“Yes. Whatever it is you ask of me, I will do.”
She saw the gentleman visibly calm when she made her vow.
“Miss Bennet, you must never again spend time in the company of George Wickham. You must never allow any of your sisters to do so either. He is a devilish scoundrel. He is a seducer of young women. He takes what he can from their inheritance and estate, will steal their virtue, and then leave them. If Darcy could be here to speak out against him, he would be even more firm in his desire to see you safe from the dangerous charms of George Wickham.”
“Who does that?” Kitty asked when the rest of the Bennet sisters appeared behind Elizabeth and Lord Spencer. Elizabeth paused to reflect on the benefit of telling any but Jane, as Mary would have no interest in a man like Wickham, and Lydia and Kitty were quite too young to marry. Still, best they know to stay away lest they be blinded by Wickham’s charms.
“Sisters,” Elizabeth began. “All of us are to stay away from Wickham, the officer we just met. Do not ask why, only trust that I would not make such a request lightly.”
All of the Bennet sisters nodded in agreement, though as they walked away from the market, Lydia kicked her slipper against the ground.
“Well… I thought he was quite handsome.”
Chapter 11
The great rooms of Netherfield were bright and warm from the excess of candlelight brought in to give the Bingleys’ ball an air of true elegance. It felt as if the whole of Hertfordshire had come to Netherfield for the grand party, as each room was filled with contented people full of food and drink, or dancing to the lovely music being played. Elizabeth would have been content to stay there all night, as would have Jane, who was speaking to Mr. Bingley quite liberally. She was only just making her way to thank Caroline Bingley and Louisa Hurst, when Lord Adrian Spencer appeared at her side.
“Miss Bennet! What a pleasure to see you. May I have the honor of a dance?”
She gave her answer without considering a single negative outcome.
“I would like that very much, Lord Spencer.”
Lord Spencer and Elizabeth joined the rest of the party for the waltz, a dance that she enjoyed immensely. As they made their way across the floor, laughing and conversing about what a lovely house Netherfield was, Elizabeth barely noticed all the attention they were getting. If she had, she would rightly worry about the gossip which would spread because of it.
The song was coming to an end, as was the dance, so Elizabeth bowed to her partner as she smiled.
“I thank you, Lord Spencer, for a lovely dance. I fear you have determined that any other will be measured poorly against you.”
Adrian nodded with a mischievous smile of his own.
“I hope that is not true, Elizabeth, for I believe another wishes to try and do me one better here tonight.”
She did not know what the gentleman meant, his departure quite cryptic. It was not long, however, before she received a clear answer to her question. This time, Mr. Darcy appeared by her side, all regal and handsome, and this time, he was he who requested a dance.
“May I?” he asked, holding his hand out to her.
“Do you believe you may be able to hold your tongue? If I am to remember properly, the last time we were at a dance, you did not find me handsome enough to tempt you.”
Mr. Darcy became pale with embarrassment.
“Has it been too long a time for me to apologize for any pain I may have caused you?”
“You did not cause me any pain, Mr. Darcy. If anything, I found your haughty behavior to be a pleasant remembrance that Mr. Bingley was the true gentleman that evening.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke a word. Then, Darcy began to laugh as he took Elizabeth’s hand and led her to the dance floor. Once again, every eye in the ballroom was on them, but on this occasion, they looked upon the pair with romantic wonder. Elizabeth could almost hear their whispers if she listened with care.
Fitzwilliam Darcy with a Bennet girl? And that Bennet girl?
Why would he pass over Jane Bennet for that one?
Can you imagine if the elder Mr. Darcy were alive to see this?
Is he not already promised to another?
It was the last question she heard with the most plainness and wished dearly to confirm the truth of with Mr. Darcy.
“Mr. Darcy, I have a rather personal question for you.”
“I enjoy personal questions, Miss Bennet. I hope you ask one that will truly get to the heart of me.”
