A Sister's Curse

by Jayne Bamber

  ***

  Darcy tried to smile at his cousin as Richard sauntered into the library, but it was no use. He knew Richard would see right through him.

  “Well, Darcy, what have you to say for yourself?”

  Darcy sighed as Richard went through his usual routine of pouring them both a drink before he came to sit across from Darcy. “Nothing. Nothing has changed since we spoke at Pemberley – not for me, at least.”

  Richard laughed. “And you resent my change of heart? I would have expected you to be relieved by the, ah... transfer of my affections from one sister to the other.”

  Darcy took a drink. “If it is genuine, you have my blessing.”

  “It is. I want you to know that. I care for Lizzy – I would have been happy to protect her, as father desired, but I could not have loved her as I do Jane. She and I are kindred spirits.”

  “And your father has accepted your decision?”

  “He accepted it when Lizzy was at Darcy House, and you were at Pemberley. Now... well, we shall have to see. She shall reach her majority in a couple of months; it is a miracle she has not been worked on by some villain already, inattentive to her as Sir Edward has been.”

  Darcy flinched. “Sir Edward is a good man, made better by the influence of the family since I went away, from what I hear.”

  “Yes, I suppose it is so – he has been roused at last from years of indolence – of course he will protect her,” Richard replied, without appearing to wholly believe it.

  Darcy stared down at his glass, swirling the amber liquid around. “Once again, it is me she needs protection from.”

  “What happened? Jane said so little – only that Lizzy was upset about our grandmother’s injury, but I know Lizzy is made of sterner stuff than that.”

  Darcy consider simply refusing to answer, but if Richard were to hear of it from Elizabeth, he knew there would be hell to pay. “We were in the library together when our grandmother was injured.”

  “What, in the middle of the night? Darcy, are you mad?”

  “I... I might be. Richard, I kissed her.”

  Richard pounded his fist on the table. “What?”

  “You do not understand –”

  “She is your sister!”

  “She is not my sister,” Darcy exploded. “I should never behave in such a way to Jane or Mary, of course. But Elizabeth is different. Richard, I love her.”

  “Two months ago, you despised her. We sat together in this very room and you disparaged her to me.”

  “Two months ago, I was consumed by prejudice that she has stripped away. She has made me a better man.”

  “What, with a few paltry letters? Darcy, this is madness.”

  Darcy shook his head and waved Richard off. “I do not expect you to understand.”

  Richard sneered. “Do not try that with me, Darcy, I invented that gambit.”

  “Well? Can you not try to think on it from my perspective? At least when I kissed her, she kissed me back.”

  Richard downed his drink and poured himself another. “If I were not so devoted to Jane, that would hurt, Darcy.”

  “Well... good.”

  Richard sighed, shook his head, and then smiled. “We had better make up and be friends again – if you have cocked this up, you are going to need someone in your corner. But Darcy, you had better tell me everything.”

  Darcy did just that, starting with the exchange of letters and his own introspection at Pemberley, his first encounter with Elizabeth in the library, and then the second. Afterward, Richard let out a low whistle. “Well, well. It is… not something I would ever have thought – it shall take some getting used to. However, I will admit, I have often hoped to see you in love, and in some doubt of a return. It has clearly done you some good.”

  “Done me some good?” Darcy thundered at his cousin. “I am miserable, Richard.”

  Richard laughed. “That is how you know it is love, or at least that is what our lady grandmother would say. What does she know of your troubles, by the by?”

  “As little as possible, I hope. I would not trouble her at such a time.”

  “And no one else in the family is aware of what has happened? There is going to be an explosion, you know, when all this comes out.”

  Darcy sighed. “As I told you, I left our grandmother’s room that morning to rest, after staying with her all night. I woke a few hours later and Elizabeth was gone. She told Mother that she did not wish to reside under the same roof as me, and that is all. I cannot imagine Sir Edward knows anything of it, for he was here yesterday and said nothing of it – we spoke in passing, but he was affable as ever.”

  “Well, I should say that is good news. If it stays between you and she, you may yet work it all out. The question is, what do you want to do about it?”

  “What can I do? I have frightened her away, when the trust between us was so new I fear it shall never be repaired.”

  Richard laughed again. “Lord, to have your problems for a day!”

  “I am quite serious.”

  “Oh, I should never doubt that. Only think, Darcy – Lizzy does not suffer fools, and Lady Olivia taught her a thing or two about the art of the set down.”

  “I have firsthand experience.”

  “Exactly so! But what has she done this time? She has not told you off – by all accounts, she has not told anyone at all. If she were only angry with you, the whole family would have heard of it.”

  “So... what does it mean?”

  Richard shrugged. “That she is not angry. I would advise giving her time, Darcy. That has been my approach with Jane, you know. I did not attempt to compromise her as soon as I realized I fancied her.” Darcy glared at his cousin, who raised his hands in mock surrender. “Right, but we will laugh about it someday. All I am saying is, if Lizzy is not going to talk to anyone about it, she must intend to think it through herself, and I believe that is a good sign. Give her some time.”

  “It has been three days!”

  “She has hated you for years – and you are her brother.”

