“All is well,” he said, looking up from the paper. “Bingley just wanted to let me know that Miss Bingley has come to Netherfield with a trunk.”
To the chorus of dismay that greeted his disclosure, he smiled and said, “I believe Charles has it well in hand.”
Chapter Seventy-Four
Caroline Bingley was fuming. Wait in the library? In her own home? That butler would be the first to go, she thought. Whoever Charles had married would be no match for Caroline when it came to ruling a household! In fact, Charles would doubtless be grateful that Caroline had returned to take charge of things.
When the door opened, she turned to see a frowning Charles.
“What are you doing here?”
“I heard you had married, Charles; I have come to offer my congratulations and support in helping the new Mrs. Bingley with her role as mistress of Netherfield. I am quite experienced as mistress of this estate, as you know.”
“What do you mean, that you heard I had married?”
“Well – just that. You did not bother to tell me; I heard it from a friend in London.”
“I have not the pleasure of understanding you, Caroline. You were at my wedding yourself.”
“Why, whatever do you mean, Charles?”
“Just that! You were there when Georgiana and I were married this past summer.”
Miss Bingley was speechless. Finally, “Are you dicked in the nob, Charles?”
Her brother gasped in shock. “Wherever did you hear such speech, Caroline?”
“No matter; you know quite well that I was not at your wedding. And Georgiana? What Georgiana? The only Georgiana I know is Georgiana Darcy, and it cannot possibly be her.”
“I beg to differ in every respect. You were at my wedding, dressed in a gown of green. I recall it because Georgiana commented on how well the colour became your complexion. You sat in the front row, smiling at everyone, clearly delighted to gain such a lovely sister. All that being the case, I ask again – why are you here?”
Miss Bingley’s mouth opened and then closed. “Charles, I was never at your wedding, and you certainly are not married to Georgiana Darcy!’
“Am I not? Wait here.”
Mr. Bingley left and returned with his wife beside him.
“Oh, Caroline! I was not told that you were expected. I have not seen you since the wedding,” Georgiana said, eyes wide in sincerity.
Miss Bingley stared at Georgiana Darcy Bingley. Her gaze traveled down Mrs. Bingley’s gown to her abdomen; her eyes widened in horror. “But – you are expecting!”
“This can hardly be a surprise, Caroline, given that your brother and I have been married since June. I know you are a maiden; surely, we should not be discussing such things. I apologise most sincerely. But wait; I am certain Louisa would wish to greet you before you return to London.”
She turned toward the door, but Mr. Bingley said he would not hear of her walking any further. “Sit, my darling; I will get our sister.”
When he left the room, Miss Bingley stared at Mrs. Bingley hard. “Look here, I know not what game this is, but I will not be made a fool of. You know as well as I that there was no wedding!”
Mrs. Bingley replied, in the saddest imaginable voice, “I cannot believe you would be so cruel as to taunt me in this manner, Caroline. I know we have not been good friends, but to deny your own brother’s wedding! I had not thought anyone – evenyou– capable of such a thing.”
“Very well, then; how is it you were not here at Netherfield this past fall, when I was acting as hostess?”
“You know very well that I was in London with my aunt and uncle, the Earl and Countess of Matlock, hoping to reconcile them to my marriage with Mr. Bingley. Your brother is everything estimable, but my relatives were hoping for a more suitable match for me.”
“I have been in London these past weeks and have never seen you.”
Mrs. Bingley put her nose in the air in a perfect imitation of Miss Bingley and replied, “My relatives and I move in rather different social circles than you, I imagine.”
At that moment, Louisa entered the room with her husband. Miss Bingley jumped up in relief. “Oh, thank heavens! Louisa, our brother and Georgiana here are trying to convince me that they wed this past summer!”