“I can not say if this is such a question, but for your sake, I hope it is. Mr. Darcy, are you not promised to another? Should she not be your dance partner?”
Darcy could barely hide his contempt.
“I was promised to another before I was able to speak the words of a vow. My aunt can believe as she wishes but she has no power over my marriage. I shall marry who I wish. Whoever I wish.”
She felt the weight of his answer all the way down to her stomach, though she knew not why she asked the question, nor why the answer made her feel so desperately happy. Elizabeth was only just about to ask Mr. Darcy if they could speak alone when she heard the sound of her mother’s voice, repeating across Netherfield for all to hear.
“Do you see? Do you see, Millicent? I told you it was the truth! Both of my oldest daughters are going to marry the richest men in all of England! Jane will be Mrs. Bingley and Elizabeth… well… Elizabeth will be one of those fancy men she danced with! Then I will show you all. You lot will have to respect me then.”
Elizabeth knew that her face reflected the terror she was feeling as she listened to her mother make a spectacle of herself in front of everyone they knew. When she caught sight of Jane at the other end of the floor, standing very near Charles Bingley as if he might save her from the horror, she looked as mortified as Elizabeth did. They both stood frozen.
Before either could regain control of their senses, Lord Spencer hurried to Elizabeth’s side and gently directed her to a place of privacy near the dining room.
“Miss Bennet, I have already taken the liberty of escorting your youngest sisters out to the coach. Your father is presently gathering your mother. Perhaps it would be best if you find Jane and then we can all speak again once we are away from this crowd?”
Elizabeth nodded in a stiff manner but did as Adrian said and hurried to Jane. Mr. Bingley did not say anything about Mrs. Bennet’s scene; he simply took Jane’s hand and gave it to Elizabeth. He nodded as well, but his nod was full of understanding and sadness that betrayed the affection he felt for her sister. It gave Elizabeth a measure of comfort as they hurried to the door and out into the cold night air, where Lord Spencer and Mr. Bennet were waiting for them.
“Elizabeth, Jane,” Mr. Bennet started, “I do not know how to…”
Elizabeth prevented her father from continuing.
“You do not have to say it, papa. I know. You take mama home and Jane and I will be right behind you.”
“If you wish, I would be happy to remain at the ball as your escort,” Adrian offered. But Elizabeth and Jane declined.
“I believe we have had enough excitement for one night,” Elizabeth answered. “But thank you. Thank you for everything, Adrian.”
They said goodbye to Lord Spencer and as the coach rolled away, the sisters at last allowed themselves the pleasure of long sigh. Jane looked at her sister with a combination of fatigue and amusement.
“I do not think we should go to anymore balls this season.”
Elizabeth laughed lightly.
“I am inclined to agree with you. I do not believe it was quite worth such an embarrassment.”
Jane appeared aghast.
“Not worth it? What about your dance with Mr. Darcy? He seems quite smitten with you now.”
Elizabeth meant to laugh at her sister quite heartily but found no laugh would come.
“I do not fancy Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. He may be a good dancer but he is still a… a…”
“Ah, see! Yo
u do not even remember your quarrel with him. I believe you fancy him, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth held up her hands in protest.
“Perhaps we could just be quiet for the rest of the trip?”
Jane may not have said anything, but Elizabeth could see the look of delight on her sister’s face and she did not like it. She did not like it one bit.
Chapter 12
Not even a month had passed since the unusual events at the Netherfield ball and it was already Christmas time once again. No matter what embarrassments had occurred, or rather been caused, in front of the whole town, Elizabeth had great affection for the holiday season. Not only did the festivities alleviate her worries but her beloved uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, would be arriving at Longbourn any moment to join the Bennet family for Christmas.
Before the Gardiners arrived on Christmas Eve, Elizabeth and Jane were assisting Mrs. Hill as they hung holly and evergreen on anything that would not move. Their father had already set the Yule log ablaze which filled the house with the delicious fragrance of the holidays. However, as they decorated, Elizabeth could not help but notice that Jane seemed to be sad. As she loved Christmas even more than her sister, Elizabeth could only account for one reason that Jane would be so melancholy on such an otherwise perfect day.
