40. Chapter 37: To see the sun

Ch 37: It pleases the eyes to see the sun.*

A weary and bedraggled party pulled up to the steps of Netherfield as the last rosy rays of dawn were chased away by the golden light of morning. Though they had all left Longbourn at different times, somehow the parties had managed to converge on the road, allowing them to arrive together. Netherfield's staff was already outside to greet them, having already received word of their impending arrival from a groom who had been sent ahead. Mrs. Lance, the stout figured housekeeper, rushed down the steps to meet them.

"I had the maids immediately at work preparing rooms and bath water as soon as you sent word, sir," she rushed to tell Bingley as he stepped out of his coach. "I am afraid the rooms are not as ready as we would like, but they are serviceable…"

"I am certain they will be fine. I appreciate all you have done on such short notice." Bingley tried to force a smile.

"Begging your pardon, sir, if I might ask…"

"The injuries were all relatively minor, we believe. With the exception of the Bennets' cousin, Mr. Collins. I am afraid he is dead."

The housekeeper nodded somberly. "I sent for the doctor. I hope that was…"

"Excellently done, Mrs. Lance; truly capital." He tried to muster enthusiasm into his compliment, but could find none. "I am afraid I must cut this interview short, though. None of us has had any rest at all. We are bone weary, and filthy to boot. I believe all that we desire right now is to be clean and to sleep."

"Of course, sir. We can show your guests to their rooms immediately, and they can call for water as they need. I took the liberty of placing trays in each of the rooms, with a light repast, in case any were feeling peckish before retiring." She bobbed a slight curtsey.

"You are truly a gem, thank you." Bingley turned back to the coaches and helped hand out his guests. He beckoned the butler and his valet to assist Mr. Bradley. Slowly, the weary and wounded party made their way inside.

Mrs. Lance was instructing the maids on where to direct each guest when Caroline, still in her nightdress and robe, flew down the stairs. "What is the meaning of this! Charles what has happened to you? You look truly disgraceful. Who are these people? What are they doing in my house! You will remove these… these… persons from my home immediately! Really, what are you thinking? Have you forgotten who is already staying with us? Surely you would not wish… Mr. Darcy? What are you doing among such an unseemly group?" She stared agog at the normally dapper gentlemen, clad only in his shirt and breeches, barefoot and unwashed. His face and arms were streaked with soot, his hair plastered with sweat to the side of his head.

"Have you not made her aware of the situation?" Bingley snapped. He glared at Mrs. Lance whose expression and helpless shrug spoke volumes. Immediately he regretted his harshness.

"I… I… tried sir! She would not permit us to speak with her…" the grey hair woman stammered nervously. "She dismissed everyone we tried to send without hearing any of us."

Bingley scowled, glancing over his shoulder at Louisa. He could not tell if the pain on her face was due to embarrassment over Caroline's outburst or her injured arm. "You will cease this nonsense immediately, Caroline," he declared firmly. Her eyes widened in shock and alarm. "There has been a fire at Longbourn. Had you deigned to accept the message I sent you, you would be aware of the situation and ready to act as a proper neighbor and hostess. You would have greeted us properly attired and with consideration for the comfort of your guests, not embarrassing us all with your self-centered tirades. I can only hope that you will endeavor to be more civil later today, after we have all had some sleep."

"Charles! You will not speak to me in such an uncivilized manner, particularly in front of others!"

"Not another word, Caroline," he hissed. Blushing, he turned to his guests. "Please forgive my sister; I believe we have surprised her. I realize now is not the time for more formal introductions, however, this is my sister, Miss Caroline Bingley. Caroline, these are the Bennets of Longbourn, Mr. Gardiner, their uncle, and Mr. Pierce, the curate. You are already acquainted with the rest of the party. Now step aside and allow the staff to get everyone situated." He glared at her with an unfamiliar expression in his blue eyes.

