Page 58 of Regrets

Nancy reached slowly into her skirt pocket and produced the note.

Miss Bingley snatched it from her hand, read it, then read it again, her eyes widening.

“Mr. Darcy is at Netherfield!? And Charles did not tell me! Louisa!” This last was screamed. Of course, Mrs. Hurst could not possibly hear Miss Bingley through the thick door, so Miss Bingley ran out to find her sister, waving the note in her hand.

Nancy sat down on Miss Bingley’s bed. She supposed it would have been expecting too much to think that Miss Bingley might have actually thanked her for the information; but at least Nancy would hear no more about her mistress not having been invited to Lady Whoever’s Whatever.

On the other hand, though, this would mean a quick remove to the countryside, where Nancy would have to deal with all the dirt that would doubtless accumulate on her mistress’ clothing. She sighed.

Chapter Forty-Five

Mr. Bingley was in the midst of breakfast when Braddock came in, apologised for disturbing his master, and held out a silver salver with a message on it. Mr. Bingley thanked him and took the message. He opened it and began to read, teacup in his other hand. Suddenly, he made a strange choking sound in his throat, and the tea spilt all over the tablecloth.

“Bingley?!” Mr. Darcy rose from his seat in concern, but Mr. Bingley waved him back down.

Mr. Bingley was red in the face by now, but he managed to say, “Blast it all, Caroline is on her way here!”

Georgiana, who had witnessed Mr. Bingley’s actions with considerable alarm, now felt even more alarmed. “Miss Bingley?” she gasped.

“Yes! I do not know how she found out that you are here, Darcy, but – well, read it for yourself!”

Mr. Darcy took the paper and read the note aloud.

Charles, I cannot believe that you kept Mr. Darcy’s presence at Netherfield a secret from me! How can you possibly entertain him properly without a hostess? I am on my way! Caroline

“Oh, Lord, Darcy, I am sorry,” Mr. Bingley looked like an errant schoolboy caught in some mischief.

“Hardly your fault, Bingley,” Mr. Darcy reassured his friend. “We will manage as best we can.”

“I cannot imagine what she will say about the Bennets,” Mr. Bingley went on.

“Can you not?” Mr. Darcy’s voice was humorous. “I certainly can.”

***

Miss Bingley arrived before luncheon.

“The Hursts did not accompany you?” Mr. Bingley asked, hopefully.

“No, they preferred to stay in Town.”

“Drinking up my wine cellar, no doubt,” Mr. Bingley muttered.

“But in any event, here I am!”

“Yes, here you are,” Mr. Bingley said. “But totally unnecessary, I assure you, Caroline. We have been doing just fine.”

“Why, how could you, given that – Georgiana! I had no idea! And you were here alone with two gentlemen!”

“One of whom is her brother, Caroline,” Mr. Bingley said, sternly. “Let us not make a fuss over nothing.”

“I have been approving the menus, Miss Bingley,” Georgiana said, tossing her curls. “So Netherfield has hardly been without a hostess.”

“But have you held any dinners for the neighbours? Ah, no, I thought not! Though doubtless the society here is something savage!”

Georgiana muttered something under her breath, but Miss Bingley did not hear it. “Charles, where is the housekeeper? I can scarce believe that she has not come to greet me at the door.”

“I am here, Miss Bingley,” Mrs. Hammond said, stepping forward. Both she and Braddock had been warned by Hastings as to what to expect from the master’s sister and they, in turn, had warned the other servants.