One of those ladies had piqued his interest. It was the only problem he had with a masquerade ball. He enjoyed not being recognized, but did not enjoy not knowing who he wanted to have further contact with. He had looked for her at the end of the masquerade, in hopes to catch a glimpse of her without her mask, however, he had not seen her. He wondered, would he be able to recognize her voice if he heard it again?
He shook his head again, pulling off his shoes and socks. He undressed and put on the warm pajamas his valet handed to him, though the night was fairly warm. He contemplated whether he wanted to start a fire to keep the room warm while he slept.
“Shall I light the fire, sir?”
Darcy looked to his valet and nodded. “Yes, that would be pleasant. Thank you.”
He decided he did want to sit by a fire before going to sleep. It was the early hours of the morning, but he was still wide awake and restless. He had only left the parlor because he did not know how long he would have to put up with Bingley and his sister arguing about frivolous, unimportant matters.
“Will there be anything else, sir?”
“No, thank you, you may retire,” Darcy replied. He closed his eyes and sat back on the settee in front of the fire. He enjoyed the feeling of warmth as it passed over him from the flames.
“Ah, beautiful woman. How I wish I could have seen your face,” he murmured quietly. He could see her eyes in his memory. He would not forget those eyes. Surely the next time he saw them, he would recognize them. The mask hid her features well, but nothing could deter him from those eyes. She was an excellent dancer. Her gown fit her figure beautifully. Surely he would recognize her again without having seen her face.
He sighed. He hoped so. He could not remember the last time he was interested in a woman. Other things always seemed to get in the way. Perhaps it was time to change that. He could give her all she needed and wanted. Unless she already had it herself. Then, they would share. They would share everything. Their home, their interests, their life.
He cleared his throat and sat forward, chiding himself silently. He was already planning a future with this woman and he did not even know whom she was. “You have gone insane, my friend,” he said to himself. For all he knew, she already had her heart set on another man. And Darcy was not the type to fight for a woman. Either she loved him or she did not.
He chuckled. “Love.” How could he even be thinking such a thing? He had not loved a woman since his mother and she was long passed. “I wish you were here now, Mother,” he said softly, gazing into the flickering fire with melancholy eyes. “I could use your advice.”
Darcy had neither his father, who had passed away five years previous, nor his mother, who had died when he was a young boy. His father had given him a great deal of advice – mostly about estate matters – and Darcy was sure he would know what to do in this situation. How would he find this woman? Would he scour the entire countryside to find her? Was he that interested?
He looked over at the welcoming bed and suddenly felt exhausted. His second wind gone, he stood up, closed the screen in front of the fire so that sparks would not fly out and burn the house down. The heat came through the screen easily.
He slid into the bed and covered himself with the sheet and quilt. Before the night was over, he would have pushed the quilt away, as he always did. But to get to sleep, he used both. He rested his head back on the pillow and was asleep within seconds.
Chapter 7
Elizabeth waited in her room for Jane to come and sit with her. She was anxious to talk to her but was still debating whether to mention the monkey pin. It seemed too much of a coincidence. And if the man with the monkey pin was meant for her, why had she not had the dream instead of her sister?
“Would you have taken it as seriously if you had?” She knew Jane would ask that question. She pondered it. She might have. But she did not have the dream. Maybe the man was meant for Lydia instead.
The thought gave her an instant feeling of jealousy, which she hated. She always curbed her negative feelings so that she would be happier. She did not want to bring anyone else down so the best thing she could do was keep it inside. When she felt left out, she found something to do. When she felt sad, she talked to Jane. But anger and jealousy she kept to herself. There was no need to cause trouble for people who could not or would not do anything about it.
The dream was meant for her, she was sure of it.
The door opened and Jane came in, already dressed in her robe and slippers. She looked surprised to see Elizabeth still dressed. “Do you need help with your gown, Lizzie?” she asked.
Elizabeth smiled at her. “I have been able to dress and undress myself for years, Jane, but if you want to help me, it’s always appreciated.”
