Then from behind them came a strong, deep, female voice. “Mr. Fitzwilliam.”
In the doorway stood a handsome, dark haired young woman. Tall and slender with striking and elegant poise, her movements were long, slow and deliberate. Her eyes remained half-closed and her low voice was both compelling and unsettling.
Colonel Fitzwilliam cleared his throat and said, “Ladies, allow me to introduce you to Miss Caroline Bingley. Miss Bingley, Miss Jane Bennet, and Miss Elizabeth Bennet. These young ladies have arrived just now and traveled from Boston in Massachusetts.”
Her eyes flashed as she strode toward them “But how very intrepid. Will they be staying for dinner? I’m sure we will want to hear everything of their adventures.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam cleared his throat again, “Miss Bingley, The Bennet sisters are joining the household at Pemberley.”
“Really? How very entertaining. I’m sure they will be sources of endless delight.” Miss Bingley’s gaze, as it ran up and down Elizabeth’s body, was discomforting.
Two rooms with doors facing across a corridor were prepared for the sisters. Both rooms were sumptuous. The beds were high, thick and a perfect balance of firmness and bounce. But Jane came at once into Elizabeth’s room and said that she could not bear it.
“Not yet, Lizzy, at least. Please, may we share a room until we become more comfortably settled in? I don’t mind which one. Whichever you prefer. I can’t bear the thought of waking up in the middle of the night alone in this huge, strange house. We have always shared a room, Lizzy. I’m not ready to stop, not yet. Are you, sister?”
“Of course not, Jane. And I don’t know yet that I ever will be. We shall share your room for sleeping, with its lovely view of the tranquil lake and the forests at the rear of the house, and we can use this room for dressing, and look out over the ornamental gardens and the fountains. How would that suit you?”
Jane beamed and hugged her sister.
Jane brought some of her necessities from her room across the hallway. As she began to arrange them into drawers, she said, “Miss Caroline Bingley is most striking, is she not? Striking and with a most forceful gaze.”
“Yes,” Elizabeth agreed. “We should take care around that one, I think.”
“Imagine her being Mr. Bingley’s sister. They are not at all alike, are they?”
The obvious connection between Jane and the courteous Mr. Bingley was an excellent stroke of fortune. It seemed as much as Lizzy could have wished for her beloved sister.
Jane said, “Lizzy, I don’t know if Mr. Bingley had reason to be wary or afraid of Mr. Wickham, but I thought that there was a distinct tension between them, didn’t you?”
“I was sure that I detected something passing between them, Jane. But Mr. Bingley was wonderfully brave in bracing up to him. The more so if he had reason to be fearful.”
“That’s what I thought.” Jane’s eyes shone and her lips were pressed together.
“I wondered if he intended his courage to show himself in a particularly good light.”
When Jane said, “If it were so then he took a bold risk, don’t you think?” Pink flushed into her cheeks.
“Perhaps he was stiffened in his resolve by the thought of a very big prize that his eye was fixed upon.”
“Lizzy!” Now she blushed so much that she kept her face downward.
Since Jane had fallen ill on board the Aspire, Elizabeth bore an aching sense of guilt for having brought her on the voyage. Her obvious pleasure in meeting Mr. Bingley and his appearance of being equally delighted eased some of the sting for Elizabeth. She thought she may not have to feel quite so guilty after all.
Elizabeth’s own prospects did not seem quite so inviting. A toll of dread echoed inside her as she anticipated being scrutinized by all of them They were refined in manner, clearly wealthy, educated, and proud. The thought of being introduced as a mail order bride, arrived and literally just off the boat, Elizabeth held herself tall and straight, but inside she wanted to drop straight through the expensive carpet.
Soon, Jane asked her, “And how do you like your Mr. Darcy now, Lizzy? Now that you have seen him in the flesh? He is an exceptional specimen of a man, is he not?”
“I don’t know that he is my Mr. Darcy, Jane. I doubt if that man could truly be anyone’s, other than his own.”
As they arranged their comforts and prepared to go downstairs, Elizabeth said, “It is a consolation that you seem to have made a fortunate connection with Mr. Bingley. For myself, I will have to remind myself of why I am here. That I came to save the family, not myself.”
