Sufficient Encouragement Refresh– Chapter Twenty-Five

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I think I can finally resume posting these. Thanks for your patience!

Chapter Twenty-Five

The day after meeting the Miss Bennets, Arlington joined the others as they called on Longbourn. Caroline outdid herself again. Her taste in London fashion could not hold a candle to what Meryton had to offer. Still, he had a mission for Darcy’s sake. He approached Miss Elizabeth, feeling Caroline stare daggers at his back. At least his presence awed Mrs. Bennet, who he had heard much of, into silence.

“You must have been out walking, Miss Elizabeth.” The small twig in her hair charmed him. Darcy certainly chose well.

“I was. I am very fond of walks.”

“My cousins and I would be pleased to walk with you sometime, I am sure.”

“Yes, that sounds most pleasant.”

Miss Elizabeth had little else to say, and Arlington found it curious. She seemed less reserved at Netherfield, but he soon understood the cause for anxiety.

“I am surprised to hear that you walk much, my lord,” Mrs. Bennet loudly addressed him. “You must have many fine carriages and horses.”

Beside him, Elizabeth stiffened slightly. Ah, he well understood being embarrassed by family. He hoped she could see that he was not offended.

Mrs. Bennet prattled on, hoping to hear confirmation of his London address or income. It was a dance he knew well. He wondered what her reaction would be if she knew the majority of his income came from factories in Lancashire.

“What did you say was the address of your house? I believe I have read that the Earl resides in Park Lane.”

The corners of his lips twitched. “I did not say, but I have rooms on Piccadilly Street.”

“Oh, it must be in The Albany, then. Well, they say those rooms are comfortable, but you must admit a real house with a sweet, lively wife to keep it up for you would be infinitely preferable.” Mrs. Bennet glanced at her youngest daughter. She looked the same age as Georgiana; a child!

Arlington gritted his teeth as Darcy chose that moment to stand and exchange seats with him as had previously been planned. On and on Mrs. Bennet droned with platitudes. Darcy must be in love to consider Mrs. Bennet as a mother-in-law when he already had one relative, their Aunt Catherine, that pontificated in such a fashion. The youngest daughter giggled. Again. Had Arlington really thought he preferred country ladies? Not one of them had the decorum of well…Miss Bingley. Even Miss Elizabeth seemed to be arguing with Darcy over something. Miss Bennet was blushing and silent—not particularly useful at the moment. Of course, she likely could only think of Bingley speaking with her father about a requested courtship.

When Arlington believed he could bear it no longer, Mr. Bennet and Bingley entered the room. At the news of Mr. Bennet’s approval of Bingley’s courtship—when everyone knew it ought to have been a marriage proposal—the Bennet ladies erupted. They sounded like five loud geese honking at once. While wondering if he could die from too much noise, Miss Bingley pushed forward and resolutely, if coldly, drew the visit to a close. Arlington was the first out the door.

God help him. Darcy better appreciate his sacrifices on this rural expedition. To think he had to return tomorrow so Darcy might court Miss Elizabeth on a walk was nearly more than his amiable self could handle. If he ever considered the idea of marriage again, he would cut straight to the point. No one would dare to refuse him, and it would be better to make up his mind and live with regret than suffer weeks of indecision as plagued Darcy.

Arlington, Darcy, and Bingley arrived at Netherfield before the ladies and Hurst.

“Well done, Bingley. I congratulate you,” Darcy said.

“Better to wish him luck,” Arlington muttered.

“Mrs. Bennet is not so bad as that,” Bingley said.

“Do not forget the younger girls,” he returned.

“Young girls eventually grow up,” a note of sadness lingered in Darcy’s voice.

“If Georgiana were ever as silly as the young Miss Bennets, you would have every right to lock her up for the rest of her life.”

Bingley frowned. “Those are my future sisters you are speaking of.”

“Forgive me. I am sorry I am poor company.”

“He has been out of his environment for too long,” Darcy said with a conciliatory clap on his shoulder. “It is well you do not visit Matlock too often. Yorkshire may as well be an unchartered frontier.”

The words were said without criticism, for once, but Arlington felt them all the same. One day, Matlock would be his and he had spent barely more than a few weeks there in over a decade. He relished his role as a Member of Parliament and the freedom of his own investments, but he knew little of how to be a landlord. Not that his father had shirked his duties in teaching. Arlington simply resented the role as heir.

