by Jayne Bamber
Elizabeth pressed her hands against his chest and gave him a little shove as she burst out laughing. Recollecting herself, she looked around, but fortunately the chilly weather had rendered the park rather empty, save their little party. “Hush,” she chided, “you will get us into trouble!”
Mr. Smythe laughed and, glancing back to confirm her uncle’s distraction, he gave her hand a cheeky squeeze. “We cannot have that! Your cousin Collins would call me out, I am sure of it!”
“No indeed!” Elizabeth dissolved in laughter again. “Cousin Will would never fight anybody, I am sure. He is too gentle, too eager to approve of everyone.”
Mr. Smythe raised his eyebrows and gave her a dubious look. “Is he? I daresay he did not seem too fond of me. You must warn me, Miss Bennet, if he may think me a rival.”
“You are quite mistaken, I am sure.” She looked away for a moment, smiling to herself. He had all but declared his interest in her!
“Tell me about your brother, then. I hope he is not so very proud and disagreeable, as I have heard.”
“I have thought him both at times, though I am fond of him.” She hesitated, hardly knowing what she had said or how to proceed, how to account for her true feelings when all she had done was try to suppress them. How came she to be talking about William to Mr. Smythe? Blushing, she said, “I have not always gotten along with him so well as I do now.”
“He has improved in essentials?”
“No, in essentials I believe he is much the same as he ever was – rather, my coming to know him better has improved my opinion of him. He is proud, but where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will always be under good regulation. He is headstrong, to be sure, but it is a family trait, I think.”
“I had imagined him to be an imposing and protective brother, given his disapproval of your sister’s betrothal.”
Elizabeth knew not what to say. She had been angry for this very reason for so long, and yet she realized that she no longer wished to be angry with William about the past. She shrugged at Mr. Smythe. “I suppose it matters not. I believe Jane is soon to be wed, and I am sure she and Cousin Richard have nothing to repine anymore.”
Mr. Smythe’s expression grew severe for a moment, before he shook his head and looked away. “I suppose it was Mr. Darcy’s plan all along, for the cousin to have her,” he muttered.
Elizabeth was beginning to grow uncomfortable with Mr. Smythe, and even the cold was beginning to bother her. “William is an attentive brother, but I am sure he would not go so far as to concoct any scheme against Mr. Wickham – I am sure he only meant to help, to care for Jane.” She chewed her lip, thinking of William’s design on Jane and Mr. Bingley. Certainly he could not have meant to push Mr. Wickham aside for Richard all along. Indeed, it was rather forward of Mr. Smythe to remark upon it at all! “William is a kind and attentive brother,” she repeated firmly.
“I see,” Mr. Smythe said with a gentle smile. “I hope I have not offended you again – I believe I must rethink my plans to carry you off to Gretna, for Mr. Darcy may be Mr. Collins’s second.”
Elizabeth laughed weakly, relieved he had at least attempted to put her at ease, but she had begun to wary of his company. She observed that it might be time for her to return home and warm herself by the fire.
***
It was chilly out, despite the coming spring, and Sir Edward was obliged to use his walking stick as they meandered through Green Park. Rose took Mr. Collins’s arm, and stared ahead at Elizabeth and Mr. Smythe. “Soon it will be my turn,” she sighed.
Mr. Collins laughed indulgently at her. “You envy our cousin, I take it?”
“How could I not?”
“Very easily, I think,” Mr. Collins said, and looked skeptically at Sir Edward. “I cannot like this Smythe fellow.”
“Ha! Now who is jealous?”
“Rose!” Sir Edward scowled at his daughter, but she only grinned playfully at them. “I jest, Papa!”
“Well, I am not in jest at all,” Mr. Collins replied, giving Rose a look of patient concern before addressing Sir Edward. “I think it all very odd.”
“How so? He seems a pleasant, harmless fellow, and Lizzy likes him.”
