Page 38

CHAPTER 38

Decisions and Another Confrontation

U pon arriving at Longbourn, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Darcy, and Elizabeth were quietly shown to Bennet’s study.

To their mild surprise, the rest of the Bennet household had not yet come downstairs.

A quick glance at the clock explained why—it was only half past eight.

The family typically did not take breakfast until nine.

“If we hurry, we can finish speaking before Mama comes downstairs,” Elizabeth said, raising her hand to knock.

“She will question what is happening if Papa is not at breakfast on time, not that she will not have enough questions when she sees the two of you here so early.”

At the sound of Bennet’s call to “Come,” the three of them stepped into the room.

“Papa,” Elizabeth began, but before she could say more, her father had stood and embraced her.

“Dear Lizzy, I am glad to see you safe and well,” Bennet said after a moment.

“The footman Colonel Fitzwilliam sent gave a full report, but I am pleased to see you with my own eyes. ”

After a moment, he released her, and the four of them took their seats.

Rather than settling behind his desk, Bennet chose one of the chairs near the fire.

Colonel Fitzwilliam sat beside him, while Darcy and Elizabeth took the settee opposite, sitting close enough that their shoulders touched.

“We went directly to Netherfield after the arrest,” Elizabeth began.

“Fitzwilliam needed to confront Mr. Bingley about his sister’s involvement.” She paused a moment before continuing.

“You already know of her part in the scheme?”

Bennet nodded solemnly.

“William told Mr. Bingley that her fate would be left to us,” Elizabeth continued, leaning slightly into Darcy’s shoulder, drawing strength from his presence.

“As much as I might like to have her charged with a crime, I do not know if I wish for the notoriety of it, even if it only goes as far as Meryton. However, I feel certain that Miss Bingley would feel compelled to mention Mr. Darcy, dragging his name through the mud along with hers.”

“Is it to be Bedlam, then?” Colonel Fitzwilliam asked.

Elizabeth visibly shuddered.

“I have heard such horror stories about that place that I cannot imagine willingly subjecting anyone to it. Even Miss Bingley, who is clearly no friend of mine, does not deserve the treatment that I have read about. No, banishment seems most appropriate, but I am unsure how that is to be accomplished.”

“Her brother cannot, or will not, control her. She would need a very stern keeper and limited funds, to guarantee she cannot escape. Personally, I would have liked to see her sent to Van Diemen’s Land as a convict, but that may be difficult to do without formal charges. Still, I would prefer an ocean or some other significant body of water between her and any members of my family,” Darcy said drily.

“I agree,” Bennet said.

“Is Ireland far enough, or the Outer Hebrides? The New World? ”

“The New World amongst the natives?” Colonel Fitzwilliam interjected, a smile on his face.

“Can you imagine how she would look down her nose at them?”

His attempt at levity fell flat amongst the others in the room.

“Ireland is, I believe, far enough,” Darcy replied.

“Not only that, but forcing Bingley to convey her there himself, not to mention arranging for a strict companion, guards, and the disposition of her funds to care for her, would be an adequate punishment for his unwillingness to put a stop to her behaviour before now.”

“Where would he take her?” Elizabeth asked.

“While it would serve her right to live in a small cottage, it may be more difficult to ensure she is guarded by an adequate staff. Nor do I think it would do her any good to be housed in a Darcy holding, for she would certainly view it as something other than intended,” Darcy mused.

“It ought to be her brother who takes on the responsibility of caring for her,” Bennet stated firmly.

“Yes,” Darcy agreed.

“I will loan him two of my men, the same who have been watching over Elizabeth for the last few days. They can accompany him as far as Liverpool, but then he will need to make arrangements to have someone who can assist him once he boards the ship to take him across the Irish Sea.”

“So, she is to be banished to Ireland then?” Fitzwilliam replied.

Bennet looked to Elizabeth for confirmation, and upon seeing her nod, indicated his own agreement with that plan.

“Yes, Bingley will need to set her up with a companion and someone to act as a guard, someone who will manage her funds and will ensure that she cannot ever return to England,” Darcy stated.

“Then, it is decided,” the colonel said.

“Wickham has been charged as I indicated he would be and now awaits his court martial. He attempted to bribe me into releasing him by mentioning Georgiana, then stated that my father had sent him to Ramsgate to seduce her. He said the earl wanted something that he could use to blackmail Darcy into doing as he wished.”

