Master Under Good Regulation

by Kara Louise

  “Yes, several weeks.” Only the faintest trace of a wry smile belied any amusement on Miss Elizabeth’s countenance at the repeated question. His obvious uneasiness had the unfortunate effect of only increasing hers. Her eyes darted about as if to find some pathway to extricate herself. Would they ever pass this point of awkwardness to find some sort of understanding?

  I looked from one to another, my tail wagging uncontrollably. Despite their uneasiness, I had high hopes that Miss Elizabeth’s disdain for my master had diminished and that he might have the opportunity to win her esteem and approbation.

  “And are you to remain long in Derbyshire?”

  “I believe but a few more days.”

  This was disheartening to me, knowing she would not be here much longer. This meant my master must further the conversation to deeper and more meaningful subjects -- and very quickly! I was pondering this while my master lingered silently for a few more moments, seemingly at a loss for any further subject to introduce. He seemed to look down at himself and I noticed a brief look of concern darken his features. Then to my dismay, he abruptly excused himself with a quick bow and strode off towards the house at a brisk pace.

  How could he leave her so suddenly with nothing spoken between them but a few niceties? How many times has he wished to walk the grounds of Pemberley with Miss Elizabeth on his arm? Here was his chance! Ought I not receive more reward for my efforts in bringing them together than this? I wondered whether I would every fully understand this man.

  I was torn whether to follow him or remain with Miss Elizabeth. I looked from one to the other, fighting every impulse to run after my master and bring him down -- as a hound brings down a rabbit or fox -- so that he would have no choice but to remain with Miss Elizabeth little longer.

  I made the decision to remain at Miss Elizabeth’s side with the intent that I might forestall her departure if my master did not directly return. Every fibre in my being hoped he would return!

  Once he was out of our sight, Miss Elizabeth stomped her foot against the ground. “Oh, Reggie! How could I have been so foolish as to come? Such impropriety at being found here!” She abruptly turned; arms folded tightly in front of her, and shook her head almost as if she were reprimanding herself.

  “How could I have allowed my curiosity to rule over my good judgment? I should have known better! I had no business coming here! What must he think of me?”

  As the rest of her party and the gardener slowly approached us, she looked down at me. “And to have placed him in such an awkward situation! How he must despise me for the words I spoke to him at Hunsford! How he must have wished to be out of my presence!”

  No! I whined in disagreement and lifted up my paw to her. Could you not sense his pleasure at seeing you?

  She turned and looked back in the direction where my master had walked. Very softly she said, “Yet there was something in his manners...”

  My heart leapt! Perhaps my master’s quick removal had not caused her to think poorly of him. She was interrupted from saying anything more by her friends joining her. The gardener expressed surprise at the unexpected arrival of my master and great pleasure in the fact that Miss Elizabeth was acquainted with him. In the ensuing conversation, Miss Elizabeth’s companions expressed a most favourable opinion of him. Grateful for the reinforcements in my campaign to raise my master in Miss Elizabeth’s esteem, I worked out quickly that she seemed incapable of forming any sort of reply.

  Earlier, Miss Elizabeth had openly admired the house and grounds and now she seemed insensible of anything about her, remaining uncharacteristically silent. When answering an inquiry of either the gentleman or lady accompanying her, she spoke with little ease. She seemed anxious to depart whilst her friends seemed content to enjoy a leisurely walk and I comprehended with dismay that she wished to leave Pemberley directly. They continued on their walk through the grounds whilst I kept a concerned eye on Miss Elizabeth and an eager nose for my master’s scent signalling his return.

  Upon glancing up at her, a disheartening apprehension occurred to me at the stricken expression that took hold of her features. I fretted that perhaps her earlier appreciation of Pemberley had only been owing to my master’s absence. How I wished her appreciation could include him!

