At six two carriages appeared, the first being Bingley’s and Jane joined him, whilst the second included Darcy and his sister and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Thereafter, the party continued to Nathan’s restaurant where they had a standing reservation. Eyes turned as the party entered and it became clear to Elizabeth and Jane that this was the place to go to eat before attending the theatre. The party could hear the restaurant go quiet as they entered and soon there was the chatter and whispering as eyes turned on them.
At the theatre it was the same but more watched as Darcy and the gentlemen escorted the ladies to his box in full view of the audience and to the chagrin of many a lady of the ton. During the intermission Elizabeth noticed Darcy and his cousin speaking with an older couple and soon the Bennet sisters were introduced to Lord and Lady Matlock. As introductions were made, Elizabeth noticed a man standing nearby studying the meeting and Darcy acknowledged the man and introduced him to the others as a writer for the style section of The Times.
The Matlocks were all friendly and Lord Matlock spoke of the Gardiners and seemed enchanted by the sisters. It was a surprise to meet Darcy and the others this way and after learning the sisters would return to Hertfordshire on the morrow, Lady Matlock said she wished to invite them for dinner the next time they came to town. The intermission was short and too soon the play concluded and the friends returned to Darcy House to allow all to rest before returning to Gracechurch Street.
At Darcy House Colonel Fitzwilliam toasted the ladies for their graciousness and beauty before leaving to return to his quarters in town, for early the morrow would see him travel to Newcastle.
Georgiana saw her chance to leave the couples some private time so left for bed shortly after her cousin left. After that Bingley suggested they take his carriage back to the Gardiners and then they would return to Darcy House.
As Bingley made an excuse to visit with Jane in the drawing room, Darcy and Elizabeth took a seat near the fire. Darcy poured Elizabeth a glass of his best port as he sipped a brandy. He saw her eyes as he held the amber liquid near the fire and smiled.
“This has been one of the best night’s of my life, Mr. Darcy. I cannot imagine how you have managed to stay single all these years. There were many jealous eyes looking at me and longing for you. Is it always this way when you attend the theatre?”
“I have never come to the theatre with a woman friend, Miss Bennet. That does not mean I have not been in the company of family and friends and their wives, but I never met a woman of the ton that I have accompanied to the theatre. There were many eyes on all our party this evening, but I payed particular attention to your own.”
“But everything about the evening was so grand.”
“Miss Bennet, I am glad you were not disappointed tonight.”
“How could I be, sir? It was an exceptional evening and I met your aunt and uncle. They made Jane and I feel like we were special.”
“But you are very special to me and I can see your beautiful eyes through this amber liquid as the fire’s light makes your eyes sparkle brilliantly like so many diamonds shining through the crystal of this glass. I was as proud as I have ever been to have accompanied you this evening. Just being in your company makes me exceedingly happy.”
Jane appeared at the door with Mr. Bingley just in time. Elizabeth did not know where her conversation was going with Darcy but she was pleased for the interruption. Never had she seen Darcy as handsome and kind and she fought the urge all evening to kiss him. She smiled to think those kisses would come later that night in her dreams.
CHAPTER 3
The next morning the sisters caught a coach for the ride to Longbourn. It was past noon and cold when the Bennet carriage met them in Meryton and later delivered them home. Kitty again was the first to see her sisters and told the others who hurried out to greet them, save Mr. Bennet, who watched from his library. Soon all hurried inside to escape the cold.
“Oh Jane, Lizzy, you must tell me everything of your trip. Have you good news to report?”
The sisters knew what to expect but agreed earlier to play down their visit so as to keep their mother from getting too excited. Over time they had perfected knowing what to say and when to say it to keep things sane at Longbourn.
“Yes,” said Jane, smiling together with her sister. “I did see Mr. Bingley and you must have heard that he is returning to Netherfield.”
“I know of that, child. Your Aunt Phillips told me the day he met with the attorney to renew the lease at Netherfield. The big question is, will he stay long or will he return to town and break your heart again?”
“I think it is safe to say that Mr. Bingley intends to stay to court Jane.”
“Hush, Lizzy, this does not pertain to you. I am speaking with your beautiful sister.”
“Mother, Mr. Darcy will join Mr. Bingley later and will bring his sister for the holidays. He told Lizzy that Miss Darcy desires to meet our family and has never been in Hertfordshire in the winter.”
“So Lizzy, will Mr. Darcy help his friend and Jane to renew their acquaintance, and what about his interest in you?”
“He is being kind, Mamma. I believe things are unchanged from when you and I had this talk before Jane and I went to town. Mr. Darcy wishes his friend to be happy and wants him and Jane to be together.”
“He is probably looking to introduce his sister so she can learn how different we are to her class, but we still must be respectful of her. As for her brother, I only put up with him because he is Mr. Bingley’s friend.”
Elizabeth listened but did not respond. She only hoped that her mother would treat her friends well but she knew not what to expect.
