As she was the one who was being embarrassed, Miss Bingley turned on her heel and, without taking her leave of anyone, made her way out of the drawing room with speed. She rushed up the stairs and into her bedchamber. She cared not that she slammed the door. Why was nothing going according to her well-thought-out plan? She could no longer hold her temper and picked up a porcelain figurine on the mantel and threw it with all of her might. It made a very satisfying sound when it smashed against the wall. It felt so good to be able to vent her spleen in this way, she did not stop until there were no more figurines or vases left in one piece.
“Ah, there is the Caroline who has been attempting to hide away,” Hurst stated when the sounds of smashing items were heard from one floor below. He then turned to his brother-in-law. “Bingley, are you aware you are responsible for all breakages here? If they are maliciously broken, then you pay double the value.”
“I am aware of that as I read my lease very carefully,” Bingley responded. “How is it you know about the clauses in the lease?”
Hurst realised he had slipped. He thought quickly. “I was in the study the other day, and the lease was on your desk. In my role as your late father’s executor, I read it to assure myself no one had taken advantage of your youth,” he explained.
Bingley remembered the lease had been where Hurst said he had found it, so he accepted the explanation. “Let us speak of some far more pleasant subjects.”
“Mother, Louisa, Darcy has some news he would like to share,” Hurst said, grasping the chance to change the subject. “Darcy, would you like to tell them or should I?”
“Mesdames Hurst and Hurst, as you are aware, I took my sister to Longbourn before coming here. While I was there I requested and was granted a courtship by Elizabeth. Bennet agreed as well. Hence, I find myself to be a very lucky man to have been granted an opportunity to win Elizabeth’s heart,” Darcy revealed.
“That is wonderful news,” Louisa responded. “I wish you and Lizzy every felicity.” Then she thought of something. “When Caroline hears this, she will explode with rage.”
“If she misbehaves again, she will be on the next post coach north. I was not making an idle threat when I said I would send her away,” Bingley stated.
“It is not if, but when,” Hurst opined. “There is something very wrong with her.”
“If I may be excused, I believe Carstens has a bath ready for me. Once I have changed, I will rejoin you here,” Darcy stated as he bowed to the occupants in the drawing room and then made his way out of the room and up to the guest floor.”
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Not that any of them were complaining, but by the time the residents of Netherfield Park departed for Longbourn the next morning, no one had seen hide nor hair of Miss Bingley. The previous night, she had taken dinner and supper on a tray in her private sitting room, and this morning, she had not been down to break her fast with the rest of them.
Notwithstanding Caroline’s aversion to her nephews and niece, Louisa was very happy that the children were with them, as she did not trust her sister to be alone with them in the house. At about twenty minutes before eleven, as they were preparing to depart, Bingley had not thought he needed to inform his sister that they were making a call.
Hence, the Hursts, Darcy, and Bingley were soon on their way to Longbourn, planning to arrive at the start of calling hours at eleven.
As they travelled the less than three miles, Arthur was fairly bouncing on the seat in anticipation of seeing Tommy. Tisha was no less excited because she wanted Lizzy to tell her a story. Louisa planned to distract her daughter, understanding that Darcy would like some time alone with Lizzy and not with her four-year-old daughter in-between them.
They were greeted warmly on arriving at the Bennets’ estate. Arthur and Tommy made for the nursery. It was an attempt to allow Lizzy time with William when Louisa signalled to Nurse to take Tisha upstairs as well. Ignatius and his wetnurse were already in the nursery. He would be brought down after his next feeding and his nap.
Once the children were no longer an impediment, Elizabeth and Darcy took a seat a little away from the rest. Mary led Catherine, Gigi, and Lydia to the music room. Leticia and Louisa went to sit with Fanny while Hurst made his way to the study to join Bennet, who he had been informed was doing some work.
“Have you ridden Phoebe this morning?” Darcy asked.
“Yes, I had a good gallop, and we ended up at Oakham Mount, where I had the pleasure of watching the sunrise,” Elizabeth shared.
“I had intended to take Zeus to the same place, but I must have been tired because I slept longer than is my wont. Carstens, my valet, had to wake me so I would not miss the morning meal.” Darcy paused. “I am very pleased I was ready to leave with everyone. Had I not, I would have been in the house alone with Miss Bingley, not something I would enjoy. Seeing you this morning is a pleasure, as it always is.”
“Having shared a house with that lady for a short time, I am aware of how supercilious she can be. Let us forget her and speak of more pleasurable subjects.” Elizabeth smiled widely at her suitor.
Any thoughts of the harridan flew from Darcy’s head. Yes, it was far too pleasant here to think about Miss Caroline Bingley.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Back at Netherfield Park, Caroline could not understand why none of the maids would agree to clean up the mess she had created when she had unleashed her anger the previous night. Well, she would not be distracted from the path she was on. She would either win Mr Darcy’s hand by fair means, or she would use unfair tactics. Whichever way it needed to be, she would be Mrs Darcy before she departed this benighted estate in this insignificant backwater.
She supposed she had to accept that Miss Darcy was residing at the Bennets’ hovel. Cousins to Mr Darcy just because the one sister had compromised Lord Hilldale? Not at all!
Now all she needed to do was to plan a way to sow discord between the Bennets and the Darcys.
Chapter 28
A little before midday, Caroline Bingley decided she needed to grace the rest of the residents with her company. Ignoring the mess in her chamber, she had dressed in her best gown, splashed her French perfume on liberally, and made sure she was wearing as much jewellery as possible.
She decided that the best way to discredit the Bennets, and more exactly Miss Eliza, was by demonstrating to Mr Darcy how fashionable she was in comparison to the chit.
