Page 28 of A Life Diverted
“This is not a good idea. Caroline, I told you what both Darcy and Fitzwilliam said about a compromise and the repercussions if I support you,” Bingley whinged. “If they meant it…”
“Of course, they did not,” Miss Bingley insisted. “They are too honourable for that, and your friendship is too valuable to cast you off.”
Rather than order his sister to desist, Bingley only attempted some half-hearted arguments to attempt to divert her.
He reiterated the words of his friends with regard to any plan of Caroline’s.
When that had not worked, and after a rather violent tantrum where she had not only berated him, but soundly slapped him, and scratched him on his torso so it would not be visible to others, Bingley decided that as she would not be convinced to change her course, his only choice was to acquiesce and assist Caroline.
Louisa had not been told what her sister had planned to do because the latter was worried Louisa would say something in Hurst’s hearing, and her husband would warn both Fitzwilliam and Darcy.
She had selected Mr Darcy to compromise not only because he was wealthier, but Mr Fitzwilliam’s bedchamber was locked, and his valet was always within.
Caroline had managed to have Bingley’s valet offer Carstens—Darcy’s valet—a glass of wine which had been laced with laudanum.
The drugged man was in the servants’ hallway behind his master’s bedchamber.
As soon as she heard the sounds of the Darcy coach arriving, Miss Bingley let her diaphanous nightgown drop and climbed into Mr Darcy’s bed.
When they arrived back at Netherfield Park, although it was late, the three stopped in the drawing room, as would be expected. They found Bingley and the Hursts present. No Miss Bingley.
“Would you like some tea?” Mrs Hurst offered. “My sister was not feeling well and retired a while ago.”
“No, thank you, Mrs Hurst,” Lady Catherine replied for all three. “We have had a long and draining night, so we will make for our beds. We wish you all a very good night.”
Mrs Hurst returned the greeting, but her husband was snoring on a chaise. Bingley grunted something without looking at his guests.
Richard led them into the library. “Something is not right. Did you see the way Bingley refused to look at us? I think his sister is planning something, and he has chosen to ignore our warnings. I ordered Hastings to keep my chamber locked. What of Carstens? Will he keep your bedchamber secure?”
“Not necessarily locked, but he knows to remain there,” Darcy averred.
“Aunt Catherine, you will come with us, will you not? We will need you as an unimpeachable witness,” Richard requested.
“I will do anything for my boys.” Lady Catherine nodded.
“You know this will get Bingley evicted as well as costing him our friendship, do you not?” Darcy checked.
“He made the bed; now he must lie in it,” Richard said without emotion.
With as little noise as possible, Aunt and nephews made their way up the grand staircase to the guest floor. They first padded to the door to Richard’s bedchamber. When he knocked in the way he had agreed with his valet, Hastings opened the door, allowing the three to enter.
“Hastings, use the servants’ corridor and go see if Carstens is waiting in Mr Darcy’s bedchamber for him. We will wait here,” Richard ordered.
The valet gave a bow and slipped through the servants’ door. He returned within a minute. “Carstens is asleep and will not wake. He is lying on the floor in the servants’ passageway just outside Mr Darcy’s bedchamber.
“Hastings, will you assist me to bring him hither?” Darcy requested.
Soon enough the two men brought a drugged valet into Richard Fitzwilliam’s chamber.
“From what we know of the lease, the servants in the house are employed by Bennet, so I am sure Miss Bingley convinced Bingley’s valet to assist her. He is as scared of the shrew as her brother is,” Richard opined. “What should we do to ruin that termagant?”
“You and Aunt Catherine, with your valet, enter from the servants’ door. Is that agreeable, Aunt?” Darcy asked.
“I will not melt by walking a few feet in the servants’ hallway. Give us five minutes to be in position before you enter. Society will be far better without the Bingleys in it,” Lady Catherine said firmly.
Darcy waited the full five minutes before he made for his chamber.
He had a candle holder in his hand with the candle lit.
He was sure Richard would not begrudge him its use.
As he walked towards his chamber, Darcy saw the curtain covering the alcove opposite his door move a little.
He saw the toe of a shoe sticking out from the bottom of the curtain.
‘ This is on you, ’ Darcy thought. ‘ It is not like we did not give you ample warnings, multiple times. If our friendship is worth so little to you, Bingley, then so be it. You are the one who will live with the consequences .’
He took a deep breath, pushed down on the door handle, and swung the door open. As soon as he entered, he saw the shrew sit up in his bed, allowing the coverlet to fall off her chest, displaying her less than adequate assets.
“Oh, Fitzwilliam, you have come. Join me,” Miss Bingley said rather loudly.
As expected, Bingley stormed into the chamber. “Darcy, I never expected this of you. You will, of course, marry Caroline,” he blustered.
“Face or belly?” Darcy asked as he placed the candleholder on a dresser.
“What?” Bingley enquired in confusion.
“He is not worth it, William,” Lady Catherine stated from the other side of the bed.
“I agree it would feel good to thrash this puppy, but they are about to experience their complete ruin in society, and that will be punishment enough,” Richard drawled.
He turned on Bingley with a feral look. “You, Mr Bingley, are a disgrace. You were told what would occur, and yet you fell in with this harpy’s plans.
Consider our friendship at an end. Also, if I were you, I would begin to pack.
When we report this to your landlord’s agent on the morrow, and we will, he will evict you. ”
“This unattractive thing could fall on me as naked as she is now before all of society, and I still would not marry her. Get that out of my bed, Mr Bingley,” Darcy thundered.
Miss Bingley sat with her mouth gaping. As soon as she saw Lady Catherine she had pulled the coverlet over her chest. Mr Darcy was refusing to marry her. “You must marry me,” she screeched. “If not, you will be ruined.”
“That just shows your lack of education,” Lady Catherine stated.
“Firstly, my nephew has witnesses who will be believed in society that he was never alone with you. You, on the other hand, drugged his valet and crawled into his bed in that shocking state. The only ones who will be ruined are you and your brother. Every door in polite society will be closed to you.”
“ THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF THAT FOUNDLING !” Miss Bingley screamed.
The noise had attracted the Hursts. “Charles, what have you done?” Mrs Hurst questioned when she saw where her sister was.
“And you, Miss tradesman’s daughter, had better never allow me to hear you disparage my cousin ever again!” Richard threatened in a way which caused Miss Bingley to feel a cold shiver travel down her spine.
“Mr and Mrs Hurst, it seems you are innocent in this. We will leave my bedchamber. I expect my former friend and Miss Bingley not to be here in a half hour. As far as we are concerned,” Darcy inclined his head to his aunt and cousin, “you two will not partake in your brother and sister’s ruin.
As my cousin warned, they need to leave this house before the landlord’s agent throws them out on the morrow.
” Darcy saw his former friend was about to protest. “Do not whinge after the fact. You are fully aware of what the lease states, and you knew what we would do.”
With that Lady Catherine, Richard, and Darcy turned their backs on the two Bingleys, cut them, and left the chamber.
While Hurst led a defeated Bingley out of the room, his wife made sure her sister was wrapped in the coverlet to preserve what was left of her dignity.
As soon as her sister was in her chamber, very much in a stupor, Mrs Hurst issued orders to their personal servants to begin packing the trunks belonging to the Bingleys and the Hursts.