Soon thereafter, Elizabeth departed for the earl’s house, where she would meet her companions for the day’s activities. Darcy left the house himself soon thereafter, and not long after, he found himself in Bingley’s company, listening to his friend’s raptures about Miss Bennet. Having predicted Bingley’s interest in Jane Bennet before he introduced them, Darcy felt all the smugness of being correct in his expectations.
“In short, I have never met such a woman of excellence as Miss Bennet, Darcy. I am most obliged to you for introducing us.”
“Not at all, Bingley,” said Darcy. “I have always known my sister’s merit and suspected she would be the exact sort of woman who would intrigue you.”
“Intrigue is not the appropriate word at all,” exclaimed Bingley. “Why, I am nothing less than besotted with her!”
“ThatI might never have guessed.”
Bingley ignored or did not hear Darcy’s comment, for he waxed eloquent about Miss Bennet for some time after, so much that had it been anyone other than Bingley, it may have been somewhat gauche. Bingley, however, was such a man of words that Darcy merely watched his friend and enjoyed his effusions, for Jane was a woman worthy of them. Such talk, however, was not a never-ending font of conversation, and Darcy wished to speak of other subjects; the most interesting to him concerned any rivals who had stepped forward to test Miss Bennet’s affections for him.
“Rivals?” asked Bingley, taken aback by the notion. “Of what do you speak, Darcy?”
Darcy could not help the chuckle that built in his breast. “You, of all men, must understand what a jewel Miss Bennet is, Bingley. Others will notice before long, if they have not already. To many, the connection to the Darcy family, and through us to the Fitzwilliams, may be an irresistible temptation.”
The look Bingley fixed on him was unfriendly to say the least. “Do you suggest that your wife’s sister is fickle?”
“Not at all, Bingley, for I know Jane’s worth as well as you do—more, in fact, for I claim a much longer acquaintance. All I suggest is that you may have some competition when it comes to winning her regard. The earl has also commented on this.”
That the notion was not at all welcome to Bingley could not be disputed, especially when his friend sported an expression such as Darcy had never observed from him. Bingley, as he recalled, was a fair hand with a blade and an excellent shot—Darcy may need to hold his friend back from challenging all comers to duels for the right of Jane’s hand.
“Do not concern yourself,” said Darcy, “for as you said, Jane is not at all moved by such things. If she looks at you with favor, she will not turn her attention to any other man. In speakingthus, I do not mean to insult her or concern you, but Iamcurious that no other man has expressed interest in her yet.”
“Maybe I have not noticed it,” mumbled Bingley, appearing quite put out.
“Are you suggesting that your focus has been so single-minded?”
The humor in Darcy’s question reached Bingley, though his response was not so jovial as it might have been under other circumstances. “That is a facet of my character you well understand, my friend.” Bingley brooded for a moment and then shrugged. “If any others step forward, they may try to turn her head all they like; I am convinced they will only make fools of themselves.”
“I cannot agree more, Bingley,” replied Darcy. “It may be wise to allow them to do so and bask in the assurance that Miss Bennet’s affections are fixed on you. I cannot think any other action would result in a more satisfying victory.”
The grin that descended on Bingley’s features was not unexpected. “Thank you, my friend; I shall accept your advice in the spirit you intended it.”
“Good. If you recall, we are to be brothers. Let no upstart come between us.”
At that, they clinked their glasses together and sipped from them, Darcy regarding his friend. When Bingley set his drink on the table, Darcy opened the other subject about which he was interested.
“Excuse me for speaking of this, my friend, but I am curious about your sister, for we heard something of her from Lady Susan.”
As Bingley had no illusions about Miss Bingley, he had never taken offense when the subject arose between them. Now that Miss Bingley’s behavior had improved, it must not only be a weight from Bingley’s mind but a source of hope for her future.
“To own the truth, Lady Susan’s request for an introduction shocked me,” confessed Bingley. “Though I left Netherfield with a good opinion of her, I never thought she would offer her hand in friendship.
“However, I suppose it makes sense from her perspective, given my connection with you and my interest in Miss Bennet. Though I shall not scruple to suggest that her entire concern was for my sister’s behavior, I suspect that was at least part of her design in coming to know her.”
“What of Miss Bingley’s feelings on the subject?”
“To own the truth, I suspect Caroline is much happier.” Bingley shook his head in bemusement. “Caroline’s friendship with Lady Diane has cooled, which is a blessing to me—I never liked her.”
“With that sentiment, I can empathize,” replied Darcy. “Though I have only made Lady Diane’s acquaintance once, I found her a most disagreeable woman.”
Bingley snorted his disdain, his feelings unmistakable. “Even those she considers her friends would not count her an agreeable woman, to say nothing of those she looks down upon. Had Caroline had any sway over Lady Diane, she would have had me tied to her in unbreakable bonds.”
“Was Lady Diane displeased with your sister?”
A shake of his head was Bingley’s response. “It seems she does not appreciate Caroline’s association with a woman of even greater nobility. Though Caroline would not tell me what happened between them, I suspect she will not be in Lady Diane’s company much.”
Darcy considered this and offered his friend a nod. “That is for the best. Miss Bingley will find more welcome and acceptance with Lady Susan’s patronage than she ever would from those of Lady Diane’s ilk.”
