Page 46 of Knowing Mr. Darcy

Mr. Darcy was barely inside. “I am listening,” he managed to get out.

Bingley slammed the door shut behind him. “What did you do to her last night?”

“I didn’t do anything to anyone last night,” said Mr. Darcy.

“You can’t marry her, that’s right?”

Mr. Darcy blinked at him. “What?”

“Is that right or have you changed your mind?” said Bingley, angry now.

“Are we speaking of Elizabeth?”

“Obviously.” Mr. Bingley practically shouted it.

Mr. Darcy took a step back. He nearly collided with the door.

Bingley glared at him.

A long moment passed.

And then Mr. Bingley deflated, hanging his head. “I don’t like the way she looks at you,” he said eventually, sounding crestfallen. “She doesn’t look that way at me.”

“I don’t think she looks at me in any particular way,” said Mr. Darcy.

“Would you marry her?” said Mr. Bingley. “Yes or no, Darcy?”

Darcy should say no, but nothing came out of his mouth.

Mr. Bingley went to sit down behind his desk. Hedragged his hands over his face.

“This is not why I came,” said Mr. Darcy. “I came because of Caroline, because of my sister. We need to speak about that.”

Bingley did not respond.

“But Elizabeth has come between us, as you predicted,” said Mr. Darcy. “You’re angry with me for…”Looking at her? Gazing into her eyes?“You’re angry with me. So, you’ll let your sister do as she pleases to destroy me, because that will mean that you don’t have me to compete against for Elizabeth’s hand.”

Bingley sighed.

“What if I go?” said Mr. Darcy. “What if I quit London entirely? I shall take my sister with me, and I shall leave Elizabeth to you. I have said before that she is yours. She will be. And, in turn, you will make sure that Caroline does not hurt Georgiana.” Of course, Mr. Darcy was not entirely sure he could trust that Mr. Bingley was capable of keeping his sister in hand. He’d like it if Bingley would send Caroline away somewhere. It was too bad the Bingleys did not have any handy country relatives.

“Not but moments ago, I asked you if you can marry her, and you will not say that you cannot,” said Bingley. “Now, you say you will leave to her me?”

“I shall.”

“Forgive me if I don’t believe you,” said Bingley.

Mr. Darcy sat down in a chair in front of Bingley’s desk. He began to speak. He was trying to convince himself as much as he was trying to convince Bingley. “There really isn’t anything between Miss Bennet and me. I have danced with her but once. We have barely spoken. It’s foolish to think that she would ever consent to anything with me, especially marriage. You have said before that she doesn’t like me, and I suppose this is likely true. I suppose I have done little to recommend myself to her. So, the truth of the matter is, I am no threat to you—”

“No threat?” Bingley shot straight up behind the desk. “Oh, Darcy, how dare you?”

Darcy looked up at him, swallowing. “Apologies?” He was confused.

“Ask any woman on earth who they’d pick if they had a choice between us, and every single one of them will pick you.”

“That’s not true,” said Darcy.

Bingley scoffed.