by Leenie Brown
Darcy nodded and removed his arm from his cousin’s shoulders. “Both she and Miss Elizabeth have. They accompanied me to London for a week before their father fell ill, and they were called home.”
“So he is gravely ill?”
“He is improving, but yes. He has made his last wishes known to me.”
“Perhaps I should take my chances with Bingley’s sisters,” muttered Lord Rycroft.
“No,” said Darcy, “an angry Miss Bennet is still better company than a happy Miss Bingley.”
Lord Rycroft laughed loudly at the comment, causing all to stop and look at him.
“Come,” said Darcy. “I will introduce you to my new family. But please, try to make a better impression than Lady Catherine did earlier today.”
“Aunt Catherine was here?”
“She was.”
“Not pleased that you are not marrying Anne?”
“You could say that.” Darcy watched Elizabeth link arms with Mary and hand her a handkerchief. It was not a good start to his cousin’s visit. “Let me tell you about her visit.” And he did. He related to his cousin the full content of the conversation in the Bennets’ sitting room and then proceeded to tell him about the opinion of Lord Matlock to his betrothal, as well as his reply to his uncle. Although his cousin joked about being the lesser intelligent of the two, Darcy knew that he was anything but unintelligent and would hear the caution in the tale. Elizabeth and, by extension, her family were of great importance to him, and any disparagement would not be tolerated.
Lord Rycroft nodded and clapped Darcy on the shoulder. “Point taken, Darcy. I shall be on my best behaviour. I promise.”
Chapter 9
The next week passed with all the flitting and fluttering one would expect when a wedding breakfast worthy of a man of Darcy’s consequence was being planned by a woman such as Mrs. Bennet. Elizabeth escaped from her mother as often as she could to walk with Mr. Darcy or to sit with her father, who steadily improved. By the morning of her wedding, she was quite ready for the ordeal to be done. The service had been solemn and sweet as is proper and expected. Mr. Bennet had insisted upon attending his daughter to the church and doing his part. He valiantly tried to refrain from tears but had on one occasion found it necessary to cough into his handkerchief in such a way as to catch an errant tear.
Now, with the service behind them, Darcy guided Elizabeth down the hall and away from the throngs of people gathered in Netherfield’s ballroom, which had been decorated to host the wedding breakfast. Mrs. Bennet would not hear of not having a wedding breakfast when Elizabeth had insisted that the preparations would be too much for her father and that she would be satisfied to have just a small family gathering. Mr. Bingley proposed the compromise when the discussion had entered its second half hour. And so, Netherfield’s ballroom was now filled with family and friends eager to celebrate the union of Darcy and Elizabeth while the happy couple sought a few moments of solace.
“Darcy,” said Lord Matlock, who had also left the ballroom.
“‘Uncle, I had not expected you to have journeyed to Hertfordshire for my wedding breakfast.” He tucked Elizabeth’s arm close to his side and covered her hand with his.
“I would not have ─ it is not customary, you know. But my sister insisted on putting forth a show of support. Something about a unified family having a stronger position in the ton.” He took a sip of his drink and gave it a questioning look. “Not at all like the way things are done in true society.” He cocked his head to the side. One brow was raised slightly, and his lips formed a bit of a scowl. “So, you are Miss Bennet?”
She glanced briefly at Darcy with an amused look on her face. “I am not,” she replied.
Lord Matlock’s brows drew together. His scowl deepened.
“I am not sure how things are done in true society, but in this society, when a lady joins her hand with a gentleman in marriage, she leaves her name behind and takes his. So, although, I was Miss Bennet earlier this morning, I am no longer she. I believe, I am now Mrs. Darcy.”
His eyes narrowed slightly. “You are very impertinent,” he said.
“So I have been told, my lord, but only when the offending party has fired the first shot, as it were.”
“Offending party!” he sputtered.
