by Glenna Mason
Elizabeth could not understand this woman, this Claire Evans who had emerged. However, now so deeply in love herself, she did comprehend the boundless exigencies of passion. Nothing—not any extreme from severe starvation to the pangs of creative excesses—could ever lead Elizabeth to abuse the memory of the man she loved. To her way of thinking no sane mind could do so. Elizabeth could only conclude that either Claire Evans was mentally deranged or was a psychopathic murderer. And Elizabeth would not be astonished whichever turned out to be true.
On Monday, true to her promise to herself, Elizabeth mailed Claire back her manuscript and proceeded to forget her and her inscrutable document.
*****
The rest of April was a virtual whirlwind of events and parties. Darcy and Elizabeth pretended that it was all for them, as if they were in a swirl of engagement extravaganzas, leading up to a July wedding. Barbeques, picnics, teas on lovely lawns, cocktail parties, dinner dances, charity balls, as well as boxes filled with associates at Keeneland and Churchill, dominated their calendar. And on the Saturday following Derby, Sir William threw a spectacular ball at his magnificent estate, a white tie affair, to celebrate the wedding of his dear friends, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy.
“I couldn't do it earlier,” Sir William explained to Elizabeth. “I didn't want you and Fitzwilliam playing second fiddle to the Oaks and Derby talk. You, my dear, are to be the zenith of this evening,—you and your fine, young husband.”
Sir William had asked Tish Pope to be his hostess for the evening. He wanted Maria to enjoy just being a guest.
“A wonderful idea,” Elizabeth said with a secret smile.
“Maria deserves it, and Tish is happy to stand in. I think she likes me, and I know I like her,” Sir William added, winking. Elizabeth was very pleased that Sir William was becoming so bold in his public approach to Tish. It portended a new direction for their future perhaps.
As they dressed for their special night, Elizabeth and Darcy were both effusive in their praise of Sir William and Tish.
“Who throws a white tie ball except for debutantes or charity?” asked Darcy.
“Sir William Lucas, if he feels like it,” Elizabeth answered.
“It is a great tribute to you, my dear,” Darcy acknowledged.
“And to you, my darling. I can tell that in the past few weeks due to your association with him and Tish on the Foundation work, he has come to appreciate and admire you.”
“I'd like that. He is my model for perfection, as is she.”
“Fitzwilliam, I am going to tell you a little secret, which is not really mine to share, but I know Tish will not mind.”
“Yes, my darling.”
“Tish and Sir William have been in love and lovers for about eight years.”
“I am not surprised.”
“You could tell?”
“My sweetheart, it is their every glance, their every word.”
“But, Fitzwilliam, I never guessed.”
“You were too familiar with them. As a new participant in the Pope Road world, I can say it is quite easily discerned. Love cannot usually be hidden away, you know.”
“Yes, I do know.”
Elizabeth had chosen a strapless sapphire blue evening dress, which had turned her eyes into dazzling orbs of lapis blue. Darcy had been back to his safe closet and found some of his mother's favorite pieces: a dinner ring with a circle of sapphires and diamonds and a necklace of sapphires and diamonds with earrings to match.
“Now if your mom had had a tiara to match, I could stand in for the queen,” Elizabeth teased, as she sat in front of her dressing table admiring her bountiful new jewelry. “Please continue to bring your magnificent jewelry out one at a time, Fitzwilliam,” she stated this time with a touch of sincerity. “I've never had so much fun.”
“Nor I,” he admitted, enjoying immensely her excitement. “I adore adorning you with beautiful baubles.”
“I hate to admit it—tomboy that I am—but I just love precious stones in any setting.”
Startled, Darcy apologized, “Oh, I am sorry, Lizzy. I should have gotten them out sooner to see if you wanted any of them reset. They are terribly old-fashioned.”
“Vintage, my love, vintage! And, my darling, they are perfect just as they are. I didn't mean my statement as a complaint. I merely meant that, like Oliver Twist, I want more!” Elizabeth glanced at him in the mirror, her eyes matching the intensity of the earrings in her ears and the necklace at her throat. She smiled prettily and then they both burst into gales of laughter.
“Elizabeth, help me with this bow tie. I’ve never understood these things,” Darcy requested, trying to loop it, unsuccessfully, while looking over her shoulders in the mirror, obviously too distracted by their bare beauty.
