Meanwhile Mr. Bingley had come back to his brother’s town house and had retreated to the library without seeing either of his sisters. He was glad to have some respite before a new battle. What a day! I sincerely hope this one will be the last… At least I know this one is coming! He thought derisively. Both the previous ones had been wholly unsuspected and had darkened his mood considerably. One ray of hope had nonetheless appeared in his sky. He had seen her. He had learned that she really cared, or had cared. He was authorised to explain her everything in a letter.

Well, at least, I have now a reason to fight. If I’m lucky enough to have her forgive me and give me the leave to court her, I must not let anyone interfere. God knows how we have both been ill-treated by all my relations. I’ll act on my own mind even if I end making a fool of myself. I’m sure it won’t be more painful than the pains I have already suffered.

To think that I have just one letter to gain my redemption! What shall I say? Maybe Darcy… The thought made him winced. That was finished. He would never ever ask him for advice now.

But how shall I do without him? ‘Tis the first time in all our acquaintance he has ever failed me. Even when I first ran into him and knocked him down because I was fleeing from some robbers in Cambridge. He stood for me then. And he always did afterwards, but for this time. Or maybe he thought he was standing just the same. But this time, he was wrong. His behaviour had been strange all the while in Hertfordshire. He was not himself. I should have known better than to listen obediently… I shall wait and see. I haven’t been fair to him. I will listen to him on the morrow. But not today, I have a letter to write! And a trial to prepare… He rang for the butler to inform him that he wished to see his sisters as soon as they came back.

He had to wait for almost an hour before a decided knock was heard at the library door. He didn’t have the time to answer, as Caroline stormed into the room, complaining about this summon. Louisa was following her more dignifiedly. “What do you mean by ordering that we came to see you without delay?” asked the former, the last part being said in a snobbish imitation of the butler. Settling down in an armchair, she added: “I didn’t even have time to rest although our shopping has been quite dreadful…”

Her very calm brother interrupted her, ironically: “It’s nice to see you too, Caroline, Louisa! Please, sit down.” Miss Bingley started, her mouth opened in a most unladylike position; Mrs. Hurst sat on a chair close to her sister, her features expressing also some surprise. “I summoned you in the library to inform you of a most surprising encounter I made today.”

He watched his sisters’ complexion going several tones whiter. Caroline finally uttered: “I can’t see who you mean…”

“Can you not? Really? Well… I met Miss Bennet.”

Her eyes betrayed her embarrassment as she glanced at Louisa but she had regained enough of her composure to answer almost immediately, and in, what she thought was her most natural astonished tone: “Why! Miss Bennet! Here, in London!”

“Yes, in Cheapside exactly.”

“In Cheapside!!!” Her tone was at its utmost fake.

“Yes, you remember… her uncle… living in Cheapside…”

“Oh, yes, now that you say it…” She seemed to hesitate but finally added: “And, how was she?”

“She seemed fine. She told me she was much better than when she last saw you in Gracechurch Street.”

“Really, I’m glad…hum… I mean…” Her eyes had fled from her brother’s. A furious blush invaded her face. “When?…Where?… In Gracechurch Street? I’ve never been in Gracechurch Street… Louisa…” She tried to have her sister as a witness but Mrs. Hurst was too ashamed of her behaviour to play the game. Caroline managed to look back at her brother.

Charles’s raising temper could only be perceived by the tapping of his fingers on the desk. In a voice as cold as previously, he answered: “Really? Maybe I misunderstood… Maybe she meant when she came to call on you here, in Grosvenor Street.” His gaze was alternatively fixed upon his sisters’.

Louisa’s eyes, wide opened, quickly sought her sister. Caroline gulped, moistened her lips, put back in place an imaginary lock of hair in her turban and cast down her head. “Well…” She raised her head in a defiant way. “We thought it was better if you didn’t know. You didn’t seem to miss her. I didn’t want to see her but she came anyway.”

In her eyes, her brother’s reaction (or lack of, for the matter) to this beginning was satisfying enough for her to brighten and to add, in a despising tone: “I ignored her letters. You see, she is of no consequence here. Dear Georgiana is in London. She is such a delightful young lady… But, despite the lack of answer to her letters, Miss Bennet called. This is such a proof of her low upbringing. And I had to call back…” After a pause where she seemed to re-live difficult memories, she shuddered and said: “Dreadful visit!”

Louisa’s feature now expressed her utter astonishment at her sister’s answer. She looked back anxiously at their brother.

