Chance Encounters

by Linda Wells

  Chance Encounters

  Linda Wells

  Chance Encounters

  Copyright 2008, 2012 Linda Wells

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form whatsoever.

  Cover photo: © Frenc: Dreamstime.com

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead; is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  To

  Tania and Catherine

  Bill and Rick

  And to all who supported me at the Meryton Literary Society while creating this story.

  Chapter 1

  Elizabeth was thrilled with the invitation to visit her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner for the month of February. She had long been weary of her mother’s endless complaints after she rejected Mr. Collins’ offer of marriage, and she was dying to get away. Her sister Jane had been invited as well, but since she had enjoyed a visit to the Gardiner’s recently, she felt that it was only right for Lizzy to go on her own. It was the first week of the Season, when London was repopulated by those residents who were fortunate enough to own country estates. Uncle Gardiner had purchased tickets to the Season’s first performance of a renowned orchestra, and was taking his niece and wife as a special celebration of her visit to town.

  Elizabeth, though not particularly fond of shopping, had purchased a few new gowns while in London, and chose to wear one of them that night. It was a lovely pale yellow silk, with small capped straps which allowed her shoulders to be essentially bare, and was cut to daringly display her décolletage. Her aunt’s maid wound yellow and green ribbons throughout her hair, and left three long curls down to hang over her left shoulder. She felt beautiful and was guiltily glad for once not being in the shadow of her sister, since as her mother was so fond of pointing out; her beauty was nothing to Jane’s.

  The three arrived at the theatre and took their seats on the floor. It was an intimate setting, with private boxes above, but not too far from where they were seated. Elizabeth, always curious to observe people and their idiosyncrasies, spent the time before the concert began perusing the crowd.

  She smiled to herself. Oh, how I wish that Papa could be convinced to come to London, he would love the great variety of personalities available for sketching characters. I think that I would enjoy listening to his commentary as much as watching the performers on stage!

  Mrs. Gardiner was sitting to her right and noticed Elizabeth’s amusement. “What has struck your fancy, Lizzy?”

  She laughed, “I was just thinking of how Papa would love this atmosphere. I think that he would find it even more entertaining than watching the antics of his silly daughters!”

  Elizabeth’s attention was suddenly taken by a flurry of activity in the private box above and immediately to her right. A man wearing the scarlet uniform of a soldier had entered with a broad smile; he had piercing blue eyes and tousled blond hair which fell just upon the gold braid on his shoulders. She looked at him with interest, wondering what his rank was and enjoying his obviously jovial countenance when her attention quickly riveted to the soldier’s companion. An impeccably dressed, tall, broad shouldered man had joined him. Elizabeth’s eyes travelled up his form to see his face. Nothing was out of place on this exceptionally handsome man, at least until she reached the unruly mop of black curls atop his head. Then her gaze fell to his face. She was not sure what she had expected, but it certainly was not the expression of utter sadness that his dark, soft eyes expressed. She was moved to know why his eyes, such a mirror into his soul, were so troubled, and inexplicably, she wanted to be the one who made him smile.

  Fitzwilliam Darcy kept his gaze down. He had no desire to catch anyone’s eye and therefore be forced to socialize. He hated crowded rooms. He hated being an object of matrimony for every matchmaking mother and her desperate daughter of the ton. He was simply tired of the game. He was also very troubled about his sister. Eight months earlier, he had fortunately paid an unexpected visit to her and her companion on their holiday at Ramsgate. There Georgiana had confessed to him that she was about to elope with George Wickham. Darcy was able to stop the scheme, and banish Wickham, who at twice the young girl’s age, was obviously only after her dowry. His sister was devastated, realizing what her foolish actions had almost cost her and dwelled on how she had hurt the brother she almost regarded as her father. She was a shell of the girl she once was, and it was tearing Darcy apart in his feelings of helplessness.

