“More than enough. Yet, I cannot help but think she is the person best placed to convince Mr Bingley to stay.”
“You assume she wishes it. To the best of my knowledge, she has not written to him the entire time he has been with us.”
“I know. But consider, she does not know of his plan to go abroad. I cannot allow him to leave without giving her thechanceto try and stop him.”
He rolled his head back to where it had been on the pillow, pulling her more snugly against him as he settled into his repose. “I should never refuse you anything, love. But I beg you, enough of the Bingleys now. I would not have them obtrude any longer on my time with you.”
She stretched to kiss his cheek and whisper her thanks, then settled her head back onto his shoulder to listen to his breathing, already slowing as sleep overtook him. She would rise early to write to Jane. Until then, she meant to remain in Darcy’s arms all the night long. Where she belonged.
DISGUISE OF EVERY SORT
Thursday 4 March 1813, London
The nearerto Farley House the carriage took him, the hotter burned Darcy’s resentment. He had not laid eyes on Jane Bingley since October when she slapped Elizabeth at Netherfield, and the intervening months had done naught to diminish his displeasure. Contrary to what Elizabeth believed, however, he was not averse to delivering her letter. Indeed, her request provided the perfect pretext to pay the visit he had been desirous of making for some weeks.
The carriage drew to a halt, and after presenting his card, Darcy was shown into a small room at the rear of Hurst’s house where Jane Bingley sat at her needlework, for all the world as though her most pressing concern was where next to stick her needle.
Her serenity deserted her upon seeing him. “Mr Darcy!” she cried, launching herself to her feet. “What are you doing here?”
Darcy waited for the servant to close the door, taking advantage of the brief time to bring his temper under regulation. Once the door had clicked shut, he turned his eyes upon her, feeling no contrition when she visibly quailed. He made no effort to moderate his tone, which even to his ear sounded exceptionally cold. “I would have your word that you will never cast aspersions about Elizabeth’s goodcharacter again—by any means, to any person, or in any manner that might threaten her reputation or wellbeing.”
“Oh! Pardon? I…I thought you must be come about Charles.”
“I imagine you did. I have noticed your first thought always tends to your own interests. Your word, madam.”
“I…I did not know any of what I said would be repeated! It was never my intention to gossip, only to confide in my friend.”
“You are mistaken if you consider Lady Ashby a friend. She has been known to my family since childhood and long acknowledged by all of us as self-serving.”
She had the temerity to look affronted.
“I might also add that Elizabeth is troubled far less by those to whom you whispered your vile misrepresentations than that you yourself believed any of it.”
She frowned a little but seemed otherwise disinclined to remorse. He could not say he was surprised.
“I, on the other hand, take an excessively dim view of your propensity to gossip about my family to anybody. If it happens again, you will discover that being excluded from my homes is but the merest expression of my displeasure. Your word, madam.”
She paled and gave it with a nod. He knew not why she should be alarmed. She could not have expected that he would allow her to continue unchecked with behaviour so injurious to his family.
“And now, your word that you will not repeat what you know of my sister’s dealings with Mr Wickham to another living person.”
Her eyes widened, and she stared at him.
“Do not pretend ignorance, madam. Elizabeth assures me you know.”
“I do, but…you must think very ill of me indeed if you believe me capable of so cruelly exposing her. I assure you, I never would. I am not the sort of person who does such things to innocent young ladies.”
“Evidently you are.”
Her countenance contorted with emotion, and for one brief moment, he thought she might cry before indignation got the better of her and she began to bluster instead. “You do not know what I have suffered! It is scarcely my fault I have grown bitter.”
“Do not dare suggest it is Elizabeth’s! She has done nothing to deserve your contempt. You, whom she ever held in the highest possible regard and in whom, for some reason unfathomable to me,she stillhas not given up hope, have abused her in every imaginable method. You have disdained all the particulars of her new situation, from her home to her capacity to run it. You sabotaged her relationship with my family, you marred her entrance into society, and you have abandoned her when she most needs you.” He lowered his voice. “You struck her, not only knowing that she is with child but because of it.”
She backed away, shaking her head. “You misunderstand! It is only that my husband has?—”
“You would blame him also?” Darcy exclaimed, turning to walk with quick steps across the room to distance himself from her effrontery.
“As might you if you only knew what I have endured.”
