‘My housekeeper has refreshments prepared. I am sure you are travel weary, but I hope you will partake of some before being shown to your accommodations.’
A delicious spread had been laid out, and ably assisted by some of the house’s footmen, they were all soon comfortably supplied with tea and small plates of delicate pastries.
Mrs Latimer was a quiet-spoken but pleasant woman, tall and fine of figure, like her daughter, though her features were not markedly handsome. There was, however, intelligence in her eyes, and before long Elizabeth found herself sat beside the lady on a chaise longue, enjoying a light-hearted conversation about the countryside and its perils. Mrs Latimer, it seemed, was much as Elizabeth: a competent but reluctant horsewoman and much fonder of walking than participating in traditional country pursuits.
The gentlemen’s conversation was much as expected, with the colonel and Darcy speaking with Latimer regarding his journey, the weather, plans for a shooting party and beyond. Yet all Darcy could think on was the pressing matter preying upon his mind—how quickly could he extricate himself from whatever Latimer’s assumptions might be?
Darcy glanced at the clock on the mantel. Bingley and his party had been gone for several hours now; surely their return must be imminent? With more people on hand to distract Latimer, he stood a far better chance of conversing with Elizabeth, something he was almost desperate to do. He looked over to where she sat with Mrs Latimer, and at that moment, she looked in his direction. He sent her what he hoped was a reassuring smile, and she returned it before turning back to her companion. How did she feel, knowing Wickham had addressed her father by letter, had found out their address? Such knowledge in that blackguard’s hands could never be a good thing.
Turning back, he found the conversation had lagged, for his cousin had returned to the table to refill his plate, and only Latimer remained, watching Darcy with an assessing gaze, which he met firmly. He was not about to be intimidated in his own home.
‘If you will excuse me, sir.’ Latimer bowed and walked across the room, and Darcy frowned as he approached Elizabeth, who was laughing at something Mrs Latimer had said. He glanced over at Georgiana, who was trying gamely to eke some conversation from Miss Latimer, and he sighed. How could he have been so blind? How could he even have considered such an unapproachable woman as beneficial to his sister? Turning back, he drew in a quick breath. Mrs Latimer had risen and was walking away, and as Latimer took the seat beside Elizabeth, Darcy made to join them.
The colonel, who had returned with his well-stocked plate, stayed his cousin with a hand upon his arm. ‘At ease, Darce. I know no one better qualified than Miss Elizabeth Bennet to withstand an interrogation by Latimer.’
‘That is as may be, Cousin, but I intend to be on hand, all the same.’ Making his way circuitously around the room by stopping to have his cup replenished, Darcy took a seat with the other ladies, Mrs Latimer having joined her daughter and Georgiana, and as the former swept his sister into conversation, he listened as best he could to what was happening behind him.
‘I trust you are not too wearied by your travels, sir. Derbyshire is a long way from Town, is it not?’ Elizabeth’s tone was friendly.
‘Indeed, indeed.’ There was a pause from Latimer. ‘So, tell me a little about yourself, Miss Bennet.’
Elizabeth laughed, and Darcy relaxed a little. ‘Good heavens, sir. What an opening. Where shall I begin?’
‘I am told your family is well acquainted with the Darcys, yet I do not recall ever seeing you in Town?’
There was a pause, and Darcy almost held his breath.
‘We have family in London, sir, but we have not visited them this past year.’
‘And whence do you hail? Where is it you call home, Miss Bennet?’
‘Why, it is Derbyshire.’
Almost smiling at such a sentiment, Darcy placed his cup aside.
‘Derbyshire, you say? The far reaches, I assume, ma’am, as you are residing here at present?’
‘Not at all, sir. Just two miles distant.’
‘How singular! You are... let me understand this. You are tenants, then? This is quite the intrigue, Miss Bennet. How is it you are here as a guest?’
‘Mr Darcy is a good friend to our family, sir. To put my father’s mind at rest when he was called away on urgent business, he invited both my sister and myself to make a short stay. We are happy to be company for Miss Darcy.’
‘Ah yes; of course. Now I understand.’ Latimer sounded quite satisfied. ‘You are nothing more than companions.’
