For the Love of a Bennet Chapter 7

Georgiana said nothing so as not to spoil a future opportunity to hear more about Hertfordshire and to her dismay, the seating cards she had placed were moved. Instead of her brother’s normal request to seat her across from Mr. Bingley, with Miss Bingley on her left and her brother on her right at the head of the table, she was to sit next to Mr. Bingley, with Miss Annesley beside her.

Miss Bingley nearly squealed in delight at the new seating arrangement that placed her in Georgiana’s usual seat, as she took it to be a sign of Mr. Darcy showing her particular favor by finally moving her to his right-hand side. The footman had to hurry to pull the chair out for Miss Bingley as she eagerly walked to her chair, while Miss Darcy felt her hopes of learning more about her brother’s romance dwindling.

“Miss Darcy?” Mr. Bingley pulled out the chair for Georgiana, to the approving nod from his sister.

“Thank you, Mr. Bingley,” Georgiana managed before Caroline Bingley dived into a monologue about the many dinner parties and balls she and her brother had frequented. She only took a break from her descriptions and mild gossip about men and women Georgiana could not keep straight if her life depended upon it when she took a sip of wine.

“The Hursts threw a very well-received dinner, and the guests included a number of members of Parliament, on account of Mr. Hurst’s brother. Lady Sophia, Lord Westholme’s daughter, came as well. It is said she only accepts invitations that Mr. Quin accepts, but I cannot see how that rumor is true. The Quins are moving up, Sir Quin is very popular according to Mr. Hurst, but well,” Caroline paused for dramatic effect before she continued, scarcely touching any food on her plate from the first course.

Georgiana offered her guest an obligatory sign of interest. “Is there an objection against Mr. Quin?” she asked, trying to understand the various subtle indications of courtship and romantic interest Miss Bingley seemed to be an expert in discerning.

“He’s Irish,” she said, finally taking a bite of her dinner. “Lady Sophia spent most of the evening engaged almost exclusively with my brother,” Caroline crudely pointed with her fork, before again eating instead of monopolizing the conversation.

Both Darcys turned their attention to Mr. Bingley, as though they expected a confession or verdict about Lady Sophia, but Mr. Bingley turned a deep shade of red in embarrassment.

“I did not seek to raise her hopes. She just bore a remarkable resemblance to Miss Bennet, and so I . . . ” he trailed off as he did not know how to further explain himself. Caroline glared at him while Mr. Darcy cleared his throat. But Georgiana would not allow another opportunity to pass.

“Miss Bennet? Is she another acquaintance of yours in London?” Georgiana asked, looking between the Bingley siblings in hopes of an answer. Miss Bingley frowned, and Mr. Bingley chuckled.

“Oh, no, not here in London. I met her last autumn in Hertfordshire when your brother was with me to visit Netherfield Park,” Mr. Bingley stared off into the distance behind his sister’s head, reminiscing on memories he was not sharing with the rest of the table.

Before Georgiana could get another question out, her brother usurped her.

“Bingley, I am glad Georgiana invited you and your sister this evening as I had been meaning to speak with you,” he paused, earning a glare from his sister.

Her brother had just scolded her for this very invitation, and now claimed happiness for the circumstances? But Georgiana was far too well-bred to insult her brother in front of company, unlike Miss Bingley.

“We are to leave in the morning for Brighton and I would like to extend the offer of using my home for the remainder of the summer. You can have your effects moved from your club to the suite my cousin frequents,” Mr. Darcy said, allowing his invitation to surprise everyone at the table.

Charles Bingley ceased his daydreaming and turned his head towards his friend. “Truly? I will admit I half-considered leaving town for the summer, but Caroline insists we must see out the end of this season,” Mr. Bingley said, grumpily.

Miss Bingley made a small squeaking noise in clearing her throat. “I thought we were to leave for Pemberley next month?” she asked, pretending to be confused.

“I should reopen Netherfield Park when we head north. I do still hold the lease,” Mr. Bingley grumbled.

“Please, Mr. Bingley, I should dearly love to see the estate you all spent last autumn,” Georgiana said, brightly, eagerly pouncing on the opportunity. But her brother coughed as he nearly choked on his dinner, and she suspected that she should not raise her hopes.

“We do not have time to tarry in Hertfordshire. It is bad manners of a leaseholder to open the house for only a night or two when a tavern will do.” Mr. Darcy explained, and his friend nodded his head in defeat.

“Traveling to that drafty old house will take us off the main road,” Caroline Bingley added in support of Mr. Darcy’s plan to avoid Hertfordshire. Mr. Darcy nodded in agreement to her point, then downed the contents of his wine glass.

“Why are you off to Brighton? I know you dislike London, but two trips in as many months?” Mr. Bingley politely inquired, changing the subject away from his leased estate.

Georgiana exchanged a glance with her brother to silently ask permission to answer. When he gave her the nod, she set her silverware down and offered the best response she could devise. “My cousin, and guardian, Colonel Fitzwilliam, received orders there. We could not allow him to enjoy the jolly seaside by himself,” she stated, not smiling until she saw her brother do so, in approval.

