Darcy’s heart lurched when the glow of lamp lights came around the corner. He flexed his hands and hoped he did not look too nervous or excited when the carriage came into view, carrying Elizabeth closer and closer to him. His heart pounded so fast he could hear it thudding in his ears. He, who had always prided himself on his cool head, was nearly trembling with anticipation to see a young lady. Who would ever have thought he would behave this way? Why did Elizabeth have this affect on him?
The carriage came to a stop. The footman stepped forward to hand the ladies out but Darcy was there before him and dismissed him with a brief word. The door opened and he was rewarded with the sight of Elizabeth’s sparkling eyes.
“I am so sorry we are late,” she said. “There was a small problem with the carriage but it is fixed now. I hope you were not waiting on us too long?”
“Not at all,” said Darcy. “I hope you are recovered from your ordeal yesterday?”
Elizabeth smiled as she placed her hand in his.
“I have used up all the smelling salts in Lambton but I think I am finally safe from fainting.”
Darcy could not resist leaning closer just as she started to move from the carriage. She brushed by him but he could pretend it had been accidental on his part.
“And I hope you have not repeated your escapade?” he murmured close to her ear.
Elizabeth turned to look at him. Being so close, she stilled and did not breath. Her fine eyes lit up by the lamps burned into his.
“I did not,” was all she said. She kept looking at him as though she could not quite bring herself to look away. A faint colour swept over her cheeks. Darcy dropped his gaze and saw her lips, so very close and so very inviting. He drew a breath and forced himself back to reality. He cleared his throat and handed her out.
Mr and Mrs Gardiner had already been handed out on the other side. Darcy thought that was just as well or they would have seen him leaning into their niece as though he were about to kiss her. And if he had remained where he was another moment, he might have done just that. And then where would he have been? Forced to marry a young lady who, for all her charms, could not be mistress of Pemberley.
Or could she…?
No! Of course she could not. Her aunt and uncle, for all they were wonderful people, were in trade. Elizabeth herself clearly had no significant fortune to bring to her marriage. He could not throw himself away on an unfortunate alliance, no matter how strong the temptation was. He owed his family legacy far better than that.
It was just as well he recalled it, he thought, as he looked over the magnificent roofs of Pemberley which had sheltered his family for centuries. If Darcy were not so sure of his self mastery, he might have forgotten that very fact.
Introductions were performed and everyone was escorted inside. To Darcy’s disappointment, Georgiana claimed the seat beside Elizabeth, but he quickly chided himself for his foolishness. Elizabeth was Georgiana’s guest, after all. She was her friend, not his. And he had agreed to the invitation for Georgiana’s sake. She was so shy and she found it so difficult to make friends. He would have to put aside his own attraction to Elizabeth and remind himself that Georgiana’s happiness was what mattered here. It was his job to encourage their friendship to promote his sister’s happiness.
If he kept that thought at the forefront of his mind, it might stop him from dwelling on the way the candlelight lit up Elizabeth’s hair and captured tints of red in the chestnut of her curls. Or the way her lips curved so easily into a smile as they did often…
Georgiana! Elizabeth was here for Georgiana. Not him. He would have to do his best to remember that. In the spirit of doing so, he took the chair beside Mr Gardiner and was soon engaged in an interesting conversation about the possibility of new trade in the far east.
24
Pleased as Elizabeth was to be with Georgiana again, she was disappointed at how distant Darcy had been. When he had leaned in to whisper in her ear as he handed her out of the carriage, she felt as though she had been struck by lightning. For a moment, she had almost forgot herself and who she was and swayed towards him. What would have happened then she was not certain, but she was quite sure it would have meant the end of her reputation.
But if there had been something between them in that moment, it must have existed in her imagination alone. Darcy had been cordial since he had escorted her to the drawing room but he had moved away at once and stood talking to Bingley and Uncle Gardiner. As a woman, Elizabeth could not approach him or interrupt the conversation to insert herself but she was quite sure if she had the freedom to approach a person she was interested in, she would have taken full advantage of it. The fact that Darcy hardly looked at her since she entered the house must be a sure sign she imagined any regard he might have for her.
Still, she could not be disappointed in the evening. Even if Darcy did not care for her, Georgiana was proving to be a dearer girl all the time. Elizabeth delighted in drawing her out and teasing her gently to make her laugh.
“Tell me about your music master in London,” she said.
Georgiana’s eyes lit up. “Mr Barlow is wonderful. He is in high demand everywhere. I am so lucky he offered to teach me. Fitzwilliam went out of his way to employ him when he saw how much it meant to me.”
“And is he strict?”
“Not at all. He is disciplined but he makes learning a joy. He is the only part of London I miss when I am here. I will be sorry to leave Pemberley but I am so looking forward to my lessons again.”
Georgiana was so oddly animated as she spoke that Elizabeth felt a little apprehensive. She cast about for a way to raise a subject that might be delicate.
“My sister, Mary, once had an interest in drawing,” she said cautiously. “Mary had no talent for it, not the way you have with music. But she was determined to learn and after much badgering, my father was persuaded to employ a drawing master.”
