Page 54 of To Go Against Her Heart (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

Several days had passed since Darcy’s visit to Longbourn, and one morning, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst took their places at the breakfast parlor at Netherfield.

“I cannot fathom when Charles intends to return, nor can I comprehend what manner of shopping assistance he renders to his future wife. Considering their wealth, one might suppose they could scarcely afford anything grand,” said Miss Bingley with evident displeasure.

“Caroline, I would advise you to refrain from speaking out of spite. Our brother’s absence does not grant you the liberty to indulge in ill-mannered remarks. I will not allow you to insult Jane or her family,” he sister warned.

“He should have returned yesterday. What business is still keeping him there?” she asked, in a tone of irritation.

The prospect of the Bennet family visiting her house in town for meals and engagements—particularly the idea of Elizabeth and her sisters enjoying its comforts filled Miss Bingley with anguish, for she detested being confined in Netherfield.

At that very moment, Mr. Hurst joined them with a look of animation on his face.

“Louisa, you would not believe what news I bring. I encountered Mr. Phillips in the village, and he conveyed to me the most surprising and delightful news.”

Both sisters looked at him with surprise.

“Mr. Phillips informed me that Miss Elizabeth got engaged a few days ago. She…” Miss Bingley cut him off abruptly.

“What? With whom?” Miss Bingley cried without composure.

“Why to none other than Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Hurst said, and Miss Bingley was beyond horrified with his declaration.

“Impossible!” she cried in anguish, much to the surprise of her sister.

“Are you certain, my dear?” Mrs. Hurst asked her husband.

“Yes, of course! It seems Mr. Bennet and Miss Elizabeth have also traveled to town and joined the rest of the family. I assume that is why Charles has not yet returned,” he said, and noticed Miss Bingley’s face turn white.

At that very moment, a servant entered and presented Mrs. Hurst with an express from her brother, confirming precisely the details her husband had just acquainted her with.

“This is indeed a delightful surprise! Charles informs me that Mr. Darcy intends to marry Miss Elizabeth on the very day planned for his wedding. It shall, therefore, be a double wedding, and the engagement party for both couples is now to be held at Netherfield—a week earlier than first intended,” she exclaimed.

Miss Bingley snatched the letter from her hands, and every word penned by her brother filled her with irrevocable anguish.

This cannot be possible. How did this happen?

Mr. and Mrs. Hurst observed her countenance as both were aware of her dreams of becoming the mistress of Pemberley.

“Caroline, I suggest you accept this news with grace. Let me not beat about the bush—he never once favored you, and after your schemes to part Jane and Charles, Mr. Darcy has gone so far as to avoid your company altogether. So do not pretend you have lost your chances, for in truth, you never possessed one,” she said, earning an icy glare from her sister.

Miss Bingley rose and left for her room as calmly as she could.

Ever since her brother’s engagement was announced, she had been desperate to devise some means of separating Jane and Mr. Bingley.

Yet to her despair, he had entirely cut her off, giving her no place of importance in his life.

Powerless, she dared not risk any further schemes that would ruin her prospects of staying with the family forever.

But now, her vexation over her brother’s engagement to Jane had entirely vanished, replaced by a chill as cold as winter frost that settled deep within her heart at the very thought of Darcy and Elizabeth wed before her eyes.

For the first time in her life, Miss Bingley felt a rage she could neither tame nor deny.

Trapped by her circumstances and seemingly forsaken by the world, she nevertheless resolved within herself that she would not yield so easily.

Whatever the circumstance, she had never ceased to pursue her own desires, even in town—where all presumed she had withdrawn quietly, frightened by her brother’s threats—she had worked towards a something, and now she knew it was time to act.

As much as she wanted to hurt Jane, she knew that if she were ever caught, the repercussions would not be to her liking. But when it came to Elizabeth, her jealousy and rage took over her rational thoughts, and she no longer feared anyone.

I will never allow you to marry him. It would not hurt if he had married someone from town equal to my wealth and status, but to lose to you is beyond imagination, she thought, and set to work.

