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By staying at Darcy’s townhouse in London, Mr. Bingley guaranteed himself a comfortable living arrangement, a housemate who was just as eager as himself to visit a certain domicile on Gracechurch Street, and, perhaps most importantly, a certain degree of protection from his own relations.

In addition to Darcy’s report of how Miss Bingley had barged into his study, demanding to have the story of his engagement denied immediately, Charles was accumulating a stack of angry letters from his younger sister.

Even with this pleasant sanctuary, Bingley knew he would have to face his family, and soon. He hoped that by controlling the timing and duration of his exposure to them, he would be able to overcome his lifelong horror of conflict and hold firm to his resolutions.

The Hurst townhouse was located on a leafy side street off Cavendish Square.

Mr. Hurst’s parents rarely left their estate in Sussex, while their son and his wife held no great fondness for that part of the country and so maintained their primary residence in town.

After Louisa’s parents and elder brother had died suddenly in a carriage accident, it had seemed only natural for her younger brother and sister to come stay with them.

After three years, however, the arrangement was beginning to try the couple’s patience.

When Bingley entered the Hursts’ drawing room, Caroline did not even wait for the butler to depart before she began her assault.

After trying to interrupt several times, Charles finally caught his sister’s boney finger before she could poke him in the chest again. “Enough, Caroline!” Seeing that she was about to speak again, he raised his voice, “ Enough, I said!!! ”

The sisters were astonished by their brother’s angry tone and even Mr. Hurst looked up from his wine. Charles sighed, thoroughly uncomfortable, but then he thought of Jane and repressed his innate impulse to apologize .

“On the fifteenth of September, I will marry Miss Jane Bennet. Her father has sanctioned our engagement, the contracts are being drawn up, and the banns were read for the first time last Sunday. Jane will be my wife and, as Mrs. Bingley, she will be mistress of my house and my estate, as well as of my heart.”

“But Charles…” began Caroline.

“No—there will be no more discussion on the matter. I have made my choice and it is final. Now you have a decision to make. If you cannot treat Jane and her family with civility and respect, then you will no longer be welcome in my home.”

Louisa’s eyebrows rose to see such resolution displayed by her younger brother.

In her mind’s eye, he was still the sweet, happy little boy who was always trying to make someone smile, be they family, servant, or a beggar on the street.

Fortunately for Charles, his father had had very clear ideas on the raising of boys, so while his younger son was dearly loved, he was not spoiled.

This was a stark contrast to Caroline, who had been a beautiful baby who quickly learned how to wrap the entire household around her young finger.

Miss Bingley felt none of her sister’s pleasure at their brother’s change in attitude. “Charles, you cannot possibly be serious. You would choose that little nobody over your own flesh and blood? What would Papa say?”

Bingley cocked his head. “I believe our father would have loved Jane almost as much as I do, and welcomed her into the family with open arms.”

Before Caroline could start up again, he added in a harsher tone, “And if you must be crass about it, Da would be pleased that I, the son and grandson of tradesmen, am marrying a respectable gentlewoman whose father owns an estate that has been in their family for generations.”

Frustrated at having her argument so neatly parried, Caroline spoke without thinking; “Why are you being so difficult? I’m trying to look out for our family’s best interests! Why won’t you just do as I say?”

His relations would not have believed it possible, but Bingley’s face became even more irate. “Caroline, you look out for no one but yourself . Your advice has everything to do with helping you claw your way into the first circles of Society, but when have you ever considered what I want?”

“Oh silly Charles, don’t be ridiculous. Everything I do is to make certain of your happiness.”

Bingley rolled his eyes. “You’re the one being absurd, Caro. Last winter, you separated me from Jane for no reason other than your own selfish desire for me to marry someone of higher status so that your own connections would be improved.”

Miss Bingley’s eyes narrowed to slits as she spat, “You fool! She feels nothing for you—just your money! All that syrupy sweetness is just an act—the moment that she and her family get their claws into our fortune, we shall have nothing!”

