Dare to Refuse Such a Man: A Pride & Prejudice Variation by Mary Smythe

Author:Mary Smythe [Smythe, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Quills & Quartos Publishing
Published: 2021-04-26T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

DARCY BOUNDED down the main staircase half an hour later, on his way to the main drawing room. Would it not have been unseemly, he would have also been whistling a jaunty tune, so light was his mood since discovering his problems of the morning had essentially resolved themselves. He would be paying Mr Bennet another visit soon to press his suit again with the hope of more acceptable results. In the meantime, he would bask in his forthcoming success.

Darcy’s ears were accosted by the sound of raised voices echoing down the hall. He approached the drawing room, hesitant to interrupt a dispute to which he was not a party.

From beyond the closed door, Darcy could hear the high-pitched wails of Miss Bingley, muffled only slightly by the barrier between them. “And I shall dismiss each and every one who tells such vile, unfounded lies! How dare they spread such disgusting rumours under my roof! As if Mr Darcy would ever, in a thousand years, offer for that scheming, greedy—”

“Caroline!” scolded Bingley in scandalised tones.

“Now she is attempting to use her own execrable behaviour to ensnare him! Well, I will not have it—Miss Eliza Bennet will not profit from her scheme. We will close up Netherfield immediately and return to London forthwith.”

Bingley’s voice was lower, but Darcy could understand him well enough. “We will do no such thing. And I will ask you again to moderate your language and voice; she is a lady and not to blame. Further, I have had it from Darcy himself the engagement is real.”

Miss Bingley scoffed; her voice elevated to that of a near scream. Her tantrum was obviously in full swing if she was incapable of speaking at a more genteel volume. “That—that adventuress? Did you not see how she threw herself at Mr Darcy at the assembly?”

“Do not speak of Miss Elizabeth in that fashion! She is a gentlewoman.”

“A gentlewoman!”

“Caroline—”

Enough is enough.

As Darcy stepped inside the drawing room, Miss Bingley was continuing her shrewish diatribe without cessation, having yet to notice the growth in her audience. Her back was turned to him, but the others within the room—Bingley, of course, and the visibly unsettled and silent Hursts—perked up at his entrance. “I do not believe it, Charles. I will speak to the housekeeper immediately and inform her we are leaving on the morrow. Mr Darcy is not beholden to that tart, no matter what rumours are flying about, and I will see he is protected from her machinations. Let her ruin herself!”

“As a matter of fact, Miss Bingley,” said Darcy, feeling it necessary to interrupt her before she went yet further, “I am beholden to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I have proposed and she has accepted. We hope to be married before the year is out.” All true, albeit with a few key omissions and some slight embellishments.

Miss Bingley whirled around at Darcy’s interjection, her face lit red by her lingering wrath. “That is not possible! You only just met her!”

Darcy shook his head.

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