She sighed again and fixed him with her gaze. ‘While you ruined those girls out of stupidity and a sense of entitlement, at least, you did not intentionally hurt them. You were merely the pebble which started this avalanche which buried them under the weight of an unfair society.’
‘I am devastated to learn that I caused such harm when I thought to be honourable,’ Bingley said quietly, unable to meet her eyes.
‘You put me in mind of something I read in a new translation of a book by Johann Rambach which was released earlier this year.The road to hell is paved with good resolutions,’ Mary offered. While she had broadened her interests, she still on occasions liked to read texts on theology.
Elizabeth gave her an appreciative smile before she continued, ‘Your saving grace is that you are not malicious like your sister. Although I wonder how much she contributed either to your loss of interest in various ladies who were not sufficiently eligible for her ambition or the loss of reputation the ladies suffered after you abandoned them.’
She paused, observing the shocked comprehension dawning on Bingley’s face. ‘After all, we have learnt that Miss Bingley has deliberately spread malicious gossip about her rivals for years. In recent weeks she tried to ruin Jane’s reputation by implying that she is the mistress of a rich man. As it happens since it is known that the man is our uncle no one has believed her, but it could have been devastating not only for Jane but by association to the reputations of myself and our sisters.’
At that comment, Bingley sat up straight. ‘No wonder you were all so cold with her last night. Was that the slander to which Lady Matlock referred?’
‘Indeed.’
Bingley closed his eyes as he shook his head. When he opened them again, he said, ‘You have my apologies. You were quite correct when you said that I should have curbed my sister’s behaviour. If you will excuse me, I shall see to it now… late though it is.’
As they said goodbye, Elizabeth had a final piece of advice, ‘When you grow up, you can still marry a pleasant woman and have a pleasant life.Youhave choices and rights under the law. You can still have agoodlife. Make the most of it.’
~T~
30Aftermath
A thoroughly chastened but newly determined Bingley left Gardiner House and made his way home, leaving behind a somewhat divided group.
Mrs Gardiner and Jane appeared sad but resigned, Darcy confused, Deveril thoughtful, Mary stoic, while Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth both bore determined expressions.
‘Will someone please explain what just happened?’ demanded Darcy, looking at Elizabeth as if he had never seen her before.
She sighed but answered readily enough. ‘Mary came to talk to me after she heard that story, being very troubled indeed. I confess to wanting to commit mayhem on Mr Bingley by the time she finished her recitation.’ Elizabeth grimaced in distaste. ‘I did not get much sleep that night thinking about the poor young woman. Since a walk always makes me feel better, I went to Hyde Park at first light where I chanced to encounter Colonel Fitzwilliam. Thinking that he might have more information, I told him the story Mary had related to me, wondering why no one had ever stopped that… Lothario.’
Richard shrugged as he took up the story. ‘Darcy, you know that I have never particularly liked your puppy, but I confess I had thought him fairly harmless. At least I did so until I heard that story. After my conversation with Miss Elizabeth, I made some enquiries. You know how the men at the clubs like to gossip. I learnt of a number of young women who either vanished from society soon after Bingley turned his attention elsewhere, or who married to no great advantage, despite the high hopes the parents had previously.’
‘When Colonel Fitzwilliam reported his findings to me, he and I, and to a certain extent Mary, agreed that Mr Bingley had to be stopped from further depredations.’ She turned up her hands. ‘I thought to wait until he returned to town and then speak to him, explaining his culpability.’
‘I disagreed, since I felt certain that dear Caroline would override any scruples Bingley might develop. Last night’s ball was an opportunity too good to miss. Langford is an old friend and he easily fell into my scheme of giving the Bingleys enough rope to hang themselves… particularly since he has a granddaughter about to come out into society.’
Deveril added quietly, ‘Lady Penelope could be Jane’s younger sister in looks.’
‘Precisely.’ Richard nodded. ‘But I have a bone to pick with Miss Elizabeth, claiming that she had a hand in Bingley’s debacle. She did not even know that I had arranged for the Bingleys to be invited… until after they departed.’
‘My apologies, Colonel. I was carried away by righteous anger and I had agreed to your scheme in principle. I simply did not know the timing.’
‘Lizzy, it would be better if you let the Colonel take the credit for routing the enemy,’ Deveril suggested quietly.
Elizabeth looked mulish for a moment but eventually agreed.
Jane spoke up for the first time since Bingley’s departure. ‘Why did you not tell me about this?’
‘Because of your kind heart. What we considered was not… nice.’
‘Lizzy, I am your older sister. You do not have to always protect me,’ Jane admonished.
A contrite Elizabeth said quietly, ‘I apologise, I will attempt not to protect you again.’
That statement seemed utterly ridiculous to most of the company and had the effect of lightening the mood.
~T~
After that draining confrontation, everyone agreed that they would feel better for a walk in the park.
