He looked at her, drawing his brows together. “Whatever do you mean?”
“The first day we met, at the ball just after you arrived, when you came with the Bingleys, I overheard you insulting my family.”
Darcy’s face froze and he looked away from her. He didn’t look embarrassed or afraid. He pulled in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I am sorry that you overheard my words, my dear. But I am not sorry that I said them. I speak my mind, whether it is liked or disliked. It is the way I am.”
“I have noticed that.” She didn’t continue. The only thing she wanted to say was that she hoped he changed. But a man didn’t change to please a woman. He would only change if he felt it was necessary to do so.
“If it proves to be too difficult for you, you may want to reconsider this agreement we have.”
“I refuse to marry Mr. Collins,” Elizabeth replied.
“Do you think our charade is going to fool anyone? It is apparent by the way you look at me that you do not truly care for me.”
“I would dare say you do not care for me, either, Mr. Darcy.”
“It is something that I can easily get used to. You are an intelligent woman. I find you to be an excellent conversationalist when you desire to be. You are also stubborn, and will not back down from a debate if you feel it is necessary to have it. You have many admirable qualities.”
“And Jane does not?”
Darcy frowned. “I said nothing about your sister. I was speaking about you.”
“If you are willing to put yourself on the line as my suitor, why should Bingley not do the same for Jane? She is equally intelligent and charming. She is prettier than I am. She is a good woman, and would make a fine wife. I understand that your opinion of my sister would not change his mind, if he were to decide to marry Jane. What I do not understand is why you would want to deprive your friend of a good, loving woman to be his bride.”
“Again, you are making my statements into an attack on your sister. They are not. I know the Bingley family, and they will not accept her. I cannot encourage something when I know that, in the end, it will end up being devastating for both parties involved. If Bingley allows himself to fall in love with Jane, and they are unable to wed, he will be brokenhearted. That is what I do not want for my friend.”
“Jane would be equally brokenhearted, but I would not try to discourage her feelings for Bingley,” Elizabeth retorted. “It is unfair to think that we can see what will happen in the future. In our own or in the futures of the people we love.”
They had made a full circle around the park and were headed back to the carriage, still walking some distance behind Jane and Bingley.
“I do not try to know what the future will bring, nor would I try to change it for my friend,” Darcy said. “But in this instance, I do know that a union between Jane and Bingley will not be fruitful.”
“For whom? Mr. Bingley, because he would be marrying a poor girl? Or Jane, because she would be marrying a wealthy man?”
“It would not be fruitful for Jane. The family will not accept her, I am quite sure of it. Bingley does not care about the state of your father’s accounts. He does tend to live his life following his heart rather than his brain. Unfortunately, the heart is not as good at making decisions as the brain.” He looked down at her. “I find you to be the type who uses both.”
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. “Oh?”
“Yes.”
“I am not sure you know me well enough to make that judgment.”
He smiled, recognizing that she had just used his argument back on him. “And that is what started this whole conversation, was it not? You are an amazing woman, Elizabeth. I am glad to be getting to know you better.”
Feeling satisfied Elizabeth continued, giving Jane a wide smile when she and Darcy reached the carriage.
Chapter 12
It was several weeks after their ride that Jane was visiting Netherfield and fell ill. The Bingleys lovingly kept her there, isolated in a room where the bed was most comfortable and there was a lovely view from the window when the drapes were pulled.
Elizabeth was informed that her sister had taken ill, and immediately rushed to be by her side. Her anxiety at getting to Netherfield was two-fold. On one hand, she wanted to be by her sister’s side and nurse her back to health. On the other, Darcy’s warning words resonated in her ears.
She remembered noticing a haughty look on the face of Miss Bingley, one that closely rivaled her sister’s, Mrs. Hurst’s, on the first night she met him. That, matched with the harsh words of Mr. Darcy, had left her wondering about the true nature of the Bingley sisters. If they were any representation of the rest of the family, she would truly want Jane to be aware of it so that she wouldn’t be taken advantage of. She had no doubt that the Bingley sisters joined their friends in gossiping about Jane. Now she was wondering what it was they were saying.