***

The few days Elizabeth had planned to spend in town passed more swiftly than she had anticipated, and everything had been nothing short of magical from the moment they arrived at her uncle’s house.

From the instant she announced her engagement to her family, she was met with pure joy—especially from Jane, her aunt, and uncle.

The Gardiners felt grateful that she finally found the love she deserved.

As for Jane, she was ecstatic to understand what Darcy had done to secure her sister’s hand.

“I knew it, Lizzy, I was certain that if at all anyone had the means to make you realize your own heart, it was Mr. Darcy, and I am so glad to have him as my brother,” Jane exclaimed.

“At last, my dear, you have found a man who truly deserves you. I always knew that, however uncertain you were of the future, true love would never forsake you. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness,” her aunt said warmly.

As for Darcy, he experienced a similar sort of welcome from Georgiana and the Matlocks. Above all, Georgiana was delighted beyond measure, for her long-cherished wish of having Elizabeth as a sister was now fulfilled; yet it was Mr. Bingley’s reaction that afforded Darcy the greatest amusement.

“Good Lord! How long were you in love with her? I suspected that you admired her, but never thought you would be so deeply attached,” Mr. Bingley had exclaimed in surprise and quite honestly troubled that his friend never discussed his feelings with him.

“Trust me, Bingley, our journey to happiness has been as rocky as yours, but I am heartily glad that we have come into our felicity, just as you and Miss Bennet have done,” Darcy said.

Even before he could speak further, Mr. Bingley insisted they wed on the same day, and Darcy confessed he was inclined to the same notion.

After enduring months of longing and torment, Darcy did not want to delay matters anymore.

The families had met frequently at both Mr. Bingley’s and Darcy’s homes, however, it was challenging for Elizabeth and Darcy to have a private moment between themselves, apart from a few conversations he stole with her here and there.

While the ladies were occupied with their shopping excursions, Darcy and Mr. Bingley frequently found themselves in the company of Richard, who took great delight in teasing them without cause.

The wedding date was fixed within a few weeks, and Mrs. Bennet was unable to conceal her joy at the fortunate settlement of both her daughters—Elizabeth’s match being something she never imagined in her wildest dreams.

The news of Darcy’s marriage spread through the ton like wildfire, and most of those present at the ball were far from surprised as all who had observed the pair that evening had long anticipated such an announcement.

And when the news reached Mr. Harrington’s ears, he sighed deeply, fully aware of how recklessly he had lost a life with a woman such as Elizabeth.

His personal life had become a living nightmare since the day of the ball, and his wife was no longer on cordial terms with him.

She pressed him relentlessly to confess whom he had favored before her, but he dared not risk his entire life by revealing the truth.

As for Mrs. Harrington, she grew uneasy over her exclusion, along with the Kingstons, from Lady Matlock’s customary dinner invites.

In truth, Richard and Darcy had confided to Lady Matlock the nature of Mr. Harrington’s faulty character at the ball, though they withheld the particulars as to whom he made his shameful advances to.

Lady Matlock, livid with anger, took swift action. Though she was close to the Kingston family, she deemed it necessary to exclude them from her invitations, thus justifying Mrs. Harrington’s growing concern and unease.

It struck her that the series of events had transpired since the ball, and she pondered whether her husband’s past, his quarrel with his friend, and Lady Matlock’s sudden distance were somehow connected, however, Mrs. Harrington was resolved to get to the bottom of her husband’s secret.

***

A day before the Bennets were to leave town, Darcy paced his study impatient to spend time with Elizabeth before her departure.

He was resolved to speak with her in private and arrived at her uncle’s house mid-morning.

Though the entire family was present, he boldly asked her father’s leave to converse with Elizabeth in private.

“Mr. Darcy, you just met her last night at your aunt’s house during supper; I wonder what it is that you forgot to discuss with her in such a short time,” Mr. Bennet said with a fake disapproving look, and Jane could not help but suppress a smile.

Mrs. Bennet, as always, did not understand her husband’s humor and was appalled that Darcy might feel offended.

“Mr. Bennet, surely Mr. Darcy would like to say something to her in private,” she cried in horror.