Elizabeth laughed. ‘That is, indeed, one perception of company, sir!’
Hearing Latimer excuse himself, Darcy caught his cousin’s eye across the room. As was oft the case, Fitzwilliam had the right of it where Miss Elizabeth Bennet was concerned!
More than an hour later, the visitors finally followed Mrs Reynolds from the room, and with a sigh of relief, Darcy closed the door on them. He did not relish the coming days, but he knew he must endeavour to offer every civility to his guests and, in the meantime, nothing would delay him from speaking to Latimer on the morrow.
Barely had Darcy crossed the room towards where Elizabeth now sat with Georgiana, however, when Bingley entered, Jane and the twins following behind. Under the twins’ enthusiastic chatter about their excursion, he beckoned Elizabeth to join him and turned to walk over to where his cousin stood near the window.
‘Mr Darcy, I am most anxious about Wickham’s purpose in writing to Papa.’ Elizabeth turned and gestured towards her sister. ‘I must speak to Jane about it, for we have been given no authority to open his post in his absence. Though it was marked Strictly Private, it does not necessarily mean it is urgent, does it?’
‘No—no, it does not. Your father indicated he may return within a few days and, if not, he would send his direction. Try not to worry, for word may arrive on the morrow, if not Mr Bennet himself.’
‘Did you happen to note the postmark, Miss Elizabeth?’ The colonel smiled at her. ‘It might allay your concern a little if it came from some distance.’
Elizabeth looked from the colonel to Darcy. ‘It is marked ‘Buxton’; barely sixteen miles away. It is a strange coincidence, for Papa went there last week—on Thursday—a matter of business, he said.’
Darcy frowned. ‘Buxton? And do you know what purpose he may have had there?’
‘Not at all, though it was most singular.’
‘How so?’
‘Papa returned so swiftly. He must barely have passed minutes at his destination before turning about to begin the journey home. Jane and I both remarked upon it at the time.’ Elizabeth raised troubled eyes to Darcy. ‘If Wickham is writing from Buxton, and Papa went there on unexplained business, we must surely concur they are connected.’ She glanced over her shoulder. ‘Forgive me, Mr Darcy; Colonel Fitzwilliam. I must speak to Jane.’
Darcy exchanged an uneasy glance with his cousin as Elizabeth excused herself to join her sister. All they could hope for was the swift return of Bennet and some answers.
Chapter Forty-Six
There was a general breaking up of the remaining party soon after, with the colonel standing by his word and taking the twins on a ramble through the edge of the woods so they could attempt to seek their ghostly apparition in relative safety.
Georgiana returned upstairs to see how Mrs Annesley was faring and whether she would be joining them for dinner, and Elizabeth and Jane left the room soon after. Darcy could only surmise they wished for some privacy to discuss the letter and its implications, though he did not like letting Elizabeth out of his sight. This unexpected rearing of Wickham’s head had unsettled him, coupled with the notion of there being a stranger at large—poacher or not—and he was only thankful Elizabeth was under his protection here at Pemberley and not two miles away at The Grange.
Barely had he and Bingley reached the door to the billiard room, however, intent upon a game before heading upstairs to change for dinner, when they were ha
iled from behind. Turning about, Darcy blew out a frustrated breath as Latimer approached.
‘A rare moment to find you almost alone, Darcy! I will own to having had no notion you would have quite such a full household here.’
Bingley laughed. ‘Darcy very kindly offered my sisters a place to stay before they go off to school next week, Latimer. They are having a delightful time, but we shall be gone on our way shortly.’
‘And these Bennets, too.’ Latimer raised a brow. ‘I wonder if they, too, will be on their way directly.’
‘They are most pleasing young ladies, are they not?' Bingley smiled genially. 'The Bennets are former acquaintances—neighbours, in fact—from Hertfordshire. My estate is there, and Darcy became acquainted with the family during my residence.’
Latimer narrowed his gaze, looking from Bingley to Darcy and back again. ‘So—first they are neighbours to you, sir; then, they are neighbours to Darcy.’ He released a short laugh. ‘One might think there was some design in this Bennet’s choice of location! It is uncommon, is it not, to be changing residence quite so much?’