Darcy clenched his jaw, his anger simmering just beneath the surface as he closed his eyes, fighting the urge to unleash the torrent of curses pressing at his lips.

Sensing his struggle, Elizabeth gently reached over and laid her hand atop his clenched fist, offering comfort.

After Darcy had calmed himself, the colonel continued.

“When that did not work, he claimed that my father had sent him to Meryton to encourage Darcy to do as the earl demanded before attempting to lay the blame on Miss Bingley. It would almost be amusing to see the two of them in the same cell, just to see what accusations they would launch at the other. Regardless, Wickham will trouble your family no longer, Darcy.”

Darcy acknowledged his cousin’s words with a tight nod.

He and Elizabeth had discussed the matter of Wickham on the ride back from Netherfield, and while Darcy felt some remorse for his former friend, he would do nothing to save his bride’s would-be attacker.

He opened his fist and clasped Elizabeth’s hand in his.

Seeing that there were no questions, Fitzwilliam rose from his seat and continued, “I will return to Netherfield to inform the puppy of what has been decided and see how he takes it. Darcy, remain with your intended and enjoy your morning. After I speak to Bingley, I will escort my mother and Georgiana to Longbourn, so they can escape what will no doubt become a battlefield this day.”

Bennet laughed.

“Darcy, I invite you, your sister, your aunt, and your cousin to join our family for dinner this evening; in fact, I invite you all to spend the entire day at Longbourn.”

Darcy lifted his lips in a slight grin.

“I will gladly take you up on your offer, sir. You are correct; it is likely best that we are far from Netherfield today. ”

Despite the heavy conversation, the group was laughing as they exited Bennet’s study.

Fitzwilliam was able to slip away from Longbourn unseen by any other Bennets, and Bennet joined his wife and the rest of his daughters in the breakfast room, followed by Elizabeth and Darcy.

Once again, Mrs. Bennet regarded the couple with a speculative eye but managed, barely, to hold her tongue.

That did not stop her from dropping several pointed hints throughout the meal.

These were politely ignored by all present, even Jane who was aware of the couple’s engagement but knew nothing of the morning’s events or of Miss Caroline Bingley’s role in them.

Shortly after breakfast, Lady Matlock and Georgiana Darcy arrived, accompanied by her companion.

As suggested, they spent the entire day at Longbourn and had an enjoyable time in company with the Bennets.

When Fitzwilliam returned to Netherfield, he informed Bingley that the Bennets had decreed his sister was to be banished to Ireland.

He and his sister would be expected to depart the area on Monday, allowing them a day to prepare.

“You say I must accompany her?” Bingley asked.

“Who else would?” Fitzwilliam replied, incredulous.

“You will need to arrange for a place for her to live and set up accounts to cover food for her and her servants to eat and other necessities. Someone will need to be responsible for her funds, and one of the conditions is that she can never return to England. Either you will need to stay to ensure this is enforced, or you will need to hire someone to do it. How will you do this from a distance?”

Bingley hung his head.

“This is my punishment, is it not? ”

“Punishment?” Fitzwilliam said, eyeing the younger man with distaste.

“Not a punishment, I would say, but your duty. Had you bothered to check your sister, it would not have become necessary to banish her, but since you did not, you must now resolve the problem you have created.”

Bingley sighed heavily, having had time, and his aunt, to make him realise the error of his ways.

“My aunt will remain in residence and can act as hostess for Darcy and your family. You will all be welcome to stay at Netherfield as long as you like. I imagine it will take several months to make all the necessary arrangements.”

He sighed, as he took a moment to think.

“Part of me wishes to ask Aunt Horatia or Louisa to come along. Aunt Horatia could manage my sister far better than I could, but that would not teach me the lesson that I am intended to learn, would it?”

Fitzwilliam remained silent, allowing the younger man to speak without interruption.

He watched Bingley closely, and for the first time, wondered if this might be the catalyst that forced the young man to finally grow up.

Dealing with his sister could either forge his character—or break it entirely.

It remained to be seen which it would be.

After a pause, Fitzwilliam rose.

“I will take my leave,” he said, brushing an invisible speck from his sleeve.

“My mother and cousin have been invited to spend the day at Longbourn, and I should not keep them waiting.”

He paused at the door, then turned back.

“But let me leave you with a final warning.”

His voice dropped, hardening into steel.

