Beginning, Section II

Chapter 5: The Renewal of Hope

Posted on 2008-11-12

Charles Bingley had survived a most depressing winter. He had pined over his departure from Netherfield and his separation from the beautiful and kind Miss Jane Bennet, and his spirits had been battered by the claim of both his sisters and his longtime friend Darcy that Jane did not love him and at most might have married him out of a sense of familial duty. Although he had always been known as an affable and friendly man, he had become morose; the enjoyments of life in London had ceased to inspire him. He saw the various gentlemen’s clubs as temples of idleness, where men whose fortunes did not depend on their own work found numerous sorts of frivolity in order to fill the empty hours that they possessed in abundance. The theater and opera could offer entertaining performances but mainly served as exhibition halls for all the fripperies of what was called polite society. He had no appetite for balls and dancing; the affected manner of those present only made him miss the less refined but more sincere behavior that he had witnessed from his neighbors in Hertfordshire. At his townhouse, his sisters’ company made things no better, since they tended to boast of their success in separating him from Miss Bennet, whose family made her unfit in their opinion to be his wife.

“Just think of what a boisterous and vulgar mother she has, Charles,” Caroline had said one day, “a worse gossip never lived! Did you see her surveying our possessions as though they could become hers? Jane is a sweet girl, of course” – such statements, delivered in a cloying voice, were never absent – “but she is the only one in her family with the slightest gentility, the others are no more than country upstarts.” Then, she would sing the praises of Miss Georgiana Darcy, Fitzwilliam Darcy’s sister, mentioning her as an accomplished young lady from a respectable family, who would be appropriate as a wife for Charles. Charles’ own insistence that she was still a child, and that he saw her as a younger sister, only led to Caroline and Louisa introducing him to other friends and acquaintances of theirs, whom he uniformly found insincere and insipid. Of course, he knew what lay behind these comments: ever since Caroline had met Mr. Darcy and learned of the grand estate that he owned and the history of his family, she had sought to attach herself to him in order to gain standing among the highest circles of society and access to his considerable income. To match her brother with his sister, in her view, would make a union between them practically inevitable. The fact that Mr. Darcy in no way returned her attentions, and indeed was quite vexed with them, was beneath Caroline’s notice. She was certain of her ability to achieve her goal; if she had not, it was only because Mr. Darcy was not yet sufficiently enlightened regarding her own superior qualities. Her pretentious chatter made her depressed brother wish to drink himself into a stupor, if not to throw an entire bottle at the nearest wall, but he was too responsible a man to allow that to happen. However, the desire remained.

Unexpected relief came to Mr. Bingley from two sources. The first was an invitation from his uncle and aunt, who lived near Scarborough and owned a bookshop there. His sisters disdained the invitation, wishing to consider themselves Londoners born and bred with no connection to trade or to simple country folk. His brother-in-law Mr. Hurst was simply too indolent to contemplate the journey. Thus, Charles decided to make the journey on his own. He spent ten days there enjoying his uncle and aunt’s hospitality and renewing his acquaintance with his cousins. The manner of the people that he encountered made him think once again of his time in Hertfordshire; independently of the issue of whether Jane Bennet returned his affections or not, he found that he now was more likely to enjoy the country rather than London. He even encountered an old acquaintance of his from his days at Cambridge, Claudius Connor, who now seemed very content as a don teaching history at the same institution. Their discussions and recollections of both their education and other pursuits in which they had been involved made Bingley consider once again that there were more types of society, and more enjoyable ones, than what the ton could offer. Thus, he returned to London with a greater desire than ever to live at Netherfield once again.

The next day, the letter from Darcy arrived. Bingley read it several times. First rapidly, filled with emotion, then more slowly, in a contemplative manner, and then once again, as though he had missed something in its meaning. Could Fitzwilliam Darcy truly be admitting that he was wrong about something, and even apologizing about it? This was a most unusual event, since Charles knew his friend to be a man of decided opinions. However, even more than this, two new revelations conquered his mind. Firstly, Darcy was encouraging him to pursue his suit with Jane, and hinting at a favorable outcome. Secondly, his own sister had been actively involved in working against his own happiness. This would be the last time that he would allow anyone to intervene in his life, he decided. Before he was aware of his actions, he had shouted for Caroline to join him in the library and had placed Darcy’s letter in front of her, practically forcing her to read it. His sister’s facial expressions underwent a series of rapid changes: defiance, craftiness, despair, anger, and in the end a sort of mortification, as she came to understand that not even the cleverest of tales could sway her brother’s resolution.

