Charles Bingley

[bcrncoldx]

"A Shakespearean play..." he chuckled, "yes, I can see where you are coming from with that comparison. It does at times feel as if we have stepped into the Merry Wives of Windsor." But Darcy had grown used to it, surprisingly quickly given his more reserved nature. "Even if you knew that marriage was on the horizon? If you know the direction in which the two of you are headed, why not start now? A marriage is really only a formality here." He looked at Charles curiously. Based on his last conversation with Miss Jane Bennet he was fairly confident he knew what Charles wished to ask him. "Yes, dinner sounds like an excellent plan. Lead on,"

[mr-c-bingley]

Charles chuckles and points at his friend likening their situation to the Merry Wives of Windsor. "That is a good comparison. Although, the frightening events I would liken them to the tales of Frankenstein." He says in a good humored tone and continued smiles. "Fearing for her honor and reputation has become a great concern of mine. Not to mention, I..." Charles responds as he nervously wrings his hands. "I am also filled with a fear of failing my wedding night duties. Not that I do not want that special connection or that I can't see that, of course... But when I helped her take her shoes off and helped her undo the back of her ballgown... I had to steady myself so not to get overwhelmed by her and her shear beauty." The man responds with a face as red as his hair. He begins to nod and sighs. "Yes, please. I know a wonderful restaurant just down the way here." Charles says as he begins to lead the way.

[thetorturedmusesdept]

Jane trusted Charles with absolutely no hesitation. He was, and always had been, a perfect gentleman. “I know you won’t, my love,” she shyly reassures him. She can’t help but smile as she thinks of the clothing of their time, how much simpler most clothing was here now. “Lucky it is only a zipper I shall need assistance with. Nothing so confusing.” Still, it was as intimate as removing her shoes. My, would her cheeks ever stop burning after tonight? “Oh, I-“ She hates to trouble him, so she quickly moves to stand herself. Her feet don’t really hurt all that badly now that they are free of her heels. “I’ll be fine. I am much relieved to be barefoot. I promise.” Jane moved quickly then, to show him the way. Once in her bedroom, she got out one of her nightgowns, setting it on the bed. Then she made sure to move all her hair to one side of her neck, out of the way of her zipper. She glanced back at Charles. “If you would, please. Thank you.”

[mr-c-bingley]

Jane's words of affirmation and reassurance seemed to instantly quell the storm of nerves that was going through him. He smiles at his love softly with a brightness in his eyes. All Charles ever wanted to do was to make Jane happy and comfortable; but he was also so very grateful that such loving kindness was returned to him from her. A soft sigh of relief comes out of him when she says that there was a simple zipper. "That is good. Zippers are so much easier than what we were used to." The man offers his fiancée his hand to help her up when she assures him she is fine to walk. Once she was up, he follows her closely in case she needs anything. Yet, once they reach the threshold of her bedroom his feet pause. Patiently he waits for her request and takes a couple steps towards her. His hands lightly rest upon her upper arms to make sure his first touch was respectful and to let her know he was about to unzip the dress for her. Charles moves his hands to the zipper, one on the top of the dress while the other grips the zipper. His eyes close before he starts to slowly and softly lower the zipper to free her from the delicate fabric. When he feels he reached the end, he stops and takes a couple of steps back with eyes still closed.

[bcrncoldx]

Darcy nodded, listening as his friend waxed lyrical about his fiancée. "Oh, yes. In fact, I believe it's considered more unusual to only begin living together after marriage. It's curious, isn't it? How what's considered appropriate has changed over time. He was content enough to follow the contemporary standards and live with Elizabeth prior to marriage. "It's not something you have to worry about now, my friend. Unless it's something you and Miss Bennet wish to continue with. Admittedly her sister and I are yet to spend a night under the same roof, but I am not opposed to it."

[mr-c-bingley]

Charles was astonished by all of this. It just sounded oh so scandalous. "It is so astonishing that I can scarcely imagine it. Although, society seems far closer to that of a Shakespearian play and yet far more civilized... well, except for the strange and dangerous events." He responds, his tone at first amazed and nearly hyper but then gently muted to slightly somber when he remembered how those events effected Jane so deeply. It saddened him to see her in such fear. "Even knowing it would be acceptable to society... I fear I could not bring myself to live with her for a prolonged time without the benefit of marriage." Charles adds before looking to his friend bright faced and excited. "How about we dine out together tonight? I have to stop by my home to retrieve something, but I want to treat you to a nice dinner tonight, my friend." And there was something special he wanted to ask of Fitzwilliam.