Her brother sat back in his chair and considered her for a long moment. “If that is what you truly see, Caroline, then I can only pity you. Miss Jane Bennet is a kind, gentle lady who sees only the good in those around her. You, sister, have treated her despicably.”

When Caroline began to protest, he spoke over her. “I know that you deceived us both, with omissions as well as outright falsehoods.”

Miss Bingley flushed crimson, a particularly unattractive state with her complexion. “Charles—are you calling me a liar? You would believe those artful Bennets over your own sister!?!”

“If you wish me to be frank about it, then yes , I do! Since we have been reunited, Jane and I have shared a great deal. I know that you wrote her only twice, and in those notes you implied that I never had any serious intentions toward her. Thanks to you, she was convinced that I was only toying with her affections last autumn, and that I was practically engaged… to Miss Darcy , for God’s sake!

Meanwhile, she wrote to you four times from Hertfordshire and then twice from London, yet you told me on multiple occasions that you had received nothing!

When Jane called here, you pretended that you had never received her letters and then rushed her right back out the door.

You waited three weeks before returning her call, Caroline!

How can you possibly look me in the eye and say that you have been honest with me? !?”

While Caroline tried to protest (albeit rather disjointedly now that she had been caught in her web of lies), Mrs. Hurst studied her younger siblings carefully.

She had not bothered to question her sister’s determination to leave Hertfordshire, nor the younger woman’s near constant slander of the Bennet family.

However, from what she could recall, Miss Jane Bennet had seemed a sweet girl.

When Caroline finally paused in her harangue long enough to take a breath, Louisa spoke softly, “Charles, I know nothing about any missing letters, but I was here when Miss Bennet came to call last winter.”

Both of her siblings turned to her and she sensed that even her husband had started at the sound of her voice.

She wrinkled her brow, trying to recall the afternoon clearly.

“Caroline did not mislead her about the poor timing of the visit; I recall distinctly that we were already dressed to go out and I had just called for the carriage when Jane was shown in.”

While her younger sister threw a victorious look at their brother, Louisa shut her eyes for a moment.

“I was not… well that week. Caroline, I remember you assuring me that you would take the carriage and call on Miss Bennet and her aunt by yourself—it would have been Monday because I recall thinking that I might have caught a chill while sitting in church the day before.”

Not accustomed to having her siblings call her on her fibs, Caroline attempted to cover with bravado; “Of course I returned the call, silly. I am not so lacking in breeding that I do not know the proper etiquette for visiting an acquaintance.”

Louisa turned to see her brother shaking his head in disgust. “Waiting three weeks without a note and then appearing unexpectedly on their doorstep is not good form, Caro; even I know that.”

Mrs. Hurst pursed her lips. She was mistress of this house and it did not sit well with her that a guest as polite and unassuming as Miss Jane Bennet had been treated poorly.

“For my part, I apologize, Charles. I was not feeling well or I would have accompanied our sister to call on Miss Bennet within the week of her visit. I can only claim ignorance as an excuse; it appears I was misled.” Her sharp look at Caroline was one that the younger lady recognized from childhood.

While their sister was still sputtering from the rebuke, Louisa turned back to Charles, looking more like the capable young woman he recalled from when he was a boy.

After considering the matter for a moment, she asked, “Charles, could we invite Miss Bennet and her family for dinner to celebrate your engagement? I would like to know her better.”

Bingley willfully ignored Caroline’s derisive snort and studied his elder sister carefully.

Deciding that she, at least, appeared sincere, he nodded slowly.

“Thank you, Louisa. I shall speak with Jane about it.” He paused.

“Or you could speak to her yourself, if you are planning to attend the engagement party that the Gardiners are holding for us tomorrow afternoon.”

There was a brief moment of silence while Mrs. Hurst cocked her head to the side. “I don’t recall receiving an invitation. Are you certain that they sent one to us?”

Charles looked her straight in the eye. “Mrs. Gardiner delivered it to the house herself when she was visiting a friend on the square last week. I know because I spoke to her about it just yesterday, when she inquired if anyone from my family would be attending. She had received no response at all.”

An understanding look passed between Charles and Louisa before both turned disapproving eyes on Caroline.