Jane talked while she helped Elizabeth into her nightgown. “That was the most fun I’ve had in some time. Did you enjoy it?”
“Oh yes,” Elizabeth replied. “I did.”
Jane sighed. “The men danced very well. I was glad I could not see with whom I was dancing. It makes it more difficult for me.”
“Because you know them?”
“Yes. I have…my particular thoughts about the men who are frequently attend these events. When everyone is wearing a mask, there are no pretenses, no expectations of anything. I do not have to worry about an unsuitable gentleman or someone I am not the least interested in asking me to dance. You know mother always pressures us. There was one gentleman I very much enjoyed dancing with.”
“Do you not wish to know who he was?”
Jane shrugged, picking up a brush and running it through Elizabeth’s hair. “I suppose I do. But I am not going to try to find him. I would not even know where to begin.”
Elizabeth wondered if Jane was talking about the same man. “What kind of mask was he wearing?”
“It was quite bright and multi-colored. It had jewels all around the edges.” Jane gestured with her fingers to shape the mask he had been wearing. She grinned and nudged her sister with her elbow. It was not the gentleman in the black and white mask. I could tell you liked him.”
Elizabeth giggled, turning a delicate shade of pink. “How could you possibly tell such a thing when I was wearing a mask? I could have been scowling terribly behind that mask.”
Jane laughed. “The mask only covered your eyes and cheeks, Lizzie. And you were smiling. I am willing to bet he is going to try to find you.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “Again, I do not know how you’ve come to this conclusion.”
“He was smiling just as brightly as you were, my dear. And what a handsome lower jaw he had! So set and firm. Did you see that tiny little dimple in the middle of his chin? That’s a sign of sophistication, you know. It means he is a well-bred gentleman.”
“I must say I cannot be certain that less-than refined gentleman might also have the dimple in the chin. But yes, I did notice.” The thought of it sent a pleasant chill down Elizabeth’s spine.
“And his lips…” Jane said breathlessly. “So full and such a dark color of red. They are definitely the type of lips I hope to kiss someday.” Jane giggled. “But I’ll not pursue your man. The man I would like to reunite with has a specific gait in his step that I am sure not to miss the next time I see it.”
“A certain gait?”
“Yes, it would appear he has injured one of his ankles and it is still quite sensitive. I shall go on visits to town and when I spot the man, I will know it’s him.”
“What if he heals overnight?” Elizabeth teased. “Surely you will not be able to tell then.”
“No, perhaps not that way. But I will know. I will know him when I see him.”
“Would it not be tragic if either of the men we are talking about was our enemy, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy?”
Jane laughed at that. “Our family’s sworn enemy,” she giggled. She lifted her hands, menacingly. “We must beware or he will creep up in the middle of the night and sweep one of us off our feet, dancing off into the moonlight
just to add fuel to a feud that has no purpose anymore.”
Elizabeth joined her in laughter. “Yes, that would be quite tragic. What would Mother and Papa think of us? Would they disown us? I think they might. We will be thrown out into the streets to live out our days as paupers.”
Jane shook her head. “Not both of us. Only one. And if the man I danced with last night was Mr. Darcy, I would not bother with him from that moment on. I do not like to start controversy.”
Elizabeth sniffed. “I would. If the man I am thinking of was that Mr. Darcy, I would say ‘Begone, family feud. I am heading in my own direction.’”
“That is very daring of you.” Jane finished braiding Elizabeth hair and sat on the chair directly next to the bed to look Elizabeth in the eye. “You have always been much more fearless than I, Lizzie. Sometimes I wish I could be like you.”
Elizabeth smiled and threw her arms around her sister’s shoulders. “No, my dear, because then I would be deprived of my wise and practical eldest sister. I need your advice. How would I get good advice if I was speaking to someone just like me?”
Jane gazed at her sister with an amused look on her face. “Sometimes you say the most confusing things, Lizzie.”
