by P. O. Dixon
“On the contrary, Lady Elizabeth, I believe any adverse effects the exercise may have wrought on your attire has served the exact opposite on your countenance. Your eyes are brightened by the excursion.”
She smiled. “I suppose there is a compliment buried in your praise, sir, and hence I thank you.”
“Lady Elizabeth, have you walked very far?”
“I’ve walked just under two miles, sir. Why do you ask?”
“I ask because I would like very much for some time alone with you. If you are not too tired from walking thus far, perhaps we may have a turn around the park. Of course, if you think I am a bit too presumptuous, I will gladly settle for a chance to walk with you to the house.”
An opportunity to have Mr. Darcy all to herself was not one that Elizabeth was likely to turn down. “I believe a walk around the park with you will be a pleasure, sir. Shall we proceed?”
Falling in step with her, Darcy said, “I am sorry for your loss, Lady Elizabeth.”
Taken aback, she said, “Oh? What loss is that, sir?”
Darcy regarded her with a puzzled look. “Why, the loss of Lord Robert Frawley.”
“Oh!” Elizabeth’s countenance contorted with contrition. “I suppose I ought to be thanking you, sir. I mean to say that is the proper thing to do.” She bit her lowered lip. “Is that the reason for your having traveled all this way, sir? To offer your condolences?”
“Well, yes and no. Pardon me, but you seem surprised by my gesture.”
“Oh, Mr. Darcy, disguise of any sort is my abhorrence and were I to pretend that Lord Frawley’s disappearance was truly a cause for great sorrow, I would be lying. Please do not misunderstand me, for I am indeed saddened for his family and his dearest friends and acquaintances. However, the truth is that I consider myself as neither of those things. I hardly even knew the gentleman, and it has been many years since I last laid eyes on him. I could not have picked him out from a crowd of three or four gentlemen.” She folded one arm over the other and looked Darcy straight in the eye. “Now, hate me if you dare.”
Darcy unfolded Elizabeth’s arms and took her gloved hands in his. “Me—hate you, Lady Elizabeth? I could never imagine such a prospect.”
A stirring she had not felt in months spread over her body. Did this man even know the effect he had on her? All that time he was away, she had wondered where he was and what he was doing. Now, he was standing before her, holding her hands in his.
He gave her hands a gentle squeeze and then released them. “Forgive me for supposing that your family’s favorite wish for an alliance between you and the gentleman was indeed your own.”
“I suppose I might forgive you, sir, especially since you and I had a conversation in a similar vein as regarded your own family’s favorite wish for you and your cousin.”
Here, Darcy’s expression clouded.
Elizabeth said, “Do you not remember my questioning your intention to marry your cousin during our dance at the ball last Season? It was soon after you introduced me to your cousin Lady Victoria Fitzwilliam.”
“Indeed, I do recall you were quite presumptuous. I suppose that makes us even. Neither of us willingly relinquishes our right to choose our own destiny to the wishes of others.”
“I am glad we were able to reach this understanding, sir.”
“Is that what we have done, Lady Elizabeth? Have we reached an understanding?”
His expression being unreadable, Elizabeth likened it to panic. Her spirits rising to playfulness, Elizabeth laced her arm through Darcy’s. “Perhaps what we have achieved is best described as our having reached a level that no longer allows for misunderstandings. Does that meet with your gentlemanly sensibilities, sir?”
Placing his free hand over hers, Darcy chuckled. “Indeed—no more misunderstandings.”
“Now, sir, it has been a very long time since you and I enjoyed each other’s company. As I am a very curious creature, I am yearning to know all about your recent adventures.”
He shrugged. “I visited a small town north of London in order to assist my friend Charles Bingley in the management of his estate. Being among the landed gentry is rather new to him. I aided him where I could. Aside from that, there is not much to entertain.”
“You were in Hertfordshire for weeks as a guest of Mr. Bingley and no doubt his pernicious sisters, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. Surely your being in the company of those two, in and of itself, was the means for a good measure of entertainment.”
