He waved a dismissive hand. "That is meaningless. It just means she hopes to marry me." With a smile, Elizabeth shook her head. "Shall I tell Miss Holmes that she is incorrect and you have no redeeming virtues, then?"
"Ah, it was Carrie, then? Now that I do not deserve."
Elizabeth thought it best to leave this subject as quickly as possible. "Tell me. will you be returning to London soon?"
He reached down to scratch the head of the spaniel. "Not yet. We will all remain here long enough to see Eleanor married. After that, I suppose I will join the army. That is the simplest option."
"I thought you did not want that."
"I am too fond of my creature comforts to enjoy army life, but it is what second sons do, and it is past time that I do my duty - and. if I am not mistaken, you must also do yours." He directed a significant look toward Darcy. "He looks on the verge of apoplexy. To tell the truth, I can hardly blame him."
She was being dismissed. "Very well, I will go attend to poor, long-suffering Mr. Darcy. Good day, then, Lord Charles."
"Good day, Miss Bennet."
On impulse, she touched his cheek lightly with the back of her fingers, then left without a backwards glance. Darcy did look rather apoplectic, but his face softened as she drew nearer. '"Happy now?" he asked.
"Yes." She slipped her hand into his arm and walked a short distance from the sitting room. "I know you do not approve, but I have recently developed a certain sympathy for anyone discovering the person they love is engaged to someone else. As you know, I did not always understand the importance of gentleness in refusing an offer, but I would like to think I have learned with experience."
He was silent at first, but then said, "You are quite correct. I am being selfish in not wanting you even to smile in his direction."
"He may receive a few smiles, but you have all my kisses! But on another subject, there is an idea I would like to put to his lordship. Do you think he would be willing to listen to me, or is he still angry that I did not tell him about Eleanor and Paxton?"
"My dearest Elizabeth, so much has happened since then that I doubt he even remembers that omission on your part; but if you like. I can tell him your idea instead. Of course. I omitted the very same information as you."
She thought for a moment. "I think it is better if it comes from me. It is about Lord Charles, an idea for something that might help him, but if Lord Charles discovers the idea came from you, he might refuse it on principle."
"A fair point. It is kind of you to try to help him." Although Darcy did not seem particularly pleased with her kindness, he took her to Lord Bentham's study where his lordship was conversing with his eldest son. After informing Lord Bentham that Elizabeth had an idea to share with him. Darcy excused himself, leaving her with the two gentlemen.
"You have an idea, my dear?" asked Lord Bentham cordially.
Elizabeth took a deep breath. "Perhaps you are aware that Lord Charles fell into the habit of confiding in me during these last few weeks. One time we were talking about his original plan to enter the army. I asked him what he would like to do, had he a choice in the matter. His answer surprised me - he said that he wished he could live in the country and breed hunting dogs." At Lord Bentham's frown, she hurried on. "While that may not be realistic, it occurred to me that you do have an empty kennel that is falling into disrepair, and Lord Charles is in need of occupation outside the ton and, in my opinion, to have a goal he can accomplish and feel pride in. The dogs from your kennels used to be the finest in Yorkshire. I thought perhaps you could ask him to rebuild the kennels to their former glory. It would be a temporary project rather than a career, but it might allow him the respite he needs."
Lord Bentham looked at her as if she had suggested that Lord Charles should fly to the moon, but Viscount Huntingdon nodded slowly. "I remember how he all but lived in the kennels when we were young. I have not thought of that in years.
And I agree, he needs something to keep him away from the ton."
"But could Charles be happy away from the excitement and luxuries of London?" asked Lord Bentham dubiously.
"I do not know," his son replied. "I was surprised to hear that he had lived in London all these years, because, as I remember it, he never liked Town. He found it too crowded and noisy. But perhaps all that has changed, and he is content with it now. It is worth asking him. The question is whether you have an interest in building up the kennels again." It was something of a foolish question given that one spaniel was sprawled at Lord Bentham's feet and another had its head in his lap.