[thetorturedmusesdept]

Jane’s face was burning with its own heat, the pair of them both so red in the cheeks they resembled a couple of tomatoes. She cleared her throat, nodding. “Y-Yes… I trust you, Charles,” she says before biting her lip. She looked into his eyes cautiously. “You are a true gentleman. The zipper, it’s just hard to reach,” she glanced away again, embarrassed. “Lizzie helped me get it up. My, em… My nightgowns, they are in my bedroom… At the end of the hall… Shall I… show you?”

[mr-c-bingley]

Charles swallowed hard, hoping it was not too loud to her ears; although it was thundering in his own. "Thank you for your trust my, dear. I promise you I will not betray it." Sure it wasn't the first time he had seen her in her nightgown as he had tended to her while ill at Netherfield; but this was different. "They always looked so intricate and complex. I was always amazed at how long it took for my mother and sisters to ready themselves." When she mentioned showing him where it was located in her bedroom, Charles felt more nervous. He gently but quickly picks her legs up and sits them back onto the couch as he adopts a standing position. "No, no, you are in pain my love. I will take care of everything." He assures before taking a couple steps away and immediately a couple steps back to her. "I should not venture through your private room alone, but I don't want you walking on already sore feet. Perhaps I should carry you to your room? So that you can point it out to me and I will go behind the door to protect your privacy." He rambles out his thought process.

[grcycosmcs]

@mr-c-bingley said : [ TXT ] : are you up? please be up. (accidental Charles to Flynn)

flynn ✉ unknown : well that depends. flynn ✉ unknown : who's asking?

[mr-c-bingley]

Charles->Flynn: Oh, I beg your pardon. This letter was for my friend. Charles->Flynn: My name is Charles Bingley, it is a pleasure to meet you.

[bcrncoldx]

"The summer? Yes... I believe that's as good a time of the year to get married as any. The weather will certainly be fine." He nodded. Not that he knew much at all about weddings, really. The question he had been expecting, before Miss Bennet had even mentioned it to him. Darcy knew what his answer would be, there was no question about what he would say. How could he refuse his closest friend that? "Some couples never marry. But Charles, it's common now for people to live together now prior to marriage. I suppose that makes the need for a wedding less pressing. An employee of mine has been with his partner for over five years now and they are yet to wed."

[mr-c-bingley]

Charles smiles brightly and nods. "I do certainly hope the weather remains fine for it. She will be the most beautiful bride regardless, of course. But to see the sun shining against her golden hair and the veil... she's going to look like the most perfect angel." The man says, musing out loud with a look of pure happiness in his eyes. He truly couldn't wait to be able to call her his wife. Charles' eyes go wide in innocent shock. "That is, that is normal and respectable here? I... I can not imagine, I fell asleep at Miss Bennett's a few times ... in a separate room, of course, and felt as though I was risking her honor..." He seemed to get lost in thought as he remembered helping her out of her shoes and unzipping her dress for her. Frozen in innocence with red cheeks.

[thetorturedmusesdept]

“You may,” Jane nodded. Then Charles swept her up in his arms, and her hands went around his neck as he carried her, only releasing once she was set down. She hadn’t thought of the blanket trick he does, but it makes her smile, thankful he had. She’s careful with her heels not to poke into him with them, and she blushes when he kisses her fingers. It was funny, how even just Charles doing simple things like that or like removing her shoes made her heart race like crazy. She watched his every movement carefully, and sighed with relief when the shoes were finally off. Much better already. Next was to get out of her gown, but asking for Charles’ help with that was another new level of intimate. Her face now flushed crimson, and she looked down as she twiddled with her fingers. “Thank you. I should like to change, I think…” The gown was gorgeous, but not the most comfortable after the long night. She risked a glance up at him. “I… should only need help with the zipper, if that is alright.”

[mr-c-bingley]

Charles loved having Jane in his arms and he lived to take care of her. He was gentle, soft and detail oriented as he went about helping her. The look of relief upon her face when her shoes were finally off, made him happy and a little proud that he could help her. He wanted to do more to help her, any request she'd make, he'd find a way to do it. Charles reaches for her hand to offer reassurance as she begins to ask for further assistance. The idea of helping Jane undress had Charles stunned silent for a long moment. "Y-yes, Anything I can do to help you my dearest. I promise to preserve your honor...I won't look." His cheeks were so blushed that it matched the shade of his hair.

