“He does seem to be well accomplished at running away does he not?” Elizabeth asked as he was fleeing and he did not hear the reply as he took flight.
Now Bingley sat, wondering if it was more truth than he hoped, his memories of yesterday bitter as he faced his utter and complete humiliation.
“Louisa, do I rely on others to make decisions for me too much? Am I irresolute and always look for the path of least resistance?” he asked seriously.
“Why do you ask Charles?” Louisa asked quietly.
After Bingley repeated the tale of his humiliation at Gardiner House, he took a steadying breath. “When Darce was here the other night, he said something similar to me in the study. I almost dismissed it, but after the setdown Miss Bennet delivered, I cannot ignore the matter anymore. Please tell me that Darcy was confused when he told me that Caroline wrote to Miss Bennet and indicated that I had meddled with her feelings and I was about to become betrothed to Miss Darcy?” He roiled with frustration.
“I wish I could deny it Charles, but it is true.” As chagrined as she was to admit it, Mrs Hurst answered her brother honestly. She then proceeded to reveal the whole of the visit Miss Bennet made, the way that she and her sister had treated her while she was there, and admitted the details of the visit they returned weeks later and the cutting of the acquaintance. She finished her retelling with the humiliation that Caroline had experienced as she was denied entrance to Darcy House, after ignoring the occupant’s directives.
“Darcy told me of their connections. If we are not ruined already, the Bedfords and the Jerseys will see that we are if Caroline ever repeats those vile assertions, we know to be patently false.” As he said it, he knew that he had never stood up to his wilful younger sister, and more than likely still would not. It was just too hard.
“Had we not interfered, what wealth and connections we would have gained. Now instead we are looking at possible ruination!” Louisa winced.
Although Charles Bingley was not as delusional as his younger sister, he did like to think that everything would be well, regardless of the facts, as he hated confrontation.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
On receiving the notes from Lady Jersey and the Duchess of Bedford, Lady Matlock had immediately replied, inviting them to join the tea with the Bennets. Her husband, Reginald Fitzwilliam, had relaxed a great deal when he heard about the plans for the upcoming event the ladies hid under the guise of ‘tea.’ He was sure that if he had fallen into disfavour following his nephew William’s atrocious behaviour, the Duchess, Countess, and the Bennet sisters would not be attending tea at Matlock House.
Elaine and Marie Fitzwilliam welcomed their guests, and once introductions were made and all were seated, tea was ordered. The tea arrived along with a lavish spread including pastries, cakes, biscuits, finger sandwiches, and fruit. Once tea was drunk and treats eaten with discussion of polite and inconsequential subjects like the weather, the tea and spread were removed and the doors closed, leaving the ladies alone with no servant present. Rosamond Rhys-Davies, Duchess of Bedford opened the conversation now that the ladies had privacy.
“Elaine, we thank you and Marie for inviting us to join our goddaughters, as we do have some issues that we need help with from both of you.” The Duchess smiled at her favourite of all nieces.
“We will be happy to help with anything that we can, Rose,” Lady Matlock answered for both herself and her daughter-in-law. “However, if you will indulge me before we have that conversation, I have some questions for Miss Elizabeth.” Elizabeth nodded to acquiescence to her godmother and her aunt.
“I am happy to answer almost anything, Lady Matlock, unless it is something that I choose not to,” Lizzy said with impertinence and an arched eyebrow, almost challenging the Countess to chastise her, and the Countess smiled.
‘She is not awed by me at all. She is everything and more than the descriptions from William and Richard. If Darcy can redeem himself in her eyes and win her heart, she will be the making of him.’ She assessed Elizabeth with warmth, already appreciating her backbone. “Please call me Lady Elaine and my daughter Lady Marie, at least so long as any formality remains between us.” Both of the Misses Bennet inclined their head in acknowledgement. “Did my nephew William really make so insulting a proposal to you as he recited for us? I can hardly believe it! He told us how you took him to task. For a man who had never been denied anything that he desired, it was a great shock to his system.” Elaine Fitzwilliam could see that Miss Elizabeth believed she was about to be censured and noticed that her godmother and aunt were ready to defend her, so she continued before the lady herself or anyone else misunderstood her. “I dare say it was a long time coming, and richly deserved.” She was thankful as she noticed everyone relax.
“He did make his proposal in that manner Lady Elaine, and yes I took him to task. I will admit that at the time my opinion of him was coloured by some misinformation and misunderstandings, so my reaction was perhaps more intemperate than it could have been.” Elizabeth offered contrition for part of her anger.