  As I pondered this most bewildering predicament, we entered the woods and I knew it could be a rather lengthy walk to return to the carriage. To me, this was encouraging news, as it would allow my master sufficient time to return. If the man had any sense about him, I knew he must! I remained at Miss Elizabeth’s side to assure of her my devotion, if not my master’s.

  We walked across a bridge that brought us to the far side of a small stream. I became a little concerned when it was determined that the party wished to take the shorter route back that cut through the woods. Knowing how long it usually took for my master to make himself presentable, a situation that lay squarely on the office of his valet, I doubted whether he would return in sufficient time. I cast about in my mind for a scheme that could delay the party’s removal.

  We walked alongside a small stream, where the gentleman commented on the likelihood of excellent fishing. I watched as Miss Elizabeth turned to glance down the many paths that led into the deeper woods. Though the distress she was feeling was readily discernible to anyone as attuned as myself, I could not decide if she either desired for an opportunity to explore each one more thoroughly or wished to disappear directly down one of them.

  When the party stopped to peer into the crystal clear water of one of the streams and watch the trout swimming about, I caught my master’s scent and looked up to see him returning. I emitted an excited bark, which caused Miss Elizabeth to look down at me and then abruptly toward my master.

  I heard her take in several short, shaky breaths that betrayed her surprise at his returning. Watching my master approach, I noted that he had indeed made himself more presentable, if a bit hurriedly. He had changed out of his road dust-ridden clothing, putting on a clean shirt and waistcoat. His face was washed and his hair was somewhat damp, the curls playing unrestrained about his face. It was quite apparent to me that he deemed it more prudent to return to Miss Elizabeth than to take the time normally required to make himself impeccably groomed.

  He was soon before us and Miss Elizabeth, with a little wavering in her voice and manner, began to express her admiration for the grounds.

  “Mr. Darcy, the grounds of Pemberley are delightful and charming...” she looked down in the midst of the sentence and I could barely hear her utter ‘delightful and charming’ as her voice grew very soft. Again I noticed the colouring in her cheeks and another self reproaching shake of her head. Why she was overtaken by embarrassment by a simple declaration, I could not determine.

  “Thank you,” my master replied, sensing her uneasiness. “And pray, forgive me for my abrupt departure earlier. I had ridden all day from London and was not presentable to receive guests.

  He turned his attention to Miss Elizabeth’s friends, who were standing back, and solicited an introduction. An expression of satisfaction marked her features and she noticeably relaxed. The introductions were made and we learned that her friends were Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, her aunt and uncle.

  That they were her relations surprised my master as greatly as it did me. All I had heard from him were that her relations were inferior or very ill-mannered, excepting of course, Miss Elizabeth and her eldest sister. These people looked to me to be as well-mannered and as fashionable as any I had seen in town!

  Miss Elizabeth watched incredulously, and I watched with great pride, as my master exhibited ease and affability in his conversation with her relatives, even extending an offer for Mr. Gardiner to come fish in his stream while they remained in the vicinity.

  I knew that since his conversation with Georgiana about Miss Elizabeth, he had done some harsh evaluating of the charges that had been laid at his feet. His open manner and amiability proved to me that he had taken both Miss Elizabeth’s and Geor
giana’s words to heart and was hoping that Miss Elizabeth could see he had attended to them.

  How I wished for my master to have the opportunity to walk with Miss Elizabeth! They walked as a group for some distance, but as they came down to the river, Mrs. Gardiner took her husband’s arm in support, presenting an opportunity for my master to walk alongside Miss Elizabeth. I could not have orchestrated this arrangement better if I had tried.

  Through design or happenstance -- I know not which -- the Gardiners kept a slow pace and my master and Miss Elizabeth were obliged to walk just ahead of them. At length, I deemed it to their best advantage that they increase their pace to put a greater distance between them and Miss Elizabeth’s relations, so I scampered up in front of them, inducing them to walk a little faster. My hope was that by creating an intimacy of sorts, away from the ears of others, that my master and Miss Elizabeth might have a chance to find a way to bridge the misunderstandings of the spring.

