Page 46 of The Work of a Moment

The immediate and bewildering attraction he had felt for her had not made their earliest conversations easy, but by that afternoon, sitting in the Gardiners’ drawing room, he was confident in their mutual esteem. He was less confident in his ability to restrain himself, however, and thus he sat in a comfortably cushioned chair and bent his head towards Elizabeth on the settee.

Chaperoned by Miss Bennet and the eldest Gardiner girl, Harriet, who would be accompanying her to Longbourn the following day, he and Elizabeth spoke quietly, fully in each other’s confidence, about the lingering problem of Miss Bingley.

“You know, much as I frown upon encouraging wild conjecture about Miss Bingley’s scandalous behaviour with a footman, my cousin, a man who is half-idiot and half-genius, is correct that rumours I am besotted with a lady will infuriate her,” Darcy said.

“You say you are no actor, sir, but I assumed you would take efforts to hide your smiles and that happy gleam in your eye.”

“I am afraid I cannot hide it from anyone. I am in love with you, Elizabeth Bennet, and the sooner our engagement is announced, the more quickly full happiness will arrive. However,” he said, returning to a serious tone, “Miss Bingley’s realisation that I admire not merely a lady but Miss Elizabeth Bennet, will surely infuriate her and put an end to her grasping schemes.”

“I prefer the truth of our affection to encouraging scandalous imaginings about Miss Bingley’s peccadillos.”

“Not everything is an imagining.” He smiled wryly. “It is a well-known truth she hurls hairbrushes as easily as insults.”

“I suppose my youngest sister could be charged with the same, though she never throws items at another person.” She threaded her fingers with his. “Will Mr Bingley exact a punishment beyond giving Miss Bingley her independence and removing himself from town?”

Would he? The man was forever placating his younger sister, refusing her suggestions until ultimately giving in to them, often without realising he had done so. Bingley had an eagerness to please others. Miss Bingley sought to please only herself and would flatter those whose favour and attention she craved, such as himself, and abuse those she thought beneath her—including her brother. Whatever measures Bingley planned, they would not be enough.

“He cannot force her to leave town, which I would prefer,” he said. “She has attained her majority and, with access to her fortune, can retain a companion and set up her own establishment. Her true punishment will come from society’s disinterest and the loss of connexions, which will be severe when it becomes evident I refuse to know her and her brother has tired of her behaviour.”

“Has she no connexions through Mr Hurst?”

He nodded, amused at her arch look, so full of sweet sarcasm he wished to kiss her. “Miss Bingley may retain a tenuous foothold on the outskirts of society. She will suffer through lack of invitation rather than direct means.”

“And should we encounter her?”

“I hope we do. I have witnessed the brilliance of a set-down from Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I believe I would like to share the experience with yet another Bingley.”

“Teasing man, you would have me become Lady Catherine.”

His laughter drew Miss Bennet’s attention. She whispered to her cousin, who dipped a curtsey and left the room, before joining Elizabeth on the settee.

“I am pleased to see you here again, Mr Darcy,” she said, adding, in a witty aside he had not thought in her character, “though perhaps not as pleased as my sister.”

When she smiled and took Elizabeth’s hand, it exuded a true warmth and grace. Darcy was caught between pity for Bingley for his stupidity in losing her and relief that she had found a worthy man in Catesby. He would be a good husband to her, and a good brother to Elizabeth and her sisters.

And him.

He began to repeat the congratulations he had offered to her upon his arrival, but Miss Bennet shook her head and with a grave expression, continued. “Elizabeth protected me from what she believed about Mr Bingley at Netherfield, and I am grateful for your assistance in dissuading him from returning here or believing my affections remained open to him.” She glanced at Elizabeth and began speaking more rapidly. “Clearly, more has occurred than I know, and much of the fault lies with me. Miss Bingley wrote those falsehoods about her brother and Miss Darcy to damage my sentiments for Mr Bingley, none of which would be known except to her, myself, and Elizabeth had I not spoken carelessly of the letters to…”

Taking a breath, she said, “Miss Bingley created the storm, but it was I who stirred it. Please accept my apologies to both you and Miss Darcy. I can only ask your forgiveness and pray that your sister is well.”

Stunned, Darcy looked from Miss Bennet’s anxious expression to Elizabeth, who seemed equally stricken.

“Jane,” she said soothingly, “you spoke only what you thought was the truth, words written to you by a lady well-practised at insincere compliments and vexed at a possible connexion to the rest of your family. You could not have known she was so wicked.”

“You did, Lizzy.” Miss Bennet looked wretched. “I see only the good in others, and while it has served me well, I was blinded to the true characters of Mr and Miss Bingley. My foolishness caused pain to Mr Darcy and his sister.”

“No,” he said firmly, eager to assure her of her innocence. “There is nothing to forgive nor pain to be felt. My sister is ignorant of the letters and untouched by the lies within them. Miss Bingley’s machinations to match her with Bingley have run aground. She did try,” he confided. “While I was from town, she spent an undue amount of effort on bringing herself and Bingley into my sister’s company, but Georgiana—who shares your admirable quality of seeing the best in others—grew tired of their attentions.”

Leaning forward, he pressed Miss Bennet’s hand. “Georgiana is happy. I am happy. You will be a very good sister to us both.”

She sniffed, her eyes grew wide, and, as she cried, “Oh, Lizzy,” she pulled Elizabeth to her. “You are engaged? Truly?”

After assurances that all would be made known later when tucked into their bedroom that night, Miss Bennet announced she was late for the final fitting of the gowns she had lately purchased. Elizabeth walked her from the room, and Darcy sat back and exhaled, admittedly a bit tired from a lack of sleep and the startlingly passionate conversations of the past day. He was waiting for another chaperon to arrive, and when one did not, realised he may have overstayed his welcome. A moment later, Elizabeth returned, leaving the door open. Sighing, she took the chair next to his.

“Jane has been chastened by how warmly she received the Bingleys. I had no idea she felt it so deeply, blaming herself for all that Miss Bingley has done,” she said, giving him a mournful look. “You are generous to offer such relief for her guilt.”

“She is not responsible for Miss Bingley’s actions.”