“Does your first sight of Mr. Darcy not please you?”
“I am sure you were too preoccupied with looking at Mr. Bingley and looking down again to notice Mr. Darcy. He seems to have a great deal of almost everything you could wish for in a gentleman but, alas, he seems to be without a heart.”
“That’s not a very happy outlook, Lizzy.” Then she brightened. “Maybe consider this, though. My Bingley looks to be a close friend of Mr. Darcy’s. He may very well be a wealthy man also. He certainly has the appearance of one.”Jane smiled. “Sister, you might not be the only one with a chance to help the family.”
“Jane, I don’t think we need to compete between ourselves for who can do the best here.”
“That isn’t what I mean and I’m sure that you know it isn’t, Lizzy.”
“Do you mean that if you are fortunate enough to get a proposal from Mr. Bingley that you may be able to save me, that I might not have to sacrifice myself to rescue the Bennet family from the clutches of ruin? Because you might be able to take on the burden yourself?”
As Elizabeth spoke, Jane nodded and her smile widened. “Yes, Lizzy. Yes, yes. What do you think?”
Elizabeth said, “I think that your acquaintance with Mr. Bingley could be counted in minutes, Jane.”
“You love to tease, Lizzy”
“And you love to be teased. Perhaps you are right. In any event, of course, I hope that your connection with Mr. Bingley turns out well for you. But I did not travel under false pretense. I came here for an agreement with Mr. Darcy. I will be faithful to my side of the bargain unless he proves to be unbearable or a brute.” She thought a moment, “Although both of those seem to be distinct possibilities.”
14
Jane and Elizabeth bathed and rested, and finally began to be excited. The great house, the beautiful grounds, Jane’s new acquaintance and the immediate prospect of sampling fine dining in the Pacific region, and all of it gave them the opportunity to wear their best clothes. After they both tried almost every dress they had brought and almost all of their necklaces and accessories, the sisters fixed each other’s hair and each declared the other to be looking their very best.
The long sweep of the grand staircase down to the hallway gave a real sense of occasion to their walk to the dining hall. “It is a pity there’s nobody watching,” Jane whispered, laughing.
“I’m watching, Jane,” Elizabeth chided. “And you are all of the audience that I need.”
Jane said, “You can’t keep up that stern face for long.”
They crossed the hallway, lined with massive portraits of somber looking personages, to the open doors of the gallery where they could hear the clink of glasses as people gathered for aperitifs before going in to the dining room. Elizabeth raised a hand and said under her breath, “Wait here, just a moment, Jane. We’ll make an entrance.”
While they stood, poised, Mr. Darcy’s voice drifted out from inside the room. He must have been near to the door, speaking to Mr. Bingley. Jane put her hand to her mouth as she heard Mr. Darcy say, “Yes, the older sister is the prettier, I will grant you that.”
And he went on, “Of the younger sister, Fitzwilliam’s pictures of her are fair, but he does make everything he draws look so delightful. She is tolerable. I am not sure that I would consider her at all under any other circumstances but she will suffice. After all, I won’t have to spend my days
in contemplation of her face. It is a bonus that she seems not to be completely idiotic or stupid.”
Elizabeth watched the blood drain from Jane’s face. Elizabeth frowned, rooted to the spot. She couldn’t walk in to dinner now. She would turn and march back up to her room. All she could do was to flee, however weak and miserable it seemed. It was a huge effort to turn but finally, she was able.
When at last she spun around, still she could not leave. She was face to face with Miss Bingley.
“Did you forget something? It’s an awful bore in these big houses, you’ll find. Such a long way, back up the stairs, all the way down the corridors and back to your room, only to turn around and come back again. You’d want to be sure not to be late though. there’s a little tip that I can give you. Mr. Darcy does not like guests to be late. Especially not for dinner.”
Elizabeth hesitated. Miss Bingley said, “Soon enough you get used to either remembering to bring everything or to doing without.” Caroline Bingley’s smile stretched all the way to both sides of her mouth but no further.