Stunned, she simply stood back and allowed the group to trickle up the stairs. Has he taken leave of his senses? How dare he berate me so in front of Mr. Darcy! Finally, Louisa walked past, only to be stopped by her affronted sister. "You are not going to allow him to treat me that way, are you?" Caroline demanded, her eyes suddenly fixed on her sister's bandages and sling. "What happened to you?"

"What does it look like?" Louisa snapped angrily. "When we ran outside, I tripped and landed on some broken glass. I cut my arm. It is nothing for you to concern yourself with." She pulled her injured arm close to her side protectively.

"Nonsense, it might leave a scar. I will see that the doctor is summoned…"

"The staff has already done so. If you had allowed the staff to deliver Charles' message to you, you would have already known it and been able to greet us with some degree of hospitality, or at least civility." She clutched her throbbing arm to her chest in hopes of relieving some of the pain. "Really, Caroline, would it harm you to consider the feelings of someone else for a change?"

"You are the mistress of this manor, not I," Caroline retorted bitterly. "Hospitality is your job, not mine."

"Can you think about no one but yourself? After what we have been through this night…"

"What about what I have been through? Have you forgotten I just traveled form London today and you simply abandoned me here? If you had stayed here with me as you ought, none of this would have happened. I pleaded with you to stay, but no, you insisted you must spend the evening with these ill-mannered country folk; and look what it got you? It would have been better had you never met these Bennets."

"How dare you! I have heard enough. The Bennets are my friends; something I have had little experience with, thanks to your influence, sister. You will be civil to them, or I will speak to Charles about having you sent back to London." Louisa's eyes glittered with fury as she shook with rage. "Perhaps I should suggest Scarborough is a better choice?"

"You cannot speak to me that way! I am your sister!" Caroline crossed her arms over her chest defiantly.

"A fact that I will most conveniently forget if you do not get out of my way!" Louisa pushed past her and up the stairs, leaving a very angry sister in her wake.

"Your staff has done a most admirable job, especially considering you have not even fully moved in," Darcy remarked as Bingley escorted him to his room.

"Yes they have, much better than Bascombe would have led me to believe I should expect. I shall have to reward them for their efforts. I am only sorry that Caroline…"

"Think nothing of it, Charles." Darcy clapped his friend's shoulder. I expected nothing else from her. I would have been shocked to find her gracious. "It is early in the morning, and she was not prepared for such a party to descend upon her. If you think about it, it is quite a shocking thing to wake up to."

"Certainly no more shocking than what we woke to," Bingley sighed, dropping into a nearby chair. "Oh, Darcy, I cannot fathom why I never saw this before. I never realized how out of hand she has become. But after what just happened, it is so clear!"

"I am afraid I am not following you so well. Would you care to explain?" Darcy struggled to suppress a weary yawn.

"None of the Bennet sisters have breathed a word of complaint. They all rushed to do whatever they could to assist, even risking their own safety for others, and they are greeted at my home by Caroline complaining about being woken too early! Not a word of concern for any of us! I am so humiliated. What must our neighbors think of me?" He dropped his head into his hands.

"Bingley, you need to get yourself to bed. You will feel better after you rest, no doubt. In the meantime, I can assure you, your neighbors will not judge you on the basis of you sister. They already think too well of you and Miss Bingley to alter their opinion. Do not borrow trouble. We have had enough of it this last night for quite some time."

Rubbing his hands hard over his face, Bingley sighed. "I am sorry. You are right as usual. I do not suppose I am thinking too clearly at the moment. The weariness is getting the better of me." Raking his hands through his hair, he stretched and yawned. "I am being thoughtless, keeping you from your ablutions and your sleep." Bingley pushed himself up from the chair and left Darcy to his own thoughts.

Mary was the last of the four sisters to gather in the room assigned to Jane and Lizzy. "Papa is resting well enough, I believe." She sighed and dropped onto the bed. "I cleaned the burns as best I could. I know the doctor has been sent for, but I will ask Lady Lucas to come this afternoon as well. She has some herbs in her pantry that I believe will be useful. She has taught me to make poultices for burns that will reduce the chances of infection." She wrung her hands in her lap.