‘I think we must allow a gentleman his reasons, sir.’
A movement along the hallway caught Darcy’s eye, and Latimer turned to follow his gaze.
‘Ah, Eleanor! There you are. Come.’ He held out a hand towards his daughter, then turned back to Bingley and Darcy.
Glancing at Miss Latimer, who maintained her usual air of disinterest as she joined them, Darcy summoned a smile. ‘None of the ladies are downstairs at present, ma’am. Would you care to make use of the music room or library?’
‘My daughter wishes to be shown some of the gardens before dusk falls, Darcy. You will, of course, have no objection to escorting her.’
With Miss Latimer before him and her father holding out her hand towards him, there was nothing Darcy could do. Much as he had little patience for Latimer and his machinations, he would neither embarrass the lady nor offend her.
Taking her hand, he placed it upon his arm.
‘Bingley, perhaps you could engage Latimer in a game in my absence.’ Without waiting for a response, Darcy turned to lead the lady along the hallway to the entrance hall. ‘What is it that you wish to see first, Miss Latimer? I am at your disposal.’
~o0o~
Dinner was a less relaxed affair than of late. The twins maintained an aloofness around the Latimers and, as a result, were quieter and more restrained with everyone else at the table. Elizabeth seemed pre-occupied, and Darcy suspected the mysterious letter to be the cause, and though Mr and Mrs Latimer were pleasant enough company, even the friendliness of Bingley and his cousin’s usual manner could not lift the atmosphere.
Darcy felt all manner of frustration. He wished for nothing more than to be talking to Elizabeth, offering her whatever reassurance he could in her father’s absence. Wasting time escorting a fairly uncommunicative Miss Latimer around the immediate grounds, merely to satisfy her father, had hardly improved his mood.
Not wishing to spend too much time with Latimer before he could speak privately to him, Darcy led the gentlemen back to join the ladies within a half hour of their withdrawing, and as soon as everyone was settled, Darcy walked over to the hearth and turned to survey the scene. Jane sat beside Miss Latimer, attempting to converse with her. The lady, however, was looking anywhere but at Jane as her gaze roamed the room. Her air and countenance did not speak of her finding anything worthy of her interest or appreciation.
‘The twins believe they saw a cloaked figure in the trees tonight, though I saw little evidence of it.’ Colonel Fitzwilliam had come to stand beside Darcy, who frowned.
‘With what we learned earlier...’
‘I do not know what they think they saw, but if Wickham is in Buxton, he cannot be lurking in Pemberley’s woods as well.’ Glancing across the room, he grinned. ‘Miss Elizabeth Bennet appears to be engrossed in the delights of Miss Viola’s latest drawings! I wonder if she will comprehend all she is seeing.’ The colonel winked at Darcy as he walked away, taking a seat by Georgiana and Mrs Latimer.
Darcy studied Elizabeth’s subdued air and countenance. Though her attention was indeed with the open sketchbook before her, she was not herself. Did she fret over Wickham’s letter or dare he hope she was disturbed by the arrival of Miss Latimer?
‘Your friend tells me there is to be a ball, Darcy, and Sir Charles Seymour has liberally extended the invitation to your guests.’ Latimer came to stand beside him, his back to the hearth, and Bingley joined them.
‘I am sure you and your family will take much enjoyment from it, sir.’ Bingley glanced at Darcy, then grinned. ‘The Seymours are renowned for their hospitality.’
‘I shall look forward to it.’ Latimer turned to look across the room to where his daughter sat. ‘Eleanor will, of course, expect to stand up for the first set with you, Darcy.’
Darcy shook his head. ‘On the contrary, Latimer. I am already committed for the first, but will speak to Miss Latimer about engaging her for a set of her choice thereafter.’
Meeting the gentleman’s indignant gaze, Darcy held it resolutely.
‘This is most singular; may I ask to whom you are already obligated?’
‘You may; Miss Elizabeth Bennet.’ Darcy spoke firmly; on this he would not yield.
Latimer smiled patronisingly. ‘Then I am certain the young lady will not object to your standing down on this occasion. If she is a neighbour—nay, the daughter of a mere tenant—then, I am sure she fully understands her place, and more so, where her importance lies now you have people of such significance in residence.’
