Page 15 of Moments Frozen in Time (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

DARCY

T onight, we were to attend a dinner at Lucas Lodge.

After I had spoken to Bingley on the way back from Sunday services, Bingley had enquired of his sister about the invitations they had received from the neighbours.

To his surprise, there had been quite a few—but Miss Bingley had ignored them all.

Not merely declined them politely, but disregarded them entirely, deeming them too unimportant to even open.

I had been in the room when Bingley confronted her, and the conversation was neither pleasant nor easy for anyone present.

Whilst I might have wished myself elsewhere, the exchange did, at least, have the beneficial effect of sending Miss Bingley to her rooms for several hours and granting me a temporary reprieve from her incessant fawning.

Regrettably, the reprieve did not last. By Sunday evening, Miss Bingley was behaving as though the entire scene had never occurred. Nevertheless, and with a touch of stiffness, she announced that she had accepted an invitation to Lucas Lodge early in the week.

As the day of the event arrived, however, it became increasingly apparent that she had no desire to attend.

Throughout the afternoon, she made her disinterest plain, and despite Bingley’s repeated reminders of our departure time, neither she nor her sister appeared when the hour came.

Hurst remained in the drawing room with a glass in hand whilst Bingley and I waited in the foyer, our mutual frustration clear.

“It is one thing to be late to events in London, Bingley, but you would offend the entire neighbourhood even further than your sister has already done,” I warned him when he began making noise about simply not attending.

“What am I to do, Darcy?” he asked.

“You and I can still attend and send the carriage back for your sisters and Hurst when your sisters deign to be ready for this evening,” I replied.

“You must devise an excuse for their late arrival, and although I typically do not condone deception, I feel that in this case it is necessary to say something other than ‘she did not wish to attend,’ which would only further alienate your family. Despite what your sisters may think, there are families here with some connexion to London, and her behaviour will be remarked upon.”

“Caroline believes there is no one here worthy of her time,” Bingley said far too blithely for my liking. I struggled to conceal my distaste—not only for her attitude but for the hypocrisy of it, given the source of her own fortune. She had little reason to look down on the company assembled here.

I regarded him for a long moment, taking note of the servants in the passageway who likely had heard every word of this exchange. Many, I supposed, were local, and knowing how much servants gossiped, I wondered how long it would take this conversation to make its rounds.

“Regardless,” I began firmly, “your reputation will suffer if you indulge her whims and insult the entire village. Let us depart, as I suggested.”

Bingley hesitated, then admitted, “I should like to see the lovely Miss Bennet again. Without Caroline there, I might actually speak to her without interruption and without my sister’s glares.”

Again, I watched my friend before finally speaking again, my voice low as I did so.

“Take care, Bingley. Do not raise her expectations unless you are prepared to follow through. As I have said before, things are not the same in the country as they are in town. What passes for harmless flirtation in London could do real damage here. A young lady’s reputation is not so easily repaired. ”

“I know, Darcy,” Bingley said, waving away my concerns.

After letting Hurst know of our intentions, we made our way down the steps and into the waiting carriage.

Bingley quickly gave the instructions to the coachman about coming back for the others, and then he climbed in after me, taking the forward-facing seat across from me.

“You are different here, Darcy,” Bingley said after a moment’s pause.

“I would have expected you to share Caroline’s opinion of the local society, but instead, it seems you have actually enjoyed the company of some of the residents.

I have been surprised to see you speaking so freely with several of the local ladies.

Flirtation is hardly your style, and yet you have conversed more than once with both Miss Charlotte Lucas and Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

I cannot believe you would seriously consider either of them—yet I know you are the last man to raise a lady’s expectations without cause.

You would not trifle with them, would you? ”

“I would not, Bingley,” I said coldly, my tone clipped as I turned to face the window, forcing my hands to remain still in my lap rather than curling into fists.

The question had struck a nerve though I would not give voice to the full measure of my offence.