Things could never move fast enough to please Mrs. Bennet, so when the girls went to their chambers for a well deserved rest, Mrs. Bennet waited for Jane to visit with her sister and silently walked near the door to listen to her daughters. Mr. Bennet anticipated such a happening and held a finger aside his mouth as he otherwise gestured for his wife to leave the sisters to talk in private. Mrs. Bennet acted agitated until her husband followed her into her room and shut the door.
“Fanny, I am as interested as you are to see our daughters happy and well settled. I believe that both the men care deeply for our two eldest daughters. Just give the girls the time they need to decide on things.”
“Jane and Mr. Bingley remind me some of our own affection when you were courting me, for you always smiled at me Thomas. I even believed you thought I was pretty at one time. I know I thought you very handsome.”
“You still are very pretty, Fanny. I know that we do not often agree on things, but I have always known that you put the welfare of family above all other things. You do not wish to be put out into the hedgerows to starve after I pass. It is too bad we did not have a son, but I love all our daughters and know you do as well.”
“Thank you for visiting with me. I hoped you would understand my concern over the entail.”
“Fanny, things are not as desperate as they seem. Over the years I have saved a bit and invested some of those savings in your brother’s business. The investment will continue to grow as Gardiner’s Importing and Exporting does the same. I have also worked with others to advise the tenants of how to increase the yield of their farms and to be efficient by using crop rotation and improved irrigation and in the choice of quality seeds and applying other improved farming techniques.”
“But we shall lose Longbourn when you pass.”
“That is true, but with the extra money I have saved I bought the Miller property not seven miles from here. It is grander than Longbourn and has more land and the tenants pay me enough so I have been slowly adding to our daughter’s dowry. The monies earned by the farmers is substantial and the property is ours free and clear, even as I speak.”
“Oh, Mr. Bennet, I knew you would look out for us. I must leave early on the morrow and tell my sister and all our friends.”
“No, Fanny, please do not do that. You may speak to them and our d
aughters and all others after I pass, but for now take pride that you and our daughters will be well cared for.”
“Can we visit the property soon? I should so wish to see our home?”
“I meet with the tenant farmers and with those leasing the house every two months. The next meeting will be in January and you and I shall see the property then.”
“Oh, I am very happy, Thomas. I hope you forgive me for listening at Lizzy’s door?”
“I do, but tell me, what do you want to happen?”
“Why should you have to ask me such a question? I want both men to propose to our daughters and I wish to see them marry and bring grandchildren into our home. Mr. Bingley will come any day and I believe he will offer for Jane before the new year. Less I forget, I am even grateful that Mr. Darcy seems to support Jane and his friend, though this can mean nothing for Lizzy. We know what his opinion of Lizzy is from the Meryton Assembly.”
Mr. Bennet believed otherwise and knew his wife would be surprised to later learn that his Lizzy cared for the man and that the feeling was reciprocated.
They talked for a long time that night before the man gently kissed his wife and left for his room. Things were about to change at Longbourn.
****
Each day Jane waited patiently for Mr. Bingley’s return. One morning Kitty told the family at breakfast about an article in The Times telling about the Bennet sisters accompanying Darcy and his friends for dinner at Nathan’s and a play at the Palace Arts. She then read the story from the paper to the astonishment of all and the embarrassment of the two eldest sisters.
16 December 1812
Dear Friends,
It has been several weeks since I have written of the exploits of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. He is usually visiting Pemberley in Derbyshire or away visiting his friend Charles Bingley or his other properties, but two nights ago your humble reporter saw him at Nathan’s and later met with him and his guests during intermission at the Palace Arts.
The Bennet sisters of Longbourn are both beauties and I can vouch for the reception they received as most eyes were turned to them as they entered Nathan’s and later when they entered Mr. Darcy’s box. I do not recall seeing Mr. Darcy so pleased as when he accompanied Miss Elizabeth Bennet whilst his friend had the arm of her elder sister, Miss Jane Bennet. Colonel Fitzwilliam accompanied Miss Darcy. I had the opportunity to speak a little with the Bennet women and found them as engaging and beautiful as any women of the ton and Lord and Lady Matlock also were quite impressed with the Bennet ladies. The many jealous eyes told of as many disappointments as we must wonder if the ton’s favorite bachelor has met his match.
I shall keep you posted with an update as I learn it, but suffice it to say, Mr. Darcy and his friend have found two jewels in Hertfordshire.
Your Friend,
Elton P. Flicker
Mrs. Bennet observed her daughters as Kitty showed the paper to her mother who gave it to Jane to read.
“Well, it appears that our two eldest are moving in the highest circles, Mr. Bennet. It was as you both described it, Jane, but did either of you expect this?”
“Miss Darcy said this was a possibility, but I did not expect this.”
“Nor did I expect such a story in the paper,” Elizabeth replied, still showing crimson on her face.
“Let us not talk any more about this. The thing we must discuss is when will the gentleman come to Longbourn?”
“I believe Mr. Bingley will come the day after his arrival at Netherfield, Father.”
