Unforgiving Temper (17 page)

“Yes, yes it is,” Caroline replied, her face
lighting up with a sudden idea. “Would you like to join us? It is
such an interesting place, what with all their girls. They have
five, you know.”

“Five girls?” Georgiana's eyes grew wide with
wonder. “I cannot imagine. I should like to have had a sister.”

And I should have liked to give you
one
, Darcy thought ruefully.

“May I go, Fitzwilliam?”

“If you like,” Darcy smiled slightly and
threw Bingley a look of annoyance.

“Yes, well…of course you may come,
Miss Darcy; and Darcy, you must come too.”

“Thank you, Bingley. I should like to
accompany my sister.”

“What a lovely party we shall be,” cooed
Caroline as she took Georgiana's arm and cast a sly glance to
Darcy. “I cannot wait for you to meet the Bennet family, my dear.
Mrs. Bennet is a particular delight.”

* * * *

Caroline ignored yet another look from her
brother and idly gazed out the window of Longbourn's sitting room.
Jane Bennet nervously cleared her throat, the sound of which was
amplified in the heavy silence. To this point, the conversation had
been painfully awkward and stilted. Darcy looked to his friend.
Poor Bingley. While he had managed to get Caroline to accompany him
on this visit, it was obvious she was not about to hand Jane Bennet
to him on a silver platter. At least there was not the added
difficulty of Mrs. Bennet, who was keeping to her room, or the
two youngest Bennet girls who had already gone into Meryton before
the party from Netherfield arrived.

For himself, Darcy was relieved that his
sister's first introduction to Elizabeth's sisters was limited to
Jane and Mary. He could find no fault in Jane; and, upon closer
acquaintance, discovered Mary to be of a more temperate nature than
he first thought. Her serious disposition was much more suited to
Georgiana's natural shyness than the boisterous behavior often
displayed by her younger sisters.

After another moment of the uncomfortable
silence, Darcy decided he had better do something to rescue the
situation before it became a complete disaster. It was then he
noticed the small leather-bound volume lying in Mary's lap.

“Miss Mary, I see that you enjoy reading. May
I inquire as to your present selection?”

“Y-yes, Mr. Darcy. I enjoy reading very
much,” Mary managed to say in her astonishment. “I am at present
reading
The Poetical Works of William Lisle Bowles.
”

“An excellent choice. I very much enjoy Mr.
Bowles' poetry, as does my sister.”

“Oh, you are familiar with his works,
Miss Darcy? I think he is not so popular as Mr. Cowper or Mr.
Coleridge.”

Georgiana's interest was engaged at once.
“Indeed, I believe not; but I like him very much. I think my
favorite of Mr. Bowles is his work titled 'To a Friend.' It reminds
me of when my brother goes to town.”

“I think you are referring to the opening
line,” replied Mary. “Let me see – here it is!
'Go, then, and
join the murmuring city's throng!'
”

“Yes!” Georgiana exclaimed with pleasure.
“And then it goes on to say
'Me thou dost leave to solitude and
tears.'
”

“The fate of every young girl with only a
brother to care for her,” Darcy observed teasingly.

“But the ending is the best part of all, is
it not, brother?” Georgiana smiled widely. “
'…the glad hour I
shall bless that shall restore thee from the crowd again, to the
green hamlet on the peaceful plain.'
”

“Yes, Georgiana, Pemberley is most assuredly
peaceful, especially when compared to London!”

“That is our home in Derbyshire, you see,”
she leaned toward Mary in a conspiratorial whisper.

Pleased that Georgiana and Mary were at last
conversing comfortably, Darcy turned his attention back to Bingley.
His poor friend was trying hard not to show his frustration. Before
leaving Netherfield, he had specifically instructed Caroline to
contrive an opportunity for him to speak with Jane on a more
personal level. With Mary the only real obstacle in the room, it
was an easy enough task; but Caroline was making no effort to
accommodate him. In fact, she was being as difficult as ever.

“Miss Bennet, it must be very demanding
for you and your sisters to have your father so ill and your mother
indisposed. Is there no one to help you?”