Elizabeth rose and in a moment or two had it perfectly tied. “There,” she declared, giving it a final leveling. Then holding him at arm's length and drinking in his extraordinarily timeless allure, Elizabeth said, “You are my most prized possession.” She then said, “Wow! Gentlemen should not be allowed to be so strikingly handsome. It puts us ladies at such a disadvantage, when we walk by a mirror with you.”
Just before they exited the bedroom, Darcy cleared his throat, “Ahem!” both hands behind his back. “Elizabeth Francine, I've no tiara, but—” He hesitated purposely.
“Another beautiful comb, Fitzwilliam?” Elizabeth ventured, pleased.
“Well, not a comb either.” And from his back Darcy brought out a solid gold band iridescent with miniature sapphires.
“Oh, Fitzwilliam, I did get more.” She sat back down in front of the dressing table mirror and blew him a kiss in the mirror, as she placed the lovely band amid her uncooperative curls. Tossing her head with joy, Elizabeth emitted tiny points of light. She scooted from the chair and caressed Darcy's face. “It is a treasure, my love.” She kissed him. “Thank you, my wonderful husband, and thank you, Lady Geraldine, for your special love of the beautiful.” They locked arms and headed out for their party.
*****
Sir William's half mile maple lined drive was highlighted tonight by flickering lights, garlanding every tree. Sir William and Tish stood in state on the room sized front porch, welcoming guests. Everyone on Pope Road was to be here, including the Marquis De Pres and Monsieur Chevalier's entire entourage of guests, which was large due to its being springtime in Kentucky, the world's premiere racing season. The royalty of the Kentucky horse world, as well as friends from all throughout central Kentucky, were invited. Darcy's sister and his best friends were to be here. Elizabeth would at last get to meet them.
“My beautiful neighbor and guest of honor,” Sir William exuded, kissing Elizabeth on the cheek. “And Mr. Darcy, I believe,” he welcomed, a twinkle in his eyes, as he clasped Darcy's hand in a firm shake. Darcy leaned over and whispered something to Sir William, whose eyes twinkled even brighter. “By all means, Darcy. Go for it!” Sir William answered aloud.
“Our friends all received your magnanimous correspondences and are to be here in force to welcome our partner in crime into the ‘bonds’ of matrimony.” With that he handed the couple off to Tish and proceeded to welcome the next set of guests, arriving in force now.
“Elizabeth, you are the most beautiful I've ever seen you, and that is a high mark to top,” Tish complimented, in welcome.
“And, Miss Pope, you are spectacular yourself in scarlet and silver, and oh, those rubies! May I borrow them sometime?”
“Of course! We will trade one evening. I've my eye on your sapphires.”
Elizabeth kissed Tish on the cheek. Darcy took Tish's outstretched hand and kissed it with a low bow. “My lady,” he said, “you are a femme fatale tonight. May I have the second dance? Someone already has her name on my dance card for number one.” Darcy's eyes danced with delight, and he smiled that smile that could knock any woman off her feet, his dimples deepening instantaneously.
“Mais oui, monsieur, s'il vous plait.”
E
lizabeth and Darcy moved into the hallway. Sir William's home had a third floor ballroom, but the entry hall was large enough for a small orchestra and fifty couples. Dancing was available on both floors. Food and drink overflowed on all three levels. As they entered, strands of Strauss waltzes filled the air, and candles and chandeliers blazed brightly. The atmosphere was electric already with a party mood. Footmen in white jackets and black trousers mingled through the crowd offering champagne and wine or taking drink orders. Others carried trays of canapés and other delicacies. The dining room table was laden with a buffet fit for a king.
Elizabeth wandered the rooms with Darcy, introducing him to many of the Pope Road contingent, all of whom were fascinated to meet Elizabeth’s new husband, but none ever imagining that he was also the man in the Tish Pope sketch. Thank goodness! After about fifteen minutes, Darcy invited, “Let's dance, so the others can.”
