“We are not leaving until we save the Carringtons from the Bennets,” Miss Bingley insisted. “I do not know why you have been such a ninny since Charles had his little temper tantrum. You will see, in a few days all will be as it should be.”
The butler found the family, who had been joined by Lord Holder after the meal when his business had been completed, in the main drawing room. He could hear the sounds of the pianoforte from the music room, telling him that either Lady Emily or Lady Priscilla, or both, were at the keyboard. He entered the drawing room and proffered his salver with the cards on it to his mistress.
As soon as she read the names on the cards, her face took on a definite moue of distaste. “You did not allow the harridan and her sister to wait in the house, did you, Fenster?” Lady Edith enquired.
“No, indeed not, Your Ladyship. They are not within the house.”
“Good, send them on their way… wait. Jane, dear, Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley are calling on me. Do you think we should allow them to discover their own insignificance today?” Lady Edith had a mischievous look in her eye.
“Yes, I think that is a capital idea, Edith,” Holder opined. “I would like to meet the harpy who thought the woman Jamey is courting is my mistress.”
“Lady Edith, I have no objection if you would like to begin the lesson that it seems Miss Bingley is in need of learning,” Jane responded. “I would be very interested in what they have to say. Am I correct to assume you have never been introduced to either sister?”
“We have heard enough about the sisters from Elaine Fitzwilliam that we never had the desire to know them,” Lady Edith confirmed. “Maddie, Jane, and Jamey, join Emily, Priscilla, Lilly, and May in the music room. Leave the door between the rooms open a little so you can hear and have the girls stop their duet so there will be no noise from there when the two enter the drawing room.” She turned to the butler. “Fenster, let them wait another five to ten minutes, and then if they are still here, show them into this room.”
The butler bowed and left to follow the mistress’s orders.
The longer they waited and the door remained closed, the more Mrs Hurst’s sensibilities screamed that they needed to depart forthwith. Louisa knew that her sister would be physically and verbally abusive if she, as the older sister, attempted to assert her will; hence, Mrs Hurst kept her misgivings to herself.
When the door opened to reveal the butler, it seemed like an age had passed. He asked them to enter and follow him.
Miss Bingley shot her sister an ‘I told you so’ look. She was not impressed with the décor of the mansion as they walked. It was far too restrained and not nearly as opulent as she would enjoy. As soon as she and the countess became friends, she would advise her on redecorating.
Fenster led the two women into the drawing room. “Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley,” he drawled. Then he left, pulling the double doors closed behind him.
“Your roots are showing clearly,” Lady Edith stated.
The trepidation Mrs Hurst felt multiplied many times. She did not miss that there had been no introductions to the Earl and Countess of Holder. She recognised them from seeing them at the opera and theatre when one of her acquaintances had identified the couple.
“I know not what you mean,” Miss Bingley replied, although she had a good idea of exactly what the countess referred to.
“It is simple, Miss Bungles. It seems that as a tradesman’s daughter you are unaware that you do not call on one at the opposite end from society from yourself without first being introduced and invited to call. As we have established that you do not understand the mores of the society to which you pretend to belong, what is it that brought you to our door like an ill wind?” Lady Edith queried.
“Caroline, we need to go,” Mrs Hurst managed, barely above a whisper.
As furious as she was at having her roots pointed out so directly, Miss Bingley intended to carry her point. “Lord and Lady Holder, when you hear the reason for my call, you will see that it was made out of concern even though we did not follow the normal way of things,” she said as she fought to contain the building rage within her.
“And what would that be, Miss Bungles?” Holder enquired purposefully, mangling the shrew’s name like his wife had. “Are you here to tell me I have forsaken my solemn wedding vows and taken the woman my son is courting as my mistress?”
While Miss Bingley was shocked that her words were known here, Mrs Hurst had to fight to keep from fainting dead away.
“It seems I was mistaken in that,” Miss Bingley asserted unapologetically. “I am here to warn you that Viscount Hadlock has been taken in by a fortune-hunting social climber. She tried to sink her talons into my brother, who made a fortunate escape. She has now somehow caught your noble son in her web of deceit.”
“Miss Bangles, my son is not courting you,” Lady Edith shot back.
“I beg your pardon,” Miss Bingley responded confusedly. “I never claimed that he was.” ‘Although, I would not complain if he did chuse me after he throws that nobody Jane Bennet off,’ she thought.
“Miss Bingles, you described yourself almost perfectly, except you forgot to mention shrew, liar, high-in-the-instep, and some more words which are apt to describe yourself,” Lady Edith stated. “Why would you have thought that we wanted to hear anything from one who would say such vile and untrue things about my husband and the lady who might be my future daughter-in-law?”
“My name is Miss Bingley!” she spat out. Why was this not going as she expected?
“I am aware of your name; we chuse not to mention it,” Lady Edith said.
“I am sure that Miss Bennet did not tell you how she chased after my brother like she was a bitch in heat. Or that her father’s pitiful estate is entailed. They have relations in trade and no dowries! Nothing like my twenty thousand…” Miss Bingley was cut off.
“In fact, Miss Bing, I told Lord Hadlock everything beforeI accepted his offer for a courtship. The only person I know who chases after a man who wants nothing to do with her is you! Anyone who is neither blind nor delusional can see Mr Darcy abhors you, yet you still chase him, like as you termed it, a bitch in heat,” Jane said from behind the hateful woman. “I know who I am. Unlike you, I do not attempt to pass myself off as something I am not.”
Miss Bingley spun around and saw Miss Bennet, the viscount, and the tradesman’s wife whom she recognised from when she had called on Jane Bennet in Cheapside.
