Aunt Hildebrand, Father’s youngest and unmarried sister, had moved in to be with them and to assist Louisa in nursing him as he eventually took to his bed some three weeks past. It was no surprise to anyone that Caroline kept to herself and away from her father’s sickroom.
The other members of the extended Bingley family visited often and were willing to do anything they were asked to assist. The assistance of the family made Caroline’s absence, while disgusting, unimportant to Arthur Bingley’s care.
For the last two days, Aunt Hildebrand, Charles, and Louisa, with others from the extended family, had been keeping vigil as it was clear the end was near.
Now it was time. Louisa placed the book she had been reading on the side table in her private sitting room, stood, and followed Charles out of the room. “The other family members have said their goodbyes, it will be just you, Aunt Hildebrand, and me,” Charles revealed. “Caroline still refuses to come see him,” he added bitterly.
“Then, Brother, leave her be. Our sister would like nothing more than to be the centre of attention,” Louisa opined.
Knowing Lulu had the right of it; Charles gave a tight nod. He pushed the door to his father’s chamber open and followed his older sister into the room. Aunt Hildebrand was holding her brother’s hand, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Am I too late?” Louisa sobbed.
“No, Lulu, my brother yet lives. You know, he would not allow God to take him before you say your goodbyes,” Aunt Hildebrand said as she dashed her tears away. “I will leave you two with him.” She stood, leant over the bed and bestowed a kiss on her brother’s clammy forehead before withdrawing from the room.
With his remaining strength, Bingley beckoned his two eldest to him. As soon as they were close enough, he mustered all remaining reserves. “Charles…never abandon…Lulu…swear,” he managed.
“That is an easy promise for me to make, Father. Evenhad you not asked, I would never have done so,” Charles vowed.
“Do not…allow…Caroline…her…way,” Bingley forced out.
“Also, an easy vow to give. I have never before allowed Caroline to manipulate me, and I will not begin now,” Charles responded firmly. “I will miss you, Father, you have been the best pater a son could wish for.” He stepped back and dried his moist eyes as he made room for his sister.
“Lulu…have always…been…proud of you,” Bingley gasped. “Never…allow others…to…make…you feel…less…than. You…are not, you…better…than most. I love you…all of you…very much.”
The tears were flowing down Louisa’s cheeks freely. “You were the best papa to me. I love you. Go Papa, go to Him and end your suffering.”
Less than a minute later, with his son and eldest daughter holding a hand each, Arthur Charles Bingley breathed his last. As sad as his children who were present to see his life force leave him were, they knew he was in heaven and at peace now.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The day after the late Arthur Bingley was laid to rest alongside the generations of Bingleys in the area, who began with Eoin Bingley who had been the first in the family to come from Ireland, the will was read.
There were no surprises. Louisa and Caroline’s dowries were secured, and the bulk of the fortune, the shares in the business, and other property was all left to his son, Charles Arthur Bingley. However, the new Bingley heir had the discretion to adjust his younger sister’s dowry up or down as he saw fit. For Louisa, it could be increased but never lowered. In addition, there was a clause that forbade any of Louisa’sdowry to be given to Caroline. Lastly, there was no stipulation that his son must purchase an estate, rather, it was left up to him.
There were some other bequests. A major one was that the home he had purchased for his sister to live in was permanently hers. There were some small bequests to family members and faithful staff and servants. With that, the solicitor completed the reading.
Caroline was about to unleash a tantrum because she planned to tell Charles that their father had said he would cede Louisa’s dowry to her. The clause in the will made that impossible. She decided that as Charles was allowed to increase her portion, she would make sure he did so. Before she could say anything, just after the solicitor left, the butler announced Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy.
“Bingley, you and your sisters have my deepest sympathies. Having lost my mother more than ten years past and my father a little more than a year ago, I understand how hard this is on all of you…” Darcy was cut off.
“Why thank you for your sympathy, Mr Darcy, you know not how I suffer,” Caroline cooed as she dried imaginary tears from her eyes.
“She is just like you described. We have not even been introduced, and she addresses me like a long-lost friend.” Darcy shook his head. “It is just as well I am residing at an inn. Will you do the honours, Bingley?”
While her brother made the introductions, Caroline blushed with embarrassment. How could she have made a cake of herself before this man? He was everything she deserved, and now based on what he said, he had come into his inheritance. She knew she had to be a little less aggressive.
As Bingley had told him about the birthmark on Miss Bingley’s cheek prior to the first time he had met her, Darcyneither stared nor commented on it. When Miss Caroline tried to engage him in conversation, he gave her a one word reply and returned to his conversation with her brother and sister. Bingley had prepared him for this day, telling Darcy how his younger sister was blinded by ambition and often heard only that which fit with her desires.
After giving his condolences to the Misses Bingley, Darcy spent some time in the office with Bingley. There he related how Wickham, another delusional person, called at Pemberley after the passing of Darcy’s father. He had made like he forgot that his former godfather had told him there would be nothing for him.
He accused Darcy of cheating him and demanded his due. In the end, Darcy had him thrown from Pemberley’s land and warned he would be arrested if he ever set foot on any Darcy property again.
After the friends spoke for a while, Darcy took his leave, telling Bingley he would begin his return journey to Pemberley in the morning.
Bingley understood that his friend did not want to be in Caroline’s company and wished him a safe journey back to Derbyshire. In turn, Darcy asked Bingley to farewell Miss Bingley for him.
Chapter 10