“You have two choices, Caroline,” he said in a firm voice. “Either you may confess your part in this affair and promise me that you will behave with the utmost respect and decorum to Jane Bennet and to all her relations, or you may leave my presence and go to live with Hurst and Louisa, or with our relatives in Scarborough, if they will have you. In that case, your allowance will be drastically reduced, if not cut off completely.”

“Charles, my dearest brother!” Caroline’s eyes filled with tears. “I only thought of you and your own happiness! I felt the Bennets were not an appropriate family for you.”

“For yourself and your own aspirations,” said Charles with a scowl. “And if you believe your own aspirations include a certain gentleman from Derbyshire, you had best read the end of his letter again.”

Caroline could make no response to this but a whimper and she slowly lowered her gaze to the ground.

“Tell me the truth, Caroline,” Charles continued. “Did Jane ever come to visit here?”

Caroline began to spin a tale of how Jane had apparently visited at one time months ago when she and Louisa were out shopping in Bond Street, and had left a card with the servant, and then in order to dispense with the obligation, Caroline had gone to Cheapside to visit her relations there. “Such a plebeian household, in a most undignified neighborhood, with noisy children interrupting every discourse! And Miss Bennet seemed at home there, possibly because her sweet nature leads her to enjoy children, but more probably because after all she is a Bennet and must be accustomed to such scenes from living at Longbourn. When I spoke to her of you, however, she was most indifferent and seemed to suffer my presence only out of a sense of obligation, which is why I did not extend or repeat my visit. I ask you, Charles, how could you wish to be attached to a young lady who would not be polite to your sister?”

Had his sister appeared truly repentant and pledged to support him, Charles might have reacted differently. Instead, seeing that she had immediately reverted to her habits of deceit and disparagement made his face red with anger.

“Not another word, Caroline!” He pounded his fist on the table. “I cannot discern whether you are telling me the truth or a new lie, but that I will find out for myself. Tomorrow I am for Netherfield, and if you have undone my best hope of happiness, I will never forgive you. You must pray that Jane will consent to become my wife, and that you will find it within you to apologize to her and her entire family for your behavior and attitude towards them, for otherwise we shall not speak again. Leave me now and your belongings shall be sent to the Hurst house; you are not welcome here or at Netherfield.”

Caroline began to weep again. “Brother, how can you be so cruel?”

“As you were to me,” he replied in a stony voice, and then stepped forward decisively. “Leave this house now.” When she did not move, he repeated himself in a low voice. Seeing the expression on his face, she quickly scurried from the study. Charles followed her without speaking in order to ensure that she would in fact depart. When she sat on a chair in the sitting room and did not move, he rang the bell repeatedly and ordered all the servants to appear.

“Miss Bingley is to leave immediately for my brother’s house. Kindly see to it that she does. Those of you that assist her or wish to accompany her may continue, and your wages shall be paid by me as before. Those of you that wish to remain must know that the door is not to be opened to her again, for she has offended me most gravely. Haskell,” he said, turning to his valet, “on the morrow we depart for Netherfield, and I know not when we return. Please make all the necessary preparations for an extended stay.”

Being shamed in front of the servants was more than Caroline could countenance. Her face took on the appearance of numbness and shock. Her personal maid and the butler took her by the hand and she could only follow meekly. When after a few minutes spent gathering her possessions, she had finally gone, Charles returned to his study with a decanter of brandy. He felt no vindication or pride over his harsh behaviour with his sister, and wished desperately that time would fly in order for him to arrive at Netherfield as soon as possible.

“Netherfield,” he said to himself as he emptied his second glass, “I shall be master of Netherfield and of myself. And I can only hope that I will be worthy in Jane’s eyes.”

Six weeks later, Darcy and Georgiana were walking through Hyde Park at his insistence that she should not remain closeted inside the townhouse with her music and her companion, Mrs. Annesley, but needed some invigorating fresh air. After twenty minutes, they came across the sight of Charles and Jane walking arm in arm, with a maid walking ten feet behind to give the appearance of chaperoning them.

“William,” said Georgiana in an eager voice, “is that not Charles Bingley with his young lady coming in our direction?”

Fitzwilliam Darcy could only look around and then confirm his sister’s observation with a smile. They had succeeded in finding each other, and the revival of their affection had done the rest.

“Bingley, well met!” he called out when the distance was suitably reduced.