  He watched his cousin talking amiably to the people in the box adjacent to theirs, marvelling once again at his ease in company with not just a little jealousy. He looked out onto the crowded floor of the theatre, not fixing his gaze on anyone in particular, until he suddenly realized that he was undergoing close scrutiny by a pair of sparkling, dancing eyes set in the face of a lovely girl in a yellow gown. At first he had the urge to glare at her with his best hauteur to encourage her to desist, but then his eyes travelled to her mouth, and then took in her entire expression; and what he saw made him draw in his breath. She was looking at him, not with the calculating view of someone estimating his worth, nor with the simpering compliance of someone wishing to please him to gain favour. She had such an expression of simple kindness on her face, and perhaps even concern.

  Elizabeth saw that she had caught the young man’s attention, and putting her nervousness aside, decided to go about the task of cheering him up, albeit silently and from nearly thirty feet away. She took a deep breath and relaxed, and looking directly at him, smiled gently. His brow furrowed, as if he was wondering what exactly she was about, so she nodded her head and broadened her smile a bit more. Darcy was fascinated, and involuntarily, he felt the corners of his mouth rise slightly.

  Encouraged by her success, Elizabeth nodded her head again, gave him a full smile, including her pearly teeth, raised one delicate brow, and tilted her head to the side. Come on, you are almost there; show me you can do it, sir!

  To her absolute delight, Darcy finally realized that he was being challenged to follow her lead, and to his amazement, he was enjoying playing along. When he broke into a full-fledged grin, his entire countenance changed, his face was graced by two gorgeous dimples, and his eyes held a warm glow that took her breath away. Trying hard to keep her wits about her, Elizabeth laughed, and mouthed the words “Well done!”

  Darcy, now presented with the sight of this stunning creature laughing up at him, her whole body shaking with the joy of her triumph, mouthed back, “Thank you.” He was utterly bewitched. Who was this siren?

  At this point, the lights dimmed and the performance began. It was far too dark to see her, but Darcy stared directly at the spot where she sat, hoping to see any movement, or catch any trace of her voice.

  Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam was not unaware of his cousin’s behaviour. As they were seated in the box, he saw that Darcy had no intention of being sociable with their neighbours beyond a curt nod to acknowledge their presence. Richard took it upon himself to perform the niceties, but being a watchful soldier, kept an eye on Darcy’s behaviour as well.

  He noticed Darcy’s perusal of the crowd and his usual subsequent staring, but he was surprised when the staring became fixed on a particular point. He began his own search to see who had captured his reticent cousin’s eye, and then observed the entire smile exchange between Darcy and Elizabeth. Never had he seen his cousin behave in such a way, and seeing his face just before the lights dimmed, he wondered if he had just been witness to the oft-mentioned, but seldom occurring strike of cupid’s arrow, and love at first sight.

  The performance was broken into two sections, and with the intermission and reillumination of the room,
Darcy and Elizabeth were equally thrilled to see that each had immediately sought the other’s face. Both of them sat, hearts pumping wildly, smiling like fools, trying hard to read the other’s mind.

  Richard leaned over and whispered, “She is quite beautiful, is she not? I would like to meet her and know her better.” Darcy instantly broke his gaze with Elizabeth and delivered a glare that would have sent any other man running for his life, but all it served with his cousin was to inspire a lifted brow. “Feeling possessive, are we Cousin?” He laughed, “Well, what are you waiting for? Go and introduce yourself.”

  “Introduce myself?” Darcy said incredulously. “I have never done such a thing. A gentleman simply does not walk up to an unknown woman and greet her! What would she think of me? I would be considered nothing less than a rake!”

  “Surely you cannot be serious! How else do you expect to further this acquaintance? Or are you willing to be satisfied with the memory of smiling at the first woman who I have ever known to catch your eye and turn you back into a blithering schoolboy? How do you expect to propose if you cannot muster the courage to tell her who you are?” Richard was thoroughly enjoying discomposing Darcy.

