‘But we have the perfect reason for seeing Mr Darcy. Charles has been moping in his room ever since our return and has refused to speak to anyone. I am convinced that he would listen if Mr Darcy told him to stop acting like a spoiled child.’
Louisa Hurst did not look completely convinced but rather than arguing with Caroline, which she knew to be pointless, she agreed to accompany her sister.
~~ DGH~~
As the sisters approached the door to Darcy House, they saw that the knocker had been taken down.
Caroline was undeterred and knocked on the door using the handle of her parasol. When the door was opened at last, she immediately pushed into the foyer and demanded, ‘Please inform Mr Darcy that Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst must see him on a matter of utmost urgency. It is in regard to our brother.’
The footman looked uncertain how to deal with this demand but was relieved to see that Mr Perkins, the butler had arrived on the scene.
Since Perkins knew that Darcy was friends with Bingley, he asked them to wait in the foyer. Having arrived unannounced and uninvited he was not going to go further than that. ‘I will see if Mr Darcy is available.’
He went to the study where Darcy was dealing with correspondence, and announced, ‘Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst are here to see you. They claim there is a matter of urgency with Mr Bingley.’
Darcy groaned as he carefully moved to look at his butler out of the one eye which was not swollen and purpling spectacularly. He grated, ‘Does that woman not understand the most common courtesy? To intrude on a gentleman when the knocker is down… No, I will not see her.’ He winced as he moved too quickly and frowned. ‘If there is a problem with Mr Bingley with which I can help, I am certain that Mr Hurst could have sent me a message.’
He sighed as he carefully stretched his back. ‘Please tell the ladies that I will be unavailable for the next several weeks.’
‘Very well, sir.’ Perkins nodded sympathetically and left the study. He could fully understand that his master did not wish to be seen by anyone in his current state.
Perkins returned to the foyer. ‘If there is a problem with Mr Bingley, perhaps Mr Hurst could send a note, explaining the matter,’ suggested the butler as he opened the front door in an unmistakable gesture.
‘But surely –‘ Miss Bingley started to protest only to be cut off.
‘Mr Darcy will be unavailable for visits for the next several weeks,’ said Perkins and gestured to the open door.
Caroline threw up her head. ‘Mr Darcy will hear of your insolence,’ she exclaimed as she stalked out the door, followed by her sister.
Perkins closed the door promptly. ‘I am sure he will be delighted,’ he muttered.
~T~
Darcy slumped in his chair and sighed.
The bruising and swelling had reached its peak and was starting to heal, but it would be at least another week or more likely two before he would be able to be seen in public. Richard had been very determined to drive home his message.
Darcy suspected that his cousin’s lesson might have been unnecessary.
Once his anger at the happenings in Hertfordshire had faded and he was thinking clearly again, he had admitted to himself that Richard as well as the residents of Meryton had been correct.
He had let his arrogance and his irritation with the Bingleys get the better of him.
He was now ashamed that he had been so rude to the pretty lady. She had not deserved to be the recipient of his foul humour and he owed her an apology.
Admittedly, he thought it a shame that she was just a country nobody. The fire in her eyes and her whole demeanour had been refreshing to see, surrounded as he usually was by sycophants. But he knew that his family expected him to select a bride from his own sphere and a country Miss without connections and wealth would simply not do… no matter how fine her eyes.
He sighed again. Yes, when his bruises had healed, he would make a quick trip to Meryton and apologise. After that he would do his best to forget those eyes.
~T~
After her unsuccessful foray to Darcy House, Miss Bingley was still fuming over that incident as well as having been evicted from Netherfield. That was her state of mind when she visited her dear friend Miss Grantly a few days later.
It did not help when the lady asked with a smug smile, ‘My dear Miss Bingley, I had not expected to see you in town again so soon. Did you not find the company in the country as congenial as you had hoped?’
‘Indeed not. I have never before in my life encountered such savages.’
‘Pray tell what happened?’ Miss Grantly asked with pretended sympathy in the hopes of juicy gossip.
