“I am,” she said. “I will behave myself perfectly, as long as I can meet Miss Elizabeth and her sisters.”
Her brother kissed her cheek and left the house.
“Well,” said Richard, “this is shaping up to be a very interesting Christmas season.” He grinned.
Chapter 6
Darcy made his way to Hurst’s townhome on Grosvenor Street. The house was too large and too expensive for Hurst to manage on his own, so he and Bingley split the cost of lighting, heating, and servants in exchange for Bingley and Miss Bingley staying there whenever they were in town.
Darcy suspected that Hurst used this arrangement to charge Bingley a higher price than what was fair, but the one time he had said as much to Bingley, his friend had nearly exploded in his defense of his brother-in-law.
When Darcy was shown into the parlor, he was disappointed to see that Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were already there. He had hoped to get there before them, but apparently by going to see Georgiana first, he had lost the head start he had gained by leaving Netherfield first.
“Mr. Darcy, what a pleasant surprise,” said Miss Bingley. “We were just telling my brother how unwise it would be to return to Netherfield. Do come and add your wisdom to the conversation.”
Bingley was looking a little hen-pecked and more than a little overwhelmed. “Yes, please join us,” said Bingley, though he looked as though he was asking to be saved from his sisters rather than asking for advice.
“Actually, I have come on a private matter,” said Darcy. “If it is not too inconvenient, I would like to have a quiet word with you, Bingley.”
Relief flooded his friend’s face as he practically leaped from his chair. “Of course, Darcy. Let’s go to my study.”
Once the two friends were in the study with the door closed, Bingley asked, “What can I do for you?”
“I will be returning to Hertfordshire either tomorrow or the next day, but your sister has closed the house,” said Darcy. “I was hoping to stay at Netherfield, but if you won’t be returning, I will need to make other arrangements.”
“Honestly, Darcy, I don’t know what to do,” said Bingley. “If it was just that Caroline and Louisa thought Miss Bennet was unsuitable, I think I could get past that, but Caroline is telling me that she doesn’t think Miss Bennet returns my affection. How can I go back to Hertfordshire simply to face a painful one-sided attraction?”
Bingley’s problem resonated with Darcy more than he expected. He, too, was now facing the prospect of an unrequited love. “I don’t know that I can tell you what to do,” said Darcy. “However, I can tell you what I would do, what I am doing, in fact.”
It took a moment for Bingley to understand what Darcy was hinting at, but when he did, he suddenly sat up straighter. “You? You have an unrequited love?” When Darcy nodded, Bingley asked, “Who? It can’t be someone in Hertfordshire. I mean, you barely spoke to anyone. And it can’t be Caroline, either. She would trip over herself and fall flat on her face if it meant you would marry her. So, who is it?”
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” said Darcy, trying to hide his chagrin. Bingley was right that Darcy had barely spoken toanyone, and it only reinforced what Mr. Bennet had said, that he had given off the impression that he did not respect anyone he considered lower than himself.
“Miss Elizabeth,” said Bingley, surprise and wonder lacing his words. “But I clearly remember you saying she was barely tolerable.”
Darcy’s mask slipped, and a groan escaped his throat. “I know. I was wrong. So wrong. It didn’t take long before I realized that the intelligence and humor in her eyes completely transforms her face. But it is more than her beauty, even more than her intelligence. She is brave enough to stand up to me and argue with me. She is kind enough and loyal enough to put up with your sister’s begrudging hospitality to nurse her own sister back to health. She is the perfect lady, and I have been a fool to attempt to suppress my own attraction to her.”
Bingley just stared at him, his eyes wide and his jaw slightly dropped. Eventually, he pulled himself together. “You implied that she does not return your affections, but that is hardly believable. The great Mr. Darcy of Pemberley can have any lady he wishes. No woman of sense would turn you down.”
Darcy shook his head. “No woman of sense would marry a man who so clearly disdains her and everyone she knows,” he said. “That is the impression Miss Elizabeth has of me. Since that is the case, I can hardly blame her for it.”
“Does that mean you have asked her to marry you, and she has declined?” asked Bingley.
“Not yet. The subject came up when I was speaking with her father on a different matter. It was only then that I realized that Miss Elizabeth Bennet practically despises me.”
“So, what will you do?” asked Bingley. “I assume that, since you will be returning to Hertfordshire, you are not simply giving up.”
“Exactly,” said Darcy. “I am not giving up. I wish to at least try to convince her to love me or at least respect me enough to marry me. Failing that, at the very least, I will do what I can to ensure her long-term happiness.”
“Is that what you recommend I do?” asked Bingley.
“I told you before that I cannot tell you what you should do,” answered Darcy. “Your situation is different. You have not made a fool of yourself by parading manners and arrogance among people who care nothing for such things. Whether Miss Bennet loves you, I cannot say, but I am certain she does not despise you the way Miss Elizabeth does me.”
“Caroline claims that Miss Bennet is indifferent to me,” said Bingley. “It seems easier to change hate to love than to change indifference to love, especially since I haven’t exactly hidden how I feel about her. If she truly is indifferent now, she is likely to remain so.”
Bingley had a point. At least with hatred, there was still passion. Darcy was certain Miss Elizabeth was not indifferent to him. The few times they had conversed, there was always passion and liveliness in her eyes, even if she seldom actually smiled at him.
“Will you give her up, then?” asked Darcy.