Georgiana nodded. “And did she find him a good teacher?”
“She did. Unfortunately, my younger sister, Kitty, was very taken with him. He was young and handsome and unmarried. He was charming to women and he knew it, especially when he held a position of authority. He knew young ladies could be impressionable and it gratified him to think they might be in love with him even while he did not think on any of them seriously.” Elizabeth hesitated. “Kitty was persuaded to believe herself in love. Mr Quinn never said anything outright inappropriate but he was far more experienced in the ways of the world than my sister. I am afraid he caused quite a disruption in the household. The only saving grace was that my sister had no fortune for him to want. But if matters had been different…”
Georgiana looked politely puzzled but her face cleared when she was the tentativeness in Elizabeth’s eyes. To Elizabeth’s astonishment, she put her hands over her mouth and giggled.
“Oh dear. I think I must have misled you. I hope I have not spoken of Mr Barlow in such terms as to make you think I am in love with him? I think perhaps you are seeking to warn me?”
For once, Elizabeth felt on the back foot. “Well, I did not — I mean, how you spoke of him — your face lit up so —“
Seeing that no one was paying them any mind at that moment, Georgiana pressed her face affectionately against Elizabeth’s shoulder.
“You are a dear friend to me,” she said. “That you should seek to be concerned for my wellbeing and warn me.”
“Then I am wrong? You do not have feelings for Mr Barlow?”
“I do not.” Georgiana’s eyes shone. “If I am enthusiastic about him it is because he has done so much to help me with my greatest joy. But I am afraid I am in no danger of losing my heart to him. Mr Barlow is eighty years old and has grandchildren who are older than me. He should have retired long ago but he said he can no more give up music and teaching than I could give up the pianoforte or the harp. If anything, he is like a grandfather to me. I never knew either of mine. But I can promise you I am in no danger of having him seek to marry me f
or my fortune.” Georgiana’s eyes danced with mirth. Elizabeth stared at her in surprise.
“Eighty years old!” she exclaimed. “I was imagining another Mr Quinn, a dashing young man of five and twenty out to break young girls’ hearts and all I could think of was how dangerous such a man would be for you. Oh, forgive me, Georgiana. I did not mean to suggest you would —“
The two girls looked at one another and burst out laughing.
“I am so sorry,” said Elizabeth. “I overstepped a little.”
“Not at all,” said Georgiana as she wiped tears from her eyes. “I am touched that you were trying to protect me. For a moment I felt as though I had an older sister.”
“What are you ladies laughing at?”
Elizabeth looked up, her eyes bright with mirth to see Darcy had come to join them. He pulled a chair beside Elizabeth and sat down, his smile warm to see his sister’s happiness.
“Elizabeth feared for me. She thought I was in danger of eloping with Mr Barlow,” said Georgiana, still giggling. “Can you imagine me introducing him to you as your brother in law?”
Darcy laughed. “You are almost as protective of my sister as I am, Miss Bennet. You are a good influence over her.”
“Yes, I shall keep her safe from all the elderly men of the kingdom,” said Elizabeth.
“Oh, it seems all the sport is to be had in this corner of the room,” Miss Bingley cried in a high voice. “Will you not share your entertainment with us, Miss Bennet?”
“It is nothing. I simply misspoke.”
Miss Bingley’s smile was flat. “Come, now. You will not deprive us of entertainment? Perhaps you are not accustomed to houses like Pemberley, but it is your duty as a guest to share anything that might bring us amusement. Perhaps Hertfordshire is not so refined.”
An awkward silence followed her words. Darcy and Georgiana stared at Miss Bingley while her smile grew more strained and she began to squirm. She tried to pass her remark off with a laugh.
“I am not sure what sort of houses you are accustomed to, Miss Bingley,” said Darcy. “I thought I did, but perhaps I do not. But one does not insult their hosts guests or provoke them to share private conversations. I have not demanded that you share with us what you and Mrs Hurst have been whispering about in the corner all evening. I suspect you would not like it if I did.”
Elizabeth knew she should look away to spare Miss Bingley’s blushes but she was too curious to see how she would respond to such a scolding from her favourite. If Miss Bingley was compelled to share their discussion, Elizabeth knew she and her aunt and uncle would make up a large part of it. And none of it would be flattering.
“Louisa and I — it was only sisterly nonsense. Nothing that would be of interest to the rest of you. I spoke of a new gown and a new bonnet and Louisa said she thought it would look best with a daisy trimming, but I am not convinced…”
Darcy exchanged a look with Mr Bingley who did not seem eager to defend his sister.
“Come on, Caroline. Miss Bennet and Miss Darcy are entitled to their discussions as much as you are,” he called. “Anyhow, Mr Gardiner and I are just talking about that new development on the Strand. You recall the one I mean.”
“I am sure I do not,” said Miss Bingley coldly. “What would I know about trade? Or you, for that matter? Mr Gardiner will have to excuse us. We cannot contribute anything of value to a conversation that has nothing to do with us.”
Elizabeth almost rose in indignation and she was not sure what she might have said if Mr Bingley had not burst out laughing.
