Page 121 of A Life Diverted
There was an air of excitement, for the family was anticipating the arrival of the Fitzwilliams, and as little Andy, almost three months old, was travelling for the first time with his parents, Fitzwilliam grandparents, aunt, and uncle.
Fanny and Bennet were excited. Fanny had the nursery aired out and cleaned from top to bottom, as it had not been occupied since Tommy was moved into his own bedchamber when he had turned ten.
At fifteen and fourteen, respectively, Kitty and Lydia were growing into estimable young ladies who were looking forward to their nephew’s arrival.
When they saw him on the way home from Pemberley at Christmas, he had slept almost the whole time they were there.
Now, according to Jane’s letters, little Andy was interested in the world around him and would gurgle happily when someone played with him.
The two youngest Bennet sisters were not quite as proficient as their older sisters on the pianoforte, although they were by no means deficient.
Their true strength in the musical arts lay in singing.
Both spent many hours with Mr. Mercury, who encouraged their talent.
They now had the best voices among the five Bennet sisters.
They sang a duet for the Queen during Little Season just past, not just as part of a larger group—as they were the first time they exhibited for the monarch.
In addition, Kitty excelled at drawing and spent almost as many hours with Mr. Lambert as she did with the singing master.
Sketching was Kitty’s strongest discipline, but she was also quite talented with both water colour and oil-based paints.
She could not wait to sketch little Andy and wondered if he still had deep blue eyes, or if they had begun to change, as she had been told was possible.
If Jane and Andrew agreed, Kitty planned to make a sketch of them with one of them holding Andy, and then she would use her oils to make a portrait for them as a gift.
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Further exciting the level of anticipation at Netherfield, the Darcys and Wes were expected later in the day; the Fitzwilliams including Cassie and Richard on the following day; and Anne and Jamey Carrington the day after that.
Everyone was expected to arrive before the upcoming assembly except the Carrington parents, who would arrive the following week along with Lady Sarah.
Elizabeth was looking forward to the upcoming assembly with glee; she could not wait to see William again. Although she was not out in society in London, she was out locally and had been for the last six months.
What really amused Elizabeth was considering how the harridan that was Miss Bingley might behave.
The woman had alienated the local populace with her airs and graces.
She had denigrated the ‘country hoyden’ who had the temerity to turn her Mr. Darcy’s eye and had let it be known she would put the nobody in her place at the assembly.
The Bennets and the Prince quietly let it be known around Meryton not to correct the shrew, so she would be allowed to discover her own insignificance in a way she could not but accept.
If Miss Bingley thought she would be able to cow her rival—a rival only in her mind as William cared not a whit for Miss Bingley—she would be sorely disappointed, as Elizabeth’s courage always rose at every attempt to intimidate her.
The Bennets and the Prince hoped more than believed that the social climbing harpy with her pretentions and airs might behave herself rather than make it necessary that she be put in her place at the assembly. From reports of what the shrew had been saying, it seemed a vain hope.
"Did you ask to see me, Papa?” Elizabeth said, after being bade to enter the study.
“We did, Lizzy,” Bennet replied. “We received an express from Darcy House. Before you worry, all three Darcys are well, but there is some unexpected business that will detain them for a day or two. They will still be here in time for the assembly.”
“Do you know what detains them in London?” Elizabeth asked.
“No, Lizzy. Uncle Robert was not explicit in his express. I am sure if it were something of concern or if he needed our help, he would have been more specific,” Bennet opined.
“Thank you for informing me, Papa,” Elizabeth said over her shoulder after her father dismissed her from his study.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“William, you and your sister are to go with me to St. James Palace at two o’clock today,” Darcy informed his son.
“Why, Father?” William asked, confused. “I thought you would talk to Uncle Freddy when we arrive at Netherfield Park.”
“I sent an express to him after we spoke instead, and he in turn communicated with the King. Evidently our monarch believes I may change my mind again, so this morning a royal courier delivered a message summoning us to the palace,” Darcy informed his son.