"Oh Mary!" Jane rushed to her sister's side. Lizzy quickly followed. "I am so sorry! What a terrible thing after you and Mr. Pierce have just declared your understand." Jane dropped her arm over her sister's shoulder. Mary's composure finally broke and she began to cry softly.

Kitty dropped to her knees before Mary. She took Mary's hands in hers. "Do not cry, Mary! Please."

"I will be well, Kitty, do not worry. I am just so tired." Mary looked into Kitty's face. "I am so grateful; it could have been so much worse. Our family and friends are safe, and Mr. Darcy says that the structure of the house seems sound, he thinks the damage is of a kind that is relatively easy to repair." She wiped tears from her face. "We have been very blessed indeed. Truly, I cannot complain."

Jane and Lizzy exchanged somber glances. Lizzy bit her lip, drawing a deep breath, "You do know about our cousin?"

"No, where is he? I had not realized until now that I had not seen him amongst our party." Mary looked from Lizzy to Jane and back again, alarm growing in her eyes.

"I am afraid he did not survive the fall," Jane said softly, eyes on the carpet.

"Oh no," Mary's hand flew to her mouth.

"Truly?" Kitty echoed her sister's gesture. "Are you certain?"

"Yes." Lizzy nodded. "I saw him. There is no doubt." She shut her eyes with a grimace.

"Does Papa know?" Mary sought Jane's eyes.

Jane nodded. "I believe Colonel Fitzwilliam told all the men when we arrived."

"What are we going to do?" Kitty wondered softly.

"There is nothing to be done for Mr. Collin now." Lizzy declared grimly. "As for us, we will do whatever needs to be done to rebuild and restore our home. But first, we sleep." She took Kitty and Mary by their elbows and led them back to their room, hugging them both before she left.

"I cannot believe…" Mr. Bennet hissed as he tried to ease himself into bed after cleaning up as best he could.

"That the toad would stoop to such levels?" Mr. Gardiner finished for him. "I cannot rejoice in a man's death, but I must confess I come as close to that as I can right now."

"Indeed." He sighed as he fell back against the pillows with a groan. "What am I going to do now? If only he was the last in line for the entail, then I could mortgage the estate and use that for repairs! But I cannot do that without the approval of the entail holder, and now I do not even know who that is! I cannot impose on my neighbor's hospitality endlessly, yet I have no assurances that I will be able to even provide my daughters with a house to live in!" A note of hysteria tinged his voice.

"Take a deep breath, Thomas." Gardiner pulled a chair over to sit beside his brother. "Now is not the time to be dwelling on such complex issues. We must speak with our brother Philips. I am sure David will have some wisdom to impart to us on our current situation. As soon as we have slept a bit, I will fetch him from town. I would not be surprised if he does not arrive here on his own. Then we will make plans. I would also counsel you to speak with young Mr. Darcy. With his experience, I believe he might have some valuable insight for you."

"You are right. I am not thinking clearly. I overheard Darcy assuring the girls that he believed the damage to be much less severe that they feared. It seems he has dealt with this kind of event on his estate. I will consult with him as soon as we are all rested. I am glad you are here with me, Edward. I am grateful for your support," Mr. Bennet closed his eyes wearily.

"That is what family is for. Do not forget how you and Fanny stood beside us those years when the business was floundering. You supported us then, allow us to do the same for you now. Do not worry about where you and the girls will stay. We will make a way, have no concerns for that. Once we have a better idea of what is happening, I will return to London to bring Fanny the news in person. I do not believe this is something to convey to her in a letter. Madeline will be able to help her to deal with it. She does not need to know the full reason for Collins' mishap with the candle."

"Most certainly. I think that would be best." He yawned painfully. What is this going to do to Fanny? Will she be able to survive this? How I have failed them all.

