Page 25 of I Thee Wed (Pride And Prejudice Variation #2)

Mr. Bingley presented himself at Gracechurch Street at eleven o’clock the next morning.

Jane had awoken, surprised that she had slept at all, so buoyant were her spirits after the marked attentions she had received from Mr. Bingley the day before.

Elizabeth also found herself glancing toward the window almost as often as her sister, for Sir Lawrence had declared his intention of waiting upon her.

She had been certain Mr. Darcy’s poor appraisal of her family had turned the gentleman against her, but apparently she had been mistaken.

When Bingley was finally announced, Elizabeth was surprised to see that Mr. Darcy was also present with the Bingleys and the Hursts.

Bingley’s countenance was one of happiness, and the flush on Jane’s cheek made her feelings towards him apparent, had the smile on her face not already proclaimed the news.

Mrs. Gardiner received the three gentlemen kindly. “Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Hurst, you do us great honor. Please be seated. I will ring for tea.”

“Madam, the honor is mine,” Bingley replied warmly, bowing low. “It has been far too long since I enjoyed being in the company of your nieces. I cannot think how I endured these last weeks without it.” His eyes strayed to Jane.

Elizabeth, observing him with quiet satisfaction, could not resist teasing. “If what you say is true, sir, you must do all you can to repair so long an absence. My sister has been longing for company that only a man like you could offer. I assure you, London has not agreed with her spirits.”

“Indeed?” Bingley turned at once to Jane. “Miss Bennet, I hope you have not been unwell?”

Jane raised her eyes. “Not unwell, sir, only a little heartsick. London is very different from Hertfordshire.”

“Then I must endeavor to bring Hertfordshire to you,” Bingley declared eagerly. “Tell me, what may I do? Would you like to go for drives in the park or visit the galleries? Or shall we contrive little country walks, as we used to at Netherfield?”

Elizabeth caught her uncle’s amused glance, for Mr. Gardiner seemed as entertained as she was by Bingley’s unstudied devotion.

All the occupants of the drawing room looked up when the butler announced a new arrival. “Sir Lawrence Pembroke.”

Elizabeth was gratified when the gentleman entered.

He had said he wished to see her again, and here he was.

Perhaps they would form an attachment, and she, too, would end up happily married.

Sir Lawrence bowed over Mrs. Gardiner’s hand with polished courtesy, exchanged greetings with the Bingley party, and then turned with undisguised eagerness toward Elizabeth.

“Miss Bennet, I say again that it was happy fortune to have met you last night at the theatre. Pray, tell me, how long do you plan to stay in town? May I hope for the pleasure of paying my respects to you often during your stay?”

Elizabeth replied happily, “Sir Lawrence, I expect to remain for some months here in my uncle’s home, and it would please me to receive you.”

His eyes lit, and he was satisfied. “Then I shall call again. I have a new phaeton, and if you please, I will collect you tomorrow at eleven and drive you to Hyde Park, and then we shall have ices at Gunter’s.”

Hearing these words of invitation, Darcy’s frown was immediate and pronounced, but he said nothing, knowing there was nothing he could say.

Instead, he moved nearer to Elizabeth, as though to stake a silent claim.

The gesture was not lost on Sir Lawrence, who chuckled.

With easy confidence, he took Elizabeth’s hand and led her to a settee where he could sit close beside her.

The others arranged themselves in little groups, some enjoying genial conversation, but Mr. Darcy and Caroline Bingley were not among those.

Eventually, after looking her fill, Caroline leaned toward her sister and said hopefully, “Perhaps Sir Lawrence will fix Elizabeth, and Darcy will be freed for better prospects.”

Louisa raised her brows. “Better prospects, meaning yourself, I presume.”

At which point Mr. Hurst, roused from his habitual silence, muttered just audibly, “That will not happen in this life, or the next one either.”

Louisa smothered a laugh behind her handkerchief while Caroline, fortunately, heard nothing.

Mr. Darcy’s possessive air toward Elizabeth was impossible to ignore, and Caroline was humiliated by it. Louisa saw that her sister was suffering, and she took pity. She had received an invitation to a ball for the following evening and persuaded Mr. Hurst to escort them.

The event was crowded with many titled and wealthy guests. Caroline was delighted at the turn in her fortunes when Viscount Dunwich, a young and handsome gentleman, asked her to dance.

His manner toward her was very gracious. He bowed low. “Miss Bingley, I must beg the honor of your hand for your next available set. I have rarely seen such elegance in the room. You eclipse all others.”

Caroline accepted with more eagerness than was proper, and once they were upon the dance floor, his remarks took a bolder turn.

“You carry yourself with distinction, my dear, and your fine figure must command admiration from all who see you. I assure you, no man could be insensible to charms as intriguing as yours.”

His blunt remarks took Caroline aback, but she smiled, choosing to interpret his words as a flattering gesture of gallantry.

As the dance progressed, he continued in the same strain, his remarks straying closer to impropriety than Caroline had ever experienced.

“There is no need for diamonds when Nature herself has been so generous. A gentleman might forfeit his very soul to worship at such an altar as yours, Miss Bingley.”

Caroline laughed too loudly at his coarse remarks, but she somehow convinced herself that at last she had secured a man of consequence.

In the carriage with her family, she spoke long and proudly of her new conquest. “Viscount Dunwich was all politeness! I declare, Louisa, he did not look at another woman the entire evening, and it seemed to me that all eyes were upon us. He was most attentive, and as I think more upon it, I am certain he admires me sincerely.”

Mr. Hurst gave a dry grunt. “Sincerely? My dear Caroline, Dunwich is a rake of the first order. I know of two debutantes who carry the proof of his attentions, and there may be more. He is deeply in debt from gaming and requires a dowry of at least fifty thousand pounds. He will never settle for less than a duke’s daughter.

He may admire you, but he will not marry you. ”

Louisa turned grave at once. “Caroline, you must heed your brother. You must keep your distance from such a man.”

Caroline would not listen to her sister. “You do not know of what you speak. If you could have heard his compliments, or seen the admiration in his eyes, you too would know that he is sincerely attached to me.”

Louisa and Mr. Hurst exchanged a look of real alarm.

Hurst said, “The man is a hunter, and tonight you were his prey. Do not allow him to turn your head. That rake is well able, with his wealth, his charms, and his address, to do so; but mark my words, Caroline, he will ruin you if you permit it.”

“Sister, you will attend to me where it concerns this Viscount. You must snub him at the first opportunity and never speak or dance with him again. Your reputation could be ruined merely by being seen in his company.”

Caroline would not be moved. “Nonsense. The gentleman was perfectly sincere in all his dealings with me.”

Mr. Hurst gave up trying to convince his sister-in-law and shook his head in disgust.