Page 61 of Regrets

“No; you and Lizzy did the right thing. I only wish I had thought to do this myself. Though I do not think I would have used quite that same imagery.”

Chapter Forty-Seven

The same servants’ grapevine that had brought the news of Caroline Bingley to Longbourn also brought the news of Mr. Bingley’s interest in Jane Bennet to Nancy, who immediately repeated it to her mistress.

“It cannot be,” Miss Bingley said, sharply.

Nancy shrugged. She did not much care if her mistress believed it or not; she had reported it, and so she considered her job done.

“Well, I shall have to find out for myself,” Miss Bingley muttered.

Going downstairs, she found her brother and the Darcys already seated at breakfast. The two men rose as she entered, and Georgiana – Miss Darcy – nodded at her. “Charles,” she began, in the honeyed voice that her brother knew meant trouble.

He eyed her cautiously. “Caroline,” he replied.

“I believe you mentioned that the Bennets had hosted you for dinner; is that not right?”

“Yes, some time ago.”

“Well, then, it is only right that we return their hospitality. I thought to invite them for dinner on Friday.”

“I am certain they would be happy to accept,” Mr. Bingley said, his tone still wary.

“And remind me, how many are there?”

Georgiana said, “Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mary, Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia. Seven in all.”

“Oh, my, you are quite familiar with them, are you not?” Caroline gave a little titter that she doubtless thought was a laugh. “I shall go today to issue the invitation.”

“And I shall accompany you,” Georgiana said at once, not trusting Miss Bingley alone with her friends.

“As shall I,” Mr. Bingley added. “Darcy?”

“Absolutely,” he said, firmly.

***

Miss Bingley began her diatribe against the Bennets the moment she caught sight of the house. How very small it was! And how old! Why, it should be torn down and rebuilt from the ground up!

Georgiana could not keep still. “I hope you do not intend to express such opinions to the Bennets, Miss Bingley.”

“Of course –“

“For it would immediately reveal you to be of a lower social rank than they.”

“A lower – whatever can you mean?”

“Why, only that the landed gentry understand that old is good; I am told there have been Bennets at Longbourn for at least two centuries. But as you are not of the landed gentry class, I would not expect you to understand the importance of that.”

Miss Bingley could think of nothing to say to this; she clamped her mouth shut and allowed her brother to assist her out of the carriage.

Mr. Darcy shook his head at Georgiana; she had gone too far. But Georgiana only shrugged. She would not allow Miss Bingley to insult her friends.

They went inside and introductions were performed. Since the Bennet girls had already been warned as to Miss Bingley’s character, they did not give her any attention beyond what politeness required.

Miss Bingley, having been so thoroughly chastised by Miss Darcy, kept her observations as to the age of the furnishings and the state of the rugs entirely to herself. She also silently observed how her brother went at once to sit beside Miss Bennet, Mr. Darcy to Miss Elizabeth, and Miss Darcy to Miss Mary.

Watching her brother laugh and tease Miss Bennet, it was evident that the gossip about her brother’s interest in Miss Bennet was accurate. She considered this. Jane Bennet was certainly very pretty, and she seemed sweet and amiable. Miss Darcy’s derogatory comment about the Bingley family not being landed gentry was certainly true enough. Viewed in that light, it would be good for Charles to marry someone like Miss Bennet.