Page 56 of The Wager
“Ha, ha,” Darcy muttered. “You have missed your calling as a court jester.”
“Youaretouchy this morning.”
“Blame it on Bingley. He believes Jane accepted your proposal because of your rank and his bitterness seeped into my happiness. I explained to him I was courting Elizabeth, which also took him by surprise and he left in a cloud of disgust.”
“He saw his sister as mistress of Pemberley.”
“Then he and his delusional sister were the only ones who did because I never once entertained the notion.”
Jane,readingsomefreshlyarrived correspondence, pursed her lips. When her brow furrowed, Elizabeth asked what had caused such a reaction. With a sigh, Jane handed the elegant missive over.
“Our cousin Sophia has written some unsettling things about Miss Bingley. Given what she has heard, I am uncertain as to whom she is trying to deceive. Herself, or society.”
“Now I am doubly curious as to what she wrote.”
Elizabeth accepted the letter and began to read, skimming past family updates and a heartfelt request for them to come to London sooner than planned before settling upon the portion concerning Miss Bingley and her delusions.
“…it is obvious Miss Bingley has no idea the connections to which you and dear Lizzy can lay claim. Celia and I happened to be standing next to her and Miss Grantley and were surprised at her level of animosity toward not only your family but also the town of Meryton and Hertfordshire as a whole. This is not what made me pause, as I know you and Lizzy can hold your own when it comes to intemperate shrews. My concern was raised when she spoke of a growing affection between Georgiana Darcy and her brother. Unless I am mistaken, our distant cousin does not make her Come Out for another two years. As I had not been introduced to the termagant, I did not obtrude in her conversation, although I did explain later to my friends that I thought her delusional and not to give her wild remarks any credence.
“What balderdash! How dare Miss Bingley hint at a growing affection between her brother and William’s sister. This could ruin poor Georgiana’s reputation before she even makes her curtsy.”
“I must tell Edmund about this. He and his cousin need to know what Miss Bingley is saying in public.”
“I have a better idea, Jane. It is time I wrote Aunt Sarah.”
“Aunt Sarah, whatever could she do about this?”
“We are going to take up the sword and invite ourselves to a ball.”
“A ball…” Jane smiled. “Would this ball be slated for the tenth of December, hosted by none other than Lady Kildair, who happens to be a good friend of our dear Aunt Sarah?”
“It would.”
“And would there be two gentlemen we are intimately acquainted with attending this same ball?”
“There would.”
“Then, write away my dearest, brilliant sister.”
It was only a matter of minutes for a letter to be drafted and sent express to Lady Sarah Courtland and another couple of days for a response.
“Lizzy, you received a letter from your Aunt Sarah?” Mamma asked, having been told by Hill that an express had arrived from Lady Courtland.
“I did. As you know, Jane and I have made plans to travel to London and do some shopping for gifts and also surprise the viscount and Mr. Darcy at a ball we know they are both attending.”
“Are you going to keep them company or to ensure no other ladies catch their attention?”
Elizabeth looped her arm through her mother’s and walked with her to the family parlor.
“Jane and I trust our gentlemen; however, we have learned of some rumors that could prove harmful to Miss Darcy and wish to confront the source.”
“Miss Bingley?”
It was at that instant Elizabeth experienced a moment of clarity. Their mother may have a diminished capacity in some areas of her life, but reading the intentions of others was not one of them. Mamma had pegged Miss Bingley’s personality almost immediately upon their meeting and had treated her with cool politeness the entire time the Netherfield Park tenants resided in Meryton. How had she missed this?
Was it not Mamma who encouraged Jane to sideline the Bingleys the first time they attended Longbourn, which allowed her to greet the viscount and Darcy without the siblings learning of their shared history?
Was it also not Mamma who insisted they all take tea with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst when their invitation so rudely excluded Mary’s eldest sisters? In hindsight, it may have been fun to see their mother take on the Netherfield ne’er-do-wells by unleashing Lydia on them.
