“Can you explain your disquiet?”
Darcy thought on it for a time before he answered. “Miss Elizabeth contends her sister would have accepted Bingley had he proposed. Miss Bennet confided that she had not loved Bingley, but I suspect if Bingley had returned, they would have found their way to each other.”
“I am not unaware of this.”
“I wonder if I robbed Bingley of his chance at happiness.”
Silence settled over them. Darcy wondered if his friendship with Bingley was about to end, while Fitzwilliam considered the question. For several long moments, neither spoke.
“Tell me, Darcy,” said Fitzwilliam, “what you mean to accomplish?”
“If you suggest that I’m asking you to bow out, I am not,” replied Darcy. “I would never do such a thing.”
“Good. Because if you did, it would damage our relationship.”
Darcy shook his head. “That would not be fair to you or to Miss Bennet. I would never presume.”
Fitzwilliam offered a curt nod. “I shall not give up Miss Bennet, not for Bingley, and not for anyone else. The essential point in all this, Darcy, is that Bingley declined to pursue Miss Bennet when he had every chance to make his sentiments known. Perhaps you had a hand in persuading him away, but you were not malicious. It was Bingley’s choice to withdraw.”
“Yes, it was,” agreed Darcy. “Yet I cannot but suppose it was my assertion concerning Miss Bennet’s indifference that prevented him from returning. Bingley does not listen to his sisters so much as they suppose—if I had kept quiet, Bingley would have returned.”
“That is interesting,” said Fitzwilliam, leaning back in his chair. “Bingley’s willingness to listen to his sisters aside, did you suggest that she was indifferent?”
Darcy recalled the conversation and shook his head. “No, I did not put it in terms so stark as that. I asserted that I did not think her heart was easily touched and suggested her affection was not the equal of his, but I did not call her indifferent.”
“Then you did not actually say anything untrue, Darcy. By Miss Bennet’s testimony, she wasnotin love with Bingley, nor would I have thought she was, based on her current situation with me—if shehad beenin love with him, she would not have recovered so quickly. Regarding the state of Bingley’s feelings for her, I can say nothing, but I suspect they were stronger. The only thing about which you were mistaken is your contention that her heart was not easily touched. I have proof that is in error.”
“Given your current circumstances, I cannot disagree.”
“Tell me something of Bingley, Darcy,” said Fitzwilliam. “Though I have made his acquaintance, I know little of him other than what you have told me.”
Darcy pondered this for several moments before he responded. “Bingley is an excellent fellow—in many ways, he is likeyou, though his outlook on life is not so mature.”
“That is not a surprise,” replied Fitzwilliam. “Time in the army does much to direct a man’s attention to what truly matters,andI am several years older than Bingley. Do you speak of anything particular?”
“Bingley’s behavior with the ladies, among other things.”
“Then the rumors about his dalliances are true.”
“I would not call them dalliances,” said Darcy. “Bingley often admires ladies of a certain type, but he is not forward enough to pursue them beyond light flirtation. His usual pattern is to admire a lady, dance, converse, laugh with her, then lose interest.”
This caught Fitzwilliam’s attention. “It is possible—even probable that Bingley would have followed the same pattern with Miss Bennet.”
Darcy frowned. “It is, but I am not certain. Bingley’s fascination with Miss Bennet lasted longer than usual. As he has not confided in me, I cannot say if he meant to propose to her, but I suspect he was at least considering it. His sister’s reaction told me that she, at least, was convinced that he meant to act against her wishes.”
“And how does she fit into this business, other than her attempt to persuade him away?”
Glaring at his cousin, Darcy said: “Come, Fitzwilliam, you know enough of Miss Bingley to understand her motivations.”
“‘A determined social climber,’ that is what you called her,” said Fitzwilliam. “Yes, I recall. That brings us back to her design to push her brother toward Georgiana, then persuade you that she is the most logical choice to become your bride.”
“I should point out that Miss Bingley never said as much openly, though I understood her intention—it was not difficult to see through her designs. Even Georgiana knew what she was about from a few comments Miss Bingley made to her.”
A shake of his head comprised Fitzwilliam’s response, and Darcy was not of a mind to disagree. Though he would not say as much to his cousin, Darcyhadreflected on the possibility of Georgiana and Bingley making a match, though it had never been more than idle speculation. Bingley was an excellent fellow, and Georgiana possessed a tender heart—they would complement each other. Whether that was enough to build a marriage on, Darcy could not say.
“Then we have established Miss Bingley is a grasping sort of woman,” said Fitzwilliam, judgment filling his tone. “You mentioned Bingley does not listen to his sisters. Can you be more explicit?”
“It is just what I said,” replied Darcy. “Bingley is not a milksop, buthe often defers to his sister—I have counseled him to exert more control, but he does not appreciate conflict and does not wish to provoke an argument. When the matter is one about which he does not feel strongly, Bingley allows her to have her own way. But Bingley can be as stubborn as anyone when he feels he is in the right.”