Caroline Bingley began to fan herself. “You know, Charles, we could do with a trip to the seaside. I could cancel our other invitations and we could join Miss Darcy and her brother in Brighton,” she said, sweetly, instantly earning her brother’s easily persuaded opinion.

“London is dull,” he repeated his complaint from the drawing-room, as his friend cleared his throat.

“I’m afraid you will find it difficult to secure lodgings. I am told a large regiment of militia have located to the area, and this late in the season, there were not any homes for rent along the seashore,” he cautioned.

“There, Caroline, it appears we left it too late,” Mr. Bingley stated, believing the matter to be dropped. But Caroline Bingley was not retreating from the goal of avoiding a six-week separation from Mr. Darcy.

Caroline seemed disappointed and then picked up her wine glass to swirl the contents. “Miss Darcy, tell me, will you be socializing in Brighton? Attending balls and dinners?”

Georgiana turned a slight shade of pink and looked to her brother for support. He graciously extended the same rescue she had performed for him a moment before.

“Colonel Fitzwilliam and I will determine if there are appropriate events for my sister to attend. If she does so, her companion, Mrs. Annesley, will join her,” Mr. Darcy stated, thwarting Miss Bingley’s manipulative attempt to secure an invitation for herself to Brighton. He nodded his head in respect to the woman hired to be his sister’s companion.

“Still, I cannot imagine being your age and braving rooms full of people I do not know! Your courage inspires me, Miss Darcy,” Miss Bingley said, complimenting her hostess, as poor Georgiana’s face turned a paler shade than her normal complexion. 

Mr. Darcy sternly glared at Miss Bingley, unhappy with the woman’s bullying of Georgiana. At Netherfield Park, he had witnessed her tactics numerous times deployed against Miss Elizabeth Bennet. The difference was that lady was more than capable of serving Miss Bingley’s snobbish behavior a suitable setdown. His heart ached for the pair of fine eyes he once envisioned would become his wife. In doing so, he had hoped Elizabeth would take a hand in steering his sister through the social traps of domains he and Richard could not participate in and protect Georgiana.

“Brother?” Georgiana asked, and Fitzwilliam blinked a few times to pull himself out of his maudlin thoughts of what could never be.

“Yes, I do apologize, I was not attending,” Mr. Darcy said, signaling to his staff to clear the course as everyone’s plate but his own was mostly empty, and no longer being touched.

Georgiana giggled as her brother performed the very act she had requested, asking if it was the appropriate time to separate. He understood what had transpired while he had ruminated in his thoughts too long, like Mr. Bingley.

“Ladies,” he said, as they rose, and he rose as well in respect. Mr. Bingley awkwardly stood as well in ceremony.

Watching the two of them leave, Mr. Darcy chuckled to himself that at least with Miss Bingley alone, his sister would not hear any positive words about Miss Elizabeth Bennet if the subject came up. Mr. Bingley, on the other hand, would wax eloquently about the Bennets of Longbourn for an hour or more if he was permitted. While Bingley helped himself to the cupboard along the wall, with his back turned to his friend, Darcy devised a plan.

“Say, Bingley,” he began.

His friend answered over his shoulder to acknowledge he heard Mr. Darcy.

“I hate to be the worst host in all of London. But I wonder if you wouldn’t mind helping me make this evening as short as possible. Perhaps telling Caroline you’d like to go home earlier than usual?”

“Whatever for? Caroline will kill me in the carriage if we leave before port and at least one round of cards.”

Mr. Darcy waited for his friend to no longer be occupied, then addressed him face-to-face. “It’s Georgiana, before dinner she informed me that she was not quite prepared for our journey tomorrow, and I mean to make it to Rosings by the afternoon. My aunt is difficult, you see, if we are late.”

“Ah, well, I suppose I can endure the tongue-lashing from my sister. You are certain you do not mind me staying here while you are gone?” he asked, licking his lips at the opportunity. A room at his club reminded him too much of the time after his father died. The Hursts had offered for him to stay with them, but with Caroline there, it was hardly a pleasant experience. Either his peace was disturbed by loud, drunken men and their evening companions, or his needling sisters, throwing every eligible debutante with a title in his direction.

Mr. Darcy laughed as he could not imagine receiving such an upbraiding from his sister, though Caroline was much closer in age to Charles than the Darcy siblings. “Absolutely not, so long as you don’t allow Caroline to move in, as well.”

Mr. Bingley made a face of mock horror. “Never!”

Mr. Darcy nodded in agreement with his friend. “And help yourself to my spirits and stores. I shall instruct Cook to plan menus to your liking.”

Deciding a quarter-hour was likely enough time for the ladies to see to their needs, the two bachelor friends abandoned the dining room on a shared mission. One man was eager to lord his good fortune over his sister. The other felt grateful for his sister’s desire to travel: six weeks in Brighton was sure to save Mr. Darcy from pining over Miss Elizabeth Bennet.