“Not at all, Darcy. I mean to learn from your experience as a landowner. And if I know Caroline,” Bingley said, pursing his lips in irritation, “she would be so determined to show you what an excellent hostess she can be, we would get nothing done at all.”
Darcy did not doubt it, which is why he asked Bingley to keep his sisters and brother-in-law in the dark about taking the lease. They would have come immediately just so Miss Bingley could be near Darcy. He requested Bingley wait at least two weeks after his arrival before informing his sisters. It would allow Darcy and Georgiana to enjoy their visit without Miss Bingley's interference. Caroline Bingley was a social climber, and Darcy had been in her cross-hairs for over three years. He knew this.He had not known, however, that she was delusional—expecting him to offer for her and turning away legitimate suitors!
“You have a difficult situation on your hands, my friend.”
“Indeed! I must marry her off, Darcy. I have no peace whatsoever with her constant demands and manipulation. How will I be able to seek my own happiness with a young woman if Caroline is in my home insisting on her way and acting as if she has the right to direct my life?”
Darcy could not deny it was exactly what Bingley would endure if he could not get his sister married. But first, she would have to be convinced to give up this ridiculous notion that she had a future with Darcy.
“If you and Mrs. Hurst continue to find that Miss Bingley will not be persuaded, then perhaps you could threaten her with setting her up in her own establishment.”
“Yes! That is a good idea! Caroline will not like that at all and will worry that it may make her seem unmarriageable.” Bingley paused a moment to consider, then nodding, he said, “Yes, it is worth a try.”
Suddenly, they heard a familiar, haughty voice.
“Charles!”
Darcy and Bingley looked at each other in shock.
“It is not necessary for you to announce me to my brother. I am the mistress of this house!” Miss Bingley declared as she barged into the study. “Just tell me where he—oh, Charles, there you are! And Mr. Darcy! Forgive me for not being here to receive you!”
It seemed to take a full half minute for them to get over the shock of seeing her sufficiently enough to remember to stand in the presence of a lady.
“Caroline! What are you doing here?” Bingley asked with a furrowed brow.
“We have come so that I may manage this house, of course. You cannot expect Mr. Darcy and his sister to be your guests without a proper hostess!” Miss Bingley said to her brother with a condescending laugh and roll of her eyes.
“How did you even know where I was?” Bingley asked her as the Hursts walked into the room.
“I happened to find a letter from Mr. Darcy on your desk with details of his arrival in Hertfordshire—you have such excellent penmanship, Mr. Darcy, I can easily spot anything written in your hand,” Miss Bingley said, her words dripping with syrupy-sweet praise for Darcy. She then returned her attention to her brother. “Since you neglected to inform us that you leased a property, I had to look through your papers to find the location of this estate.”
“Really, Charles,” Mrs. Hurst said, “to lease an estate and not even tell us! What in the world were you thinking?”
“I was thinking it was none of your concern until I chose to make it so!” Bingley said with growing anger.
Louisa Hurst paled slightly at his response.
“Charles, what is the matter with you? How dare you take that tone?” Miss Bingley asked.
“No, Caroline! How dareyouread my private correspondence and rifle through important documents of business as if you are entitled to all the particulars?”
Darcy watched as Caroline Bingley flushed with embarrassment. She had likely just realized how unflattering a light she had put herself in, right in front of the man she most wanted to impress.
After briefly greeting the newcomers, Darcy excused himself. He could not believe the audacity of Bingley’s sisters! Nor could he believe how complicit Hurst was! No doubt, he saw it as an opportunity to live off Bingley and probably hoped to have some sport while here in the area. Hurst had not offered a word inexplanation for their sudden appearance. Since there was not much that could be said in their defense, he doubted Hurst would have anything to say that Bingley cared to hear.
Wishing to make himself scarce, Darcy went upstairs. As he entered his bedchamber, he thought of Georgiana. He needed to make her aware of Miss Bingley’s sudden arrival, so he walked through their shared sitting room to his sister’s door and knocked.
Georgiana opened the door and smiled at him. “William, come in!”
“Hello, Georgiana,” he said as he entered the room and looked around. “Are you alone?”
“Yes, I am. Is everything well?”
Darcy sighed. “No, I am afraid not. I came to warn you that Miss Bingley is here.”
“Miss Bingley?” Georgiana asked unhappily.
“Yes, she and the Hursts have just arrived." Darcy explained how Miss Bingley had gone through her brother's things and put two and two together." Knowing that I was here, she probably wasted no time convincing her sister and Hurst to journey here immediately.”