The carriage finally arrived, and Darcy’s notice was drawn to his sister. Bingley had another idea.

“I will begin dressing for dinner,” he reached the top of the stairs just as Miss Bingley and the Hursts walked in. The latter made their way to the stairs while Miss Bingley called for the housekeeper to go over a last-minute menu change.

Realizing they were alone in the hall, Arlington shared what had been on his mind for several minutes. “I believe we have you to thank for our timely rescue.”

Caroline shrugged her shoulders. “We are not so different. You generally accomplish such manoeuvres through charm, and I daresay it would have worked had not Mrs. Bennet been so excited over Charles’ announcement. The Bennets, you will find, are a proud lot. Treating them coldly and inferior gains a bigger reaction than anything else.”

“Is that so?”

“If Elizabeth Bennet knew half of what Mr. Darcy said about her and her family instead of overhearing only his remarks at their first ball, she would likely never forgive him.”

“You think she is so stubborn?”

“They are practically perfect for each other in that way.”

“And what did he say? Called her mother an over-rouged pigeon?”

Miss Bingley laughed. “Worse!”

“Do tell!”

“Charles was dancing with Jane and saw Darcy standing out, as usual. He offered to find Darcy a partner, but he refused.”

“You know all of this?”

“The families of the area talk and their servants hear. My maid is quite faithful, of course.”

Of course. Her maid reported interesting gossip. He nodded his head for her to continue.

“Charles would not take no for an answer and continued to press. Then he pointed out Eliza. Now, guess what he said.”

“Oh, I am sure it could not be gentlemanly and that he was awestruck by her beauty,” Arlington drawled. Caroline’s eyes twinkled with mischief that they often lacked. The same cunning behaviour that repulsed in Lydia Bennet appealed coming from a sensual lady of five and twenty.

“Never! He said she was tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt him to dance, and he was in no mood to give consequence to ladies slighted by other men.”

Arlington affected incredulity. Sadly, such behaviour was standard in London—though generally out of earshot of the recipient. Undoubtedly, Meryton was scandalised by Darcy’s words. All the more as the Bennets were reputed beauties of the county. “You, of course, were unavailable?”

“Naturally.” She sniffed. “There was a shortage of partners, but other ladies—the youngest Miss Bennets, for example—did not have to sit out. Eliza is pretty enough to have partners aplenty if only she would make herself more agreeable.”

The housekeeper finally appeared. “I apologise profusely, Miss Bingley.”

“Yes. Well, do excuse us, my lord,” Caroline said to him, and Arlington bowed before ascending the stairs. As he dressed for the evening, he rather thought Caroline had determined exactly what drew Darcy to Elizabeth Bennet. Neither one of them performed to society’s dictates. They could charm and please only when they decided it worth their while. On the other hand, he charmed and pleased everyone while Caroline charmed no one. Was it possible opposites did attract?

*****

Four days later, Bingley sat in the breakfast room awaiting Caroline. He had called on Longbourn each morning before breakfast, and Darcy, Arlington, and Georgiana had come later in the day, but thus far Caroline had refused to come. He would have it no more. Jane would be his wife in time, and Caroline would not be allowed to treat her badly. Their privacy was assured. Louisa and Hurst always took breakfast in their rooms, and he had asked the others to do so as well this morning.

“Charles,” Caroline said upon entering, pulling him from his musings.

“Good morning, Caroline.”

“I am surprised to see you. Tired of Jane and Mrs. Bennet already?”

“Hardly.”

She gathered her breakfast items and frowned at the empty room. “Where are the others? I hope Lord Arlington is not ill.”

Bingley tossed down his napkin. “That is precisely what I wanted to speak to you about.”

“I will send for a physician at once!” She stood and moved to call for a servant.

“Arlington is perfectly well. Sit down.”

Although clearly confused, she complied. “That was a cruel joke.”

“It was no joke. You misunderstood me. Just now, you cared only for Arlington’s health and did not spare a moment to ask after Darcy or Georgiana. I would point out that you have known them much longer and have claimed deep friendship with them both.”

“What are you saying?” She would not meet his eye and instead stared at her coffee.

“You have to cease these grasping ways.”

“What?” She jerked her eyes away from the cup and met his.

“It is no secret you believe Jane Bennet beneath me. You treated her nicely enough when we were first in the county, but you were terribly rude to the rest of the Bennets.”

