We are, of course, happy the future Mrs. Darcy has chosen to do business with us, and we look forward to serving her future needs. Before we can begin work on her order, however, we request that you establish an account at the shop.
We are at your service.
Had Elizabeth placed an order with her modiste under his name? Surely not! He noticed the amount was not very much, but it still did not make sense. If she needed to purchase something and did not have the funds, she would have at least mentioned it, would she not? Darcy would be happy to buy her whatever she desired. Deciding to raise the subject with her later that evening, he reached for the next letter and was shocked to find another invoice, this time from a cobbler! Again, there was a note requesting his presence to establish an account on behalf of his betrothed. Darcy found more letters, all from shop owners claiming various amounts owed to the tune of three hundred pounds! What was worse was that some of the invoices were dated back to before he had even proposed to her! Darcy stared at it all in disbelief. There must be some mistake.
That evening, Elizabeth and her family came to Darcy House for dinner. Darcy took a moment and asked Elizabeth and her aunt to join him in his study. When he showed Elizabeth the letters, she was aghast. Elizabeth assured him that she had made no purchases in his name. Darcy then asked her if she would accompany him to these establishments so that together they might get to the bottom of it.
Mrs. Gardiner agreed, saying, "We certainly shall accompany you, Mr. Darcy. I suppose the shopkeepers could have mistaken who would be paying for the purchases, but it seems so unlikely. I cannot help but wonder if there are dishonest business practices going on here."
Several days ago, Darcy wrote to the merchants from whom he had received invoices. He informed them he would visit to settle matters, arranging specific times with each shop. Now the time had arrived to visit the merchants, and Elizabeth was on her wayto meet him. When the ladies' carriage came to a stop in front of the first establishment they were to visit, Darcy and Fitz greeted them and handed them down.
Darcy smiled at Elizabeth and kissed her hand. “Ready?”
She nodded. “Ready.”
When they walked in, they nodded politely to another couple, then abruptly came to a halt. At the counter, the shopkeeper was dealing with a belligerent woman. The woman was none other than Caroline Bingley!
As soon as he spotted Miss Bingley, Darcy moved Elizabeth to his left, away from her. He pulled Elizabeth’s hand through the crook of his arm, keeping his hand over hers. He shared a look with his cousin. Fitz seemed to be thinking the same thing that he was—this appointment was bad timing! Darcy supposed it was inevitable they would eventually cross paths with Caroline Bingley in public. He would now see if she respected his wishes by refraining from addressing him.
“Madame, please! We will soon resolve the issue with your order,” the shopkeeper said with obvious frustration. The man drew in a breath, then released it. He then turned his attention to them. “Good day! How may I help you?”
“Fitzwilliam Darcy. I am here to discuss an invoice.”
Darcy saw Miss Bingley’s head snap in his direction.
An expression of relief appeared on the man’s face. “Yes, Mr. Darcy! Thank you for coming! I made sure your intended would be here as well.”
My intended?!
“Mr. Darcy, I did not know you were to be here!” Miss Bingley simpered.
Darcy and Elizabeth exchanged bewildered glances. “I am not engaged to that woman!”
“Pardon me?” the man replied, looking confused.
“You have been misinformed, sir,” Darcy said. “I am betrothed to this woman, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
“What?! No!” Miss Bingley shrieked. She turned eyes full of hate on Elizabeth.
“I—I beg your pardon, Mr. Darcy,” the man said, looking back at Caroline Bingley, then again at Darcy. "It appears that—"
"No!" Miss Bingley shrieked again. With a shrill cry, she suddenly wrenched the pin from her bonnet, raised it in her fist, and ran towards Elizabeth. Darcy put Elizabeth behind him just as Fitz grabbed Miss Bingley. She let out a piercing scream as he restrained her and took the pin from her grasp. She fought Fitz’s hold on her, but with one simple maneuver, he took away her ability to move at all.
"Let me go! She shall not have him! Get away from him!" Miss Bingley yelled.
Several people were staring and murmuring at the scene she was making.
"He is mine, you hussy! Mine! I am to be his wife!" She then let out another piercing scream.
“Shall I call for the constable?” the shopkeeper asked, looking agitated.
“That will not be necessary,” Darcy said. “I know this woman’s family. We shall take her to them.”
As Fitz loaded Miss Bingley into Darcy's carriage, Darcy escorted the ladies to their own carriage.
Elizabeth looked at him. "I suppose we have our answer now regarding all the mysterious purchases made by your 'betrothed'."
He sighed. "Yes, I believe we do. I will contact the other merchants to inform them as well."