  At first, neither spoke a word and I recollected their walks in Rosings Park where my master was perfectly content to walk with Miss Elizabeth in silence, yet she assumed his silence was indicative of his disapprobation. I knew they both needed something to dispel their uneasiness and to spark the conversation I could sense they were both eager to have, so I crossed abruptly in front of them, causing them both to hedge their steps to avoid me. They shared a nervous laugh.

  “You must excuse Reggie, Miss Bennet, as he has taken to some odd behaviour in his old age.” He looked down at me and smiled in mock consternation. “Particularly in this past year...”

  “He is truly the most affable, well-mannered, and intelligent dog I have ever seen, Mr. Darcy. You have done an admirable job training him.”

  She kept her glance away and I suspected they both felt awkwardness at her compliment. I, however, felt quite elated! I always knew Miss Elizabeth’s discernment to be of the highest calibre -- well, with dogs at least. And my canine sense was telling me that her discernment towards my master was definitely improving.

  My master suddenly let out a small chuckle.

  Elizabeth gave a cursory glance up to him. “What do you find humorous?”

  “There have been times when Reggie has been anything but well-mannered. Not too very long ago he actually jumped up on me whilst I was drinking some coffee one morning at Rosings and...”

  He abruptly stopped in mid-sentence and they both looked away from the other. I sensed a great deal of anxiety on their parts at simply the mention of Rosings. I feared they would lapse into silence again.

  At length, Miss Elizabeth recovered from her discomfiture enough to venture a remark. “Please I beg you pardon our intrusion, Mr. Darcy. We had been given assurances that you were from home.” She looked away with dismay. “For your housekeeper,” she added, “informed us that you would certainly not be here till tomorrow. Indeed, we fully understood you were not immediately expected in the country.”

  “Please do not concern yourself, Miss Bennet. Business with my steward compelled me to return a day earlier.” He stopped and looked into her pained face. “I would not wish for you to feel uneasy.”

  Wishing to change the subject, he told her of the Bingleys’ arrival the following day. Again, in the silent pause that followed, I imagined both their minds were engaged in recalling what my master had done in separating Bingley from Miss Elizabeth’s sister.

  How I wished my master or Miss Elizabeth could venture forth with a subject that would not cause such discomfiture! Finally, my master did.

  With a pointed declaration, my master informed her, “There is also one other person in the party who more particularly wishes to be known to you.”

  Miss Elizabeth turned to look at him; the first time she allowed her eyes to meet his.

  He continued, “Will you allow me, or do I ask too much, to introduce my sister to your acquaintance during your stay at Lambton?”

  I wagged my tail most gregariously now, being quite certain that if Miss Elizabeth agreed, it would ensure at least one more opportunity to see her and would also be a good indication of her favourable regard.

  Miss Elizabeth’s surprise at his application was very evident and she did not even attempt to hide it. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open for the slightest moment. Gathering her composure, she answered him very directly, “I should be more than happy to make her acquaintance.”

  My delight could not be contained. Even though I was quite fatigued by all that had occurred this day, I playfully danced about them. I was quite certain, by the light dawning in Miss Elizabeth’s eyes, that she realized that my master must have spoken of her to his sister - and in a most agreeable light!

  I detected a deep sense of gratitude sweep through Miss Elizabeth as she acceded to his request, although traces of nervousness still lingered. As they approached the house, they both turned back and saw that Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were quite a ways still down the path. Together, my master and Miss Elizabeth stood on the lawn, looking at everything but one another, and struggled to make idle conversation until their friends joined them.

  Their dialogue was stifled and tinged with nervousness and I wondered why it could not be as it was at Netherfield - a spirited confrontation would certainly ease their discomfiture! But I determined to be satisfied with the progress that had been made. After all, Miss Elizabeth did not appear inclined to treat my master with disdain and I knew he still had a place for her in his heart.