“They are intolerable!”

“No. They are—”

She interrupted him. “Do not dare make them into something they are not. They have no fortune, fashion, or extreme beauty. Their relatives are in trade.”

“So are ours!” Had she always been such a hypocrite?

“I know!” she screamed.

Bingley was no stranger to Caroline’s high dramatics, but she was louder and more forceful than usual with her last statement. Tears pricked her eyes, and he allowed her to calm.

“I am very aware that we have relatives still in trade. I know our fortune will never remove the stain of its source. It is our duty to marry better, to find a better position in society for our future generations.”

“Our duty to whom, Caroline? Mother and Father are dead. Do you know why they died so young?”

“If we had lived in a better area in London, perhaps they would have survived their illnesses. Or if we could have secured a more expensive doctor.”

“Do you truly think that? You think a street address protects one from illness? It did not protect Darcy’s parents.” At last, she was silenced, so he continued. “I believe they were weakened long before the fevers struck. They allowed no true happiness into their lives. Mother always worried about society and how to do better. Father was terrified of making a mistake; that is why he never bought an estate. They never followed their hearts. You know they barely tolerated one another.”

“So you would tell me to marry any man, regardless of rank? Do you not wish for me to have security? Women are entirely dependent on men. Tradesmen expect loving and doting wives; the upper circles allow women to lead their own lives.”

“You mean take lovers!”

She vehemently shook her head. “I would never dishonour myself so much, but it is the only way some ladies ever know love or happiness.”

She looked so sad, and at last, Bingley understood. “It would not be that way if you accept the right gentleman from the start.”

“Who is the right gentleman for me, Charles? Where are the lines of suitors you imagine? My dowry is impressive but not rare. Would you have me marry a fortune hunter? Any man who does not need my money cannot overlook my connections. I know I am pretty, refined, and educated, but it is not enough. It affords me no respect among men or women.”

Bingley slowly nodded, perceiving his sister’s thoughts. “But Darcy always treated you with respect.”

“I never thought I would have his love. But I hoped he could see the value of me. He never did, though. I always thought he was too proud and respected him for it, but that seems to be of no importance to him since meeting Eliza.”

“He fell in love, Caroline. There is no real logic behind it. He may choose to act on it because he feels she is worthy. Or he may choose not to act on it because he considers her beneath him, but there is no explaining matters of the heart. One day, a gentleman will fall in love with you as well.”

“I dare not trust in something as fanciful as love. Ladies do not have the freedom of choice that gentlemen have. Eliza may have refused the preacher, but if her father were dead and she was at the mercy of relatives, I daresay she would have chosen differently.”

His jaw dropped at a sudden insight as he understood what she did not say. “You were once in love!”

She gave him a sad smile. “Yes, I was Georgiana’s age, and Father had just died. You were obviously not of age.”

“Who was it? Did he pay you his addresses?”

“Do you recall spending the summer with our cousins? It was Fred’s friend, Mr. Truman. He was not of age, and we made plans to elope to Scotland. Then I overheard Mama speaking with our aunt about how she worried for our futures. My marriage to him would have brought nothing but pain to the family. He was to go into the army as an ensign; our income would have been small. We only could have managed with my dowry, and you know there was no guarantee Uncle Stanley would give it under such circumstances.”

Bingley reached for his sister’s hand and squeezed. “I never knew.”

“You were still a child.”

“We will both have love, Caroline. Jane will be the making of me. Her steadiness and sweetness of temper will guide me. You are no longer a young girl fresh from school with only university students as male acquaintances. Any gentleman you would meet now would have income, and you know, it is not impossible for me to add to yours if needed.”

Caroline gasped. “You would do that?”

“If it made you happy.” He shrugged. “So, it would mean I buy a bit smaller of an estate. What is that compared to my family’s happiness?”

Caroline squeezed his hand back and shook her head. “Oh, Charles. Let us hope Jane is better with economy than you.”

Bingley laughed. It was as near a blessing as he could ask. “Say you will come with us today.”

She took in a slow breath but nodded. “Just allow me to finish my breakfast, and then I will get ready.”

Bingley smiled and walked to the door, but she called after him. “I really did worry about Lord Arlington, Charles. I am not as heartless as you think.”

He shook his head. There certainly was more to his sister’s heart than he ever knew.