“You, my lady, take an eager interest in Bingley’s sisters, especially Miss Bingley, whom you often like to call my particular friend. If I did not know you better, I would say you were jealous of the young woman. What say you to that?”
“I say it’s a good thing that you do know me, for the very notion that I am jealous of the likes of Miss Caroline Bingley is ridiculous.” Elizabeth arched her brow. “That is, of course, unless I have reason to be – as you say – jealous. Is there something you’re not telling me about your trip, for I have the distinct impression you’re trying hard not to answer my questions about your stay in Hertfordshire.”
“I would by no means wish to suspend any pleasure of yours, Lady Elizabeth.”
“Then tell me everything, else I shall be entirely displeased.”
Before Darcy could respond, two gentlemen approaching them on horseback, one guiding the reins of an extra mount, drew their attention.
“Oh, dear! Unless I am mistaken, that is my brother coming in search of me.”
Indeed, she was correct. Avery stopped a short distance away and signaled for the other gentleman, his grandfather’s head groomsman, to stay put.
“Lady Elizabeth,” said he with a slight bow. He turned to his friend Darcy. “When I saw your mount in the stable, I should have known what was afoot.”
Elizabeth said, “Pray my delayed return to the house has not created an uproar?”
“I am afraid your tardiness has done just that, little sister. Grandfather and Mother returned a short while ago. They are beside themselves not knowing what may have befallen you.”
“No doubt, they sent you out to rescue me.”
“You know how much the two of them worry when you go unaccounted for, Elizabeth.”
“Indeed, I do. However, I wish they would not always be so fastidious where my whereabouts are concerned. It is not as though I plan to run away.”
“I think this is a discussion for another time and place.” Avery looked at Darcy. “When last we spoke, you said you were in a hurry to return to Pemberley. It seems your plans have changed. Shall we expect you for dinner, perhaps an overnight stay?”
Darcy said, “No.” He faced Elizabeth. “As much as I have enjoyed our turn about the park, Lady Elizabeth, I believe it is time I take my leave.”
Elizabeth said, “Must you truly leave, sir? I should like it very much if you would accept my brother’s invitation. Besides, I was so thoroughly looking forward to continuing our discussion. I believe you have yet to regale me with your adventures in Hertfordshire.”
“Your brother is very kind—as are you, Lady Elizabeth. However, I believe it will be better if you and I defer our conversation until we meet again.”
Chapter 17 ~ In the Usual Way
Kent, nine weeks later …
It was rather late in the day when Darcy and his cousin Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam arrived in Kent for their annual visit with their aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Darcy had a late start that was made worse by delays in changing horses in Bromley. There he met his cousin, who also was a bit late. All Darcy wanted to do was refresh himself upon their arrival, but they were immediately shown into the parlor, at her ladyship’s insistence. According to the butler, she had a guest and she was most eager for him to meet her nephews.
Darcy and Fitzwilliam greeted their aunt and her daughter, Miss Anne de Bourgh, in the usual way, and both gentlemen continued standing with the hope they would soon be excused.
Lady Catherine said,
“I believe you spent last autumn in Hertfordshire, Darcy, did you not?”
Darcy acknowledged that he had indeed, which was sufficient encouragement for Lady Catherine.
She nodded knowingly. “Then you likely would have met the Bennets. Mr. Collins is the heir to the Bennet family’s estate. It is entailed to the male line of the family as you may have discerned when making their acquaintance.”
Collins immediately stationed himself in front of Darcy and bowed deeply. “It is indeed my great honor to make the acquaintance of my noble patroness’ esteemed nephew, sir. I trust you enjoyed a pleasant trip. I pray your stay in Kent will meet with all your most felicitous expectations. My humble abode abuts your aunt’s magnificent estate. I shall be happy to attend you in any manner you might wish over the coming days and weeks—for so long as you choose to grace us with your presence.”
