Page 33 of The Work of a Moment

“Tomorrow.”

So soon. Elizabeth cursed the Bingleys under her breath. They were heedless of how they conducted themselves, offending or injuring others, set only on their own desires. Miss Bingley was venal and vain, and had her brother ever asserted himself and reined in her temper, none of the events of the past few months would have occurred. She sighed. Mr Bingley had acted stupidly at Netherfield and by abandoning it—and Jane’s hopes—as he did. This, however, charging back into Jane’s life and threatening her newfound felicity? He was a plague on her sister’s happiness! Must she ring a peal over him?

Jane’s plaintive voice broke into her thoughts. “His feelings are so fleeting, shifting from me to Miss Wabshaw to Miss Darcy, and now to me again? Even if it were not for Mr Catesby, even if I still felt for Mr Bingley what I did five months ago, I would not trust his constancy. What lady would?”

I did not, because of my mistaken understanding at Netherfield, jumping to a conclusion based on Mr Bingley’s indiscretion, one far less egregious than first assumed. Yet his carelessness in those encounters—encounters forced by Miss Bingley’s reckless violence towards her maid—could not be set aside.

“Lizzy,” Jane continued, “Mr Bingley is always keen to seek Mr Darcy’s counsel. Perhaps he could tell him to desist from calling.”

“You wish me to seek help from Mr Darcy?” She shook her head in disbelief. “While it is true I saw the gentleman in Kent, we are in no way established as friends, and I would not… it would not be proper for me to go to him.”

“Jane did not suggest you call on him.” Aunt Gardiner looked at her curiously. “Does Mr Darcy remain in Kent, or has he returned to town? I believe he has a house in Grosvenor Square.”

Was he in town? She had no idea of where he had gone, nor had she the means of learning whether he had been in touch with Mr Bingley or whether the reputation of Miss Darcy had been ruined. A fleeting sense of relief that Lady Catherine knew nothing of the scandal Miss Bingley had perpetrated about Miss Darcy rushed through her.

“Oh, I-I did not mean call…” Elizabeth felt her cheeks heating. “Mr Darcy is displeased with Mr Bingley, and he would be unhappy to hear his friend is visiting you.”

At this, Jane’s expression showed neither satisfaction nor distress, only confusion. “Is Mr Darcy angry with Mr Bingley for abandoning his attentions to Miss Darcy?”

Taking her sister’s hand, Elizabeth said softly, “As I suspected from the beginning, it appears Miss Bingley fabricated the story to distance you from her brother.” As her aunt murmured her disgust, she continued. “Mr Darcy told me quite clearly that his sister, who has only lately turned sixteen, is neither out nor in any way connected to Mr Bingley.”

“You spoke to Mr Darcy of the letters Miss Bingley wrote?” Mrs Gardiner’s surprise was evident.

Jane appeared mortified.

“I-I, yes, I did ask him about the situation. Mama has always said my curiosity is dangerous, but even as I doubted its veracity, I wished to know the truth about Mr Bingley’s supposed attentions to Miss Darcy. Mr Darcy was outraged and grateful to be made aware of the danger to his sister’s reputation.”

Mrs Gardiner picked up the teapot and refreshed their cups. “Before the children are upon us, Lizzy, I believe you have much to tell us.”

CHAPTER 25

Into the Muck

Darcy knocked on Bingley’s door ten minutes earlier than he had promised himself. Bingley, still in his dressing gown, gazed at him sleepily.

“Darcy! What is the urgency, sending me a note at nine o’clock last night demanding we meet here? I thought you to be in Kent. Are you well?”

“I am, though I wonder at your present condition.” He gestured at Bingley’s banyan, a silk and velvet robe in a gaudy green-and-yellow-striped pattern that hurt his eyes.

Bingley fell into a chair, yawning. “A bit of a sniffle, dashed inconvenient. Pray, I have not passed it on to your sister, have I?”

Darcy moved quickly towards Bingley, looming over him. “What did you say?”

“Miss Darcy. We have been much in company while you were in Kent, as Caroline insisted she was lonely, although I am sure my sister’s conversation wearied her…” Bingley was staring at him, quizzically. “Darcy?”

Exhaling, Darcy stepped back. “So I have heard from Georgiana. She is well, but I shall keep an eye on her health and keep her from your company.”

Bingley nodded like an amiable idiot, unmindful of the sharp tone in his visitor’s voice. Disgusted, Darcy moved to a seat near the door. The tools by the hearth would pose too much temptation should his anger rise again.

“You have not come to determine my health,” Bingley said, sneezing. “What has brought you here at this indecent hour?”

Indecent? Leave it to Bingley to think ten o’clock indecent. Attempting calm, Darcy said, “Did you know of your sister’s hopes to bring you into company with Georgiana and encourage a romantic alliance between you?”

Bingley snorted. “That is absurd. You know Caroline’s true ambitions are for your affections. She must think a more intimate friendship with your sister would bring her closer to becoming Mrs Darcy.” Seeing Darcy’s impatience, he held up a hand. “Of course you would never marry her, but she has been frighteningly persistent since she was a child. Recall that story I told you of how she rid Louisa of her pet cat by pretending it attacked her?”

“I shall ask you once more. Are you aware of Miss Bingley’s intentions to create affection between you and Georgiana?”

Bingley startled, his bleary eyes growing wide. He shook his head. “Between myself and your sister? Forgive me, Darcy, but she is nearly a child!”