Darcy led Elizabeth onto the dance floor, as the orchestra began “Tales of the Vienna Woods.” Suddenly silence descended, as all conversation ended so the guests could enjoy the beautiful couple, sweeping around the marble entry. For five minutes the party goers watched in admiration as Darcy guided Elizabeth around the floor. Then, as if on signal, Sir William took Tish to join them; Gage and Maria and Jane and Charles followed. Soon the floor was filled as the music switched first to “Dancing in the Dark” and then to the Strauss favorite, “The Blue Danube.”
When the music switched again, this time to the “I’ll Be Seeing You,” Elizabeth and Tish exchanged partners.
“Are you enjoying yourself, my dear,” Sir William asked.
“Sir William, I am ecstatically happy. I never imagined life had so much more to offer than I already had.”
“My dear Elizabeth, I am so glad you found someone to love. I was afraid you were not looking.”
“Sir William, the strange thing is that I wasn't. And neither was Fitzwilliam. Do you believe in kismet?”
“Oh yes, my beautiful child, I do.”
“We owe our happiness in large part to you and Tish, Sir William. We both admire the two of you so much. As you know, I have always loved you, but to Fitzwilliam you are almost a god. He can scarcely believe to this day all that you did for him.”
“He is a fine man, Elizabeth. Anyone can see that. A few calls and it was confirmed. That is all I needed to know.”
Elizabeth stopped in the middle of the dance floor and planted a giant kiss on Sir William's mouth. “That's for being the kindest friend I know and for showcasing Tish. She is one spectacular woman.”
“Yes, Letitia Pope is a spectacularly lovely lady.”
A few moments later Sir William swished Elizabeth back into Darcy's arms and danced away with Tish, bewitching in her scarlet. It seemed Sir William was making little effort to disguise his ardor tonight, as he concentrated his attention solely on the lady in his arms.
“Let's have some champagne. Dancing is hard work.”
“And that from a harness racing jockey.”
Unfortunately as soon as they entered the dining room, the first person they encountered was Claire Evans.
“Miss Evans,” Darcy greeted with a bow. “How is your novel coming?”
“I am finished with Chapters Three and Four. Elizabeth, please take a look at them sometime soon.”
Elizabeth apprehended that she was trapped. She could hardly refuse such a point blank request at her own party.
“Sure, Claire,” Elizabeth replied, as unenthusiastically as her well-bred body would allow. “And now if you will excuse us, I need to introduce Fitzwilliam to someone.” She pulled Darcy away toward an innocuous couple in the far corner.
“What was that all about?” Darcy asked, confused.
“I'm sorry, Fitzwilliam, but I hate her novel, and I am also beginning to not like her—at all.”
“It is alright, my wonderful girl. That is the closest to unkind I have ever heard you be. I'm pleased. You have a spine when you need it. I like that. We do not have to like or approve of everyone. I am glad to see that you recognize that, Mrs. Bennet-Darcy.”
“Oh, say it again, Fitzwilliam, I love that name. Mrs. Bennet-Darcy. So melodic!” Elizabeth teased, back in the party spirit.
“Come, let's find my friends,” Darcy suggested. “You must meet them while you are in a generous mood.”
Gilbert Hurst was a childhood friend of Darcy's from Lancaster, currently a banker living in Lexington. Richard Fitzwilliam, now a lawyer from Danville, was Darcy’s fourth cousin from Derbyshire, and also his brother-in-law. Almost inseparable, the three met once a month for a boy's night out. The only occasion in her marriage that Elizabeth had been without her new hubby was the April night out. Elizabeth was very excited about meeting the boys and their wives, Louisa Bingley, her brother-in-law Charles’ sister, and Georgiana Darcy, her newest sister.
“There they are,” Darcy said, after hustling Elizabeth back to the front hall. The two couples waved enthusiastically, when they saw Darcy emerge from the dining room. He waved back. Elizabeth and Darcy started to work their way across the room to his friends, but as guests of honor, it took a while, as they were expected to chat along the way with well-wishers.
“Elizabeth, Gilbert Hurst and Louisa Bingley Hurst,” Darcy introduced. “Louisa and Gilbert, my wife, the former Elizabeth Bennet.”
“My goodness, Fitz, darlin’,” drawled Gilbert's wife Louisa, blowing him a kiss and laughing, “finally you fell in love at first sight—it only took you fifteen years longer than most of your friends.” Then to Elizabeth, Louisa replied, “You look absolutely beautiful, my dear.” Louisa hugged her like a long lost chum, declaring, “We haven’t seen you since Charles and Jane’s wedding. We have to do better than that.”