Two more days passed and Jane was more anxious than ever to see Mr. Bingley and Elizabeth hoped Darcy and his sister would join him later. Her walks were becoming shorter now for the sun was lower in the sky and the days of winter appeared to have come early. It was Elizabeth who first caught sight of the gentleman riding toward Longbourn and she could only wonder of the excitement in the house and of Jane’s feelings. She hoped her mother would not be too ecstatic at seeing the man. At least her mother had acted with less emotion once her and Jane returned and she thought that perhaps her father had spoken with her about not making a scene. Ever since Lydia’s death, they had noticed their mother had changed, but so had all her family.
Elizabeth came inside and saw Jane who said Mr. Bingley was presently speaking with their father.
“Well, Jane, did you accept his proposal?”
“No, Lizzy, it is not like that. He has gone to apologize to father for leaving Netherfield the way he did. I have not heard any shouting so I suppose all is well.”
“How was it seeing him again at Longbourn? Were you nervous?”
Jane laughed and said she was and still is very nervous and said she tried to persuade Mr. Bingley to speak with her father another day but he insisted on speaking with him today. After another hour, Mr. Bingley returned from speaking with Mr. Bennet and he went with Jane and they talked in private before she walked out with him to see him off to Netherfield. Elizabeth had missed seeing him and hurried to speak with Jane.
“Oh, Lizzy, my friend spoke so long with our father. He said he apologized for having left Netherfield so abruptly last year. Can you believe that he told the whole of the story and showed father the letters he had written and the ones that I left for Caroline that she was supposed to give him. He said father grilled him with all sort of questions but soon they settled down and after that both men shared a glass of port. He then asked father to agree to a courtship with me and father agreed.”
“When shall you see him again?”
“He will join us for breakfast on the morrow.”
After her walk the next morning, and before breakfast, Elizabeth was called into her father’s library where he handed her a letter. “Lizzy, this came for you whilst you were walking.” She did not understand who had written the missive but it was sent from London and was written in a woman’s elegant hand. She hurried to her room and opened the seal and saw that a second letter was included. The letter was written by Miss Darcy.
15 Dec1812
Dear Miss Elizabeth,
I am writing this brief missive to you to tell you how excited I am to soon visit with my brother and Mr. Bingley at Netherfield. Ever since meeting you and your sister, I have watched my brother work to complete his estate business and other affairs so we can travel into Hertfordshire. We should arrive a few days before Christmas and our cousin will join us after that. I love the Christmas season and I look forward to seeing you again and the Gardiners and to meet the rest of your family. I must say I never had a close family and enjoyed my visit with the Gardiners and their children.
Dare me to say it, but my brother is upset over the storyline that appeared in The Times about our evening in town. As you might have guessed, he does not enjoy such attention and I believe he would be content to live the rest of his days at Pemberley. He often speaks of his desire to take long walks with you there.
Miss Elizabeth, he has written a few words to you that I have not seen but will include. I know this not to be proper and may touch on propriety, but he said he wished to write to you and could not risk sending you a letter. All I will say is that I have never seen my brother as devastated as when he read of the ship sinking and reading that you were on it. His heart was broken and so was my own to see him so distraught. When he returned from Longbourn and learnt that you were alive he was more excited and happy than I have ever seen him and it continued when you and your sister recently visited.
We have a lot to talk about and so I will leave you with my brother’s missive and my best wishes for your health and happiness. My Aunt and Uncle Matlock forward their best wishes as well.
Your Friend,
Georgiana Darcy
Elizabeth paused to reflect on what she had read. Georgiana’s letter was sweet and Elizabeth knew that Darcy’s sister was sincere. Georgiana never had young cousins or a sister and never knew her mother. Her eyes fought to contain the pool of tears collecting in her eyes as she thought of Mr. Darcy and his younger sist
er learning of their father’s death, and later Mr. Darcy’s learning of Georgiana’s near elopement. Now as her tears fell she wished she had both persons near her to hug and console each other. She then picked up Darcy’s missive and broke the seal.
15 December 1812
Dear Miss Elizabeth,
My sister told me she was writing to you so I asked if she would include this brief missive. I hope you will not be angry for me breaking propriety this way.
Both of us eagerly anticipate joining our friends at Netherfield. All work here is nearly complete and we shall arrive near noon on Monday 21 December. It has turned sharply colder over the last few days. Personally, I wish to see it snow whilst we are visiting but I know the cold causes misery for so many. It would make me unhappy if it snowed enough to keep us from sharing walks during our visit, but the thought of watching you near a Yuletide fire makes me hope for snow. Both Georgiana and I also wish to accompany you in attending Christmas Eve services at the church.
If it is not asking too much, please save some time for us as I know you will be busy with so many family and friends. There is something about seeing you in a room that sets my heart alive and when you speak and I see those engaging eyes, I am bewitched. It is a pleasure to think of you as my best friend.
Yours,
Fitzwilliam Darcy
Elizabeth had to prepare for the tears already welling up in her eyes. Reading the letters made her eyes glisten. A burning ember crackled in the fire and it was as if Darcy was a ghost in her room whose breath had caused it to glow red in the fire. She felt the hair raise on her arms and neck and knew his and his sister’s words were affecting her as she laughed with merry tears that warmed her heart. After reading the letters a second and third time, she put them with her personal things and readied herself to return downstairs.
Darcy on the Edge Page 5