“With all due respect, Sir Edward, I think it all stinks. What do we really know of this man? His aunt, this Mrs. Younge, appears out of nowhere, recommends herself to my cousins with all this talk of their mother, and then singles out the most well-dowered of the three sisters to introduce to her nephew? Forgive me, sir, for I am only a distant and recently discovered relation, and my claim on Miss Bennet’s interest must be small in comparison to your own and that of her excellent extended family, yet I fear it would be remiss of me not to make my concerns known to you.”
Edward nodded appreciatively, knowing the young man was quite right. Again he felt a pang in his heart, for this young fellow who had been acquainted with Elizabeth not three full months was already taking more of an interest in her affairs than he himself had ever done.
“Your judgment is a fair one,” he admitted. “If Mr. Smythe begins to form any serious designs upon her, I shall be obliged to make some inquiries. At present, I admit I am finding my niece rather difficult to read. She seems to enjoy this young man’s company, though he is but a relatively new acquaintance. However, I had thought her interests might lie elsewhere.”
“Has Lizzy some other suitor?” Rose’s interest in the conversation had apparently redoubled, and she stared expectantly at her father.
Sir Edward raised his eyebrows and gave his daughter a stern look. “You ought not to be privy to such a conversation, my dear, and while I will not satisfy any of your impertinent questions, I would remind you that if you thought to repeat anything you have heard, you should not receive one shilling of your allowance until Christmas, I am sure.”
“Papa!”
Mr. Collins chuckled, and clucked his tongue at Rose. “Your father is right, my dear. We speak out of concern and affection for Cousin Elizabeth, but it is your father’s place to put her on her guard.”
Rose gave them a penitent look. “Very well.”
“Lizzy is a good girl,” Edward replied. “Stubborn, indeed, but she would never get into any serious mischief. She has long declared herself completely uninterested in any kind of romance, so perhaps we ought to leave it be for now.” Though he did not say so aloud, Edward had spoken with Henry at length about the possibility of a match between William and Elizabeth, and though he had never imagined such a thing before, he now rather hoped it would come to pass. If Elizabeth had developed feelings for William, this Smythe fellow could be no great threat.
Ere long, the conversation turned from Elizabeth to matters of business, for Mr. Collins was quite fascinated by the operations of Gardiner Imports, and Sir Edward was delighted at having an audience. It was not the sort of thing that was much talked of amongst his more lofty connections, though he saw no shame at all in engaging in trade, for he had done so very well in it himself, and would not be made to feel ashamed of it. It was, in short, the one part of himself he could be proud of – he was not gifted in matters of romance, and neither had he been an ideal parent or guardian, but he was an excellent businessman.
That Mr. Collins, a landed gentleman, should take such an eager interest was eminently flattering, as well as small confirmation of what Edward himself had long believed, that future generations may not be so fettered by such rigid social structures, that society would move forward progressively, celebrating self-made men. It would be ten years or more before Sir Edward could expect to have such a discussion with his own young son, and yet Will Collins was such an enthusiastic novice.
“I have never felt myself designed for a pastoral life,” Mr. Collins admitted. “My father was an indolent master, and aside from the establishment of a horse breeding enterprise, there was much potential in Longbourn that he never strived to reach. I understand the previous master, your late brother-in-law, was much the same.”
“
Thomas was... lackadaisical at times, yes.”
“I meant no disrespect, of course. I only wished to say that it has been some years since Longbourn was all that it could be, and while I have had a poor example of land management in my late honored father, I find that what I most lack is not the experience, but the interest in what ought to be done. It is not that I do not desire some useful employment, but that perhaps agriculture might not be the best outlet for my aptitude. I had once wished to join the church, which was not clever enough for my mother – she thought I might become a barrister, had I not inherited so young, but that would have been rather too smart for me.”
Rose listened to Mr. Collins with unusual interest. “And should you have liked to go into trade, like Papa?”
