And there was no guarantee he would even have time to talk to Lizzy at the wedding breakfast. Since his efforts to ingratiate himself with Bingley’s neighbors had succeeded, he would have all the local gents wanting to speak to him, and he would have to be personable to their wives or risk offending anew. What he needed was something to draw people’s attention, so they would not notice if Elizabeth and he managed to slip away. Yes, some kind of diversion was required, but what? Fireworks? A bonfire? And then an idea came to him, and he knew just what to do. He went to his desk and began writing,
Dear Antony…
Finally, the day of Charlotte’s wedding arrived, and the house hummed with activity as everyone made ready for the wedding. Mr. Darcy had made his carriage available to the Bennets, and Lydia and Kitty had climbed in ahead of their mother and older sisters. Because of their lack of seniority, the two youngest Bennets had to give way, but not before Lydia had commented, “Mr. Darcy did not send the carriage for you, Lizzy. Everyone knows that he does not like you, but we became friends when we were together in Brighton. Mr. Wickham…” Jane shooed Lydia away from the carriage. Even the patient Jane had tired of Lydia and her stories of Brighton and her dear Wickham.
While Bingley stood by the church door so that he might assist the Bennet ladies, Darcy, along with Georgiana, waited inside the vestibule for Lizzy to arrive. Because no one knew of their relationship, the couple had to be satisfied with furtive glances, of which there were to be many. Even though Darcy realized the necessity for circumspection, this endless waiting was having a deleterious effect on him and the only possible explanation for his sending Mercer to London with a note asking Antony to come to Netherfield. He hoped that was not a mistake.
When the bride walked down the aisle, Lizzy was elated. Charlotte Lucas, who did not like any fuss, had chosen a pale yellow dress that showed off her complexion and dark hair beautifully, and the effect was more than satisfactory. In contrast, Mr. Collins wore his parson’s suit with black hose that accentuated his spindly legs, but because he was so happy that his wedding day had finally arrived, his whole demeanor was one of pure joy. Even Lizzy had to smile when she saw the beaming parson.
The wedding breakfast was attended by intimate friends and family, all wishing Mr. and Mrs. Collins joy. In short order, the musicians began playing, and couples flocked to the dance floor. Darcy dearly wanted to ask Elizabeth to dance, but his presence in any venue always drew scrutiny. He did not want anyone gossiping about him until he was prepared to make an announcement, but surely one dance could do no harm? He had been making his way toward Elizabeth when there was a commotion in the foyer. The source of the excitement was quickly revealed: Antony, Lord Fitzwilliam, had arrived.
Darcy and Georgiana looked at each other in alarm. Antony wasn’t supposed to be here. The note had specifically told him to go to Netherfield Park. To add to the confusion, the earl was not alone. With him were his daughters, Amelia and Sophia, and a Madame Konig, who was being introduced to the guests as the girls’ “traveling” governess.
Sir William and Lady Lucas’s joy at having an earl in their home could barely be contained. When Lady Lucas was excited, she always spoke too loudly and in a shrill voice, and while his wife was nearly shouting, Sir William was almost speechless, hemming and hawing and harrumphing his way through his introductions of Lord Fitzwilliam.
After acknowledging everyone’s bows, Antony asked to be directed to the bride and groom. Using his prerogative as a member of the nobility to always get his way, as soon as Lord Fitzwilliam made eye contact with Mr. Collins, he let him know that he must wait his turn as the earl would first speak to his wife.
“Mrs. Collins, my heartfelt congratulations, and may I add that you are absolutely glowing, bringing much-needed sunshine to a drab autumn day? I hope you do not mind me joining you on this the happiest of occasions. I was supposed to go to Netherfield, but when I learned there was a wedding in the village, I could not resist. My only regret is that I arrived too late to attend the ceremony and thereby serve as a witness to the exchange of vows.”
“It was a simple ceremony, milord,” Charlotte said, trying to hide a smile. The sight of this aristocratic dandy, in his green brocade jacket standing next to her husband in his parson’s attire, was too funny for words.
