“Caroline will choose nothing,” came Bingley’s voice as he entered the room, Hurst on his heels. He glared at his sister, a pitiless sort of expression that had been foreign to his friend’s genial countenance. “Get out of Darcy’s bed this instant, Caroline.”
“But Charles—”
“Now!” barked Bingley.
Though sulky, Miss Bingley did as her brother asked. When she stood beside the bed, Bingley nodded and pointed at theopen door. “Now, you will return to your room at once. Since you cannot stay here, I shall take you to our relations in the north tomorrow. Perhaps Aunt Beatrice can talk some sense into you.”
Miss Bingley paled, and Darcy understood—she considered the north akin to a banishment to the Outer Hebrides. No punishment Bingley could devise would be more efficacious than to take her to the north. With any luck, she would not return soon.
“Go, Caroline!” insisted Bingley. “I will not tell you again!”
The glance Miss Bingley threw at Darcy was pleading, but Darcy had no interest in providing her with redemption she had not earned. Appearing as subdued as Darcy had ever seen her, she scurried from the room, giving her brother and Hurst a wide berth. When she was gone, Bingley turned back to Darcy.
“I apologize, my friend. I can find no words to describe what my sister has done.”
“Do not concern yourself, Bingley, for I do not hold you to blame. Fortunately, you came when you did—otherwise, I may have had to summon a footman to remove your sister from the room.”
“Fortune had nothing to do with it, Darcy,” said Hurst. “When I observed Caroline’s behavior this evening, I thought it likely she would try something, though I could not be certain it would happen tonight.”
“The timing is not at all welcome,” grumbled Bingley. “I do not wish to absent myself from Netherfield for a week, but I have little choice.”
“What will you do with her?” asked Darcy, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Bingley sighed and flopped into an armchair situated before the fireplace, Hurst taking the other. “I do not want to throw her off completely—she is still my sister, regardless of what she has become.”
“Then let her stay in the north until the season begins,” advised Hurst. “Then bring her to London and make it clear that she must find a husband who is not Darcy.”
“Now that she has my rejection, even in the face of her attempted compromise, it might make her more pliable.”
Bingley’s snort was an accurate testament to his feelings. “There are many adjectives to describe my sister, but pliable is not one of them.”
“You know,” said Hurst, slyness hidden behind unconcern, “if you would engage yourself to a woman, she would have no choice but to give over any expectation of drawing you in.”
“To please you both,” said Darcy, a dry reply, “I shall do my best.”
Then, turning to Bingley, Darcy asked: “Do you mean to leave tomorrow?”
“It would be for the best.”
“I shall inform Miss Bennet of what has happened and your intentions for your sister,” replied Darcy.
Bingley nodded. “Thank you, Darcy. I already told her what I would do if it became necessary, but I appreciate your assurances on the matter.”
“AND THAT IS WHY GEORGIANAand I have arrived early this morning,” said Mr. Darcy, finishing his account. “Bingley and his sister will depart for the north before noon—they would have gone earlier if Bingley had known the journey was necessary.”
“How long do you suppose it will take them to reach York?” asked Mr. Bennet.
Mr. Darcy considered the question. “It is less than three days’ journey from here to Pemberley. York is about a day and a half more, so I suspect it will take four days, though I suspect Bingley will press on to make the journey as short as he can.”
With a smile, Mr. Darcy turned to Jane. “Please accept my friend’s sincere apologies for his inability to attend you today, Miss Bennet, and his extended absence.”
“Not at all, Mr. Darcy,” said Jane, appearing serene to Elizabeth’s eyes. “I completely understand.”
“I beg your pardon,” said Mrs. Bennet.
Elizabeth had seen her mother’s expression of astonishment from the moment Mr. Darcy started narrating his tale. Mr. Darcy seemed to understand it too, for he turned a kindly eye on Mrs. Bennet.
“Yes, Mrs. Bennet?”