“If you think you can survive through dinner without whatever it was that you don’t have, why don’t we all go in together? Us three, arriving as one. Female solidarity. Ladies against the world. What do you say?”
At that moment Elizabeth could think of no way to save face other than to agree. She was determined that she would not allow herself to be seen in Miss Bingley’s eyes as reduced in any way. Miss Bingley put herself between the sisters, linked arms with both of them. Liveried servants opened the doors to the long dining room and Caroline Bingley marched the two Bennet sisters smartly to the table.
Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley both rose immediately from the table.
“Wasn’t it lovely of the charming sisters?” Caroline said as she guided Elizabeth to sit next to her and opposite the two men. She steered Jane to the farthest possible seat from Mr. Bingley.
Mr. Darcy moved to seat her. As she settled into her chair, she said, “Look, isn’t it sweet. They have come down to dinner in fancy dress to amuse us.” Mr. Bingley graciously seated Elizabeth as Mr. Darcy was nearer to seat Jane.
“Don’t tell me,” Miss Bingley went on, “I know, you’ve come as Eastern puritans. Amish or Quaker. No, wait. It’s Shaker, isn’t it. How very clever of you.”
“My sister loves to make mischief.” Mr. Bingley’s smile was thin.
Mr. Darcy said, “You do have a very developed sense of humor, Miss Bingley.” Elizabeth could not tell how he meant it. Was he rebuking her or did he say it to offer her a compliment? Elizabeth believed that she was getting the measure of Miss Bingley and that she would be sure to would take it as a compliment which, of course she did.
He continued, “It may take others a little while to get used to your style of joking. Like our guests.” Elizabeth struggled to hide her shock and surprise when Mr. Darcy announced her and her sister as, “Here to assist Georgiana in her recovery. One sister will care for her and help her as she begins to regain strength.”
“You are sure that she will, Mr. Darcy? I am. I’m sure that we all are. We all hope so, and we pray that she will be recovered and restored to us, very soon.”
“Thank you, Caroline. I hope so very much indeed. So then, when Georgiana is stronger, the other sister will be ready to act as a teacher for her. “
“Oh, and neither sister would have been able to fulfill both roles? Surely in many quite normal circumstances, the care and education of a young person would both be the responsibilities of a mother.”
“Well they might, Caroline, but this is the arrangement that I have chosen and I hope that I am doing what’s best for my young sister.”
“And I am quite sure that you are, Mr. Darcy. I would not doubt it.” Her eyes narrowed. Her voice was silky smooth, almost a purr. “And which is which, once again, Mr. Darcy?”
“This is Miss Jane Bennet, and this is Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
“No, Mr. Darcy, I understood that perfectly. I meant which of them was the nurse and which young lady is the professor?”
Elizabeth was unable to speak. Mr. Darcy’s face was stone. He gave nothing away. She looked to Mr. Bingley but, he expressed nothing aside from the sparkle in his eyes as his gaze flickered over Jane’s countenance.
“So, what a game this is, Mr. Darcy,” Miss Bingley laughed, “The sisters aren’t guests at all. You said clearly that they were here for a purpose. They have come to help poor Georgiana to recover and then to teach her,” she raised a wineglass, waiting for a servant to pour, “Although I do wonder if they are well enough experienced to give her all of the coaching that she will need. She will have missed so much, won’t she.”
Mr. Darcy said, “I don’t enjoy you making sport about my poor sister, Miss Bingley.”
“Of course not, Mr. Darcy. It was monstrous of me. I really do apologize. I get so carried away, wanting to be sure that everybody is having the best time.”
Mr. Darcy announced Colonel Fitzwilliam was unable to dine with them as he had hoped. Elizabeth did not make a remark, but she regretted the Colonel’s absence. As well as missing his company, she felt that the table was unbalanced with three young ladies and only two gentlemen. She supposed that it could not be helped.
Elizabeth was bewildered by the array of cutlery and she was sure that Jane would have been, too, but she waited to see what the two gentlemen and Miss Bingley would use. Jane, in turn, waited to follow Elizabeth.
It seemed as though they simply began from the outside and worked their way in. Some utensils were obviously for particular purposes, though. There were different sized fish knives as well as picks for crab and lobster meat. They were surely not going to eat as many courses as there were sets of silverware.