“When it comes to church services, Mrs. Collins, simple is good; short is even better. May I ask, did you cry? I did at my wedding. In fact, my brother had to keep handing me one handkerchief after another, and it did not stop with the ceremony. I cried all through the wedding breakfast and for a good many days after that.
“And this gentleman is now your husband,” he said, turning to Mr. Collins, who bowed so low that his hand brushed the tops of his shoes. “Mr. Collins, your reputation has preceded you. Lady Catherine de Bourgh has remarked on how diligently you tend to your flock. I know that same sense of obligation will have you spending all of your time talking with your guests, so I shall not detain you a moment longer. But, first, please allow me to introduce my daughters, Amelia and Sophia, and their traveling governess, Madame Konig.”
After overcoming the surprise of finding Lord Fitzwilliam attending the wedding festivities of her friend, Lizzy had to make a real effort not to laugh. The earl was as colorful as any of the ladies at the breakfast. His footwear, with their gold-thread stitching, jeweled buckles, and high heels, was as out of date as his attire, making him look like a courtier in the court of a newly crowned George III. But then Lizzy realized that this show had a purpose, and the gaudiness of his apparel was deliberate. She was convinced he had come to Lucas Lodge as a diversion, and when she looked at Mr. Darcy and he would not return her look, she knew she was right.
It was his little cousins, Emmy and Sophie, who saved Mr. Darcy from a stern rebuke. After bending down so that both girls could kiss him on his cheeks, Lizzy had heard him say: “When I last saw you, I thought it was not possible for you two to get any prettier. But I was wrong. Here stand before me two of the loveliest young ladies in the kingdom,” and the pair squealed with delight. The girls then introduced Madame Konig to Mr. Darcy, and Lizzy looked for his reaction to the woman he knew to be his cousin’s mistress.
“Madame Konig, I am pleased to meet you,” Darcy said, bowing, and he gently took her hand. Although Madame said nothing, her gratitude to Mr. Darcy of Pemberley for his recognition was evident on her face.
“Lizzy, the governess…” Jane said.
“Traveling governess,” Lizzy answered, correcting her sister.
Jane had to look away for fear of laughing out loud. “Is the traveling governess who I think she is?” After Lizzy nodded, she continued, “My goodness, even in her staid governess clothes, she is absolutely stunning. I think her eyes are actually violet.”
“Yes, I think so as well. But what I find so appealing about her is the way Lord Fitzwilliam’s daughters keep looking at her. They obviously are comfortable in her company, and, I suspect, quite fond of her as well.”
After mingling among the guests for several minutes, Lord Fitzwilliam finally made his way over to Lizzy, and after inquiring about Mrs. Gardiner and expressing regret for her absence, he asked to be introduced to her family.
“Milord, this is my eldest sister, Jane,” and after Jane had curtseyed, he took her hand and briefly kissed it. “Miss Bennet, while at Pemberley, I told Miss Elizabeth that if her sisters were half as lovely as she was, then your home must be aglow with all the beauty contained therein. Mr. Bingley is very fortunate indeed.”
Jane acknowledged the compliment in full blush. She had never met an earl before, and here he was holding her hand, with his mistress standing but a few feet away.
“And you are…?” he asked, looking at Kitty.
“Catherine Bennet, milord.”
“Catherine? Hmm? I think not. Catherine is too serious a name for someone with such an engaging smile. I would suspect you are known as Kate or Kitty to your friends.”
This compliment practically c
aused Kitty to swoon, and Mary nearly did when Lord Fitzwilliam took her hand in his and held it all the while he was addressing her. “Another beautiful Bennet sister. But you are different from your sisters. I see a look of intelligence in your eyes. You must own to it, Miss Mary. You cannot hide it from me. Beauty and intelligence in one lovely lady. How blest you are.”
Upon hearing the compliment, Lydia snorted, causing the earl to turn his attention to her. “The youngest Bennet sister, Miss Lydia, I presume? Have you come out into society, my dear?”
“Yes, milord, this past year.”
“You are very young to be out, only four or five years older than my Amelia, and because of your youth, I am sure you are eager to find that perfect gentleman, fall in love, and get married. Please allow me to caution you that such decisions should be delayed for a number of years until you are more mature. Marriage is forever, so be cautious. Forever is a very long time.”
