by Jennifer Joy
"Mr. Gordon to see you, ma'am," announced Pigeon.
Mother perked up in her chair, as did Kitty and Lydia. "Do see him in, Pigeon. And ask cook to add a little extra to the tea tray for our guest. We shall encourage him to stay as long as he wishes." She winked at Elizabeth, causing Charlotte to arch an eyebrow at her.
Elizabeth shook her head at her friend, but Charlotte looked toward the door in anticipation all the same. When Mr. Gordon walked in with his thick golden hair perfectly combed back, his straight teeth gleaming, and his tall, muscular figure filling out his coat and breeches in all the right places, she nodded her approval. Elizabeth felt her face color, which would do nothing to convince her friend— who was sure to notice the change in her complexion— that she harbored no amorous feelings toward Mr. Gordon.
Now that she thought about it, why did she feel nothing toward him? He was achingly handsome. He had a fortune which would ensure security and comfort to the woman he chose as his wife. His conversation was pleasant. He was diverting. Dullness cowered in a corner when he was present.
"You must be the best friend from Hertfordshire that I have heard so much about. I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Lucas. Any friend of Miss Elizabeth's is sure to be a friend of mine," he said upon introduction.
Mr. Gordon sat, Mother fussed over pouring him a cup of tea, and the door opened again.
The butler announced, "Mr. Darcy is here to see you, ma'am."
Mother clapped her hands together. "Another caller! How lovely!" Then, she must have remembered that the daughter of her nemesis sat on the settee across from her. "Not that this is an uncommon occurrence, mind you. Some days, we have so many callers, we have to turn some of them away." To Mr. Gordon, she added, "But never Mr. Gordon. He so agreeable, we would never pretend to be out and miss one of his calls." Without pausing for breath, she said to the butler, "See him in along with a fresh pot of tea."
Elizabeth held her breath. She felt Charlotte's eyes on her, but she could not look at her and keep her composure. So, she looked intently at the door and witnessed the surprise on Mr. Darcy's face at the crowded drawing room. The only seat available was a chair next to Mr. Gordon, which he took as soon as Mother insisted on it.
He paid his compliments to Charlotte and inquired about her family, all while appearing to plan his escape with his frequent glances at the door.
Darcy caught himself whistling as he walked down the path on the way to the Bennets' residence. He pressed his lips together to prevent himself from revealing too much emotion in a public place. He would not give the gossips a reason to make him their target or give them cause to scrutinize Elizabeth’s every move.
He skipped up the first step before slowing to a dignified pace. This was becoming increasingly more difficult when his heart felt lighter than it had in years. Purpose gave him comfort, and Mr. Gordon's declarations of love had given him insight where he had been blind. No, not blind. In denial was more like it.
He loved Elizabeth Bennet. He loved her independence. He admired her cultivated mind. Instead of becoming bitter at her simple circumstances, she made the most of them with a cheerful attitude. And when her circumstances had changed dramatically, Darcy was pleased to see how unaffected she had been. Fortune had not ruined her, though the temptations were great, he was certain. He saw the contrast between her and her youngest sisters and mother. She was different. He could no sooner compare her to them than compare himself to Wickham. He shivered at the thought.
Darcy was taken aback when the butler left him standing on the doorstep while he inquired if the residents were home and receiving callers. It was not often that he was made to wait. But he would wait for Elizabeth. He would find humor in the situation just as she would.
Soon enough, the butler returned to escort him into the drawing room. The scowl he had tried so intently to put on his face earlier now appeared of its own accord. His shoulders tensed and his breath came unsteady as he saw Gordon sitting on a settee opposite Elizabeth.
Darcy mumbled what he could, trusting his instincts to help him save face. He looked to the door, wishing he could send Gordon through it.
Chapter 20
There was no possible way Gordon could love Elizabeth more than Darcy did. Darcy had seen her at her worst, as she unfortunately had seen him. And yet, she welcomed him into her home. Darcy knew her habits, which she only altered slightly on arriving in town. Instead of walking alone through open fields, she usually walked at the park with Miss Bennet. Darcy had adjusted the venue of his morning ride, so he might have the opportunity to see her and ensure her safety. He doubted Gordon woke early enough to have noticed.