“Jane, do you miss Mr. Bingley?”
She finished hanging a bit of mistletoe in the doorway, though it was unlikely to be used with only the family in attendance that year.
“Lizzy, I know you only wish to help, but mama and aunt Gardiner will no doubt have these same questions when she arrives and if I do not answer them, mama will. I would prefer to discuss something else until then.”
Elizabeth directed a very serious nod at her sister.
“I see. I know the ideal topic of discussion then, sister. Do you, or do you not, agree that we should each have a taste of our share of mulled wine before the evening begins?”
For a moment, Jane appeared so shocked that she did not know how to answer. Yet, once she considered Elizabeth’s proposal, she smiled happily and nodded in return.
“I am very much in favor of this plan, sister.”
And for a short time, both Jane and Elizabeth were able to forget about their romantic entanglements and enjoy a moment as sisters…
That is, until Mrs. Hill caught them in the mulled wine, of course.
Jane had been correct when she assumed that their aunt would begin the evening by asking a multitude of questions neither she nor Elizabeth cared to answer. What neither wanted to say to either aunt Gardiner or their mother was that they did not know what their position was, with any gentlemen. Elizabeth knew if she told her mother that, it would not just ruin their Christmas, but possible their St. Stephen’s Day and Twelfth Night, too. Instead, once the trunks were gathered from the coach and the greetings exchanged, the men made their way to the study for port and conversation, while the women adjourned to the sitting room to gossip.
“Well? I do wish you would tell me what has happened with all of these gentlemen that my two oldest nieces appear to have attracted with their uncommon intelligence and beauty. Your mother writes and tells me of your exploits but I would like to hear of it from you, of course,” Mrs. Gardiner said.
Elizabeth saw her sister hesitate, disinterested in being the center of attention for longer than a moment or two. To protect her sister from their mother and her excess of enthusiasm, Elizabeth accepted her fate, whatever it may be.
“I am sorry to say, aunt Gardiner, that there is very little to tell. I believe Mr. Bingley and his family returned to London for the holidays, with Mr. Darcy among their numbers. When I last spoke to Lord Spencer, Rebecca had intended to come home to Westerhall for Christmas, but then she fell ill, so her brother went to her school in Reading to collect her. I believe they intended to spend the holiday with some distant cousins who live in the area. That is all we know,” Elizabeth finished, in hope that would be the end of the conversation. Yet, she could already see her mother and aunt preparing a further series of questions for them that would prove tedious and far beyond Elizabeth and Jane’s ability to answer.
In truth, Elizabeth did miss Adrian. He had been gone since he received the letter that Rebecca was feeling ill and that transpired immediately after the Netherfield ball. She did not understand how good of a friend the gentleman had become in their time together. Elizabeth missed his companionship more than anything because when they were together, speaking of literature and art, she did not have to consider her growing feelings for Mr. Darcy.
Her last minutes with Darcy were far more perplexing than those with Lord Spencer, because Darcy had been strange with Elizabeth. A fortnight before Christmas, he rode into Longbourn on his beautiful horse, its mane covered in a dust of snow. He said he stopped on his way Netherfield to wish the Bennet family a good holiday. Then Darcy had promised to write, nodded only half way, and rode away again. Elizabeth never spoke a word, nor had she heard from him since.
As her mother pushed for clearer answers, and Jane shifted from side to side with a nervous sigh, Elizabeth interrupted with a bit of news she hoped might change the topic of conversation.
“Aunt Gardiner, did you hear? My dear friend Charlotte Lucas will be marrying our cousin, Mr. Collins! Her carriage broke down in front of his parsonage and it appears her was quite smitten with her as soon as he saw her.”
Elizabeth had barely finished when her father and uncle walked into the sitting room.
