First Impressions: A Tale of Less Pride & Prejudice (Tales of Less Pride and Prejudice) (5 page)

Chapter 6

Caroline Bingley felt Mr. Darcy’s snub most severely and concluded from it that the situation between him and Elizabeth Bennet was far more serious than she had previously believed. Had the gentleman’s sensibilities not been engaged, he would have responded to what was meant to be a teasing statement in kind. The only explanation she could find for his severe reaction was that there was truth in her speculation regarding future in-laws, a most disturbing notion. That Mr. Darcy, whom she had pursued so diligently, could within a week show more interest in a mere country nobody than she had been able to evoke from him in several years was humiliating. Miss Bingley was determined to put an end to what she continued to deem a dalliance, though a troubling one, before it grew into something more. The best and, she concluded, the easiest way to achieve her end was to play to his pride; by fully exposing the unsuitable nature of the Bennett family she would undermine their pretense to gentility. She had already, on the evening of the assembly, questioned Jane Bennet regarding the family’s financial status, but that lady had proven most reticent. No matter, they certainly knew each other better now, having exchanged the basic civilities at least a half dozen times. Surely Jane would not avoid Caroline’s patronage, if offered, or the direct inquiries such affability would empower her to make.

An opportunity arose for her to act on her plan a few days later when the men of Netherfield were engaged to dine with the officers of the militia. Without consulting her sister first, as she imagined Mrs. Hurst would disapprove of the scheme, she hastily penned a missive to Miss Jane Bennet.

My dear friend
the note began. A presumptive commencement, if acceptable due to being so very hackneyed, but Caroline was determined to use an artful combination of condescension and exaggeration to achieve her aim. The letter would be part summons, part plea, and part snub:

If you are not so compassionate as to dine today with Louisa and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives, for a whole day’s tête-à-tête between two women can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on the receipt of this. My brother and the gentlemen are to dine with the officers.

Yours ever,

Caroline Bingley

Even mild tempered Jane felt the inconsistency between the letter writer’s words and her behavior. Though civility dictated that she must, she felt uncomfortable accepting the invitation.

Not so Mrs. Bennet. As soon as Jane had finished reading it aloud to the family while they ate breakfast, her mother snatched the note away, scanned it happily, and proceeded to use it to rapidly fan herself while declaring, “Oh my dear, dear Jane! What a sign of preferment from Mr. Bingley’s sisters, though it is very unlucky the gentlemen are dining out.”

“
I wonder they did not include Lizzy,” Kitty innocently mused.

“
Hold your tongue child!” Mrs. Bennett scolded. “Of course Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst would want to get to know Jane in particular, as it is she who shall be their sister! In fact, I’m certain Mr. Bingley suggested the arrangement himself. That is why the men dine out – in order to give the ladies privacy.”

“
Please let us not engage in conjecture,” pleaded Elizabeth. She had no desire to listen to her mother’s grand speculations over the breakfast table as they had already spoiled her dinner the evening before.

“
You must be correct, Mama, as it would explain why Aunt Phillips never spoke of it and she knows of all the officers’ engagements. It must be a newly formed plan,” Lydia surmised, not hearing her elder sister and caring for little in the letter other than the mention of officers.

“
Well my dear Jane,” Mr. Bennett mercifully broke in, “it seems Mr. Bingley’s sisters have the good sense to seek your company. Please respond with my assurances that they need not fear for my consent when their brother asks for your hand, as your mother already had the two of you married off a week ago.”

“
Oh Mr. Bennet! One would think you delight in vexing me! Things are progressing exactly as they should. Now, Jane dear, you must go on horseback as it promises to rain and then you must stay all night!”

“
That would be a good scheme,” said Elizabeth, in a harsher tone than she usually employed, “if you were sure they would not offer to send her home.” But Mrs. Bennett chose not to heed her and well we know that she had her way. Jane proceeded to Netherfield on horseback, was thoroughly drenched by the anticipated rain, and yet another one of Mrs. Bennet’s schemes played out exactly as planned – the small sacrifice of her daughter’s health proving a worthwhile investment. Right in the middle of her dinner with the two sisters, as Caroline mercilessly pried into the Bennet family’s connections, Jane began to display the alarming symptoms of a cold. Said cold called Elizabeth from Longbourn to Netherfield and, low and behold, Mrs. Bennett had two daughters in residence at that house for the better part of a week! The history books offer few records of generals who have executed campaigns more masterfully than this one by the mistress of Longbourn.

Mere words cannot describe how taken Mr. Darcy was by Elizabeth’s appearance when she presented herself in Netherfield’s breakfast parlor glowing, disheveled, and anxious to see her sister. His actions will have to attest to the matter: the momentary breathlessness that constricted his chest as she stood before him. Her complexion was brilliant, her eyes glittered, and her forehead was lightly creased with anxiety. Noticing the dirt and mud, indicating the conditions of her journey, he was simultaneously overcome by concern for her well-being and touched by the care for her sister such exertions displayed. Darcy fully comprehended, for the first time, how much more than admiration he felt for Miss Elizabeth Bennet and what danger he was in of losing his heart.

Jane continued feverish later in the day. Mr. Jones recommended rest and draughts for the patient and Darcy seized the opportunity to suggest that the lady’s comfort would be better secured if her sister were to remain in residence to nurse her, a fine idea in his host’s mind. Despite his previous qualms – the image of Mrs. Bennet still lurked in his head – he had decided to pursue his interest in Elizabeth Bennet and having her at Netherfield was an excellent means to that end. “I only hope that Miss Elizabeth can be convinced to ‘understand the nature of our friendship’ as I now do,” he thought with a hopeful smile, watching as Bingley hurried to speak to his sister about extending the invitation.