Elizabeth shrugged. “What is confusing you, Jane? I need you to be you. I would be lost if you were not with me. My dear sweet eldest sister.” Before releasing Jane from the hug, Elizabeth kissed her sister’s cheek. Jane returned the kiss and they pulled away from each other.
“I believe nearly all the men at the ball tonight were quite elegant. They were dressed in the finest of costumes and dominos. Very handsome, even though I could not see their faces.”
“Yes, I greatly enjoyed dancing with them.” Elizabeth’s mind went back to the pin. Should she reveal it to Jane? Would Jane think she had lost her mind? “Jane,” she said quietly, deciding to tell her sister. “I want to tell you something, but you must promise not to judge me or think that I have lost my mind.”
Jane lifted her eyebrows. “Oh my, this must be some secret.”
“It’s not a secret. It’s just… I am just thinking about…you see…”
“Cat got your tongue? Come now, Lizzie, just tell me.”
“Do you remember this morning when Lydia told us about her dream? She said how strange it was and that there was a monkey with a top hat doing a dance?”
“I recall that, yes.”
“She said that perhaps the man would be at the ball would be dressed like a highwayman and he had a monkey with a top hat dancing around him.”
“Something like that, I suppose. I do not really remember what she said. You know that Lydia is often taken to flights of fancy and I have learned to let them go in one ear and out the other.” Jane’s soft voice soothed Elizabeth.
“The man I danced with tonight. He wore a black and white mask. Some might say those are the color of a highwayman. I have seen many masks like that worn by nefarious scoundrels yet his was jeweled and looked much more elegant.”
“You believe Lydia was foretelling the arrival of the man who would appear to be a highwayman?” Jane looked skeptical, but only slightly. She lifted her eyes, thinking about it. “And what of the dancing monkey?”
“The man I was dancing with tonight had a gold pin on the collar of his domino, just under the flap there. It was a monkey wearing a top hat.”
Jane stared at Elizabeth in shock. “You must be fibbing. I cannot believe the coincidence.”
“But is it a coincidence, Jane? Should I be looking at this as perhaps something more than a coincidence?”
“Why would Lydia have a dream with signs for you instead of for herself?”
“I am sure I do not know, Jane,” Elizabeth huffed a bit, feeling Jane was not taking it as seriously as she was.
Jane noticed and rested one hand on her sister’s. “Now, now, Lizzie. Stay calm. I am only trying to look at it from a logical point of view. If you go to find this man and it turns out to be something tragic for you, you will be very hurt. And it will all be because you felt it was predestined. Nothing is predestined, Lizzie. Things are always changing in this world.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Yes, I know.”
The two sisters were quiet for a moment before Jane said, “You think about it for a while, Lizzie. If it’s something the Lord has planned for you, it will happen, no matter what decision you make.”
They hugged again and Jane left for the night, blowing a kiss to her sister.
Chapter 8
Darcy stepped out of Netherfield, plopping the hat upon his head and taking the reins of his horse from the groom. He nodded at the older man, with whom he was well-acquainted. He had had the opportunity to speak with the groom at length about horses on a particularly dull day. It had brightened his mood and he would not forget it.
“You are doing well, I take it?” Darcy asked.
“Yes, sir. Thank you.”
“Do you know what the weather will be like today?”
“No, sir. I suppose it may rain. It rains too often, in my opinion. God wanting us to learn to swim, I suppose?”
“My aunt once told me it was the tears of God as He wept at the state of the world today.”
“I have never heard such a thing, sir.”
“Do excuse me.” Darcy nodded once more and pulled himself up into the saddle. “I must be off.”
The groom lifted a hand and Darcy tipped his hat. He urged the horse to take the dirt path that would lead to the road to take him to Meryton. He had heard there was a regiment staying in town. He dared to wonder if Wickham would be among those holed up in the village, awaiting their next call to action.
He hoped not. But on the other hand, he also was looking forward to the day when he would be able to confront the young man about his bad business dealings and the wasteful use of monies he had been given in good faith.
