Page 60 of Heiress of Longbourn (Pride and Prejudice Variations)

Darcy House

London

The next morning

It was, Darcy thought ruefully, an odd setting for what was effectively a council of war. Bingley, Lady Catherine, Anne de Bourgh, and Colonel Fitzwilliam had arrived almost at the same time, and the five of them were now ensconced in a comfortable sitting room with tea in their hands and determination in their hearts.

“Netherfield Hall is a substantial mansion,” Bingley told Lady Catherine and Anne. “It will easily accommodate as many guests as you deem necessary to deal with Wickham.”

Anne nodded approvingly. “I believe in the beginning, at least, only Miss Colby and I will be accompanying you and Darcy to Netherfield, though we may ask you to host one of Miss Colby’s brothers at some point. Now I understand your sisters and brother by marriage will be joining us?”

Bingley coughed uncomfortably and replied, “As to that, my married sister and her husband will be retiring to Hurst’s family estate within the week. Louisa is expecting a child and wishes to be in the country for her health.”

“Bingley, that is marvelous news!” Darcy exclaimed.

His friend smiled widely and agreed, “Yes, it is wonderful indeed.”

“Congratulations,” Anne said warmly. “Will your unmarried sister be accompanying us then?”

Bingley fiddled with his tea cup uneasily. “Caroline would like to come, very much. She does not wish to accompany the Hursts to their family estate, nor does she wish to go to Bath to visit our elderly aunt. But I am not certain she should come to Netherfield with us.”

“Why not?” Lady Catherine asked bluntly.

The master of Netherfield bit his lip uncomfortably. “Caroline can be a rather challenging person...”

“She wishes to marry me,” Darcy interposed. “I am certain she was most displeased to hear that I am courting Miss Elizabeth.”

“She was furious,” Bingley agreed in a rush. “She is also outraged that I am continuing to pursue Miss Bennet.”

Catherine de Bourgh lifted haughty eyebrows. “Why is she opposed to your interest in Miss Bennet? Your own father was a tradesman, and I understand that the Bennets of Longbourn have been estate holders for hundreds of years.”

“She has higher societal aspirations,” Bingley explained carefully.

“She is a social climber?” Anne asked plainly.

“Yes,” he admitted.

Silence fell for a minute before Anne broke it with another question. “What kind of person is she, Mr. Bingley? Is she strong willed?”

“Exceptionally, I am afraid. I do believe she is a little chastened now, as both my sister Hurst and I stood up to her yesterday for the first time in many a year. I am ashamed to say that my own temperament is overly yielding, and I have not been as firm with Caroline as I should have been. But now I am absolutely determined that nothing shall come between me and my hopes for a future with Miss Bennet, certainly not my demanding younger sister!”

“Do you think you can hold the line, even if she whines and fusses?” Lady Catherine demanded, gazing into the man's brown eyes.

“On my honor, yes,” Bingley vowed.

Anne and Lady Catherine exchanged a long glance, apparently speaking without words, before Anne turned back to Bingley. “In some ways, it would be preferable if Miss Bingley did come to Netherfield. It would be advantageous, from a social perspective, for your sister to be your hostess. On the other hand – I will not sugarcoat the matter – do you think it possible that Miss Bingley might attempt to engineer a compromise of my cousin?”

Bingley opened his mouth to protest and then shut it, responding miserably, “I would hope she would have too much delicacy, but in truth I can make no assurances. If she is desperate, perhaps.”

“Is she intelligent?” Anne asked.

“She is clever enough, but she tends to use that cleverness for her own purposes and desires,” Darcy said, and then turned to Bingley apologetically. “I am sorry, Bingley, if that is discourteous.”

“No, you are entirely right, my friend.”

“I think that I had better have a talk with Miss Bingley, and I will make a decision,” Lady Catherine stated.

***

Caroline Bingley stood in the parlor, staring blankly at the rose bush pushing up against the window. Ordinarily, she would have hunted down the head gardener and berated him; the roses were obviously not being well tended given that they were allowed to carelessly touch the glass.

But today she felt too dispirited to berate the gardener. Life, which had seemed calm, collected, and controlled only two days previously, had suddenly become complicated and frightening.

Louisa and Hurst were finishing their packing today and would depart for the North tomorrow. Charles was off somewhere, probably making sheep’s eyes at Jane Bennet.

Really, had the entire world gone mad? Louisa breeding, Charles and Darcy pursuing those tiresome Bennet girls...

The door to the parlor opened and Caroline turned, expecting a servant. The sight that greeted her caused her to straighten to a position of anxious respect. The middle-aged woman preceding her brother into the room was of only average height, but her bearing and manner were queenly and her clothing ostentatiously expensive.

“Lady Catherine,” Charles said nervously, “may I please introduce my sister, Miss Caroline Bingley. Caroline, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”

Caroline called upon her years of boarding school at one of Bath’s finest seminaries, and dipped into a deep, respectful curtsy. Lady Catherine gazed at her haughtily for a moment and then turned to Bingley.

“Thank you, Mr. Bingley, that will be all.”

“Yes, Lady Catherine,” the gentleman responded meekly, and withdrew.

Caroline had no idea what was happening, but she did recognize her guest’s name. Lady Catherine de Bourgh was mistress of Rosings in Kent, an estate which rivaled Pemberley in size. There were rumors that the heiress of Rosings, Miss de Bourgh, was destined to marry Mr. Darcy, but Caroline had always ignored such unwelcome hearsay.

“Please, will you not sit down, Lady Catherine?” Caroline requested courteously, waving an elegant hand at the most comfortable chair in the room.

