by Abbey North
Lizzy closed her eyes as well, and she tried to think about the viscount she’d met that evening. He was a very handsome and nice man, but he didn’t make her heart thump rapidly in her chest. Indeed, no man ever had.
As though her own conscience wished to call her a liar, the image of Fitzwilliam Darcy flashed behind her eyes, and her heartrate accelerated correspondingly. She gritted her teeth in annoyance with herself, doing her best to banish him from her thoughts so she could get a good night’s rest before her outing with Lord Aumley in the morning.
2
The viscount showed up at Gracechurch Street the next morning at eleven, precisely on time, which Lizzy found impressive. He made a favorable impression on her aunt, though Uncle Gardiner had already gone into work, so he wasn’t there to meet him.
Once they had said their partings from Aunt Gardiner, and Adam had politely asked Jane if she would like to join them, though she refused, he led her to his black carriage, and she eyed the crest for a moment, noticing it had a gryphon. “It is lovely.”
He frowned. “I find it all rather pretentious, to be honest, but I dare not change the family crest.”
She put a hand to her mouth in mock-horror. “The very idea, sir. I am not certain I am safe with a man who would even think such a thing.” She chuckled.
His expression softened, and he seemed to look at her with more than just friendly interest. She quickly schooled her features into a more serious arrangement, not wanting to encourage him to form a tendre for her. “I confess to being quite excited for our outing, Lord Aumley. I have wanted to visit the British Museum for years.”
“I shall endeavor to ensure you enjoy your expedition then, Miss Elizabeth.”
He was easy to talk to, and the minutes passed quickly as they made their way to the museum. His carriage drew up outside a short time later, and his driver opened the door for them. Adam emerged first and lifted a hand to assist her down, and then he tucked her hand on his arm as they walked up the steps, paid their admission, and entered.
Lizzy soon lost herself in a haze of happiness as she explored the museum. He was the perfect person with whom to attend, because he’d obviously been there before and knew some of the tidbits she didn’t, and some that weren’t revealed by the placards accompanying each exhibit, and he didn’t grow impatient with her even when she lingered.
He had seemed to enjoy their visit as well, but he really lit up when they made it to the Indian exhibit, learning about the various spices and teas that were native to India, along with their caste system. She frowned in disapproval upon learning that widows were immolated with their dead husbands. “Ghastly.”
Adam nodded his agreement. “Entirely. The poor dears should never have to suffer that way.”
Most of what she learned was positive, but as they came to an exhibit about Kali, she was disconcerted to see a picture of the eight-armed goddess holding a human heart in one of her hands, and she appeared to be on the verge of eating it. “Oh, my.”
There was a new note of excitement in Adam’s tone now as he said, “Kali was a bloodthirsty goddess, and she demanded human sacrifice from her followers.”
Lizzy frowned, feeling uneasy. “How barbaric.”
He looked earnest as he nodded. “Entirely without a place in civilization, I quite agree, but it is fascinating, nonetheless. I like learning about religions, and I find it interesting how so many people could fall in line with the idea of sacrificing themselves or others to please their goddess.”
“Religion can be a peculiar thing,” said Lizzy, fearing she might come across as a heretic. “Even our own religion has some strange ideas, such as drinking wine as a substitute for the blood of Christ.”
“I agree. The Catholics are similar, with the communion wafers that embody the body of Christ. It has its own roots in and is a form of cannibalism, I suppose.”
Lizzy shuddered at the thought. “I would prefer not to think about that.”
Adam laughed. “I can hardly blame you. If you are interested in the topic, I will be giving a talk about Kali at the Religious Antiquities Society near the end of the week. I would be pleased if you would like to be my guest. Since you are not a member of the Society, that is the only way you could attend.”
Lizzy looked at the exhibit again, deciding it was intriguing enough, if unsettling, that she wanted to know more. “Yes, I do believe I would be interested, Lord Aumley.”
He grinned. “Excellent. I shall endeavor not to bore you or the other members of the Society.”