Jane always spoke highly of them. They were anything but rude to Jane’s face, but Elizabeth didn’t trust them.
Before she left for Netherfield, Elizabeth had a thought that she should send a message to Darcy. They had been out together several times since then, and she had yet to get past her initial dislike of his pompous behavior. He was, at times, cold towards her when they were in the presence of others. When they were alone together, he was talkative. He did have redeeming qualities, as she had always thought. But there were many things about him she didn’t care for.
At the same time, she was becoming more intrigued with him day by day. She wanted to know more about him. His father had enjoyed a good reputation as a man who was respected and knowledgeable. Where had Darcy gotten such a sense of grandeur? It hadn’t been from the senior Mr. Darcy, that was certain.
She sent a message to him at Pemberley House, informing him where she would be in case he came calling. It may not have been needed, because he never came uninvited. Still, she felt a sense of obligation to inform him of her whereabouts, leaving immediately after dispatching the messenger.
Her arrival at Netherfield was unannounced, however, and she couldn’t have surprised the Bingley family more. She sensed that they didn’t find her presence necessary, but were cordial to her anyway. She asked to rinse her hands and dry her clothes, as the weather had been quite disagreeable on her way to Netherfield.
After cleaning and drying herself, Elizabeth headed up to the room where Jane lay. She opened the door slowly and peeked in. Her sister was on the bed with her eyes closed, tucked under a sheet and a light blanket. One of the drapes was pulled to the side, and the rain outside beat against the glass with a fierce power.
She took a step into the room and went to the window. She didn’t want to disturb her sister while she was sleeping, and would rather stand silently until Jane woke. She looked out at the darkening sky, blinking every time a raindrop would hit the window in front of her, which was frequently. She could see the trees swaying in the brutal wind. As she stared down at the pathway leading up to the house, she saw something she didn’t expect.
Darcy was riding up to Netherfield in the storm. His horse galloped down the path with its master leaning over its neck, clutching the hat to his head and holding on tightly. He looked as though he was urging the horse on even faster, bouncing slightly in the saddle. Elizabeth stared at him, entranced by the sense of power he presented. His coat tails flapped in the wind behind him as he rode. She couldn’t see him when he rounded the path to get to the front of the house. She imagined him leaping from his horse and bounding up the steps to the doors of Netherfield with great strength and grace.
She lowered her head, blinking, wondering how she of all people could be romanticizing this man who was playing a game with her. She knew he had no intention of actually marrying her. Should she be passing up a chance to have the security of a husband, home, and family?
She sighed, turning to see that Jane’s eyes were open and she was looking at her.
“It’s stormy out there,” Jane whispered, in
a voice Elizabeth could barely hear.
Elizabeth nodded. “Yes. It is.” She came back to the bed and sat on the edge, putting on hand on her sister’s shoulder. “You must rest, Jane. You are quite ill.”
Jane nodded. “I… I am aware.” She tried to crack a grin, but her pale face squeezed in pain and she closed her eyes again. Her breath was coming and going in a raspy wisp. Elizabeth was alarmed but smiled at Jane, trying not to let her concern show.
“I have come to care for you.”
“The Bingley sisters have been so nice to me, Lizzie. You did not need to come to my aid. But…” She managed to smile a little. “I am glad you are here. You must talk to me. Tell me how it is with you and Mr. Darcy. Is everything going well?”
“Yes, everything is just fine.”
“You will not have to marry Mr. Collins.”
“No. And you need not worry. You will not have to, either.”
Both of them giggled, Elizabeth with a bit more force.
“It is nice that we are being courted when such an unpleasant offer has come about,” Jane whispered. “I would not want Mr. Collins asking for my hand in marriage.”