  “Damn and blast!”

  “You know I am right. Give it a week, Darcy. Let her think on it, and see what she says of it to her sisters.”

  Darcy shook his head. “I do not know….”

  “I learned the hard way, did I not? It was all for the best, but there is no need for you to repeat my mistakes with her. Just give it a week Darcy – what more could go amiss in a week?”

  16

  Elizabeth did her best to return to her usual good cheer in the week after she returned to her uncle’s house, and the easiest way of accomplishing it was to put all thoughts of William from her mind entirely. She was every day hoping to see Charlotte, the one person in her family she felt she could trust entirely to confide in; however, every day brought some new visitor to Brook Street, to keep her at home.

  Her mother and sisters visited her twice, and while Elizabeth was relieved that they desired to remain on intimate terms with her, it was difficult to push William from her mind during their visits. Her mother and sisters made some subtle mentions of him, but Elizabeth would not allow herself to ask for any further information than they offered, for she was determined to betray nothing of her tempestuous feelings.

  On the days that did not bring visitors from Darcy House, she had callers from Portman Square. Mrs. Younge accompanied her nephew on the first visit, and seemed delighted, if a little overwhelmed, to meet Sir Edward, her late friend’s brother. Poor Uncle Edward! He was very gracious, though by all appearances he did not truly recall Mrs. Younge from amongst his late sister’s wide circle of acquaintance in Meryton.

  After that, Mr. Smythe called again by himself, with the evident purpose of recommending himself to Elizabeth. She was disappointed that Mrs. Younge had not accompanied him, fearing she might have been embarrassed that Sir Edward did not remember her from their youth.

  For his part, Uncle Edward had been rather occupied that week, calling on the Darcy
s, the Bingleys, and the Fitzwilliams when he was not in his office or at his warehouses. He had met Mr. Smythe but briefly, and had the same reaction as Elizabeth; he found Mr. Smythe’s face almost familiar, causing Elizabeth and her guest to share a private laugh.

  Her uncle was at home for Mr. Smythe’s next visit, and Will Collins joined them soon afterward for an appointment with Sir Edward. Though her uncle had promised her cousin the opportunity to tour one of his merchant vessels, and take tea on board with the captain, Cousin Will would tarry in the drawing room, despite his anticipation.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you,” he said, addressing Mr. Smythe. “I hope you aunt is in good health – I have heard much of her from all my fair cousins.”

  “She is well, though she was a little over-tired this morning, and urged me to go along without her.”

  “I understand she was acquainted with the Bennets. As you may know, I am the late Mr. Bennet’s heir, and have resided at Longbourn these seventeen years. I should like to meet your aunt, for I daresay we may have some acquaintance in common.”

  “Perhaps you may, though it is not likely,” Mr. Smythe replied. “I understand she left Hertfordshire some twenty years ago.”

  Here Uncle Edward interjected, “Was Smythe her maiden name? I am trying to recall – but Fanny had so many friends in the village when she was young.…”

  “So I hear,” Mr. Smythe replied with a little chuckle, before turning the subject. “I hear you are for the docks today, then? I had hoped Miss Bennet might be permitted to walk with me.”

  “I should like that very much,” Elizabeth said.

  Cousin Will looked at his pocket watch. “What do you say, Sir Edward? We might spare an hour – let us all go to the park for a walk – you and I can see the ship after, and I am sure Miss Rose must be wishing for some fresh air as much as the rest of us.”

  “Well, I know you are eager to be getting on, but I do not see why we should not all go together – capital idea!”

  Elizabeth could sense that Mr. Smythe was a little disappointed that he would have to share her company with so many chaperones, though she herself was not vexed about it. She liked Cousin Will, and found his influence on her uncle rather interesting, for he rendered Sir Edward so lively and voluble.

  Rose was delighted to discover her inclusion in the plan, and though she was rather smitten at the sight of Mr. Smythe, Elizabeth had no doubt where his interest lay, for he helped her into her pelisse and offered her his arm as they departed the house with a professed determination to make himself agreeable to her, and it was such a welcome distraction from her troubles that she was equally resolved to be very well pleased indeed.

  ***

  “I hope your aunt is in good health,” Elizabeth said, smiling up at Mr. Smythe.

  “She is, thank you. She found it too cold to walk out this morning. I thought she was being overly cautious, but it is a bit chilly.” He drew his coat tighter about him and gave an exaggerated shiver.

  Elizabeth laughed and shook her head at his teasing. “You puzzle me exceedingly, Mr. Smythe. I believe you said your estate is in Cornwall, and you are so affected by the cold here in London, but I had taken your accent to have the tones of a northerner.”

  Mr. Smythe looked surprised, and then broke into a smile. “I should have guessed you would be so perspicacious. Indeed, I resided in the north of England as a child. My parents died while I was away at Eton, and by the time I had left Cambridge, I had inherited a small estate in the south, from a distant relation.”

  “But tell me of your estate. What is it called?”

  “Thornwall,” he said slowly.

  She blinked at him. “Thornwall, in Cornwall?”

