Darcy had guarded the fact of their marriage from common knowledge in an effort to give them privacy and had hoped to do so at least for another day or two. Elizabeth felt he would not be pleased to see these visitors. This consideration led her to feel cautious.
“Mrs. Darcy,” began Mr. Tilden, “the social world of London knows nothing about you —”
Elizabeth interrupted him with a laugh. “And you are their representative, Mr. Tilden?”
“I . . . well . . . I am just curious, that is all — one of many who are. Mr. Darcy and I have been friends for some time now, and that he would marry, but say nothing to me about it, is a little surprising.”
“I can understand that you might feel that way, but it is not for me to venture an opinion on my husband’s motives.”
“Of course not.” He was impressed by Elizabeth’s discretion and beauty, but he came to humble her, and he would. “My daughter descends from an ancient family and is blessed with a noble fortune. Tell me about your family.”
Elizabeth was shocked, but immediately recovered, and chose to give him the answer he must wish to hear.
“I am the daughter of a country gentleman of no importance in the world, having few accomplishments, even fewer connections, and no fortune at all.” Elizabeth could not suppress a smile. “I am afraid, Mr. Tilden, that in my marriage, I received all the advantage, and Mr. Darcy, none.”
Mr. Tilden seemed taken back.
“Indeed, sir, I am afraid that I bring only one benefit to Mr. Darcy.”
“And just what is that?”
“I love him.”
“Ah . . . love . . . Yes, Mr. Darcy said something to me of that, though I cannot remember exactly what it was. Do you not believe, though, that it takes more than love to make a good marriage? Do you not believe that if a man has an opportunity to make an equal match as to fortune and family, that it is his obligation to take advantage of such an offer?”
Elizabeth looked at Miss Tilden, who was staring down at her hands in her lap, and despite a pause on Elizabeth’s part, would not look up. “When it comes to marriage, I do not believe anyone has an obligation until they have exchanged their wedding vows. Each person, man or woman, must decide on his or her priorities. If fortune and connection are important, then by all means, a match under any other conditions ought not to be formed.”
It was now obvious that Mr. Tilden had considered Darcy a worthy match for his daughter. How far Darcy had pursued the matter was irrelevant. He had returned to Hertfordshire and married her. She rejoiced in the thought, but spared just enough feeling to have compassion for Miss Tilden. It would be impossible for her not to know her father’s intentions, and in all likelihood, she had been encouraged to attach herself to Darcy and must now be suffering some disappointment.
“There had been some talk of my daughter marrying Mr. Darcy, but that was before he fell under your influence.”
Elizabeth would not respond to the provocation.
“Have you nothing to say, madam?” asked Mr. Tilden with some frustration.
“No,” replied Elizabeth in a quiet but deliberate voice, “I have not.”
Mr. Tilden eyed Elizabeth carefully. She was a beautiful woman, but no more so than Clara. She confessed to having no accomplishments, no connections and no fortune. What did she have?
“What were Mr. Darcy’s motives in marrying you? Could you possibly explain them?”
Elizabeth did not conceal her contempt when she answered. “Yes, Mr. Tilden, I can explain them in one word. Happiness.”
Mr. Tilden shook his head and Elizabeth saw Miss Tilden redden.
Elizabeth rose to indicate an end to the interview. Miss Tilden rose also, but Mr. Tilden remained seated. “Mr. Tilden,” she said, concealing the offense she felt at his rudeness, “I am sorry for any disappointment you and your daughter have suffered on hearing that Mr. Darcy has married elsewhere. I am his wife and am under his protection now, and I believe he would not appreciate me allowing myself to continue to be subjected to your questions and demands.”
* * * * *
DARCY RETURNED TO ELIZABETH AS quickly as he could. Being away from her at this special time was not pleasant. He was impatient to see her and was filled with anticipation as he entered his house knowing he would spend the rest of the day and night with her. He expected to find her in the library behind his desk. With playful impertinence so entertaining to a lover, he had submitted to her desire of writing and reading there. She told him it gave her a feeling of connection to him during those times when they must be apart, and those feelings were of a kind to be encouraged. With these pleasant thoughts in mind, he was annoyed to learn from Mrs. Jamison that the Tildens were at that moment with his wife in the drawing room.