Bingley stared from Latimer to Darcy, his mouth partly open as though he would speak but could not find words. For once, Darcy found he could think of plenty.
‘You are perfectly correct, Latimer. As a true lady, Miss Elizabeth Bennet would not object, should such a thing be asked of her. Yet it will not. I would hope also she fully comprehends where her importance lies.’
‘I am gratified to hear you are a man who stands by his word, Darcy. Perhaps it is something we can discuss on the morrow.’
‘Gladly. Understand this, Latimer: you can trust when I know I have committed myself to something, I will stand by it to the end.’ Darcy inclined his head, holding onto his temper with difficulty. ‘If you will excuse me.’
He strode across the room to his cousin. ‘A word, if I may?’
They turned to leave the room, but then Darcy realised Elizabeth watched them, and he paused on the threshold. He wished he could take her out of the room, away from Latimer, away from everyone. Then, conscious the gentleman had his eye on him, Darcy bowed towards Elizabeth before closing the door and walking rapidly after his cousin.
He caught up with the colonel as he entered the hallway leading to the study, and his cousin eyed him thoughtfully as they fell into step together.
‘That looked a little intense; of what were you speaking?’
‘The ball.’
‘Hmmph. Let me speculate: Latimer assumes you will stand up with his daughter for the first.’
Darcy turned to face his cousin as they reached the study, and he opened the door. ‘He did.’
The colonel raised a brow. ‘Did? I like your style, Darce. How did he take it?’
‘Begrudgingly.’ Darcy walked over to his desk and threw himself into his chair. The rush of anger at Latimer’s arrogance was fading, but his displeasure was not. ‘I had to get away from him, but I have made it clear I will not be persuaded from my first choice.’
The colonel smirked at him. ‘On more than one count, I suspect.’
‘Enough, Fitzwilliam!’ He sighed. ‘Latimer has played me well; this side of him was fully concealed before now. I suspect he is impatient to settle matters.’
Taking the seat opposite, the colonel eyed him seriously. ‘And when do you propose making the situation clear to him?’
‘On the morrow, as soon as the opportunity presents.’
‘And Miss Eliz
abeth Bennet? She remains in the dark as to your true intentions, does she not?’
‘Fitzwilliam!’ Darcy was torn between frustration and fondness, for he knew his cousin had his best interests at heart. ‘I cannot risk complicating things further!’
‘I know; I know!’ The colonel raised a hand in submission. ‘You will handle matters in your own way. Besides, do we not have a more pressing matter to address?’
‘You mean Wickham?’
‘I do.’
Darcy leaned back in his chair, then nodded. ‘I cannot see how we can make a beginning. We have no authority to open Bennet’s post, and clearly he has not given permission to his daughters, either.’
‘But if Bennet does not return on the morrow, or send word of his direction so the letter can be sent on, we must act. We may not comprehend Wickham’s purpose, but experience dictates it is likely to be of a devious nature. He cannot surely have been in contact before now, from the lady’s reaction?’
‘From what Miss Elizabeth has told me, the Bennets had no intelligence of Wickham, nor if he even survived the fire.’ Darcy met his cousin’s gaze solemnly. ‘Leastways, that was her understanding when we spoke of it. Whether Bennet would tell a different story, I cannot say.’
The colonel grunted. ‘Let us hope the fire at least marked his fine countenance; it would prevent him from ruining another young girl and, by default, her family’s reputation! It is a mystery as to how he has tracked the family down, but regardless, he will have his reasons and his purpose, and Bennet will rue the day if he tries to thwart him.’
‘You are making me uneasy, Cousin.’
‘Forgive me; you know I tend to speak as I find. You comprehend Wickham’s character as well as I; we know what he is capable of.’
Darcy got to his feet and walked over to the window. Dusk had long fallen into darkness, but there was a full moon and reasonable light shone upon the immediate grounds. His gaze drifted to the statue of the Lost Woman near the edge of the woodland, and he frowned. ‘Do you think he is out there? You do not think it is Wickham who is...’
A Quest for Mr Darcy Page 30