Lizzy put her arm through his again as they walked away from the Indian exhibit, heading toward the exit now that they had seen everything. “I find it impossible to believe you could bore anyone, Lord Aumley.”
“Miss Elizabeth,” said a cheerful young voice then.
Lizzy jerked in surprise before turning to find Georgiana Darcy in front of her. Her brother was at her side, and she gave Mr. Darcy a cool nod before bestowing on Georgiana a much brighter smile. “It is lovely to see you, Miss Georgiana. Are you a fan of the British Museum?”
Georgiana pulled a face, and she seemed to be pouting slightly. “Fitzwilliam insists it will further my education.” She sounded pained.
“You must check out the Indian exhibit,” said Adam in his enthusiasm for it, not waiting for a proper introduction. He seemed to realize what he had done, and he flushed as he fell silent.
Lizzy quickly introduced them, feeling sorry for Adam. He seemed to be settling well into his new role of viscount, but there were times when the working-class carpenter shone through. She was sympathetic toward it, but of course, Mr. Darcy seemed haughty and disapproving. That was hardly a surprise.
They chatted for a few moments before Georgiana said, “You must come for tea tomorrow afternoon, Miss Elizabeth.”
Lizzy was tempted to refuse, but that was simply because she didn’t want to spend more time with Fitzwilliam Darcy. He wasn’t too likely to be there, and she was certain he would invent an excuse to avoid her company. After his audacious proposal, which she had soundly rejected, he was unlikely to want to spend any time with her either. She couldn’t risk injuring Miss Georgiana’s feelings, and she wanted to sit with the girl and have a genuine conversation, finding out what had happened after her abduction. “I would be pleased, Miss Georgiana.”
The other girl smiled. “Excellent. I shall see you then, Miss Elizabeth.”
Darcy was scowling heavily now, but his tone was moderate when he said, “We should tour the museum before it closes, Georgiana.”
At his words, Lizzy looked at the clock on the wall, surprised to see it was after four. She hadn’t realized she had lost track of time so thoroughly as she’d explored the museum.
Adam led her to his coach, and they were back at Gracechurch Street a few moments later. He walked her to the door and kissed her gloved hand in parting, saying, “I shall see you soon for the lecture.”
“I am looking forward to it, Lord Aumley.”
He bent at the waist as he stepped back. “Until we meet again, Miss Bennet.” With those words, he turned and walked back to his carriage, where his driver held the door for him.
Lizzy entered the Gardiners’ home, finding her aunt and Jane in the sitting room, both sipping tea and working on embroidery. “I apologize for being so late.”
Her aunt seemed unconcerned. “I assumed you were having a splendid time at the museum. I have never been there, but I hear it takes many hours to fully appreciate.”
“Indeed.” Lizzy almost launched into a description of things she’d seen, but she curbed the impulse. She doubted Aunt Gardiner or Jane would have any true interest in the various items. She could well imagine their response if she told them a thing about Kali. It would turn them off the honey cakes and tea they were enjoying.
Instead, she sat down in the chair and said, “If it is all right, Lord Aumley has invited me to a lecture at his Society. There will be plenty of people there.”
Aunt
Gardiner looked up from her sewing. “I have no objection at all, my dear. I trust you to have sound judgment. Do you like this young man?”
Lizzy nodded. “He’s a nice man. I believe we will be friends.”
Her aunt frowned slightly. “Perhaps you will be more than friends?”
Lizzy shrugged. She didn’t want to say a firm no, but she couldn’t imagine growing that kind of affection for the man. Vexingly, Darcy’s image returned to her mind once more, and she grimaced. She distracted herself by pouring a cup of tea and selecting a honey cake before returning to her seat. “I am not overly eager to marry, Aunt Gardiner.”
Her aunt made a dismissive sound. “Some young girls think that, but you have only to meet the right man.”
Lizzy almost choked on the honey cake in her mouth, using a fortifying gulp of tea to wash it down. “I find it difficult to believe such a rare and mythical creature might exist.”