Darcy glowered at the toady man’s impertinence, and he began to grow rather impatient when Collins continued to stand so near his person as though he expected Darcy to respond to his presumptuous entreaty.
Lady Catherine said, “Thank you, Mr. Collins. You may go now and leave me to visit with my nephews at my own leisure.”
Backing out of the room, bowing and kowtowing all the way, Collins begged for a thousand pardons until finally he was gone.
Yielding to their aunt’s none too subtle clues, Darcy and his cousin took their usual seats and accepted the drinks the butler had prepared for them.
“That will be all, Mr. Harvey,” said Lady Catherine once the drinks were served. When he quit the room, her ladyship commenced upon a lengthy diatribe of the entire goings on in the local village since her nephews’ last visit close to a year ago. When she could speak no more on that particular topic, she began to talk of her new vicar and all she had done to restore the Parsonage House.
At length she said, “I have given Mr. Collins leave to choose a wife from amongst the daughters of the local gentry. Should his efforts prove in vain, I shall instruct him to travel to Longbourn in Hertfordshire to choose a bride from among his cousins.”
Darcy, who tended to ignore his aunt’s officious ramblings, heard Longbourn in Hertfordshire, and his attention was now drawn. “Pardon me, your ladyship; did you say you were planning to tell Mr. Collins to choose a wife from among the Bennet daughters?”
“Indeed I did, and why should I not? I should say that any of the young ladies would do well to be chosen as the future wife of the heir to their father’s estate, would they not? I know a thing or two about those Bennets. Mr. Collins has told me all.”
And here Darcy had thought the Bennets and the Philipses were awful people. They were paragons of virtue in comparison to his aunt’s toady parson, thus posing yet another dilemma for Darcy. Whereas months ago, he had searched hard for signs that there might be a connection between the Bennets and the Montlakes, all he was of a mind to do now was to pray for signs that would belie such a notion.
“How does Georgiana get along, Darcy?”
“Georgiana is very well, your ladyship.”
She turned to the colonel. “And your own sister, Lady Victoria, I trust all is well in that quarter as well.”
Masking his surprise that her ladyship would even speak of his sister, the colonel acknowledged that she too was faring very well the last time he saw her. Clearing his throat, he said, “I do not often have the opportunity to enjoy my sister’s company. She and I have such varying schedules. More often than not, when she is in London, I am not, and when I am in London, she is not.” He took a sip of his drink before continuing. “Funny how that works out.”
Lady Catherine huffed. She returned her attention to her other nephew—no doubt, her favorite. “Darcy, I imagine your experience with Lady Victoria is quite the opposite. I would say it is all very peculiar - your so-called friendship with your cousin Victoria, if you asked me.”
Darcy raised his glass to his lips and commenced sipping and focusing upon the amber liquid. I did not ask you, he silently voiced.
Lady Catherine said, “My Anne looks well, do you not agree?”
In deference to his cousin, Darcy smiled at her for the briefest of seconds in a manner that might have easily gone unnoticed if one were not paying particularly close attention. He said nothing.
The colonel, an amiable man who fell readily into conversation no matter the circumstances, spoke up instead. “I do declare, Anne, that you are looking very well.”
Darcy sat his glass aside and stood. “Pardon me, your ladyship, Cousin Anne. I believe I shall retire to my apartment. I shall see you at dinner.” Unwilling to broker his aunt’s protests, he quit the room.
Early the next morning, Darcy and the colonel were walking side by side along the park’s pristine lanes. Everywhere they looked, evidence of early spring abounded.
The colonel said, “You were rather abrupt with Lady Catherine as well as Anne all last evening.”
“What is your point, Cousin?”
“I am merely wondering what brought this change about. You typically suffer our aunt’s company with considerably more patience.”
“I feared her ladyship was about to embark upon yet another litany of my mother’s favorite wish and other such nonsense.”