Lady Catherine sat down carefully and Caroline followed suit; for a moment, the two women gazed silently at one another.

“You are more handsome than I expected, Miss Bingley,” Lady Catherine declared abruptly.

Caroline, whose sense of self confidence had diminished slightly in the last days, smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Lady Catherine.”

“You are dressed quite well,” the lady mused, her critical eye running up and down Caroline’s elegant form. “Your dress matches your coloring very nicely. Of course, sarsnet is expensive; I daresay you paid at least fifty pounds for that dress?”

“Yes, Madam,” Caroline responded, lifting her chin, “but I am well able to afford such garments.”

“Yes, you are fortunate. Well, Miss Bingley, I am certain you are wondering how you may serve me.”

The younger woman stared in bewilderment. She had wondered no such thing.

“Well, Miss Bingley? I trust that given your desire to achieve greater social recognition, you are all too willing to assist me, the daughter of an earl?”

Given this direct question, what else could she say? “Of course, Lady Catherine. How might I serve you?”

Lady Catherine allowed a slight smile to grace her aristocratic features. “Very sensible. You are aware, of course, that my nephew, Mr. Darcy, is pursuing Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn.”

An angry flush spread across Caroline Bingley’s cheeks, and she huffed in outrage. “Yes, and I understand your distress. Miss Eliza is a worthless hoyden who...”

“Silence!” her guest bellowed imperiously. “I did not come here to listen to you speak of things that you obviously do not understand. Is that entirely clear?”

Miss Bingley found herself nodding in wide-eyed surprise as she said meekly, “Yes, Lady Catherine.”

“Very good. Now it must be obvious to a clever young woman like yourself that there are many types of men in England. Some are politicians, some are landowners, some are merchants, and some are military men. Some are greedy, some are calculating, some are cruel, some are kindly, and some are romantic. As unlikely as it seems, given his rather austere demeanor, my nephew, Mr. Darcy, is a romantic along with, it seems, your brother. They find themselves greatly attracted to Miss Elizabeth and Miss Bennet, and are willing to follow their hearts instead of their heads; Darcy, at least, could look far higher in a bride, but he is drawn to Miss Elizabeth.”

Caroline Bingley’s lips pinched angrily. “My brother is wealthy, well educated, and genial. He, too, can look much higher in society for a wife. It seems quite astonishing to me that two gentlemen could be so ... reckless and foolish as to fall in love with ... with...”

“I do not necessarily disagree with you, Miss Bingley, but I know Darcy, at least, very well. It is of the utmost importance, for the sake of Pemberley, that he marry and sire children. Miss Elizabeth is a healthy specimen, intelligent, handsome, and charming.”

Tears of frustration and rage leaped into Caroline’s eyes. “I am all those things, and more! I have been educated in one of Bath’s finest seminaries, and have a dowry of twenty thousand pounds! I am an excellent hostess and would be a wonderful mistress of Pemberley! Miss Eliza is but the second daughter of a country gentleman. She tromps through the mud, she disagrees openly with Mr. Darcy – I do not understand how this ... this foolish attraction came to be!”

Lady Catherine looked amused at this gauche statement. “I fear that Darcy has no desire for a wife who always agrees with him; indeed, I suspect much of Elizabeth Bennet’s attraction is her unconventionality and her courage in speaking her mind. But it is quite true that she would be an unusual bride for a Darcy; thus, my daughter, Miss de Bourgh, will be accompanying Darcy to Netherfield to oversee this rather odd courtship. She will analyze the situation, and if I decide that Miss Elizabeth will not do, I will take steps.”

Her young hostess sucked in an eager breath. “Do you wish me to inform Miss de Bourgh of what I observe between Mr. Darcy and...”

“Not at all,” her guest interrupted. “No, Miss Bingley, Miss de Bourgh is entirely capable of evaluating the situation, I assure you. Your role is to be an excellent hostess to my daughter, my nephew, their friends, and the Bennets. Can you do that? Are you capable of masking your own anger and outrage over these unwelcomed courtships? If not, then you will not be permitted to accompany the party to Netherfield.”

Caroline felt a brief surge of outrage at this comment. Who was this woman to decide whether she would be permitted to go to Netherfield? On the other hand, Charles was displaying an unexpected strength of will and might well heed the advice of Darcy’s aunt...

“Yes, Madam, I am entirely capable of being an excellent hostess, regardless of my feelings about our guests.”

“Excellent. If you assist me in this matter, I believe I will be able to find you a viscount or baron interested in marrying an attractive, wealthy young woman like yourself.”

“Thank you, Lady Catherine,” Caroline returned, keeping her expression studiously neutral. She would not mind marrying a lord, but she really wanted Mr. Darcy and extensive, celebrated, wealthy Pemberley.

“Now, Miss Bingley, I need to speak of one last thing. I am aware that you wish to marry my nephew, Mr. Darcy. That will not happen. He and you are not well suited. I hope that a charming young lady would not even consider a compromise, but in case you have flirted with the idea, let me make this clear; if you try to compromise Darcy, you will fail. He will not offer for you, no matter how foolishly you behave. You will be ruined, and your brother’s chances for marriage diminished as well. I advise you, most strongly, to not even consider such a path.”

Caroline swayed a little in shock and horror. “Surely, surely, Mr. Darcy would be too much of a gentleman to be so cruel?”

“No. Behave yourself, and you will be rewarded. Misbehave, and you will be ruined. It is entirely your choice. Do you understand me?”

Miss Bingley wilted slightly but bobbed her head. “I understand completely, Lady Catherine.”