Georgiana sighed and sat down heavily in a chair. “Would you be willing to allow me to return to London? Mrs. Annesley could accompany me, of course. I would regret losing the opportunity to further my acquaintance with the Miss Bennets, but I cannot endure Miss Bingley for so many weeks, brother!”
“I know. Let us first see what will become of this. I am sure Bingley will come speak with me soon. If he does not insist they leave in the next day or so, I will take you back to London myself.”
Chapter 4
Bingley rarely stood up to his sisters, so it was a real possibility that his family would remain at Netherfield. Darcy was therefore planning what his next moves would be when a knock at the bedchamber door pulled him from his thoughts. He opened the door to find Bingley standing there, looking aggravated.
“Come in, Bingley, have a seat.”
After taking a seat, Bingley looked at Darcy and sighed. “Darcy, I apologize for all this. It is a disgrace. I have no doubt my sister has been regularly helping herself to whatever business of mine she wishes to know.”
Darcy raised a brow. “You are more than likely correct on that.”
“Was I not just saying how desperately I need to marry her off?”
“Indeed, you were,” Darcy replied. “What do you plan to do about this situation?”
“I told them they must leave tomorrow.”
“Really?” Darcy said, raising a skeptical brow. “I cannot imagine they readily agreed.”
“No, they did not, but I used Caroline’s desire for your approbation to secure her compliance. I told her you were undoubtedly appalled by her behavior and suggested she keep this fact in mind before deciding to defy me, since doing so will only lower her further in your estimation. I also informed Hurst privately of my assurance to you that Caroline would not be at Netherfield, and therefore, I expected him to take her and Louisa right back to London in the morning. Maybe next time he will think twice before allowing my sisters to involve him in such a ridiculous scheme again!”
Unsurprisingly, Bingley had not truly put his foot down with his sister, but had used Miss Bingley’s hopes toward Darcy against her.I suppose whatever works . . .
Darcy told Bingley that he and Georgiana would take trays for dinner to avoid the awkward situation with his relatives. He then went to inform his sister that she could remain in her rooms for the rest of the evening if she so chose, since they would not go down for dinner. He also told her it was likely that Miss Bingley and the Hursts would be leaving on the morrow. She expressed her relief at the news.
When Darcy returned to his bedchamber, his valet was putting clothes away in the armoire.
“Jones, I am not sure if you are aware, but the Hursts and Miss Bingley arrived this afternoon,” Darcy said.
“Yes, sir, I did hear that. I was under the impression they would not be here for some weeks.”
“That was Bingley’s intention, however, Miss Bingley managed to get around her brother,” Darcy explained. “He has told them they must leave tomorrow. You can imagine what the atmosphere shall be like this evening,” Darcy said.
“Indeed.”
“I have no wish to deal with it or to deal with his sister. Bingley understands this, and he knows Georgiana and I will not go down this evening. So, there will be no need for me to dress for dinner, Jones.”
“Very well, sir.”
“Also . . . see if you can have a word with the housekeeper,” Darcy said, looking his valet straight in the eye.
“Shall I request the keys to your bedchamber and sitting room?” Jones asked shrewdly.
“That would be ideal, or you can pass on to Mrs. Oliver my request that she not allow anyone else to have them. Feel free to explain why.”
“I shall take care of it, sir,” Jones assured him.
Their precautions may prove to be unnecessary, but Darcy knew that all of Caroline Bingley’s carefully laid plans had just been ruined. There was no telling what she might do.
Later that night, Darcy was startled awake by a noise. He blinked away the sleepiness, willing his eyes to make out the shapes in the room. He hoped Caroline Bingley was not one of them. Darcy lay very still, listening and trying to get a sense of what was happening. He heard the noise again, but this time it sounded further away. Darcy sat up.
“Sir,” Jones whispered from nearby.
“Is it Miss Bingley?” Darcy whispered back.
“I believe so. She attempted to open the bedchamber door. Now, she is trying to enter the sitting room.”
