Page 27 of Miss Gardiner
Charles Bingley looked very uncomfortable at Elizabeth’s question and Caroline Bingley’s face resembled a child who had eaten something very sour and unpleasant.
“The countryside is not as pleasant as we first thought,” Charles explained. “I have leased an estate near London but…”
Miss Bingley interrupted her brother by saying, “Mr Darcy guided my brother through the first months of being the master of an estate, but we are considering other options now.”
“Indeed,” Mr Gardiner replied, most solicitously. He watched Mr Bingley and ignored the sister. “I hope your investment was not in a poor estate.”
“No, the farms appeared good…Darcy said the tenants and farms were good,” Bingley mumbled.
Miss Bingley announced, “We found the local people to be totally insupportable. They were rough country bumpkins with no fashion, no taste…”
Displeased to hear his sister begin her usual list of complaints against Hertfordshire society, Charles interrupted her saying, “Caroline, I told you that country folk are not…”
At just that moment, Mr Darcy returned in a new coat.
“Mr Gardiner, Miss Gardiner, forgive my sudden exit,” he said immediately upon entering the room. He turned toward his other guests but was interrupted before he could say anything.
“Ah, Darcy, is your arm burned?” Charles asked.
Hopeful of avoiding another apology to Mr Darcy, Miss Bingley leapt upon one of her favourite subjects. “Mr Darcy, we were just saying how dreadful we found all the people in Hertfordshire this fall. I wanted to thank you for helping save my brother from a most unfortunate marriage…”
Miss Bingley’s words affected everyone around the tea service; Darcy’s face showed shock, Mr Bingley was unable to look at anyone, Mr Gardiner grew angry, and Miss Gardiner’s face grew pale.
Unaware that her words had affected everyone, Caroline turned to the Gardiners and shared her story saying, “There was an upstart of a woman in Hertfordshire named Jane Bennet, and she chased Charles from one farm to the next. Her sisters were horrible, and their mother practically had Charles and Jane at the altar after two meetings. Thenight after…just the other morning, Mr Darcy deserted us for London, and then Louisa and I convinced Charles to return to town as well.”
“Miss Bingley, what do you mean?” demanded Mr Darcy as he turned from the sister to the brother. “Charles, you intended to ask Miss Bennet to marry you the morning following the ball. Why did you hesitate to continue?”
Darcy sat and leaned forward, staring at his friend as Charles stuttered, “Caroline and Louisa…they reminded me how you…you said that Miss Bennet sought me…as escape from her future of poverty.”
Darcy shook his head, “Charles, that was only the first night we met the Bennet family at the assembly. Do you remember Miss Lucas talking with me at the gathering at her family’s home?”
“That ghastly house?” sneered Miss Bingley. “The father claimed to the knighted, but I am certain his title was a work of fiction.”
Ignoring Miss Bingley, Darcy reminded Charles of his conversation, “Miss Lucas told me that Miss Bennet was reserved with her friends and there was only one person with whom she was open–the missing sister named Elizabeth.”
Mr Darcy stood and in an accusing tone said, “Charles, you led everyone in Meryton, to believe you would propose marriage to Miss Bennet. I came back to London the day after the ball to finalize contracts due before Christmas.”
Mr Bingley looked decidedly uncomfortable as Mr Darcy’s voice grew more strident, “I told you I would return in one week and remain through the day of your wedding. I was to stand up as your groomsman!”
“Charles could not marry that girl!” Caroline swore. “She was from lesser circles in society.”
“Indeed, Miss Bennet was not of your ‘circle in society,’ Miss Bingley. She is a gentleman’s daughter and is placed much higher in society than your family.”
Surprised by Mr Darcy’s statement, Caroline asked, “How…what do you mean?”
“Miss Bingley, I met Charles at university, and we became friends in our second year. I introduced him to my business associates and social contacts to bring him up without care to his ancestors being tradesmen and peasants,” Darcy explained.
Then he added, “Despite my best efforts, you continually pull him down…”
“What?” screeched Miss Bingley.
Elizabeth pleaded, “Uncle,please, take me home.”
Mr Darcy frowned at the Bingley siblings when Mr Gardiner led his niece toward the door of the room. Banks was there in a moment and Mr Darcy followed them down the hall to the front door.
“Gardiner, Miss Gardiner, you have my most profound apologies for this unseemly matter,” Mr Darcy said. “My…Mr Bingley and his sister will be leaving immediately.”
“Mr Darcy…” Edward began to say but Elizabeth leaned against him, almost overcome with emotion. “I must get my niece home. Good day sir.”
