Bingley looked completely dumbfounded.
“Miss Bennet was in my house?”
“Yes.”
“When did this happen? My sisters told you but did not tell me? What is happening, Darcy? Are you a better friend to Caroline and Louisa than you are to me?” Bingley asked, his voice rising with anger.
“I deserve your ire, Bingley. I was not honest with you because I believed it would be better for you not to see Miss Bennet again. I was wrong and presumptuous. As for your sisters, I cannot speak on their behalf. You should ask them yourself.”
“Oh, I shall, you may count on that,” Bingley said, emptying his drink in one gulp. “I shall ask them for Miss Bennet’s address, and I shall go and apologise.”
“I have the address, if you want it,” Darcy offered, and Bingley’s eyes widened.
“Of course I want it!”
“She is staying with her uncle and aunt in Gracechurch Street, at number eight.”
“Well then…thank you…” Bingley said, rising and refilling his glass without even asking permission. He then remained standing, staring down at Darcy. “I am very upset with you, Darcy. I expected no less than complete honesty from you. I am stunned that you plotted with Caroline and Louisa to keep secrets from me. I thought you did not even like them!”
“It is not a matter of liking them or not, since they are your sisters. I admit my behaviour was dishonourable, even if my intentions were good. You have every reason to be upset with me. Miss Elizabeth was, and probably Miss Bennet will be too, and rightfully so.”
“Well, Miss Bennet will be upset with me too. Probably even more. Since my sisters visited her and I did not, she might assume I did not wish to see her. If I call on her tomorrow, she might be angry with me. She might not even want to receive me!”
“I have no knowledge of what your reception might be, Bingley. You will have to see for yourself when you call.”
Bingley did not reply; he only took a few agitated steps about the room and sipped from his glass.
“Would you care to come with me, Darcy? You owe me as much!”
“I do owe you, Bingley. Yes, I shall, if you want me to.”
His friend’s face brightened immediately.
“Good. I cannot believe this is happening. I have struggled all this time… I believed your assertion that Miss Bennet did not return my feelings. I mean, why would she? She is so beautiful, so kind, with such a sweet nature — and she is a gentleman’s daughter. I might have some money — all from trade, I might add — but there is not much to recommend me. I am neither particularly clever nor well educated. I am sure Miss Bennet can easily find a better match than me.”
“You are too hard on yourself, Bingley — and too modest.”
“That should compensate for my sisters, who are too fastidious and uppish, without any particular grounds for being so. I still cannot believe you agreed with them, Darcy!”
“Keeping such a secret from you reveals a clear flaw in my character, as Miss Elizabeth pointed out. I have no other choice but to remedy my wrongs.”
“You will begin tomorrow — no, in fact, you began when you wrote me that letter. I was quite shocked when I received it. I shall leave you now. You must be very tired. Shall I come and fetch you tomorrow morning?”
“Yes, you may join us for breakfast. Georgiana will be happy to see you.”
“Excellent! I would much prefer to breakfast with your sister than with mine! Good night, Darcy.”
Once his friend left, Darcy felt relieved that he would not lose Bingley’s friendship. As upset as he was, Bingley’s response had not been as strong as Darcy had expected and deserved. As for himself, he was not so ready to forgive his own actions. The truth was, regardless of his reasons, he had plotted with Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst. He had every reason to feel ashamed and guilty.
Accompanying his friend to visit Miss Bennet was something Darcy had not planned, but he could not refuse Bingley, who was in desperate need of support and reassurance. As Elizabeth had told him, it was not enough for him to admit his errors; he needed to correct them too.
***
First thing in the morning, Darcy rang for his valet.
“I might be gone for the entire day. If the woman returns, you know what to ask her. Furthermore, find out whether the young mother and child she mentioned are ill. If they are and I am not at home, send someone to Dr Taylor and ask him, on my behalf, to visit them. I would like you to go with him too, so you can report the details on my return.”
“Of course, sir.”
