~T~
Charles Bingley was indeed in his chambers, but he was not sulking as his sister assumed.
He was planning how he could return to Meryton to pay court to the love of his life. The longer he was away from her, the more perfect she became in his mind.
It never occurred to Bingley that the main reason for his interest was that for once the lady he was captivated by did not respond to his advances in a positive manner. While Jane Bennet had been unfailingly polite whenever they met, she had never sought out his company. That very circumstance fired his love of the chase, making him determined to capture the lady.
Bingley considered going to Meryton and putting up at the inn but considering that he had been asked to leave Netherfield, he doubted that any rooms would be available to him.
Perhaps he could rent a house under a different name?
Or he could write to the lady and press his suit by correspondence?
But would such a demure lady not be offended by the impropriety of such a move?
For days he had wracked his brains trying to find a workable solution until at last he hit on a scheme which should be successful.
Bingley remembered that the family had a relative who lived in town. He would be perfectly willing to visit Cheapside to spend time with the lady. He would write to Mr Bennet, requesting him to send his daughter to London and to approve a courtship with Miss Bennet.
Recovering his vigour, he set out to pen a missive to Mr Bennet.
~T~
On his return to London, Darcy encountered fortune both good and bad.
The bad fortune happened as he was near St Albans where Hermes lost a shoe. As he was used to his horse’s gait, he noticed quickly when the stallion started to go lame.
He immediately dismounted to discover the problem.
His good fortune was that he was not far from St Albans and was able to gently walk his horse to the town where he found a farrier, who was able to fashion a new shoe.
But since he did not wish to further strain the leg, Darcy put up at an inn overnight to give Hermes a chance to rest and recover.
It was midmorning the following day when Darcy returned home for a bath and a change of clothing before setting out for Gracechurch Street to make his apologies.
As his carriage turned out of Grosvenor Square, he was too engrossed in his thoughts to notice another carriage going in the opposite direction, conveying none other than Elizabeth Bennet.
~T~
16Rumours
The morning after the visit by the Bennet sisters, while Darcy made his way back to town from St Albans and going on to Gracechurch Street, Lady Matlock received an unexpected visit from Lady Sefton.
After perfunctory greetings, Lady Sefton said, ‘My dear Eleanor, please forgive me to barge in on you at such an hour, but last night at dinner I heard the most scurrilous rumour and thought that I needed to inform you at the earliest opportunity.’
‘My dear Maria, you appear to be quite overset. What rumour could have put you into such a state?’ Lady Matlock asked as she guided her friend to a sofa and rang for tea to be brought post haste.
‘It is true. I am quite distraught although not for myself but on your behalf.’
‘Surely I know of nothing which should cause you to be discomfited,’ declared Lady Matlock as she poured the tea which had just arrived.
When Lady Sefton gave a pointed look at the maid, her hostess dismissed the staff.
‘I did not wish to say anything in front of the servants. It is bad enough that such a shocking rumour was brought to my attention…’
‘Please, my friend. We have known each other long enough to speak freely. What is so troublesome as to have brought you to my house this early.’
‘I was told a story last night that your nephew’s friend Bingley leased an estate and that Darcy visited briefly. The story goes that Bingley was evicted from that estate supposedly due to the ill manners of your nephew,’ Lady Sefton said in a rush, looking anxiously at her hostess. Reassured that Lady Matlock seemed more amused than upset, she took a much-needed restorative sip of tea.