“If Miss Bingley ever dares to approach a member of my family again—if she so much as speaks a word to them—she will not be the only one to suffer the consequences. Once she boards that ship in Liverpool, her feet should never again touch English soil. ”

The threat, calmly delivered, landed with unmistakable weight.

Fitzwilliam’s gaze held Bingley’s, sharp and unrelenting.

Bingley, pale and stiff, managed only a nod.

He had long feared crossing Darcy—but this was different.

Colonel Fitzwilliam, a decorated soldier who had seen battle more than once, had the air of a man who did not bluff or make idle threats.

Bingley had no doubt he would carry out every word he had spoken.

That warning still hung heavy in the air when Fitzwilliam departed, leaving Bingley to face the outcome of his sister’s actions alone.

As expected, the scene that followed at Netherfield was unpleasant for all involved.

Miss Bingley had been livid when she attempted to leave her room and discovered her path blocked by a broad-shouldered footman.

She might have been even more enraged had she recognized him as the same man who had accompanied Elizabeth Bennet on more than one occasion—but Caroline rarely acknowledged servants and so failed to make the connection.

Had she done so, she might also have remembered that he had once worn Darcy’s livery which would have further increased her fury.

Instead, she found herself confined to her rooms, her attempts to leave met with firm refusal.

Not long after, her brother appeared at the door.

Already seething, her anger only deepened when he calmly informed her of what would happen in the coming days.

“Liverpool?” she nearly shrieked.

“Why on earth would we travel to Liverpool? It is late autumn, surely it would be better to travel to London so we might prepare for the Season. And this nonsense about travelling to Ireland is utterly foolish. No, Brother, I refuse to accompany you.”

“You do not have a choice, Caroline,” Bingley said, already exasperated with her.

“I am telling you; you will be travelling to Ireland as soon as it can be arranged. We will leave on Monday to go to Liverpool, and from there to Ireland. ”

“What do you mean, I do not have a choice? You cannot drag me all the way to Ireland,” she demanded.

“Perhaps not, but if you do not accompany me, you will be tried for your part in that lieutenant’s action against Miss Elizabeth Bennet. There are at least two witnesses who claim you paid Lieutenant Wickham to ruin Miss Elizabeth, even telling him that she would inherit her father’s estate to encourage the man in his efforts,” Bingley said slowly.

“You cannot believe that I would do such a thing,” she said, her face red in her anger.

“Perhaps, but Darcy and Fitzwilliam both say it is true,” Bingley said.

“I would like to think that you are innocent of this, but they are adamant. If you can show me that you still have the two hundred and fifty pounds I gave to you and that you did not meet with Wickham, I might persuade them to relent. Can you show me the funds?”

Miss Bingley huffed.

“I cannot,” she said between clenched teeth.

“I sent the money to London to pay for…a gown or two, and the rest I sent to one of the charitable endeavours I participate in. I had hoped to show Mr. Darcy how much better suited I am to be his wife than that Miss Eliza, but how can I do that if he thinks so poorly of me? You can convince him, can you not?” her voice had turned wheedling, hoping to convince her brother to act on her behalf.

“I cannot,” he said.

“I have been told that you are never to speak to a member of the Darcy family again. In fact, Darcy has said that he agrees to remain under the same roof as you only if you are confined to your rooms with guards to ensure you do no leave them. He will not relent, and Fitzwilliam might actually run me through if I attempted to ask him for leniency in this matter.”

He straightened, his voice gaining strength as he spoke.

“Your maid has been replaced and a new one has been instructed to pack your belongings. We are to depart first thing Monday morning—at dawn, Caroline, not whenever it pleases you to rise. And if you test me on this, I will have a footman carry you to the carriage in your bed clothes. Do not doubt me.”

Miss Bingley huffed, clearly furious, but said nothing more.

For now, she seemed to accept his authority—however reluctantly.

Turning her back on him in silent protest, she moved to the window.

Bingley lingered only a moment longer, delivering his final warning.

“There will be a footman stationed at both doors to your rooms. You will not leave without my knowledge, and your maid has been ordered not to pass along any notes or messages. Louisa is fully aware of your actions the past few days and of your dealings with Wickham. She will not help you. Nor will Wickham—he is currently in a military gaol awaiting court-martial. And from everything I have learnt from Darcy, he will be far more concerned with saving himself than aiding you.”

He closed the door just in time.

A glass perfume jar crashed against the wood, shattering where his head had been moments before.

He sighed—wearier than startled—then calmly turned the key in the lock, securing it with a quiet, resolute click.