Courtship and Confusion

by Laura Maybrick

  “Well then, make haste. What are you waiting for, Darcy?” the colonel urged him on, sporting a somewhat comical expression as he glanced about himself.

  There was no need to point out that should their aunt come across them, that she would insist on them joining her in the parlour. It had only been due to the fact that she had received a call from a Lady Metcalf, that had made Darcy's escape possible. However seeing that the lady had not taken off her bonnet nor gloves, it was clear that she had no intentions of staying long. She clearly was on her way to somewhere else and had dropped by out of sheer convenience.

  “As it is, I am on my way already. Give me a minute and I shall be back down,” Darcy chuckled and made his way upstairs, taking two steps at a time.

  It took a moment for his valet to appear, but ten minutes later he was indeed ready to go out riding with his cousin and Darcy truly looked forward to it. Was there anything better than a nice ride in fairly fine spring weather when it was neither too hot or cold and in the company of a good friend who would not require any conversation? Probably not. Not when visiting his aunt at any rate.

  Stepping into the stables, Darcy found that their horses were already groomed and saddled. All the better.

  “Finally!” Colonel Fitzwilliam sighed, though the grin on his face told him clearly that he was far from being vexed. “That was the longest minute I have ever encountered.”

  “But as it is, I am here now and ready to go.”

  “All the better, seeing that our aunt's visitor has just now left again.”

  Mounting their respective horses, they urged them on until they were out of sight of the house. But had Darcy thought that he could just ride alongside his cousin in peace, he was soon to be proven wrong.

  “You know, it would do you good if you showed your admiration more clearly, Cousin,” Fitzwilliam started as soon as they had slowed down their beasts and were now calmly riding through the woods surrounding the estate.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “I think you heard me just fine.”

  “I did, but I did not catch your meaning.”

  “And I think you very well did, Darcy,” the Colonel replied with some amused exasperation. “Did you really think that it would escape us, that is Anne and myself, for I am pretty certain that our aunt as yet has no inkling about what is going on, that you almost continuously look at Miss Bennet?”

  To this Darcy did not quite know how to reply. But the colour rising to his cheeks certainly must be considered an answer. His cousin certainly took it as such.

  “Lady Catherine will not be pleased, but then again, it has long since been time to tell her that Anne and you have no intention of marrying one another and from what I have seen, I think Miss Bennet would suit you just fine, Cousin.”

  Again Darcy was lost for words. Had he made it really this obvious, that he had lost his heart to her? It would appear so. The thought was all the more unsettling as Darcy had no idea how to act and what to do about it. He had no friend who would get him to see reason as he had done with Bingley and by the looks of it, his cousin seemed to rather approve of his choice. Or more of the choice his heart had made. Then again, Fitzwilliam did not know her family, did know nothing of their improper behaviour and of Mrs Bennet's obviously mercenary designs.

  “Be as it may,” Darcy eventually replied, “but there are many objections you might not be aware of.”

  “Objections? Pray elaborate, Darcy. For I see no objections whatsoever. Miss Bennet is a pretty little thing, with a quick wit, impeccable manners and a kind disposition. What obejections could you possibly have?”

  “Her family connections for one,” Darcy thoughtfully replied.

  His cousin had summed up Elizabeth Bennet's merits quite thoroughly, despite using so few words for it, though he forgot that she was not only witty but also possessed a good sense of humour and was also very intelligent. However, thinking of it, wit most times did go together with both those traits, so perhaps the colonel had not forgotten about it in the end, just merely summed it up.

  “And what is so objectionable about her family? Seeing that she is a very fine young lady and without any pretence, I would say that they surely cannot outweigh all the positive aspects such a union would bring. If I may be so blunt, I would not mind kissing those sweet lips myself and...”

  “Don't you dare!” Darcy bristled up angrily. “Don't you dare go there!”

  And before his cousin could say another word, Darcy had sped up his horse and was dashing away as fast as he could. As if he had not thought about kissing those lips himself and on more than one occasion, not to speak of other physical aspects of a healthy relationship between husband and wife. But it was not only that, which attracted him to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. It was all of her. The knowledge that he could talk to her, banter, laugh, well yes, and love, emotionally as well as physically.

  Only when he was certain that he was out of Colonel Fitzwilliam's sight, did he slow down. Perhaps his cousin had a point. Her family might be wanting in many respects, but did that really matter? And yes, he had done little to show her his regard. As far as he was aware, not many women had ever been won over by admiring them from afar. He would have to do something about it and hope all would turn out well.

  And he would start right this evening, cost what it may, seeing that his aunt once again had invited that silly parson, his pitiable wife and their relatives.

  Chapter 4

  With something that could only be described as impatience, Darcy paced up and down in his room. After returning back to Rosings, he had thankfully managed to avoid crossing the path of his aunt and gone straight up to his own chamber and ordered a bath. It would not do if he smelled of horses, not for what he had in mind.

