did not appear to have resurrected any adverse memories of Miss Jane Bennet. He had believed Bingley’s interest had ended, but he had not been absolutely certain until that moment.
“I would, of course, like for you to stand up with me at the wedding,” Darcy said.
“Surely, surely, Darcy. I am honoured to be asked.”
“Certainly, but I wonder if I might request the loan of Netherfield for a month or two if you still hold the lease.”
“I do, and you are certainly welcome to stay as long as you like.” Bingley frowned slightly. “But I have been intending to relinquish it. I have no plans to return there, so I should save myself the expense. But, as usual, I have procrastinated about doing something about it.”
“I see, and many thanks. It will allow me to call on Elizabeth regularly rather than riding from town.” Darcy watched Bingley closely but could discern no sign of distress at the mention of Netherfield. It appeared his intention of ending the lease was based only on the expense. He knew his friend’s memories had been painful when he first returned to London, but he had given every indication of putting them aside as the months passed. If the painful episode was not fully extinguished, it was nearly so.
Bingley’s mouth quirked in a sly smile. “But could you not stay at Longbourn? That is often done in such cases, I believe, and you could be even closer to Miss Elizabeth.”
“Possibly so,” Darcy said, his voice dry. “But I would also be equally close to Mrs. Bennet, who will likely be having raptures at the thought of a daughter settled at Pemberley. I believe it would be the calmer option to remain three miles from Longbourn.”
“And you could walk it as Miss Elizabeth did.”
“No, thank you, Charles,” Darcy said, striking a pose and tilting his nose in the air. “I am a horseman, descended from a line of horseman, and it is a point of honour that we never walk when we can ride.”
Darcy’s air of superciliousness was so perfect that Bingley had to laugh, remembering mutual acquaintances to whom such sentiments were made in absolute sincerity rather than jest.
“In addition,” Darcy said, his face now sober, “I can then have Georgiana visit. She is quite anxious to meet Elizabeth, and some of my relations may also care to visit. Naturally, I would be responsible for all expenses during that time.”
“We shall consider that another time.” Bingley gave a negligent wave of his hand. “In the meantime, I shall direct the housekeeper to prepare the place for your arrival.”
“Thank you, Bingley,” Darcy said sincerely.
At that moment, a peremptory knock sounded on the door, and Darcy immediately glanced at his friend in time to see him roll his eyes and mouth the word, “Caroline.” But Darcy only shrugged though his smile was rueful. Stressful as this interview might be, it was inevitable, and there was no time like the present to get it behind him.
“Please come in,” Bingley called, and Caroline sailed into the room.
“Mr. Darcy!” she said, her voice bright in her usual manner. “I thought it was your coach I saw! I trust you are in good health. I do not believe we have had the pleasure of your company for many weeks.”
“I am indeed in good health, Miss Bingley.”
“And your dear sister also? I do so long to see her again; it is even longer since we have had the pleasure of her company.”
“She also is well,” Darcy replied, and then a sudden and malicious inspiration struck him. This is decidedly unworthy of me, but I simply cannot help myself! She really is quite predatory.
“In fact, she is quite excited to soon meet her future sister.” He controlled his features and voice carefully to make the announcement sound casual, as if he were relating a fact well known to all present.
The effect on Caroline Bingley, however, was electric. Her face froze with her mouth half open, and an icy chill swept down her spine.
Future sister? she
“I would, of course, like for you to stand up with me at the wedding,” Darcy said.
“Surely, surely, Darcy. I am honoured to be asked.”
“Certainly, but I wonder if I might request the loan of Netherfield for a month or two if you still hold the lease.”
“I do, and you are certainly welcome to stay as long as you like.” Bingley frowned slightly. “But I have been intending to relinquish it. I have no plans to return there, so I should save myself the expense. But, as usual, I have procrastinated about doing something about it.”
“I see, and many thanks. It will allow me to call on Elizabeth regularly rather than riding from town.” Darcy watched Bingley closely but could discern no sign of distress at the mention of Netherfield. It appeared his intention of ending the lease was based only on the expense. He knew his friend’s memories had been painful when he first returned to London, but he had given every indication of putting them aside as the months passed. If the painful episode was not fully extinguished, it was nearly so.
Bingley’s mouth quirked in a sly smile. “But could you not stay at Longbourn? That is often done in such cases, I believe, and you could be even closer to Miss Elizabeth.”
“Possibly so,” Darcy said, his voice dry. “But I would also be equally close to Mrs. Bennet, who will likely be having raptures at the thought of a daughter settled at Pemberley. I believe it would be the calmer option to remain three miles from Longbourn.”
“And you could walk it as Miss Elizabeth did.”
“No, thank you, Charles,” Darcy said, striking a pose and tilting his nose in the air. “I am a horseman, descended from a line of horseman, and it is a point of honour that we never walk when we can ride.”
Darcy’s air of superciliousness was so perfect that Bingley had to laugh, remembering mutual acquaintances to whom such sentiments were made in absolute sincerity rather than jest.
“In addition,” Darcy said, his face now sober, “I can then have Georgiana visit. She is quite anxious to meet Elizabeth, and some of my relations may also care to visit. Naturally, I would be responsible for all expenses during that time.”
“We shall consider that another time.” Bingley gave a negligent wave of his hand. “In the meantime, I shall direct the housekeeper to prepare the place for your arrival.”
“Thank you, Bingley,” Darcy said sincerely.
At that moment, a peremptory knock sounded on the door, and Darcy immediately glanced at his friend in time to see him roll his eyes and mouth the word, “Caroline.” But Darcy only shrugged though his smile was rueful. Stressful as this interview might be, it was inevitable, and there was no time like the present to get it behind him.
“Please come in,” Bingley called, and Caroline sailed into the room.
“Mr. Darcy!” she said, her voice bright in her usual manner. “I thought it was your coach I saw! I trust you are in good health. I do not believe we have had the pleasure of your company for many weeks.”
“I am indeed in good health, Miss Bingley.”
“And your dear sister also? I do so long to see her again; it is even longer since we have had the pleasure of her company.”
“She also is well,” Darcy replied, and then a sudden and malicious inspiration struck him. This is decidedly unworthy of me, but I simply cannot help myself! She really is quite predatory.
“In fact, she is quite excited to soon meet her future sister.” He controlled his features and voice carefully to make the announcement sound casual, as if he were relating a fact well known to all present.
The effect on Caroline Bingley, however, was electric. Her face froze with her mouth half open, and an icy chill swept down her spine.
Future sister? she
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