His friend immediately broke out in a wide smile, although his first words were “Darcy, I am most put out with you! You sent me on a wild-goose chase to Netherfield when my happiness turned out to be in London.”

However, the presence of the two young ladies and the performance of the necessary introductions kept the two men from engaging in further banter. Darcy introduced Georgiana to Jane and was pleased to see that his sister was less shy than usual, possibly due to the presence of his friend. Miss Bennet, however, seemed somewhat wary. What would Elizabeth wish for me to do now?, he thought.

“Bingley, Miss Bennet, I must apologize to you both for my part in – delaying, no, attempting to thwart your happiness. It was inexcusable.”

“If your friend can forgive you, then so can I,” said Jane with a slight toss of her blond head. “My good opinion is not lost forever, and I can only wish that your own happiness will meet with no hindrances.”

“You are too kind, Miss Bennet. Charles is a fortunate man.” Mr. Bingley’s smile upon hearing this was impossible not to notice. His reply was “You are right on both counts, Darcy.”

“Are any other members of your family here in London as well, Miss Bennet?” Georgiana asked.

“Not at this moment, Miss Darcy,” the other young lady replied, “but the day after tomorrow my sister Elizabeth will be joining us in Gracechurch Street, which is where my aunt and uncle reside.”

Mr. Darcy’s held his breath for a moment upon hearing this. His heart’s fondest desire would finally be within his reach! The smile that appeared instantaneously on his face was noticed by all.

“And how are the members of your family faring, Miss Bennet?” he asked after pausing to regain his composure, “I hope that all is well in Meryton.” Jane assured him that according to the latest news that she had received, her parents and sisters were all in health and good spirits.

“You should meet Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, Darcy,” said Charles, “Mr. Gardiner is a very cultured and knowledgeable man of business, and his wife would enjoy speaking with you about Derbyshire. She was born in Lambton, you know.”

“What an amazing coincidence!” Georgiana said, with an enthusiasm that none had seen in her within the past year. “Lambton is but four miles from Pemberley.”

“How could that best be arranged?” Mr. Darcy enquired.

“By coming to dine at my house in three days’ time,” Bingley said with a grin, “I have invited the entire family, which includes four delightful children.” The invitation was eagerly accepted.

“Shall we walk together?” Jane suggested. “Mr. Darcy, I believe that you have not met with your friend in some time, and I would understand if there are subjects on which you may wish to converse.” She forestalled any possibility of polite refusal by taking Georgiana’s arm gently, as she would with a younger sister.

Georgiana was surprised at this, but Jane’s kindly and unpretentious manner soon won her over as they began a discussion focusing first on embroidery and fashion, and later on other pastimes and diversions. Georgiana was entertained by hearing of Jane and Charles playing with the Gardiner children. Since her brother had confided in her about his experiences in Hertfordshire and Kent, Georgiana felt that there was one thing that she needed to say.

“Miss Bennet, I wish you to know that I am no threat to your happiness,” she said, looking directly at Jane’s eyes to intensify the truth of her statement, “Charles has been like an elder brother to me since I was eight years old, rather like my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

“I know, Miss Darcy,” said Jane, “I have been told as much, although it has become even clearer to me from our meeting now. Please call me Jane.”

“Then I must be Georgiana to you.” Their companionable discourse continued for three quarters of an hour, as did that of the two gentlemen, who recounted to each other events since Darcy’s departure for Kent. Each could find something about which to be astounded: Bingley by the tale of Lady Catherine’s faint and her daughter’s engagement, as well as his friend’s growing attachment to Jane’s sister (although the two times that he was on the verge of proposing marriage to her were conveniently omitted), and Darcy by the fact that his friend had been decisive enough to cast off his own sister for her actions. It appeared that both Mr. Gardiner, and Mr. Bennet by means of a letter from Hertfordshire, had granted Bingley permission to court the lady who was foremost in his heart. When it was time to end the walk, for Jane was expected at the Gardiners’ for supper, friendly farewells were said, and each of the gentlemen found that he had much to ponder.

For Fitzwilliam Darcy, the next seventy-two hours promised to be interminable. He was already imagining which clothing to wear and which things to say when he would next meet Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and imagining every possible version of her own appearance and her own reaction to him. They would meet in a setting where their company would not be disposed to interfere, without conventions of society or rank dictating their every move. He could imagine another walk in the park, with Georgiana on one arm and Elizabeth on the other. New invitations might follow. And maybe, eventually, they could find some time to share on their own.