"Get some sleep. I will bring the doctor when he arrives."

"The doctor has arrived," Darcy softly announced, letting himself into Bradley's room.

"Do not tip-toe around me boy! You will convince me I am some sort of an invalid. rather than simply a clumsy old man!" Bradley laughed, grimacing as he did.

"You are not exactly light on your feet right now, sir," Darcy countered with a wry smile that belied the solemn look in his dark eyes.

"I suppose not, but do not worry for me, young master. I will mend soon enough."

"I will see to that," Darcy crossed his arms over his chest. "I will not leave Hertfordshire without you."

"Indeed? That is very gracious of you, sir. Be certain that I appreciate your company, but I cannot help but wonder if there might be some other motive for you to extend your stay here?" A bushy eyebrow lifted.

"I will offer what help I can give them, if Mr. Bennet will accept it." A dark look crossed his eyes.

"What am I seeing in your expression, Fitzwilliam? There is clearly more going on in your mind than you are saying." Bradley drummed his fingers on the bed.

Darcy looked away uneasily. "I have never been able to hide anything from you, have I?"

"No, and I am not about to let it start now. So tell me, what else is troubling you?"

Darcy slowly lowered himself into a chair near Bradley's bedside. "This would never have happened but for my aunt's interference."

"How is that, son?"

"Miss Elizabeth told me that her father made Collins a generous offer to end the entail on Longbourn. It was my aunt that convinced him not to accept the offer. She insisted that he secure Longbourn by whatever means necessary. I do not think Miss Elizabeth realized what Lady Catherine was suggesting when she told me of Collins' rantings."

"I am afraid I still do not understand. What did Collins do?"

"The fire tonight, it was started by Collins. My cousin and I were in Miss Elizabeth's room. After we had fallen asleep, he came in through the servants' door."

"My heavens!" Bradley gasped. "He intended to compromise Miss Elizabeth?"

"Indeed. Only it was my cousin in the bed. He was startled when Richard shouted, and dropped the candle, starting the fire." Darcy dropped his face into his hands. "It was my aunt who told him to do this horrible thing! I can only be grateful that he was thwarted from his initial intentions. But to be grateful for a fire and all the damage it has wrought? What a thing to consider! I cannot escape it, my family is responsible for what has occurred! "

Bradley sighed sadly, frowning deeply. "I understand why you feel as you do, but you do understand that no matter what Lady Catherine told him, Mr. Collins, alone, is responsible for his behavior. It was his own pride and greed that influenced his choices. Your aunt may have planted the idea, but he chose to act upon it."

"Are you saying that I should not try to help?" He sat upright in his seat.

"You misunderstand me; I am implying no such thing. Your desire is the kind and generous thing to do. I approve most heartily. I simply do not want you to be driven by guilt; it will taint everything you touch." A small smile lifted his lips. "And everyone you touch as well." The teasing note in Bradley's voice made his meaning clear.

Darcy regarded him levelly. "It does not sound as though you disapprove."

"I do not; far from it. I believe your good father would be pleased. Pleased with what you and your cousin did tonight, pleased with your offer of help," he paused with a meaningful expression in his eyes, "and pleased with your choice of lady."

"We have no understanding," he warned, lifting a hand. Am I so very obvious?

"I am aware of that. But it means little when I see the way you look at each other. Your mother would approve as well." I do not want to rush him into anything, but I fear he is all too ready to miss what is so obvious to the rest of us. He is quite thoroughly besotted with her, and will not admit it to himself!

Darcy drew a breath to protest, but changed his mind. "Your approval means a great deal to me. Do you believe that she would welcome something more than friendship from me?"

"I have no doubt. I believe the only obstacle is her awareness that she is not of your circles. Once you convince her that you do not care for such things, she will have no objections. I am quite sure."

A slow smile spread over Darcy's face. A noise in the hall caught his attention. He rose and peeked out the door. "Dr. Abbot, he is in here; allow me to introduce you to my vicar..."