“I apologise for not greeting you sooner, Aunt,” Miss Bingley said, in a syrupy voice. “No one told me you were here.”
Mrs. Hurst opened her mouth to object, but her husband shook his head at her and she subsided.
“But why were you in your room to begin with, Caroline?” Mrs. Armstrong asked. “Were you ill?”
Miss Bingley shook her head. “No, indeed; though perhaps sick at heart.”
“Sick at heart? But why?”
“I am certain that my brother has told you of his plan to have me removed from the family home.”
“He has, though I believe this is entirely your doing, Caroline.” Mrs. Armstrong’s voice became stern.
“What! All because I did not wish him to make a mésalliance!”
“I hardly think Miss Bennet can be considered unsuitable for the son of a man in trade,” was the unwelcome reply. “She is a gentleman’s daughter; she is as kind as she is beautiful. Had she been given a Season in Town, I do not doubt she could have done a good deal better than your brother. She is lowering herself by marrying him, and she does so only because she has been so little seen. You do understand that, do you not, Caroline?”
“This has been explained to her,” Mr. Bingley put in. “But she will not hear it.”
Miss Bingley interrupted. “Surely we can speak of something more cheerful on Christmas! What are our plans for today, Charles?”
“We have been invited to take our Christmas dinner at Longbourn, Caroline, but I do not think you should attend.”
“Charles! Whatever do you mean?”
“I mean that I do not trust you to behave yourself with the Bennets, and I will not have Jane and her family subjected to your vitriol.”
“But – “
“I am determined, Caroline. You will stay here. I have given the servants the evening off so that they may spend it with their families, but I will have Cook leave a cold collation for you.”
Miss Bingley protested vigorously, but her brother would not be moved.
Mrs. Armstrong asked her niece if they might speak privately; Miss Bingley was not eager for a tête-à-tête with her aunt, but she could not think of a way to decline. The two ladies repaired to the drawing room.
“I will not beat about the bush, Caroline. You have doubtless wondered why I am here.”
Miss Bingley began to assure her aunt that her presence at Netherfield was everything welcome, but Mrs. Armstrong waved that aside. “Caroline, it is Charles’ intention that I take you back to Scarborough with me when I return home. I tell you this so that you may begin to prepare yourself for your change in circumstances.”
Miss Bingley went white. “It is not possible for me to live in Scarborough.”
“You have no other option.”
“He said I might have my own establishment in Town!”
“Nonsense. Only think how that would look, when he and the new Mrs. Bennet open Bingley House, and you remain in some dingy townhouse elsewhere. Think you not that everyone would wonder why your own brother cannot be brought to house you?”
Miss Bingley’s mouth opened and then closed. Mrs. Armstrong waited for her niece to understand her situation. Finally, Miss Bingley said, in a small voice, “He really does mean to send me away then?”
“Of course; did you think this was all some sort of ruse to force you into better behaviour? Ah, I see; that is exactly what you thought. No, this is quite serious. Miss Bennet’s father will call off the engagement if you are not out of the house, and Charles will not choose you over his intended. Do you see now how you have injured yourself?”
“But Louisa will never allow Charles to remove me from the family!”
“You are quite wrong, my dear. Louisa is delighted; she has never had the courage to stand up to you, and now she will not have to. You should have seen her at Longbourn, making up to Miss Bennet! No, you have lost your chance with Charles and Louisa, and now you must go on as best you can. Scarborough is not so bad, you know. We have assemblies, theater, concerts, opera – and the sea, of course!”
“Single gentlemen?” Miss Bingley’s voice was a mere whisper.
“Oh, many of them! Scarborough is a favourite place for sea-bathing and we have a good many visitors coming to take the waters, so there are new acquaintances to be made every month. It is a good deal more lively than Meryton, I promise you that.”