“Miss Elizabeth and Miss Lucas are intelligent, well-mannered women who can carry a conversation beyond the latest fashion or the state of the weather. I have enjoyed speaking with them—nothing more.”

I drew in a steady breath, schooling my features into calm.

“And I have not limited my conversation to the ladies of the neighbourhood. I have spoken with several of the local gentlemen as well. In truth, we have scarcely been amongst the local society at all. Aside from the assembly, this is the first social event we have attended since my arrival.”

“Forgive me, Darcy,” Bingley was quick to say. “I suppose I was put out by your scolding me, yet again.”

“You would do well to be more cautious, Bingley,” I said, my voice still edged with irritation.

“You made that comment within earshot of several of your servants—most of whom, I suspect, are from the surrounding areas. Their loyalties likely lie with the local community, not with a family merely leasing the estate.”

I paused just long enough for the point to settle before continuing.

“You invited me here to help you learn how to manage an estate, and that includes understanding how easily gossip can spread if you are not careful. By tomorrow, every servant in Netherfield will know of your sister’s behaviour—and your remarks about Miss Bennet.

And shortly after, so will half the servants in Meryton, including those at Longbourn. ”

Although it was dark in the carriage, I saw my words had struck their mark. Bingley went a shade paler.

“I truly had not considered the servants,” he admitted after a moment. “Is there anything I can do?”

“I sincerely doubt your sisters could have made a poorer impression than they already have,” I said flatly.

“Still, you must be cautious this evening. Your conduct will be under scrutiny—more so because of your visible interest in Miss Bennet. Should your earlier comments be repeated, it will appear as though you are toying with her affections, especially if you do not remain in the area beyond this winter. That kind of talk spreads quickly, Bingley, and in a place like this, it can do real damage, particularly to the lady’s reputation. You could cause her serious harm.”

He drew in a breath, clearly unsettled, and I let the silence settle between us as the carriage continued its quiet journey through the dusk.

“I do like Miss Bennet,” he said at last, his voice low and uncertain.

“You could, perhaps, do better in terms of fortune,” I replied carefully, trying to think the matter through as I spoke to my friend, “but Miss Bennet is a gentleman’s daughter—and a respectable one.

If you are serious about her, you must think carefully.

From what I understand, her dowry is negligible.

Whilst your own fortune is considerable, you should consider whether you are truly prepared to marry a lady who brings nothing to the match. ”

I paused, then added with deliberate calm, “There are those who believe love is enough to sustain a marriage”—I cleared my throat, choosing my next words with care, especially as these are thoughts I had been seriously considering as well—“but you must also weigh whether other factors, her connexions, her lack of wealth, your sisters’ disapproval, might prove difficult over time.

If you make an offer, Bingley, you cannot simply withdraw it later without seriously damaging your honour or hers. ”

He opened his mouth to protest, but I held up a hand.

“You barely know Miss Bennet,” I said firmly.

“You have spoken to her only a few times, and however charming she may be, that is hardly enough upon which to base such a decision. Take your time. Come to know her better before allowing your admiration to run ahead of your judgement. For now, enjoy her company, but be cautious in how you do that.”

Bingley nodded and spent the remainder of the drive in quiet thought. My own thoughts drifted towards a different Miss Bennet, the one I was quickly coming to know.

Once again, my mother’s words echoed in my mind.

Since the assembly, I had tried to convince myself it had been nothing more than a trick of the imagination—an illusion brought on by fatigue or longing.

But her words had been so distinct, so unexpected, that I could not easily dismiss them.

Had I imagined them simply because I wished to hear her voice again?

I could not imagine any other reason for imagining such an odd conversation about people she had never met and those I barely had.

Surely it could not have been real. My mother was gone—long gone—and we had never shared such a conversation in life. I could not make sense of it, especially her remarks about Miss Elizabeth. None of it aligned with reason, and yet the memory persisted, leaving me unsettled and uncertain.