“Yes, Caroline has provoked me a time or two,” confessed Hurst, though at that moment he sat, making no move to the sideboard. “But I never expected you to lose patience with her.”
“Excuse me, Mr. Bingley,” said Georgiana, her voice a little timid, “but you said she is no longer recognizable.”
Bingley laughed, though it contained no humor. “No, you would remember her only as the scheming, grasping woman she has become. When we were young, she was affectionate and pleasing, but this notion of climbing society’s ladder has made her a contemptible shrew.”
“The question is,” said Hurst, “what you mean to do about her.”
With a sigh, Bingley nodded and sat, resting his chin in his hand. “It seems there are only a few options. If I ban herfrom Netherfield, she must either go north or return to London, and both have their drawbacks. If London, she must have a companion, and if the north, I must spend a week or more taking her there, half of which I will spend in utter misery with a spiteful, vindictive woman.”
“Miss Bingley is of age,” said Darcy, joining his friend on the sofa. “The question is whether you wish to withdraw your support of her.”
“That would be precipitous,” said Bingley, grimacing at the notion.
“It may be necessary.” Hurst was as serious as Darcy had ever seen, his gaze fixed on Bingley, uncompromising in its intensity. “If she refuses to yield, you may have no choice.”
“That is true, but I will not do it unless it becomes necessary. If I release her dowry to her and insist she set up her own establishment, it is unlikely she can live in London. The move will make her all but unmarriageable—marriage is still the best resolution in all this, and I will not close that door unless I must.”
Hurst’s eyes swung to Darcy. “Then Darcy must marry and soon—Caroline will not consider any other until Darcy’s signature is on the register.”
“I shall do my best to free Miss Bingley from the delusion that she might catch me,” said Darcy, a sardonic edge in his voice.
Both his companions laughed, while Georgiana eyed him with some speculation. His interest in Miss Elizabeth was not hidden, Darcy knew, so there was no point in false protestations.
“Perhaps you should increase your efforts,” replied Hurst. “The way Caroline has behaved, the utter manic lunacy of her claims leads me to believe she is not finished. You should watch yourself and ensure she cannot corner you.”
“Trust me, Hurst, I am always careful—five years in society have taught me the necessity. Those lessons have nothing to do with your sister.”
“Do not concern yourself, Brother,” said Georgiana in a laughing voice. “I shall remain close and protect your virtue.”
Mirth again erupted between them, but this time it was genuine, with less of an edge. “With such an able and determined protector,” exclaimed Bingley, “there can be no doubt of your safety!”
“Of course,” said Georgiana as if it were obvious. “No offense to you, Mr. Bingley, but the notion of Miss Elizabeth as my brother’s wife and all her sisters as my relations is superior to a connection with Miss Bingley.”
“I do not blame you, Georgiana.”
Bingley sighed and looked at Hurst. “As I said, it is best that Caroline marry, and to do that, she must relinquish her doomed quest to get Darcy. I know not how that can be done.”
Hurst’s expression was unreadable. “If she does not provoke you to act against her, Darcy will resolve that problem himself.”
“Yes, but it is already January. It would be best if she entered the season this year, at least open to the notion of another man paying his addresses.”
“I cannot disagree,” replied Hurst. “At the moment, you can do nothing but manage her as best you can. If she steps over the line, it will either be London or York.”
Bingley appeared deep in thought, though he did not reply at once. Then he sighed.
“If she renders her continued residence here impossible, I shall take her north. There she will stay until she agrees to accept the possibility of a man other than Darcy paying his addresses to her. Should she decide to leave, I shall take her to London and engage a companion, but I will make it clear that I will only payfor the woman’s employment on the condition that she entertain other men as potential husbands.”
Though Hurst was skeptical, he did not protest. “That is as reasonable a stance as any. Should you need to act against her, you will have my support.”
THE ENSUING DAY WASuncomfortable for them all. Miss Bingley did not stay in her chambers so long as any of them might have wished, and her company was not welcome. The rest of that day and the one following, she made little comments designed to dig at her brother’s confidence, portray the Bennets in a poor light, and assert her interest in the matter of her brother’s future. This, of course, led to several testy exchanges between siblings, until Bingley took the simple expedient of commanding her to silence the moment she opened her mouth. It was no surprise to anyone that she ignored his directives and continued to speak, regardless.
To Darcy, she said little, and for that, Darcy was grateful. He studied her during those hours, wondering if she thought her objections would change her brother’s mind. She seemed to believe that if she badgered him enough, he would acknowledge the superiority of her position—it was a bit of self-delusion Darcy would not have expected of her, even knowing her disposition.
She seemed to dismiss Darcy’s burgeoning comfort with Miss Elizabeth as being of no consequence, something she could dispense with at any time of her choosing. She, Caroline Bingley, was the obvious superior between them, needing only to remind him of her excellence to draw him away from Miss Elizabeth. If she had understood the truth of Darcy’s feelings about superiority, she would not be so smug, but Darcy would not illuminate her understanding unless it became necessary.
“You know she means to ensure we are late tonight, do you not?”
Bingley looked up from his contemplation, an attitude that had become more prevalent since their return to Netherfield but had been almost unheard of before. Hurst was watching him, no trace of irony about him. Darcy had considered this possibility and knew he was correct.
