Page 11 of The Heroic Mr Darcy’s Bad Manners
Darcy
Meanwhile, at Netherfield.
Despite Darcy’s eagerness to leave for town before darkness made the journey treacherous, he could not allow his friends to behave so abominably towards a peer. He should have left at the break of dawn, as he would have preferred, but had foolishly assumed that Miss Bingley and the Hursts would rise before noon on the day of their departure and had therefore been waiting for his hosts for several hours.
“You cannot leave the area without a proper farewell to the most prominent members of the neighbourhood. It is simply not done in polite society. You should visit Sir William and the Earl of Glentworth, at the very least,” Darcy admonished. He was appalled at Miss Bingley’s disregard of proper manners, regardless of how little she enjoyed her neighbours’ company. He had leapt to agree with her scheme of following Bingley to town, leaving Meryton and its confounding residents behind. After his dance with Miss Elizabeth, he was as eager as ever to resume his search for Eilís.
“I have not been introduced to Lord Glentworth, and I am rather cross you have never mentioned such an illustrious neighbour, but I would not mind paying him a visit if you deem it necessary,” Miss Bingley agreed with a dangerous glint in her eyes.
“Neither have I,” Hurst admitted. “But it would not do to insult a member of the peerage.”
“Had I known there was an earl in the vicinity, I would have invited him to my ball!” Miss Bingley exclaimed, sounding rather miffed at being denied the pleasure of hosting him. “Where is Lord Glentworth’s estate?”
“Oh, I would say 3 or 4 miles from Netherfield.”
“That close!” Miss Bingley screeched and turned away from him, huffing in indignation.
Darcy enjoyed making sport of his friends and did not enlighten them for the pleasure of seeing their surprise when they realised that Lord Glentworth was none other than Mr Bennet.
“Then I suggest we begin with a short visit to Sir William.”
It was an order more than a suggestion, and none of their party dared oppose Darcy, though Miss Bingley muttered under her breath, “I dare say that a short visit is quite impossible in that garrulous man’s home.”
This only confirmed his valet’s poor depiction of Miss Bingley. But still he could not believe her to be so bad as Grey had described. She had a sarcastically bent wit, which was common amongst the ladies of his acquaintance.
Darcy had his way and kept the visit to the obsequious Sir William polite but short. The party returned to their carriage and set out down the lane.
Miss Bingley regarded the picturesque view with a frown. “Rap on the ceiling, Mr Hurst. The driver must have had a bit too much to drink last night because this is the lane to Longbourn—”
“There is no mistake,” Darcy interrupted in an even voice.
“But…” Miss Bingley’s protest was never finished because they had already arrived.
“I shall remain in the carriage while you bid Mr Bennet farewell,” Miss Bingley pronounced.
“You would snub Bingley’s future family?” Darcy enquired innocently. “I understand he danced three sets with Miss Bennet at your ball…”
Miss Bingley’s crestfallen countenance was quite worth his small omission of the facts.
“Absurd!” Miss Bingley sneered, but she alighted from the carriage despite her misgivings.
Darcy owed Hurst an apology for keeping Mr Bennet’s elevation of rank to himself, but an opportunity to apprise him had not presented itself this morning. His excuse must be that the decision to join Bingley in town had been made in a hurry late last night and the packing and closing of the house had been completed in utter chaos with the hosts abed past noon. Besides, it was hardly his fault that Hurst had not read the newspaper.
Upon entering Longbourn they were shown into a parlour where the family was gathered. It was unusually quiet, and the mistress, who had looked uncommonly miffed, brightened upon their entrance.
“Miss Bingley, how good of you to come. Mr Hurst and Mrs Hurst, how delightful it is to see you…and your friend too,” she added reluctantly.
Darcy was struck by the lack of respect the marriage-minded matron afforded him. What could she mean by it? It was obvious that she did not like him, but most matchmaking mamas put their personal preferences aside when an eligible gentleman of substantial means graced their house with a visit.
