Page 55 of Miss Gardiner
Glancing at Darcy and then at the colonel, Elizabeth stopped walking and dropped Darcy’s arm as she asked, “How could that be? I know so few gentlemen in society.”
“The gentleman in question is named Charles Bingley.”
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For a moment that could have been an eternity, Elizabeth stood absolutely still; she had not thought of that man in many days. The excitement of the trip, the journey, seeing Charlotte and then finding Mr Darcy in the same neighbourhood led her mind away from Jane’s death and memories of the man responsible.
‘No, not fully responsible, but Charles Bingley took advantage of Jane before he vanished and the result was that Father cast my sister from her home,’Elizabeth admitted to herself.
Then the young woman lifted her head and stared at the two men, the fire in her eyes visible to both as she asked, “Bingley? Charles Bingley?”
Richard explained, “My aunt’s attorney believes the man to be flush. His purse can restore Rosings and support Anne in the style she is accustomed to once Lady Catherine passes.”
“Mr Darcy, did you explain Mr Bingley’s foolish leasing of Netherfield?”
“Foolish? How foolish, Miss Bennet?” Richard inquired.
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth explained. “The man signed a three-year lease, an obligation of funds for three years that he can only recover by acting as the master of an estate. Netherfield is situated next to my father’s estate in Hertfordshire and as I am aware of the amount of my father’s income from Longbourn, I imagine that Bingley could collect substantially more than my father’s the income–if he took an active interest in the estate to become involved with the tenants and crops.”
Frowning dismissively, Elizabeth continued, “But Bingley remained a mere three months, last fall and quit the estate at Christmas. Unless he has returned this summer, Netherfield’s steward is directing the farmers as best he can, but the man will not have a purse with enough coin to pay labourers to harvest the corn this summer. It may have rotted in the fields.”
Darcy commented, “I believe Bingley remained in London this summer until the end of July. I am not aware of hiscurrent abode.”
Now Elizabeth took a deep breath and with a tremor in her voice, explained further, “Colonel Fitzwilliam, last fall Charles Bingley courted my sister Jane, the sweetest, most amiable creature in God’s creation. He broke her heart when he deserted her, and everyone turned on her…our father cast her from the house.”
“I am sorry to hear this sad story, Miss Elizabeth,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said. “There are too many cases where a young woman is seduced by a young man’s words, but many men are not honourable enough to…”
Now the anger was ignited in Elizabeth’s voice when she replied, just short of a shout, saying, “He proposed marriage! Jane expected to be married at Christmas!”
Nodding his head and sighing, Colonel Fitzwilliam said, “Her words against his words are not…”
“Not so,” Elizabeth retorted. “Bingley wrote her letters that professed his love…letters that proposed marriage!”
“Letters?” asked Darcy. “How did Charles send Miss Bennet letters?”
“My parents were lax chaperones without doubt, and he gave her letters when they met. My sister kept each letter, and I have them,” Elizabeth said with a frown. “My sister loved Charles Bingley, cad that he was, until the day she died. With her dying words, she professed her love and cried because he had deserted her.”
Suddenly lost in her thoughts, Elizabeth worried that her parents were not properly chaperoning her other sisters. She imagined Lydia without proper supervision dancing with officers of the militia and slipping away in the shadows; something Jane alluded to last winter.
“May I see them?” asked Colonel Fitzwilliam though Elizabeth did not response.
He repeated his request, “Miss Bennet, may I see these letters Bingley wrote to your sister?”
Her attention returned to the pathway in the park, Elizabeth was very aware of Mr Darcy’s presence near to her and she dared not look at him presently. So, she glared at Colonel Fitzwilliam for making such a request. But the colonel with many battles in his past, threw the glare aside and explained, “With such proof, I shall give Mr Bingley a proper set down and send him on his way when he arrives at Rosings Park.”
Still unhappy, Elizabeth nodded once. Colonel Fitzwilliam turned to Darcy and asked, “Will you recognize Bingley’s penmanship?”
“Yes, Bingley’s penmanship is unique and messy,” Darcy replied.
Her desire to walk any further in the company of the two gentlemen ended for the day, Elizabeth refused to speak again and allowed Henry Jones to lead her back to the parsonage.
“I fear I have stirred a cauldron of hurt for Miss Elizabeth,” Colonel Fitzwilliam admitted as they followed behind the young woman walking so quickly, she threatened to leave the men behind. Henry ran about and caught Elizabeth once when she almost tripped over a rabbit hole in the last meadow before the parsonage.
“I do not know how to proceed,” Darcy admitted, seeing the lady distressed.
At the parsonage, Elizabeth disappeared into the house and Henry waited at the door until Mrs Collins appeared and sent him through into the kitchen. She turned to the two men and demanded, “What has occurred to dismay Elizabeth?”
“We spoke of a gentleman from Jane Bennet’s past,” the colonel said, and the lady’s face turned to Darcy.
