Page 23 of Elizabeth’s Choice

“Well, I have had a good streak but also know that I can be displaced at any time, since archery is about eyesight, how the wind blows, and if the bow and arrows are in good condition, and they all contribute to my performance. I must constantly practice but will likely cease participating in so many competitions once I take permanent residence at Ashworth. I cannot be travelling to so many places as I have been doing for the last five years and will settle down in one place for the majority of the year.” She grinned at Georgiana, “I must save whatever time I can spare to travel to go to Pemberley to visit you, since it is my favourite place in the world now.”

Georgiana happily replied, “It will be your home, too. I have faith that you will become my sister next year.”

As Darcy helped the ladies descend the carriage, he kissed Elizabeth’s hand again and tenderly spoke to her, “I also have faith, my captain, and whether Pemberley or Ashworth, wherever you are, it will be my home.”

Elizabeth smiled at him, praying for all her dreams to come true but still uncertain of what the future lay for them. She knew she was too proud with all of her accomplishments but did not know if she could let them go at the risk of losing her freedom and not being able to care for her family as she had intended to do. But she held the gentleman’s hand, with her own faith growing that she was making the right decision to trust him with everything she had.

Chapter 15

“Bingley! It is good to see you again,” Darcy exclaimed as he entered Netherfield. “It took my driver a bit to find the place but this is a sound estate and grander than I expected.”

Charles Bingley grinned as he greeted his friend, “I am so glad to hear it. My sisters and Hurst remain in town but I had arrived early and needed you to come here urgently due to a situation that had risen. Since your return from Pemberley was delayed a fortnight due to your aunt’s ball, I signed the contract to Netherfield without having you look at the place with me first, but now I am in a quandary.” He nervously scratched his head, “Let us go into the study.”

As they walked, Darcy laughed at his friend’s discomfiture and asked, “What happened? Just spit it out, man!”

Bingley closed the door to his study and fretted, “Miss Grantley gave me an ultimatum that she would not accept my offer until I am a landowner. I believe I need to purchase an estate sooner than later if I am to win her but my solicitor told me that I would lose a significant sum for Netherfield and advised against it. Now, I am having trouble deciding… That is, if I love her, I should easily give up Netherfield and purchase something outright, should I not?”

Darcy was astonished by what Bingley revealed and enquired, “Has Miss Grantley seen Netherfield? What caused the sudden demand?”

“Well, I believe it had something to do with her friend Miss Cartwright becoming betrothed to a son of a baronet with four thousand a year. Apparently, Miss Cartwright disparaged Miss Grantley for being in courtship with only a son of a tradesman without an estate and leasing one is not good enough now. Tell me what to do! I know not what to do,” Bingley plopped down onto a chair in distress.

Darcy thought to himself about the situation and how mercenary Miss Grantley sounded. He took a deep breath and said, “Before I share my full opinion with you, let us take a tour of the property so I can see for myself if your choice was a good one. I have recently learned that your father’s friend Mr. Bennet resides three miles from here and it would be to your advantage to reside near him for a year. Let us ride out and tell me more about Miss Grantley and your thoughts on her sudden demand.”

Bingley agreed and called for two horses to be saddled. As they rode around the mansion and across the large field, Darcy saw that Netherfield was indeed a grandiose estate and the rolling hills in the area appeared very soothing and peaceful. He remembered Elizabeth and smiled to himself, eager to see her in two-days’ time in Brighton. They saw a small mount and led their horses atop to view Netherfield and he commented, “I like Netherfield. It is a good estate and since your lease is at a good price, if you decide to quit it, I am willing to take over so that I can reside close to someone who will be relocating nearby.”

“Who? Who do you know in Hertfordshire? Do I know him? I did not think you were at all impressed with this county!” Bingley laughed, “If you take over the lease, I will not be losing any money over it and can look for a place to purchase straightaway. Perhaps it is fate that I marry Miss Grantley.”

“I think not, Bingley,” Darcy responded as he shook his head. “I believe Miss Grantley to be mercenary and you should reconsider your dedication to her. Do you truly love her enough to give up your residence here and to be in a rush to purchase an inferior estate because she is ashamed of your station?”

Bingley’s shoulders drooped in disappointment, “I thought she loved me for myself but then I remembered that she was always asking me to purchase something for her and would not even consider a formal courtship until I signed the Netherfield contract, only to change her mind because of Miss Cartwright. I planned on proposing next month but do agree with you that she sounds mercenary now and I do not know if this is love. She does not appear so pretty to me now and I wonder if I should avoid her completely.”

“But you made your intentions very public and if you are seeming to be jilting her, it will not be good for your reputation nor hers,” Darcy responded. “I do think a good plan is necessary so that the blame falls on her and that her greed is made apparent to everyone. I think it is time to test her and if she is mercenary and fails, she will quit the courtship without any damage to your reputation.”

