Only a Heartbeat Away: Pride and Prejudice Novella

by Dixon, P. O.

  “True, but one does not necessarily lead to happiness—the other to sorrow and loneliness.”

  “True, but one does lessen the burden on the woman’s family considerably.” Mrs. Gardiner reached for Elizabeth’s hand. “I know how my sister feels about your rejection of Mr. Collins’s hand, but your father does not speak on the matter. What has he said to you?”

  “Papa supports my decision. He also believes his cousin is ridiculous, and he has detected that in Mr. Collins’s character, which might have placed me in grave danger of an unhappy alliance. On the other hand, he told me that he is exceedingly pleased with the prospect of Jane marrying Mr. Bingley because he feels strongly that his Mr. Caseman’s temperament is ideally suited to my own.”

  “So, your father has met this young man.”

  “Papa’s good opinion is a result of his frequent correspondence with the elder Mr. Caseman.”

  “Pray, if he feels that strongly about the young man, why has he yet to invite him to Longbourn?”

  “Mr. Caseman is abroad. He is expected to return to England in the spring, at which point the introductions will be made, unless of course Jane and I should happen to make matches before his arrival. Jane is well on her way, and I very well intend to make my own match. In fact, I am determined to do so. It is just that I have yet to meet anyone who is both credible and worthy of consideration.” Elizabeth’s mind wandered to the dashing Lt. Wickham. As much as she admired him, her father would think she was downright silly to suppose he could provide a life for her.

  “Lizzy, I cannot tell you how pleased I am to hear you speak this way, for before, I was growing quite concerned that you were entertaining notions of a possible alliance with Mr. Wickham.”

  “If his prospects were more than those of a lowly footman, I do not see why I should not. He is honest and amiable.”

  “And handsome.”

  “Yes, he is exceedingly handsome, yet neither of our prospects affords a mutual alliance. Between the two of us, at least one must be in possession of a fortune.”

  “Perhaps, not a fortune, but I am glad you see the wisdom in not wishing for more than what appears to be an amicable acquaintance with the gentleman.”

  “Indeed. Once you discover the makings of Mr. Wickham’s misfortunes, you will understand why I favour him.” Elizabeth went on to confide all Wickham had told her that night at the Phillipses’ home as well as other pertinent facts whenever they met subsequently.

  Mrs. Gardiner, a fashionable woman whose air did not speak of Cheapside, lent an impartial ear to her niece’s recounting until Elizabeth had exhausted the subject completely in Mr. Wickham’s favour. “The gentleman’s story is certain to engender a great deal of charity, especially from someone who does not know Mr. Darcy’s character.”

  “Mr. Wickham’s accusations, while admittedly unsubstantiated, ring true in light of all I have heard others say—save Mr. Darcy’s housekeeper. I am inclined to give greater credence to his account. We were both there when Mr. Darcy’s housekeeper expounded upon her master’s many laudable traits. Surely you will admit she was outrageously effusive in her pronouncements.”

  “I take it then that Mr. Darcy has not returned to Hertfordshire to visit his friend, Mr. Bingley. You have yet to meet the gentleman.”

  “I have not, and if I am to be honest, I would have to say that one of the things I look forward to is meeting Mr. Darcy so I might sketch his character for myself.”

  “Lizzy, I cannot promise you any such opportunities. We have the chance to attend the theatre and the occasional visit to Bond Street for shopping, but even in those instances, the likelihood of meeting someone of Mr. Darcy’s standing is small.”

  “Do you forget, Aunt, that I had the privilege of making Miss Darcy’s acquaintance when we visited Pemberley? I shall call on her when I arrive in town.”

  Thus, it was decided. Elizabeth would return to London with her aunt and uncle when they took their leave of Longbourn. Though she did not wish to leave Jane for Mr. Bingley had yet to declare himself, Elizabeth knew this arrangement was for the best if she stood any chance at all of meeting someone, anyone, other than the man whom her father had predestined as his future son-in-law. Elizabeth sought her eldest sister to share her plan.

