Page 24 of To Win Her Affections

He stared in moody silence out the window, but Darcy suspected he saw nothing. Darcy considered saying something at once, but he opted instead to wait for Bingley to clarify.

“You were so certain of her feelings,” Bingley said at length. Then he grimaced. “My sisters, of course, spoke of her unsuitability, as if the daughter of a gentleman is not suitable for the son of a merchant. That did not sway me so much as the notion that she did not care for me, a possibility I had not considered.”

Bingley sighed and turned away from the window. “It has been above eight months now—I have come to this realization more than a little late. Though I consider Miss Bennet the most generous woman of her sex, I cannot imagine any woman waiting for more than half a year for a man to return. And I left without a backward glance, without even taking my leave.”

The chuckle that came from his friend sounded mirthless. “To own the truth, I have deliberated on the possibility of asking Miss Bennet about her sister. To do so would be to remove all ambiguity, and I am not certain that I am strong enough to face the truth.”

Sensing now was the time, Darcy said: “If you will pardon me, Bingley, I must tell you something that I should have confessed long ago.”

“That sounds ominous, Darcy,” said Bingley, a trace of his humor returning. “Shall I be furious with you?”

“Perhaps,” said Darcy, unable to summon much levity. “Let us sit—this may take us some time.”

Though Bingley gave him a sharp glance, he did not protest. Once they were situated on the sofa, Darcy reflected for a moment, considering what he should say.

“When I saw Miss Bennet in Kent, I had occasion to speak on the subject with her, and this morning when I went to Lambton, I confirmed what she told me.”

Darcy took a deep breath and forged ahead. “I apologize, my friend, for I was in error in my advice to you in November.”

Bingley frowned. “What part of your advice was not sound?”

“If you recall, I spoke about the state of Miss Bennet’s affections,” replied Darcy, seeing Bingley’s eyes go wide. “Though I agreed to a certain extent with your sister’s concerns, I did not think those points to be relevant to the subject—if Miss Bennet’s situation meant nothing to you, it was none of my concern. The state of her heart was the salient point.”

For several moments, Bingley was so shocked that he could not utter a word. Then he gathered himself.

“In calling it an error, are you telling me that Miss Bennet did, in fact, hold a tender regard for me?”

“Miss Elizabeth has told me that her sister considered you the most agreeable man she had ever met,” said Darcy. “Though she would not promise that Miss Bennet would welcome you with open arms if you returned, she is certain that her sister would not turn you away.”

Bingley rose and began to pace, his sudden animation more characteristic of the friend Darcy knew than the introspective man who had lamented his choices only a moment ago. “Miss Elizabeth revealed her sister’s heart to you?” demanded he. “And you are only now telling me?”

Darcy sighed. “I apologize, Bingley. At first, I did not know what to do, and then I was not certain how to handle it. I knew that I needed to tell you, but the question was how. It was on my mind to suggest that we return to Hertfordshire to look in on the estate—that would give you the ability to judge her for yourself.”

The look Bingley directed at him was no less than imperious and demanding. “Darcy, this is not a communication one makes to an indifferent acquaintance. How did such a subject arise between you?”

This was dangerous ground and a subject that Darcy had no wish to discuss while Bingley was in his heightened emotional state. Inevitably, Bingley would realize it if he had not already, for Darcy was not of a mind to hide his admiration for Miss Bennet any longer. Better to tell Bingley at once than to hide it.

“The subject arose because Miss Bennet considered my interference officious, Bingley,” said Darcy. He offered a wry grin, one that conveyed his appreciation for Miss Bennet’s indomitable character. “She guessed the gist of what happened after we departed from Hertfordshire, though not the exact reasons for it. One day we discussed it, and she took me to task.”

It was incongruous with Bingley’s character, but savage amusement crossed his features. “I have every confidence in Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s ability to state her displeasure with great proficiency.”

“Just so,” agreed Darcy.

Bingley still appeared suspicious. “That still does not account for her speaking on the matter. She is more than capable of expressing her opinion when she finds it necessary, but I cannot think she would do so without provocation.”

“In that, you are correct, my friend,” agreed Darcy. “The subject arose when Miss Elizabeth discovered my affection for her.”

“You admire Miss Elizabeth?” demanded Bingley, incredulous and growing a little angry.

“Yes, Bingley, I must confess that I do.”

“Then do you accept my interest in Miss Bennet now because to do otherwise would be hypocritical?”

“No, Bingley,” Darcy said firmly. “I spoke against your pursuit of Miss Bennet for the reasons I have stated. The only reason I am speaking now is that I have learned that I was mistaken about her.”

While Bingley peered at him for a long moment, in the end he answered with a curt nod. Then Bingley returned to the window and gazed outside, pondering what Darcy had just told him. When he turned around again, he had regained his composure.

“Part of me wishes to be angry with you, Darcy,” said Bingley. “Yet I remember it as well as you do—Caroline carried the primary argument against Miss Bennet, while your concern was always for the state of her affections. Though I wish you had told me this earlier, I am grateful you did so now.”