[thetorturedmusesdept]

Charles held her close and kissed her forehead and Jane just closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in the soft scent of him and trying to relax. His reassurances that he would do what he could for her helped to ease some of her nerves, still so on edge after everything. After a while she pulled back, looking down at her feet. “My shoes….” She bites her lip. It was a very intimate thing, to touch one’s ankles and such like that, but she was so exhausted… “Could you… help me with them?” she asked gently. “My feet… they ache…”

[mr-c-bingley]

Charles smiles with innocence in his eyes, having not yet thought of the fact that this may lead him to see her ankles. "May I carry you to the couch, my dearest?" He asks, waiting for consent before he gently and carefully picks her up into his arms. The man carries her over to her couch before softly setting her down. It wasn't until he also sat upon the couch beside her feet that it dawned upon him. His cheeks flush into a blush as he pulls the throw blanket off the back of the couch and over her feet as a privacy screen of sorts in order to preserve her dignity. The man then lifts her feet and slides over a little closer so that her feet could rest upon his thigh. Before fulfilled her request, Charles takes her hand that hosted her engagement ring into his hands. Bringing it up to his lips before placing a soft kiss upon the ring and her fingers to show her respect and that he wasn't doing this out of only lust. He then pulls back the blanket just enough to see the buckle of her shoes and undid them, trying his best to touch only the fabric of her shoes. Once he had them off and placed onto the floor he covered her feet fully with the blanket to keep them warm. "Is there anything else I can do to make you feel more comfortable, my dearest?"

[thetorturedmusesdept]

<<Timeskip>>

Jane and Charles had spent a fair bit of their time dancing. They also mingled with Darcy and Lizzie, and others, as well as taken a few breaks for a drink or a snack. But after the appearance of Cupid, Jane had panicked. Charles had had to help calm her down, but her mind had gone blank of any secrets she may have had. In the end, bodies had started to drop around the museum, and Jane had panicked all over again, relief only settling over her some time later when she realized she and Charles were still standing, along with Lizzie and Darcy as well. That they were alright. After that, Charles had gotten them back to her apartment safely, but Jane still had a hard time moving away from him. She was afraid that one of them could still drop at any moment. Still...

"My feet are terribly sore," Jane half-mumbled quietly. She wanted nothing more than to be in a much more comfortable nightgown. But she also didn't want Charles to leave. She bit her lip, looking up at him. "Would you.....?" She let the words hang, then shook her head, blushing deeply as she looked away. "No... I could not ask that of you..."

[mr-c-bingley]

Charles was feeling so entirely blissful as he spent the night with those he held most dear. It was magical to have Jane in his arms dancing the night away. He couldn't imagine it could get any better... until the tide turned. The man's heart was racing out of his own fear, yet his attention rarely wasn't fixed upon Jane. Charles consistently holds Jane close to keep her warm and safe while encouraging her to breathe as slow as possible. Once he was able to get her home safe, he only went as far from her as he absolutely needed to when opening doors and such. He was about to open his mouth to offer to help her get comfortable, but she had continued, and she stopped to listen to her. "Please, my darling Jane. Let me know how I can help you be comfortable. There isn't anything I wouldn't do to help you." Charles says in an assuring tone as he holds her close and places a gentle kiss upon her forehead.

[bcrncoldx]

"And how are the wedding arrangements coming along? Have you set the date yet?" Darcy was fairly certain that Charles and Miss Bennet would be married by the end of the year, if not sooner. "You're clipping by at a very brisk pace, my friend, compared to today." Fairly standard for the time they had been brought up in, but people waited years before marriage these days. He could certainly see the appeal, ensuring that partners are compatible was a more important thing now that marriage was rarely a transaction between families like it had been.

[mr-c-bingley]

Charles attempts to hold his excitement back and it shows a little in his still bright and wide smile; yet it was tight showing self restraint. "Marvelously, we are still musing out the details through a summer wedding is what we are set on. I have had a question or rather a favor to ask of you, but I want to do it properly. With all that has happened, it's just pushed back my plan for it." He was absolutely going to ask Fitzwilliam to stand at his side on that special day. There was no one else in any world or time Charles would want to be there for him more. Yet, he did want to give his friend the full respect the favor entailed. Specially given Fitzwiliam's uneasiness in large social gatherings. Charles halts quite abruptly upon hearing that, according to today's standards, he and Jane were moving at a brisk pace. "How can that be? Miss Bennet and I have been acquainted for two and a quarter years now. How long do most couples stay acquainted before marrying in this time?"

