Page 13 of See, Hear, Speak No Evil, Mr. Darcy
“I beg of you,please,do not inform her of…” Miss Bingley said in a voice so soft that he read the words falling from her lips rather than heard them.
“I will treat you with the same regard you give others whom you perceive to be below you. Unlike your pretensions to think yourself above all other ladies, it is an indelible truth that youarebelow me in status. My aunt and uncle have a tender heart where Georgiana is concerned.”
Darcy felt satisfied he had carried his point when even Mr. Hurst looked at him with trepidation. Darcy moved to the sideboard, filling two plates, then handed them to a footman, asking for coffee to be delivered to the study as well.
“Please, Mr. Darcy, have mercy,” Mrs. Hurst cried, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“I am. The same as was afforded to me in your sister’s attempt to steal my future happiness. Deeds done withyourcognizance.” Darcy called out as he left the breakfast room, “I believe twenty-two minutes remain before you are to have departed.”
Mrs. Nicholls Takes in the Aftermath
“Well,” Mrs. Nicholls said to her husband, the butler. “In our ten years running this household, we have never witnessed anything of the like.”
“True, but no woman behaved so brazen as that young lady did last night.”
“That Mr. Darcy fellow cares more for the young master than either of his sisters.”
“I know you mourn having no brothers or sisters, but perhaps it’s not such a bad thing.”
“Today, I can agree it’s not,” Mrs. Nicholls said, frowning. “We must take great care with the lads and the young miss for the remainder of their stay.”
“They could be in no better hands, Astrid,” Mr. Nicholls assured her.
“At least we know they’re intelligent men. They singled out Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth at the assembly. Lily Hill and I agree that her Miss Bennets are quite suited to them. What perfect matches for those dear, sweet girls,” Mrs. Nicholls mused, returning to her duties with a lightness in her step.
Chapter 6
Mr. Bennet’s Day Begins the Same as No Other
Mr. Bennet was confused. In his study, where he spent the greater share of his days, he could hear his wife request one of their daughters to pen a letter to their aunt Gardiner asking if she knew of a reputable governess seeking employment. It was followed by a demand that all the girls come to the sitting room to help determine how to budget for the lady’s wages from her own allowance.
Deciding to address his wife’s concerns during the morning meal, he chuckled to himself, wondering what sort of bee she had under her bonnet that day. Even after two decades and three years, he still did not understand his wife.
Miss Francine Gardiner had caught Bennet’s attention whilst she fawned over an officer. Paul Goulding had wagered with him an ale that he would not be able to draw her away from the Redcoat. Bennet had been adamant that there was no more straightforward a matter, after they both had agreed that none of the Redcoat reprobates deserved the prettiest girl in Hertfordshire.
And Bennet did divert her attention from the man. In a way, no one could pretend to ignore. After a few days of flirtingwith the lively, pretty young lady, he thought himself half in love with her, promisingher a weekly stipend to spend as she chose if only she would consent to be his wife. They had not been married a full day before he realized the extent of their marital mismatch was extreme. She knew nothing of how to be a mistress of an estate, did not enjoy reading, and cared little for his day but expected him to listen to a full accounting of hers. When he and Goulding crossed after the nuptials, his friend reminded Bennet he owed him an ale. Bennet had never tasted one so sour before or since.
If asked, Thomas Bennet declared the births of their daughters to be the happiest days in their marriage. He would, however, keep to himself the benefit that after each delivery, his wife’s attention would divert further away from him.
Though he did not know what had occurred at the assembly, Mr. Bennet was certain it did not warrant this much change in his household.
Mrs. Bennet Has an Epiphany
In the sitting room, Mrs. Bennet sat staring at her eldest daughter. When she received no reply, she dismissed Jane and requested Mary instead.
“You want to see me, Mother?” Mary walked to the chair her mother indicated, rather than take her usual chair in the corner.
“Jane will not answer my questions,” Mrs. Bennet said, her lips pursing thin. To her surprise, her middle daughter stood again even before she had settled.
“I will send in someone else,” Mary said, retreating toward the door.
“I want the truth, Mary. Please.”
The plea stopped Mary short. “I expect you will be displeased and even send me to my room with no supper for saying this, but it is our experience that you only want us to agree with you. Telling you the truth angers you. It is a rare occurrence when I am in your good graces.”
“That is not true,” Mrs. Bennet said, having to close her eyes against Mary’s impassivity. “I do not always speak to you when you are in the room, but you know I value—”
When Mary took another step toward the door, Mrs. Bennet stood.
