Sufficient Encouragement Refresh– Chapter Twenty

Previous Chapters: One / Two / Three / Four / Five / Six / Seven / Eight / Nine / Ten / Eleven / Twelve / Thirteen / Fourteen / Fifteen / Sixteen / Seventeen / Eighteen / Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

At Netherfield, Elizabeth and Jane had just left after meeting Georgiana for the first time. More importantly to Bingley, Arlington had a chance to observe Jane and decipher her feelings.

“That went well, did it not?” Bingley asked after the Misses Bennet had boarded their carriage. He looked anxiously at Arlington and Darcy.

“Yes, Jane and Eliza are just as eager as ever to gain a rich husband,” Caroline said in disgust.

Bingley opened his mouth, and Darcy immediately stiffened, but their defence came from the most surprising place. “You are quite mistaken in their characters, Miss Bingley,” said Georgiana. “They could hardly be mercenary! Lizzy even turned down a proposal from her father’s heir!”

Everyone turned shocked eyes to Georgiana, who blushed.

“I heard that rumour as well,” said Caroline. “I can hardly credit it for being true. Eliza is no fool, and their mother would never allow it.”

“It was no rumour! Lizzy told me in a letter. She is quite distressed that her friend is marrying Mr. Collins on so slight an acquaintance and when she had such very good reasons for refusing him herself.”

“You correspond with Eliza Bennet!” Caroline exclaimed more than asked. Recovering herself, she smoothed her gown and then smiled sweetly at Georgiana. “You are still young, dear, and are learning who to trust. A few weeks’ correspondence is nothing. You cannot truly know them.”

“I recommended the arrangement myself,” Darcy said.

“William would never suggest a false friend for me. He is always excessively careful in his associations.”

Bingley suppressed a smile at seeing Georgiana stand up for herself.

“I can recall a time when you believed the Bennets, Eliza in particular, to be not worth your notice, Mr. Darcy,” Caroline said.

“That was only when I first knew them,” he replied. “It has been many weeks that I have thought them, Miss Elizabeth especially, to be exactly the sort of young ladies I would most wish for my sister to know.”

He met Caroline’s eyes, and for the first time, Bingley began to wonder if Darcy was serious in his attentions towards Miss Elizabeth.

“But you cannot think they have much chance of a good match.” Louisa finally entered the conversation.

“They cannot raise the situation or fortune of many gentlemen, but that is only one consideration to be had in marriage,” said Darcy. “Power is fleeting, and money can be lost. Affection and respect are most lasting, and in that, each man must answer for himself.”

“But so many are fools!” Caroline exclaimed.

“If we have established the sisters are not mercenary, then we must assume they do not intend to attract husbands by mean arts,” Lord Arlington said. “If that be the case, then there is no fear of bewitchment. If your brother, who has been of age for several years now and is entrusted with your financial care, loves Miss Bennet, then let that be the end of it.”

“Hear, hear!” Hurst raised a glass in agreement.

“I am in the room,” Bingley said at last. “And I do love Miss Bennet.”

“There is no need to be hasty,” Caroline said. “You are so often in love, Charles, that it would be cruel to raise her expectations even higher and then lose interest.”

Bingley narrowed his eyes. “In London, you claimed Miss Bennet indifferent to me. This morning, you declared she was mercenary. Now you think her tender-hearted. I beg you to advise me no more.”

Caroline blushed and looked as though she wished to say something in her defence, but Louisa stood and suggested that the ladies dress for dinner. Caroline and Louisa quickly filed out of the room, and Georgiana kissed her brother and cousin on the cheek before following. Hurst went upstairs for a nap.

“What do you think, Arlington?” Bingley asked.

“Miss Bennet did not even notice I was in the room. She had eyes and ears only for you. A mercenary woman cannot fake that sort of attachment. They are always wondering who the other men in the room are.”

Bingley bit back a grin. “Thank you.” He nodded to his friend. “I appreciated your defence, Darcy.”

“You need not thank me for speaking the truth. I do not like your sisters’ influence upon mine. I would not have her become bitter and cunning.”

“All the more reason for us to call on Longbourn soon,” Arlington said with a wink at Bingley.