As Darcy approached the drawing room, he heard Elizabeth speaking. Her voice was firm, and though not loud, it was tinctured with anger.
“ . . . married elsewhere. I am his wife and am under his protection now, and I believe he would not appreciate me allowing myself to continue to be subject to your questions and demands.”
Before Mr. Tilden could respond, Darcy entered the room. “Indeed, I would not!”
Elizabeth looked at her husband with a smile. Having acknowledged his protection, it was gratifying to benefit from it. He returned her smile, but as he turned away from her, she saw his countenance change from the warmth he had shown her to one of severity and coldness.
Mr. Tilden rose from his seat when Darcy entered the room. The slight to his wife had not gone unnoticed by him. “Mr. Tilden, you seem to choose particularly inconvenient times to call.”
“There is nothing in that. I just wanted to meet your wife; that is all.”
“Your desire to meet my wife seems to have descended into an opportunity to insult her. Well, Mr. Tilden, I suppose it will have to be swords or pistols at dawn. I will allow you your choice of weapon.”
Elizabeth had never heard of her husband ever being involved in a duel and could not possibly imagine that he would take such offense to Mr. Tilden’s remarks. She gave her husband a look of surprise, concern and astonishment. Darcy returned her glance with a wink. She understood and turned away to hide a smile.
Mr. Tilden was shocked into silence.
“My cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, has been my tutor in both weapons, and I feel quite confident in prevailing. He will be my second and can be reached in St. James Street. He has just returned to London from a foreign post and is currently on leave from his regiment. Please contact him to make arrangements for a place to meet so that you may voice your ill opinion of my wife, and I can defend her from the insult.”
“I . . . sir . . . ”
“Is there anything else you wish to say before you leave?”
“Mr. Darcy, are you calling me out?”
“Sir, you leave me no option when you enter my home uninvited and insult my wife.”
“I cannot fight you, Mr. Darcy,” insisted Mr. Tilden. “I have never —”
“Are you afraid, Mr. Tilden? Surely you cannot be. You must be quite confident in your abilities to be so bold as to treat, in the worst possible manner, another man’s wife.”
“Mr. Darcy, this has gone far enough!”
“Far enough for your honor, but not mine. You have assaulted that which is most precious to me, and I must be allowed satisfaction.”
“Please, this is not right. Surely, you cannot be serious. I admit that I was unkind, that I —”
“If you are forming an apology, it should be directed to my wife.”
“Yes, of course.” Mr. Tilden cleared his throat and turned to face Elizabeth. “Mrs. Darcy, please forgive me for insulting and offending you. It is my pride that has been hurt, which I wanted to heal by humbling yours. I admit I was very wrong, and I am sorry. Please, I beg of you, do not allow my indiscretion to become something even more grievous.”
Miss Tilden spoke for the first time. “Mrs. Darcy, I am very sorry for both my father and
myself,” she said nervously and with a voice barely heard. “His . . . our . . . intentions . . . were wrong.”
Mr. Tilden began to speak, but was cut off by his daughter. “Father, please! No more!”
Elizabeth looked at Miss Tilden with a smile. It was obvious that she was just another pawn that her father utilized to gratify his own ambitions.
“I accept your apology, Mr. Tilden,” said Elizabeth. She walked up to him and offered her hand. “Good day.”
Mr. Tilden took her hand with some confusion. “Thank you, ma’am. Please excuse us.”
He bowed to Mr. Darcy.
Darcy did not acknowledge him.
When the door closed on the Tildens, Elizabeth broke out in so much laughter that she was required to sit down. Darcy sat next to her, as amused by her mirth as he was by the encounter with Mr. Tilden.
* * * * *
WHEN ELIZABETH HAD HAD HER laugh, Darcy realized that Mr. Tilden was not the only one who owed her an apology. “I am so sorry. You should not have had to endure that. I will ensure that no one has access to the house when I am not in.”