The Marquess stroked the dog's head absently. "It would be good to bring in new dogs, but I still cannot imagine he would want to stay here and work."
"If you do not object, Father, I will speak to him. The worst he can do is to say he would rather not."
"I suppose so. I thank you, Miss Bennet, for bringing this to our attention."
"It was the least I could do, my lord." She curtsied and turned to leave.
Lord Bentham's voice came after her. "Miss Bennet, I understand that I should give you my best wishes on your engagement to Darcy."
She turned back slowly to face him. "Thank you, my lord." Under the circumstances, she supposed it was a concession on his part.
"I am very happy that Darcy has re-established his connection with us. On his deathbed, Darcy's father asked me to watch over his son, and it has troubled me greatly that I have not been able to fulfill that duty. When you make your wedding plans, I would be honored if you would consider celebrating the occasion here at Bentham."
Momentarily speechless, Elizabeth could only stare at him. Finally, she stammered, "That is a very generous offer, my lord."
Lord Bentham passed a hand over his forehead. "In truth, you would be doing me a kindness. Talk to Darcy about it."
"I will." She was touched by the suggestion, though she was certain that Darcy would wish to keep her family far from his noble connections.
As Lord Huntingdon was minded to look into the kennel possibility immediately, Elizabeth took this excuse to depart from the study as well. As he walked along beside her, the viscount said, "That was an excellent idea, Miss Bennet. The ton brings out the worst in Charles, and he lacks purpose. It was good of you to take the trouble; I know my father is not easy to approach."
"I hope it helps. I do feel somewhat responsible for his current ill humor."
He stopped and looked at her, his brows furrowed. "I cannot imagine how you could possibly think yourself responsible. You had nothing to do with all these misunderstandings."
She flushed and dropped her eyes. "Darcy did not tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"That Lord Charles also made me an offer of marriage, and I refused him. That was what provoked his fight with Darcy. So you see, I am not without guilt."
"Did he really? Miss Bennet, you astonish me. Not because your charms are in any way deficient, but that my brother would have the good sense to recognize your value."
Elizabeth's face grew warm, and she tried to disguise her embarrassment with a laugh. "Apparently the secret to the heart of highly eligible young men of the ton is to laugh at them, be continually impudent, refuse to take them seriously, and never for a second consider the possibility that they might actually be falling in love. That was what made Mr. Darcy notice me as well."
"I am very glad you told me this. It helps me to understand better what it is that Charles needs. I will give this some consideration."
Elizabeth decided to take a risk. "You have a neighbor, Miss Holmes, whom Lord Charles seems to think well of, and she has a fondness for him."
"Miss Bennet, you are a fount of intriguing ideas. Are you certain you do not have a twin sister for Charles?"
As they approached the sitting room, she heard the sound of Darcy laughing, and then beheld an astonishing sight. Darcy, looking quite comfortable with his feet up on a footstool, was sitting with Lord Charles, apparently chatting quite amicably. Edward stopped s
hort and looked at them quizzically. "Are we interrupting something?"
"Not at all," said Lord Charles cheerfully. "I was just telling Darcy what an insufferable prig he was during the summer he stayed with us, and he was informing me that I spent the entire summer whining and complaining."
Edward shook his head and looked down at Elizabeth with a smile. In a conspiratorial voice meant to be overheard, he said. "Both true. It took me weeks to convince Darcy to break even the smallest rule, and Charles thought that one domineering older brother was enough for him without borrowing a second for the summer."
"And in the meantime, you were all cruelly refusing to play with poor Eleanor," Elizabeth teased.
"Of course," said Edward, his eyes twinkling. "She was a girl." Darcy and Lord Charles nodded in agreement, as if this were a perfectly reasonable explanation.
"I expect you were all perfectly despicable," she said.
Lord Charles shook his head. "And this from the young lady who put a snake in my bed."
Afterwards, Elizabeth asked Darcy, "How did you end up speaking to him? I thought there was nothing you agreed on."
