request for her to stay, she hadnotmeant to convey a desire that he would ask her to tour the gardens or other activities where she would have his full attention. The moment she was out of the room, Bingley sighed and offered Darcy a rueful smile.
“You have my apologies, Darcy, for it appears Caroline is not so resigned as I might wish.”
“If you will forgive me, I had never suspected her of it.”
Bingley laughed at Darcy’s wry reply. “That is the truth. If you wish, I shall take her back to London and allow you ameasure of peace until your wedding. I would not wish you to endure her for another week complete.”
The notion of another week’s wait was anathema to Darcy, and his thoughts formed in a moment. Darcy did not allow himself to consider it for an instant, instead choosing to act at once.
“You are correct, Bingley,” said he.
Darcy turned to his mother, who was watching them with interest. “This has gone on long enough, Mother. I shall retire to my chambers and change. If you, Georgiana, and Bingley will also change, we may depart for Longbourn at once.”