He had once been fond of the George Wickham, an officer in the army, but the younger man’s wasteful ways made him abandon all hope years ago. If he came to hear that Wickham was swindling anyone in Hertfordshire or the surrounding areas, he would see to it that it came to an end.
He rode slowly, enjoying the landscape around him. The sky was dusky now, as if the morning clouds had slept in and were just now arriving. A damp breeze blew over his face. That meant it would definitely rain at some point that day. But he did not expect it to arrive for at least a few hours. By that time, he would be in a tavern somewhere or visiting a friend. He lifted his chin and breathed in the damp air. It smelled like rain, too.
He smiled and urged his horse to move a little faster. Perhaps it would rain sooner than he thought.
He managed to reach the hotel in Meryton just as the downpour began. He hopped inside and went through the side door to the small café. A cup of tea sounded like just the thing to please his palate right then. It would warm up his chilly hands and insides.
As he went through the door of the café and looked around for a table to sit at, he could not help resting his eyes on every female in the room, wondering if she was the one he had danced with. If he spotted a lady with a similar physique, he would imagine what it would be like to go over to her and introduce himself. Would she be the one? Would he recognize her voice or would she his?
He approached no one, spotted a little round table in the corner near the front open window of the café and crossed the room in long-legged strides. Just as he sat in the iron chair, a woman sat opposite of him. He immediately stood back up. “Do forgive me,” he said hurriedly. “I did not see you there.”
The woman shook her head and gestured for him to sit down. “No, sir. You may take this table. It is I who sat down after you.”
Before he could object, she had turned and walked away. He stared after her for a moment. He could not help thinking that it was moments like those that made him wonder if he had crossed paths with the woman he sought?
He shook his head to clear it and gestured to girl serving the drinks. He told her what he wa
nted and she hurried away to retrieve it.
After a few moments sitting at the table, Darcy began to feel uncomfortable. The iron chair was a bit too small for his long frame. He was not a large man, but he had height on his side and he was as strong as an ox. He was not afraid to use his strength when needed. The table was short and did not allow him room for his long legs. They were stretched out under the table. He did not like the way it made him look. He turned so that his legs were outside the table and he set one arm up on it, looking out at the passersby.
He had two tasks. To find the woman he had danced with and to see if George Wickham had come to town with the infantry. He wondered what he would do if he saw either of them. If he saw her, and he was absolutely positive it was she, he knew he was going to speak to her. The kind of connection he had felt with her was stronger than anything he had ever felt. He had to know who she was. He had not yet settled on a feasible plan how to make that happen, so he had to keep thinking until he came up with something.
The second task, to see if Wickham was in town, brought a very different set of feelings into his soul. His mind turned darker and he pursed his lips in disgust. It was because of Wickham that a feud between his family and the Bennet family had not dissolved immediately, but had continued on to this day. The Wickhams had proven to be double-dealers as George Wickham’s great uncle had swindled money from relatives of the Bennet family, therefore creating the justified distrust the Bennets and their extended family had for the Darcy clan. George Wickham was nearly as bad as his ancestor.
The worst thing about it was that Michael Wickham had not even been a member of the Darcy family. He had been a wayward boy who needed direction and his great grandfather had taken pity on him. When his great grandfather Darcy passed on, Michael Wickham continued to use the family as if it was his own, even convincing Darcy’s grandfather to advance him money on a regular basis. Michael Wickham had always had some kind of plan and needed something to get it started. Then as time went on, his grandfather began to realize Michael Wickham had not been using the money properly. He was not investing and working to make more money. He was living off what he was given and then asking for more. Unfortunately, Darcy had not known all of this upon meeting George, and had fallen for the same machinations his grandfather had. He’d befriended George and then promptly allowed him to take advantage of that friendship, until he too came to realize what kind of ne’er-do-well George was and he finally put a stop to it.
Elizabeth and Darcy: A Romeo and Juliet Twist: A Pride & Prejudice Regency Variation Page 4
