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T his may prove ruinous to the entire family,” Mr. Darcy muttered, as he and Mr. Bingley traveled back to Pemberley in Mr. Darcy’s carriage.

“How could it not? Stupid, stupid girl!” Mr. Bingley cried.

Mr. Darcy glanced at him. “Are you relieved now not to be married to Miss Bennet?”

“Relieved? Nothing could be further from the truth, Darcy. I wish I had the right to comfort her, to help the Bennets survive this.” Mr. Bingley covered his face with his hands for a moment.

He dropped them, then, to say, “Poor Jane! Miss Bennet, rather! She must be in agony! Darcy, how can you be so callous? I know Miss Lydia was no favourite of yours, but nonetheless, you must feel for the family’s situation. ”

Mr. Darcy stared out the window for a moment. He turned to his friend. “Bingley, I am far from callous. As for Miss Bennet, I must tell you that I was completely wrong about her; she loved you in Meryton, and I believe she loves you still.”

Mr. Bingley paled. “But, Darcy, you said –“

“I know what I said; I was wrong and I apologise from the bottom of my heart. I caused both you and Miss Bennet needless suffering.”

Mr. Bingley sputtered, “You admit you were wrong! She loved me, and I abandoned her! How could you do that to me? And to her? I can scarce believe this! Darcy, I thought you were my friend! I trusted you!”

“I acted in what I thought were your own best interests, Bingley. I was wrong, and I freely admit it. Moreover, I am in love with Elizabeth Bennet. I proposed to her last April and she turned me down.”

This news was so unexpected that Mr. Bingley was momentarily distracted from his own woes.

“Elizabeth Bennet? Darcy, I am all astonishment! I thought you did not even like her. And she turned you down? Well – I suppose if she thought you did not like her – and then you proposed – well, dashed confusing, is it not?”

“I beg you not to speak to anyone of it, Bingley. I tell you this only so that you understand I am as devastated as you are by this terrible turn of events.”

“And have Miss Lydia’s actions put paid to your hopes of Miss Elizabeth?”

“On the contrary; like you, I am only sorry that I cannot be of more help. Although…” he trailed off.

“Yes?”

“I have some knowledge of Wickham’s haunts in London; it may be that I can uncover them. Certainly I am better equipped to aid the situation than Mr. Gardiner or Mr. Bennet.”

“And then?”

“I shall do whatever is in my power to force Wickham to marry Miss Lydia at once, thereby removing the stain from the Bennet name.”

“That is a fine plan, Darcy. May I accompany you to London?”

“I think instead you should return to Netherfield and support the Bennet family as best you can.”

Mr. Bingley hesitated.

“Yes?”

“Well, you know how very much Caroline enjoys staying at Pemberley!”

Mr. Darcy eyed his friend. “And you are more concerned about your sister’s feelings than those of Miss Bennet? In that case, Bingley, I advise you to give up any idea of Miss Bennet; she deserves better.” His tone was cool.

Mr. Bingley reddened. “You are right, Darcy. Miss Bennet needs me, and Caroline and Louisa will just have to go along.”

***

Caroline Bingley had no intention whatever of “going along” with her brother’s plan, nor did Louisa Hurst. They fought against going back to Netherfield with all the energy and arguments they could muster.

Caroline attempted to enlist Mr. Darcy’s support, saying, “Returning to Netherfield will simply raise Miss Bennet’s hopes again.

Mr. Darcy, did you not agree with me that Jane Bennet was not interested in Charles, but only in his wealth?

And that she would accept him only upon her mother’s insistence? ”

“I did, yes, but I subsequently learnt that I was quite wrong, and I have told your brother so.”

“I love Jane Bennet,” her brother declared. “And Darcy here –“ A hard look from his host kept him from blurting out the news of Mr. Darcy’s attachment to Miss Elizabeth.

“Yes?” his sister demanded.

Mr. Bingley recovered quickly. “Darcy here agrees that I should return to Netherfield to seek her out.”

“I will not go, I tell you.” And with that, Miss Bingley sat herself down quite firmly on a chair in the drawing room, arms folded. “I was invited to Pemberley and I have every intention of staying.”

Mrs. Hurst planted herself down beside Miss Bingley, her arms folded in imitation of her sister. Mr. Hurst simply leant against a wall and watched the proceedings with a bored expression.

“Miss Bingley, Mrs. Hurst, I am surprised at both of you.”

“Whatever can you mean, Mr. Darcy?”

“Your brother has made a decision; is he not the head of the family? Is it not your duty to assist him in his endeavors?”

The ladies looked unmoved. Evidently the idea of Mr. Bingley as head of the family carried very little weight, but they reckoned without Mr. Bingley’s strong determination to be reunited with his lost love.

“I will hear no more,” their brother declared. “We leave tomorrow morning. Caroline, Louisa, have your maids pack your trunks tonight. Hurst, I have heard nothing from you; I trust you have no objection?”

Mr. Hurst shrugged. ”I liked Netherfield well enough; the sport was good and the cellar adequate.”