“I am particularly delighted because it saves me a trip to Netherfield with the formal invitation for my dinner on Saturday.”
“That is quite impossible.” Miss Bingley smiled sincerely. “We are leaving for town on business that cannot be delayed and only came to bid you farewell.”
“How unfortunate… Then you must promise to come as soon as your business is concluded. I shall serve at least two courses,” Lady Glentworth boasted.
“You set a very fine table, Mrs Bennet,” Mr Hurst managed to say before his sister by marriage spoke again.
“We cannot say when that would be. My brother imagined that his business might be concluded in three or four days—”
“But Mr Bingley assured me he would be back no later than tomorrow afternoon, saying his business would take less than a day,” Lady Glentworth interrupted.
Miss Bingley laughed coquettishly. “We are certain that it cannot be so. My brother is always terribly late because he assumes that everything can be accomplished in less time than is necessary. It would not be the first time his assumption has been wrong, and then there are all the diversions in town that are certain to detain him even longer.”
She nodded at Darcy, but he did not acknowledge her, occupied as he was searching the room for the second eldest Bennet sister, and noting also that Lord Glentworth was missing.
“Mr Darcy is eager to see his sister, and we are scarcely less so.” Miss Bingley smirked at Lady Jane. “Miss Darcy has not her equal for beauty, elegance, and accomplishments. The affection she inspires in me and Louisa is heightened quite above everyone else. I would dearly love to call her my sister.”
“Preposterous, explain yourself,” Darcy barked, glaring at the presumptuous Miss Bingley.
That lady laughed coquettishly to a quiet room whilst Lady Jane shrank before his eyes. “I meant no offence, Mr Darcy. Who would not rejoice in having such a sweet and genteel sister?” Miss Bingley simpered.
Lady Jane was paying Miss Bingley rapt attention. The widening of her eyes and their sorrowful flickering towards the door told him another story from the one he had previously perceived. Darcy had not observed any particular regard in the lady towards his friend. Perhaps she was not given to strong outward expressions of feelings but concealed her affections behind a mask of serenity. Miss Bingley’s falsehoods clearly saddened her. If it was so, it was to be hoped that Bingley’s intentions were serious, this time…
A throat cleared in the doorway.
“Lord Glentworth.” He hastened to greet the man with a reverent bow.
“Mr Darcy,” the earl replied evenly.
Darcy could not decipher the look the earl directed at him, but he did rejoice in Miss Bingley’s dumbfounded muteness.
“What a lark, Papa!” Lady Lydia exclaimed whilst smiling mischievously. “First Lizzy rejects Mr Collins…”
Darcy could not remember whether he had gasped, stumbled, or sworn because the feeling that sentence engendered in him robbed him of his senses. He had just seen Mr Collins strolling into Meryton with Miss Lucas on his arm. He had thought the redness on the parson’s face was due to the exertion, but could it have resulted from a more nefarious reason? Had her rejection not been received with respect? That might explain the odd atmosphere in the Longbourn household. Elizabeth may have been ruined and sent away to a distant relation. He was so occupied with his own thoughts that he nearly missed Lady Lydia’s next outrageous observation.
“…and now Mr Bingley has left to pursue Miss Darcy without her brother’s consent. I may still be the first Bennet sister to marry if you would only approve of Mr Wickham’s suit, Papa.”
“You may suppose he would do as well as the next fellow. A lady likes to be wooed and courted as it gives her a certain distinction amongst her friends,” the earl drawled. “But Mr Wickham will not do. He is a mere lieutenant, and his wages cannot support a wife—least of all you, dear Lydia. He needs a partner in life who can make a little go a long way, and that would not suit your expensive habits of frippery and lace.”
Lady Lydia rolled her eyes but did not gainsay her father.
“May I have a word with you in private, Lord Glentworth?” Darcy asked, quite unamused by the youngest Bennet daughter’s unbridled tongue.