Darcy leaned down and stole a quick kiss. "Actually, there is one thing we agree on. We mostly talked about you."
"About me?" It was the last answer she had expected.
"Yes. Whatever I might think of him otherwise, I cannot fault his taste in losing his heart to you. He, in turn, is perhaps the only person who finds nothing unusual about my desire to marry you."
"I cannot imagine what the two of you could say about me that would not lead to fisticuffs!"
He laughed. "In fact, I told him the entire story of our acquaintance, everything that you said to me at Hunsford, how infuriated I was with you afterwards, and then how I wanted to murder him when I saw you waltzing together. He found it quite entertaining, and added in a few choice remarks you had made about him as well."
She turned to stare at him. "I will never understand men, not if I had a thousand years to study them!"
Eleanor was feeling sufficiently improved that she had insisted on getting out of bed. although she agreed to allow Geoffrey to support her as she walked. Despite leaning on him heavily, even the intrepid Eleanor was ready to stop when she had travelled as far as the fainting couch in the private sitting room outside the bedroom. "It was worth it," she announced. "I might have lost my mind if I had to stare at those same walls for one more minute. They are very nice walls, admittedly, but four days of them is more than enough!"
Elizabeth set a pillow beside her friend, then turned to Paxton. "Do you think we could shift her so that her leg is on the pillow?"
"I can sit up perfectly well!" snapped Eleanor. "You can lie down perfectly well, too," Paxton said firmly, "just as the apothecary said you should." Without further ado, he lifted her and set her down with her injured leg on the pillow.
"Will you always be so overbearing?" Eleanor asked, but without any sting in her voice.
He smiled. "Only when you do not listen to reason, dearest."
"I. however, am always overbearing." The Dowager Marchioness spoke from the doorway, then came to press a kiss on Eleanor's cheek. "But if you are not listening to reason, that must mean you are feeling better. I am glad to see Mr. Paxton is not without resources under the circumstances."
"Grandmama!" cried Eleanor indignantly. "You need not take his side quite so happily."
Elizabeth broke in tactfully. "I imagine you would enjoy visiting with your grandmother, so I will take myself downstairs and out of the way."
"Not so quickly, Miss Bennet," the dowager said. "You are the one I am here to see."
"Oh, dear," said Elizabeth with a laugh. "What have I done wrong now?"
"That remains to be seen. I understand that my son has expressed his desire to hold your wedding at Bentham Park."
"He did make that very kind offer, but you need not worry. I have no intention of accepting it."
Eleanor sat up straight. "Why not? I think it would be lovely."
"My thoughts exactly," said the dowager briskly. "More importantly, it would mend some bridges in our family."
Elizabeth shook her head with a smile. "I am sorry, but my family lives far from here, and I would not want to marry without them present. While you may be willing to make them welcome here, I cannot say that I advise it. My family is not the sort of company to which you are accustomed."
"They can stay here," offered Paxton. "My sensibilities are not easily disturbed."
"You have not met my family! You should ask Mr. Darcy about them before you make so cavalier an offer."
"Miss Bennet, I have some important advice for you," the dowager said. "When you pick your battles, my girl, do your best to select those you may actually have a chance of winning. This is not one of those. I have already written to your mother with an invitation for your entire family. We will send a carriage to fetch them."
Elizabeth stared at her in disbelief. Although she had seen sufficient evidence of the dowager's autocratic ways, she had not expected them to be applied to her in this way. How was she to argue when she knew full well that her mother would rather die than miss an opportunity to bring her daughters to Bentham Park, especially when Lord Bentham had an unmarried son in residence? "I do not think Mr. Darcy will be pleased with this," she said.
"What will not please me?" Darcy's voice came from behind her.
She turned quickly to smile at him. "I had not realized you had returned already."
"I accomplished my business in York swiftly, since there was a lovely lady I wished to rejoin as soon as possible." He came to stand next to her and squeezed her hand, but she knew that if the dowager had not been present, she would have received a much warmer greeting.