Darcy twisted his signet ring. “You will find the other girls too silly for your notice. However, perhaps being a viscount will sufficiently impress Mrs. Bennet into silence.”

“What had you said to Miss Bingley? Affection and respect may make up for other misfortunes in marriage. I think I could easily overlook the failures of the family for the treasures of Longbourn.”

Darcy’s jaw tightened. He spoke in a rough voice. “Arlington, I will not tolerate your antics here. How can you protect Georgiana from Wickham if your behaviour is so similar?”

“Nonsense, Darcy! I would not be interested in a lady’s dowry.”

“Yes, I know what interests you there.”

“Do you? Mother has been after me to marry. I will not take one of her simpering London debutantes, though.”

Bingley watched Darcy’s grip on his glass tighten.

“Then I wish you luck with Miss Bingley, for there is no one else with whom we are associated to court or flirt with in Hertfordshire.”

“Drink your port, Cousin; your health requires it. Either you cannot count, or your memory is failing. Miss Elizabeth is perfectly lovely and charming. Knowing she would refuse her father’s heir makes her quite…enticing.”

Darcy slammed his drink down and stood. “Elizabeth deserves far more than you!”

“Ah, and are you the worthy man who will win her hand?” Arlington asked coolly and again winked at Bingley.

“I…” Darcy ran a hand through his hair. “Your imagination is very rapid.”

“Darcy, everyone in the room saw your admiration,” Bingley said.

“Everyone but Miss Bennet saw it,” Arlington amended.

“Admiration need not lead to love.”

“You as good as declared that love should lead to matrimony,” Arlington said. “I did not know you had changed your opinion.”

“Bingley’s situation is not the same as mine.”

“Bingley’s lady is not the same as yours. Be careful, Darcy. Men will see encouragement where they wish it. It sounds as though one stupid sot already screwed up enough courage to propose marriage to her. You never know when another may come along,” Arlington said. “I am present because your charming nemesis is here as well. Either protect her with your name or leave her alone.”

Darcy sat back heavily in his chair. “How does a man know if he sees encouragement only where he wishes it?”

“Are you asking for me to discover her interest?”

Darcy mutely nodded.

“You certainly did quick work of discovering Jane’s!” Bingley cried cheerfully before standing. “We should dress for dinner. Perhaps this evening we can consider more plans on how to facilitate our courtships.”

*****

Caroline Bingley sat alone in her chambers. Any moment now, her maid would appear to help her dress for dinner. For the time being, however, Caroline revelled in a rare moment of solitude. Three days ago, she had left London and followed her brother to Hertfordshire. Again. He seemed more determined than before, and Mr. Darcy seemed eager to return as well. Although Caroline had suspected for weeks now that he harboured a tendre for Miss Elizabeth Bennet of a neighbouring estate, she continued to hold out hope.

Mr. Darcy was just the sort of man she had envisioned marrying ever since her aborted elopement ten years prior. Of course, if he ever knew she had planned an elopement at sixteen, he would certainly never find her respectable. Let alone if he had known it was with a shop keeper’s son. A coloured shopkeeper’s son. Not that he had even planned on taking over the shop. He had designs to enter the army when she had met him. Last Caroline heard he had done so well as to distinguish himself in battle.

When she was very honest with herself—which was as infrequent as possible—she admitted that she favoured Mr. Darcy because for the last four years his cousin served in the same regiment as her long-ago lover. The name Jacob Truman never passed between them, and if he was mentioned in letters, Caroline was not privy to them. However, it was enough to know that if Colonel Fitzwilliam was well, Jacob might also be.

Perhaps, that is why Lord Arlington, despite his participation in the set down just given her by Mr. Darcy and her brother, appealed to her on some level. Logically, she ought to try and ensnare the viscount. Eliza Bennet hated her. If Mr. Darcy succumbed to his infatuation and married Eliza, Caroline’s invitations to Pemberley would become far less frequent. Additionally, Arlington was of an age to wed and his father was aging. Whomever he married would become Countess before too long.

