While Darcy deliberated long and hard about the truths to which his sister had opened his eyes, he never once doubted the accuracy of her observation. There were some extenuating circumstances in his behavior in the autumn, concerned as he had been for Georgiana’s wellbeing. But all the worry in the world did not excuse his ungentlemanly behavior, both toward the woman he professed to love and the community she called home. Now that he recognized it, Darcy could not but look back on his conduct with abhorrence.
In addition, his subsequent actions toward Miss Elizabeth in Kent had been little better, for he had consideredhishappiness, taking no thought forhers. Looking back on it, he now understood he had never allowed the notion that she might refuse him to penetrate his thoughts of what it would be like to have her for a wife. Even worse, a man did not enumerate the deficiencies of a woman’s situation while proposing to her. What woman would not take offense at such incivility?
Two facts became evident to Darcy after he had considered the situation for several days. The first was that if he believed Miss Elizabeth’s assertions, and he did not question them, he owed Bingley an apology. It appeared his assessment of Miss Bennet’s feelings for his friend had been completely in error. Bingley had never returned to the happy, jovial man he was before they left Hertfordshire, indicating his friend pined for Miss Bennet. The trick would be to confess with delicacy, for he did not wish to lose Bingley’s friendship, nor did he wish to put Miss Bennet in an untenable position.
Even after more than a month without her company, Darcy’s attachment to Miss Elizabeth remained as strong as it ever had been, despite the rancor with which they had parted at Hunsford. The knowledge of this, coupled with the letter he had given her explaining his actions and the hope she might now think better of him, led him to thoughts that the situation might not be unsalvageable. Miss Elizabeth was not as Darcy had once boasted of himself—she did not possess resentment so implacable as to prevent her from forgiving the slights of others. If he acted to reunite Bingley and her sister, would she forgive him for that offense? This presupposed she believed him on the score of George Wickham. As a sensible woman, Darcy did not suppose she would dismiss his account out of hand.
Regardless, there was nothing to be done but to put himself in her company again and assess whether he could earn her regard. While he did not yet know how to accomplish it, a determination to do just that burned in his breast.
The opportunity to put the first part of his plan into action—to confess to Bingley of his mistake—presented itself not long before the end of the season. Darcy had been unusually unsociable that year. His confession to Georgiana had led to a new understanding between them and a new intimacy, such that Darcy spent much more time with her than in society. This was agreeable to Darcy, but it resulted in a distance from his friends, and Bingley in particular. Darcy used this time to good advantage, considering how he might go about making Bingley aware of certain facts of which he yet remained ignorant. However much he might have wished to make his confession at once, matters did not proceed as he might have designed.
An evening in the company of his friend provided the opportunity, though Miss Bingley’s presence was a deterrent to any resolution Darcy might have harbored to speak privately with his friend. Little though he wished to give the woman any encouragement, it was on his mind to invite the Bingleys to Pemberley this summer. A brief conversation with Miss Bingley, however, altered his plans.
“I wish to thank you again, Mr. Darcy, for your support in separating my brother from that fortune-hunting upstart in Hertfordshire.”
It was always thus with Miss Bingley, mused Darcy as he paid only the barest hint of attention to her words; as Darcy could count on her remaining oblivious to his distraction, he often allowed his attention to wander. Now that she felt no need to appear to be on good terms with Miss Bennet, she felt no compunction at all about abusing her, showing her previous expressions of friendship to be nothing more than a sham.
“We are well rid of that place. Now that we have detached him, my brother will not wish to return.”
“If he wishes to realize a profit from the lease,” said Darcy, “he should pay some attention to it.”
Miss Bingley sniffed her disdain. “The term is only a year. The more salient point is that we must keep my brother from Netherfield, for his infatuation may return more strongly than before if he returns tohercompany. I am surprised at you for suggesting such a thing, for surelyyoudo not wish my brother to fall into the clutches of those artful Bennets.”
Darcy gave her a noncommittal and indecipherable murmur that she accepted as his agreement. Her conversation thereafter was no more palatable than it had been before.
“Avoiding the Bennets is the paramount concern. Whether my brother ever realizes the good fortune of his escape is irrelevant. I have never seen such a collection of ignorant and improper nobodies as the Bennets.”.
“It was my understanding you liked Miss Bennet.”
Darcy could not avoid seeing the rolling of the woman’s eyes. “Jane Bennetistolerable, I suppose, but she is not good enough to earnmyapprobation.”
The turn of phrase filled Darcy with a sense of dark amusement, for it was like what he had said of Miss Elizabeth. Looking back on it now, Darcy could not help but wonder if that churlish comment had been the genesis of her antipathy for him. There was much for which he needed to apologize.
“There is little of her situation to approve,” continued Miss Bingley. “She is pretty, in a countrified sort of way, but she has no accomplishments, little dowry, a reprehensible family, and connections to trade and a ridiculous parson. As for her sister, whose eyes I have sometimes heard described as fine, Miss Elizabeth is perhaps the worst of the lot. She is conceited and vulgar, brash and indelicate, and the most obvious bluestocking and spinster in the making that I have ever had the misfortune to meet.”
Far from her intended objective, Miss Bingley succeeded only in stoking the flames of Darcy’s ire; what man could withstand hearing a woman for whom he had no liking or respect speak of the object of his affections in such terms? Miss Bingley did not stop there, further provoking his indignation.
“Look at my brother!” exclaimed she, the contempt in her voice revealing her utter disdain for Bingley’s feelings. “He isstillyearning for Miss Bennet now, more than six months after he last saw her. I might have expected him to fix his focus on the next pretty thing to cross his path. It is difficult to credit, but it appears his fascination for her was far more than anything else I have ever seen!”
“That appears to be a sign that his attachment was true.”
Miss Bingley looked on Darcy with far more asperity than he had ever seen her direct athim. “That is nonsense, Mr. Darcy. It is only proof of his silliness. My father charged him with raising the family’s position in society, and I shall not allow him to waver, nor shall I allow this insipid infatuation with Miss Bennet to lead him to forget everything he owes us all.”
While Miss Bingley could not know it, her selfish assertion was when Darcy decided against inviting his friend to Pemberley for the summer. While he wished to remain in Bingley’s company, he would not tolerate Miss Bingley any longer and would not associate with her. Hopefully, Darcy would succeed with Miss Elizabeth, after which Miss Bingley’s wishes would die an ignominious death. Regardless, he would never offer for her, and with this latest evidence of her poor behavior, he did not wish to subject himself or his sister to her disagreeable person.
“I cannot say I am disappointed, Brother,” said Georgiana when Darcy informed her of his decision. “Hosting Mr. Bingley this summer would have been agreeable, but I have little affinity for his sister, and little wish to listen to her pontificate on how wonderful it would be if I married her brother.”
Darcy looked at her with interest, wondering that the woman had been so blatant as she suggested. Georgiana noticed this, for she was quick to reassure him.
“No, William, she has not spoken so openly to me about her desires. It is obvious in every word she says to me, regardless of the terms in which she speaks.”
“What are your feelings on the subject?”
With a frown, Georgiana regarded him. “I am sure I have no objection to Mr. Bingley, but last summer’s events convinced me that I am not ready for matrimony. Might I consider Mr. Bingley when I am ready? Perhaps I might if it were not for his sister.”
“You would refuse Bingley because of his sister?”
“If my regard was enough to wish for a proposal, I cannot imagine I would refuse for no other reason than she is his sister. At the same time, is it not human nature to act in a manner contrary when pushed beyond endurance?”