“Do not be so hard on the male sex,” said Aunt Gardiner. “They are not as complex as women, and so you must give them allowances.”
Lizzy thought that was an oversimplified and inaccurate assessment, but she didn’t argue with her aunt. If it were true, it certainly wouldn’t encourage her to want to make a match, for who would want to be paired with someone who was inferior to them?
For a moment, she wondered at Darcy’s ability to overcome his own innate prejudices to offer for her. She moved uneasily in her seat, realizing perhaps she’d underestimated the depth of his affection for her if he were willing to overlook all her perceived flaws and offer anyway.
And yet how could she have seriously entertained the idea of accepting such an insultingly worded proposal, especially since he was still determined to keep Jane from Bingley? There was no time for second-guessing herself since the outcome couldn’t be changed, and she assured herself she wouldn’t want to anyway. The idea of marrying Fitzwilliam Darcy was preposterous.
3
Lizzy slipped out of Gracechurch Street the next afternoon after discreetly informing her aunt where she was going. She’d been careful not to mention it in front of Jane, since Jane hadn’t been included in the invitation, and Lizzy didn’t want to spark her hope. She felt like she was sneaking around, but she had good reason to preserve her sister from the truth.
If she had a chance, maybe she would find a conduit to Mr. Bingley through her renewed friendship with Miss Georgiana, but she wasn’t approaching the outing with that in mind. There was nothing nefarious about her friendship overtures toward the other woman. She genuinely liked Georgiana, and she didn’t want to give her sister false hope.
She hailed a hansom cab, and it dropped her in front of Darcy House a while later. Lizzy swallowed at the sight of it, daunted by its obvious luxury. The house could easily hold her aunt and uncle’s abode several times over.
She straightened her shoulders, determined not to be intimidated, and approached the front door. The butler opened it a moment later, and his lip curled with obvious displeasure. Lizzy knew there was nothing wrong with her attire, though her dress was not the most expensive fabric, so she couldn’t help hoping he had that same reaction to all guests. Likely, he considered everyone beneath the Darcys.
“I have an appointment for tea with Miss Georgiana.”
He seemed shocked by that, but he inclined his head. “You must be Miss Bennet?” At her nod, he stepped back and opened the door. “Please come in and follow me.”
Lizzy did so, following the dour butler through the halls, deciding she would need a map to navigate her way around if she hadn’t had his assistance.
He led her into a sitting room, and she was happy to see Georgiana, though dismayed to see Darcy had joined them. She managed a cool nod in his direction, and then her smile brightened again when she saw Mr. Bingley sitting on the settee. She found herself sitting beside him moments later after they had exchanged greetings. “I did not expect to see you here, Mr. Bingley.”
He frowned. “Indeed, I did not expect to see you either. I had no idea you were in London. I simply dropped in to visit Darcy, and Miss Georgiana invited me to stay for tea.”
“Miss Georgiana is quite perceptive,” said Lizzy with a smile in her friend’s direction. “She must have realized I would be happy to see you.”
“Likewise,” said Mr. Bingley, though he was fiddling with his spoon in a nervous fashion. He seemed to be gathering his courage when he said, “I hope your family is well.”
“Quite well,” said Lizzy. “Poor Lydia is quite bored without Jane and I there to keep her company though,” said Lizzy smoothly, hiding her smile behind her sip of tea when she saw how Darcy stiffened at the mention of her sister’s name.
Bingley had stiffened as well, but his expression was one of eagerness rather than irritation. “Miss Jane is here in London?”
Lizzy nodded. “She has been for a few weeks. I joined her after my visit to Hunsford. Mr. Darcy might have mentioned our visits overlapped, as he was there to see his aunt?”
Bingley frowned. “He mentioned nothing of the sort, and he did not tell me Jane was in London either.” He was openly glaring at his friend.
Darcy shrugged a shoulder. “It had slipped my mind, Bingley.”
Lizzy’s eyes narrowed as she also glared at him. “I am certain of that,” she said while making little attempt to hide her disbelief.