His reputation supported he did not care for the ton’s leading ladies. While Caroline prided herself on being accomplished and cosmopolitan, she knew the truth. It would take many more generations before trade was washed out of the memory of the name Bingley. She was no ignorant, insipid miss. She had lost her naiveté when she had to face the truth that love could not conquer everything. She was not as young as the debutantes or even Miss Eliza, but she was still handsome and wealthy. To a renegade earl’s son, that must account for something.

Additionally, there would be no hope for the rake to reform. He would carry on with his liaisons, and she would be free to keep her heart to herself. He would never expect love or real intimacy from her. Once, she had believed the same about Mr. Darcy but, at last, his cold heart seemed to thaw. He all but declared himself in love with Elizabeth Bennet and intent upon marrying her.

Well, Caroline would not cry over the loss. Indeed, she was utterly exhausted from the chase. Her heart had never been in it, and she did not know if she had enough energy to pursue another young man. Lord Arlington was convenient but likely immune to her charms. Just the same, she believed she owed it to her family to test the waters. Marrying a viscount would do wonders for their standing. If she did not marry well, then not only would she have failed the dying wish of her mother, but she would have given up the love of her life for no reason. She must make the last ten years of pain mean something.

Determined, she looked in the mirror and nodded. She had no hope of success, but she would give her best chase anyway. Her maid entered, and Caroline ordered her most daring dinner gown prepared. It would emphasize her superior figure. The accompanying necklace landed just above her décolletage, drawing the eye. She declined the matching bracelets, earbobs, and her most lavish turban. Instead, Caroline ordered a simple hairstyle. The overall effect said that she could play the part of Viscountess but did not drip with London society adornments. Even more startling, she felt more like herself than she had in years. A touch of the refined and a touch of the country lass she used to be.

*****

Georgiana hovered near her door before dinner. She could hardly believe she had the nerve to stand up to Miss Bingley. She had desired to do so many times before but always feared the repercussions. She knew her brother would never allow a person to speak to her as unkindly as she has spoken to Miss Bingley, and she would have hated to be the cause of strain between her beloved brother and his dearest friend. Yet that had always been her flaw. She was too eager to seek approval from everyone, including Mr. Wickham.

She had known for some time it was not love between them. She had even accepted that he hunted her merely for her dowry and a sort of rivalry between him and her brother. In fact, the minute she disclosed her plans to her brother and broke Wickham’s confidence, she understood she did not love the other man. She was grateful her brother put a stop to the elopement. However, that Wickham never cared for her at all and was so callous about her feelings wounded her deeply.

For many months, she was afraid to make new acquaintances and wary of the old ones. Mrs. Annesley alone had made headway with her, and Georgiana trusted her only because her brother did. Mrs. Annesley was the widow of the old Kympton rector, and William had known her his entire life. Now, Georgiana felt as though she could trust her own abilities again.

As she waited for her brother to arrive to escort her to the dining room, she considered her new friends. Jane was clearly in love with Mr. Bingley. Her eyes scarcely left the gentleman. Although, if anything, she was more reserved in his company. It was exactly as James had said. She noticed only Mr. Bingley nearly to the exclusion of everyone else.

Elizabeth was harder to make out. She was certainly friendly, but she seemed more anxious to please in general. She also attended to Jane and Bingley’s conversation as often as possible while giving the air of paying attention to those around her. Could she love Mr. Bingley as well?

Georgiana could hardly fathom it. Elizabeth was far too devoted to Jane to interfere there. It followed then that her interest was simply out of concern for Jane, but surely she had no reason to worry. Mr. Bingley as good as declared himself before dinner. On the other hand, Mr. Bingley had left Netherfield and stayed away for nearly a fortnight and was not known for his constancy. Georgiana did not doubt his feelings, but she knew first-hand how the chances of one day may doom a fledgling relationship. The same concern must be what weighed on Elizabeth’s mind.

Georgiana chuckled. If she was entirely honest with herself, her interest in Jane was out of interest in Elizabeth. If she was willing to give as much help as she could to Jane and Bingley, she was willing to outright matchmake for William and Elizabeth. She tapped her fingers on her lips in thought. She would need an ally. An experienced ally. James was just the person to be her partner. She laughed again. William would be furious…until he realised just how perfect for him Elizabeth was.