Justin smiled, “I pay a price, though, now I am back in my native land. It means that—and pray do not think I speak from vanity—I am hounded and hunted by such as Lady Catherine and, although I hate to speak ill of a young lady, by Miss Turlington.”
“Lady Catherine is altruistic; she has her eye on you for her daughter Anne.”
Justin said with feeling, “She does indeed.”
“I dare say you will want to marry, however, and now that you are man of large fortune you will be able to pick and choose. Do the season in London, and you will have all the young ladies of your feet. With your name and such wealth, you are become a desirable parti.”
“I would rather marry a woman who liked me for myself and not for the little chests full of gold in the strong-rooms of Hoare’s bank. A woman who cared for me before she knew I was a man of fortune.”
Theodosia said, “Is there such a young lady? Did you leave a broken-hearted Miss behind when you sailed for India?”
He shook his head. “No.” He gave her a direct look, forcing her to meet his eyes once more. “I believed since I came to Pemberley that perhaps I have met one such.”
“Miss Penfold? She would make any man a most excellent wife, she is an admirable creature.”
“I like Olivia well enough, but surely you have noticed that her attention is not fixed on me. Apart from the fact that she has too much modesty and sense in any way to pursue me as Miss Tarlington does, I fancy she has a decided preference for Mr Giddings.”
Theodosia nodded, “That did occur to me and I think they are well-suited.”
There was a silence, which grew to such a length that it became uncomfortable. Theodosia moved to the table, made a slight adjustment of the books on the table and said, “I must go downstairs. My charges have been with their mother long enough.”
Justin put out a hand to stop her as she went towards the door. He said, his voice hesitant. “Miss Beckford, can you tell me if I have any chance with you?”
She wouldn’t look directly at him, but kept her gaze on the door handle. “Chance? I am not sure what you mean, Mr Aconbury.”
“A chance of winning your affections. No, I will not come at this sideways. I have fallen ardently in love with you and I want you for my wife. Will you do me the honour, the very great honour, of accepting my hand in marriage?”
A look of joy swept over Theodosia’s face, but it vanished as quickly as it had come. “I thank you for the offer, any woman must thank a gentleman for such a proposal, but I cannot accept you. I will not marry you.”
With that, before he could step forward to prevent her, she had ran out of the room, closing the door behind her. He heard her rapid footsteps retreat down the passage and then fade into the distance.
Why? He could have sworn her feelings towards him were as strong as his for her; he was too experienced not to know that. So what had set up this barrier between them? Damn it, he was going to marry her; she must be his wife.
Chapter Twenty
Theodosia did not bring the girls down to the drawing room that evening.
Justin asked where the girls were. “And are we not to have the pleasure of hearing Miss Beckford play?”
“Miss Beckford says the girls, Camilla in particular, are rather overexcited and tired from all the theatrical activities and so they are to have a quiet evening upstairs and an early bedtime.”
A look of disappointment crossed his face, and Elizabeth gave her husband a significant look, with a slight nod in Justin’s direction.
Lady Catherine wanted to play cards, and she usually got her way. Elizabeth agreed and swiftly arranged to divide their party into two. Lady Catherine demanded that Mr Darcy play at her table, but this time she did not prevail, as Mr Darcy, with a cool authority that impressed even his aunt, said that he had challenged Mr Aconbury to a game of billiards.
The two gentlemen left the room. Lady Catherine, her voice showing her annoyance, said, “Justin is a poor card player; it is a pity that Darcy does not join us at the card table.”
Elizabeth assured her that Mr Giddings was a skilled whist player, which mollified her somewhat. Then she said, “Octavius, I am sure you will make up a four with us. Sarah, I shall leave Anne and Olivia and Miss Turlington in your care.”
Sarah did not like cards and so she at once said they would have a game of lottery. Anne, who rarely spoke, said in her quiet, toneless voice that she preferred to play whist. Her cousin took no notice and began to sort out the fish for the game of lottery. “It will be much more enjoyable than whist. You need to learn to enjoy yourself in frivolous ways, Anne.”