[devilsmenu]

post event

"I remember you from the masquerade ball, you bumped int ome" Romeo said remembering the other. "Are you okay though?".

[mr-c-bingley]

Charles looks at the other with a hint of embarrassed emotion on his face. "Oh, yes. I do apologize for that. And yes, I am happy to say my loved ones and I were able to escape it unharmed. I trust you and your loved ones did as well?"

[bcrncoldx]

"Charles, my introversion is something that will never change. You know that I'll always feel most comfortable only around the few people that I trust. It would be like expecting your good cheer and optimism to become bitterness. It's unthinkable." He would remain at the ball, but he would certainly be counting down the hours until he could leave. "Thank you, Charles, really. It's... we're taking things slow, but we are happy."

[mr-c-bingley]

Charles smiles warmly at his friend while he listens. "I know. I still hope you manage to have a wonderful night tonight." He truly believed his friend so deserved this happiness he had long struggled to allow himself to have. "Slow is wonderful. I know it is not the path Miss Jane and I are taking... by the standards of our time I mean... not, not of this time... I've heard some... I suppose although we are engaged, it would still be considered slow. Though as I was saying, slow can be wonderful. I just know you both are going to have a wonderful night."

[devilsmenu]

"No problem at all, it's all good" Romeo told Charles with a reassuring smile. "I'm good, no worries".

[mr-c-bingley]

Charles looks relieved at the other's insistence that they were alright. "I am glad to hear it. I am used to a crowded dance hall; but this is a far larger crowd than I am used to... I seem to have lost the spot upon which my fiancée was taking a rest.

[thetorturedmusesdept]

Jane took her fiance's hand and exited the car with a smile. Then she took his arm, and they walked into the museum together. She was immediately taken with how beautiful everything and everyone looked. And she was grateful for the kind of party that reminded her of home, of life before this strange world and time. She was also excited to have a fun night with Charles, after all, she did love dancing. She had fallen in love with Charles dancing. "Do you think dancing has changed all that much here?" she asked him idly as she continued to take in her surroundings. "I do wish to dance with you much this night."

[mr-c-bingley]

Charles felt complete at Jane's side, their arms locked together lovingly as they stroll into the museum. His smile was bright as he looked to his love, happy to see her also looking joyful. He remarked silently to himself on how grand the decor was. "It may have, much has changed since our time. However, I am sure we can still dance the dances we know and not be too out of place." He responds in a gentle and warm tone attempting to provide reassurance. Charles brings one of her hands up to his lips to place a kiss upon her knuckles. "I have been craving dances with you so arduously, my love. As many dances as you have the desire for."

[bcrncoldx]

He winced at his friend's crowing call. Not what he wanted when he was nursing a headache. His fingers massaged his temple in a circular motion, a grim expression on his face. "You know my thoughts on such gatherings, Charles, they haven't changed." Darcy took a breath. "I'm here with Elizabeth. She saw a friend that she wanted to speak to."

[mr-c-bingley]

When he sees his friend wince, Charles painfully stifles a chuckle. He did feel great sympathy for his friend, yet it was just slightly comical that something had not changed. It was reassuring in a way. The man tries his best to speak at a less piercing volume for the benefit of his poor friend. "Ah, I suspected as much, but so much change has occurred, I thought that possibly maybe another." Charles' earnest attempts to stifle his excitement was completely obliterated by what Fitzwilliam next said. "Miss Bennet?! Truly? I am so thrilled for you both my friend!" He exclaims happily in that golden retriever energy his personality boasted.

[mr-c-bingley]

"Oh." Charles softly exclaims "I beg your pardon. I did not mean to collide with you. Are you well?" He scrambles to ensure the person he had bumped into in the crowd was alright. @devilsmenu

[mr-c-bingley]

"Fitzwilliam!" Charles happily exclaims as he left Jane for a few moments to fetch them a glass of champagne. "This is quite wonderful isn't it? Much more lively than the balls back home. Did you come alone or..." He asks with a grin, hoping he would say he was here with Elizabeth. @bcrncoldx