Determined to be sociable, he asked Miss Lucas, "How long do you plan to stay in town?"
"I hope to stay for the duration of the Season. My circumstances have improved since your visit to Hertfordshire, and I intend to make the most of them."
Elizabeth looked curiously at her friend. Darcy was curious as well, but he was too polite to ask.
Instead, he said, "I am happy for you and hope that your stay in town is everything you expect it to be."
Miss Lucas answered, "I suspect it will be, Mr. Darcy, and I thank you."
Mr. Gordon asked, "How long have you known Miss Elizabeth? I have heard nothing but good about you from your dear friend, and I will admit that it makes me quite envious."
Elizabeth colored and clasped her fingers together in her lap. Was she pleased at Gordon's comment? Darcy struggled to relax his countenance. He did not wish for his expression to reveal his feelings before he could ascertain if the lady returned them in the slightest degree.
Miss Lucas smiled at the compliment. "I do not remember a time when we were not the closest of friends. We share everything with each other." Her face straightened, and she looked between Gordon and himself. "Everything," she repeated in warning. That was how Darcy understood her. He had always thought well of Miss Lucas. She was a sensible, practical sort of lady, and she would see straight through the empty flirtations of Gordon. Darcy's opinion of her rose exponentially.
Gordon apparently did not understand the threat in her tone. He laughed jovially. "As all young ladies do, I suppose. I hope that you are not too shocked when Miss Elizabeth tells you about me. I will be the first to admit that my behavior has not always been what it ought, but I have changed in order to win the approval of your dear friend."
Darcy wished he would stop referring to Elizabeth as Miss Lucas' dear friend. He lingered over the word, suggesting that he already called her his 'dear Elizabeth' in his mind.
Miss Lucas lowered her chin and looked intently at Gordon. "We shall see about that, Mr. Gordon. I do not believe in judging prematurely, but I am always honest in my appraisals— especially where my friend is concerned."
Darcy tried not to smile, but his cheeks tightened despite his struggle. Miss Lucas could not grow more in his esteem.
Elizabeth said, "Charlotte is the perfect complement to me. Where I tend to judge too quickly, she sees reason. Where I speak impulsively, she encourages me to bite my tongue until I consider the effect my words might have on others." Her words soothed Darcy's heart. He knew they were meant for his benefit.
"I feel that I am at a disadvantage. My acquaintance is new, and I do not have the advantage of a previous friendship, as Darcy does," said Gordon.
Miss Lydia snorted into her tea. "Friends! That is rich!"
Elizabeth explained. "If that is your concern, Mr. Gordon, you need not worry. Mr. Darcy may be our friend now, but he made an unfortunate first impression which he has since redeemed fully. It is a pity that the villagers are unable to know him as he truly is."
Darcy was equally grateful and ashamed. "I am pleased to learn that those whose opinions are important to me have been willing to offer me a second chance."
Gordon leaned back in his chair, a roguish grin on his face. "The impeccable Mr. Darcy made a poor impression. Now I should have liked to have seen that. I had though
t you incapable of such a blunder."
It pained him to admit a mistake in front of Gordon, but he had never shrunk back from the consequences of his decisions before, and he was not about to begin to do so now. He would take responsibility for himself.
"I have yet to meet a man who does not make mistakes," he said.
Darcy drained the last of his tea, and Mrs. Bennet was quick to offer him more. He was tempted to accept, not willing to leave without Gordon. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Miss Lucas yawn behind her hand.
"No, thank you, Mrs. Bennet. Your guest must be tired after her journey, and I would not want to extend my visit at her expense."
Miss Elizabeth's eyes communicated a thank you, as did Miss Lucas'.
Gordon showed no signs of budging.
Miss Lucas said, "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Darcy. I had only arrived minutes before you did and am rather fatigued."