A dazzling range of dishes was presented. Even though each serving was small, Elizabeth wondered if they would be expected to feast in this way every evening, if it were the normal and expected way of dining in Oregon. The range of fish and seafood alone was bewildering.
Watching Mr. Darcy through the dinner, Elizabeth was sure he knew that she had overheard his remarks about her. He seemed completely indifferent to how they may have affected her but she was beginning to see him as a man who was indifferent to any and all of the effects that his actions might have on those around him.
He was a man possessed of his own will and desire. A man with no apparent regard for anything that did not fit with his plans or accord with his wishes.
Mr. Bingley announced brightly, “We must hold a dance.”
Mr. Darcy frowned, quizzical. “Must we?”
“Yes, Darcy. Come on, you old stick. The ballroom here never sees any use. We must welcome these fine young ladies into our midst.”
Caroline Bingley said, “Charles, really? For our charming tutor and nurse?” Caroline spread her smile evenly around the guests at the table. “Should we throw a ball at Netherfield when we hire an assistant gardener or a new stockman?”
Mr. Bingley responded without hesitation, “That is an excellent idea, Caroline. We should hold a dance at any and every possible occasion.” His manner was bright and his smile was sunny, but his eyes were fixed on Jane. He looked to Elizabeth as if he was bursting with concern that she might have been offended by his sister’s outburst.
Elizabeth asked, “Do you enjoy a dance, Miss Bingley? Or perhaps you prefer the more straightforward types of bloodsport.”
“I enjoy both, Miss Bennet. I like any occasion where I will win. A lady should display her accomplishments, I believe.”
“Should she? How very tiring that must be.”
“Satisfying, Miss Bennet. It is wonderful to win. As I am sure you must have heard.”
“I believe it is wonderful to deserve to win. Winning itself, though, especially for its own sake and in the sight of others, would risk making a lady want to crow. That is such a poor look in the corners of the eyes. I hear that it accelerates wrinkles.” She peered toward Miss Bingley.
“Ladies,” Mr. Bin
gley said, “I think it is time we showed our newcomers the gardens.”
“Of course,” Caroline Bingley said drily. “After they settle into their duties, they may not have another chance to visit them.”
Elizabeth saw the side of Mr. Darcy’s face wince for the most brief moment and then, from an effort of will, relax. For that instant, she felt that their instincts and sentiments were in line. Mr. Bingley’s gallantry in wanting to head off the conversation before it became any hotter was charming and admirable.
However, like Mr. Darcy it seemed, she believed a thing like that should take its course. Those involved should reach their own resolution. Nobody should intervene unless some real harm was likely to come about. She felt it was finer in manners and she believed also that a flame snuffed out could leave smoldering embers.
Between Miss Bingley and herself, there remained unfinished business for certain.
15
When dinner was done, Mr. Bingley announced, “We can show you the hanging garden. The scents are at their best at this time of day.”
Mr. Darcy walked with Elizabeth. Mr. Bingley attempted to walk with Jane, but Miss Bingley kept with them and seemed to pose herself between them as much as she could.
Mr. Darcy was not fluent with small talk and pleasantries. In fact, for a man of such power and wealth, he seemed quite reticent. Nonetheless, he was extremely presentable and not lacking in attractions and Elizabeth tried gently to learn why he had chosen such a peculiar route to find himself a bride.
She said, “As we saw on our journey from Portland, there is beautiful country out here. We passed some fine homes and ranches. Do none of them contain decent young ladies of marriageable age or have you such a reputation that none will come near? I find that unlikely.” Elizabeth had meant to say that she found it unbelievable, but ‘unlikely’ was the word that came out.
“Young ladies have been presented to me and introduced with a view to matrimony. Mostly the wish came from their parents, usually the mothers, in fact. One such mother is a great aunt, who wants very much for me to wed her daughter. Even though her own estate is not so much smaller than the Darcy inheritance, I believe that her interest is purely in the financial improvement that the union would bring. Possibly she desires also the social advantage.” He shuddered.
Urgently, Darcy Page 6