  I watched my master intently, hoping to see the smile that Miss Elizabeth found so captivating in his portrait. I knew that his pleasure at seeing her at Pemberley would be sufficient to persuade that smile to appear, but I do not believe he trusted himself to bestow it quite yet. I suspect that he was just waiting for the slightest encouragement. And yet I had a strong sense that she would have gladly welcomed that smile! I wondered that he could not sense it as well.

  When the Gardiners finally reached us, my master extended an invitation to come inside for refreshment, but they declined, informing him that they needed to return.

  They all walked up to the carriage and my master politely handed them in. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner appeared to be most pleased with his attention and made a point of thanking him for his gracious hospitality.

  My master expressed the hope that they had enjoyed their tour of Pemberley and hoped to see them again. He looked pointedly at Miss Elizabeth. “It has been a pleasure seeing you again.”

  Miss Elizabeth smiled warmly at his words. It was the first time I had witnessed such a smile upon her face in my master’s presence and directed toward his person.

  I then looked toward my master and found that he was gazing upon her with the identical smile that he had gazed down upon her from the portrait! And I realized at that moment that this rare smile had been securely tucked away and reserved all this time for one young lady. It was a smile meant solely for her, and how grateful I was that it had finally wound its way from his heart to his countenance.

  We watched the carriage drive away and then we slowly walked toward the house. I pranced with pleasure alongside my master, frequently glancing up at him. He looked down at me and caught me watching him. Reaching down, he tousled my head. “Forgive me for my anger and impatience earlier, Reggie, when you wished me to follow you. You did exceedingly well!”

  As did you! I thought to myself! As did you!

  Chapter 22

  After an unusually exhausting -- but most gratifying -- day, I was more than ready to crawl up onto my master’s bed and get a good night’s sleep. But as had often been the case in the past, that was not to be, as my master was not inclined to sleep. This evening, however, it was not turmoil, anguish, confusion, nor broken resolve that kept him from slumber, but overwhelming anticipation of paying a visit to Miss Elizabeth with his sister at his side.

  Throughout the evening he meditated upon Miss Elizabeth’s estimation of him. “I truly believe her opinion of me has improved, Reggie.” He paced the floor as he gave considerati
on to the events of the day. “Undeniably, she was quite alarmed when I came upon her as unexpectedly as I did, but I did not apprehend that she felt anger or resentment towards me.”

  I barked in agreement and he smiled.

  His pacing gave way to a slight moment’s pause as he stood at the window and gazed out. “How I wished to inquire what brought her to Pemberley, but I did not wish to cause her further discomfiture.”

  From the window he walked to a chair and sat down, however he did not remain there very long. With a gentle laugh he said, “I know not who was more stunned, Miss Bennet or myself!”

  He walked over to the bed and lay down, folding his hands across his waist. “Her aunt and uncle are fine people, are they not, Reggie? I truly enjoyed their company and can now discern from where both of the elder Miss Bennets acquired their good sense and behaviour. Indeed, these are people with whom I would not mind furthering my acquaintance.”

  He abruptly sat up. “I believe I shall invite them to dinner once Georgiana and the Bingleys are here. What say you to that, Reggie?”

  I let out a rather fatigued bark.

  “Splendid!” He clapped his hands, startling me. “I shall discuss it with Georgiana as soon as she arrives. Perhaps I should arrange to take her to Lambton so that I may introduce her to Miss Bennet. Yes, yes… we will away to Lambton as soon as she arrives! I would not waste a moment.”

  Continuing in that manner for the remainder of the night, my master spoke of all that he comprehended of Miss Elizabeth’s gracious demeanour towards him and wondered aloud whether she had read his letter and taken his words about Wickham to heart. His person was as restless as his mind. He paced the room or stood at the window and peered out. Scarcely a moment later, he stretched himself out on the bed. Dashing my hope of rest, he then sat up and rubbed my belly vigorously. Even though I desperately required at least a little sleep, I would not have wished to pass the night any other way!