“Why, yes, Miss Rose, I think I should. The world is changing; trade will not hold its stigma forever, you know. Not when it is the backbone of the nation. There is a great deal more in it to interest me, in terms of employing one’s mental abilities. I think I should do very well at it. The entail was broken with my inheritance, you know, and the more time I spend in London, the more I begin to consider selling the place entirely, and taking up some more fulfilling employment here in the city.”
“I do love London,” Rose declared, “though I have scarcely been anywhere else.”
“Scarcely been elsewhere?” Sir Edward laughed. “I am sure you have been to Derbyshire a dozen times, and to some seaside place or other nearly every summer!”
Rose laughed, and Mr. Collins did likewise. “I begin to envy you, Miss Rose. I have never seen the seaside.”
“Why ever not? You are a man, and might do as you like, whenever you like.”
Sir Edward gave his daughter another warning look. “Rose!”
Mr. Collins only laughed again. “Would that it were so! Even while I am at my leisure here in London, I do have some responsibilities, and am often writing to my steward. I would like to travel more, but I think I should like to reside here in London best of all.”
From here the conversation turned to more general remarks on the attractions and diversions of Town. Edward and Rose were both effusive in recommending the bustling city they called home to Mr. Collins, who was determined to discover as much of the city as he could, and to be delighted by all of it.
Edward did his best to keep a watchful eye on Elizabeth all the while, and after three quarters of an hour in the park, he decided it best to suggest their return, for Elizabeth had seen enough of her new beau for the day, and even appeared to be rather bored of his conversation – this was some relief to Sir Edward. She did not seem to repine the loss of her admirer’s company at all, and Sir Edward breathed a sigh of relief as he offered his niece his arm, to walk her and Rose home before continuing on his errand with Mr. Collins.
***
Elizabeth finally went to see her cousin Charlotte that afternoon. Aunt Phyllis had other callers, and so Elizabeth lured her cousin out into the courtyard for a tête-à-tête. Charlotte had doubled up her shawls, and drew them tighter around her. “Lizzy, it is chilly out here – whatever is the matter?”
“Oh, everything, Charlotte,” Elizabeth replied, her posture utterly defeated.
Charlotte looked alarmed, and gestured for Elizabeth to sit down with her in a pair of garden chairs at the back of the courtyard. “Tell me everything, cousin”
“I hardly know where to begin.”
“Well, if you cannot simply start at the beginning, suppose you tell me what has put you into this panic,” Charlotte said gently. “Surely something must have upset you today.”
“I went walking in the park with Uncle Edward and Rose, and Cousin Will… and a gentleman.”
“What gentleman?”
“His name is Mr. Smythe – he is Mrs. Younge’s nephew. She introduced us last week, and he has called on me twice.”
“Well! So that is what you have been up to all week – I was missing you, you know. Tell me of this Mr. Smythe – I hope he has not caused your distress.”
“Perhaps a little – nothing untoward, only we were speaking of my family and… William.”
“And this upset you? Has it something to do with why you left Darcy House? It is not like you to be so mysterious, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth leaned back heavily in the wrought iron garden chair, and let out a deep exhale. “Mysterious? Charlotte, I have been such a fool.”
“It would not be the first time, dear Cousin, but I shall love you anyhow. Tell me what happened.”
“You know I had been writing to William, when he was away at Pemberley.”
“Yes, it all seemed to be going well since your quarrel.”
“Charlotte, there is something I never told you about my quarrel with William – indeed, I have not told anybody.”
“I heard he did not recognize you – he thought you were Rose, and Rose was you.”
“Yes, that is true, but at the Twelfth Night, he did not know me at all, nor I him. Charlotte, when we danced that night I… I was attracted to him,” Elizabeth said, her heart aching as she forced the words out. “We spoke so candidly, so warmly – there was a spark between us, an instant connection.”
“And neither of you discerned the other’s identity?”