  “Jane, you must allow me to apologise in advance for abandoning you to fend for yourself against the Bingley sisters, but I am leaving you in Mr. Bingley’s warm care. I am convinced it is only a matter of time before he requests your hand in marriage.”

  “Lizzy, I understand your reasoning in wanting time away from home. As for abandoning me to defend myself against Mr. Bingley’s sisters, you must allow that they have always treated me with the utmost kindness. I have come to think of them as dear acquaintances. While I dare not be as presumptuous as you in supposing Mr. Bingley will ask me to marry him, I do believe that were he to do so, I would enjoy nothing but great sisterly affection from my new friends.”

  Jane was too kind and good to think meanly of anyone, especially those who hid their animosity as well as the Bingley sisters. Their subtle outrage when Mrs. Bennet had announced to all who would hear that her daughter would soon be the mistress of Netherfield told Elizabeth all she needed to know about the prospect of her dearest sister living in harmony with those two. Elizabeth hoped once Jane and Mr. Bingley were married, the Hursts would be on their way, taking Miss Caroline Bingley along with them.

  Having received a letter from her friend Georgiana asking of her plans for the upcoming Season and even going so far as to encourage Elizabeth to spend time with her in London, Elizabeth considered she certainly would take her friend up on her offer.

  In light of her fears that word of her family’s behaviour at the Netherfield ball had reached Mr. Darcy’s hearing by now, Elizabeth did not know how he would countenance a friendship between her and his sister. She rather supposed it would not impede her attendance at an occasional social outing with Georgiana.

  It will be a promising adventure for me, and with any luck, I might meet Mr. Darcy. Then I shall finally set about the long-anticipated task of sketching his character for myself.

  Chapter 5 ~ A Gentleman’s Air

  The noise from the crowded ballroom and the throng of dancers wore on his nerves. Darcy pulled out his pocket watch. His party was a half hour late. Where in heavens are they?

  He would rather be any place but where his current circumstances found him. Were it not for the fact that he would do almost anything in his power to bring a smile to his sister’s face, he surely would not be there. Darcy broke his eyes away from the door long enough to scan the swarming ballroom.

  A London soiree such as this was meant for but one purpose as far as he was concerned—that being for young debutantes to land themselves wealthy husbands. He had not found himself at seven and twenty and without a wife by chance. He had purposely avoided such places so he might not satisfy the desires of eager mammas to put their daughters before him like cattle headed for slaughter.

  I know better than anyone how important it is for a young woman to make a favourable match. My sister faces the daunting prospect as well. Knowing that, and applying it to his own situation, however, was a different matter entirely. It hardly endeared him to the fact that he was considered prime husband material.

  Darcy shuddered. The last time he had found himself privy to such a spectacle had been in Hertfordshire months ago when that woman—a Mrs. Bennet—had made no secret of her attempt to pawn one of her daughters off on his friend Bingley. What a travesty that had been. To say nothing of the fact that in spite of his ardent attempts to persuade his friend otherwise, Bingley was an eager participant in her scheme. Now his friend found himself in Hertfordshire paying court to her near spinster eldest daughter who, in Darcy’s opinion, smiled too much.

  Darcy shook his head to clear away the thoughts of the Bennets’ vulgarity and to pity his friend. He might as well have pitied himself.

  Darcy’s young sister, Georgiana, hi
s junior by nine years, had persuaded him to aid her in her quest to introduce her friend to society. This was not just any friend. This was a Miss Elizabeth Bennet whom his sister had met the summer before when she and her tradesman relatives had visited Pemberley. She was the daughter of that horrible Bennet woman from Hertfordshire—all unbeknownst to Darcy, who was only recently made aware of the connection. Now the young lady was in town for the Season staying with said relatives who resided in Cheapside, by Georgiana’s account. Of all the places in London, why Cheapside?

  Georgiana, having come out the Season before under his aunt Lady Matlock’s guidance, had decided to introduce her friend, who although nearly one and twenty, had never had a season in town. Another spinster in the making, Darcy surmised. Apparently, her mother has given up on securing a match for her in the limited environs of Meryton and has packed her up and sent her off to town to land a husband.

