“Caroline, did you not hear what Mr Darcy told us last night? He said that we will never be allowed entry into any of his houses again,” Louisa frowned.
“Pish posh, Louisa, Mr Darcy will not bar the future mistress of Pemberley from his house. He said those vile things in a fit of pique over the fall of that Eliza and her fine eyes; he did not mean any of it. I will call for the carriage and you will see how it is when we get to Darcy House.” Caroline waved off Louisa’s concern. Even though she knew better, Mrs Hurst placated her sister by allowing her to follow her delusion. ‘Is Caroline really this delusional? But what can we do, if we do not go along with her, life will not be worth living!’ Louisa rationalised to herself as she was donning her outerwear. The carriage was called for and after dousing herself in too much pungent scent as she normally did, Miss Bingley joined her sister in the conveyance.
“I hope that you are correct Caroline; if we are seen to be turned away from Darcy House, it will not go well for us in society.” Louisa worried her hands as her concern deepened. Darcy had not looked as if he were merely venting.
“You worry too much Louisa. You will see, I always know best. We will be welcomed as we always are,” Caroline scoffed.
Louisa Hurst had a feeling that things were not going to go well, but she had never stood up to her younger and more demanding sister before, and she did not have it in her to start now. As they pulled up to their destination, they saw Misses Jane and Elizabeth Bennet entering a magnificent townhouse opposite Darcy House on Grosvenor Square. Louisa read the name plate on the gate of the townhouse they entered and saw it read ‘Bennet House.’ The little feeling that Louisa had felt before now grew into that which felt like the horses on the hunt running and jumping inside her stomach.
“Caroline, I think that we should go home. Did you see the Misses Bennet enter that townhouse opposite? It isnamed‘Bennet House.’ I think that Mr Darcy meant every word that he said last night. I am afraid Caroline.” Louisa prayed that just this once Caroline would heed her.
“Louisa, stop this nonsense! Regardless of the name of the house, it just means that both Bennets are sluts and kept women. Now come on, let us go visit our friend.” Caroline demanded. The ladies alighted from the equipage.
Louisa Hurst was very nervous and worried as she saw a number of members of theTonpromenading around Grosvenor Square. As they were starting to mount the stairs leading to the front door, Louisa saw a massive carriage stop in front of Bennet House. It had the crest of the Duke of Bedford on the door, it was followed by a second, just as impressive, that sported the coat of arms of the Earl of Jersey. Louisa was almost apoplectic.
“Caroline I am not well; can we please go home?” Louisa begged, hoping to avert what she now knew to a certainty would be a disaster.
“Just sit in the carriage, you ninny, you can wait for me here.” Caroline Bingley turned and flounced up the stairs with her nose high in the air. She knocked on the front door of Darcy House, which was then only partially opened by the Darcy butler. When he saw the very woman his master had directed never to be admitted again, under any circumstances, he did not open the door all of the way.
“Open the door, you lowly servant! I am here to see my friend, Miss Darcy.” She shrieked with her annoying, high-pitched voice. Miss Bingley did not notice that some of the promenading couples had stopped to see what the disturbance was.
Mrs Hurst had, and tried to make herself invisible in the carriage.
“You are not permitted to enter this house, madam,” Killion said loud enough for the watching members of theTonto hear.
“What? How dare you deny your future mistress entry to her house? I will sack you the day that I marry…” Whatever she intended to say next was lost as she fell back from the force of the front door when it was slammed shut while she had been trying to push her way inside. She fell on her derrière and a wave of laughter and tittering was heard from the onlookers. She got up with as much dignity as possible and stalked to the carriage where she joined her now crying sister as they were conveyed home at all possible speed.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
In Bennet House, just across the square, the Misses Bennet had been informing the housekeeper, Mrs Kerry O’Grady, and the butler, Mr Humphrey Thatcher, that they were authorised to hire a full complement of staff, as the house would soon be occupied by the Bennets. The Misses Bennet were known to the two senior staff and they had no doubts that the two daughters spoke with the full authority of the Master. There was a knock at the door and Thatcher went to see who had arrived. It was the expected couples. He led the four into the drawing room where Jane and Lizzy Bennet were awaiting them.
“Their Graces the Duke and Duchess of Bedford and the Earl and Countess of Jersey,” the butler announced.
“Aunt Rose, Uncle Haywood, Aunt Sarah, and Uncle Cyril you are all very welcome.” Elizabeth smiled warmly.
“Why thank you, goddaughter,” Lord Haywood Rhys-Davies said as he bent and kissed Lizzy on the cheek and then he kissed Jane, “It is good to see you niece. You both look very well.”
The Bennet girls were kissed by the other three godparents and everyone seated themselves. Mrs O’Grady brought in tea service. Jane poured as the acting hostess.
“We are very glad that your father has decided to stop hiding the truth about your family,” said Lady Sarah De Melville, Countess of Jersey. “I look forward to meeting my other nieces soon and spending more time with you all. Especially my goddaughter.” She smiled gently at Jane.
“Actually, Aunt Sarah, it was I who forced Papa’s hand, but it is done and done for the best. What happened was…” Lizzy relayed a shortened version of the interactions between Darcy and herself, including the abominable proposal, and her setdown of him and his unexpected apology. As she finished, rather than be upset, the four peers were smiling.
“Only our Lizzy could humble a man like Darcy. Well done goddaughter,” praised the Duchess.
“Thank you, godmother. As I said, we have agreed to start again, as we all believe that his apologies and the changes that he has started to make are genuine and will not be short lived. We do need to tell you about a potential problem by the name of Caroline Bingley, and possibly also her sister Louisa Hurst. Recently Mr Darcy went to see the Bingleys and Hursts at the Hurst’s townhouse. He broke with the superior sisters, but not before Miss Bingley told him a very vile conjecture of hers about myself.” Lizzy smiled sardonically. “She had seen me leaving Uncle Edward and Aunt Maddie’s townhouse on Portman Square wearing one of the new gowns from Madame Chambourg. According to her, there was no other reason for me to be in Mayfair and dressed the way that I was unless I was mistress to some Lord, as she put it. Mr Darcy refuted her conjecture and informed us when he came to Gardiner House and made his apology so we would be prepared if she tried to spread that vile falsehood to theTon.”
“Is that so?” the Duke scowled.
“Unfortunately. And I have no doubt that she will try to spread falsehoods about Jane as well. As we were entering the house earlier, the sisters saw us as their carriage pulled up to Darcy House. Mr Darcy informed her of our true wealth and connections, but from what I have seen, the woman only sees and hears what fits the way that she wants things to be.” Lizzy was angered at the thought of anyone daring to talk poorly about her Jane.
“That daughter of a tradesman said what about my niece?” thundered Lord Jersey.
“Calm down Cyril, Rose and I know exactly how to act. Lizzy, did you not say that you girls and Madeline are invited to Matlock House to have tea with Lady Matlock on Thursday at eleven?” Lizzy and Jane nodded. Lady Sarah smiled thinly as plans started forming in her head. “I will contact Elaine. Rose and I will be at that tea and we will plan how to rid society of that harpy and her sister once and for all. That pretentious daughter of a tradesman should have been excised from society long ago and that sister of hers that she leads about by the nose as well.”
The Bennet girls chatted with their godparents for another half hour until both sets departed. Jane’s carriage, which was the one they had used that day, was summoned from the mews and the sisters returned to Gardiner House. They almost felt bad for Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst, except that no one had forced them to behave the way they had, so they could only blame themselves for what was about to befall them.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