"I am glad you are here. The Dowager Marchioness has just informed me that we will be celebrating our wedding at Bentham Park regardless of our own wishes."
Darcy turned a quizzical look on the Dowager Marchioness, who gave a sharp laugh. "Although I did not say it quite that way, your intended has the gist of it."
"She has already sent an invitation to my mother! I tried to explain that my family is not what she might expect."
To her astonishment, Darcy burst out laughing. "Elizabeth, I do not think your family can compare to what we have observed among the Carlisles in the last week."
The Dowager Marchioness did not allow this potential weakness to pass. "So you agree to it, then?"
"That depends. Do you have a date in mind?"
"Miss Bennet's aunt and uncle are due to arrive here in three weeks, so that would be convenient, unless it is too soon for you."
Darcy smiled broadly. "For the chance to marry Elizabeth that quickly, I would be willing to have the ceremony in the Outer Hebrides."
"I thought that part might pique your interest," the Dowager Marchioness said. "You seem to be outnumbered, Miss Bennet."
Darcy said, "I hope you will permit us to speak privately for a few minutes." He took Elizabeth's hand and led her to the other side of the room. Speaking quietly, he asked, "Would you mind having the wedding here rather than at Longboum? If you do, please tell me, and I will put a stop to these plans."
She shook her head. "I am content with this, as long as you are. Bentham Park was once like a home to me, and this will leave me with the happiest of memories of it. But is this what you truly want?"
His gaze grew warm. "What I truly want is you. The rest is details."
She drew in a sharp breath. "You do not object to my family coming here?"
"Not in the least. In fact, it might prove convenient, since if the wedding is here, it would make sense to invite Bingley. He is in Scarborough now, so it would be an easy journey for him, and I am certain he would be pleased to renew his acquaintance with your family." The smile he gave her was full of private warmth.
A burst of happiness rose in Elizabeth at his words. She had assumed that sooner or later there would be an opportunity to bring Jane and Bingley back togeth
er, but it gave her special pleasure to see Darcy planning for it. "Very well, but I must warn you that my mother will be making every effort to throw my dear Jane in Lord Charles's way!"
Darcy shrugged. "Charles could do much worse than your sister."
Elizabeth's eyes grew wide. "I was joking!"
He brushed his fingers against her cheek. "Stranger things have happened. But I am sorry this visit has been so difficult for you."
"How shall we decide what is difficult? When you became engaged to Eleanor. I thought my heart would break; but had that painful episode not happened. Eleanor would be marrying Lord Deyncourt rather than Mr. Paxton. Is not that outcome worth the suffering?"
He pressed his lips to the inside of her wrist, making her pulse race. "You and Edward have both become philosophers. Yesterday he told me he was glad to have spent four years among men who knew nothing of his titles or fortune. He claims he never before realized how much of the treatment he received was due only to his position, and now he knows his value as a man as well as a nobleman."
"He is wise, then." She put on an expression of mock seriousness. "However, I have failed to mention the most important reason to marry here, which is that I owe the Dowager Marchioness more than I can ever repay."
His eyebrows raised, Darcy asked, "And what do you owe her, my love?"
"Why, she is the one who began all this! It was she who ordered me to be taken to Eleanor's nursery when I accompanied my aunt on that fateful call. At the time, I thought she was annoyed because I was so restless; but in hindsight, I suspect she knew perfectly well that what Eleanor needed most was a lively playmate, the sort who would not be able to sit still through a dull condolence call. And if I had not met Eleanor and spent so much time here, I would have become a different person, one whom you never would have noticed - and we would not have had this opportunity to meet again and to work out our differences." She smiled up at him. "So, all in all, I would have to say that she has earned the right to choose when and where we marry."
"As long as it is soon." As they returned to the others, Darcy said to the dowager, "Very well, we have agreed your plan will suit us admirably."
Mr. Darcy's Noble Connections: A Pride & Prejudice Variation Page 29
