Page 59 of Miss Gardiner
“They are but Mr Jones felt it necessary to demonstrate to Miss Elizabeth how he would defend her from the evil Bingley,” Darcy explained. “She approved and I found myself jealous of a farm boy.”
Richard snorted and said, “If we meet with Bingley in a livery stable, I shall make certain to find a pitchfork and you may begin his education in the consequences of acting like an old billy goat.”
“Elizabeth will…,” Darcy started to say but then stopped as he imagined the conversation with the beautiful young woman where he described piercing Bingley with the tines of the pitchfork. He sounded bemused when he continued, “My lady would approve and grant me her favour. Thank you, good knight.”
“Oh, for pity’s sake, marry the girl already,” urged Colonel Fitzwilliam in a joking tone.
When Maidstone came into view, the two men separated for time, surveying the roads and taverns. Mr Lincoln’s carriage was not found; the man was already headed toward Gravesend and then London. They took a position along the primary street and waited with their horses saddled in case Bingley’s carriage did not stop for water for the horses.
++++
Charles Bingley sat in his carriage; the newspaper discarded on the seat beside him and his valet sleeping in the other seat.
‘Caroline would never allow a servant to sleep while she was awake,’he mused.‘Please, Providence bring a man willing to marry her soon!’
He had consulted the maps several times the night before and remembered the next town was Maidstone; then two more hours to Ashford before the final portion of the day’s journey to reach Rosings Park.
‘Mr Belmont said old Lady Catherine was desperate for money and her daughter was young. Marriage into a settled estate will move me along,’Charles thought.‘And a battle between Caroline and Darcy’s warhorse of an aunt might be worth the price.’
Now he sighed and thought,‘I wish I could find a woman who loved me for me, not my fortune. Then I could be happy for the remainder of my life.’
His coachman stopped the team at a large tavern on the main street and Charles woke his valet, handed the man a few small coins, and said, “We have stopped for a rest. Refresh yourself with ale; I shall procure my own.”
Dropping to the ground from the well of the carriage, Charles stretched and then walked about, working out kinks in his legs and back. He noticed his coachman watering each horse with the help of a stable boy and nodded in the man’s direction.
Turning to head into the tavern for a pint, Charles was surprized to find his friend, Fitzwilliam Darcy and a second gentlemen, a few years older, walking toward him.
“Bingley, we need to talk to you,” the second man growled.
“Richard, not in the street,” Darcy commanded.
The three men retreated to a private room in the tavern where a girl brought them a tray with a pitcher of ale and mugs. Richard ordered food and poured the ale as Darcy began the introductions, “Charles, allow me to introduce my cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, younger son of the Earl of Matlock.”
Bingley bowed his head as Darcy continued, “Richard, this is Mr Charles Bingley, my friend from University that you have heard me mention previously.”
“I have corresponded with Colonel Fitzwilliam regarding Lady Catherine’s invitation to visit,” Bingley replied. “Mr Belmont advised me that the colonel would be making the selection of Miss de Bourgh’s husband.”
“And that is why we have come today…” Richard replied, setting aside his mug of ale. “I do not think you will be a suitable candidate for my cousin’s hand. I recommend that you not continue your journey…turn around and go home!”
“Turn around and go home?” Charles asked hotly. “May I ask why I am disqualified before the race begins?”
Darcy said, “Charles, if you ever valued my advice, I urge you to abandon this pursuit.”
“No, Lady Catherine promised a fair and equitable selection process,” Bingley argued. “Her letter was explicit, and I shall take you all to court if you fail to provide me with the opportunity to court Miss de Bourgh.”
“Her letter?” asked Darcy before he glanced toward the colonel who listened closely to their visitor. Bingley nodded though he continued to frown.
“You believe the contents of a letter are binding?” Darcy asked his friend.
“Yes, the courts will side with me if you send me away,” Bingley growled. Darcy took a deep breath as though accepting an uncomfortable truth before motioning toward the chairs around a table. The three men sat in silence for a moment.
“Very well, Mr Bingley, I have a few questions,” Richard stated.
Waving one hand dismissively, Bingley said, “Certainly, Colonel. Ask your questions and I shall endeavour to answer.”
“I understand that you leased an estate in Hertfordshire last fall. You took possession at Michaelmas but abandoned the place before Christmas. What are your plans for the remainder of the lease?”
“I paid off the lease earlier this summer,” Bingley replied. “The farms needed too much work…too much attention…”
