Page 19 of A Rational Man (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

M r. Bingley and his party arrived as promised.

Mr. Darcy, Mr. Graham and Mrs. Nichols went out to welcome them.

Graham noticed, to his private mortification, that Mr. Bingley’s carriage was not nearly as elegant as Mr. Darcy’s; he hoped – again – that Mr. Darcy would not tell Mr. Bingley of his failure to treat Mr. Darcy as that gentleman had deserved.

Mrs. Nichols, with the innate perception that women have and men lack, saw at once that Miss Bingley was the person to be cosseted and placated, and so curtsied deeply to her after making proper obeisance to Mr. Bingley.

Mrs. Nichols informed Miss Bingley that the best bedrooms had been aired, clean linens supplied, and fires already lit, in preparation for the family’s occupancy.

“Foodstuffs?” the haughty young miss enquired, nose in the air.

“The pantries are full, Miss Bingley,” Mrs. Nichols replied at once. “Cook awaits your orders as to the family’s preferred meals.”

“Refreshments?”

“Awaiting you in the drawing room, Miss Bingley.”

Miss Bingley nodded, and dismissed Mrs. Nichols with a regal wave of her hand. She turned to her brother. “Charles!”

Mr. Bingley was occupied with Mr. Darcy, who was assuring him that all was in order at Netherfield, but he looked up at once upon hearing his sister’s voice. “Yes, Caroline?”

“It is too cold to stand out here; can we not go inside?”

“Of course. Come, Darcy.” And with that, the party entered the house. The trunks were brought in and carried upstairs by the footmen.

“Refreshments are available in the drawing room,” Miss Bingley said, for all the world as if she had orchestrated those refreshments. “I do hope you will join us, Mr. Darcy.”

“Of course, Miss Bingley. I have been remiss in not enquiring as to your journey; it was not unpleasant, I hope?”

“Oh, it was dreadful! The roads – truly, someone should do something about the condition of the roads out here in the wild!”

“Indeed? The road from London to Meryton was, I thought, in good condition. The roads in Derbyshire are far worse, as we get quite a bit more rain and snow in the northern part of the country.”

Miss Bingley had nothing to say to that, so she merely gave Mr. Darcy his cup. “Milk, no sugar, is that not right, Mr. Darcy?”

“Quite right, I thank you, Miss Bingley.”

Mr. Bingley was impatient with these societal niceties, for he cleared his throat and said. “Well, Darcy, tell me everything! How is the society? Have you met my neighbours?”

“I have spent a good deal of time with your closest neighbours, the Bennets.”

“Tell me about them!” Mr. Bingley cried at once.

“Do you not prefer to hear about the tenant farms and the condition of the house?” Mr. Darcy asked, though knowing full well that his sociable friend was far more interested in people than property.

“We have time enough for that,” Mr. Bingley said. “For you will remain with us at least a few days, will you not?”

“Of course I will. Very well; the Bennet family consists of Mr. Bennet, Mrs. Bennet and five daughters.”

“Five! Heavens! How old are they?” Mr. Bingley asked, leaning forward.

Mr. Darcy’s brow creased. “I do not know their exact ages, of course, but at least three of them are of an age to marry.”

“Are they pretty, Darcy?”

Miss Bingley immediately said, “Charles is not about to marry any country miss! Am I not right, Louisa?”

“No, he certainly will not!” Mrs. Hurst agreed.

Mr. Darcy smiled at them. “I would not take any wagers on that, as the eldest Bennet girl is, I believe, perfect for your brother in every way.”

Mr. Bingley exclaimed, “I must meet her as soon as may be! Tell me all about her, Darcy!”

“Miss Bennet is quite lovely, with golden hair, enormous blue eyes, and a perfect complexion. She is everything womanly, kind and gentle.” Mr. Darcy could see Miss Bingley’s face growing icier with every word. “And she is graceful on the dance floor.”

Miss Bingley gasped. “Did you dance with her, Mr. Darcy?”

“I did, as well as with all her sisters.”

“But you so dislike dancing!” she went on, sounding quite shocked.

He shrugged. “I discovered that in some cases I like it well enough.”

Mr. Bingley broke in. “But you are not interested in her yourself, are you, Darcy? For I know I could not successfully best you in such a contest.”

“No, she is not for me, Bingley. But I thought of you the moment I saw her.”

“Has she a dowry?” Miss Bingley demanded.

“Her dowry is her social status, Miss Bingley, for her father is a landed gentleman, and I am given to understand that the family has owned the land for more than two centuries.”

“But no dowry and no social connections! No, Charles can do better than that,” Miss Bingley insisted.

“I should like to meet her as soon as may be!” Mr. Bingley enthused, not at all put off by his sister’s criticisms.

“It is rather late for a visit today, Bingley, but I am in the habit of visiting the Bennets almost daily. Mr. Bennet and I have an ongoing chess tournament, and he will expect me tomorrow.”

Miss Bingley immediately said that she had far too much to do in the house to be visiting neighbours quite yet, and no one contradicted her.