Page 62 of Regrets

But far more worrisome was the sight of Mr. Darcy speaking easily with Miss Elizabeth. How serious was this? She had heard no gossip about it from Nancy, so it could not be anything for her to worry about. Could it?

Miss Bennet suddenly felt rather isolated, sitting in the Bennet parlour, watching everyone else. No one seemed at all interested in her. Feeling suddenly cold, she shivered.

“Come closer to the fire, Miss Bingley,” Mrs. Bennet said, interrupting Caroline’s thoughts.

“Oh! No, I am fine –“

“You most certainly are not; I saw you shiver, and it is a cold day outside, too cold to wear such a thin dress, pretty as it is. Come, dear, here is a better seat for you.” Mrs. Bennet would brook no refusal, and in short order, Caroline found herself in a comfortable chair near the fire, Mrs. Bennet’s shawl around her shoulders, and a hot cup of tea in her hand. “There! Is that not better?”

Caroline’s mother had been dead for many years, and she could not recall the last time anyone had taken care of her like this. “I thank you, Mrs. Bennet,” she whispered. “You are very kind.”

“Now, then, tell me – what brings you to Netherfield? For your brother said you had an aversion to dirt.” Mrs. Bennet chuckled as she spoke.

To Caroline’s surprise, she found herself telling Mrs. Bennet about the note that had been found, and that once she understood that Mr. Darcy was at Netherfield, why, of course she had to come at once.

“Have your eye on him, do you? I cannot blame you. He is handsome enough, and that is a fact. But let me tell you something, Miss Bingley. It is a bad idea to marry someone who is a good deal cleverer than you are. No, no, do not protest, I mean no disrespect to you. He has been here several times, and I know him to be a highly educated man. Speaks Greek and Latin and heaven knows what else, does he not? Reads books all the time, thinks about things?”

When Caroline nodded, Mrs. Bennet went on. “I am married to such a man. I admired him, you know; his mind, his education, his cleverness. And some years after we were married, he began to dislike me because I had no education and was not particularly clever. Now we barely speak to one another. It is not a pleasant situation, Miss Bingley, and one to be avoided at all costs.”

Caroline was speechless. She could not believe she was hearing this from a woman who was a complete stranger! But she was fascinated by the story. “Go on,” she said.

Mrs. Bennet said, softly, “It seems to me, looking back, that like should marry like, if there is to be marital happiness.”

“Why did he marry you, then?” Caroline managed to ask.

“Looking at me now, you may not believe it, but I was very pretty. Pretty as my Jane, there.” Mrs. Bennet nodded toward her eldest. “But it would have served me better had I instead been clever, like my Lizzy.” She looked toward the young lady deep in conversation with Mr. Darcy. “She has all that Greek and Latin, and mathematics, as well. Clever like her father, she is, and she will need a clever man to marry, or she will learn to despise him. Not necessarily Mr. Darcy, you understand, she will not look as high as that, but someone as clever as he.”

“And Mr. Darcy will need a clever woman or he will learn to despise her; is that what you are telling me?”

“Exactly. Do not make the mistake that I did, Miss Bingley. And, if you are adverse to country dirt, remember that being the mistress of a large estate does involve a good deal of it.”

The two women locked eyes. Then Miss Bingley said, softly, “It is difficult to speak of one’s regrets. I am deeply grateful that you told me of yours.”

Mrs. Bennet nodded. “It is easier to live with regret if what you have learnt helps another.”

Mr. Bingley managed to wrest his attention away from Miss Bennet long enough to note his sister speaking earnestly with Mrs. Bennet. ‘Now what on earth could this be about?’ he wondered.

As the visit drew to a close, Miss Bingley recalled the purpose of her visit and issued her dinner invitation. It was accepted at once.

Chapter Forty-Eight

As the carriage headed back toward Netherfield, Georgiana glanced at Miss Bingley. She had become very pale, and seemed much absorbed in thought. Georgiana shrugged and looked away; she did not much care.

But Mr. Bingley was troubled by the expression on his sister’s face, and he made it a point to visit her in her room before dinner.

“Yes, Charles?”

“What is wrong, Caroline?”

“Nothing whatever.”

“I have known you all your life, Caroline; something is disturbing you.’ He hesitated, and then said, “Tell me first, though, how did you know that Darcy was here?”

Caroline turned to her wardrobe, opened the top drawer and produced a small note.

Mr. Bingley opened it and read it. Looking up at his sister, he protested, “But this was in my basket, Caroline!”

“No, actually, it was on the floor. One of the maids found it and knew I would be interested in its contents.”