“It has been challenging for us,
Miss Bingley,” Jane admitted matter-of-factly. “However, as I
said yesterday, we are managing well enough. Most of the daily work
is well organized and runs its course; and my uncle has been very
kind to advise us on the most pressing matters.”

“Oh, yes, your uncle,” Caroline smiled
sweetly. “Would that be the attorney or the tradesman?”

“It is my uncle Gardiner who lives London –
he is quite successful in his business, and has been a very great
help these past weeks. I do not know what we would have done
without him.”

“You are very fortunate to have such a
relation, Miss Bennet,” said Bingley, giving his sister a
meaningful glance. “It must be a comfort to know that you can
depend upon your nearest relations for help and encouragement in
time of need. Would you not agree, Caroline?”

“Of course, Charles, what would we be without
families? They are a very great influence in our lives – and
friends, as well. Do you agree, Mr. Darcy?”

“Yes, Miss Bingley, I do. Indeed, all
parties benefit when influence is rendered in good faith. And the
reverse is just as compelling.”

“Why, whatever do you mean,
Mr. Darcy?”

“Just that when the influence rendered is
done for selfish reasons, all parties must suffer.”

“Yes, of course,” Caroline agreed weakly.

Bingley eyed Caroline once again, attempting
to remind her of his wishes; but her next words effectively ended
any chance of his realizing them.

“Well, my dear Miss Bennet, I fear we
have taken far too much of your time. You must have a busy day
ahead of you,” Caroline purred sweetly. She then rose to leave,
ignoring Bingley's glaring stare. The required half hour was over
and she had no intention of prolonging the visit another minute.
“You must promise to call on us should you need anything – anything
at all!”

Desperate to speak with Jane, Charles threw
Darcy a wild, pleading look, but he was at a loss as how he could
prolong their visit. With Caroline nearly half way to the door
already, it would be very awkward indeed. Much to his surprise,
however, the remedy came from a most unexpected source.

In the next moment, the door flew open and
Mrs. Bennet rushed into the room with a great commotion,
nearly running headlong into Caroline. Hiding her embarrassment in
a quick adjustment to her shawl, Jane's mother curtsied to the
visitors.

“My dear Mr. Bingley, and
Miss Bingley! What a pleasant surprise! I was just this minute
thinking what a wonderful thing it would be to have visitors when I
spied your carriage out my window, and here you are!”

“Mrs. Bennet! I am very happy to see
you!” Bingley replied most enthusiastically. “I do hope you are
feeling better.”

“Yes, thank you. I am much better now that
you and your sister are come – and I see that you have brought
Mr. Darcy as well,” Jane's mother eyed him distastefully.
“Well, as I have said, any friend of yours is welcome.”

“I am glad for that, madam. Not only
Mr. Darcy, but I have brought
his
sister,
Miss Darcy, as well.”

“Indeed.
She
seems to be an agreeable,
genteel sort of person. I am sure that my Mary is good company for
her,” Mrs. Bennet pronounced, not noticing Georgiana's
wide-eyed look at the offense she had given. Her full attention was
centered on Bingley. “I must say, it is so good of you to come,
sir. Our days are ever so dreary what with Mr. Bennet's
misfortunes and all. But he is doing much better, and now we are
ever so happy to have company, are we not, Jane?”

“Mama, our guests have been here this past
half hour. They were just leaving.”

“Leaving? Oh, heavens no! I would not hear of
it. You must stay a little longer!”

“You are very kind,” Caroline responded
coolly, “but we really must be going.”

“Surely you have a few moments to take a turn
in the gardens, for our roses are in full bloom and it is a sight
to behold,” Mrs. Bennet applied to them all with an
earnestness that could not be refused. “One turn would not delay
you so very long.”

“There you have it, Caroline. I believe we
must take a few moments for such a delightful diversion,” Bingley
insisted.

“Very well, madam,” his sister replied with
the slightest of curtsies. “I find I cannot refuse such an
enchanting offer.”

The party removed to the garden, whereupon
Mrs. Bennet proved herself to be as good as any scheming mama
the ton had to offer.

“There is a particularly beautiful bed of
roses just down this way. You must see it, I insist.”

“Mama, must I go as well?” Mary complained.
“I have seen them all before.”