“Dare I say,” Mr. Bennet asked, shaking his head, “that we might observe this blessed holiday without speaking of romance and folly the entire time?”
Aunt Gardiner laughed heartily.
“Come now, Mr. Bennet! Surely, that is what the holidays are for! There is no better time than Christmas for romance and folly.”
Perhaps at a different time, Elizabeth might have agreed with her beloved aunt. But this Christmas, she would have preferred to speak of almost anything else. She would have thanked her father for the distraction but that would only cause the situation to renew. Instead, all five of the sisters allowed their elders to argue about proper holiday conversation while they crept out, one after the other, into the entrance with the intention of irritating Mrs. Hill in the kitchen for a taste of her Christmas pudding.
They had almost made their escape when there was a knock at the front door that drew everyone’s confused attention.
“Who could that be at this hour? And in such snow,” Mr. Bennet said. When he opened the door, the entire household was gathered behind him to stare at the young footman who was shivering harshly. He had a letter in his hand that appeared to be in immediate danger of falling into the snow.
“For goodness sake, papa, let the boy inside,” Jane called from the back. Mr. Bennet stepped aside so the boy could walk into the warm entry. As soon as he did, the snow on his shoulders and hat began to melt.
“State your purpose boy. I would rather you do your melting in the kitchen.”
The footman had finally stopped shivering enough to speak.
“Apologies, sir. I have a letter from Lord Adrian Spencer to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Sorry for the Christmas Eve delivery, sir, but the road from Reading was quite treacherous.”
Elizabeth stepped forward to claim her letter, then thanked the footman for his courageous delivery. Her father pointed the boy in the direction of the kitchen.
“Go on, now. Mrs. Hill will give you something to eat. Sit in front of the fire until you are warm again. You may stay the night if you have nowhere else to be.”
Mr. Bennet would often pretend to be a difficult man, but in truth, he was a gentle and generous man who would give his last penny to man with none. Elizabeth hoped to we a man as kind as her father some day.
“Well?” Mrs. Bennet called. “Are you going to read it?”
“I am indeed, but I will not be reading it in front of the entire household. Pardon me, thank you,” Elizabeth answer before making her way upstairs to
her room. Once safely away from the curious eyes of her family, Elizabeth carefully opened the letter so as not to mark the ink on any of the snow spotted paper.
When the letter was at last opened, she read it as fast as she was able while still retaining the information.
* * *
Dear Elizabeth,
I would like to offer my sincerest apologies for leaving Meryton without stopping by Longbourn to tell you farewell. My concern for the health of my dear sister caused me to leave in such a hurry, I did not even inform my housekeeper of my departure. I can assure you, she had plenty to say on the matter and her speech likely contained much of what you had to say to me as well. I hope this letter still finds us friends.
Rebecca, I am happy to say, had only a slight cough and general sense of feeling poorly, but she is already on the mend. We are with our cousins, Jasper and Louisa Millington, so if you wish to write, you may do so care of their address. I would be most grateful to hear from you.
Please give my kindest regards to your family and my truest wishes for a merry Christmas. May you, too, have a lovely holiday, Miss Bennet. I will anxiously await an answer filled with gossip and lovely stories from the new books you have read in my absence.
* * *
Your eternal friend,
Adrian Spencer
* * *
Elizabeth set the letter down on her desk and allowed herself to ponder for a while. If there were ever any question that Adrian viewed her as a friend, the letter answered that firmly. In truth, there was a comfort in his words, and she appreciated the idea of having such a lovely friend as Adrian. Though, a small part of her wondered why he was so disinterested in courting not just her, but any woman in Meryton.
All Elizabeth could do was wonder, alas, for there was no way to be sure when Lord Spencer and Rebecca would return from Reading, or if Rebecca would return with him at all. That meant that, for now, her questions would remain unanswered, and her mind would be quite occupied by things other than evergreen and Christmas Pudding.
Two Gentlemen of Honor Page 5