  Meanwhile, Elizabeth’s attention was drawn by her aunt and uncle who were wondering why she kept smiling and laughing up at the private boxes. “What are you looking at, Lizzy?” asked Uncle Gardiner.

  “Do you see that box just above you? The one with the man dressed in black and the soldier? The gentleman and I have been having a challenge of sorts. He has been determined to be sombre, and I have been attempting to make him smile.” Elizabeth was thrilled with her success, and it showed on her face. “I, apparently, have won, because he has displayed the most enticing set of dimples I have ever seen!”

  “Lizzy! What has happened to you? If I did not know better, I would think that I was sitting next to Lydia to hear about you flirting so! What must this man think of you?” Mrs. Gardiner was torn between horror and amusement at her irrepressible niece’s behaviour.

  “Oh Aunt, it is fine. Look at how the two men are arguing, I think that the gentleman’s friend is trying to encourage him to come and speak to me. I think that the gentleman is terribly shy.”

  At least I hope that is the problem,and that he is not too embarrassed with his own behaviour to come and meet a woman who is no doubt his social inferior. To know that she would be rejected for such a reason would be devastating, no matter how likely it was. She very much wanted to know this man.

  Unfortunately, the bell rang signalling the end of intermission. Soon the house was plunged back into darkness, leaving the couple both regretting the missed opportunity. Darcy again sat, not listening to the performance, and chastising himself for not acting on the impulse of greeting the woman in yellow. After all, what harm could come from an introduction? It is not as if I am proposing marriage. It would just be to learn her name, and thank her for her kindness. Yes, that was it, just a polite thank you. And if he happened in the process to learn her address, and her fondest hopes and dreams, and discover her scent, and the taste of her lips; and to touch the silk of her sweet shoulders . . . Get a hold of yourself, man!

  Richard watched his cousin argue with himself and finally leaned over, “Perhaps we should depart from our box a bit early to avoid the crowd. Then we might be able to spot any friends who we possibly missed greeting when we entered the theatre.” His lips twitched with a smirk and he raised his brows. “What think you, Cousin?”

  “I think that is an excellent idea, Richard. You have planned the campaign well, and I am proud to call you family.”

  “Ha! The campaign may be planned, but it is up to you to execute it!”

  “Then success is guaranteed!”

  Unfortunately, the best laid plans do not always succeed. When the concert neared an end, the cousins rose to depart their box and began to walk to the stairs leading to the theatre lobby. The plan was to position themselves near the door so that they could easily capture the young lady’s attention. When the lights came back up, Elizabeth looked up to the box to find it empty. Disappointed and confused, she gathered her shawl and reticule and followed her aunt and uncle up the aisle to the doors, wondering if the men had left early to avoid meeting her.

  Darcy’s plan to quickly descend the stairs was thwarted by his suddenly being surrounded by acquaintances vying for his attention. He tried valiantly to shake them off, but was devastated to see his lovely lady in yellow emerging through the doors below him. He and Richard saw her at the same time, and called out, “Wait!”

  Elizabeth looked up towards the sound and first spotted Richard’s red coat and then Darcy, trapped in the crowd of people. She saw someone approach him and wring his hand while exclaiming, “Darcy! How are you?” She tried to gain her relatives’ attention to slow them down, but she felt the grip of her uncle’s hand on her wrist, pulling her out the door to the street.

  Darcy heard the man say, “Come on Lizzy, we don’t want to lose you in this crowd!”

  They locked eyes, desperate, searching, for one more moment, and then she was gone.

  Chapter 2

  “Bingley!” Darcy looked down with frustration at the hand that was preventing his pursuit of the bewitching lady in yellow, and then up into the beaming face of his closest friend.

  “Darcy! I have not seen you in an age! Luckily Caroline spotted you or I would have missed you entirely!”

  With an eye on his cousin who, unencumbered by acquaintances, was rapidly descending the stairs, Darcy removed his hand from his friend’s grasp. “Forgive me, Bingley, but I must leave immediately. Call on me tomorrow if you can.”

