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“Bingley, please tell me you are not unaware of your sisters’, especially Miss Bingley’s, penchant to eavesdrop at doors when we speak, especially if I am with you? It seems that no matter how many times I have told you I will never offer for her, your sister is still under the illusion that I will,” Darcy stated.

“My sisters would not,” Bingley defended half-heartedly.

“Surely you are not so naïve to believe that? You know better than anyone how your sisters thrive on gossip and dig for any information that they feel will somehow advantage them. They use methods fair and foul.” Darcy paused as he collected his thoughts. “I must tell you that I will no longer remain silent when your sister spouts her high-in-the-instep pretentions.”

“W-what do y-you m-mean?” Bingley stammered.

“You have heard when your sister claims that she and I are at the same level of society, have you not? She did the same when my cousin arrived today,” Darcy pointed out.

“She means nothing by it,” Bingley said weakly, knowing it was not factual as soon as the words passed his lips.

“You know that is not true,” Darcy shot back. “I bear some responsibility for the brazen way she acts as if she, the daughter of a tradesman, is above the gentry. I should have corrected her. However, I allowed our friendship to stop me. Also, when she latches onto my arm possessively without being invited to do so, it was up to me to set her down the first time. It has recently been indicated to me that when we do not act to stop something that is wrong, we enable the behaviour. I will no longer do that.”

“Is Caroline really so very bad?” Bingley asked hopelessly.

“She is, and you and I both sat back in this very house and allowed her, and to a lesser extent Mrs Hurst, to act in a way no hostess ever should,” Darcy responded.

“Me? What did I do?” Bingley whinged.

“Do you remember when the Misses Bennet were hosted in this very house?” Darcy reminded his friend.

“Of course I do; Miss Bennet is a beautiful angel,” Bingley replied dreamily.

“Miss Elizabeth was a guest in your house, yet your younger sister, with aid from Mrs Hurst, constantly attacked Miss Elizabeth. You had the primary responsibility to check your sisters, as it is your house while you lease the estate, and you are the head of the Bingley family. As a gentleman, it was my place to call the behaviour what it was, but I will admit that I was fascinated by the way Miss Elizabeth was able to deflect your sisters’ barbs back at them in such a way that your sisters were not aware of what she was doing. My behaviour towards that lady has not been admirable starting with my slight at the assembly, of which she heard every word. When she was here I very much enjoyed our debates, or that is what I thought they were.”

“Debates! Miss Elizabeth argued with you at every turn. I think she dislikes you,” Bingley returned.

“Yes, you have the right of it. I was too puffed up by pride and arrogance to see that,” Darcy admitted.

Fitzwilliam was pleased to hear his cousin own that about himself. There was hope for him yet.

“That is not the topic of discussion at this time,” Darcy stated firmly. “The way Miss Bingley behaves towards everyone and me is beyond the pale and wholly unacceptable. As her brother and head of the Bingley family, I am informing you that I will no longer remain silent when your sisters misbehave. The next time either Mrs Hurst or Miss Bingley claim they are above the gentry, I will correct them in terms they will not be able to misconstrue. If Miss Bingley sinks her talons into my arm again, I will not only remove her hand from my arm, but, in no uncertain terms, I will tell her what I think of her doing that.

“Your sisters try running as far from their roots in trade as they can, but they do not realise that their behaviour paints them squarely as members of the nouveau riche. I will point out to your sisters that it is birth and not the size of one’s dowry or what seminary they attended which elevates them. On the subject of Miss Bingley’s dowry, which she boasts about every opportunity she has, besides that being extremely crass, on the scale of dowries among the Ton, hers is on the lower end.

“I want to keep you as a friend, but I will no longer tolerate your sisters’ behaviour, and that includes them calling uninvited at Darcy House. Even if my sister liked their company, and she does not, she is not out yet. Those calls are something I should have stopped immediately as well. If your sister attempts a compromise, I will not gratify it, and if you attempt to support her dishonourable action, you will be ruined along with her. I know this all sounds harsh, but it must be said before I give your sisters the cut direct.”

“You have told me you would never offer for Caroline even if she entrapped you; however, until now I never understood your resolve,” Bingley related as he shook his head. “What am I to do? I have always placated Caroline so that she would not unleash one of her tantrums. It seems that was not the best way to deal with her, was it?”

“No, it was not,” Fitzwilliam said as Darcy nodded his agreement with his cousin.

“Do you think my angel is aware of how my sisters treated Miss Elizabeth while she was here?” Bingley wondered.

“Bingley, what do you think?” Darcy questioned. “Did you not note the sisterly affection between Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth the day the latter walked three miles to come check on her sister?” Before the meeting with Collins, Darcy would have spoken against Miss Bennet, but based on what he had been told, he knew that Miss Bennet would not accept anyone for whom she did not feel an inclination.

Before Bingley could repeat his question regarding what to do to take his sister in hand, there was rather loud screeching coming from the hallway outside the study door.

Fitzwilliam and Darcy looked at one another, knowing that a certain harpy had been thwarted from her attempted eavesdropping by Thompson.

With some trepidation, Bingley opened the door.

“Charles, you must sack this man without a character. He would not allow me to listen at…I mean, knock and offer you beverages,” Miss Bingley screeched with anger to try cover up her slip-up.

“You call yourself a lady, Miss Bingley, yet you attempt to abuse my footman, a man positioned by my orders to ensure that you could not attempt to eavesdrop as you have done anytime I have met with your brother at Hurst House. Did you never wonder why I began to insist that we meet at White’s?” Darcy said calmly. “As Thompson is employed by me and was acting on my orders, he will most certainly not be sacked.”

“Well, I never,” Miss Bingley blustered. She waited for her weak-willed brother to defend her. When he did not, she stamped a slippered foot and marched away.

“I am indebted to your sister for making my point about herself so eloquently,” Darcy drawled once the door was closed again. “You did notice that she never denied my charge about her listening to our private conversations, did you not?”