Why was Lord Fitzwilliam talking to her like this, Lydia asked herself? He had said only nice things to everyone else. And what did he know anyway? He was hopelessly out of fashion, and his shoes were particularly ugly. As soon as the earl turned his attention to her mother, Lydia walked away.
“Ah, here we have yet another sister,” he said, taking Mrs. Bennet’s hand. Mrs. Bennet started giggling as if she were a young girl at her first dance, and when she informed the earl that she was the girls’ mother, he went on and on about Mr. Bennet taking a child bride. All the while Lord Fitzwilliam was complimenting his wife, Mr. Bennet was watching, and he saw, for the first time in years, the young woman he had married a quarter of a century ago. Because of Lydia’s unfortunate adventure, he had promised himself that he would take greater care of his daughters. He now broadened that promise to include his wife.
While Antony continued to enchant all the female guests, Lizzy went over to speak to Charlotte. “I cannot account for the earl’s presence, Charlotte, and I am very sorry he has come as he has drawn off all of the attention that should rightly be yours.”
“I am happy he has come. You know I do not like being the center of attention, so I can assure you that Lord Fitzwilliam’s arrival is welcome. Speaking of the devil,” Charlotte said, stepping away from Lizzy to make way for His Lordship.
“Miss Elizabeth, may I introduce you to my two little jewels, Sophie and Emmy.”
Lizzy was in complete agreement with Lord Fitzwilliam’s description of his daughters. Their dark hair, hanging in ringlets and tied with ribbons and bows, contrasted beautifully with their cornflower blue eyes. Both were wearing gorgeous dresses with frills aplenty.
“I am so pleased to meet you, Miss Amelia and Miss Sophia,” Lizzy said. “When your father and I were guests at Pemberley, he mentioned you at every opportunity, and you are as pretty as he claimed. But who is your friend?” Lizzy asked while looking at Madame Konig.
“This is our traveling governess, Madame Konig. Our real governess, Mrs. Hall, is on holiday, and Papa’s friend came with us. She tells us stories about living in Vienna,” Amelia, the elder of the two, said.
“My English is imperfect, Miss Bennet,” Madame Konig said with a slight lisp. “I am better in French, but I am happy to meets you.”
“Madame Konig, I am pleased to meet you as well,” but before Lizzy could engage her in conversation, Lord Fitzwilliam asked her what she thought of his entrance.
“With the exception of a royal procession, it was second to none, milord.”
“Then I have succeeded, as my purpose was to create a diversion, and the reason for the diversion is waiting for you in the study. From what I have heard of your past experience, I suggest you lock the door.” After bowing and smiling, he took his leave.
Looking around the room, Lizzy realized that Mr. Darcy was no longer present, and with all eyes on the earl, she backed her way out of the room and went in search of the master of Pemberley.
While Lizzy waited for her eyes to adjust to the dim light of the study, Mr. Darcy came up from behind her and put his two arms around her waist and pulled her tightly against him.
“I shall not let you go until you say that you are not angry with me for Lord Fitzwilliam’s appearance, and before you say anything, you must know that he was supposed to go to Netherfield. I certainly did not know he would be traveling with an entourage.”
“But why did you ask him to come at all?”
After releasing her, he took her hand and walked with her to the sofa, but before he sat down Lizzy suggested that they lock the door.
“That sounds promising.”
“It is nothing of the kind. We do not want a repeat of what happened in the library at Netherfield. That is all I meant by my request.”
Darcy let out an exaggerated sigh because he would not have minded a repeat of what had happened in the Netherfield library, but he went and locked the door as requested.
“Mr. Darcy, please tell me why you invited Lord Fitzwilliam to Netherfield? Is it because Mrs. Crenshaw talks too much, and you wanted someone equally loquacious to entertain her?”
“It is not just that she talks too much. Forgive me for discussing such things with you, but she is so heavy with child that I live in fear that she will stand up and from under her skirts an infant will appear.”