Poor Miss Bingley! What a terrible predicament she found herself in when she had to ask her rival to remain as their guest until the unforeseen time when Miss Bennet was recovered. Her plan had certainly gone awry. Through her own machinations, the woman she sought to estrange from Darcy was now thrown into his intimate circle. But she would not allow anyone to observe her discomposure and strove to perform her duties as hostess to the best of her current ability. Louisa stayed near her, not quite trusting Caroline to maintain her civility towards Elizabeth Bennet once the men were out of earshot.

Chapter 7

Elizabeth joined the party for dinner and her immersion into the society of Netherfield began. She found herself seated next to Mr. Hurst and experienced all the enjoyment his conversation could offer – on this particular evening, a terse debate on the merits of ragout. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst flanked Mr. Darcy and the former did her best to monopolize his conversation. The joint efforts of Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, and Mrs. Hurst kept Elizabeth from being completely excluded, which she appreciated, but nevertheless excused herself to attend to Jane as soon as etiquette allowed.

Mere moments after the door closed behind her, Miss Bingley began to regale her not so very eager audience with all the details she had squirreled out of a weakened Jane the previous evening. “These poor Bennett girls! My heart does ache for their predicament – you know Longbourn is entailed on some distant cousin and once the house goes their gentility will truly become questionable. I cannot but imagine that the two eldest will find suitable marriages, though probably beneath them. Yet when one considers their recent behavior, perhaps I should not hold out much hope for even that,” she sighed with feigned concern and looked to her sister for assistance but, finding none, continued unabashed. “It seems the family line has long been on the decline. Mr. Bennet made a decidedly poor marriage. Mrs. Bennet’s sister is married to an attorney in Meryton named Phillips while her brother resides near Cheapside.”

Bingley had listened to his sister with growing indignation and finally could no longer remain silent, “If they had uncles enough to fill all Cheapside it would not make them one jot less agreeable!”

“
The quantity has nothing to do with it Charles. My point is that they do not have good connections and it shows in their behavior. Why Louisa, you said yourself that Miss Eliza looked nearly wild when she arrived this morning. Very nonsensical to have come at all, really. Her hair untidy, her petticoat muddy, walking mile upon mile unescorted, above her ankles in dirt! And Miss Bennet, what of her riding here in a storm? What could she mean by it? I must say the entire family seems to display a most countrified indifference to decorum.”

Again Bingley sprang to their defense but his sister paid him little heed. She was busy studying Mr. Darcy’s reaction to her disclosures but, to her great chagrin, all the man seemed to do was stare intently at the far wall of the dining room. Internally he was angry at the ill-breeding Miss Bingley displayed in her derision of the Bennets. It was wrong to attribute Elizabeth’s appearance that morning to anything other than sisterly affection. He still felt his head reel at the memory of her complexion and eyes, brightened by exercise. As for Jane, he had ample opportunity to observe her complacent nature and rightly attributed her means of transport on the previous day to have been the contrivance of a terribly misguided mother. Nevertheless, he was mindful enough of the content of Miss Bingley’s words to recognize the obstacles he would face if he entertained his nascent idea of pursuing Elizabeth Bennet. With these thoughts in mind he responded to his friend, “Agreeable or not Charles, their circumstances must very materially lesson their chance of marrying men of consideration in the world.”

Miss Bingley heard this with glee, thoroughly misinterpreting Darcy’s statement. “I am inclined to think, Mr. Darcy,” she said with a sniveling smile that turned his stomach, “that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition as Eliza Bennet did this morning.”

“
Certainly not. However, as a brother, I can understand the affection that compelled Miss Elizabeth Bennet. As a sister yourself, surely you can too, Miss Bingley?”

Caroline was flustered but undaunted, “Of course, Mr. Darcy, but is it not the aim of the truly refined lady to be dutiful without sacrificing her composure? Surely her sisterly attentions could have been secured through other means. And what of Miss Bennet getting herself into this predicament in the first place? I own great surprise that her parents allowed her to set forth on horseback when it surely promised rain.”

“
Enough Caroline! I simply will not hear another word uttered against either of the Bennets,” Bingley exclaimed. “This is my home and they are my most welcome guests. Never have I met a more amiable lady than Miss Jane Bennet. I suggest you find something to like in her or you may find yourself in quite an uncomfortable position, as I intend to see much of her in the future!”

Miss Bingley reeled. Never since her childhood had her brother spoken to her in such a way. Indeed, it’s doubtful the adult Charles Bingley had ever spoken to any one in such a tone. His unaccustomed passion distracted Mr. Hurst from his wine, leading that man to make a rare contribution, and a significant one at that, to the conversation, “What’s all this now Charles? Are you planning to marry the girl?”

Bingley, rather taken aback by this turn in the conversation, responded to his brother-in-law the only way he could: with the utmost sincerity. “Never have I met a woman so truly an angel.”

“
You cannot mean to marry her!” Miss Bingley shrieked. So focused had she been on Darcy and Elizabeth that this development shook her to the core. She looked in panic towards a now more supportive sister who said in a subdued voice, “Surely not Charles. It is your duty to elevate the Bingley name.”

“
How would marrying Jane Bennet not fulfill my duty?” Truthfully he had never really pursued the idea to the degree it merited but, now that it was open for discussion, he felt perfectly convinced that not a woman on Earth could suit him more. “She may not be well-dowered but the family has been at Longbourn for generations, far longer than the Bingley name has been considered genteel.”

“
And a fine woman she is Charles,” Mr. Hurst raised his glass to Bingley. Despite all his indolence, this simple gesture was enough to silence his wife’s opposition.