“Very well, Caroline,” said Bingley. “Astonish us.”
“The family has a fallen member,” said Miss Bingley as if the matter was nothing more than a passing interest. “Do you wish to risk the possibility of that being discovered in society?”
“Fallen how?” said Bingley.
“I had it from the chit’s own mouth,” retorted Miss Bingley, her manner triumphant. “Do you know that Miss Lydia Bennet, she of the shrieking laughter and propensity to chase after redcoats, attempted to run off with an officer?”
Bingley was taken aback, as was the rest of the company who had knowledge of the events from two days before. It appearedLydia Bennet had said something incautious on the subject, and Miss Bingley had misconstrued it to mean the girl had spoken of herself. Lady Catherine was shaking her head with dismay, while Fitzwilliam regarded Miss Bingley with something akin to contempt. Anne, however, was silent, her unflinching stare fixed on Miss Bingley as if she could see through her. Unfortunately for Miss Bingley, she misunderstood the reason for her brother’s sudden consternation, for her looks held nothing but triumph.
“I seethatlittle tidbit has pierced your confidence, Brother,” crowed she. “It is gratifying that you understand now what an error it would be to connect yourself with the Bennets, for they are wholly unsuitable.
“When word of her escapade escapes this insignificant community, the Bennets will no doubt reap what they have sown. And do not assume that it will not, for gossip such as this has a way of proliferating far beyond any expectation. It should not surprise me if the details make their way to London before the season.”
Included in her diatribe was the insinuation that Miss Bingley would be among those perpetuating the story in London. Miss Bingley sneered, her expression truly unpleasant, as she added: “Of course, the gossip will not persist long, for the Bennets are truly of no consequence. But it will forever stain them, even if they should someday make their way to a more cultured society.”
How they might respond to this attack Darcy could not be certain, and he could see the others hesitating while Miss Bingley basked in her assumed victory. For obvious reasons they could not speak of Anne’s actions, for Darcy did not trust Miss Bingley to remain silent, though perhaps they could mitigate that with the direct influence of the earl. Perhaps a simple assurance that Lydia Bennet had done nothing would suffice, though Darcy suspected Miss Bingley would not believe. In the end, the response came from a surprising source, and thecontent of her rebuttal was beyond anything Darcy expected.
“That is most amusing, Miss Bingley,” said Anne. “Unfortunately, in your haste to stain the Bennets in our eyes, you got most of the facts incorrect.”
“I am as certain as I can be,” said Miss Bingley, her tone full of syrup.
“Then that calls your acumen into question,” was Anne’s hard reply. “Miss Lydia did not elope with an officer. The girl is too lively and incautious for her own good and she speaks when she should remain silent, but she did not do as you charge. I did.”
“Anne!” exclaimed an aghast Lady Catherine.
Anne, however, only waved her off, keeping her attention on Miss Bingley. Flummoxed was hardly a word to describe her, for she appeared incapable of making a response. Anne gave her a thin smile before she tore Miss Bingley apart piece by piece.
“You planned to harm that family’s reputation if your brother did not accede to your demands, did you not?” Miss Bingley was incapable of answering. “It is no shock to anyone in the room, for we all understand your character. To threaten to ruin the reputation of a family who has never done you harm for no more purpose than to prevent your brother from following his heart shows a remarkable lack of honor. Indeed, I may say that it is despicable.
“There is little reason for you to continue in this mad design of yours, so you may as well cease. For reasons you do not deserve to know,Iattempted an elopement. Mine is the guilt you so gleefully reported for your selfish reasons.”
“You?” squeaked Miss Bingley. “I am beyond shocked that a woman of your pedigree would own to such things.”
“This assumption that those of high society are without fault would be amusing if it were not so very pathetic. No one is free of error, Miss Bingley. Do you suppose the rumors of the prince regent are complete fabrications? I am a woman the same as anyother, possessing the same frailties.
“One other fact you should know is that it was Miss Elizabeth Bennet who persuaded me to reconsider. I owe much to that young woman, and by association, to all her family. I care little for what you say about me, for it is obvious you possess not an ounce of integrity. But I shall not allow you to spread unfounded rumors about people of whom I possess the highest opinion.”
Silence reigned in the room with Anne’s harsh denunciation. Had Miss Bingley been any less reprehensible, Darcy might have pitied her for enduring such a set-down. Her lust to enter the first circles and the accompanying standing and wealth, however, rendered her reprehensible, even more because, as Anne had so eloquently stated, she planned to use illicit knowledge to ensure she got her way.
“I wish you had not spoken of such things, Anne,” said Lady Catherine at length. Her contemptuous glare at Miss Bingley left no question about her feelings for that lady. “We cannot be sure of this...person’sability to hold her tongue. Would you wish to hear of this from the mouth of every clucking hen in society?”
“Do not concern yourself, Lady Catherine,” said Bingley, finally finding his voice. “Caroline will not speak a word of this to anyone, least of all anyone in London. If she puts even a toe out of line, I shall send her to Scarborough to live with our aunt.”
Miss Bingley glared at her brother, but he was impervious to her displeasure. Darcy had heard enough of the Scarborough aunt to know that banishment to her house would be a most acute punishment for a woman of Miss Bingley’s character. Moreso because Bingley would likely, at that point, wash his hands of her forever.
“Thank you, Mr. Bingley,” said Lady Catherine with feeling.
Then she turned her attention back to Miss Bingley. “I add my voice to Anne’s. It is beyond contemptible to use such information for personal gain. I am ashamed of you. If youpresume to speak even one word of this matter where anyone can overhear, I will know where it originates. Do not doubt the influence my family wields in society, for one word from my brother will see you a pariah forever. I shall refrain for the moment, for your brother has proven his honor.”
Miss Bingley made no response, contenting herself with remaining silent after her chastisement. Soon thereafter, the company separated, much subdued given what had just taken place. Where Miss Bingley went or what she did Darcy could not say, but he hoped very much that she would keep to herself for the rest of her stay. If he had been determined to avoid enduring her when he left London, he was now doubly so. She was everything he despised about society. Should the occasion demand it, Darcy was determined to inform her of it himself.
“Oh, Louisa, I am so distressed!”
Caroline was beyond distressed, for Louisa knew she was humiliated, mortified, uncertain, and determined all at once. Louisa might have worried about Mr. Darcy had she not had the firmest sense of the gentleman’s understanding. He would not relax his guard now, especially since Caroline had shown her character for them all to see.
Louisa sighed, considering the disaster that had come of Caroline’s ambitions. In all honesty, Louisa was not innocent of the ambition that so marked her sister’s character—in her case, it was not nearly so blatant. That she had accepted Hurst was a consequence of the circumstances in which they had found themselves. Hurst, whatever else he was, could claim the title of gentleman, though his estate was smaller even than Netherfield. The Hursts had never had much of a presence in town, though they were not unknown. At the time she had accepted him, however, she had determined it would be a step up for the Bingley family, give them some credibility in a society thatvalued a family’s history besides its wealth. The Bingley family history was a detriment to most of higher society, while their wealth was acceptable, though far less than what most of the highest could claim.
That had all changed with Charles’s acquaintance with Mr. Darcy, and when Louisa looked back on the past three years, she did not think it was for the better, given Caroline’s all-consuming ambition. Had Charles not made Mr. Darcy’s acquaintance, Caroline might have been content to marry a man of Hurst’s consequence, and Louisa knew she would be happier for it.
