The Impulse of the Moment

by Jann Rowland

  “Jane knows,” replied Miss Elizabeth. “But I have told no other and sworn her to secrecy.”

  A quick glance across the lawn revealed Bingley walking with Miss Bennet, and a moment’s study brought to Darcy’s mind for the first time that Miss Bennet was watching them carefully. Now that he thought on it, the young woman had always kept him in sight when he was with her sister. The reason was now clear.

  “So, your sister believes I am a rake.”

  Miss Elizabeth shook her head and glanced over at Miss Bennet. Though she was looking away, Darcy saw the smile on her face, which seemed to reassure Miss Bennet. She did not relax her vigilance, but it seemed she was a little easier, that Bingley commanded more of her attention after that.

  “Jane does not possess the capacity to think ill of others,” said Miss Elizabeth. “In her opinion, there must be some other explanation for your actions, some extenuating circumstances which precipitated them. You need not concern yourself for my sister’s opinion.”

  While Darcy wondered if Miss Elizabeth were not dismissing her sister too readily, there were other matters to consider at present. When she turned her eyes to him, Darcy could see her glares had been replaced by her usual smiles. Happy though he was at this development, for the first time Darcy truly understood what this woman had suffered due to his actions, and he was shamed by it.

  “It is a wonder you did not inform your father,” said he, not quite certain what to say. “You could have forced me into a marriage, and none would have gainsaid your right to do so.”

  That Miss Bennet rolled her eyes in response to his comment was not a surprise. “What would that have accomplished? At that time, I knew only that you were Mr. Bingley’s friend. Why should I wish for a husband I did not know, one whose character I suspected? Would I be happy in such a marriage?”

  Darcy smiled at the young woman. “Then you are a rare breed, Miss Elizabeth, though I already knew it. Most young ladies of any station would jump at a chance to connect themselves with my family, and I gave you the perfect opportunity to do so.”

  “Then most young ladies are fools,” said Miss Elizabeth, her tone leaving no room for argument. “All the riches in the world are not enough to make up for misery in marriage.”

  “That presupposes most young women do not wish for riches above all other things,” murmured Darcy.

  “Then we have established the fact that I am not most young ladies.”

  “And for that I am most grateful,” said Darcy. “Given all these things, I am astonished you agreed to allow me this chance, despite the pretty words I spoke to you the night of the last assembly.”

  Miss Elizabeth stopped and turned to face him. The light of humor was absent from her eyes, replaced by an entirely serious gravity. For a moment, Darcy stilled, wondering if his words had caused her to reconsider her permission.

  “Those few moments on the balcony gave me the insight I needed to see your character in a manner I had not previously had the opportunity to see. Your pretty words, as you call them, showed me you were not the man I had spent four years suspecting you were. If I have given you this chance, Mr. Darcy, you should understand it was entirely by your subsequent behavior it was granted.”

  “Then I am in your debt,” said Darcy, taking her hand and bowing over it carefully. “It is my vow that I shall never give you any other reason to doubt me.”

  “If that is so, then I have made the correct decision.”

  As their conversation had once again turned playful, Darcy felt easy in grinning at her, and saying: “Then your decision to go to London has not been made out of a desire to avoid me.”

  “I have already informed you of why I go to London.”

  They began walking, once again comfortable in each other’s company. As they walked, an idea formed in Darcy’s mind, and he spoke again, his tone light.

  “Do you think you shall be occupied at every moment of the day caring for your aunt and cousins?”

  “Without a doubt, sir,” said Miss Elizabeth in the same tone. “Doubtlessly I shall work my fingers to the bone, slaving for my relations, the only barrier between my aunt’s house and utter chaos.”

  Darcy laughed alongside this delightful creature, once again wondering at having gained even as much of her favor as he had. “Then you will not be at all averse to receiving a visitor while you are at your uncle’s home?”

  “A visitor?” asked Miss Elizabeth, turning an arched brow on him.

  “It would not be a problem for me to visit London for a few days.” Darcy grinned at her. “In fact, I believe there is some pressing business for which I must go to town.”