“Thank you, but I am quite well, as you can see.” Elizabeth leaned into him and kissed his cheek. “Who is Miss Tilden?”
“Uh . . . Mr. Tilden’s daughter, of course,” hemmed Darcy. “An acquaintance, that is all.”
“An acquaintance? Come now, Fitzwilliam, who is she?”
Darcy looked to her for some sign of escape, but she would not provide it. He acknowledged his defeat with lowered eyes and began his explanation. “She is a young woman to whom I tried to attach myself.”
“And when was that?”
“I met her two years ago at her coming out ball. She is a pleasant, amiable young woman who is well educated and highly accomplished.”
“In other words, everything that I am not.” Elizabeth was conscious that her strength was in her ability to love Darcy and make him happy. Of all the accomplishments to which she could possibly attain, this was the only one that mattered. She knew it, and so did he.
“Her father spent a fortune on her education, and as luck would have it, she was a good student. Since that ball, I have maintained a casual acquaintance with Miss Tilden and her father. When they entertain large parties, I am generally invited.” He was silent for a moment, but her eyes commanded that he continue. “I am very embarrassed by this, Elizabeth.”
She took his hand and kissed it. “You must know that all wives are curious about the former love interests of their husbands.”
“I assure you that there was never any love involved.” Darcy cleared his throat. “After I left Netherfield the first time, Mr. Tilden invited me to a small dinner party. The obvious purpose of this meeting was to provide me an opportunity to begin forming an attachment with Miss Tilden. I saw them several times in like manner. I tried to interest myself with Miss Tilden, but I could not. She was not you. I could never forget you and the love I felt for you and from you. No woman could replace that, and having tasted your affection, no other was satisfying to me.
“I suppose I should have discouraged their attentions to me, but I did not. I was flattered, and I was lonely. One evening after dinner, Mr. Tilden took me aside in his study to talk about Miss Tilden. It was his desire that I marry his daughter. I told him I did not love her. He said that it takes more than love to make a good marriage, and he offered me £35,000 if I would marry her.”
“What were her feelings?”
“We were comfortable with each other, but at no time had we discussed anything of a personal nature. It is my opinion that she has no thoughts at present of marriage, though she could be persuaded by her father to do almost anything. I made no promise to her. I have not broken faith with anyone.”
“You walked away from an immense fortune, Fitzwilliam.”
“My experiences with you and the Tildens taught me that there is nothing other than love that is required to make a good marriage. I wanted happiness, not money. I knew you loved me and I was more confident in that than in any other thing. I loved you, and having acknowledged my desire, which was to marry you, I set everything in motion for an immediate removal back to Hertfordshire. Before I could leave, I received Bingley’s letter announcing your engagement.”
“That is quite a story, sir,” she said as he took her up in his arms, “and I am highly gratified to know that you acted honorably towards Miss Tilden. Let us speak of it no more.”
* * * * *
DARCY DID NOT KEEP HIS promise of showing off his bride to his friends and family. They had obliged themselves for every evening during the second week of their marriage, but each day the engagements fell away in favor of privacy and solitude.
Elizabeth was quite comfortable with her new husband and returned his attentions to her as eagerly as he gave them. Never had she known such a period of happiness and contentment. She looked forward to the future. The life they would lead at Pemberley would be filled with pleasure and delight. They would participate in what society the neighborhood had to offer, but mostly they would stay in their quiet family party. Elizabeth looked forward to the days she would spend with Georgiana when Darcy was away.
At the end of the second week, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy entered their traveling carriage and embarked on the road to Hertfordshire. In addition to changing horses, Darcy anticipated one additional stop on their way to Netherfield.
* * * * *
WHEN THE CARRIAGE PULLED UP in front of Longbourn, the door was opened and Darcy stepped down. After a word to his coachman requesting that he remain in front of the house, he silently approached the door. He was nervous, not for his own sake, but because he hoped to effect a reconciliation between Elizabeth and her mother. He felt responsible for their breach. If he had never returned to Hertfordshire, Elizabeth would be married to Mr. Grinly and happy in her mother’s affection. As this was not an alternative he wished to consider, his only satisfaction would be in a reunion of mother and daughter. To this end, he knocked on the door.
