Compromising Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Anthology by Rose Fairbanks & a Lady

Author:Rose Fairbanks & a Lady [Fairbanks, Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: General Fiction
Publisher: Rose Fairbanks
Published: 2016-04-22T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Bingley and his sisters arrived at Longbourn just after the militia officers were leaving. The one he vaguely recalled meeting earlier in the week appeared to have spilt tea all over himself. He chuckled as the man walked swiftly down the path as his comrades called out for him to slow.

Upon being announced in the drawing room, Bingley’s sisters immediately sat near Darcy and began fawning over him. Darcy looked more piqued than usual, and Bingley could only surmise the meeting with Mr. Bennet did not go well. Miss Elizabeth was absent. He raised his eyebrows to Darcy, who nodded in the direction of the library. No other kind of inquiry was possible, so instead, Bingley settled next to his angelic Jane.

He wished to merely gaze at her, but Mrs. Bennet would not allow him peace. “Such an honour you give us, Mr. Bingley, by arriving today.”

She looked expectant, and Bingley finally recalled that he came to deliver his invitation to the ball. “Thank you for receiving us. My sisters and I are delighted to invite you and your family, including Mr. Collins,” he glanced at the man, “to a ball on Tuesday.”

“Tuesday! Oh my!” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet.

“Mama, will I have time to re-trim my green gown?” Miss Lydia asked.

“You mean, my green gown!” Miss Catherine declared.

“Girls! You have no compassion for my poor nerves. Or Mr. Bingley’s,” she exclaimed, her voice shriller than them all.

Beside him, Jane stiffened slightly. “Would you care for some tea, Mr. Bingley?” Jane turned to him and gave a warm smile.

“Thank you.” He smiled back.

She rang for tea, and he watched, longing for the day when their encounters could be more than mere smiles and civil conversation. Memories of asking for her hand and kissing her flooded his mind.

“She is a very good girl,” Mrs. Bennet said, interrupting Bingley’s thoughts.

“Indeed,” he replied.

“She never was a spot of trouble, and she never will be. She has the sweetest disposition in the world and is so beautiful!”

Bingley could hardly disagree, but Jane appeared mortified. He searched for something to say. “You are correct, madam. I have thought her angelic from the first moment I saw her.”

“Oh! Mr. Bingley!” Mrs. Bennet seemed more pleased with the praise than Jane did, but Mrs. Bennet showed all emotions more freely than Jane.

She took a deep breath, then addressed her cousin who peered at Darcy with a strange look. “Mr. Collins, do you mean to accept Mr. Bingley’s invitation?”

The man in question fixed a smile on his face. “I certainly do. There can be no evil in a ball hosted by such a respectable young man. I hope to dance with each of my cousins, as well.”

The younger girls looked quite alarmed, but Miss Mary easily dissembled, and Jane was as civil as ever.

“I had wanted to solicit Miss Elizabeth’s hand for the first two dances—I mean no slight to you, Cousin Jane. I am certain you will soon understand the reason for my preference,” he said with raised eyebrows.

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