  Now he was already dressed and impatient for their guests to arrive. Or at least one of them. For Mr and Mrs Collins he cared little and neither did he look forward to meeting the timid Miss Lucas again. But to see Miss Elizabeth again, was an altogether different matter. And while he looked forward to seeing her, the prospect also filled him with some trepidation. His own tongue was his greatest enemy, as was his reserved disposition, but he would conquer both. He simply had to.

  Ah, there the little group appeared in his line of vision, walking along the long driveway towards the house. Mr Collins as always, was constantly talking, bowing and gesticulating, his wife was stoic and only nodding once in a while ad was her habit, while Maria Lucas was seemingly just as frightened as she always was. And as for Miss Elizabeth Bennet, well she appeared to be deep in thought. So much so that at one point she even stumbled slightly, reaching for her friend's arm to support herself. Hopefully nothing had happened that worried her!

  But by the time they all stepped into the parlour to wait for dinner being served, she had composed herself again and while there was perhaps the slightest of indications of something being on her mind that had nothing to do with her current surroundings, she otherwise appeared just as cheerful as she always did.

  Or almost, for his aunt, never very observant unless it suited her remarked quite testily as if she had been offended personally: “You seem quite dull this evening, Miss Bennet. Pray, what is the matter? Oh, but of course, all the rain this morning, must weigh on one. However, one should not let such things get to one. It is very unseemly. If every young lady would whine about the weather, our society would surely dissolve into chaos.”

  Well, if her Ladyship said so. But while under normal circumstances Elizabeth's eyes would have sparkled with amusement, today they were cast down instead and her answer was rather vague.

  “I assure you, Madam, I am perfectly fine. It is just that I have been very busy today and am a bit tired.”

  “Busy?” Mr Collins threw in, stupid as he was not realising that his cousin had merely tried to invent an excuse. “You have hardly done anything all day long but write a letter, which I saw you had not even finished and gone out for a short walk. What shall I say? I was out and a
bout all morning and part of the afternoon, visiting the sick and needy and then started writing my next sermon as a dutiful clergyman should do.”

  “Is that so? Then I have to say you have no reason to be tired, Miss Bennet.”

  “Well, with the ever-changing weather, one can easily be tired doing nothing,” Colonel Fitzwilliam came to the rescue.

  Damn the man, it should have been him, not his cousin to do so. But alas, now it was too late.

  “Very true,” Darcy seconded his cousin instead. “I have to say that I am quite tired myself.”

  “Nonsense, you look perfectly fine to me, nephew,” his aunt countered before turning to her parson: “Mr Collins, have I told you that Lady Metcalf called this afternoon? She has been on her way to visit her sister and was kind enough to drop by, just like that! You might remember that I have long since tried to find a place for one of my lady's maid's nieces and what shall I tell you? Lady Metcalf is in dire need of a chambermaid ever since her other one suffered an accident. Careless girl, that. So clumsy. Anyway, she is gone now and I, of course, took it upon myself to recommend Wilkins' niece to her. And you know, Lady Metcalf always heeds my advice. She knows full well that I would never recommend a tardy and dirty girl to her, much less someone who stumbles over her own two feet. For that is exactly what has happened to said maid. Stumbled and dropped the washbowl she was about to empty. Well, I guess it could have been worse, thinking of the chamber pots, but alas, the carpet is certainly ruined- And that she had to inconvenience her mistress so by breaking her foot! Lady Metcalf even had to call the apothecary to mend it. Staff ought to be more grateful to their masters, I always say so and am proved to be right time and time again.”

  If it were not for her need to catch breath eventually, Lady Catherine would certainly have gone on forever. Darcy blushed for his aunt, Fitzwilliam had raised his eyebrows and even Anne seemed to be taken aback while Mr Collins, other than his wife who sat stony-faced between both her friend ans sister, dutifully nodded.

  “But breaking one's foot can happen to anybody, really,” Elizabeth Bennet spoke up. “While it might be inconvenient, one can hardly blame her for injuring herself in an accident.”

  “I would not have assumed you would as yet understand, Miss Bennet, seeing that you are still so very young and, if I may point out as much, as yet without a household of your own. But clumsy staff is a burden in any house hold and with only a little attention, accidents can be prevented. It is nothing but carelessness.”

  “I quite disagree, Aunt,” Darcy finally joined the conversation, for once anticipating his cousin who had been just about to open his lips. “An accident can happen to even the most attentive of people. You might recall Aunt Margaret's footman, who, though being very attentive and careful stumbled over the Countess' own dog.”

  “Yes, and since that stupid creature jumped right between his feet from behind, you can hardly fault Dawson for it,” Fitzwilliam added seemingly remembering the incident just as well as Darcy, including all the ensuing hilarity that had followed.