Elizabeth smiled at him. “Yes, my lord. I have not yet had a formal introduction to you, and you have already told me that you are here against your wishes and that proceedings, which have been carefully arranged to my preference and that of Mr. Darcy, do not meet your standard for true society. Thus,” she held up a finger as he opened his mouth to speak, “indicating that you feel all in attendance, including myself and my husband, to be beneath your notice. These things are considered offensive in this society.”
Lady Sophia, who had come to stand behind her brother, chuckled softly. “Well-spoken, Mrs. Darcy.” She lifted her glass in salute. “Darcy, have you not introduced your wife to your uncle?”
“I have not had the opportunity, Aunt Sophia.”
Lady Sophia stepped forward and gave first Elizabeth a kiss and then Darcy. “You look lovely, Mrs. Darcy, and contrary to the opinion of some, I find the breakfast to be well-done. I know a few in my acquaintance who would be green with envy to see how excellent everything is.”
She stepped back and motioned for Darcy to do his duty in making introductions, which he did.
Although Lord Matlock only deigned to give a small bow and mumble a word of greeting, Elizabeth performed a proper curtsey and assured him of the pleasure it was to meet him.
Lady Sophia winked at Darcy. “You were whisking your lady away somewhere when my brother stopped you, were you not?”
Darcy’s ears felt warm. He had hoped to sneak Elizabeth away without being noticed. “I was,” he said. “I had a gift for my bride that I wished for her to have during the breakfast.”
“Well,” she said, slipping her arm through her brother’s, ” do not let us detain you.” She pulled her brother toward the ballroom. “Come, and do try to be civilized and polite.”
“Civilized?” he sputtered. “I am always civilized.”
“But, ” said Lady Sophia, “you are not always polite.” She continued to scold him as they walked down the hall.
Elizabeth giggled softly behind her hand. “She is very bold.”
“She is much like you,” said Darcy, drawing her down the hall toward the library once again. “A beautiful woman with a strong mind…”
“And an impertinent nature?” she asked as he closed the door behind them.
He nodded. “I have always liked that about my aunt, and while I am not as fond of the trait in my sister, I find it beguiling in you.” He pulled her to him and kissed her softly. Then he took her hand and led her to the chair she had been sitting in on the night of the Netherfield ball. “As I said, I have a gift for you. One of many actually.”
“Oh, I do like presents,” she said excitedly causing him to laugh.
“This is the first. Another awaits you in the carriage, and if my message was received and my directions followed, there are a few awaiting you when we get to London.” He placed a small velvet bag in her hands.
“Oh, these are lovely,” she said drawing out two lavender shoe roses that had a few clear glass beads sewn to the edges of the petals.
“I asked Mary to assist me with making sure they would attach properly to the buttons on your shoes today.” He knelt at her feet. “May I?”
She lifted the edge of her skirt and allowed him to replace the roses on her slippers. “Do you always remove your slippers when reading?” he asked.
She laughed. “Not always, but nearly so.”
“I remember seeing your slippers under your chair a few times when you were reading during your sister’s illness.” He leaned back on his heels and admired the roses. “I dare say your father is aware of your habit?”
She nodded. “I am sure he is as he has tripped over my slippers in his study more than o
nce.” She gasped. “He knew that my aunt would see me without slippers and would embellish the tale of us being alone. Oh, he is most devious!” She twisted her foot one way and then another admiring how the beads sparkled in the light. “They are beautiful.”
“Nearly as beautiful as the lady who wears them.” He took her hands and drew from her chair. “We must return before we are missed. I do not wish your aunt to have more stories to share about us.”
She giggled as he pulled her into his arms for another kiss before exiting the library.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Oh, Lizzy!” Mrs. Bennet took her by the arm as she and Darcy entered the room. “Mrs. Long has been looking for you to congratulate you as has been Lady Lucas.”
Elizabeth gave her mother a skeptical look. “They have been looking, or you have been looking so that you might remind them of your good fortune?”
