52. Ch 49:The greatest of these is love pt 1

Ch 49: The greatest of these is love…

The following morning, four young men sat in Bingley's study with Mr. Bradley. Mrs. Lance had provided an abundance of hot tea, fresh scones and jam.

"You do realize you have a real gem here in Mrs. Lance." Bradley smiled over his cup of tea. "You have been here less than three months, and already she knows your preference of scones to muffins, your favorite jam and that you desire tea in the morning but coffee at tea time!" He laughed warmly.

Bingley blushed self-consciously. "I am quite embarrassed to admit I had not even noticed. Miss Kitty scolded me recently for not paying attention to such things, and I fear I angered her when I laughed it off. But now that you draw attention to it, I see that I am quite inattentive. I must become more aware of such things, I suppose." He began to study the carpet.

"You really should, Charles," Darcy softly admonished. "You do not realize the value of a good staff until you do not have them. They are far too easy to overlook, but exceedingly difficult to replace. Mrs. Reynolds has been with my family as long as I can remember, and I am quite certain that Pemberley could not have functioned so long without a mistress had it not been for her."

Charles scratched his head absently. "I had no idea that Caroline was mistreating her maid so until I saw the marks on her face." He blushed and looked out the window. "Louisa wrote her friend in London asking if she was still in need of a ladies maid. She thinks it likely that the girl will be offered a new position promptly. I suppose Caroline will be at loose ends without her services though."

"I certainly would be undone without Mrs. Potts!" Pierce laughed, setting his tea cup down softly. "I am sorry to admit, I do not know the first thing about running a household. Without her efforts, I shudder to imagine my fate!" They all laughed.

"I suppose then, you would be much like our aunt, Lady Catherine." Fitzwilliam offered with a wry grin.

Darcy coughed over his teacup, eyes wide. Bradley looked away to hide a smile he could not suppress.

Fitzwilliam lifted his cup toward his cousin. "You know it is true as well as I, Darcy. Do not try to deny it."

"I assure you, Richard, I would do no such thing." Darcy's eye's twinkled.

"When last we were at Rosings, going over my aunt's books, we observed that very few of her servants had been with her for more than a twelvemonth, and many much less. It is forever frustrating her that the new servants do not seem to know their tasks, and she is quite vocal in her displeasure."

"Having met the great lady, I believe I can safely say she would not be the easiest mistress to serve," Bradley offered diplomatically.

"Indeed sir, that is a fair assessment," Darcy agreed, selecting another scone from the well supplied platter.

A pregnant silence filled the room. "So, gentlemen," Bradley finally said. "I cannot imagine you all dragged yourselves from your beds at so early an hour just to keep an old man company."

The younger men glanced among themselves uneasily. Finally Pierce cleared his throat. "I believe, sir, you have had a letter from Mr. Bennet?"

"Indeed, I have." Bradley nodded, his eyes betraying nothing.

Bravely, Pierce continued, "The Miss Bennets have confided that they have also heard from their father. We have assumed that the contents of both letters would be similar."

Bradley nodded noncommittally. Pierce glanced back at his companions aggrieved. I do believe that you are enjoying tormenting us far too much.

Taking his cue, Fitzwilliam leaned forward. "I believe what my friend is trying to say is that we would very much like to comply with Mr. Bennet's wishes…ah how was it that he put it…to allow the ladies an opportunity to relieve our suspense?" He lifted an eyebrow.

A broad smile bloomed over Bradley's face as he leaned back in the chair and laughed heartily. "Well said, sir, well said." Wiping his eyes, he continued. "I have received leave from Mr. Bennet to grant you permission to have such an audience with his daughters. This morning, I believe they are planning to take a walk shortly after breakfast to gather honeysuckle before the heat of the day sets in. You may accompany them on their errand. I am quite certain that there will be ample opportunity for your desired conversations then. Is that agreeable?"

"Quite, sir. Thank you." Pierce rose, offering his hand to Bradley. The others followed suit, bowing slightly to the vicar. They hastily moved toward the door.

"A moment if you will, Mr. Bingley," Bradley called back. He watched as the blushing young man returned to the space he had left only moments ago.

"Sir? What can I do for you?" Bingley asked a little uneasily.

"Do sit down. I am no headmaster calling you out!" Bradley chuckled as he slowly lowered himself to his seat again. "But I am puzzled, and I hope that you can put my mind to rest."

"How so, sir?"

"I understand the errand your companions are on, but I am afraid I do not have a clear understanding of why you should require a private meeting with one of the Miss Bennets." Bradley reached for his teacup.

"Ahh, well, yes," Bingley stammered, rubbing his hands together uneasily. "Well, it is…that is to say…"

"You are not providing me with an answer, Mr. Bingley." Bradley cocked his head.

"I know. I just do not know how to begin." Bingley swallowed hard.

"Then perhaps I should just state to you my concerns and allow you to respond." His listener nodded enthusiastically. Bradley leaned forward to perch his elbows on his knees. "It was my understanding that there were three recognized courtships in progress, not four. There is truly only one reason for you to wish a private interview with Miss Kitty, and yet I have been led to believe that neither of you are ready for that step. Are you being influenced by your peers to make a decision that you are not ready for?"

"No, not, not that at all sir." Bingley shook his head forcefully.

"So then, pray tell, why is it that you need a private audience with the lady?" Bradley crossed his arms firmly over his chest.