“I feel we may not know the truth of it, though, in that regard.” Elizabeth continued to smile so that Jane would understand the sarcasm and humor behind her words. “There may have been a time when you were considered. After all, you are the most beautiful woman in all of Hertfordshire.”
Jane giggled again, causing her to cough almost uncontrollably. Elizabeth was unable to keep the look of worry from crossing her face. “I do not think so, Lizzie,” Jane managed to say eventually, her cough subsiding for a moment.
“Oh, Jane, you simply must get better and soon. I will do anything you need me to do to help you.”
“I am glad you are here, Lizzie. I would like a cup of tea. Will you get it for me?”
“You know I will.”
“Or at least get a maid to bring one up.”
“I will go find someone. You rest. I will be right back.”
Elizabeth stepped out of the room, only to be met by a large man in front of her, making her jump. It was Darcy. He had a look of great concern on his face.
“What is troubling Jane?” he asked immediately.
Elizabeth stared at him. “She is ill. Coughing, feverish. Her lungs are filled with fluid.”
Darcy shook his head. “If her lungs were filled with fluid, she would be dead. She may be sick but she is not dead… I hope.”
“No, Mr. Darcy, she is quite alive.”
“I am glad to hear it.”
“I am going to fetch her a cup of tea. Would you care to walk with me?”
“I would like that. We can talk.”
“Do we need to talk?”
Darcy was quiet for a moment. “I will tell a servant to get the tea. I want you to do something for me.”
Elizabeth felt like she could have been knocked over with a feather. He wanted her to do something for him? Filled with curiosity, she stood in one spot and stared at him as he moved to a different door down the hallway, opened it, and said something to the person inside. Shortly after, a maid came out of the room and went down the stairwell toward the kitchen.
Darcy came back to her and held out his hand. Slowly, she reached out and took it. She used her other one to hold up her dress as they went quickly and silently down the stairs. He put one finger against his lips to tell her to be quiet. She nodded.
He led her to a closed door just under the pivoting stairs and stopped. He tapped one ear and then pointed at the door. As strange as it was, Elizabeth understood what he was trying to tell her. She tilted her head and listened to the voices on the other side of the door.
She heard the voices of Miss Bingley, Mrs. Hurst, Mr. Hurst, and Charles Bingley. The women seemed to be interrogating Mr. Bingley in an extremely harsh way, condemning any relationship he might have with Jane to utter destruction. They had found her to be unworthy of their brother. They went so far as to mention that they wouldn’t personally tell Jane anything, and they would always put on a polite face because it was the proper thing to do, especially when the girl was so very ill.
“But make no mistake, Charles,” Miss Bingley said in a highly irritated voice. “We will not be happy if you choose to continue bonding with her. And when we are not happy, no one around us is happy.”
Chapter 13
Two days later, Elizabeth finally felt comfortable leaving her sister’s side. Although she was often filled with rage over what she had overheard, she also felt a sense of guilt for purposefully eavesdropping on the conversation. Because of the circumstance, she was forced to hide her disdain for them all and not let on that she had heard their true feelings of her, Jane, and the family.
Darcy had no trouble acting like his normal self. He enjoyed spending time with Charles Bingley, as they were quite good friends. Elizabeth joined him and the rest of the household in the parlor. She was determined to get some fresh air. She felt lucky that she hadn’t contracted the illness that had Jane sleeping most of the day and awake all night.
“Here she is,” Darcy said as she entered the parlor. He gestured to a chair near him. “Come and join the conversation, Elizabeth.”
She moved to the chair and sat in it gracefully, avoiding eye contact with the Bingley sisters. She focused instead on Darcy and Mr. Bingley. She was comforted by the fact that, while his sisters had been bad-mouthing Jane, Bingley had stood up for her. It sounded to Elizabeth like the same speech she had given her family about Darcy.
“I was hoping to take a walk in the garden, but did not want to go alone. Would you like to go for a walk, sir?”