Fortunately, Lady Catherine was too busy directing the footmen as to how exactly the table must be set up to hear these seditious words, and Elizabeth, who had heard the remark, admirably preserved her countenance. Any inclination to laugh was quickly suppressed by Lady Catherine objecting to the placement of the candles, the quality of the baize on the table and the style of the cards.
Chapter Twenty-One
Meanwhile, Mr Darcy bore Justin inexorably off to the billiard room.
Justin said, “It’s all very well, Darcy, but I’m not a good billiards player. ”
“So much the better, as I shall win. I prefer to win. I’m sure you will be able to give me a reasonable game.”
The footman summoned to light the candles and make the table ready departed at a nod from Mr Darcy. He, chalking the end of his cue said to Justin, “It seemed to me that you were disappointed not to see Miss Beckford come down to the drawing room this evening.”
Justin was indignant. It was too much, his host cornering him like this. “I do not have any particular interest in whether Miss Beckford comes down or not.”
Mr Darcy said, “I’m not sure you are speaking the truth. Forgive me if I speak my mind, but it seems to me that you take more than a passing interest in Miss Beckford.”
Justin opened his mouth to say that it was none of Darcy’s business, but Darcy went on, “I have done you a great favour carrying you off like this, thus sparing you the attentions of Miss Turlington and Anne. Although, to do my cousin justice, it is my aunt who is eager for you to form an attachment to her.
Justin said, with a dash of irritation, “It is all a consequence of this wretched fortune. I feel half inclined to give it all away, to play the philanthropist with it. It can’t win me the one thing I want and it’s proving itself to be a devilish nuisance.”
“Aha,” Mr Darcy said. “Now we come to the nub of it. What is it you want that your wealth will not buy?”
“It is not that money will not buy it, I would consider it disgraceful to talk of buying and selling in such a context. It is rather that my wealth stands in my way. Yes, I will admit that I have come to care for Miss Beckford. I liked her from the moment I met her and that soon became more than mere liking. As we worked together on the play—but no, it is not just that, it is seeing her…her situation is such that one must…”
Mr Darcy finished the awkward sentence for him, “The long and the short of it is that you are in love with her. And does the lady not reciprocate your feelings? Or have you not put the issue to the test?”
“I have asked her to marry me, if that is what you mean. She turned me down flat. I suspect she feels there is too great an inequality in our situation.”
“Stuff and nonsense.”
“You may say so, but your opinion does not count for anything. It is what Miss Beckford feels that matters. I don’t wish to appear arrogant or rate my worth too highly, but I’m ready to swear that she would have had me when I was merely a younger son with no profession and apparently no prospects.”
Mr Darcy said, “It speaks well of her character to a certain degree, that she does not want to see seem to be snatching at a wealthy man. On the other hand to turn down the chance of happiness for a scruple like that seems to misguided.”
Justin watched as Mr Darcy made a good break, and then took up his own cue. The candles had been arr
anged in such a way as to illuminate little more than the table, where the gleaming colour of the red and ivory balls contrasted with the green baize of the table. He made himself take his mind off his misfortunes in love and a lucky shot sent the ball cannoning off and landed the other one into the pocket.
“Well played,” Mr Darcy said, giving him a clap on the shoulder as he went round the side of the table.
“The merest fluke, I assure you.”
Mr Darcy straightened himself after giving the billiard balls another satisfactory smack and said, “Something must be done about it. I shall be reluctant to see Miss Beckford leave us after so short a time, for I have never seen a young woman so well able to control Camilla, who with her flights and fancies is not an easy child. But Miss Beckford would make you most excellent wife and must no doubt, be glad to quit her post as governess.”
“You would think so, would you not? And she is only woman I ever met that I wanted to have as my wife, but I cannot force her to accept my hand, and so who knows what kind of a wife she would make. I don’t know what I can offer her to persuade her it would not be so bad to marry me.”
