Unforgiving Temper (5 page)

The two men now sat side by side, each lost
in their own melancholy memories of a particular Bennet sister –
one man filled with hope and longing, and the other with loss and
despair. Neither one had ever imagined their brief journey into
country society would be the means of changing their lives forever,
but it had indeed.

Bounding from his chair, Bingley suddenly
broke the spell with an enthusiastic thump to its arm as he
rose.

“I will do it! I shall return to Netherfield
and try my luck. You are right, Darcy; it would be better to know
her heart for certain than to go through life always questioning
what might have been.”

Darcy gazed happily at the enthusiastic
expression beaming down at him. It was good to see his friend's
heart finding its compass after months of aimless drifting. “I
think you shall be pleasantly surprised,” he affirmed. “When shall
you go?”

“I shall leave directly. Far too much time
has passed already!”

“It is good to see my impulsive friend
restored once more! Perhaps I can help by contacting Sneed and
Bybee and get things started for you in Scarborough while you are
at Netherfield.”

“Scarborough?!” Bingley cried, at once
crestfallen. “Blast, I almost forgot! I cannot go to Hertfordshire!
Cousin Mary is desperate and I have promised to return without
delay. That is why I am leaving London this afternoon. Oh, what am
I to do?!” He paced the floor, muttering to himself. “Even if I
were able to settle everything in a week or two, there are still
the arrangements for opening Netherfield…and the staff. Uh! I
cannot afford to waste another minute and this will all take far
too long!”

“Perhaps Caroline, or even Mrs. Hurst could
be of some help?” Darcy offered.

“Caroline?! After what you have told me, she
is the last person that would hurry my return to Netherfield! And
you know Louisa – where Caroline leads, she follows.” The heel of
Bingley's hand pressed tightly into his forehead. “This is
impossible! If I am to have any luck with Jane, I must have as much
opportunity as possible to be with her, speak with her – explain
myself to her. The best chance of that is at Netherfield, but I
obviously cannot extend an invitation without another woman in the
house. It simply cannot be done. Like it or not, my sisters must
come to Netherfield.”

“What of Mr. Hurst? Will he be in the party
as well?”

“No, not even if he was so inclined to
venture back into Hertfordshire; which he has assured me he is not.
He is in Bath, taking treatment for his gout, and expects to remain
there two months at least.” Bingley chewed his lip in frustration,
trying to unravel his predicament. All at once, his face lit up
with renewed excitement, and a peculiar sense of foreboding began
to grow in Darcy's stomach.

“Darcy, you must assist me! I have to return
to Scarborough and fulfill my obligations, but the business should
only take a couple of weeks – three at the most. Once it is done, I
should very much like to travel
directly
to Netherfield.
Hurst's absence would require me to go to London to fetch Caroline
and Louisa; but if YOU bring them to Netherfield, that would save
me a week, at least!”

Darcy stared blankly into Bingley's expectant
countenance. Travel to Netherfield? The gnawing in his stomach
exploded into a vicious wrench at the idea of returning to
Hertfordshire. He had planned to leave London to diffuse the
anguish brought on by the mere thought of running into Elizabeth
again, and now Bingley was asking him to go to the very place where
he would see her at every turn, be frequently in society with her,
and be expected to exchange empty courtesies as if nothing had
happened!

Darcy considered the far-reaching effects of
the venture. If Charles was successful and achieved a marriage to
Jane Bennet, his close friendship would most certainly weave his
life into the affairs of the entire Bennet family,
including
Elizabeth
. His stomach tightened painfully. There would come
that inevitable day when he would witness her marriage to another.
Suffering such a moment was unthinkable, yet it would be
unavoidable. There was nothing to be done for it.

He knew this first meeting would be the most
difficult. At least he would have Bingley's affairs to occupy his
time and most of his thoughts. Hopefully, Elizabeth would be too
occupied with her sister's happiness to dwell on his past mistakes.
It was an undertaking Darcy would have paid dearly to avoid, but
the cost of Bingley's friendship was too great a price. He owed his
friend whatever help he could give.