Mrs. Bennet chuckled. “Well, I dare say I have reason to do so. They have forever been saying how much trouble I would have marrying off five daughters. But, I have one who is married and another who is well on her way, for we know Mr. Bingley will not be able to resist Jane’s charms forever. Indeed, he has already made his intentions known by courting her.” She paused to look about the room. “Oh, there they are.” She pulled Elizabeth toward a group of ladies who were chattering in the corner. “You know neither Mrs. Long nor Lady Lucas has a daughter attached to any gentleman. One married and another as good as, and they each only have one daughter and still have not done so well as I.”
Elizabeth fought the urge to roll her eyes.
“It was clever of me to have Jane become ill. I dare say, your time at Netherfield is when Mr. Darcy began to change his mind about you. Yes, yes,” she continued to herself, “that must be it, for when else would he have come to know you well enough.” She drew Darcy and Elizabeth into the circle of ladies and preened as the ladies gave their congratulations and wishes for health and joy.
As they left the group of ladies, Darcy leaned close to Elizabeth’s ear. “One hour, my love, and then we shall need to leave if we wish to reach town in time for Mrs. Vernon’s dinner.”
“Mrs. Bennet,” said Lady Sophia as she took Mrs. Bennet’s arm. “This is a fine fete. One of the best I have attended, and I am not given to meaningless flattery.” Together, the two ladies walked toward the far end of the room where the piano had been placed. Georgiana and Mary were seated comfortably at it, taking turns playing. “My niece will no doubt be returning to her brother’s home as soon as he and Mrs. Darcy are settled, and I shall be quite alone.”
“But do you not have a son?” asked Mrs. Bennet.
“I do,” said Lady Sophia, “but he is often gone to our estate, and when he is in town, he has his friends and clubs. He is not inattentive, mind you, but he is not the sort to sit about and stitch with his mother.”
“I would be surprised if any gentleman were the sort to do so,” said Mrs. Bennet in surprise.
“Precisely,” said Lady Sophia. She watched Mary turn the pages for Georgiana. It was a friendship she was glad to see and wished to nurture for the sake of both young ladies. “I was wondering if I might be so bold as to ask that you allow me the company of one of your daughters. I have the means by which to sponsor a young lady for a season, and Miss Mary is such a delight.”
“Mary?” Mrs.Bennet looked at Mary as if never having seen the girl before. “Mary is a delight?”
“Indeed, I find her so, but I am not typical.” said Lady Sophia.
“You would like to give my Mary a season in town?” The excitement was building in Mrs. Bennet’s voice.
“Yes, Mrs. Bennet, I would, and as a countess and the mother of the Earl Rycroft, I can guarantee she would be given the greatest opportunities to meet and mingle with many eligible young gentlemen.” She smiled and whispered. “You may find yourself with three married daughters before any of the others have even one; although, I cannot guarantee it will happen, I do think with a bit of specific training ─ which I can arrange ─ she will take quite well. You may even find she has more than one offer.”
“Oh, my lady, you do us a great honor. I would be delighted to allow Mary to stay with you for the season.” Mrs. Bennet’s fan fluttered with the excitement of it all.
“Very good,” said Lady Sophia. “I am elated to know I shall have such excellent company.”
Mary had not meant to be listening, but being close to where her mother and Lady Sophia were talking, she had heard the majority of the conversation. She was to go to town for the season?
“Oh, Mary,” whispered Georgiana,”I shall be so glad to have you near. Is it not exciting?”
Mary nodded, a sense of freedom welled within her.
“Of what are we conversing about in whispers, dear cousin,” said Lord Rycroft drawing a chair near them.
Mary lifted a brow in disapproval. “It is not polite to ask about another’s private conversations.”
“I do apologize, Miss Mary, but you both looked so delighted, I found myself overcome by curiosity.” It was not the first apology he had offered her, and he suspected it would not be the last. He had offended her, and true to what Darcy had said, a Bennet lady did not forgive an offense readily. She had said she accepted the apology, but her manners still said otherwise. “Would it be impolite of me to request that you play that last song once again? I rather enjoyed it.”
