Page 43

“That was a very pleasant evening,” Mr. Bingley declared on the way home from their dinner engagement, and Mr. Darcy happily agreed.

Wondering if Mr. Wickham might be obliged to attend, he had been a little hesitant about dining with the officers. But Wickham had managed to evade this party as well. The worst that Mr. Darcy had to put up with was hearing Colonel Forster sing his praises.

Such a fine, devoted officer. So hard-working.

Would make a splendid captain, or even a colonel, if only he had the means to rise to those positions.

But his reliability and willingness to assume extra duties would make him a welcome addition in any regiment.

Not that Colonel Forster would let another colonel steal away his best officer.

The other officers took no offence at hearing this. Perhaps because his so-called devotion freed them up for a greater share of the pleasures to be had among the local society. Or perhaps because they really liked him. Several of them spoke up in praise of his good nature and cheerful disposition.

Although dubious about Mr. Wickham’s sudden spotless reputation, Mr. Darcy had again been grateful for the opportunity to enjoy the evening without his presence.

“I am pleased that my sisters invited Miss Bennet to dine with them while we were out,” Mr. Bingley added. “This is the sort of attention that I had hoped they would pay to her.”

Mr. Darcy had wondered if it was safe to leave her in their clutches.

He had given much thought to whether Mr. Bingley should know what had been said at Hatfield.

But he had also seen Miss Bingley subdued since their conversation.

Perhaps she had at last learned that her efforts to interfere were in vain.

And since she was continuing to make a show of friendliness toward Miss Bennet, he had decided the benefit of the doubt was merited.

Why stir up trouble if there was none in the making?

But at a gathering a couple of days later, he saw Mrs. Bennet talking to her sister, who was not often invited to the same parties, and behind them was Miss Bingley, looking much too pleased.

Mr. Darcy moved their way, hoping to discover that she was just making something out of nothing; however, his heart sank as soon as he heard what Mrs. Philips was saying.

“Jane is certain to get Mr. Bingley. I shall be pleased to see her settled at Netherfield. But I am puzzled about her being the one to pursue him. I thought you intended for Lydia to have Mr. Bingley. And wasn’t Jane supposed to get Mr. Madison?

And didn’t you mean for Lizzy to marry Mr. Collins?

Not that I think it a bad thing for her to be going after Mr. Darcy instead.

It will be a coup for her to catch such a wealthy man. ”

“Lizzy? You must mean Mary.”

“No, I don’t.”

“You are confused.” Sounding very confused herself, Mrs. Bennet embarked upon a rambling account of the matches she had planned for her daughters and various adjustments she had needed to make to these plans.

Mr. Darcy heard all of this in horror. Particularly when she came to Mr. Bingley. She made it sound as though she had jumped upon the opportunity to take advantage of his infatuation.

In the midst of explaining that Mary was the best match for Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Bennet suddenly stopped. “But none of this is relevant,” she said. “What I was meaning to say is that I don’t want my daughters to flirt.”

“But you told them to make use of all their arts and allurements to get themselves husbands,” Mrs. Philips protested. “And they have done exactly as you instructed.”

Grasping Mr. Darcy’s arm, Miss Bingley joyfully cried, “You see. It is just as I said. The woman has been scheming to get her daughters married. She will stop at nothing to trap my brother.”

***

The evening could not end soon enough for Miss Bingley. But instead of her usual eagerness to get away from such inferior company, her impatience to leave was caused by anticipating the moment of her victory.

The words burst out of her the moment the carriage door was closed. “I was right,” she cried. “You have been completely taken in, Charles. Mrs. Bennet has taken advantage of you. I have the evidence of it, and Mr. Darcy is my witness. She admitted everything herself.”

To her surprise, Mr. Darcy was reluctant to support her account of Mrs. Bennet’s revelations.

She had seen that he was gravely disturbed by the incident.

It should have been enough to place him firmly on her side, at last eager to join her in detaching her brother from Miss Bennet. But he said very little.

It was enough, however, that he did not attempt to dispute the facts. He could not. Although he had also been duped, Mr. Darcy was an honest man, and now he must accept the truth.

Her brother was not so subdued. “I can’t believe it,” was his initial response. But she saw the confidence in his expression waiver as he looked to Mr. Darcy and received no glib excuses or absurd explanations.

He did his best to supply them himself. Mothers were always planning matches.

It was a harmless activity. Mrs. Bennet’s plans had been nothing more than foolishness.

Her ideas of instruction on the catching of husbands were simply trivial bits of advice to her daughters, who had disregarded them anyway.

And by talking of encouraging gentlemen she had meant nothing more than treating them civilly and perhaps inviting them to dinner.

There hadn’t been any nefarious scheme to trap them.

But his voice grew quieter, and less convinced, as his ally remained silent.

Seeing victory within her grasp, Miss Bingley concluded by pointing out the evils which her brother had brought upon them, and to which he was proposing to subject his friends as well as his family.

“For goodness’ sake!” she cried. “The woman was intending to pair you with Miss Lydia!

Would you wish that upon any of your acquaintance?

As your mother-in-law she would be importuning your friends in her efforts to get husbands for her other daughters.

Treating them with the same presumption she has shown in deciding who you and Mr. Darcy should marry.

Revealing all your private concerns as easily as she blurts out her own.

“How can you not see how unfair this is to Louisa and me? Try to understand what we will suffer. The sacrifice of our comfort to your whim. The friends who will shun us rather than suffer along with us. How impossible it will be for us to hold up our heads in society. We will be made miserable because you thought love more important than respectability.”

Her brother made no reply. She had won. Leaning back in satisfaction, Miss Bingley spoke no more. And neither did her companions.

Back at Netherfield, they quickly bade each other good night. The gentlemen went their separate ways, but Miss Bingley accompanied Mrs. Hurst into her chamber.

“We have succeeded!” she joyfully cried. This crisis has been averted. I knew all would end well if we persevered. I knew Mrs. Bennet would eventually reveal her true character.”

“So it really was true, was it?” Mrs. Hurst queried. “And Mr. Darcy heard everything?”

“Yes, it was true. I didn’t have to make up anything, which was quite refreshing.

And Mr. Darcy heard most of it. He wasn’t there when Mrs. Philips congratulated her sister on the success of her scheme to get all five daughters married, and on having taught them to flirt so well, which was a pity.

But he heard Mrs. Bennet reveal all her plans, and he was utterly shocked by the whole business.

I think we can count on him to finally give the right advice. ”