Page 83 of Roses from Pemberley
“Miss Bingley.”
She turned abruptly to him. “Yes, Mr. Darcy?”
His voice was low but, because of the general silence, no one could miss anything that he said. “You may not be aware of this, but Miss Elizabeth is engaged to me, and Miss Bennet is engaged to your brother. Their father passed away the day before yesterday and they have not yet had a chance to obtain mourning clothes. And Mr. Gardiner there, who sits beside Lord Matlock, is their uncle from London who has come for the funeral. Finally, Miss Lydia is engaged to marry George Wickham and I plan on attending their wedding in a few weeks.” He turned to Mrs. Bennet, who was now openly weeping, and said, “I am so sorry, ma’am, that you had to be subjected to such cruelty and at such a trying time.”
He walked to Mrs. Bennet, knelt at her feet then handed her a fresh handkerchief before returning once more to Elizabeth’s side.
“I apologise as well,” said Bingley. “To everyone. Most of all to my new family. Thank you, Mrs. Bennet, for bearing this with such graciousness.” He turned to Jane. “And thank you, my love, for attempting to salvage my sister’s dignity; though it was ultimately for naught as she has once more brought shameupon herself. But I wish for you to know that she will never again be welcome in our home; not unless she apologises for her contemptible behaviour. Come Caroline, I will show you to your room where you will spend the night. But at dawn tomorrow, you will depart. Your dowry shall be released to you and you can make your home with our sister from now on. Or perhaps you can set up your own establishment. I truly no longer care.”
Miss Bingley, who had not spoken for a while, only looked at her brother, and muttered, “I knew we should never have come to this insignificant, backwards community. Go ahead and marry into this family, Charles, but know that they will only bring you down.”
“No,youare the only one who has brought me down.”
Bingley pulled her more forcibly towards the door, gave one final apologetic look to Jane, then guided his sister out of the room.
CHAPTER 36 Local Gentry
“I have never seen such insolence in my life!” exclaimed Lady Catherine once they were gone. “Thankfully Bingley seems to have her well in hand.”
Elizabeth looked at Jane and saw that she was trembling.
“Here, Jane,” she said, “pray, be seated and take a sip of wine. Charles will return soon and Caroline will no longer have anything to do with us.”
Jane did as she was told while Darcy approached Diana and said, “Did you have to bait her so? Did you not realise what would happen if you did?”
“But how could I have stayed silent, Darcy? Did you not hear what she said to Elizabeth? She was implying that Elizabeth went to Hunsford just to see you.”
“Well, she could not have been more wrong, because Elizabeth did not even like me then.”
“I wish you would not say that, Darcy,” said Elizabeth, “for it distresses me to hear you spoken of in such a manner - even if the speaker is yourself.”
He grinned. “Are you protecting me from myself, then?”
“And does it bother you that I am?”
“No, not in the least. For I feel very much…liked,just now.”
“But why did you not like him in the first place, Elizabeth?” asked Georgiana.
“Oh, I can answer that, Georgie,” said Kitty. “He was rather condescending last time he was in Hertfordshire. He never spoke to anyone at the Meryton Assembly other than his own party. And he even called Lizzy merely tolerable.”
“Darcy, is that right?” asked Diana.
Darcy was about to reply when Elizabeth suddenly spoke for him. “He had some things on his mind that night and never even looked at me. Furthermore, he has already apologised more than once for it so can we please speak of something else?”
Diana was taken aback and looked at Elizabeth with new found respect. “I apologise, Elizabeth.” Then, after a pause added, “However, I noticed that you did not try to defend yourself against Miss Bingley, though youdiddefend Darcy against us.”
Elizabeth, who suddenly felt that her outburst was unseemly, responded in a calmer voice, “I simplylikehim so much more now, that I hate to be reminded of the time when I did not.”
Richard chuckled. “Dare we say that youlovehim?”
Elizabeth noted that Darcy’s face was turning red but could not help but say, “Yes, I do. Very much so. Furthermore, I have never known a more honourable, honest and loyal gentleman than Mr. Darcy; and I consider myself quite fortunate that it was me he chose to marry.”
She had been looking at the others while she spoke, but now took a glance at him.
“Elizabeth…” he said.
She cleared her throat and continued, “I am sorry to have embarrassed you, for I know how little you like attention…and gratitude. But my heart was full, and I simply had to speak.”