By then, Charles had stood up. He was pacing back and forth in the room, his temper being too high to remain quiet. Caroline came back abruptly from that past she would have liked to forget when he told her, in a manner she had never witnessed: “Miss Bingley, Mrs. Hurst, since I know you’ve had a role in this business, let me tell you what I think of your behaviour in this whole matter.” The fury in his voice was frightening and his sisters, for once, listened to what he had to say.

“First, I’d like to inform you that my meeting with Miss Bennet was very enlightening. I have now a very clear idea of what happened exactly in Hertfordshire. The only ones who deceived me were from my own family, not from Longbourn. I had rightly understood her attitude. Indeed, she was returning my feelings. I can clearly understand the betrayal she felt when I announced I was leaving for a few days and eventually never came back, I would have felt the same.

“And do you remember why I didn’t come back? Let me repeat what you, Caroline, said then: ‘Charles, do you really think Miss Bennet is worthy of you? She is without family, connection or fortune!’ And when I answered that I cared for none of these but for mutual affection and respect, you replied: ‘Brother, I cannot believe you’re mistaking her. She is merely enjoying your attentions and her mother is probably already planning your wedding… Do you really think she’s showing some respect when she’s merely toying with your feelings?’ Repeating your words is painful to me. You do not know how I have tortured myself with them.” He stopped then, his voice as struggling to come out. Caroline was astonished by what was happening, Louisa seemed pained by her brother’s narrative. Eventually, Charles’s speech went on.

“I know now that you were utterly wrong. And your recent behaviour towards Miss Bennet makes me think that you deceived me on purpose. I cannot fathom your reasons and I don’t think I’m very interested anyway. But I cannot forgive you either. Not only because of the sufferings I’ve been through, but because of her sorrow.” His face was very pale, his features stern, his voice ice-cold. “Had I not a most urgent issue to solve, I would leave immediately to remove myself from your presences. As it happens, it seems that my happiness might still be linked to hers. Therefore, I will stay here, but you must understand that I’ll do my best to limit our being in the same room. Therefore, if you have nothing else to say, I would appreciate if you were leaving the library.”

By then, his sisters’ reactions were alike, though not for the same reasons.

Caroline was shocked. She couldn’t believe her sweet, kind brother had become that tough, bitter man able to tell her that he didn’t want to see her anymore. I had underestimate the danger that Miss Bennet represented. I can’t believe he chooses her over me. And the words he uses! Such a bad luck that he eventually met her! How can I reply? I certainly won’t apologise! What have I to be sorry for? But he is in such a rage… Let’s show some humility for now…

Her back as straight as always, her usual mask on her face, she followed her brother’s injunction, stood up and walked to the door.

Louisa, also, was shocked. She understood both her brother’s behaviour and his reasons. She had witnessed his sorrow after their return from Hertfordshire but, as she couldn’t fathom what love was about, she had merely tried to alleviate it by providing access to her husband’s cellar. How hard must have been Charles’s sufferings! How deep must be his affection for Miss Bennet! I know his sweet and kind nature, I know how it must have been difficult for him to decide and inform us that he no longer wishes to see us! Have I been voluntary involved in an unjust scheme? Caroline was honest when she described Miss Bennet’s low family, connections and fortune but are these the foundations for a happy wedding? I live everyday the proof of the opposite! If she was indeed returning his affections, we have been very wrong and we owe Charles an apology.

She stood also and went to the door. Before exiting, she faced him, and, the clenching of her hands being a testimony of her mindset, she said. “Charles, I’ll do as you wish. I’m sorry of your decision but I think I can understand it. I beg you to ask whatever you may need for the solving of your issue, it is the least I can do. Shall I give orders so that you’ll have your dinner in the library?”

Some warmth in Mr. Bingley’s eyes came back when he answered positively meanwhile Miss Bingley’s eyes coldness was reinforced.

As he watched his sisters leaving the library, Charles felt some relief. He thought he had dealt quite well with them. Obviously, my message has been understood, I just wonder how true was Caroline’s humility. But Louisa’s answer seemed to come from the heart. She has some goodness, unfortunately, her life isn’t as satisfying as it should. Had she not listen to Caroline, she probably wouldn’t have wed Mr. Hurst, but if she wasn’t married, Caroline couldn’t have got married herself… As if it had been of any use so far! While thinking, he had gone to the cupboard to pour himself a glass of brandy.

Hold on, man! Remember what you have to do? Don’t you think you need to be as sober as possible if you want to gain her forgiveness and regain her affections? He rang for tea, sat by the desk, took a sheet of paper and mended a pen.

Sow Potatoes, See What you Shall Reap, Chapter 8