Page 53 of Eavesdroppers Never Hear
She smiled and curtsied. "I accept your apology, good sir. For myself, you are forgiven, and your business with me is complete.”
She then turned back to Darcy. “I suggest we retire over there, William."
While Bingley looked on in confusion, then wonder, Elizabeth took Darcy’s arm and walked over to a sofa in the far corner. He very politely helped her sit, then sat beside her at the more or less appropriate distance. They both diligently looked away from the other couple who were circling each other like tomcats on the other side of the room and started conversing quietly.
~~~~~
Charles Bingley sat thunderstruck with his carefully crafted speech entirely forgotten; while Jane Bennet looked as if she was not likely to give him any quarter at all.
He eventually came to his senses enough to know he had to say something. “I say, Miss Elizabeth dispatched me with alacrity.”
Jane gave the slightest nod of her head, which was enough for Bingley to notice she was as tense as a bowstring.
She seemed to be chewing on some unpleasant sort of gristle, but finally replied, “That is her way. Lizzy has always been quick to anger and quick to forgive. She went from despising your friend to courting him in half a day!”
“May I assume you are not… quick to forgive that is?” he said, then barely refrained from smacking his forehead at his own stupidity.
For a moment, he thought she might smack it on his behalf, but she relented slightly.
“I am quite the opposite—more akin to never to anger and never to forgive. Lizzy and I have carried the weight of whatever discipline this family has for as long as I can remember. Her anger has been a useful tool to get people’s attention when all else fails, while my calmness is useful for smoothing the waters.”
“It sounds like you have been attempting your parents’ job?”
She looked at him carefully and relaxed a touch. “I suppose you understand?”
“I understand all too readily. My father made an enormous fortune, but at the expense of ignoring his family entirely… much as yours does.” Then he watched carefully to see if the statement made her angry.
She sighed and nodded but added nothing, showing neither agreement nor otherwise.
He seemed at an impasse, so decided to plod forward with what he had come to say.
“With the understanding that any forgiveness will likely be long in coming and must be earned, pray allow me to apologise profusely.”
“For what?”
He was uncomfortably reminded of the first moments when the ladies left Netherfield; with the only difference being that Miss Elizabeth was angrily asking the question of Darcy. On the one hand, it did not seem auspicious—but on the other, Darcy survived so perhaps there was hope yet.
“I cannot apologise on my sisters’ behalf because it would be disingenuous, since neither of them has any real remorse, and they are both grown women who should take responsibility for their own actions. I can, however, apologise for at least two distinct errors of my own if you will allow it.”
“Proceed,” she said softly.
“Firstly, I apologise for allowing a guest to be insulted in my home with impunity. I know you and Miss Elizabeth try your best to curb the worst excesses of your family, but they are not your responsibility. As head of this family, and master of the estate, the behaviour of my sisters was my responsibility. I not only failed…” he said resignedly, then looked at her with a frown. “…I did not even try.”
“Why is that?” she asked in apparent curiosity, which Bingley took to be a not too terrible sign.
“Because long ago I just got tired of beating my head against the wall, if I am honest.”
Jane sighed to match his. “I suppose I understand. I only recently started challenging my mother directly, and it is hard to break childhood habits. Your sister reminds me of Mama in some ways. They are both trying—and failing—to rise above their upbringing without bothering to learn the necessary skills.”
Bingley thought he might be getting somewhere but wanted to get the bulk of what he needed to say finished, so he chose not to continue the same disagreeable subject, which was only likely to frustrate them both.
“More importantly than failing to check my sisters, I must apologise for not taking you seriously… not giving you the respect you deserve.”
She looked slightly intrigued and puzzled at the same time.
He continued, “You were correct to chastise me at Netherfield for being attracted to your beauty. While nobody likes to consider themselves inconstant, I will admit that I have often been attracted to beautiful women. It has most often turned out badly, but I continued the habit.”
“How has it turned out badly?” Jane asked, curious for the first time.