  Darcy flew down the stairs, leaving a bemused Bingley in his wake. His sisters, Caroline Bingley and Louisa Hurst had just reached them, delayed in their approach by Gilbert Hurst, who had fallen asleep during the performance. Caroline possessively demanded to know where Darcy had gone, and was thoroughly dissatisfied with her brother’s lack of knowledge.

  Darcy finally escaped the theatre and looking quickly from side to side, he gratefully spotted his cousin’s uniform. Richard had managed to halt the progress of the lady and her companions.

  Elizabeth’s uncle had pulled her through the theatre doors and out into the scattering crowd. Once beyond the noise of the carriages at the entrance, she finally managed to gain his attention.

  “Wait, Uncle, please!” she cried.

  “What is it, Lizzy?” Mr. Gardiner slowed and looked at her, noticing the expression of distress on his niece’s face.

  “The gentlemen from the theatre, they were trying to reach us. They were caught on the stairs, but I heard them call out for us to wait for them. Please could we just stand here for a moment?”

  “We do not know these men, Lizzy.” He said with some concern.

  “But we will never know them if we give them no opportunity to speak to us, will we?” Elizabeth’s voice was pleading.

  “Come Edward, it will not hurt to wait here and see what the gentlemen have to say, and besides, it will be a while before our carriage appears.” Madeline Gardiner looked at her niece; then met her husband’s glance. Silently they agreed to indulge Lizzy’s request.

  Just then they spotted the scarlet uniform of the soldier approaching them. Relieved, Richard let out a breath and gave them a wide grin. “Well, did you hear us calling, or are we merely very fortunate?”

  Elizabeth smiled brightly up at him, “I think that it was a bit of both, except you seem to be alone. Where is the other half of your ‘we’?”

  Richard laughed, “My cousin was waylaid by far too many interested acquaintances, but I assure you, he will join us very soon.” He turned and noted Darcy’s rapid approach. “Ah, he has escaped!”

  Darcy came to a stop, glanced at his cousin, and bowed to the waiting party. “I hope that you will forgive us for delaying your exit, but I could not miss the opportunity to make the acquaintance of the young lady who so kindly lifted my spirits this evening. I know th
at this is an entirely improper way to make an introduction, however, desperate times call for desperate measures.” He took a deep breath, attempted to ignore his cousin’s growing smile, and swallowing his extreme nervousness, looked into Elizabeth’s sparkling hazel eyes. Gaining courage from her welcoming smile, he said, “My name is Fitzwilliam Darcy, and this is my cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.”

  “I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, sir. I have no hesitation introducing myself to others, and a little bending of the rules of propriety never hurt anyone.” Darcy gave her a grateful look, and the corners of his mouth lifted. “My name is Elizabeth Bennet.” Darcy’s smile grew, Elizabeth! She continued, “And this is my uncle and aunt Mr. and Mrs. Edward Gardiner.

  Darcy and Richard bowed, “It is an honour to meet you all.” At a loss for words, Darcy had no idea how to continue the conversation. Desperately he looked to Richard for help when Elizabeth’s warm voice interrupted his panicked musings.

  “I am sorry to have my suspicions confirmed that your spirits required improvement, sir, however, I hope that the beautiful performance and the atmosphere of the theatre aided in your recovery.”

  Regaining his equilibrium, Darcy daringly replied, “I believe that it was the excellent company of the persons attending the concert who gave me the encouragement that I required.” Elizabeth and Darcy both blushed.

  Mrs. Gardiner, sensing the gentleman’s embarrassment, and Elizabeth’s sudden shyness decided to forward the conversation. “Mr. Darcy, do you and your cousin frequently attend concerts?”

  “I do own a box at this theatre; however it has been some time since I have had the opportunity to attend. My cousin and I share the guardianship of my young sister, and we hoped to have her company tonight, but she unfortunately was unable to join us. Are you often in attendance?”