Page 13 of Vain and Useless

“Eliza Bennet,” Mrs Hurst said mere seconds after that lady departed, “is an unmannerly creature indeed! She takes her sister’s sniffles as an excuse to impose herself where she is not wanted, and declines to join us in our entertainment when invited to do so.”

“Miss Elizabeth is here at my invitation,” Miss Bingley replied sharply.

“Seconded by me,” her brother added. “I cannot understand why you have taken such a dislike to everyone here, Louisa. My neighbours have been most welcoming.”

“Naturally they have been,” the lady replied scornfully. “They see you as the rightful property of one or the other of their daughters, and you seem entirely willing to throw yourself away on Miss Bennet. She will not do, Charles.”

“That is not for you to determine,” Bingley replied.

“You must consider the family, and our standing. Miss Bennet is a sweet girl, to be sure, but she can do nothing for you. You are capable of making a much better match, is that not right, Caroline?”

Miss Bingley’s lips pursed briefly. “I do not think a sister’s partiality misleads me when I say that Charles could attract almost any lady, and a number of those with greater wealth and standing than Miss Bennet can boast are not out of his reach. However, if he really likes her, it would not be a poor match. She is a gentleman’s daughter, after all. That is no small recommendation when taken together with her personal virtues.”

“I do really like her,” Bingley declared. “I am not set upon her; we have been acquainted only a month. But I am very much drawn to her.”

“All the more reason to end this folly now, before your affections are fully engaged!” Mrs Hurst cried. “You are but four and twenty. You will be drawn to another, more suitable lady in time, I am sure. Is that not the case, Mr Darcy? You have not rushed to the altar with the first lady to catch your eye.”

Darcy was very much opposed to being made part of this quarrel, but could no longer avoid it. “I shall not presume to advise Bingley on such matters. As you have pointed out, I have yet to find a lady I wish to marry. Who am I to judge whether or not Bingley has succeeded? As to the suitability of the match, I am in agreement with Miss Bingley.” He nodded to her, which she acknowledged with a faint smile and a tilt of the head. “It is not in question that Bingley could do better with regards to fortune and consequence, but if he deems the daughter of a mere country gentleman worth disregarding those considerations, her birth alone will make her suitable enough in the eyes of the world.”

Darcy was well aware that his response would have been different only a month ago. He could not precisely date the shift in his attitude, but he now recalled the chilled formality which had characterised his parents’ marriage, and felt very strongly that the ebullience and generosity which formed the basis of his friend’s character would be destroyed by a union in any way similar. Darcy could not wish it upon him for any consideration.

“Only just suitable is not good enough,” Mrs Hurst declared. “If you were ill-favoured or odious, Brother, I might feel differently, but it is within your power to marry very well, and you owe it to the family to do so.”

“I do not see why I should sacrifice happiness for status or money,” Bingley replied. “It is not as though Miss Bennet is the daughter of the blacksmith.”

“She may as well be.”

“Louisa, that is more than enough,” Miss Bingley said sharply. “You may pretend that you are not the daughter of a tradesman, but I assure you that no one else will ever forget it, and you only appear foolish when you behave as though you are high-born.” There was a hint of bitterness to her tone which did not escape Darcy’s notice.

“Caroline, what has got into you?” Mrs Hurst cried. “Charles has forever been careless about such things, but I believed that you, at least, could be counted upon to work towards the elevation of the Bingley name.”

“I have come to a fuller understanding of our position in society and of what is and is not possible or likely for us to accomplish. One does not step from trade to the first circles in a single generation. And now, I believe we have aired enough of our quarrel before our guest.” She turned to him with an apologetic smile. “Pray forgive us, Mr Darcy. Though we may consider you almost as family due to your long, close friendship with my brother, you are not a Bingley and ought not have been party to this matter.”

Bingley hastened to add his apologies, and Mrs Hurst muttered something to the same effect. Glad to have the subject ended, he said earnestly, “Consider it forgotten.”

“Wonderful!” Hurst exclaimed. “May we now return to our play?”

CHAPTER 10

Jane was a little better the next day, though the fever had drained a good deal of her strength. Elizabeth spent the morning with her, cheering her with conversation and cajoling her to take nourishment. When she fell asleep again, Elizabeth felt a great need for exercise and dressed for a walk in the garden. The sun was shining, and the mild weather of the previous week seemed to have returned. She emerged from the house to find that she was not the only one to seek those paths; Miss Bingley was just ahead of her, examining a venerable old rose bush, gone brown and dormant for the coming winter.

She called out a good morning, and the lady turned to her with a smile. “Miss Elizabeth, what a pleasant surprise. How does your sister?”

“A little better today. She is sleeping now, and I thought to take the chance of fresh air and exercise.”

“I am happy to hear it. I will visit her after luncheon, if you think she will welcome it.”

“I know she will, thank you.”

“I was just inspecting the work the gardeners have done to prepare for the winter. That is one aspect of managing a country house with which I have some acquaintance,” she added with a humorously self-deprecating air. “The garden of our house in Scarborough was not large, but my mother paid it every attention, and taught me a great deal. Whenever I am in a garden, I feel close to her again.”

“I understand both of your parents are gone?” Elizabeth enquired gently.

“Yes. It will be four years in the summer. They had gone out with some friends on a pleasure-craft, which sank. No one knows why. It was a beautiful day, but a number of people saw the boat list and then vanish beneath the water.”

“How dreadful!” Elizabeth said, pressing her friend’s hand for a moment.

“It was. We had, and have, a number of relations there, who helped us immensely. And Mr Darcy, I understand, was of great assistance in helping my brother to manage his inheritance. My uncle purchased my father’s interest in the business, which made everything simpler for Charles, and Mr Darcy advised him on investing. But enough of such sad subjects—it is a fine day, let us speak of more cheerful things.”