Darcy nodded. “Yes, but let us rest a moment and talk. I have something fascinating to tell you all.”
Elizabeth’s heart sped up. What could he be talking about? She moved her eyes to Bingley and to his sisters, to see if their faces revealed if they knew what was happening. They seemed as curious as she.
“I have decided something, and I would like your opinion, good sir,” he started, gesturing toward Bingley, who nodded.
“What is it?”
“I am planning to build a gazebo in the garden of Pemberley House, and I need a good eye to find the right structure, the right architect to do the work for me.”
“That was your fascinating information?” Miss Bingley asked in a high-pitched voice. She shook her head, looking at her sister and Elizabeth while rolling her eyes. “I am not fascinated by such things.”
Darcy shook his head, leaning forward. “How can a woman not be fascinated by an open oval room that is placed outside, so that they can enjoy beautiful sunsets, sunrises, picnics, and frivolity? It is going to be a tribute… to Miss Bennet.” He held his hand up, using it to point to Elizabeth, who sat blinking and looking shocked.
Miss Bingley snorted in an unladylike way, and Mrs. Hurst choked on her laughter. They both quickly recovered their senses and looked pridefully at Darcy. “Well, I think that sounds lovely, Mr. Darcy,” Miss Bingley managed to say through a nearly closed mouth. Her lips were pursed, and she had the same haughty look on her face that Elizabeth remembered from the first time she met them at the ball. It appeared she had assessed them all correctly. Charles Bingley was a loveable man, and had a definite soft spot for Jane. The two sisters were extremely snobbish, and Mr. Hurst—it was like he wasn’t even present whether he was in the room or not.
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy,” she managed to squeak out. He grinned at her.
“You will enjoy it quite often, I’m sure. We will have picnics there, and spend our time mulling over the current state of affairs.”
To Elizabeth, it sounded like he was planning a future with her. If that was the case would he tell her of his true intentions, or leave her guessing until the end? She fully intended to ask him about it when they went on their walk. She had to bite her tongue not to say something to the Bingley sisters about their reaction to his announcement. They were usually very good at
hiding their disdain, but every now and then their true colors showed like a beacon from a lighthouse.
“It does sound quite lovely, Mr. Darcy, thank you.” Elizabeth made sure to respond as gracefully as possible. If these women didn’t approve of their brother being with Jane, it was unlikely they enjoyed seeing Mr. Darcy lavish attention on her. She smiled at Darcy and held out her hand.
“Shall we go on our walk?”
Darcy shook his head. “I must finish my cup of tea at least. Please, Miss Bennet, relax a moment. Have a cookie, and perhaps you would also like a cup of tea?” He lifted his cup from the side table and raised it in her direction. “It is quite good.”
“Yes, I suppose I would like a cup, if we are to be here for a bit longer.”
“When are you thinking of returning home?” Miss Bingley asked. “Surely your parents and sisters are missing you.”
“I am sure they are,” Elizabeth replied. “As much as they miss Jane and we miss them. But, of course, we cannot leave until Jane is ready, and she is still quite ill.”
“We can take care of her,” Miss Bingley said in an arrogant voice. “We have many servants who are well qualified. She is such a lovely girl. We would not want anything more to happen to her.”
“You are more than welcome to stay as long as need be, Miss Bennet,” Charles Bingley said, casting a direct look at his sister. “Our home is open to you as long as you feel the need to be here.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bingley,” Elizabeth said, giving him a warm smile.
“And, of course, I will stay with them,” Darcy smiled at her. “Good company is hard to come by at times.”
“Oh, you feel you provide good company, do you?” Elizabeth asked in a teasing voice. Darcy lifted his eyebrows, never losing the gleam in his eye.
“Quite.” He tipped his cup and took the last swallow of his drink. He set the cup down with purpose and looked at her. “Since you did not get yourself a cup of tea, would you like to go for a walk?”
A Convenient Darcy Marriage Page 6