Mrs. Hill answered. “Oh, Mr. Darcy! Welcome, sir. How may I help you?”
“Good day, Mrs. Hill. Would it be possible for me to see Mrs. Bennet?”
“Do please come in, sir. I will let Mrs. Bennet know that you are here.”
Hill took his hat and gloves, ushered him into the drawing room, and seated him there with a promise of returning quickly with Mrs. Bennet.
After she left the room, Darcy rose from his seat and walked to the window. The lawn and grounds of Longbourn were pleasant to view. Looking to the right, he could see their carriage in the paddock and wondered what Elizabeth might be feeling.
* * * * *
“YOU ARE VERY WELCOME TO Longbourn, Mr. Darcy,” said Mrs. Bennet as she entered the drawing room.
Darcy turned to her and bowed. “Thank you, Mrs. Bennet.”
Mrs. Bennet was confused by his presence. Mr. Darcy had been a rare visitor at Longbourn and she had never seen him outside the company of Mr. Bingley. She was aware that he had not been in Hertfordshire for some time now, and so she was quite surprised when Hill announced that he was in the drawing room waiting for her.
“Please forgive me for calling at such an inconvenient hour, but I have just arrived in Hertfordshire for a visit with the Bingleys, and I wanted to call and learn for myself that you were well.”
Mrs. Bennet was pleased with the attention. Moving to a sofa, she sat down and invited him to do the same. “It has been a long time since I have seen you, sir, and it is very kind of you to call.”
“May I inquire after the health of you and your daughters?”
“I am quite well, thank you, and so are my daughters, at least, I hope all of them are well.”
“What do you mean?”
“You would not be interested . . . ”
“No, no. Please, continue.”
“Well, I . . . I have not seen Elizabeth in quite some time. She has been staying at Netherfield with the Bingleys and has recently accompanied them to London
, or so I am told. We had a disagreement, and I have not seen her recently.”
“I am sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do?”
“Did you happen to see her when you were in Town? I know that Mr. Bingley is your close friend.”
“Yes. I did meet Miss Bennet on several occasions.”
“And how is she?”
“I have never seen her looking better, and she appeared to be so happy. She is a very beautiful woman. You must be proud of her. I am grieved that difficulties have arisen between you.”
Mrs. Bennet was silent for a moment “Sir, did you happen to know that she was engaged to be married?”
“I did hear something of that from Bingley. I believe it was to a gentleman from Wiltshire?”
“Yes, but it did not turn out well. He changed his mind and would not have her. He said that he could not make Elizabeth happy, and that it was impossible for him to marry her. He would not be persuaded otherwise. I blamed Elizabeth. She became very upset and left Longbourn to stay with Mrs. Bingley.”
“I am very sorry that anything occurred that made either of you unhappy.”
“I had such great hopes for her being happily settled, and now they are all ruined.”
“Miss Bennet is all loveliness. She will find a man who will love her.”
“I hope so. I miss her very much.” She hesitated. “I must confess, and I do regret, that I was so very unkind to her. You will see her I am sure, while you are at Netherfield. Would you tell her . . . well . . . I . . . ”
“I understand, ma’am. When I see Miss Bennet, I will let her know that you are thinking about her.”
“That is kind of you.”
“I have not told you my good news, Mrs. Bennet.”
“Oh, and what is that?”
“I have recently married. Just two weeks ago.”
“You have? Congratulations, sir. I wish you joy! When will I be introduced to your bride?”
“She has accompanied me, but desired to remain in the coach until she knew she would be welcome.”
“Welcome, Mr. Darcy? Of course, she is welcome! How could you allow her to remain out of doors when we have been sitting here so comfortably? I insist that you bring her inside. Oh, I am mortified! What will she think of me?” Mrs. Bennet jumped to her feet and hurried from the room. “Come along, Mr. Darcy. It is abominably rude to keep her waiting.”
Rocks in the Stream Page 34