“I suppose I understand the King’s thinking,” William returned with amusement. “How many have turned down such an honour as many times as you and grandfather have between you? I am sure I would need a single finger on one hand to count them, and even then, it would be one finger too many.”
“I dare say you have the right of it, William.” Darcy clapped his son on the back.
“Bennet sent me an express as well.” Darcy did not miss the look of concern on William’s face.
“Lizzy is well; it is about that Bingley woman and her pretentions. The plan is to allow her enough rope to hang herself at the assembly. If she behaves as a lady should, then she will be safe. If not, social suicide will not begin to describe what she will commit.”
“As much as I dislike seeing anyone suffer, after the way she tried to attach herself to me when I went to welcome Bingley to the neighbourhood, she deserves whatever she brings down on her own head,” William said with distaste as he remembered the cloying woman and shuddered.
“I told Bingley that even should she be found naked in my bed with all of London as witnesses, I would not offer for her.”
“And I would support you completely. I could not imagine consigning my son to such a fate as to be aligned with that harpy,” Darcy stated emphatically.
“It is bad enough she was the reason Bingley felt we could never form a closer friendship—or any friendship at all—the woman must be delusional to think she has anything to offer me. Even were I not irrevocably in love with Lizzy, I would not look at her twice,” William stated firmly.
“Please make sure Gigi is ready to depart. I do not understand why a girl not yet twelve needs so much time to prepare.” Darcy shook his head. His little girl was growing up, and each day she looked more and more like his beloved late wife.
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Miss Bingley entered Longbourn’s drawing room with a sniff, her nose high in the air. “Why did you summon me, Charles?” Miss Bingley asked disdainfully.
“Although we are not sure you will hear what we are about to tell you, it is our duty to do so,” Bingley began. Seeing his sister was about to interject, Bingley held up his hand. “Not a word until we are done.”
Miss Bingley’s look was venomous as she glared at her brother, sister, and brother-in-law. When they did not relent, she sat on a sofa with a huff.
“Your pretentions concerning the younger Mr. Darcy must stop.” Bingley gave his sister a quelling look as she saw her about to object, so she held her peace—for now.
“The man told me in no uncertain terms that even were you to sink so low as to try to compromise him, regardless of how many witnesses, he will not offer for you—he will never offer for you, Caroline.”
“What would induce you to think a man from the top of the first circles, who has connections to peers of the realm and royalty, would even consider the daughter of a tradesman as his future wife is beyond me,” Hurst stated as he shook his head at his sister’s wilful blindness.
“I have been educated at the best seminary and have ten thousand pounds!” Miss Bingley retorted.
“You were told to be silent until we were done, or would you prefer I send you back to Uncle Paul this very day?” Bingley threatened.
“Did you learn nothing at that school you attended? It is birth which sets your position in society. Not only that, compared to most in the Ton , your dowry is insignificant.”
“Caroline,” Louisa tried a gentler approach to attempt to reach her sister.
“I have heard talk that there are many of the very top of the first circles who visit this neighbourhood, including peers and even royalty. Would you really like to expose yourself in front of some of the leading members of society? If you walk the path you have started, your dreams of being accepted in any circle of high society will turn to dust. Is that what you want for yourself?”
Miss Bingley silently seethed; she would not give her brother cause to send her away before she was able secure her Mr. Darcy, then she would show them all. Once she was a leading member of the Ton , she would shun them.
“You may respond if you care to now, Sister,” Bingley allowed.
“High society in this neighbourhood?” Miss Bingley derided. “If you think thusly, you have no idea what constitutes high society. Hereabouts there are none but a bunch of country bumpkins who are far below me.”
Bingley shook his head. He, Louisa, and Hurst had tried.
As was her wont, Caroline would not hear or see anything which did not fit her presumptions.
He only prayed that he would not be ruined along with his sister when she brought ruination down on her own head, but he could not see another way for her to learn the truth of their station.
She was nineteen, almost twenty, and so would have to face the consequences of her actions.