Page 37 of The Riches of a Life Well-Lived

T hat night, Darcy asked Bingley to join him for a nightcap in the library. He had spent the afternoon considering Elizabeth’s words and had decided that she might be right.

“Bingley, I have been thinking that, though you have often mentioned your interest in Miss Bennet, I have not asked you why you would choose her over other young ladies—after all, you have been interested in various young women in the past. What makes Miss Bennet unique?”

Bingley straightened in his chair. “Do you truly wish to know?”

“Of course. Why would I not?”

“You have not seemed—supportive of my interest.”

Darcy tried to recollect what he might have said to give his friend that perception, but really, he had been in Tuesday for more than two months now. It was difficult to recall precisely what he had said on Monday, or even earlier than that. “Well, I am asking you now.”

Bingley hesitated before nodding decisively. “Then I shall tell you. Miss Bennet is kind and always tries to see the best in those around her. I like that she is not quick to judge others or to expect bad behaviour from them.”

Interesting that he had not immediately begun with her beauty, as he had with the other young ladies.

“We were talking tonight at Mrs. Phillips’s,” Bingley continued, “and she knows the value of smiling. That sometimes it is all the good one may put into the world. And she cares deeply for her family. You can see it in her careful attention towards her sisters. She has even taken care of some of Netherfield’s tenants while it was without an occupant.” He smiled widely. “I enjoy being around her. You have no idea how refreshing it is to meet someone who is uniformly kind to those around them. People do not understand how valuable kindness is and how rare it is!”

“I have some idea,” Darcy said dryly.

“Of course—with the ton. But Miss Darcy is—my sisters are not as kind as Miss Darcy.”

Darcy nodded. Perhaps it was no wonder that Bingley wished to marry someone like Miss Bennet.

“Miss Bennet never speaks ill of anyone,” Bingley said earnestly. “I have even heard her argue that misunderstanding is the primary ill in the world.”

That was rather na?ve. After all, there were real evils. But perhaps Miss Bennet had been exposed to little evil. “I see. You enjoy being around her because of her kindness.”

“And her goodness,” Bingley agreed. He hesitated, his thoughts clearly occupied. “Have you noticed how serene she is?”

Darcy nodded.

“At first, I found it soothing to be around someone so even-tempered. And that is still true. But it is—it is sometimes maddening not to know what she is feeling.”

“How so?”

Bingley took a sip of his drink. “I find that her smile is so often in evidence and her temper so even that I am, at times, unable to determine her true feelings on a matter. It has taken several conversations just to gain the barest understanding of her expressions,” he said soberly. “She was quite open during the first part of our conversation tonight, however. Honestly, I had never seen her so passionate as when she spoke of how important it is to be kind to others.”

So she was mysterious—likely another point in her favour. “What about the objections to her family?” Darcy asked.

Bingley’s eyebrows went up. “You mean that they are engaged in trade? It is no objection to me. Frankly, they are above me in that respect and it is only my wealth that would make me acceptable.”

“Still, you cannot deny that they are not of the first circles. Miss Bennet possesses neither connections that will assist you nor wealth.”

“I have wealth enough for the both of us,” Bingley said stoutly. “Caroline will hate it; she wants me to marry someone far above us in status. I, however, would much rather marry someone whom I can esteem. Miss Bennet is beautiful, but many women are beautiful and beauty does not last. Miss Bennet’s kindness and goodness, her true concern for others, are qualities that I wish for in a wife. I did not know it until I met her, but I believe that such qualities are more important than the ones that Caroline has long preferred.” He grimaced as though his drink had suddenly turned to vinegar. “Does anyone truly want to marry someone who may be beautiful and wealthy but whose demands, constant complaints, and passionate pursuit of society’s approval will make everyone around her miserable?”

Darcy nodded. The same doubts had plagued him. If it had been his aunt’s current favourite, Miss Swinton, trapped in Tuesday with him, the days would have felt like years. Thank God Elizabeth was here!

“The Bennets may not have wealth or connections,” Bingley continued, “but I still believe that gaining Miss Bennet’s companionship will be worth the loss of those opportunities.”

“What about the other Bennets?”

Bingley frowned. “What about them?”

“You will have their companionship as well—and do not tell me that you find Mrs. Bennet or her other daughters to be congenial,” he added quickly.

