Darcy was walking with Elizabeth and was grateful for the privacy to ask quietly, ‘Did you have to be so cruel to Bingley? Practically accusing him of murder?’
‘I was angry with Mr Bingley. All those poor girls. The one who died was younger than I am.’ Elizabeth shook her head and then asked, ‘But the pertinent question is why did you not stop Mr Bingley? He is your friend, and you must have seen what he was doing.’
Darcy sighed. ‘Like Fitzwilliam, I thought that he was harmless. Immature of course but not malicious and not a rake. I confess I may have been blinded to his faults because I admired the ease with which he made friends and was even a little jealous at how effortlessly he conversed with ladies. Gifts which I do not possess.’
Elizabeth reflected that to a man who did not make friends easily and who relied on the few friends like Bingley to ease his interactions with society, he must have simply looked at how friendly and naturally his friend acted with ladies and consequently had not contemplated the potential pitfalls.
He shrugged as he considered his words. ‘Bingley also spent more time in town than I did, since I eschewed socialising as much as I could. When I was in town, I also avoided the clubs or at least the company of men who would gossip about the misfortunes of others as I despise malicious gossip.’ He hesitated before he asked a question of his own. ‘But why did you not come to me with this story. I could have spoken to Bingley.’
‘I only found out about the full extent of his depredations quite recently and we had so many things happening seemingly all at once. I was going to speak to you once things had settled down a little and when Mr Bingley came back to town.’ She sighed and looked up at Darcy. ‘I did not know he was back until I saw him last night, at which point it was too late to warn you. And after he left… I may be selfish, but I was not going to ruin the evening by speaking about such things at a ball.’
To Darcy’s surprise his shoulders relaxed. He had not realised that he had tensed up while waiting for Elizabeth to reassure him. He had unconsciously wondered if she had kept secrets because she did not trust him.
‘Aside from those considerations, it would have been difficult to speak privately.’ He nodded in understanding. ‘I suppose Bingley cameback early because Richard arranged for that invitation. I feel like a fool, overlooking Bingley’s behaviour just because he was my friend.’
‘We often overlook faults in our family and friends which we would abhor in strangers,’ Elizabeth reassured him, giving his arm a little squeeze.’
‘I wonder how he is dealing with his sister,’ Darcy murmured absently.
They walked in silence for a while, both relieved to have cleared the air before misconceptions could take hold, until the sight of two squabbling birds prompted Elizabeth to laugh. After which they were content speaking of lighter topics.
~T~
The lady in question was having a bad morning after an excruciating night spent reviewing all the things which had gone so mortifyingly wrong.
She had had such high hopes about the Langford ball. She had thought that at last, she would be recognised and taking her rightful place in society.
Instead, she was foiled at every turn.
How could those insignificant Bennets be so highly connected? And why had they not claimed their place in society? Caroline would not have dismissed them if she had known their true worth.
Even though Jane had claimed she had found Charles too immature from the beginning... surely, she could have prevailed on the lady to consider her brother as a potential husband. After all, Jane had always seemed to be so sweet and pliable.
But even worse was seeing Mr Darcy dance with that Eliza Bennet. And when she commented on her only being tolerable, Mr Darcy had defended that… lady.
At that point, jealousy had driven Caroline. She could not have stopped herself from speaking even if she had wanted to. Seeing her dreams of being mistress of Pemberley come crashing down around her.
In retrospect, she thought that seeing that satisfied smirk on the face of Colonel Fitzwilliam contributed to her losing all reason. Now shewas certain that he was the architect of her downfall. He had set a trap for her, and she had rushed in.
The Countess of Matlock had rung the final death knell on her ambitions by repudiating Caroline’s slander against the Bennets and casting her out of society. The society which Caroline had worked and schemed for years to enter.
Miss Caroline Bingley would never again attend a function in London.
All her dreams were in ashes.
~T~
Miss Bingley’s day became even worse when she came downstairs and found her brother waiting for her.
He handed her a newspaper which was opened to the society pages. Caroline’s eyes bulged as she read the article to which her brother pointed.
Jane had not lied when she had claimed to have had tea with the Queen.
She was startled when her brother said, ‘The Mr Gardiner who is mentioned as meeting the Queen is Mr Edward Gardiner of Gardiner Enterprises. You know… that ghastly uncle in trade.’
It shook Caroline’s view of the world to discover that the handsome, elegant, and well-connected man she had seen at Gunter’s with Jane Bennet was that tradesman whom she had disparaged.
She was still looking at the page when the name Jane Bennet caught her eye again in the notice which confirmed that she would indeed be marrying the son of that duchess who had given her the dressing down.