“I wonder why Miss Jane has not called at Grosvenor Street,” said Bingley with a frown.
Lizzy proceeded carefully, not wanting to cause a scene, but she refused to allow Mr. Bingley to believe Jane hadn’t been interested in him and hadn’t come to see him. “She did shortly after her arrival, but Miss Bingley made it clear she was not welcome there.”
Darcy stiffened, his anger tangible as Charles gasped.
“That cannot be. There must be a mistake, for my sister and Miss Jane were friends.”
“I was not there, so I was not privy to the conversation. Perhaps there was a misunderstanding, but Jane interpreted it as a lack of welcome when Miss Bingley came to visit her a few days later. You would have to talk to your sister to discover more details.” Lizzy neatly turned away from Bingley then, wanting him to have a chance to think about her words while she focused on Miss Georgiana. “How are you feeling, Miss Georgiana?”
The girl smiled. “I feel quite well, Miss Elizabeth. There was some recovery time after the incident, but a good rest at Pemberley worked wonders, and here I am in London for my first Season. You will be glad to know I did not trip while curtseying to Queen Charlotte at her ball.”
Lizzy smiled. “I never feared you would. I have heard being presented at court is quite an experience.” Her father, having little interest in London, had never made an effort to ensure she and her sisters curtsied before the queen. They had been introduced into Meryton society instead, which wasn’t completely unconventional, but Lizzy felt like they had perhaps missed something with lacking a true first Season.
The rest of tea passed relatively pleasantly, though Darcy was a glowering presence of which Lizzy remained far more aware than she would like. Mr. Bingley shared the news he was hosting a ball at his townhouse that weekend and insisted the Bennet sisters must attend. He magnanimously included their aunt and uncle as well, and Lizzy assured him she could see no reason why they wouldn’t be there.
She managed to successfully avoid interaction with Darcy until it was time to depart, and he offered to walk her to the door. She hid a grimace of dismay, certain whatever he wanted to say would be nothing she wanted to hear. Most likely, he would attempt to dissuade her from accepting Mr. Bingley’s invitation, though he must surely realize the futility of the undertaking.
She was endeavoring to leave as quickly as possible, though she still had to don her coat and hat, and as she buttoned the garment, he said, “You should stay away from Viscount Aumley.”
She frowned, fingers stiffening and causing her to miss the buttonhole. That had been the last thing she expected him to say. “I beg your
pardon?”
“The man is a rake.”
She frowned at him, finding that difficult to believe. “What proof have you of that, Mr. Darcy?”
He opened his mouth to answer, and then he looked frustrated. “I am not… That is… It is simply an instinct. He is new to Society, and no one knows much about him. He could be a blackguard or a rake. A wise woman would be careful with her reputation.”
“If your judgment is based purely on your own instinct and perceptions, pardon me for doubting the veracity of them, Mr. Darcy. After all, you have proven to be a poor judge of character. You still believe my dear sister is a fortune hunter, so I shall not be accepting your advice on the matter.”
Before he could say anything else, she nodded to the butler, who’d observed the exchange with quiet disapproval, and he opened the door for her. She stepped out without words of parting to Darcy and started walking, soon leaving the grounds of Darcy House so she could flag down a hansom cab. She was irritated with his warning, and she put no stock in it. The man’s perceptions couldn’t be trusted when it came to judging people he considered inferior to him. He was always prone to think the worst.
4
When Lizzy returned to Gracechurch Street, she found Jane in the sitting room. She sat down beside her, taking her sister’s hands in hers and said, “I have the most wonderful news. I did not want to say anything earlier, because I was not certain it would lead anywhere, but I saw Mr. Bingley today when I had tea with Miss Georgiana Darcy.”
Jane’s eyes widened, and her hand trembled for a moment. “Indeed?” She seemed to be trying to sound uninterested, but her sparkling eyes gave her away. “Was he well?”
“Quite well, and quite unengaged to Miss Darcy, I assure you,” said Lizzy with a gentle chuckle.
Jane’s lips started to creep up into a smile. “That is welcome news.”