At that, Gordon sat up. "Forgive us, please, Miss Lucas. I did not know that you were so recently arrived, or I would have cut my visit short. By all means, you must rest so that you may join us in the many events awaiting us during the Season."
"Thank you, Mr. Gordon. It was a pleasure to meet you," replied Miss Lucas politely.
Darcy rose from his chair, thanked Mrs. Bennet for her hospitality, and bowed his farewells. Finally, he would get Gordon through the door.
They went outside, ready to part ways, when Gordon turned to him with a large grin.
"I did not realize you had a dog in this hunt, Darcy."
"You did not ask," he replied.
Gordon chuckled. "The battle is on! May the best man win."
"This is not one of your games, Gordon."
"Is it not? We both wish to win the young lady. Each of us will do our best to advance our suit, like players on a chess table. The only difference is that, in this game, the lady will choose the winner. And I will do everything to ensure that it is me."
"If you win her heart, what do you plan to do with it?"
Gordon stepped back. "Why, I would propose to her, of course!"
"And after that?"
Gordon colored. "That is hardly a gentlemanly topic of conversation, Darcy. I am surprised at you."
Shaking his head in frustration, Darcy said, "No, not that. What I want to know is if the game ends for you when she vows her love for you at the altar."
"Of course. I would have won." Clicking his tongue, he added, "Why would you ask such a daft question?"
"Exchanging vows is only the beginning. If you must compare it to a game, then know this: The real game you ought to seek to win will last the duration of your lifetime. You may win her heart, but can you keep it? What will you do to keep her everlasting devotion? If Miss Elizabeth gives you the most precious gift a woman can bestow upon a man, will you live every day of your life in honor of it?" He would. He would cherish her until his last breath. Until death did them part.
Gordon scrunched his eyebrows together. "I see that I will have to play smart. I did not realize that you are a romantic."
Darcy had not realized it either, but Elizabeth made him feel things he had never felt before. Emotions intensified until his heart ached with them.
"Good day, Darcy," said Gordon, departing in the opposite direction.
Darcy watched his opponent withdraw. He could no longer take him lightly. Blast Sophia and her meddlesome interference!
Charlotte was just as eager to abandon the drawing room as Elizabeth was. They had much to talk about, and the sooner they began, the better.
Elizabeth led Charlotte upstairs to the room next to hers. While it was not as amply furnished as the other rooms, it was still much nicer than her cramped room she had shared with Jane at Longbourn. Charlotte whistled as she traced her fingers along the large mahogany armoire in the corner by the door. Elizabeth went straight to the window, pulling the shiny, satin curtains aside to open it. The stiff winter breezes had given way to the softer breeze of spring, and the earth around them began to come to life. Already, the trees outside the window abounded in buds.
"Your home is much nicer than I had imagined," commented Charlotte. She wandered around the room, sat on her puffy canopy bed piled high with pillows, sighed in approval, then chose instead to join Elizabeth at the couch by the window. It offered a lovely view of the garden and was the reason Elizabeth had suggested that they use the room for guests. She knew Charlotte would come, and she would enjoy the garden just as much as Elizabeth did.
"It has been diverting here. This winter, we have been ice skating on the Thames, and the Season is so close, I can already taste the champagne." Elizabeth sat down next to Charlotte and tucked her feet under her legs. "Did you really get Sir William to agree to allow you to stay for the entire Season?" she asked.
Charlotte breathed deeply. "Father did not have much of a choice in the matter. I doubt your mother has told you, so I will." She paused.
Elizabeth waited until she thought she would burst. "What? What should Mother have told me?"
"I earned a tidy sum when Mrs. Bennet won the lottery. You see, she was short one pound to purchase a full share and… I lent it to her."
Elizabeth smacked Charlotte with a pillow. "Whatever for? Did you not think that if she had not won, you may never have seen your money again?"
"Oh, ye of little faith," laughed Charlotte, sending the pillow flying back at Elizabeth.