Richard stood still and folded one arm over the other in a determined stance. “For heaven’s sakes, man. If you have no intention of honoring said wish, then do you not suppose you ought to enlighten our aunt?”
Darcy turned and faced his cousin. “I should not have to. Pray let us speak on another subject, else I beg you for silence.”
The colonel resumed walking and Darcy did likewise. After a few minutes of quietness, Richard did indeed embark upon another topic. “I understand that you have been spending a prodigious amount of time with Lady Elizabeth Montlake.”
“I do not deny it. I would ask, however, how would you know that?”
“Victoria made mention of it when I last called at Matlock House. There’s also the fact that it’s a familiar theme in her letters to me.”
Darcy huffed. “Why does that not surprise me?”
“You do know that my sister fancies herself in love with you, do you not?”
“I cannot say that I do.”
“All the signs are there if you would but open your eyes and see.”
“Pray tell me that we are not about to embark on that old discussion again.”
“And what discussion is that?”
“The worn out discussion that a man and a woman could not possibly enjoy the sort of friendship that Lady Victoria and I enjoy merely by virtue of her being of the opposite sex.”
“Darcy, I am sure you speak only for yourself as regards disproving that age-old argument, but if you honestly believe that my sister is of the same mind, then you are fooling yourself.”
“I think Lady Victoria knows perfectly well where she and I stand with each other. Besides that, we have been close for far too many years for me not to know how she feels about me.”
“There I beg to differ, Darcy, for I know my sister. She is very much in love.”
Darcy’s mind wandered to a recent conversation with Lady Elizabeth, where she too had mentioned the possibility that Lady Victoria was in love. As much as he and his cousin were in each other’s confidences, surely were that the case – that she was in love with someone – she would have told him. He would know, without being told if she fancied herself in love with him. He, after all, had given Lady Victoria the strongest hint of his increasing admiration for Lady Elizabeth. True, his cousin used this knowledge to tease him whenever she could, but he knew he was perfectly safe from her.
“Perhaps in this case, Richard, I think I know your sister just as well as you. If she were in love with me, I would know. She and I spend far too much time in each other’s company for me to have missed any symptoms.”
“Then have it your way, old man, but do not say I did not warn you. What’s more, my sister is no Anne, as you very well know. What Lady Victoria w
ants, Lady Victoria gets.”
Chapter 18 ~ With Great Enthusiasm
Darcy’s first night in London upon his return from Kent, found him in Lady Elizabeth’s company. This time, they were at the Barringtons’ soiree. Indeed, the location was different, but the faces of all those in attendance were the same. The two of them were standing together on the balcony overlooking the ballroom. If not for the hope of seeing Elizabeth, Darcy would have forgone the occasion altogether.
Elizabeth would argue the same. For the most part, none of the people in the room held the slightest interest for her, save Mr. Darcy. How ardently she had missed seeing him when he was away. Elizabeth said, “Did Miss Darcy travel to Kent with you this year, Mr. Darcy?”
“No. The trip to Kent is generally one that I make with my cousin.”
“Lady Victoria Fitzwilliam?” Elizabeth heard herself asking with a measure of insecurity she indeed wished she did not possess.
“Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, Lady Victoria’s brother. I believe you have yet to make his acquaintance. When you do, I am confident he will meet with your approbation.”
Not if he is anything at all like his sister, Elizabeth thought but did not voice aloud. There I go again. What is it about Lady Victoria that I find so troubling? Of course, there could be but one answer: that being the manner in which she always attached herself to Mr. Darcy whenever they were in company.
Wishing to discuss anything but his Fitzwilliam relatives’ idiosyncrasies, Elizabeth said, “I do long to see your sister again. Is she in town?”
“She is not.”
“Pray you do not think my asking is a cleverly disguised attempt to ingratiate myself with you.”
“I know you well enough to know that you would never resort to such stratagems to garner my good opinion.”
“And I know you well enough to know that such an endeavor would indeed be wasted upon you.”