  Their aunt was just about to reply, when finally the bell rang, telling them that dinner was served and that they could finally venture into the dining room. If only Elisabeth would not sit so very far from him. But there he was sitting to his aunt's right, opposite Colonel Fitzwilliam and with Anne on his other side, with hardly a chance of conversing with her.

  “I do recommend you try the venison ragout, Mrs Collins, my cook does an extraordinary job of it each and every time. And I dare say you will not find better food anywhere, least of all your own home, Lady Catherine started again.

  It was there and then, while his aunt carried on taking, that Darcy realised that he had been a bigot. One of his main reasons for separating his friend Bingley from Jane Bennet had been the impropriety of her mother and younger sisters, but if he was quite honest with himself, Lady Catherine de Bourgh was no better, perhaps even worse. At least Mrs Bennet had a kind streak in her, that the more he listened to her now, he realised his aunt lacked. While there was nothing wrong with being proud of one's station in life, it did not mean one had a right to belittle those less fortunate. But looking closely, that was exactly what his aunt did, time and time again. He was mightily ashamed of her.

  “Miss Bennet, do tell me, does your family keep a cook?”

  For once she actually awaited an answer.

  “Yes, we do.”

  “And can you cook?”

  “A little.”

  “Now, a young lady in your situation should know how to cook, for you are bound to have to once you get married. With your father's estate entailed away from the female line, you can hardly expect to make a good match, can you?”

  “I would say that depends on our definition of a good match, Madam, and a willingness to learn what we do not know already. One never knows so much as to not learn a new thing once in a while.”

  “Indeed? Well, but seeing that your education has been all but neglected, perhaps that is true in your case. I for my part know everything I ever wanted to know and there is no need for me to bother learning new things.”

  “I think, Aunt, what Miss Bennet meant is that we learn new things every day without meaning to. We pick up a book and read something we had not known before and it sticks with us. I quite agree, one never stops learning,” Darcy, interjected. “And Miss Bennet never claimed she did not know how to cook, she merely said she only knows a little and seeing that she gave the same answer when she was asked whether she could play the pianoforte and does so with excellence, I would say, that we can safely assume that she is being humble.”

  “Indeed, I am not. I am quite honestly rather...” Elizabeth attempted to reply but was interrupted.

  “Now, you have to admit, Darcy, that Miss Bennet needs to practice a lot more to be proficient in her play. She surely is nothing to Georgiana. And had Anne been able to learn I would have made certain that she would practice at leas an hour a day. There is little doubt that she would have become a true proficient.”

  “Yes, but as it is, Mother, I was not able to learn,” Anne remarked calmly. “So there is little point wondering what I might or might not have achieved.”

  Anne de Bourgh hardly ever opened her lips, not so much because she had nothing to say, but because it usually did not get her anywhere but when she did, once in a while, it was startling to say the least. Like in this very instance. And no-one but her would have been able to silence the lady of the house quite as thoroughly.

  “Miss Bennet, my I ask for you to play for us again after dinner?” Anne added softly.

  “It will be my pleasure.”

  For the remainder of dinner, the conversation stayed surprisingly mellow and was mainly upheld by Mr Collins who seemed unable to stay silent for any length of time and his wife. But at least, while his remarks were mainly nonsensical and silly, he apparently was a good-natured man without malice. Something Darcy had never realised before. Perhaps Mrs Collins was not such an unfortunate creature after all, if one ignored the fact that she had to put up with this kind of hogwash on a daily basis.

  And as it was, while his plan of conversing more with Miss Bennet and to show more of his feelings for her had spectacularly failed during dinner, at least afterwards as she indeed sat down at the pianoforte, Darcy could show her his appreciation by listening to her playing.

  Chapter 5

  Elizabeth was up early, so early that no-one else in the house, except for the maid, as yet stirred. But still unable to make any sense of Miss de Bourgh's meaning, there was nothing to do but clear her head and the best way of doing so, was by going out for a walk. The sun was barely up, and the grass was white with a light frost, but putting on her sturdiest boots and thick travelling pelisse it would be no bother.

  Well, last evening had, other than she had hoped, not been very enlightening either and by no means confirmed anything of what Anne de Bourgh had said. The Colonel had not paid her any particular attention, except perhaps on
ce, when he had tried to come to her aid regarding her, admittedly false, tiredness. Well, other than his cousin actually. Mr Darcy, though quiet and reserved as usual, seemed to have made some effort to be kind to her and his gaze while she had played, had been unsettling after a while, while the Colonel had merely stared into the fire and then wandered off altogether. At this point Elizabeth was almost certain that Miss de Bourgh had it all wrong. Yes, perhaps the Colonel was shy, but that he admired her, she dared doubt. There was nothing but gentlemanly politeness and thinking of it, that was all for the better. There would be no need to refuse him, not if he had apparently no intention to make her an offer.