Page 5 of To Win Her Affections

One thought rose above all others in his mind. Miss Bennet was a rare woman, a woman who deserved the full devotion of the man who paid court to her. For the first time, Darcy understood that loving her was not enough; he must give her reason to love him in return. He would show her the man he truly was and prove himself worthy of her regard.

Darcy was resolved to win her affections.

Chapter II

Darcy’s guests arrived fifteen minutes after he returned from Lambton. As he watched the carriage approach along the drive and enter the courtyard, he could not but reflect on how unwelcome this visit now was. Had he not invited Bingley to Pemberley, he and Georgiana could have enjoyed Miss Bennet’s company without needing to concern themselves with other guests.

The carriage stopped in front of him, allowing no more time to consider it. As the passengers disembarked, he reflected that the party itself was not unwelcome; only one member of it was. Georgiana seemed to agree with him, as her small smile and glance at Miss Bingley suggested exasperation.

“Oh, Mr. Darcy!” exclaimed Miss Bingley the moment her feet touched the ground. “What a wonderful sight Pemberley is! Why, every time I see your venerable estate, I grow more attached to it. You have a most beauteous home, sir.”

Bingley, hearing his sister’s verbose effusions, looked away, and Darcy thought his friend’s jaw had tightened. Though they had not spoken of it, Bingley knew Darcy did not favor his sister. Good fellow that he was, Bingley had never attempted to promote a connection between them—that was fortuitous, for Darcy might have ended the friendship if his friend had ever so much as suggested such an alliance.

“That is curious, Caroline,” said Hurst, regarding his sister with his usual satirical eye. “So far as I can recall, this is only the second time you have visited Pemberley.”

Miss Bingley, in the true fashion of one who hears only what she wishes, ignored him. Darcy decided it was politic to avoid any further nonsense, and he invited them into the house, hoping to dispense with their company at once. Miss Bingley, however, was determined to praise, and did so at every opportunity. Then she pushed flattery aside in favor of more direct measures.

“Tell me, Mr. Darcy,” said she, a coy note in her voice, “what amusements have you planned for our stay?”

“The area has many fine places of interest, as I recall,” said Bingley in his cheerful manner. Darcy suspected his friend spoke only to prevent another display from his sister. “Dovedale is nearby, is it not? And perhaps some other wonders of which I yet know nothing.”

“Yes, Dovedale sounds delightful,” said Miss Bingley, sounding distinctly not delighted. “Perhaps we should stay closer to home? There is much to enjoy at Pemberley itself.”

The smile she directed at Darcy was full of innuendo and invitation. “I should welcome the opportunity to see more of your excellent estate, Mr. Darcy, for I am certain no one knows it so well as you do.”

It was time to close this line of conversation. “Then we shall see how the visit proceeds.”

Turning to Mrs. Reynolds, he said: “Please show our guests to their rooms, Mrs. Reynolds.”

“Of course,” said his housekeeper, her expression revealing nothing of her thoughts. “If you will follow me, you may settle into your chambers.”

If Darcy’s failure to respond as she wished displeased her, Miss Bingley gave no sign, though Darcy noted how reluctantly she departed. When the family reached the top of the stairs, Darcy turned to Georgiana.

“I know they are your friends, Brother,” said Georgiana, “but I must say that I anticipate little pleasure in the coming days.”

“To the best of my knowledge, you esteem Bingley,” replied Darcy, amused that his sister would say as much.

“Mr. Bingley is an excellent man,” agreed Georgiana. “But Mr. Hurst is taciturn, and Mrs. Hurst is too interested in agreeing with everything her sister says. Miss Bingley will be nigh unendurable.”

“Did anything of significance occur in the carriage?” asked Darcy.

Georgiana turned the full weight of her displeasure on him, then ruined it with a wry grin. “Nothing at all, unless you count Miss Bingley’s continuous comments—then again, you are not unfamiliar with her, so I must suppose you understand the subject on which she dwelt at length. I am displeased with you, William. You took the chance to escape and left me in Miss Bingley’s clutches.”

Darcy’s laughter came unbidden. “Let me guess. Miss Bingley expects an engagement by the end of the stay, and offered you up to her brother without the slightest attempt to disguise her purpose.”

“Yes, you understand her well indeed.” Georgiana sighed. “I was sorry for Mr. Bingley. Though he attempted to interrupt her, she proved impervious to his attempts. He was most embarrassed by her display.”

“And she takes advantage of his unwillingness to oppose her without the slightest shame,” said Darcy, shaking his head.

“Thus, you understand my disquiet.”

“Then perhaps I can give you something more to anticipate.”

Georgiana regarded him with suspicion. “Do you mean to cut the visit short? If Miss Bingley were to depart on the morrow, that would be agreeable to me.”

“No, unfortunately I believe good manners dictate we endure her for the agreed upon length of their stay. Rather, there is another to whom I should like to introduce you.”

“Oh?” asked Georgiana, interest piqued.