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It was nearly the end of visiting hours before the Darcy carriage came to a stop in front of the Gardiners’ home. William handed her down the steps himself. When she reached the ground, he placed her hand on his arm rather than release it.
They were led into the parlor, and Elizabeth had the supreme pleasure of hearing them announced as “Mr. and Mrs. Darcy.” She stepped into the room with her husband and froze.
Sitting next to Jane was Miss Bingley, and in a chair facing her, Mr. Bingley, who, though he rose as they entered, appeared none too pleased to see them.
Aunt Gardiner rose, too. “Oh, Lizzy, Mr. Darcy,” she said warmly, though her gaze suggested relief. “Jane has just been relating your happy news.”
“Indeed,” Mr. Bingley said flatly, “Our congratulations, Darcy, Mrs. Darcy.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bingley,” William said, but the words were cold.
“I thank you for your visit, Miss Bingley, Mr. Bingley,” Jane said, clearly dismissing them.
Elizabeth noted that Jane’s color was high, and that her eyes flashed with an anger quickly subdued. Elizabeth’s gaze moved to Miss Bingley, who was watching her brother with something like trepidation. How curious.
“Your uncle will be here any moment, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy. He planned to leave work early so that he could greet you,” Aunt Gardiner explained.
Mr. Bingley held out a hand to help his sister up. “I thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Gardiner.” He turned to Jane. “May I call again tomorrow, Miss Bennet?”
Jane stood and brushed out her skirt. “No, Mr. Bingley,” she replied, her expression resolute. “You and I see so differently on this afternoon’s subject that we shall never be able to agree. I thank you for the compliment of your attentions, but I do not wish for them to continue.”
Mr. Bingley opened his mouth to respond, but William spoke first. “You have your answer, Mr. Bingley,” he said firmly. “Do not importune my sister further.”
The man Elizabeth had once found so amiable, so ready to please, scowled. “Very well,” he said sharply, and removed himself from the room.
Mr. Bingley did not wait for his sister, who took advantage of the opportunity to say, in a very low tone, “I must apologize, Mr. Darcy—for all of it. My brother forced me to it.” She glanced at the hall, then whispered quickly, “I did think you and I might suit, but I should never throw myself at any man were it left to me. I have no need to do so.” There was an earnestness in her expression that made Elizabeth believe her. “I do not know what has come over Charles.”
“Miss Bingley,” William replied seriously, “your brother has been gambling. I recommend you seek another trustee to safeguard your fortune. Perhaps Mr. Hurst might be of assistance.”
Caroline Bingley paled, but was not overcome. She nodded once in a quick, tight motion, and hurried out to the hall. Nobody spoke until they heard the front door close.
“Oh, Jane!” cried Elizabeth, rushing across the room and reaching for her sister’s hands. “How brave you were!”
“I never expected him to seek me out, so I did not inform anyone that he should not be announced,” Jane explained, nearly falling back into her seat.
“Oh, Lizzy,” Mrs. Gardiner said, touching one hand to her forehead and sitting in the nearest chair. “He somehow managed to be both charming and terribly intrusive. I thought we might never be rid of him.”
Jane pressed Elizabeth’s hands. “Indeed. He was so different. He frightened me a little.”
“May I get you something, Mrs. Gardiner? Miss Bennet?” William inquired with real concern. He glanced around the room and motioned to a decanter. “A glass of wine?”
Both women smiled at him and shook their heads. “No, sir,” said Aunt Gardiner with a little laugh, “your timely interference was all we required. I sent for Edward, but he can be difficult to locate at times.”
“Where is Papa?” Elizabeth asked. He rarely left the study even here, but surely he would have come had he known Mr. Bingley had arrived.
“With Longbourn’s solicitor,” Aunt Gardiner informed her. “He has been gone several hours and should return shortly.”
“Whatever did Mr. Bingley want?” Elizabeth asked, sitting next to Jane and taking her hand.
“He seemed to believe Mama’s claim that my first son would inherit Longbourn,” Jane replied. “I told him that was not the case, but he behaved as though he knew better. How can a man be so assured of his information and yet be so entirely mistaken?”
William stood where Elizabeth had left him, shuffled his feet a bit, and finally clasped his hands behind his back.
“Hello?” Uncle Gardiner called from somewhere near the front of the house.
“Late again, Edward,” Aunt Gardiner said with a sigh and stood to fetch him.
William watched her go and then moved to a chair to address Jane. “Mr. Bingley followed you to London, then?”