The earl let him suffer under his scrutiny for an insupportably long moment before he agreed and escorted him to his book room.
It was obvious that he had affronted the patriarch of Longbourn during his stay in Meryton, and he feared that only the utmost earnestness would persuade him to listen.
Therefore, he lay before him his dealings with Mr Wickham in no uncertain terms. If he could save another man’s daughter, or a sister, from the havoc that scoundrel left behind, he would do so. He held an inherent belief that despite his capricious nature, the earl could be trusted in important matters. It also served to disabuse Lord Glentworth of the notion that Bingley was pursuing his sister.
The earl immediately sobered and thanked him sincerely for his warnings about the libertine. He assured him that measures would be taken to curb the reprobate’s machinations.
“Underneath your austere nature you are a good man, Mr Darcy.”
The earl shook his hand, but that only left him with the realisation that the praise was unsupported by his behaviour. Lord Glentworth’s benevolence stood in stark contrast to his own conduct at the assembly, where he had injured the man’s daughter with his callous remarks upon her appearance. And as if that was not enough, he had harmed her further by pointing out her failure in attracting the opposite sex. It was cruel beyond belief, and his foul mood was no excuse. He was exhausted after rescuing his sister from the worst of scoundrels and disheartened that he had not found Eilís, which by no means justified his abominable behaviour.
“I do not deserve your praise. I did not act as I ought at the assembly and insulted your daughter most grievously. I owe her an apology and would like your permission to beg her forgiveness.”
“You just confirmed my statement. Only a decent man would admit to his faults, but you are too late. Lizzy left for an extended family visit about an hour ago.”
“That is unfortunate indeed. Please convey my regrets upon your earliest convenience.”
“I shall forward your apologies in my next letter, but do not concern yourself too much. It may ease your regrets that we have often made sport of your ill-formed comments, and a lady likes to be affronted now and again. She is hardly Lady Glentworth’s favourite daughter, but the circumstance has left her with a most devoted mother.”
Lord Glentworth was such a strange mixture of quick parts, sarcastic remarks, and caprice that Darcy could not understand his character. He chose to bid the patriarch farewell and joined his friends in the parlour. Miss Bingley had regained her speech and was currently holding Lady Jane’s dainty hands in an iron grip. Her behaviour towards her friend had undergone such a material change that Darcy had to quash the impulse to laugh at the sudden reversal.
“My dearest friend. I regret nothing more than leaving your company, and I hope to soon enjoy many delightful new conversations in town. In the meanwhile, we may lessen the pain of separation by a most frequent and unreserved correspondence. I quite depend upon you for that.”
Lady Jane listened to Miss Bingley’s high-flown overtures with a mistrust Darcy could not fault. There was more to the lady than first met the eye.
“I do not know when that might be,” Lady Jane replied coolly. “I have no such future plans.”
“I beg to differ,” Lady Glentworth imposed upon the conversation. “My brother has begged you to join them in town when they leave after Christmas. He was hoping that you would keep Madeleine company during the tedious winter.”
Lady Jane did not confirm.
“Please do, Miss Bennet!” Miss Bingley cried.
“That would be Lady Jane to you,” the former Miss Bennet gently reminded her.
Darcy thought that Miss Bingley had made the request to further the acquaintance a bit late, and judging by her expression, so did Lady Jane.
“As to your request, I shall consider it,” Lady Jane finally allowed.
Darcy thought she looked pensive, but Lady Glentworth did not notice and rejoiced in the easy manner in which everything had been concluded. It was strange that she was so keen to connect her family to Bingley’s whilst making no effort to ensnare Darcy himself, whose consequence was ten times that of his friend. It was apparent that she had not forgiven his snub of her daughter, and no amount of money, country estates, or houses in town could persuade her to like him. That perspective urged him to respect her character even though she was too effusive and loquacious for his personal taste.