Chapter 15
“No, Caroline, you will not be with your brother to welcome Mr Darcy to Netherfield Park!” Hildebrand stated firmly after her younger niece whinged about the same thing for the tenth time.
“But why not?” Miss Caroline whined. “How will we look if Mr Darcy is not welcomed in a manner he feels befits him?”
“And what would you know about what Darcy does or does not like?” Bingley shot back derisively. “You have hardly been in his company; he is not your friend, and you annoy him. So, I ask again, how would you know what his preferences are?”
“From my days at the seminary, I know what those at the heights of society are used to,” Miss Caroline prevaricated.
“You are truly delusional. Do you think we are not aware of how you were disdained at that school?” Louisa asked. “And were you not told before you attended that none of those you aspired to impress would attend? There was one titled lady there. She was only there because her father gambled away his fortune and most of his land. How did she treat you, Caroline?”
“Before you ask how Lulu knows all of this, Father received regular reports from the seminary,” Bingley explained. “Had you had the good sense to ask him to do so, he would have withdrawn you and sent you to a school where you would have been treated with compassion and care. Then, you would have learnt what was actually useful. Father went to hisgrave rueing the day he ever gave Mother his word he would send you to that awful place.”
Miss Caroline looked away. Deep down she knew what she was being told was nothing but the truth. Her late father had offered more than once to bring her home from Miss Hathaway’s School for Young Ladies, but she had refused.
She refused to believe that she had not learnt what she needed to rise in society. How could she be wrong? Did she not emulate the behaviour of those who had been above her? Surely Mr Darcy would recognise her superiority, as she knew how to behave like one who had been raised in high society? Caroline Bingley could not allow herself to believe anything else.
“No matter what you say, you willnotbe with me to welcomemyfriend. And hear me well, Caroline. Try throwing yourself at Darcy or making him uncomfortable in my house at all, and you will be on your way to Scarborough where you will be set up in your own establishment. Donottest me in this,” Bingley promised.
‘If only Mother had not been so lax in her duty to me and not died. She would have put things to rights and not allowed Charles to treat me the way he does,’ Miss Caroline fooled herself.
She conveniently ignored the fact that even had their mother lived, as soon as their father passed away, Charles would have still been the head of the family, and her mother would have had no power to change that. As she always did, Caroline Bingley ignored inconvenient truths. With her brother’s strictures, it would be more difficult, but she would still gain Mr Darcy as her husband. She would have to be more subtle, and if that did not work, she would compromise him in as public a place as possible.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Darcy arrived at Netherfield Park a little after two o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday. He still worried about Anna regardless of his aunt’s assurances that all was well with her, so his mood was not excellent.
The last thing he needed was a fawning Miss Caroline Bingley, but that was less of a worry because Darcy had confidence in Bingley’s ability to check his sister.
On the two occasions they had been in company together, no matter how briefly, the youngest Bingley had attempted to grab and hold onto his arm. Bingley had dealt with her those times.
The final time they had met before Bingley departed London for Hertfordshire, his friend spoke about the possibility that his sister would not behave well because she had the memory of a gadfly. Hence, Bingley had given Darcy permission to speak plainly to Miss Caroline if she made a nuisance of herself. As anathema as it was to Darcy to be anything less than polite to a lady, this was one case he would make an exception.
He let out a sigh of relief when he saw Bingley alone waiting to welcome him. Darcy supposed he should not have been so surprised. Ever since he had known Bingley, his friend had not allowed Miss Caroline to get her own way.
As soon as the coach came to a halt, the older Thompson brother hopped down from the back bench, retracted the step, and opened the door.
“Darce, welcome to Netherfield Park,” Bingley stated as he extended his hand.
“Thank you, Bingley. Have you found everything to your liking so far?”
“I have. Except for a few neighbours who have been rude to Lulu…Miss Bingley…it is a very pleasant area…” Bingley explained that his sister had been present when callers had come. “Darce, before we proceed indoors, I must tell you that I accepted an invitation for the whole party to a public assembly. It will be held in the evening on the morrow. Before you say it, I know you are not comfortable among those with whom you are not familiar, but unless you meet them, how do you become familiar? I digress; as I was saying, because I know this, if you elect to remain at Netherfield Park on the morrow, I will make your excuses to the attendees. Just know that if you do remain here, my younger sister will move heaven and earth to be here as well. Feigning illness would not be below her.”
“I will attend, but please explain to Miss Caroline that I willnotdance a set with her. I will ask both Misses Bingley to dance if they chuse to do so,” Darcy decided. He would not enjoy such an event, but he did want to show his support for Bingley. As long as he did not have to dance any more than two sets, he would be happy.
“Those terms are acceptable to me. I will encourage Lulu to attend, but I assume that with so many people in a relatively small space, she will more than likely wear a veil,” Bingley stated.
All Darcy could do was shake his head. That people could be so cruel was something he could not fathom.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Collins had not expected such a speedy response from his cousin. He was sure Mr Bennet was overcome with gratitude that he, William Clem Collins, parson to the Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, had condescended to not only grace Longbourn with his presence, but he would also marry one of his unfortunate cousins as well.
He put the sermon Lady Catherine had ordered him to change—the third time so far—aside and picked up the letter and began to read it with pleasure.
3 October 1811
Longbourn, near the great estate of Netherfield Park