Lizzy started to laugh at the picture he had drawn. “From that comment, I gather that your wife will be spending a good deal of time in her apartment when she is with child.”
Darcy looked at Lizzy with that quizzical expression she found so endearing. “Why are you speaking of ‘my wife’ as if she is unknown to you?”
Lizzy said nothing. Did he really think she could talk as if they were betrothed when he had not made her an offer?
“Oh, of course, I see. Well, that is a good opening for me. Shall I stand or kneel?”
“It does not matter,” Lizzy said, and she could barely hear her voice over the sound of her heart beating. “Please proceed.”
“Elizabeth, as you know, I am not good with words, so I shall simply state that I love you from the depths of my heart, and I am now asking that you become my wife.”
Lizzy fell into his arms and clung to him and nodded her assent, and he kissed her with a passion that was even greater than their previous rendezvous, and she felt her reserve crumbling as he kissed her neck and shoulders and moved his body against hers. But even though she was enjoying it immensely, she knew that she had to stop him, and she pushed back.
“Mr. Darcy, please. We cannot continue in this manner. We must rejoin the others.” With his face flushed with passion, he asked in an elevated voice why they must leave when things were going so nicely. “Because of Ellie Timlin, the butcher’s daughter, who married Joe Egger five months ago…”
“When you see Mrs. Egger, please extend my best wishes for her health and happiness, but would you enlighten me as to why she is being discussed at this particular moment?”
“You need not be sarcastic, Mr. Darcy. The Eggers are the parents of a little boy born earlier this month,” and when he shook his head, indicating he still did not understand, she continued, “Let me repeat. The Eggers married five months ago.”
When the information finally sunk in, Darcy released Elizabeth.
“Mr. Darcy, I am a lady, and, therefore, until we are married, we must appear together only in public or with a chaperone.”
“Of course, you are a lady, but a few kisses do not make you less so.” After looking at her expression, he added, “All right. More than a few. But, Elizabeth, do you realize that once we announce our engagement, all eyes will be upon us?”
“Of course, I do. Perhaps you can condole with Mr. Bingley,” she said, teasing him.
“Very well. In that case,” he said, “it would be best if I returned to London.”
“Oh, I see how it is. Because I will not meet with you in secret, the next time I see you will be at the church door on the day of our wedding?” she asked as she moved away from him.
“No, you mi
sunderstand me,” he said, taking her hand and gently coaxing her to his side. “What I meant to say was that I would not see you until Jane’s wedding. After that, I shall speak to your father, and then we shall make the announcement of our engagement.”
“But what about our courtship, Mr. Darcy?”
“A courtship? Have I not been courting you?”
“No, you have not. One letter and two secret meetings is hardly a courtship. And speaking of letters, you must promise me that when you write in the future that all your letters will be like the second one, and none like the first.”
“That is unfair, Elizabeth,” he said in high dudgeon. “I was in a crowded room with Mrs. Forster, the colonel, and his aides, and with Gregg waiting for me to finish the letter, and I felt as if everyone in the room was watching me.”
“I understand, but was it necessary to sign the letter, ‘Yours,
F. Darcy’?” Seeing that he had hurt her, he said, “You are right. I should have signed it, ‘Yours, Fitzwilliam Darcy.’”
Lizzy laughed. “You are lucky you wrote that second letter before I saw you again, or you would have received the cold shoulder from me.”
“I will take your shoulders however I can get them,” and he moved to kiss her, but she held up her hands and gently pushed him away.
“As I was saying, as part of our courtship, you must visit me at Longbourn and call on my parents, and when you cannot, you must write me letters. Now that I have had a letter from you, I know you are capable of it.”
“But I am out of stationery,” he said with a smile, which Lizzy did not return. “Was not my letter self-explanatory with no need for elaboration?”
“Self-explanatory. No need for elaboration. Such words of love, Mr. Darcy. I think I shall faint. You put me in mind of Benedick’s failed attempts to write poetry for Beatrice.”
“But the play ends with Beatrice and Benedick marrying, so all’s well that ends well.”
“Clever response, Mr. Darcy, but you have the wrong play.”
A Wife for Mr. Darcy Page 23