Fearing Darcy's prolonged silence would end
in a rejection of the idea, Bingley pursued his argument, coloring
slightly at his own boldness.

“Come, Darcy, I need your assistance. A long
carriage ride with Caroli – that is, with my sisters -- is not very
inviting, to be sure; but if I have a chance with Jane, as you seem
to think, I must begin as soon as may be. The delay of coming back
to London before going to Hertfordshire would add several more days
and that just will not do! I must go directly and you must bring
Caroline and Louisa. Surely you cannot deny me after all that has
passed?”

Feeling the sting of Bingley's mild rebuke,
Darcy reluctantly acknowledged that any refusal would be less than
honorable. There was no other answer to give. Struggling to conceal
the ache in his heart, he quietly replied, “I am happy to be of
service, Charles.”

As they discussed the details, Bingley's
spirits climbed steadily, and before long he could not contain the
grin created by the prospects that lay before him. His enthusiastic
smile was matched with a clap of his hands as everything was at
last decided.

“An excellent plan! I shall send a letter
this afternoon for Mrs. Middleton to make ready.”

Rising from his chair, he collected his
things and addressed Darcy with an energetic bow. “And now, my dear
fellow, I am off to inform my sisters of our arrangements.”

Darcy let out a long, deep sigh as Bingley
left Burnham House. It was done and the course was set. Walking to
the window, Darcy observed the renewed hope in his friend's
countenance as Bingley paused on the steps and sent a joyous salute
his way. Returning the salute, he raised his hand to Bingley's
departing figure. With all his heart he hoped that Jane Bennet
loved Charles still.

“May you find forgiveness and understanding
in Hertfordshire, my friend. May we all.”

Darcy nearly
choked on his coffee when his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh,
swept unexpectedly through the door of his breakfast room, a
helpless footman following in her wake. Slowly setting down his
cup, he rose, greeting her coolly, “Aunt Catherine. What brings you
to London…and so early in the day?”

Wholly unaffected by his reference to the
impolite hour of her arrival, Lady Catherine continued into
the room undeterred. Seating herself next to him, her eyes flashed
in alarm at what she saw before her. The letter he had just been
reading lay open on the table next to his plate with the words
To Hertfordshire, and a most beautiful young lady!
scrawled
across the page in Bingley's hasty hand. Darcy smoothly retrieved
the letter, folding its contents away from her prying eyes, knowing
she would have gladly read further had he allowed it. She sniffed
disdainfully at his interference and met his gaze.

“This is not a social call, Nephew. I have
come on behalf of the family to address a matter of utmost
importance.”

Darcy took a slow, deep breath. Conversation
with his less than favorite aunt was trying at any hour, but to be
plagued with her demands at so early an hour was almost beyond the
pale. His disapproving glance to the hovering footman who had
failed to prevent the intrusion gave way to a nod of acquiescence.
He knew there were very few people, and certainly no servant, who
could have any effect on her Ladyship when she was determined to
have her way. The footman quickly bowed low and quit the room,
leaving aunt and nephew to themselves.

Raising an inquiring brow, Darcy looked to
Lady Catherine for an explanation, which she supplied almost
instantly.

“I will come directly to the point. During
your visit to Rosings this month past, you exhibited an unseemly
amount of interest in the young ladies who were visiting at
Hunsford Cottage – one in particular. I thought it merely an
inconsequential amusement for you and the colonel; however, since
your departure, I have discovered a shocking rumor concerning you
and Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

Her obvious expectation of a fervent and
immediate denial was quickly dashed by Darcy's impassive
silence.

“You show no surprise? Do you realize it is
being assumed your connection to the lady is of an
intimate
nature? Of course not! You have so little experience with these
kinds of things; but I am aware of her designs, and we must act
quickly to universally reject such a notion. For her to circulate
this absurd piece of fiction is outrageous! You
must
contradict this scheming, artful girl at once, particularly since
it is well known that you are intended for Anne.”