Bingley hesitated. “Well, I know that Mrs. Bennet is very—eager for Miss Bennet to marry, but I assume once Miss Bennet is married, she will be content. The younger girls are quite boisterous, but I appreciate their high spirits.”

“I do not believe you will appreciate it when they embarrass you and Miss Bennet, should you bring them with you to London. Nor when they end up running off with some officer or another.” Their constant flirtation with every man in a red coat was beyond disgraceful!

“Do we not all have embarrassing relations? It is simply a matter of recognising that their choices are their own.”

“That is all well and good to say; it is something entirely different to have them make a spectacle of themselves.” Darcy cleared his throat. “I have been thinking: if you do marry Miss Bennet, perhaps the two youngest Bennets may be educated—hiring a governess or sending them to finishing school might do the trick.”

Bingley took another sip of his brandy, considering the matter. “You may be right. Certainly, if I were family, it would be my prerogative to broach the matter.”

“Indeed. And it would be in their best interests: they will be far more likely to marry well. I believe that would also help soothe some of Mrs. Bennet’s fears.”

“True.” Bingley beamed up at him. “Thank you, Darcy. It is jolly good of you to suggest such a thing. I would have thought that you would urge me to reconsider at all costs.”

Darcy grimaced. “I have lately concluded that it is not my decision to make.”

Bingley blinked at him. “That is true. I do greatly value your advice, though.”

“Someone recently told me that it is not helpful if I live your life for you instead of providing you with the advice and skills you need to live your own life. I hope that I have not often overstepped those bounds, but if I have, I apologise.”

Bingley’s brow furrowed. “Pardon?”

Darcy suppressed a sigh. “I have been so caught up in ensuring that you do not repeat my mistakes that I fear I may have begun to take the reins instead of simply sharing my experience. You certainly know your own heart far better than I do, and you have clearly thought much about Miss Bennet. I would be a poor friend if I were to try to make that decision for you.”

“I have never felt as though you are making those decisions for me,” Bingley proclaimed heartily.

“Good.”

After several moments of silence, Bingley set down his drink. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Are you—are you opposed to having closer ties with the Bennets? You and Miss Elizabeth have been—adversarial, and I would not wish for you to be uncomfortable in my home.”

Darcy’s eyebrows shot up. “Adversarial?”

Bingley nodded.

“When?”

“Your conversations while she was staying at Netherfield spring to mind.”

“Ah,” Darcy said. His friend had never understood the lure of friendly debates. “We both have strong opinions, but that does not mean that we do not enjoy each other’s presence. I find her unique perspective to be quite stimulating,” he said with a small smile.

Bingley stared at him. “You—do you—are you interested in Miss Elizabeth?”

Darcy took a deep breath. More and more, the thought of not seeing her every day, of not having the right to ensure her comfort and safety, of not being allowed to be near her and to gain comfort from her presence himself, had left him aching for a different future. “Miss Elizabeth’s connections to trade are of far greater detriment to my position in the ton than to yours,” he said doubtfully.

Bingley waved that aside. “I am certain that you possess enough credit to endure the ton’s momentary disapproval. Besides, would not Lady Matlock be willing to sponsor her? Caroline has repeatedly pointed out that if your aunt likes your wife, it would not matter what her status was.”

“I do not know if Lady Matlock would be willing. She is quite determined in her opinions.”

Bingley poured them both another finger of brandy and settled back in his chair. “If she were, though, Miss Elizabeth’s connections would be of little consequence, and heaven knows that you have the wealth to be able to marry whomever you wish.”

Darcy pursed his lips. “The truth is, Bingley, that once a family has wealth, they do a great deal to grow that wealth and to ensure that it is passed down to future generations. To the untrained eye, it might appear that wealth provides freedom in matters of the heart, but the opposite is far more true.”

“That is ridiculous,” Bingley said, shaking his head. “Perhaps it might be true for other young men who require their parents’ approval—you are the head of your family though; you may decide what is more important: wealth or marrying someone with whom you wish to spend your life.”

Darcy grimaced again. “In one sense, you are correct. In another, I still have the Matlocks to contend with. Though they may not make decisions on my behalf, I do not wish to disappoint them.”

“Then introduce them to Miss Elizabeth—surely they would approve of her if they met her. Though, obviously, you would have to gain her approval first. I am not certain that she would be amenable to your suit.”