"No, not of little faith, but rather of realistic expectations," she said, hugging the pillow.
"I did not do it without considering the potential cost to me. I made her swear before the shopkeeper that she would pay me back in small installments over a reasonable period of time. However, I also made her promise that if she won, I would get ten percent of her winnings." She smiled victoriously.
Elizabeth's jaw dropped and she gasped in admiration. "You negotiated a deal with my mother and came out a winner? Good for you, Charlotte!"
Charlotte shrugged. "It was only a matter of simple mathematics. Without my money, she could not buy a full ticket. I gave her ten percent of the cost, so I felt that ten percent of the winnings was only fair." She laughed and leaned forward. "Never in a million years did I think Mrs. Bennet would win, Lizzy! But I am so happy she did! Having three thousand pounds of my own has offered me an amount of freedom I did not possess before. I invested it immediately, asking for advice from others more knowledgeable than me, and it has already turned a pretty profit."
"Oh, Charlotte, I am so happy for you! And I was so worried that Mr. Collins would make a bother of himself when he left Longbourn for Lucas Lodge. He did not impose on your hospitality too long, I hope."
Charlotte did not laugh, nor did she smile as largely as Elizabeth had expected.
"His inclinations leaned toward a proposal.”
Dumbfounded, Elizabeth sat in silence.
“However, when he found out that I had benefited from Mrs. Bennet's immoral profit— those were his words— he decided that the ladies in Hertfordshire were of questionable morality and decided to return to Kent." Charlotte sighed, her shoulders slumping. "It was too bad. I might have given him a favorable reply."
"What? You seek to shock me, or else you would not say something so ridiculous! Say it is not true, Charlotte."
"Yet the fact remains: I am single and of an age where my prospects slim every passing day. I am not beautiful, nor do I possess the sort of charm you do for attracting a string of suitors." She squeezed Elizabeth's hand gently. "No, Lizzy, the money has bought me some time, but I have come to London with the same goal you have. I must marry. I am not romantic like you and shall accept the first offer given— if I am fortunate enough to catch the eye of a gentleman. I cannot be choosy."
Elizabeth could not comprehend settling for anything less than love. A marriage of convenience without the heat of passion and the warm familiarity of the deepest friendship would be worse than dying alone.
"I do not understand you, Charlotte, but I will do my best t
o help you. Invitations have already been sent, and we have a busy month ahead of us. My circle of friends is social, and I have no doubt but that they will fill in even the smallest gap of time so that our Season will pass by in a whirl of activity."
"These friends you speak of… Is Mr. Gordon one of them?" Charlotte arched her eyebrow.
"Yes, he is.”
“And Mr. Darcy?”
“Strangely enough, Mr. Darcy has become a friend of mine as well.”
“Hmm. How about that? Dare I say, ‘I told you so?’”
Elizabeth smiled. “You were right to question my faith in Mr. Wickham's accusations against him. After spending some time in his company, I was able to discern his true character and can only feel ashamed at how I misjudged him so badly."
Charlotte angled her chin upward. "Really? What an interesting development. You must tell me how he managed to change your opinion when you would not hear any sense from me."
Elizabeth did. She started with their conversation in Sophia’s parlor and how he had returned her earring. She continued to when he introduced her to Georgiana and explained how he had set out to right his wrong against Jane by writing to Mr. Bingley while they skated on the icy Thames. She told of his heroic behavior when Lydia stuck her tongue on a tent pole and how he had endured the grating company of her mother and sisters on several occasions since. She spoke of his pleasant manners and the meaningful conversations they had.
Charlotte listened without interrupting.
"In conclusion, I would count Mr. Darcy as one of our dearest friends."
Plopping her chin on her hand, Charlotte said, "A most interesting development, indeed. When did it happen?”
“When did what happen?”
“When did you realize you had fallen in love with Mr. Darcy?”
Chapter 21
"Mother, is there anything you need at Bond Street? I am taking Charlotte to the dressmaker for a new gown," asked Elizabeth before she and Charlotte departed.