  He grinned and nodded. “Oh yes, it is a very handsome house, and very well fortified, with a great wall surrounding the place and a fearsome hedge of briar roses around the perimeter to hold off brigands and pirates!”

  Elizabeth laughed and shook her head. “You are putting me on!”

  He shrugged, giving her a rueful smile. “I will tell you of my estate someday, I promise. For now, I had better not. I do not like to speak of it – you must understand, my late wife was perhaps a little too interested – that is, I did not mean to suggest that you are the same….”

  Elizabeth was taken aback, and knew not whether to laugh or apologize. That he should think her a fortune hunter! She was rather heartened by what might have been a rather insulting presumption, were it not for her relief at his apparent ignorance of her own circumstances.

  “I hope I did not offend you, Miss Bennet. You must forgive me; I have been out of the habit of speaking to handsome young ladies for quite some time.”

  “Let us resolve that neither of us has given the other offense, and speak of happier tidings.”

  “Your cousin Mr. Collins is an interesting fellow,” said he.

  “Oh, yes – Uncle Edward is vastly fond of him, and I think it rather charming, the two of them.” She gestured backward, and they each glanced back over their shoulder – some twenty paces behind them, Sir Edward, Will Collins, and Rose were engaged in an exceedingly animated conversation.

  “I wonder that he should take such an interest in your uncle, when there are two such beautiful ladies to be met with in the house.”

  “Oh – he is a dear friend, but I am sure that is all. He has been very kind to me and both of my sisters.”

  “Yes, that is right. I had forgotten that you have two sisters – you scarcely mention them. You were also raised in the north for a time, I understand, and your sisters as well. There was a family – the Darnleys?”

  “The Darcys. Yes, they raised us, though I came to London seven years ago.”

  “Not the Darcys of Pemberley?”

  “Yes. Do you know them?”

  “I know of them. I had a dear friend when I was at Cambridge, who was intimately acquainted with their family. Oh, but I am sure you would know him. You would have been very young, I am sure, but do you recall a man called George Wickham?”

  “I do, a little. In truth, I can barely remember his face; he was already away at school when I came to Pemberley, though we met sometimes at Christmas or over the summer when I was a girl. William and my cousins were fond of him growing up, and he was betrothed to my sister Jane.”

  “Yes – I heard she is a great beauty. As to his friendship with your brother and cousins, I cannot say – that is, I had better not. He is gone now, poor Wickham; I suppose I ought to leave it.”

  Elizabeth peered up at Mr. Smythe with unconcealed curiosity. “What is it?”

  “Only that Wickham once confided in me that he and Mr. Darcy were not always on the best of terms, nor Mr. Darcy’s cousins. He was so violently in love with his dear Jane, and the young men in the family, I understand, were very proud, and thought Wickham not worthy of her. Of course, I have no wish to impugn your relations – that was several years ago, and perhaps they have grown in generosity since then – perhaps Wickham’s loss has taught them to value their former friend in memory.”

  Elizabeth was quiet for a minute, processing what Mr. Smythe had told her. Though she had begun to think better of William these past two months – perhaps a little too well – she nonetheless felt vindicated in her previous opinion of him. She had resented William’s interference in George Wickham’s career, which cost him his life. To hear that it had been done in such an unfeeling manner was a shock, and yet at the time she had believed him fully capable of such hatefulness. Yet now, her opinion of William was so drastically changed that she could not believe it without a tremendous pain in her heart.

  “I apologize,” said Mr. Smythe, “if I have offended you once more, Miss Bennet. I have been thinking about you a great deal since first we met, and now that I am with you, I cannot seem to speak without doing myself discredit. Truly, I meant not to disparage any of your family.”

  Elizabeth blushed and looked away. “You have not offended me – I was merely thinking how very sor
ry I have been for Jane since she lost her betrothed.”

  “A sentiment I can understand. Was she very attached to him? I know he worshipped her.”

  “I believe it was entirely mutual. She was not her former self for years after he was lost at sea, though being in London has done a great deal to cheer her. I own it has done my heart good to see her slowly returning to joy. Goodness, I must sound so silly!”

  “No indeed. I am moved by your affection for your sister. I can well understand her being devastated at such a loss – even I was low for many months when I heard of it, for George Wickham was one of the finest men I have ever known. Jane is very lucky to have a sister like you.”

  Elizabeth smiled warmly as he gave her a charming look, and drew her a little closer. “The wind begins to sting a little, does it not?”

  “I am quite well; do you wish to turn back?”

  “Not for all the world. I am sure I could endure a blizzard if it brought me your company!” He laughed and glanced back over his shoulder at Uncle Edward, Cousin Will, and Rose. “They seem not to feel the cold at all – I must accept that I am being quite a ninny. How absorbed they are in whatever it is that they are discussing. Indeed, I believe we might say just about anything to one another, and they should be none the wiser.”

  Elizabeth arched an eyebrow at him. “I hope you are not scandalized by my abysmal chaperones, sir.”

  “Let us just see.” Speaking a little louder, he grinned over his shoulder and said, “My darling Elizabeth, I hope your bags are all packed for Gretna, for I am quite ready to carry you off!”