Darcy struggled to remain civil, his
expression quickly hardening with suppressed resentment. The five
years since his father's death had been spent circumventing his
Aunt Catherine's single-minded efforts to bring him into marriage
with her daughter, Anne. The time had finally come to acquaint
Lady Catherine with the absolute certainty of her
disappointment in the matter. She must know that his choice of wife
would be expressly his own – and that it would not be his cousin,
Anne.

“As you speak of fiction, Aunt, I will first
address the matter of my
presumed
engagement to Anne.”

“Presumed? There is no question –”

“It is not my desire to cause you unnecessary
grief,” Darcy continued on without acknowledging the interruption.
“In truth, I must own some of the blame for not speaking sooner;
but I tell you now that Anne and I have long since settled this
matter, and we neither of us have ever been inclined to favor the
union.”

“That cannot be! Your mother and I planned
this union between you and Anne while you were in your infancy! Do
you have no regard for the desires of your family? Would you
dishonor your own mother's dying wish?”

“My mother's wishes have no part in this.” He
countered icily, his anger beginning to rise. “You are widely
mistaken if you believe her to have shared the understanding you
claim; however, you shall
not
be mistaken in my sentiments.
There has never been an engagement between Anne and myself, except
one of your own calculating design; and when I
am
of a mind
to marry, I shall do so in the manner I see fit. My choice of wife
will be just that –
my
choice. Though I would welcome the
blessings of the family, they will not be a material point in my
decision.”

“You cannot be serious! Are you lost to every
feeling of propriety and delicacy? Miss Elizabeth Bennet is
decidedly beneath us! She is of inferior birth, of no importance in
the world, and wholly unsuited to a life at Pemberley. It is beyond
belief that you would even consider she quit her sphere and aspire
to such an elevation!”

Darcy's color heightened at
Lady Catherine's words. Her insultingly arrogant attitude
toward Elizabeth was an unwelcome echo of the sentiments he himself
had enumerated in his disastrous proposal to her. Knowing his
situation in society to be highly desirable, he had been confident
any woman would eagerly accept him; and it was with that prideful
expectation he had declared for Elizabeth. He shuddered inwardly at
the memory. Was it any wonder she had refused him? All his wealth
and status meant nothing to the one woman he felt was his
equal.

His quiet answer to the offensive tirade was
deceptively calm. “Again you are mistaken, Aunt. I am a gentleman
and she is a gentleman's daughter, so far we are equal. I see no
disparity
should
such an alliance be formed.”

“I will not be played with! You will tell me
once and for all – are you engaged to Miss Elizabeth
Bennet?”

In that moment, Darcy would have happily
forsaken all he had to truthfully answer his aunt with a “yes,” but
that opportunity had been lost.

“No. I am not engaged.”

Lady Catherine's relief was palpable.
“And will you promise me never to enter into such an
engagement?”

“No, I will not. I will not constrain my
right to choose with such a promise.”

Lady Catherine rose from the table,
forcing Darcy to his feet as well.

“This is insupportable! I
must
have
your word on this. You are bound by claims of duty and honor. They
forbid any such union! Would you disgrace your family?”

Darcy's face twitched with the strain of
maintaining his civility. “Disgrace? Should Elizabeth Bennet ever
acquiesce to marry me, I would consider it an
honor
.”

“Darcy, I warn you; if you willfully act
against the inclinations of all, do not expect her to be noticed by
any of us.”

“I have heard quite enough, Aunt! Now you
must excuse me as I have pressing business that requires my
attention. Allow me to show you out.”

“Heaven and Earth! – what are you thinking?”
she cried indignantly, as he took her arm. “I had supposed to find
you reasonable; but I have been thoroughly disappointed! Am I to
believe you are resolved to have this country nobody?”

“I am resolved only to act in that manner
which best suits my desires, not yours. I have nothing further to
say on the matter. Good day, Aunt.”

Upon reaching the door, Darcy opened it
swiftly with a terse command for the footman to escort
Lady Catherine to her carriage.