“Yes, Louisa,” Elizabeth said, returning the hug, “we certainly must. If we’d done better, I might have met this handsome Darcy fellow years ago.”
“I am sure you remember my husband Gilbert from the wedding party, but did Darcy tell you that Gilbert has been his best friend from the first grade on?”
“Welcome to the gang, Elizabeth,” Gilbert said, offering his hand.
“My sister Georgiana and her husband, our cousin, Richard Fitzwilliam. When Richard and I played together in Derbyshire and Lancaster as boys, Georgiana was just a toddler. That was before she grew into a nuisance.” They all laughed.
“True. When Darcy and I were teens and Georgiana only seven to ten, we tried to avoid the assigned task of entertaining her. However, by the time I was in my second year of Harvard Law and Darcy had become Georgiana’s guardian, all that changed,” Richard added.
“It certainly did,” Darcy acknowledged. “Richard didn’t come to Lancaster to see me any longer.”
“How very true. Georgiana at seventeen was the most beautiful and lovely person alive. I became smitten, just as my great-uncle, Lindsay Fitzwilliam, had all those years ago when he met my great-aunt Mary. For my graduation present, I asked Darcy for Georgiana’s hand in marriage. He said ‘Not yet’ and so I opened a practice in the charming central Kentucky town of Danville, where we still reside, while Georgiana attended Centre College up the street.”
Georgiana smiled at the expose’ and kissed Elizabeth on the cheek. “I am so pleased to have a sister at last,” she said.
“So nice to meet all of you. I feel I know you already. Fitzwilliam has spoken so fondly and so often of each of you.”
“Thank goodness Fitzwilliam finally has a bride, Now we can initiate a couple's night once a month too,” Louisa said.
“What a charming idea,” said Darcy, with obvious pleasure at the prospect of seeing his friends more often.
“I was one of the town boys,” Gilbert explained. “So in the first grade, I hooked up with this country boy really quickly—proving my brains and priorities were already well-honed. Right, Fitz?”
“Great thing for both of us!”
“I've been riding horses at the Pemberley ever since,” Gilbert admitted.
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“Now Richard and I board our own horses at Darcy's—for free naturally,” Gilbert added, winking at his friend. “So in addition to our night out with the guys, we get together often for pleasure riding.”
“Sometimes,” Richard explained, “we ride at Darcy's. Other times we van the three horses. Riding is one of our favorite avocations.
“I understand that you breed thoroughbreds and ride quite well yourself,” Richard said.
“Well, I admit I am an accomplished rider, not jockey level like Fitzwilliam, but close.”
“Don't let her josh you, guys, into any kind of a bet. She rides at a different level than any of us,” Darcy reported proudly.
“Oh, really! Well, then she must join us on our next riding adventure. We love a challenge,” Richard invited.
“Oh, please do, Elizabeth,” Gilbert said.
“If Fitzwilliam wants me to come, then naturally I would love it. However, I am sure he will want to spend some quality time with you two old friends—alone—occasionally. That said, certainly I can come now and then.”
“Great answer, very diplomatic, my dear. It’s wise to leave the door open, I always say,” commented Louisa, with a jaunty air and a wink at Gilbert.
“Elizabeth can come, if and when she wants. Her every wish is my command, today, tomorrow, forever,” Darcy said with apparently perfect sincerity.
The other two ladies were quite impressed, “Oh, you, lucky lady, you.” said Louisa, pinching Darcy on the cheek familiarly.
“Yes, I certainly am!” Elizabeth said.
“Shall we dance?” Darcy suggested. “Georgiana, may I?” Darcy requested, offering an arm to his sister. Gilbert then invited Elizabeth to dance and Richard escorted Louisa onto the dance floor. After a few rounds of switching partners, Elizabeth and Darcy reconnected, moving onto the floor together to the lilting melody of “As Time Goes By.”
Another Viennese waltz commenced, allowing Darcy to once again sweep Elizabeth skillfully around the room. Darcy was such an accomplished dancer, and Elizabeth was so stunning in her blue dress and sapphires that once again the other dancers stopped to watch.