Bingley tugged at his cravat. "Miss Kitty and I have spoken at length, and we have reached an understanding between us." Bradley scowled at this confession, so he quickly added, "I have spoken to her father as well, so there is no disrespect to him on the matter." The vicar's expression softened and he nodded. "She has already accepted me, that is…ah…our understanding is that…" With pleading eyes, he looked up at Bradley, "You understand me?"

Bradley nodded hesitantly.

"My only wish today is to speak with her and confirm that it is still her wish to wait, for I would marry her immediately if I could." A smile broke out over his face and words tumbled out in a rush. "I am so much better a man with her at my side. She has urged, pushed if you will, for me to come into my own. It is her influence that has permitted me to send Caroline on her way. She has given me the confidence to make decisions regarding Netherfield, she sees in me something I do not even see in myself. With her, I actually believe I can be the man she already sees me to be!" His eyes glistened tellingly.

Bradley's posture eased and he reached for his teacup. "You wish to hurry her decision along?"

"No, not that. I am content with what she wishes. Louisa has received a letter from Hurst to say he shall be here in a month. So her wedding will be upon us soon, by harvest time for sure. Kitty…Miss Kitty wishes to allow my sister her moment to be the center of attention." A troubled look flashed across his face.

"But?"

"I do not wish to disparage a woman I do not even know, sir." Bingley sighed and pushed himself up from the chair and walked to stare out the window. "Miss Kitty's eldest and youngest sisters have always been her mother's favorites, and I fear she has spent much time being compared unfavorably to them."

"Sadly, such is the way in many families."

"With her three older sisters…well you know…," Bingley sighed, trying to bring his racing thoughts into order. "I just want to be sure that she is not going to be hurt by the attention the coming nuptials will bring. I do not wish her to feel somehow less than her sisters because we choose to wait a while."

Bradley carefully rose and made his way to the young man's side, laying a warm hand on his shoulder. "You wish to protect her."

"Yes," he turned to look Bradley in the eye. "That is exactly right. Compared to Darcy's fortune, Fitzwilliam's connections, and the favor Pierce has found from you and Darcy, I am but a poor second. With that, and her less than favored status with her mother…I shudder to think how she might be made to feel lower than her sisters—and over her wedding! No, sir, I cannot allow that to happen. I would have the banns read this week and wed her by the third if it were to keep her from seeing herself…" His throat closed and he could no longer speak. Turning away, he gazed out the window once again, trying to force himself back under regulation.

"I see," Bradley said softly. "It is greatly to your credit that you would consider such a thing. I can hardly fail to allow you to have such a necessary conversation with your young lady. Go then, and see to it, but do let me know what you decide? If there is news to relay to Mr. Bennet, I would like to know of it right away."

Turning, Bingley nodded with a soft smile. "Thank you, sir; I certainly shall." A moment later, he left the room, Bradley watching after him. [i]I do believe Darcy was correct, there is a great deal more depth to that young man than it would first appear.

The ladies assembled in the still room, gathering baskets and shears to cut the vines. Mrs. Lance surprised them when she burst in suddenly.

"I am so pleased to see that you have not yet left! I just found these," she handed Jane a small pile of gardening gloves, "and thought that you might wish to use them this morning. It would not do for you to injure your hands cutting flowers."

"Thank you, that is so thoughtful!" Jane smiled broadly.

"It was Miss Bingley's idea, madam. She remembered having seen them, and asked me if they might be helpful to you." Mrs. Lance curtsied.

"I am so disappointed that she cannot come with us." Kitty pouted. "She has never been out to gather flowers before, I hate that she is missing the fun."

"Her arm is still so freshly healed," Mary cautioned. "As much as I would like her to join us, it really is best for her not to risk injuring herself again." She took a pair of gloves from Jane.

"I know you are right," Kitty grumbled. "But I am disappointed nonetheless."

Oh, the poor dear! "The gentlemen came to call this morning," Mrs. Lance offered hopefully. "They just asked me where you might be found. It sounded as if they might wish to accompany you." She smiled broadly as she saw Kitty's countenance brighten. I know Mr. Bingley is often in her company. I do not like to interfere with such matters, but Miss Kitty would be a lovely mistress here. Not that Miss Bingley is not, but she shall be married soon and it would be a shame to lose Mr. Bingley for lack of a mistress for his house.

"Well then, I suppose we have all that we need from here," Lizzy observed with a soft smile.

"I suggested the gentlemen wait for you in the front parlor." Mrs. Lance gestured toward the door and ushered the ladies out. A few moments later, the Bennet sisters joined the anxiously waiting gentlemen.

"Mrs. Lance said that you were looking for us," Lizzy stated with a smile toward Darcy.

Immediately he moved to her side. "Would you permit me to join you on your errand this morning?" he asked softly, taking her hand.

"I believe your company would be most welcome." She allowed him to tuck her hand into the crook of his arm.

Fitzwilliam approached Jane and leaned down to whisper, "My angel, I could not spend another moment apart from you, ease my heart and allow me to walk with you." He looked into her eyes hopefully.

"Of course, how could I deny you?" Jane blushed at the intensity of his gaze.

Fitzwilliam grinned as he offered his arm and led her from the room, following Darcy and Lizzy. Pierce and Bingley looked wistfully at the younger two sisters who took pity on their suitors. Mary placed her hand on Pierce's arm and urged him toward the door.

Kitty handed Bingley her basket. "I suppose we ought to follow quickly. They are clearly in need of chaperones!" She giggled and skipped away, beckoning him to follow.

Bingley stood watching her. She is such a breath of fresh air. I believe she is more intoxicating than the flowers we are going to collect. With a sigh, he hurried after her.