“No, no, of course not, Mary. What would I
want you to see them for! But I will show our guests.
Miss Bingley, Miss Darcy, will you come this way? I
suppose you may come as well, Mr. Darcy.”

“Mother, I can show them the way, if you
like,” Jane offered.

“What? Oh, no, my dear! I will show them the
yellow roses and you must show Mr. Bingley the red roses down
the other path. You would like to see the red roses, would you not,
Mr. Bingley?”

“Of course, Mrs. Bennet, I would be
delighted.”

“There, you see? Take as much time as you
like, Jane dear,” Mrs. Bennet smiled encouragingly before
herding everyone else away from the pair. Caroline looked back at
Charles and Jane with concern.

“Mrs. Bennet, could we not all go
together? I do prefer red roses to yellow ones,” she asked
lightly.

“My dear Miss Bingley! I think you shall
change your mind once you have seen
these
yellow roses.
Their color is perfection! Come and see for yourself if I am not
right. They are very unlike anything you have ever seen, I dare
say.”

Unable to extricate herself without causing a
scene, Caroline reluctantly allowed herself to be led in another
direction, silently fuming at her failure to prevent the
separation. Darcy took Georgiana's arm and dutifully followed,
casting one last look in his Bingley’s direction.

Caroline
and
Mrs. Bennet! Surely this is penance enough for all the
trouble I have caused you, my friend. You had better make the most
of it while you can!
He hoped it would be enough to set the two
lovers on the path to happiness.

* * * *

“Mr. Bingley,” Jane made a graceful
sweep with her hand, “shall we walk this way?”

“Certainly, Miss Bennet,” he replied
carefully.

Jane's heartbeat quickened as he stepped to
her side and she frantically grasped for anything that would
distract her traitorous feelings. “My mother was right, you know.
The roses are very beautiful this year.”

“Yes, I can see that; and quite right to be
so generous in her praise. Your mother is in high spirits today.”
Seeing his words had caused her to blush, he quickly attempted to
amend them. “That is to say...I only meant that she has not been
brought so low with all your difficulties. I hope I…hmm…and how is
your father?”

“He is a little better, thank you. The doctor
tells us it is still too early to know for certain, but we have
seen some improvement, which makes us very hopeful.”

An awkward silence ensued, leaving many
unspoken thoughts between them and neither party seeming to know
how to continue. They walked a full quarter of the garden path in
that manner. At length, Bingley gathered his courage.

“Miss Bennet,” he began nervously. “I
hope you do not think me too forward, but I cannot let what little
time we have alone slip by without trying to gain some
understanding. I should like to say I…I had come to believe
you…that is, since my return, I had hoped you found my company
agreeable. Am I mistaken?”

The obvious passion in his voice breached the
reserve Jane had carefully crafted and she could not stop the
bittersweet agony that stabbed at her heart. “I am uncertain as to
how I should answer you, sir. You company was, at one time, very
agreeable. Indeed, I once thought you everything a gentleman ought
to be.”

“Once? But not now?”

“As much as it disappoints me to say this, I
must tell you I now find your company most difficult to bear.”

“Difficult? Surely not! Until this past week,
our conversations have been nothing but amiable – at Sir William's
and even before. I felt it and I know you did too!”

“Mr. Bingley, I will speak plainly. I
admit that I once found you agreeable, very much in fact. I allowed
my foolish imagination to create expectations which would never be
realized. Indeed, I am embarrassed to say there were many who had
expectations. However, these past months have served to temper
me.”

“Miss Bennet, I know my behavior last
November was reprehensible in your eyes; indeed, it was in mine as
well. I can only say that my greatest mistake was in listening to
those around me. When I left for London, I had every intention of
returning – I truly did – but then I was persuaded to believe you
had no regard for me.”

“How could you?” she cried softly. “Did you
not know me better than that?”

“I did! . . . or at least I should have. But
I felt so. . .undeserving of you that. . . that when so much was
said against the prospect of your having any feeling for me, I
thought. . .perhaps it was true. That I had only imagined it to be
so and that you could not possibly care for me.”

“That makes it all the worse; that you would
believe such a thing after all that had passed between us.”