  “Then I believe I would be delighted to see you, sir,” replied Miss Elizabeth.

  “Excellent. I look forward to it.”

  Chapter XVI

  Elizabeth’s arrival in London the following morning saw the relief of those resident at Gracechurch Street. While Mr. Gardiner was absent at his offices, as Elizabeth might have expected, the house was in chaos, not having a clear direction. Not only was Mrs. Gardiner ill, but the housekeeper, who had been with the Gardiners for several years, was away tending to an ailing relation of her own. Thus, the children’s nurse was struggling, attempting to deal with the children and the rest of the house all at once, while the two maids were experiencing their own difficulties, attempting to help the nurse and see to the house at the same time. No one, Elizabeth suspected, was happier to see her than Miss Collingford, the nurse.

  “Your aunt is in her room, Miss Bennet,” said Miss Collingford upon Elizabeth’s arrival, for it was she who answered the door.

  “How is she?” asked Elizabeth, setting her bonnet and gloves to the side. “And how are the children?”

  “Mrs. Gardiner is not in any danger, I believe,” said she, “but she is feeling quite unwell. As for the children, I have checked on them a time or two, and so far they are being well-behaved in the nursery. But I have no doubt they will grow more difficult if I do not attend to them.”

  “Then that must be your task, Miss Collingford.” Elizabeth smiled at the harried young woman. “You have done as well as can be expected. Thank you for your assistance, but I shall deal with the house, so that you may attend to your duties.”

  With a grateful smile, the nurse curtseyed and fairly ran from the room. The Gardiner children were active and, at times, mischievous, though well behaved—but at that moment, occupying herself with only the youngsters and not worrying about the house must have been a relief for the young woman.

  Though Elizabeth wished to visit her aunt and judge her condition for herself, she knew she must take some time to set everything in order. As such, she visited the cook to finalize the menu for the rest of the week, along with any other items the woman wished to mention. They she spoke with the two manservants and the two upstairs maids. It was only once these tasks were concluded that she took herself to her aunt’s bedroom.

  “Lizzy!” cried Mrs. Gardiner. Or she attempted to exclaim it, for it came out as little more than a croak. The countenance of her dearest aunt shone with perspiration, though the room was not hot, a clear indication she was beset by a fever.

  “Oh, Aunt!” exclaimed Elizabeth as she rushed to the bed. “What has happened to you? It has not been that long, and yet you are not the woman I remember from only a few weeks ago.”

  Mrs. Gardiner smiled in spite of her distress, her voice gravelly when she spoke. “An ague I picked up from somewhere. It is fortunate that neither my children nor my husband have succumbed to it yet.”

  “Fortunate, indeed,” said Elizabeth. “Has the physician come to examine you?”

  The snort with which her aunt responded sounded even more guttural due to her condition. “Useless fop,” said she. “These gentlemen physicians who will not examine a patient are a useless lot, in my opinion! Mr. Gardiner sent for a surgeon of his acquaintance, and the man was much more thorough. I shall be right as rain in a
few days, but until then, he prescribed bed rest.”

  “Then that is what you shall receive,” promised Elizabeth. “I shall manage the house until you are well. There is no need to worry.”

  “You are a treasure, Lizzy,” said Mrs. Gardiner with evident affection. “Then when I begin to recover, we must sit and visit. There have been some intriguing comments in my letters from your family of late, made all the more interesting as you have been derelict yourself in writing.”

  Her aunt’s keen eye, not diminished in any way by her illness, well understood Elizabeth’s flush. There was nothing to do but agree. Then, with Elizabeth’s encouragement, her aunt lay back against her pillow, and soon her eyes began to droop closed. It seemed the poor woman had kept herself awake by force of will and worry alone. Elizabeth meant to remove that burden from her shoulders.

  As was to be expected with the house in a state of disorder—though Elizabeth knew it was his custom regardless—Mr. Gardiner appeared for luncheon. The relief he expressed upon arriving to see it much calmed was expressed in his profuse thanks for Elizabeth’s quick arrival. Elizabeth, of course, did not think his gratitude was warranted, and professed herself pleased to assist. There was one matter which she knew must be brought to his attention, and while she did not doubt it would be a matter which would provoke his teasing, she did not shirk from raising it.