“What nonsense,” he exclaimed. “You must forgive my sister, Mr Gardiner. She likes to pretend she does not know our family’s fortune comes from trade. My father and grandfather had warehouses just by yours. I still own them though I do not oversee the day to day operations. We are the first generation to not have to work directly. My sister wishes she could forget it even as she sits there in silks and furs all obtained through trade.”
“Charles!” Two spots of colour rose on Miss Bingley’s face. “How can you speak so? You will — you will disgrace Mr Darcy.”
“I am undisgraced,” said Darcy mildly. “I am quite aware of where your fortune comes from. Or do you suppose me to have been deceived all these years?”
“But we should not speak of it. And it is quite different. I am sure Mr and Mrs Gardiner are good sort of people but we cannot be compared to them.”
“No,” Darcy said in a flat voice. “You certainly could not be compared to them.”
Miss Bingley started to smile but it faltered at Darcy’s grim expression. She was too vain to really feel the impact of his words and her high opinion of herself would not allow her to consider that he might imply she was lower than people who lived within sight of their own warehouses but she was clever enough to know the conversation had not gone quite how she hoped it would.
Elizabeth was fully aware of his meaning. Her heart swelled. To think Mr Darcy would defend her family over someone he had known for years. He was a far better man than she had allowed.
“Is that the dinner bell?” Mr Bingley cried with relief. The rest of the party rose at once, just as eager as he was to escape the awkward confrontation. Though Elizabeth had no regard for Miss Bingley, she found it uncomfortable to see the lady looking so flushed and uncertain. Miss Bingley had no one but herself to blame for it and she would gladly expose other people to the same humiliation she was feeling, but Elizabeth could never be so mean-spirited.
25
After dinner, Caroline watched Elizabeth and Darcy with a jealousy she had never felt before. She had been at countless dinner and parties and balls in London and Bath where eligible young women threw themselves at Darcy and went out of their way to flirt with him and prance before him, fluttering their eyelashes and making excuses to rest their hands on his arm. She had even seen the older married sisters of these young ladies, and young and not so young widows slip notes into his hand inviting him to join them for a more private audience. Caroline did not know how he responded to the latter, nor did she wish to. But she had no doubt how he responded to the ladies seeking a husband. For them, he was as remote and unattainable as the summit of Everest. He was not like other single young men who played about and enjoyed flirting and breaking hearts with no serious thought given to the young lady in question. He simply did not seem pleased with anyone who approached him.
Caroline had always told herself it was because of her. Though Darcy no more flirted with her than he did with any other young lady, she told herself he would not be able to deny his feelings for her. Sooner or later, he would look at her and see the only woman who was suitable to be Pemberley’s mistress and his wife. It was inevitable. They made too much sense as a couple and Darcy was above all a man of sense. She had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds. She was beautiful and accomplished and knew how to entertain. She was the sister of his closest friend and she probably spent more time with him than any other woman, even his sister. Proximity would be her greatest ally. And though she worried about how long it was taking him to declare his feelings for her — at two and twenty she was no longer a fresh young debutante and every season that passed without her being engaged led to more and more whispers behind fans — she calmed herself by telling her he would see how perfect they were for one another.
And her greatest comfort of all was that no other woman had ever taken his eye. If he were not the sort of man who would fall in love, he would at least choose her as his best choice and she was content with that. Though she told herself she loved him to distraction, there was little real affection for him. Caroline dreamed of sitting here as mistress of this magnificent house. She fantasised about leaving her cards with old school friends and having them gasp when they read the name Darcy after her first name.
And of course, her husband would be a credit to her. No one would look at Darcy on the arm of a woman without envy. It would be a fine slap in the face to all those haughty young misses who had dism
issed her as unworthy of their friendship because her fortune had come from trade. It would all have worked out so perfectly.
Or at least it had, until this pert upstart had appeared in their lives. Caroline had been sure that her stay at Pemberley this summer would finally bring about the longed for proposal. She was so set on it that she had even ordered silks for a wedding dress before leaving London. He could not allow another year to go by without asking her to marry him. He had even made noises about it being time to produce an heir and she had been sure he had directed his words at her though he looked at Charles as he said it. Caroline was convinced he knew she was in the room and meant her to overhear his conversation. She and Louisa were the only women he would stand up with at balls and declared no one else worth his time. By the end of the year, she would have gold hoops on her fingers and a new name on her calling card. She would settle for no other outcome.
How could this pert, unfashionable young woman of no importance and no name have upset matters so easily? What was it about her that had Darcy sit beside her and laugh with her in a way Caroline had never seen him laugh with any woman? Though he did not exactly bring her up in conversation at every opportunity as people who were enchanted tended to do, he listened eagerly whenever Georgiana mentioned her, which was frequently. And he continued the conversation. He even admired her for being stupid enough to throw herself into danger the day before. He would never have suffered any other woman to behave in such a manner without speaking of her scathingly. But Eliza Bennet must always be exempt from any criticism. For the first time, Caroline Bingley was in real fear that the prize she had sought for so long was about to slip from her grasp. And she could not allow it to happen.
An Engagement at Pemberley Page 11
