Mr. Bingley considered that. “So if I had a kinder sister…”
“Yes; then no one would think you weak, for you would have no need to arm yourself against someone who should be your ally, not your enemy.”
“You think her my enemy? I know the Colonel thinks she is.”
“An enemy of your happiness? Without a doubt. How can she be considered anything else, when she went out of her way to grievously insult the family of the lady you care for? And why is she so opposed to such an alliance? They are not fashionable people, nor are they wealthy or influential, but Miss Bennet’s father is a landed gentleman; it could well be argued that she could do better than a tradesman’s son.’
Mr. Bingley winced. Mr. Darcy hastened to apologise, but his friend waved it away. “No, no, Darcy, what you say is true. You are a far better friend to me than my own sister.”
“And that is precisely the point I was hoping to make. Have you spoken to Mrs. Hurst to garner her opinion?”
“Do you think I should?”
“Doyouthink you should?” Mr. Darcy countered.
Mr. Bingley thought for a minute, and then squared his shoulders. “Yes.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Mr. Bingley knocked rather sharply on Louisa’s bedroom door. “Louisa?”
“Charles?” The door opened a crack.
“I would speak with you, Louisa.”
“Nancy is just finishing my hair; I am certain whatever it is you wish to speak about can wait.”
“It cannot.” Mr. Bingley pushed the door open and walked in. Harold Hurst was lying on his wife’s bed, evidently napping. Mr. Bingley poked Harold in the ribs, hard. “Wake up, Hurst.”
Startled, Mr. Hurst sat up, blinking. “What? What is wrong? Bingley? What are you doing here?”
Mr. Bingley swung around to address a startled Nancy. “Leave us, Nancy. Your mistress will ring for you when she is ready.”
Louisa opened her mouth to argue, but the look her brother turned on her had her closing it again. “What in heaven’s name has gotten into you, Charles?’
“I will tell you what has gotten into me, Louisa. I believe someone in this room told Caroline that the Colonel and I had an agreement as to him backing away from Miss Bennet under a certain circumstance. Is that right?”
The look on both their faces answered his question.
“May I ask what I have done to deserve this betrayal from the two of you?”
Louisa cleared her throat. “Charles, I am just trying to protect you.”
“From what, precisely?”
“From marrying beneath you.”
“And where did you learn that tradespeople are of a higher social class than the landed gentry? I believe we had the same governess, you and I, Louisa, as it was only Caroline who went to seminary, and I do not recall that being among our lessons.”
“Well, no, of course not, but –“
“Yes?”
Louisa was now feeling quite uncomfortable. “Caroline thinks –“
“And you take your marching orders from Caroline, do you?”
“You know how she is, Charles.” Louisa was angry now. “I have never seenyoustand up to her either.”