“Nothing, she has to take you for what you are. She is not the kind of woman to marry against her inclination for the sake of a good establishment.”
“If that were any consideration, I would buy a country estate and set up as a squire to please her, but it would not serve.”
“You already told us that the country life does not appeal to you. You don’t need to do anything, I dare say. Your money invested in the funds will bring you a substantial income and you need to do nothing more to have a comfortable life.”
“Quite so, but it is wrong to let money just sit. Even in these difficult times while the war continues, money can be made to work and I have discovered I have quite a knack in that direction.”
“Tell Lady Catherine of this plan, that will make her doubt you are a suitable husband for Anne.”
“I should like to live in London and look about me for opportunities. And perhaps, in due course, sit for Parliament—but that is not an immediate ambition.”
“When the time comes that you want to do that, I have some influence in the party and can help. I see nothing wrong in setting money to work. It is what Elizabeth’s uncle does, and he is a most excellent fellow.”
He set once more to his cue and with a few swift strokes and a lucky break, brought the game to an end. He stood back from the table. “You can approach Miss Beckford again, but it seems to me that she is avoiding you. I will speak to Elizabeth, she will know what is best be done.”
Elizabeth had endured a tedious evening. Her mind was not on the cards and her ears echoed with Lady Catherine’s loud condemnation of the weakness of her play. She was glad when tea was brought in and put an end to cards, and even more glad when the party broke up for the night.
Mr Darcy came to her in her bedchamber and said, “It is as we thought, Justin is head over heels in love with Miss Beckford and she will not have him.”
Elizabeth said, “I expect it is the money, for I am convinced she is in love with him. It is just that she does not want to be thought a fortune hunter.”
“I expect you are right, my love and that is Justin’s opinion, too. I leave it in your hands; I have no doubt of your being able to bring Miss Beresford round to a more rational view.”
“Rational? Reason has little to do with affairs of the heart. Pride is her weakness and how well I understand it, for it was once my besetting sin.”
“And mine, my dearest Elizabeth.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Theodosia was indeed avoiding Mr Aconbury. It hurt her to do so, since even the sight of him or the mere sound of his voice was enough to make her heart race. Away from him, she was left with nothing but heartache. She had been right to refuse him, and the more she watched the antics of Miss Turlington and Lady Catherine’s determination to snare him for her insipid daughter, the more determined she was that she wasn’t going to emulate this sort of behaviour. What would people say, if she accepted him?”
The children were with Lady Sarah, sewing and helping with the costumes under her watchful superstition. Alone in the schoolroom, Theodosia looked out on a grey, wintry landscape that was as bleak as her spirits.
She did not hear Elizabeth come into the room and jumped when she heard her voice. “Miss Beresford, let us sit down. There is something I have to discuss with you.”
Theodosia looked at her; the last time she’d heard those words from her employer, they had been a prelude to her dismissal.
“Pray, do not look so distressed.” Elizabeth said.
Theodosia sat down, straight-backed and on the edge of the chair. “What is it you wish to say?”
“It is nothing to do with your work as a governess or anything about Letty and Camilla. One could not find fault with you as a governess and I should be very sad to lose you, but…”
Theodosia shut her eyes. Here it was, she was once again to be sent away. She bit her lip, holding back tears; tears for the loss of a place where she had felt she might be happy. Tears, although she did not want to admit it, at the prospect of never seeing Justin Aconbury again if she had to pack her boxes and go.
Elizabeth next words caused her eyes to fly open in astonishment and alarm.
“I wish to talk to you about Mr Aconbury.”
Theodosia felt obliged at once to defend herself. “I do assure you, Mrs Darcy—”
“If you are going to tell me that you have not set your cap him, you may save your breath. I do not think any such thing, not for a moment. But I do know, for my husband heard it from his very lips, that he is in love with you, and wants to make you his wife. I can see that you are not indifferent to him Forgive me, why would you not accept such a handsome offer?”