“What do you suggest? If she passes the test, then it means that she truly loves me for myself and not for my wealth, right?” Bingley excitedly asked. “I want to marry a woman who loves me without regard to my fortune; someone who cares naught if I am the son of a tradesman. I am prodigiously proud of my father and all that he had accomplished to gain his fortune and am not ashamed to be a son of a tradesman. I thought Miss Grantley was the one but she has changed much during the past three months.”

Darcy shook his head, “I am not surprised to hear it and am glad you did not propose to her after the first month. You must discover her true character and see if she will still choose you. How about if you tell your sisters that you are having some financial troubles? Write to them that you are going to be leasing for longer than planned due to an unexpected situation and that you thought to purchase an estate soon but it will not be for several years because of a need to retrench. Include in your letter of your disappointment in not being able to provide a grand mansion for Miss Grantley as she desired and that your hopes of proposing are dashed.”

“You know Louisa and Caroline so well,” Bingley chuckled, “They will not be able to keep their lips shut, even at the risk of embarrassing me, and everyone will know about my situation within a day. I like it. Even if I bear the gossip for a while, I know none of it is true and it will test Miss Grantley’s heart. She has become too demanding and I cannot bear the thought of having a selfish wife who will only want more from me after ardour fades.”

“Speaking of gossip, I must tell you that I do not appreciate the fact that everyone in town believes me already engaged to your sister. I know I had thought of proposing to Miss Bingley while I am in Hertfordshire but I… I met someone, Bingley, and I am in love. I am completely and emphatically in love, and even though it is going against my father’s final wish, I cannot marry your sister. I am sorry, Bingley. I would have been very pleased to have you as a brother but I am rescinding my earlier decision to propose to your sister,” Darcy watched his friend for his reaction.

“Who could this be? I have never heard you speak so ardently about anyone before!” Bingley exclaimed in astonishment. “Do I know her? You have always been restrained in your interactions with women and never would I have believed you to fall madly in love if you had not told me yourself!”

Darcy set up straighter in his saddle, remembering Elizabeth’s request to keep their relationship a secret and replied, "It is someone I met ten years ago but have recently been reunited with and I will tell you more at the appropriate time. I wish to be in courtship but cannot do so if your sister continues to believe that I will offer for her. I will still stay with you at Netherfield to help you with estate management if you will still agree to host me, but Miss Bingley must accept that I will not be proposing and she must find a way to squelch the gossip that she began. I know she is the one who told everyone that we are engaged.”

“I know she did,” Bingley sighed, “and I allowed it because I wished to have you become my brother. I know not how she will be able to fix it but we will sort it out. You must know that your friendship is more important to me than to allow Caroline to continue to be so mercenary, do you not? I think Caroline and Miss Grantley have more in common than they realise, and it serves them right that they will both fail to capture husbands due to their greedy nature.” He laughed, “Perhaps you can spread a rumour that you lost Pemberley or some other shocking gossip to make my sister lose interest!”

Darcy laughed along, “If that is what it takes, I am willing to bear it!” After they chuckled longer, he continued, "Thank you for your understanding. I did not think my decision would be changeable but after falling in love, I could comprehend a little of how you fall in love rapidly and I cannot see anything or anyone else in my life. You are not acquainted with this person but everything will be revealed when I return after Michaelmas and please do not mention any of it to your sisters.”

“Certainly! Well, let us return to Netherfield and you can tour the house and I will write to my sisters. I believe we have a good plan in place and although I cannot promise that Caroline will fully give up her dreams of becoming Mrs. Darcy, it was my fault for revealing your father’s wish so I will tell her that you will not be proposing,” Bingley smiled. “I hope to meet your lady soon, Darcy. I have never seen you like this before.”

“You will know all the sordid details soon and it will be surprising but I know you will be happy for me,” he grinned. “Thank you for your understanding. I do think a certain property in Derbyshire will be available in two, three years and you should wait for it. You will only regret your choice if you rush it and I am glad you will discover the truth about Miss Grantley’s heart.”

The two gentlemen leisurely rode back to the grand manor, pleased with the countryside and discussing their plans for the next two months in Hertfordshire. Darcy was eager for word to spread about breaking off the understanding with Miss Bingley and prayed that Elizabeth would accept his proposal as soon as he gained her father’s blessing.

After spending the night at Netherfield, Darcy departed the county to return to London so that he could rush to Brighton to reunite with Elizabeth, dreaming of holding her in his arms again. He knew she would be busy with her archery contest but hoped to find some private moments so that he might kiss her affectionately to show her how much he missed her.

~*~