Page 88 of To Win Her Affections

No one who knew Charles Bingley misunderstood that impulsivity was one of his fundamental characteristics. Until the morning he returned to Netherfield Park, however, Darcy had not known how impetuous he could be.

“Darcy,” said Bingley when he alighted from his carriage that morning. “It seems the business with your former friend was completed without delay.”

The way Bingley eyed Georgiana, standing by Darcy’s side, he was certain his friend was being cautious of his words, which was an excellent notion, though not for the reasons he thought.

“Georgiana knows of the business, Bingley,” said Darcy. “There is no need for circumspection, though we are, of course, keeping the truth from the village.”

“Good,” said Bingley with a decisive nod. “Then Miss Lydia is settled, and you have dealt with Wickham?”

“The latter, yes,” said Darcy. “Wickham is even now experiencing the consequences of deserting in a time of war. Fitzwilliam and I will deal with whatever is left of him after his superiors have had their pound of flesh. As for the former, the situation was not so dire as we had been led to believe.”

“Wonderful, Darcy,” said Bingley, his mind not on the subject. “Can I suppose that you mean to visit Longbourn today?”

“Within half an hour,” agreed Darcy, not surprised Bingley would wish to visit at once.

“Then I shall return to my chambers to refresh myself. I shall return within half an hour.”

As he watched Bingley climb the stairs, Darcy wondered what he was about. Beside him, Georgiana appeared beset by the same confusion.

“Seeing Bingley eager to go to Longbourn is not a surprise,” said Darcy when she queried him on the subject. “There is something about his eagerness that I cannot quite name.”

“Miss Bennet will be pleased to see him.”

“That she will be,” said Darcy, now understanding what he had missed all those months.

Bingley descended, punctual to his time, and they set off within a few moments. As they traveled, Darcy noticed his friend peering out the window, distracted, though not by fields of waving grain almost ready to harvest or glorious sunshine on a fine late summer day. Curious, Darcy tried to draw a little information from him.

“Your appearance this morning was quite a surprise, Bingley.” His friend turned to him, his expression revealing nothing. “If you were close enough to arrive this early, you may have pressed on last night.”

For a moment, Bingley hesitated, such that Darcy was uncertain if he would respond. Then Bingley offered an exaggerated shrug and turned back to the window.

“There were some very good reasons to arrive today.”

Curious did not even begin to describe Darcy’s state, though it appeared that asking his friend was a lost cause. There were several reasons Darcy could think of that his friend might prefer to arrive that day rather than the previous evening. He might not have wanted to endure an evening at Netherfield, knowing his lady was only three miles away, or he may have planned something, though Darcy could not fathom what it was. Either way, Bingley would reveal it at the time of his choosing, it seemed; further questions would reveal nothing.

The arrival at Longbourn proceeded much as Darcy might have expected.

“Mr. Bingley!” cried the mistress, surprised and delighted to see him. “You are most welcome, sir—we had no word of your arrival.”

If Bingley flicked even the slightest glance at Mrs. Bennet, Darcy would have been surprised to learn of it. Instead, his gaze appeared fixed on Miss Bennet, her rosy cheeks telling the story of the effect of his scrutiny. And then Bingley did something that when Darcy reflected on it later, he knew he should have expected.

“Miss Bennet,” said he into a brief silence when Mrs. Bennet paused to draw breath, “would you walk with me on the back lawn for a time?”

Silence fell in the wake of Bingley’s question. Mrs. Bennet appeared to have lost her tongue, an interesting development for a woman who rarely lacked something to say. The younger girls watched and whispered, Miss Elizabeth watched and grinned, and even Mr. Bennet appeared to have a knowing air about him. Had Darcy not known Bingley’s character, he might have understood if Mr. Bennet wished to make the returned suitor wait upon his good opinion. As it was, Darcy watched Mr. Bennet and understood the man’s decision to allow his daughter to take the lead.

“Of course, Mr. Bingley,” said Miss Bennet, her imperturbable composure like a parasol protecting her from the sun. “I should be happy to walk with you.

“MR. BINGLEY HAS OUTDONE himself, Mr. Darcy.”

The gentleman’s eyes found her and softened as they always did. Elizabeth might have found herself lost in his gaze if a witticism about Mr. Bingley had not been poised on the tip of her tongue.

“You are thinking about that morning at Netherfield, are you not?’

Elizabeth was unable to stop the grin that tugged at her lips. “Just what I was thinking. This, however, is precipitous, even for him.”

Mr. Darcy nodded, but his eyes drifted again to Mr. Bingley and Jane, appearing contemplative. “Though I agree, I suspect there is more deliberation in Bingley’s behavior than simple spontaneity.”

“Please explain,” said Elizabeth, though she suspected she already knew.