Theodosia flushed. “It is because it is such a handsome offer that I must turn it down. When he had no fortune, it might have been different, but to be accepting a man as wealthy and well-born as Mr Aconbury, given my situation and my position as governess in your house… it is not to be thought of.”
“Not to be thought of by whom? Justin clearly thinks of it. And if it counts for anything with you, I have to say he has Mr Darcy’s approval. We do not wish to lose you as a governess; should you give your notice to seek another position, we would make every effort to encourage you to stay. This is quite different. To lose you to such an admirable husband can bring nothing but joy to all your well-wishers. Of whom, I assure you, there are several here at Pemberley. It is an opportunity for you to return to the station in life in which you were brought up.”
“That is exactly what it is not,” Theodosia cried. “Our rank in life is far different. We come from separate worlds.”
“You should not, indeed you must not, let pride stand in your way.”
“Pride?”
“Pride is the right word,” Elizabeth said. “It can only be pride that prevents you accepting a man who loves you as you love him. He is wealthy, what has that to do with it?”
Theodosia said, “It is not only on account of his wealth, ma’am, that I refused him. Only consider: I am the daughter of a naval officer, a man of no particular family, no connections, a gentleman, yes, but bred up to the sea with his only income that which he earned from his profession. My mother is the daughter of a country vicar, a good man, but with only a modest living. What a disparity between such a background as that and the position Mr Aconbury holds in society! He is the son of a nobleman; he was raised in a great house; he has important and powerful relations. I dare say he is related to quite half the great families of England. Now add to that the possession of a large fortune, which has at a stroke restored him to favour with a family that once cast him off, and you can see why it will not do.”
Elizabeth said, choosing her words with care, “You are right in one respect, inequality can make for difficulties. If Justin were playing King Cophetua with you cast as the beggar maid, I can see that your sense of
pride would rightfully be affronted. That is not the case. He is a gentleman, no more and no less. True, his father is a nobleman but he will never inherit a title. Although I’d be prepared to take a wager that a man of his ability and energy will one day achieve a perfectly good title of his own—but that is another matter.”
She raised a hand as Theodosia opened her mouth to protest. “Let me finish. Mr Aconbury is a gentleman; you are a gentleman’s daughter.” She paused and then went on, “Perhaps you do not know what is my background. I am one of five sisters, all of us with the smallest of portions. My father had a comfortable estate, but it was entailed upon a distant cousin and no provision was made for us five girls. When Mr Darcy fell in love with me, it was considered by Lady Catherine among others that the inequality between us was far too great to allow my accepting him. And I did in fact reject him at first, although not so much on grounds of his wealth. There were other matters that caused us not to be at that time in the harmony that we are now. Only imagine, Lady Catherine said I must not marry Mr Darcy, that the shades of Pemberley would be polluted by such a marriage.”
Theodosia exclaimed, “She cannot ever have said such a thing! Not even Lady Catherine—”
“I assure you she did so, and do my face. My reply, when I had my temper under control, was that Mr Darcy was a gentleman and I was a gentleman’s daughter.”
Theodosia looked at Mrs Darcy with a new respect. She had supposed that Mrs Darcy had come from a family similar to Mr Darcy’s.
“And,” Elizabeth went on, “My sister Jane, the eldest of us, married Mr Bingley, who is also a man of more than comfortable means. His family had their objections, but they took no notice and they are as happy a couple as you could find the length and breadth of the country.”
She got up and laid a gentle hand on Theodosia shoulder. “Think it over; do not let this chance of happiness slip through your fingers. I like Justin. He is a most estimable man and with the right wife at his side, he will go far in the world. Whatever he chooses to do, it will be an interesting life, for he is that kind of a man. If you turn down this chance of marriage, you will severely disappoint a good, kind man who loves you. And you will, I suspect break your own heart, if it is not too fustian to say so. And for what? The life of a governess, shut up in the schoolroom with your charges and all those might-have-beens to torment you.
Mr Darcy Requests the Pleasure Page 26
