Page 43 of Cousin Elizabeth
Darcy stared after him pensively. “Charles has been behaving strangely. His words say one thing, but his eyes are saying another.”
Miss Bingley had joined their group. “I have noticed.”
“Have you? You also are quite different than I have ever known you.”
“You can thank Beth for that. I think she is the first person who has ever told me the absolute truth, regardless of my feelings.”
Darcy smirked, “She is good at being blunt, is she not? Her brother’s letter warned me.”
“I will not blush or say I’m sorry. Those colors were awful on you, and you were looking for your happiness in all the wrong places. And you Will, you need someone to tell you when you’re being an idiot. Find a wife that will tell you so and you will be a very happy man!”
Darcy could not help his eyes straying to Elizabeth Bennet. It was Beth’s turn to smirk.
~~~~~
The next morning the couples got together and decided their wedding dates. Mrs. Russell and Mr. Bennet would marry by license on December first. Charlotte and John would also marry by license on the thirtieth of November. Lady Lucas was frantic that she would not have time to plan a proper wedding breakfast, but the Bennet girls and Beth promised to help. Thomas and Mamie did not want a fuss, so they would marry quietly with just family, and have a small breakfast at Longbourn. The girls would go stay at Netherfield for one night and then leave for Pemberley the nextday. They would stop at the Rosemont estate for three days. Theo wanted to check on his tenants and wanted Jane to see where he lived. He had made it fairly plain he was courting her, but he had not asked her yet. He planned to do so at the ball and speak to Mr. Bennet before they left to go north. Jane was of age, but he would do things properly. He had spent too much of his life doing everything just as he pleased and hang propriety and decorum. He had told her a great deal of his past and she had not turned him away yet. Someday soon, he would have to tell her about his daughter. Theo prayed she would not turn away from him when she found out.
Chapter Thirty-five
Charles Bingley was not a happy man. All his plans were going awry. Even back at Cambridge he had a plan. Fitzwilliam Darcy would be his key to the ton. Darcy would marry Caro. Bingley would marry an earl’s daughter or granddaughter, or maybe even Georgiana Darcy when she was old enough. Their mother had nearly forced Louisa to marry Hurst. She held out for months but finally capitulated. And here he was, finally leasing an estate so he could climb one wrung higher towards being a gentleman, and no one was paying him a bit of attention. He wasso tiredof playing the affable puppy! His mother always said, ‘Who does not love a puppy? You must play a role, Charles. Everyone must love you. Make people forget you are a tradesman’s son. Do not let them know you are using them.’ He began playing his role at Eton, and by the time he entered Cambridge, it was easy. Smile all the time. Make others feel like they were doing him a good turn. Bolster their self-importance. Never ask for anything but act ever so grateful for any condescension. Fools.
Miss Jane Bennet was exactly his type. He would have enjoyed flirting with her while they were in the country, but she paid himno mind at all! Caro was not playing her part. He had served up a viscount and one of the richest and most sought-after men in England on a silver platter, and she paid more attention to the American chit than either of them! That was a sort ofinwith the Darcy’s, so it was not a complete loss, but what had happened to her?! Then there was the viscount, he had looked forward to getting him into his cups and fleecing him at cards. There wasn’t even a brothel in this good for nothing village! He had to keep up appearances, so he could not importune a maid or seduce the pretty baker’s daughter. In town he could do as he pleased if he was discrete. Lease or not, he would return to London after the ball. Maybe he would just leave his family there for a while. Say business kept him from returning for the weddings. The Bennet’s and Lucas’s were of no consequence.
Maybe it was time for a new plan. Elizabeth Darcy was said to be quite rich. Maybe he could compromise her. Once they married, he would be her master and must do what he said. Being a Darcy cousin, Fitzwilliam would make sure she was accepted by the ton, and obviously himself! Or, then there was Georgiana. She was a bit young for his taste, and Darcy would not continence him courting her before her come out…but an accidental compromise? They would have to marry to save her reputation. Was she going to be allowed to dance at the ball? He was Fitzwilliam Darcy’s best friend. He would surely be allowed to dance with her. Bingley had much thinking and planning to do.
~~~~~
As large as John Smith was, he could make himself very still and mostly disregarded in many cases. That morning, he had gone for a walk in the garden quite early. It had been a very cold night, and there was frost covering everything. One of his favorite types of mornings. Crisp and still and sparkling when the sun rose. He’d been quite chilled when he came back in, and there was a lovely fire in the sitting room next to the breakfast room. Pulling a wingback chair close to the fire, he was surprisingly camouflaged by the deep green fabric. Bingley didn’t even realize he was there when he entered and started to pace and mutter. John was getting ready to greet him when this was heard…
“What is she thinking! I served them both up on a platter for her, and she hasn’t compromised either!”
John froze.
Pace, pace, pace. “Stupid Rosemont pretending to not drink and gamble.”
Pace, pace, pace. “Not even a brothel in this stupid place.”
Pace, pace, turn, pace, pace. “I’m so sick of playing the puppy! I need to go back to town.”
Stomp, kick, pace, pace. “She’s rich. Compromise her and she’ll have to marry me.”
What had he just heard?! John knew he had been distracted almost since they returned to Hertfordshire, but he could generally tell when someone was false. How had he missed it in Bingley? He had been under Charlotte’s spell, of course. Now that he heard what he did, what to do? Confront Bingley now? Warn people? He would talk to Beth and Mamie, naturally. William Darcy had become his friend. The Colonel would be arriving tomorrow. Which lady was he thinking of compromising?
Bingley stomped out of the room. So, he would not confront him now, but he would go speak to Beth and Mamie immediately.
John went up and knocked on Beth’s sitting room door just as Mamie was leaving her room. She joined him with a look of concern. When Beth finally answered the door, she invited them both in quietly. It did not take long to tell them what he had heard.
“I had wondered. Caro told me about how their mother had raised them to be social climbers. Bingley’s eyes often don’t match his ebullience. I imagine he plans to try and compromise either me or Gigi. He could rip my dress in two and jump on top of me in the town square and I would not marry him, so we need to guard Gigi. It would be good to catch him in the act. I wonder if Will would even believe us. They’ve been friends for years.” Beth shook her head.
Mamie stood by the fire with her back to them. “William seems to be a very loyal type of man. He has known us for months, and the Bingley’s for many years, as you say. He would be torn, I think. I am not sure he wouldwantto believe us.”
“Now that we know, he can be watched more closely. I will tell Charlotte.”
“Beth, you tell Lizzy, and I will talk to Thomas. I think it will be best to catch him in the act. Maybe the Colonel too? He is Gigi’s other guardian. Even if William has split loyalties, the colonel should not.”
All three nodded to each other and went down to breakfast. The next three days would be tense.
~~~~~
