He paused before continuing. "The Bennets do not participate in the London Season, and Beaumont has little taste for London society. I doubt he will show his face in London again until it is time to seek spouses for his children. He is perfectly contented with the society of the local gentry."
Darcy set down his fork.
"I do not believe you should accompany us today, nor attend the memorial tomorrow. You would only cause pain to my sister-in-law and my wife."
"Darcy, do you suppose your wife knows of the insult I offered her elder sister?"
"Oh, I am certain she knows. Those two sisters are very close. You may be certain that Elizabeth knows, and the only reason she has not rained censure upon your head is that she knows you are my close friend."
Bingley's eyes widened. "Do you suppose that is where she was going before the mouse incident?"
Darcy chuckled. "Yes, perhaps she was. Bingley, the more I learn, the more convinced I am that it is for the best that we return to London directly after the memorial. I suggest you follow close on our heels, lest someone call you out here in Hertfordshire."
Charles rubbed his chin. "Yes, Mr. Bennet would be well justified in calling me out."
Darcy shook his head. "I was not referring to Mr. Bennet. I meant Beaumont, who, I am told, is deadly with a dueling pistol."
"Darcy, you have a point. I shall go and instruct the servants that I will be returning to London on Saturday and that the house is to be closed."
Chapter 62: Vengeance
The Darcys spent the day at Longbourn with the Bennets and the Beaumonts. It was a pleasant day. The sisters devoted two hours to inoculating family members, tenants, and several neighbors with the cowpox matter. The neighbors stayed to visit afterward, and many made the acquaintance of Mary's twin boys and the husbands of the two eldest Bennet sisters.
After dinner that evening, they said their farewells and traveled back to Netherfield. The ladies went directly upstairs to begin packing what they could, as they intended to leave immediately after the memorial service the following day.
Darcy went downstairs to spend a few hours with his friend.
"Darcy, I need not tell you that Caroline is very put out that you are leaving tomorrow. She expected to have you here for two weeks, and now she is behaving like a child whose sweetmeats have been taken away."
Darcy winced.
"To all outward appearances, Charles, that is exactly what has happened to her. When all is said and done, it is best that we leave tomorrow. Reeves will pack the second carriage and join us at Longbourn at two o'clock, and we shall depart from there."
"It was good to see you again, Darcy. And I congratulate you on your wife. She is a lovely, kind woman. You will be very happy."
Darcy smiled broadly.
"I am very happy, Charles."
The two men remained in conversation until nearly eleven o'clock, and then Darcy retired for the night. He changed in hisown room and then used the connecting door to join Elizabeth in hers.
Meanwhile, Reeves packed his master's clothing and then prepared himself for bed. He climbed into the narrow cot set up between the door and the bed and was soon sound asleep.
Caroline Bingley waited in her bedchamber in the family wing until ten o'clock. She knew Mr. Darcy would not remain long with Charles, for the Darcys planned to leave early, take breakfast at Longbourn, and return to London directly after the memorial service.
At ten o'clock, she made her way to the guest wing and let herself into the chamber directly across from Mr. Darcy's. She moved a chair near the door and sat down to wait. Leaving the door slightly ajar, she positioned herself so she could hear when he returned.
She began to plan his seduction. Perhaps she should wait until he had sufficient time to retire.
After further consideration, she wondered if she ought to wait until he was asleep, for it was well known that he was a deep sleeper.
She considered the idea and dismissed it. No, she wanted him awake. She wanted him to see what he was choosing to forgo for the rest of his life.
His wife was an attractive woman, but not like herself. Caroline considered herself a woman of striking beauty, and with ample breasts, she had long believed those advantages would one day secure Mr. Darcy's regard.
And so was her derrière. She had received many compliments on her ample figure, which was much admired in fashionablesociety. She felt certain that once he saw her in all her natural beauty, he would not be able to resist her charms.
And so, she waited, hardly able to contain herself, planning all that she would say and do once she had him alone.