  “I have reason to believe, Uncle, that I will have a visitor while I am staying with you.”

  Surprise and curiosity warred for supremacy on her uncle’s countenance and he rested his fork, which had been poised near his mouth, on the side of his plate. “A visitor, you say. Tell me, Niece—is this a matter of conjecture, or do you have sure knowledge that some as yet unnamed person will invade my home?”

  “Uncle!” exclaimed Elizabeth, laughing at his choice of words. “I do not expect the entirety of the French Army to descend upon your sitting-room!”

  “Perhaps not, my dear,” said Mr. Gardiner. “But my question remains the same.”

  “I know he will visit, Uncle. He said he would be in London this week and promised to call on me.”

  “O ho! Now it is a ‘he,’ is it? Might I know the name of this mystery gentleman?”

  By this time Elizabeth was becoming a little flustered at her uncle’s teasing, though she could not quite determine why that should be so. Thus, when she replied, it was by blurting the gentleman’s name, rather than calmly stating it.

  “Mr. Darcy!”

  The fork Mr. Gardiner had taken up again clattered to his plate, and he looked on her with astonishment. “Mr. Darcy?”

  “Yes, Uncle,” said Elizabeth, drawing in her control and holding to it most firmly. “Mr. Darcy has been staying in Hertfordshire these past weeks visiting the Bingleys.”

  “He has, has he?” Mr. Gardiner’s eyes narrowed. “As I recall, there are currently two Mr. Darcys of which I have knowledge. Both are gentlemen of some standing in society who live at a beautiful estate we saw during our summer tour. Might I ask, Niece, if the gentleman you have promised will soon visit my sitting-room is the younger of these two gentlemen?”

  “Of course, you are welcome to ask any questions you like,” said Elizabeth, regaining her humor and ability to tease.

  Mr. Gardiner’s eyes narrowed, prompting Elizabeth’s laughter. She held up a hand in surrender and said: “Very well, Uncle. Yes, the Mr. Darcy who will visit is the younger gentleman—the man, I might add, you met when we visited Pemberley.”

  “Well,” said Mr. Gardiner, slumping back in his chair. “This is surely a surprise. Then after all the trouble we have had to get to this point, I also wish to know if he is visiting you with a specific purpose in mind.” Elizabeth tried to answer, but her uncle held up his hand. “A gentleman of his position does not visit a woman in this part of town due to mere courtesy. I wish to understand his intentions.”

  “The gentleman’s intentions are the usual ones, Uncle. But I must stress that Mr. Darcy has made no promises, asked nothing of me. Before you think to tease me concerning my conquest, as my mother might have put it, Mr. Darcy is not paying court to me.”

  “Perhaps he is not, Lizzy. But as I said, if he deigns to visit this part of town, his attentions are not of a trivial nature.”

  “That is correct, sir,” whispered Elizabeth.

  “Does your father know?”

  Elizabeth squirmed a little in her seat and attempted an evasive answer. “Papa has eyes enough to see and wit to understand. There is little doubt he sees what has been happening.”

  “In other words, Mr. Bennet has no notion that Mr. Darcy is to follow you to town in order to avoid being separated from you.” Elizabeth tried to deny it, but Mr. Gardiner only smiled and shook his head. “No, Lizzy. You may protest, but that describes the situation perfectly. There is little doubt your father knows something, but I doubt Mr. Darcy has made his intention to come to town known to him, though when he learns of it, he will understand why.

  “It is fortunate, then, that we have heard a little of Mr. Darcy’s actions, though the identity of the gentleman was never vouchsafed to us.” Mr. Gardiner paused and looked kindly at her. “I suppose the purpose for this conversation is to inquire after my permission.”

  “Of course,” said Elizabeth.

  “Then you have it, though I should like to speak to the gentleman myself.”

  “I believe that may be arranged,” replied Elizabeth.

