Page 4

Caroline frowned, but seemed to read something in her sister's expression and did as she was told, and Darcy found himself alone with his oldest friend, who clearly wanted to know what Darcy's problem was.

"I beg that you would reconsider deepening any attachment you have to the Bennet girl," Darcy said, stretching his legs out in front of him.

Bingley frowned. "She is an angel. I know she comes from little money, but she is a gentleman's daughter. There is nothing so wrong in it."

"A gentleman's daughter, yes, but the rest of her family, the people you would be attached to for the rest of your life, the people whose actions would affect your good standing in the community… Did you see the way the younger sisters behaved at the assembly? And their mother? Goodness, I heard her loudly pronouncing your wealth to all and sundry, as if the only thing she sees is a large number above your head."

Bingley flushed, and although Darcy felt a little awkward at having embarrassed his friend, if it did the trick, it would be a price worth paying.

"Granted, if one were to choose in-laws, they might not be the first choice. But when it comes to love..."

Darcy swallowed. So. He would have to say the uncomfortable truth.

He did not want to hurt his friend, but being stuck in a loveless, money-grabbing match would surely hurt more in the long run.

"I hear you speak of love, and I believe it on your part. But, Charles, I have observed Miss Bennet. I have watched the interactions between you, and she does not show the same regard for you. She is, I grant you, very beautiful and far more tolerable than her mother or most of her sisters."

The image of Elizabeth Bennet flashed to mind, and he pushed it away. She had no business being there, and he would do well to forget her.

"I do not say these things to hurt you, but has she ever given you reason to believe her affections equal your own?"

"Well, no, but I..." Bingley trailed off.

"I am sorry to say that I do not feel she returns your feelings. And to tie oneself to such a family without love to sweeten the bargain; I feel you would regret it for a long time, and I do not wish to see that for you."

Bingley swallowed and was silent. Darcy did not know if he was upset or embarrassed, or both, but he did not push his friend any further.

Bingley rose. "I will go and wash before dinner," he said, before striding from the room.

Chapter Three

Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst returned to the parlour not long after Bingley had left.

They were busy whispering about something, and Darcy picked up the book he had been perusing and made to leave. He was not a fan of gossip, and he did not think he wished to be in the room while the two made comments, especially if they were about Charles and his ill-advised attachment to Miss Bennet. While Darcy could see as plain as the nose on his face that the attachment was one-sided, he would not laugh and joke about it. His friend had looked sincerely upset, and he did not want to see him hurt.

"You will not believe the news we have just heard, Mr Darcy," Miss Bingley said, pulling out her silk fan and wafting herself with it.

"I'm sure I shall not," he said, not one to play games.

"The housekeeper just told us that the news has spread across the county: Mr Bennet, of Longbourn, is dead."

Darcy stopped in his tracks.

Upon hearing the word Bennet, he had intended to leave, but then Mrs Hurst had finished her sentence.

Dead.

The man had seemed in fine shape at the Meryton Assembly, and he had heard no rumours of ill health, but he supposed the Grim Reaper could come to call at any time for anyone.

"Those poor girls," Miss Bingley said, although Darcy wasn't entirely sure she was sincere.

"And their mother," Mrs Hurst said. "After all, it is all entailed on that parson cousin of theirs – the one we could not get rid of the other night. He will be master of everything. And with not a one of them married... Goodness."

"Well, perhaps it is for the best none of them is wed, for I imagine the entire family would be quite a burden upon the husband of whichever one had managed to secure a match."

Darcy squeezed his hand into a fist and then slowly flexed it.

That ought to have been his first thought, because indeed, if none of them had anywhere to live or an income besides whatever Mr Bennet had managed to leave them that was not attached to the estate, then they surely would become the responsibility of the husband of any of the young women.