Page 10 of Master of Himself

Not that he could entirely blame Papa. Since their father had died, Charles had relied on Louisa to guide Caroline in the proper direction. But with two such strong willed sisters, what was he to do?

A footman entered to announce a caller – Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

Although surprised, Charles rose to receive her, as was his usual custom, but then he recalled that he wasn’t the master of the house, at least, not in his present state. He hoped Darcy would greet her, but he remained silent, staring agape at her, as though transfixed by her appearance.

“Good morning, Miss Elizabeth. You must have come to see Miss Bennet,” Charles said, covering for Darcy.

She offered a pained smile. “Forgive me for calling at this hour, but when I received my sister’s note, I came at once.”

“Did you walk all this way, Miss Eliza?” Caroline inquired.

Colour rushed to her face, and she averted her gaze to the floor, nodding grimly.

His sister’s high-handed demeanour infuriated Charles. A proper mistress of the house would have welcomed her guest to her home. “Perhaps Mr Bingley should call for the housekeeper to escort Miss Elizabeth upstairs to her sister,” he said, hoping Darcy would take the hint.

Finally master of himself, Darcy gestured to Caroline and Louisa. “My sisters will be happy to bring you to Miss Bennet’s chamber, Miss Elizabeth.”

Caroline sneered at Darcy, further enraging Charles.

Henry merely chuckled. “Go on then, Louisa, and you, too, Caroline, and see to our friend,” he said, motioning towards the door.

Miss Elizabeth curtsied and followed the ladies out of the room.

Henry rubbed his hands together. “I don’t know when I’ve had more fun,” he said with a broad grin.

“Try to contain your glee, Henry,” Charles said, now annoyed with the lot of them.

Henry muffled a laugh with his serviette.

“Your sisters are perfectly capable of being civil,” Darcy said after resuming his seat, “but it seems they choose to disregard civility whenever it suits them.”

Charles gave no answer. Since he was partly responsible for his sisters’ deplorable manners, he had no reasonable dispute to his friend’s observation. He ought to have corrected their behaviour long ago, but had left them to their own devices.

However, Darcy was hardly a model of common curtesy. He also had a bad habit of disregarding propriety whenever it suited him, so he shouldn’t complain about Caroline’s and Louisa’s poor conduct. He had callously refused introductions at last month’s assembly, declined to dance with ladies needing partners, and judged the local residents by their mode of dress.

Yet, despite his previous abhorrence of the neighbours, he suspected that Darcy had reversed his former opinion of Miss Elizabeth.

***

Still unsettled by Miss Elizabeth’s unexpected arrival, Darcy pretended to read the newspaper. Bingley’s sisters had profoundly annoyed him, but when Elizabeth had entered the parlour, he’d been struck speechless. Never in his life had he been so thoroughly captivated by a woman.

He’d scarcely been able to take his eyes away from her. Despite her melancholy air, she’d never appeared lovelier with her wind-tousled hair and face glowing with vibrance. She had walked three miles to visit her sick sister. How extraordinary.

Upon his first notice, he hadn’t been remotely impressed with her, but had since come to appreciate her lithe figure, lively personality and expressive eyes. Unlike the ladies of the ton, she didn’t put herself forward, nor did she smile quite so relentlessly as her elder sister. There was something compelling about her that he couldn’t quite define, and he longed to know more about her.

A footman entered. “Mr Jones, the apothecary, has called, and I’ve escorted him to Miss Bennet’s chamber, sir.”

“Thank you, John,” he said, as the supposed master of the house.

“Phillip,” Charles said, glancing briefly at the footman.

“I beg your pardon, Phillip. Thank you,” he said, cursing himself. If he were to be a proper master of Netherfield, he ought to pay more attention to the servants’ names.

“I’m worried,” Charles said. “If they sent for the apothecary, Miss Bennet must be quite ill indeed. I want a full report before he leaves.”

“Since he’ll be sending you his invoice,” Hurst said, “I’m certain he’ll be happy to speak with you…” He hesitated, then pointed to Darcy. “Or you.” He didn’t bother to disguise his amusement.

Both Darcy and Charles scowled irritably at Hurst, who clapped a hand over his mouth and remained silent.