  “Good. Then I shall try to arrange it so that I am present when Mr. Darcy comes, though that may be difficult. If I am not home, you may accept him, as long as one of the maids is present as a chaperon. But I would also appreciate your sending Tommy to the warehouse to fetch me—I shall come if I am able.”

  “I shall, Uncle.”

  “Excellent!” Mr. Gardiner retrieved his fork and began to eat again. “Then let us not allow this excellent food to go to waste.”

  “You are returning to London?”

  Bingley’s voice suggested disbelief, enough to prompt Darcy to laughter. These past days had found Darcy in more of a mood for such merriment, a sentiment he had not really felt in the course of his life. Miss Elizabeth, it seemed, had that effect on him, though from what he had seen of her, the phenomenon was not limited to Darcy himself.

  “It is only for a few days, Bingley,” replied Darcy. “There are a few matters of business I must look into while I am there. I shall return in no more than a week.”

  Privately Darcy hoped that the week was enough time for Mrs. Gardiner to recover, for he would be forced to keep his word and return, even if Miss Elizabeth was still required to stay in London. Then again, that may be better, for if he returned together with Miss Elizabeth, it would set tongues wagging in Meryton. Darcy had little concern if he was linked to Miss Elizabeth, a matter which still seemed to have escaped the neighborhood’s attention. But he was unsure of her feelings and did not wish her to feel pressured by open gossip.

  “I had hoped you would stay for at least two months, my friend,” said Bingley.

  “Oh, nonsense, Charles!” exclaimed Mrs. Bingley. “Of course, Mr. Darcy must attend to his business. We would not wish to stand in his way of his duties.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Bingley,” said Darcy, bowing to his host and hostess, who were sitting nearby. “At this time, I would like to thank you for your hospitality. After my business is complete, I shall, of course, return.”

  “It is no trouble at all, Mr. Darcy,” said Mrs. Bingley. “I expect your business will be completed quickly, and you will be brought to us again. Come again at any time, and we shall be happy to have you back.”

  The knowing grin with which the woman was regarding him suggested Mrs. Bingley knew exactly what business was taking him away from them. As the woman did not seem inclined to speak any more on the subject, Darcy allowed it to rest. For Bingley’s part, Darcy was certain his friend had not yet made the connection between Miss Elizabeth going to Lon
don and his own announcement, though it quite escaped Darcy’s understanding how his friend could remain ignorant.

  “Very well,” said Bingley, though he clearly was still not pleased. “Would you like me to travel with you? If so, I should be happy to oblige you.”

  As it turned out, Bingley’s presence was not required, nor wanted, and Darcy was quick to reply. “That is not necessary, Bingley. I dare say you would be much happier here with your friends.”

  “Very well, then,” said Bingley, Darcy thought with some relief. Darcy thought he understood—his attentions to Miss Bennet were growing more pronounced, and as such, London was the last place Bingley wished to be at present.

  The next morning—the day after Miss Elizabeth departed for London herself—the Darcy carriage departed from Netherfield. It was an easy journey, no more than four hours. As Darcy was in good humor, the necessity of fitting his long legs into a small vehicle did not bother him as it usually would. There was little doubt many of his friends would have teased him had they known in what direction his thoughts tended, but as it was, he passed the time in pleasant contemplation of the woman in whose company he would soon find himself.

  The days after Elizabeth’s departure were happy ones for Jane, though she felt the irony of being made happy by her sister’s absence. The only matter which was not to her satisfaction was that Mr. Bingley was also absent. But assuming his reason for not attending her was due to some matters of the estate, she found that she could endure his absence. Regardless, Mr. Darcy was in Hertfordshire and Lizzy was in London, and that was a reason to celebrate.

  Life was idyllic in those days. The weather remained fine though the calendar showed the approach of the end of September. Many were the times when Jane thought of her sister, thinking that she would love the weather here, frequenting her favorite paths on a daily basis. For Jane’s part, she was not nearly the walker her sister was. Jane was happy to stay in the back gardens, to tend to the roses and walk the paths she had known all her life.