“Not until the next day, after I had said such dreadful things – and then I was so angry with him for being the handsome knight I had admired, that is why I struck him. After feeling what I felt toward him at the ball, and learning that all those feelings had been for him, I was mortified.”
“And very angry, I hear.”
“Yes, I was, but, Charlotte, I think I was rather heartbroken over it. And since we have been writing letters, my opinion of him has undergone such a material change. I have come to see so much good in him, to care for him. He came back to London because I asked it of him – because I missed him, Charlotte, as I never knew I could miss a person. When he came home, it was as if somebody had struck a match inside me. The house seemed lit up by his presence, and I have never known a more pleasant time there than our family dinner that night. Being in his company felt right for the first time in my life, and I did not want the evening to end. I could not sleep at all, and I went into the library late that night – he was there, Charlotte, and… we kissed.”
Charlotte took Elizabeth’s hand and grinned. “Oh, Lizzy! My dear friend, I am so happy for you! You are in love!”
Elizabeth burst into tears, and could not speak sensibly for several minutes. Finally, Charlotte reached forward and gently lifted Elizabeth’s chin, forcing her to look up. Elizabeth met her cousin’s eye, and Charlotte tilted her head as she asked, “Oh my – you have not yet admitted it to yourself, have you?”
“How could I? He is my brother.”
“You have been assiduously denying that statement for months – years, even! No, Lizzy, you shall have to do better than that.”
Elizabeth wiped away her tears and glowered at her cousin. “Please, Charlotte, do not tease me. I am so tired of feeling angry and confused all the time, and now I am just frightened. Whatever am I to do?”
Charlotte simply laughed. “Marry him, Lizzy. He’s damned handsome, and I would do it myself if it did not put me at risk of being absolutely murdered by Cousin Anne.”
Elizabeth was astonished in a number of ways, and knew not what to remark upon first. She could only shake her head and stare, wide-eyed, at her cousin.
“Do I shock you, then?” Charlotte gave another gentle laugh, and squeezed Elizabeth’s hand. “Truly, Lizzy, I do not understand what is causing all this confusion for you, when it seems so very simple.”
“One evening, Charlotte, one evening spent in his presence, after seven years of dislike and distrust – how can I put it all aside so quickly? How could I have even considered throwing myself at him in such a manner?” Elizabeth unconsciously brought her fingers to her lips, remembering what it had felt like to kiss William, to be in his arms.
“How indeed! It is not uncommon, Lizzy, for handsome
men and pretty ladies to be attracted to one another, and discovering some common ground, as you have, it is a natural step toward acting on those… other feelings.”
“Charlotte!”
“What? It is the truth. I may be a spinster in the making, but I am still older and wiser than you, Lizzy. At any rate, you and William have been making eyes at one another since Christmas dinner.”
“He thought I was Rose!”
“He thought that you were worth staring at, and that is precisely what he did for most of the night.”
“Can you not understand my apprehension at all? We have only just begun to find our footing with one another, and he is my brother in the eyes of all the family. I like him very well, but two months of exchanging letters and one evening of merriment is not enough to commit to something more, not when I have seen how very wrong it can go. I should hate for us to end up like my aunt and uncle.”
“Which aunt and uncle? You may have one rather discouraging example of an unhappy marriage, but you have also had two very superior pictures of domestic felicity before you, with my father and your Aunt Phyllis, and the Darcys who raised you.”
“Your father and my Aunt Phyllis knew one another for ten years before they wed. My Uncle Edward married Aunt Olivia after two weeks!”
“You have known William nearly all your life!”
Elizabeth shook her head again. “And yet, I have only liked him for the last two months! It is not enough, Charlotte.”
Charlotte really began to look quite cross. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes, and then finally opened them again, her countenance softening. “I am sorry, Lizzy. I am trying to understand you – you must recall that not every young lady would scorn such an opportunity, but I am determined to see your side of the matter, if it will bring you any comfort. Go on then, tell me what else is on your mind, for there must be something more to have you so worked up, and set against poor William.”
