Page 4 of An Accidental Holiday

“Did you not read it?” he inquired, genuinely curious.

Miss Bingley looked away, and he knew she had not.

Miss Elizabeth would never have done such a thing had Miss Bingley written her; of that, Darcy was quite certain. Until this moment, he had been in sympathy with Miss Bingley about her brother’s attentions to Miss Bennet, but as he watched the paper curl and blacken in the fire, evidence of Miss Bingley’s utter contempt for a woman he admired, he found that he could no longer support her.

“Hmm,” was all he said.

Mrs. Nicholls came into the room to confer with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst while he loaded his plate. When he returned to the table, the housekeeper had removed herself, and the two ladies leaned forward across the table.

“Mr. Darcy,” Mrs. Hurst began, just as he placed a forkful of eggs in his mouth, “I am sure it has not escaped your notice that Charles is enamoured of the eldest Miss Bennet.”

He just chewed as quietly as possible and stared at her.

“Yes, well,” Miss Bingley said with a glance at her sister. “The entire town seems to have expectations on dear Jane’s behalf.”

Dear Jane.He would have laughed at that if he could do so without offending his hostess. The two women sitting across the table had never been friends to the eldest Miss Bennet, something that had been clear when she had been taken ill at Netherfield. They had shown only a modest interest in their ailing guest and were actively hostile to Miss Elizabeth, who did the work of tending to her sister that a hostess ought to have seen to. Miss Elizabeth had only come downstairs for dinner or to join them afterward.

Even so, he had spent too much time in her company.

Still, hehadheard Sir William Lucas speak as though an understanding between his friend and the eldest Bennet daughter was imminent. Miss Elizabeth had heard it too, for she had blushed and looked away. Darcy was both sympathetic to her plight and charmed by her appearance.

Miss Elizabeth. That was an infatuation he had so far successfully withstood, and he intended to continue to do so. Darcy swallowed and touched his napkin to the corner of his mouth. “I did hear something of that nature.” He had thought it a very good thing that Bingley had travelled to London for a few days. A little distance might be just the thing to cool his friend’s ardour.

“We are certain that Charles did not mean to raise the poor girl’s expectations,” Mrs. Hurst said. “You know that he is often in and out of love without meaning anything by it. If he returns from London, however, he may find himself under some pressure to make her an offer.”

He placed his fork on his plate to consider the matter. It was true that Bingley seemed to like Miss Bennet, but until last night Darcy had not thought it very serious. Sir William’s gleeful pronouncement had forced him to observe Miss Bennet’s mien whilst with Bingley. He had not noticed any particular signs of regard on her side. Bingley’s choices were his own, of course, but if the lady did not return his affection, it would be foolish to wed her, for she would bring nothing material to the match.

“What do you propose?” he inquired warily. They had a plan. Of course they did. They had only been awaiting their brother’s absence to put it into action. Though the events of the past summer proved Darcy’s sister still young and rather foolish in matters of the heart, Georgiana loved him and was loyal to him. Bingley had not been so blessed in his sisters.

“We have just this moment given orders to Mrs. Nicholls to close up the house,” Miss Bingley said.

That was not what Darcy had expected them to say. Even for Miss Bingley it felt rather extreme. “Without your brother’s permission?”

“We are certain that once Charles arrives in town, he will be in no hurry to leave it again,” Miss Bingley said.

There was some sort of tangled logic in that. They meant to follow Bingley and convince him there was nothing at Netherfield to return for, and if the house was closed, it would be difficult for him to return in any case.

Darcy’s conscience smote him. “I truly believe we should await your brother’s word on whether he wishes it. He has only just taken the lease, and it will do him no good among his neighbours to remove himself without properly taking his leave. Particularly the day after his own ball.”

“I cannot regret anyone we shall leave here Mr. Darcy.” Miss Bingley eyed him suspiciously. “Do you?”

What a ridiculous question. “No,” he said gruffly. “I do not advise this, Miss Bingley, but I am only a guest here. If you determine to shut up the house, then I must return to town as well. My sister was expecting me in a few weeks at any rate.”

“Excellent,” Mrs. Hurst said with a smile. “Excellent.”

Darcy returned his attention to his meal. Perhaps the distance would help him as well as Bingley. At the very least, he would not be required to spend the rest of the week in the company of Bingley’s scheming sisters.

Netherfield was in chaos. Well-organized chaos, but even so, it was too much for Darcy to bear. Instead of answering a letter from Pemberley’s steward as he had planned, Darcy decided to put it off until he arrived in London. Though it was nearly three and would be dark in an hour, he left his valet to pack up his things and went for a ride. If the weather held, it would be too cold to ride outside the carriage all the way to London tomorrow, so this might be his last opportunity for some time.

As he guided his horse out into the meadows for a bracing run, he wondered how Bingley had fared, riding out so early in the cold. It must have been an uncomfortable trip, but by now he would be settled in his rooms at The Albany next to a roaring fire with some convivial company.

Without thinking, he guided his mount into Meryton and in the general direction of Longbourn. Though he had never visited the house, the pathways were clear. He might have considered making Bingley’s farewells for him, but he could not predict his friend’s reaction. Bingley might return despite everything his sisters could do, and if so, a farewell might be seen as presumptuous. No, better to allow Bingley to handle his own affairs. Once in London, Bingley would surely ask for his advice, and if so, he would offer it.

Darcy would have liked to take his leave of Miss Elizabeth. She was pretty and witty, a woman who not only could challenge him but was willing to do so . . . He shook himself. It was rare enough a combination of traits to be intriguing to a man such as himself, that was all. Certainly, there were women better situated who also possessed those attributes. Miss Elizabeth had shown him what he wanted in a lady, and he would always be grateful to her for that, but her position in life was not suitable for a man of his rank. Though he might be persuaded to forgo the rank or financial difficulties were it not for the vulgar behaviour of her family.

No, wishing for something that could not be would only hurt them both. He had no reason to call, not really, and it would be better not to tempt himself too far.

This sort of indecision was entirely out of character for him, and it provoked him greatly. His horse skittered to one side, then another, tired of standing still, yet there they remained, facing the road to Longbourn without any intention of taking it.

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