She gave him a wary look. “Some might find it repetitive to listen to the same piece twice in a row.” She took her music from the instrument. “I shall play it, but not until after I have had a moment to walk about and partake of a glass of punch.” She rose and dipped a quick curtsey. “If you will excuse me.”
“Did you offend her?” asked Georgiana, turning toward her cousin.
“Why do you ask?” He said, stretching his legs out in front of him.
“Because she was rather cross.” Georgiana crossed her arms and scowled at him.
“I may have said something as a jest that she found offensive, but I have apologized. She is just unwilling to forgive.”
“Hmph,” huffed Georgiana. She spread her music out on the piano and began to play. “Since you have driven her away, you will need to pay attention so that you might turn the pages for me.”
Darcy watched Mary cross the room. “I see your sister is still not on friendly terms with Rycroft.”
Elizabeth laughed lightly. “She is not.” She leaned a bit closer to Darcy. “She says he smiles too much to be trustworthy.”
Darcy chuckled. “He seems intent upon having her forgive him. I have not seen him so persistent in trying to obtain a pardon from anyone ─ gentleman or lady. Of course, he has not offended a family member in some time, and she is now family.”
“Very true,” agreed Elizabeth. “She will forgive him in time…probably, but then again, how much will she be in company with him? It is not like he will have reason to travel to Hertfordshire, and Papa does not go to town.”
“She will visit us, and it is likely he will visit as well. There shall be times when they will be in company,” said Darcy. “Rycroft does not visit so often as Richard, but he is not an unfamiliar guest in my study.”
Elizabeth sighed. “We shall just have to hope all is well by then.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Bennet.” Sir William handed his friend a cup of tea and joined him in sitting in a small alcove that afforded him a view of the room but kept him removed from any draft.
Mr. Bennet had had a difficult time convincing any of his family to allow him to journey to Netherfield to observe the festivities. But it was not a day he would miss.
“They appear happy, and it has happened before they were married,” said Sir William.
“They are. I have spent many hours in bed watching them as they sat with me.” Mr. Bennet smiled and sipped the warm tea. He watched Darcy talking to Elizabeth, and then as something had obviously concerned her, for she had sighed, he watched Darcy wink at her and lift her
hand to his lips. “It is a good match,” he said.
“And Jane’s happiness is also nearly secured.” Sir William nodded to where Bingley and Jane stood quietly conversing together.
“And Collins is gone.” Mr. Bennet sighed. “But he shall return. He insists on mending fences, which is something that cannot be done without the entail being broken, but he does not see that.” They sat in silence for some minutes, each drinking their tea.
“I have heard from my wife that you are planning a journey to the seaside after the winter,” commented Sir William.
Mr. Bennet nodded. “If I tarry.” He pulled in a less shallow breath. “I do wish to see all my daughters so happy, but I fear my heart may expire before then.”
Sir William gave him a sympathetic smile. “Well, then, Mary is next. Who shall we select for her?” He rubbed his hands together.
Mr. Bennet chuckled softly. “I shall not be selecting any other husbands, but Mary’s future is well in hand.” He nodded to where his wife stood with Lady Sophia. “I believe she will be having a season if Darcy’s aunt has her way. It seems the lady has taken a liking to my Mary.”
“She is a sweet girl,” said Sir William.
“That she is. A bit fond of sermons, but sweet and good. I have no doubt she will shine away from her sisters.”
“Papa.” Elizabeth did not wish to interrupt the conversation, but it was time to take her leave and the longer she waited, the more difficult the idea was becoming.
“Ah, my Lizzy, is it time?” He looked to Darcy, who was standing behind Elizabeth.
“I am afraid it is, sir.”
“Very good,” said Mr. Bennet.
“No, Papa,” said Elizabeth as Mr. Bennet began to rise.
“I shall stand and give my daughter a hug and see her to the door.” He stood slowly. Sir William stood at his elbow ready to assist him if he should need it. “Come, give me a hug and make it a good one as it shall have to serve me well until the spring.”
“I love you, Papa,” Elizabeth whispered as she squeezed him tightly.