“You are referring to that dissolute scoundrel Wickham and William’s advice to that Bingley fellow?” the Countess verified. Noting the nod from Miss Elizabeth, she proceeded. “You were not the first lady taken in by that lying manipulator of a blackguard, but thanks first to your father and then Richard’s actions, that man will not be allowed to hurt anyone ever again. I believe today is the day that he leaves for the continent as a private. What you said to William about Bingley, regardless of the advice that he received, was spot on, Miss Elizabeth. Having only met the man once or twice; I did notice that he seemed to lack resolution and leaned on William far too much to direct his life. My hope is that William will take your reproofs to heart and endeavour to become a better man.”
“I believe that he has started that process,” Jane offered, though she had been silent up to this point. “He introduced us to his sister and your daughter, Lady Tiffany, your Ladyship, and apologised very sincerely for his past actions and behaviour. As I told Mr Bingley yesterday when he had the temerity to try and blame his lack of resolution on others, the fault for the behaviour of Mr Bingley resides solely with him.”
“We were very proud of our Jane. I do hope that Mr Bingley is able to address the reproofs that she gave him as your nephew has done. Like Jane, I believe his desire to change and improve is genuine and I forgave him, and we agreed to start out acquaintance again with no preconceived notions or expectations.” Elizabeth offered for all ladies assembled.
‘Reggie will be overjoyed! Now he can be absolutely sure that there will be no break with Bedford or Jersey,’ Elaine Fitzwilliam thought as she heard her daughter speak for the first time during the meeting of the ladies.
“We all thank you, Miss Elizabeth. My cousin, although he did not see it until recently, had started to emulate the behaviour of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, who should be the example of how not to behave in polite society, or any other society for that matter,” Lady Marie offered a little sardonically, and due to the restraint of the truth, not even her mother-in-law arched a brow at that. Lizzy was happy to hear such sentiments from Lady Hilldale. ‘This family is nothing like Lady Catherine or how Mr Darcy was before. I believe I could come to like them very well,’ Lizzy thought as she smiled at Lady Marie.
“Rose, you indicated that you and Sarah needed our help with something?” the Countess looked toward Lady Jersey.
After receiving a nod from Lady Jersey, Elizabeth repeated what Darcy had warned them about after visiting the Hurst’s townhouse. Both Fitzwilliam women were incensed when they heard the vulgar lies that Miss Caroline Bingley had spewed to Mr Darcy. They agreed that his cutting the acquaintanceship was long overdue.
“That harpy is such a cloying shrew. The air never clears of her perfume until it is blown away with a stiff wind. I have only had the unfortunate opportunity to meet her once at a ball while attending with Andrew,” Marie Fitzwilliam said with disdain. “She had the temerity to presume a familiarity that was non-existent, and Andrew and I almost gave her the cut direct. We would have done so had William not been there as part of their party with the social climber’s brother. The older sister is no better.”
“Never mind my goddaughter and niece’s wealth and connections that they kept hidden,” retorted Lady Jersey with no little anger, “the gall of the women to think that their money somehow elevates them above a gentleman’s daughter in society is a true effrontery. They have picked on the wrong ladies this time, and I believe it is time for them to feel the full weight of their pretension and folly! She has long tried to gain a voucher to Almack’s, something that she willneverattain!”
“ThatthingatAlmack’s,never! Sarah, I cannot agree with you more.” Her Grace, Lady Bedford smiled calmly, about to lead the ladies to the action part of the discussion. She had already determined that shewouldtake action, but stronger stated when done as a united front. “What do you suggest we do? We all know that you have a better strategic mind than most generals,” the Duchess asked.
“Without presuming too much, will you, Elaine, and you, Marie, help us teach them a lesson that they will never forget?” Lady Jersey asked archly.
“We will assist in any way we can. I would love to see those women that I have heard Georgie refer to as the ‘superior sisters sans class’ be reminded of exactly what true superiority of class actually looks like.” The Countess smiled at Jane and Elizabeth with a little wink for them to know that for her, this would be a pleasure.
“Listen carefully ladies. Rose and I will be holding our joint annual ball in three weeks; this is what I suggest…” Lady Jersey’s plan as detailed was accepted by all, with some modifications suggested by Lizzy that were accepted without question. In the meantime, word would go out from the four titled ladies to all leaders of theTonthat Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley were spreading malicious and false rumours about one close to them and they would not look kindly on anyone who was at home to either lady. At the same time, it was decided that all of the papers that traded in gossip and on-dit would be warned that if they published any false gossip about the Bennets, they would be sued for slander until they were bankrupt.
