“I . . .” She trailed off, looking at Jane, then Elizabeth, before bringing her attention back to the gentleman. “Is Miss Bingley truly so reprehensible?
“Oh, I understand she is not the paragon she presented herself to be,” added Mrs. Bennet before Mr. Darcy could respond. “Her behavior when you all visited told me that much. But I never would have thought her capable of such a betrayal as to compromise you.”
“The lust for wealth and privilege may provoke even the best of us to act in ways we should not, and would not, if we were in possession of our senses,” replied Mr. Bennet.
Mr. Darcy nodded to Mr. Bennet’s statement. “Miss Bingley has long seen me as her door to entrance into the first circles, Mrs. Bennet. I do not accuse Miss Bingley of being without virtue, for to do so would be untrue. This desirehasled her to darker paths than she might otherwise choose.”
“But Mr. Bingley will not throw her off,” said Elizabeth.
“No, he means to leave her there for a time, but he understands she should find a husband.” Mr. Darcy shrugged. “Miss Bingley would be an attractive prospect to a certain sort of man, and her dowry is substantial enough to garner attention.If she lowers her sights, she should have no trouble finding men who wish to offer for her.”
“That is more than she deserves, I am certain,” interrupted Lydia. The girl sat beside Georgiana with her arms folded, judgment in her eyes. “What an odious woman she is!”
“I cannot disagree,” smiled Mr. Darcy, “for I have little charity for her at present. But she is gone, and I do not mean to make myself angry over the past.”
With that, the general conversation turned into smaller discussions between those situated close to each other. Georgiana sat with Kitty and Lydia, their heads together, likely speaking further about Miss Bingley and her immediate fate, Mary close by interjecting a comment when the opportunity presented itself. Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth noticed, appeared rather contemplative, speaking to Jane in low tones. Though Elizabeth knew her father had not meant it as a judgment of his wife, Mrs. Bennet appeared to understand better now what the pursuit of husbands might cost her. Elizabeth did not think she would moderate her desires to any degree, but at least she might consider matters now before speaking out of turn or pushing her daughters at every man who passed through the neighborhood.
Mr. Bennet sat nearby looking out over the room with a sort of lazy satisfaction that Elizabeth was not certain was appropriate. He caught her eye and winked, and Elizabeth nodded, though she was not certain what she had agreed to. Mr. Darcy noted this and spoke to Elizabeth.
“Pardon me if I overstep, Miss Bennet, but do I err in supposing that Mrs. Bennet’s concern is the potential . . . loss of a suitor should Miss Bingley have succeeded?”
Mr. Bennet snorted, proving he had overheard Darcy’s question, but the man ignored him in favor of Elizabeth.
“Thatisa factor in Mama’s thinking,” confessed Elizabeth. “But I think the more relevant point is her disillusionment. MissBingley presented herself as a high society lady when she came to Meryton in October—Mama is struggling to understand how such a woman could fall from grace.”
Though Mr. Darcy did not need to say it, he did so anyway. “That is part of the problem, Miss Elizabeth. I try not to judge others based on their descent, but Miss Bingley is not a high society lady. Her haughtiness is nothing more than an imitation of how she believes highborn ladies behave, and she has a most objectionable example—one of the ‘friends’ she made at the seminary is one of the most supercilious women I have had the misfortune to meet.”
“Is her standing in society something about which she should boast?”
“Not as much as she wishes,” replied Mr. Darcy. “The Bingley family derives a measure of acceptance because of my friendship, and I say that as the truth rather than any pride on my part. Miss Bingley’s friendship with the woman I mentioned earlier, who is a baron’s daughter, also lends a certain measure of legitimacy. Yet most still see them as new money, their interest akin to what you might feel for an exotic animal at a menagerie.”
“That is not an endorsement of society at all, Mr. Darcy.”
“No, it is not.”
At that moment, the sitting-room door opened, and Mrs. Hill led Mr. Hurst into the room. The man appeared both harried and satisfied at the same time, probably from the same source. Mr. Darcy grinned at him.
“May I suppose that Bingley and his sister have departed?”
“They have,” was Mr. Hurst’s curt reply. “We almost had to carry Caroline to the carriage, but they are gone, leaving us in peace.”
Mr. Hurst took a position beside Mr. Bennet and turned to face the room. Though Elizabeth might have expected furtherquestions, it seemed they had all heard enough of Miss Bingley, for everyone returned to their conversations, including Mr. Hurst with Mr. Bennet.
It did not take long before Mrs. Bennet, realizing that the Darcys might depart soon, entreated them all to stay for dinner, using the excuse of the Bingley siblings’ departure as a reason they should stay. They did not protest, as Elizabeth had known they would not, and Mrs. Bennet, armed with their acceptance, left the room to speak with the cook about their guests for the evening repast.
“Well, Mr. Darcy?” said Elizabeth when her mother left the room.
The gentleman turned to her, his gaze assessing. “Is there something you would like me to say?”
“I merely meant to ask if you were satisfied about the procession of events and the resolution of Miss Bingley’s ambitions.”
Mr. Darcy considered this. “In some respects, I am, though I do not wish ill on Miss Bingley, even after she attempted to supersede my wishes with her own. But I will own that I am most displeased about one matter.”
Elizabeth arched an eyebrow, suspecting she already knew what he would say. “Oh? And what is that?”
“That you continue to be unmoved by me, Miss Elizabeth,” said Mr. Darcy, grinning at her. “I had hoped to be calling on you by now with your father’s sanction at the very least.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet, who, with the poorest timing in the world, had entered the room at that precise moment. Mrs. Bennet threw a glare at Elizabeth, then smiled sweetly at Mr. Darcy. “Oh, Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth is an intelligent girl. I am certain she will see the benefits of your suit.”