  Darcy summations were not without foundation. They were in keeping with an earlier conversation with his sister—the conversation that had been the means of his current predicament.

  “Brother, you will be at the Thurston’s ball, will you not?”

  “I had not planned to be there.”

  “Oh, but you must. My friend Miss Elizabeth Bennet will be my guest.”

  Miss Elizabeth Bennet. It seemed his sister’s favourite three words were Miss Elizabeth Bennet; such was her enthusiasm when speaking of the young woman.

  “What can that possibly have to do with me?”

  “Why, you know that I intend to have you dance with her.”

  “Georgiana, I know no such thing. Pray this is not one of you and Lady Ellen’s matchmaking schemes. Do I need to remind you how badly your efforts turned out before?”

  “No, you do not need to remind me. Besides, my purposes have very little to do with you and everything to do with my friend.”

  “You flatter me.”

  “I suspect there are those among our sphere who will look unkindly towards Miss Elizabeth’s lack of fortune and want of connections. If my friend is seen dancing with you, then other gentlemen will surely take notice.”

  He regarded his young sister sceptically. Darcy had no use for anyone from Hertfordshire—much less the Bennets of Longbourn. What was his sister thinking? More specifically, what was his aunt thinking in sponsoring one of the Bennet daughters for the Season? Darcy huffed. How dare they make him a party in their scheme to engender her amongst their sphere? I have never been of a mind to give consequence to young women whom other gentlemen are inclined to ignore.

  “You know it is true. It is for that reason I kept my friendship with Miss Elizabeth a secret for as long as I did—for fear that you would not approve. Judging by your reaction when you learned of our connection, I would say I was wise to behave as I did, and now I believe that I am only being prudent in taking steps to waylay similar concerns amongst the ton.”

  His sister’s point had been hard to argue. The knowledge that someone from that horrid Bennet family claimed an acquaintance with his sister did not please him at all. Refusing to be a party to the impending disaster of his young friend attaching himself to the Bennets, he had left Hertfordshire, at the break of dawn, the day after the eldest Bennet daughter arrived at Netherfield on horseback in the midst of a violent storm. What audacity! Whilst Bingley paid no mind to the impropriety, Darcy saw plainly what was afoot. Miss Bennet was nothing more than another young woman hell-bent on securing a rich husband, only she was more brazen and made little effort to mask her intentions.

  How his sister could have been so impressed with this Miss Elizabeth Bennet, confounded him.

  Do I even know my sister? This difference in our ages and gender must surely be the cause for our wide breach in understanding and tastes.

  Since the near disaster in Ramsgate between his sister and his former friend, George Wickham, Darcy had given strong consideration to removing her from the establishment he had put her in after taking her from school. He entertained thoughts of bringing her to live with him. Perhaps now was the time. His way of life was not the most conducive to having a younger sister and her companion living in his London residence. Perhaps it was time that he gave serious consideration to changing his style of living as well. How long would it be? With Georgiana about to enter her second season, her dowry of thirty thousand pounds and his aunt’s diligent tutelage on the arts and allurements of landing a husband, this might very well be his last chance to get to know the young lady she had become.

  Though shyness largely defined her character, she had made good strides, especially of late. His being there that evening—poised to do the last thing he would ever do when he could help it—was a sure indication of her newfound tenacity.

  Could this be the result of her new Hertfordshire acquaintance’s influence?

  In fairness to the stranger who had insinuated herself into their midst, he had not even met her. Perhaps she is nothing like that family of hers. If she is anything at all like his friend Charles’s angel, she may not be a burden to stand opposite on the dance floor for a set.

  Girlish laughter impeded upon Darcy’s musings. Turning slightly, he noticed two white-clad young ladies who had escaped their chaperones standing just off to his right, exchanging surreptitious glances in his direction before whispering behind their raised fans. Another look at his watch confirmed that he had been standing about in the same attitude for too long. He ventured to a spot closer to the door.

  Darcy drummed his fingers against his legs. He was not pleased with his sister and his aunt, especially the former. The sooner his sister, his aunt, and his sister’s friend arrived, the better. Then he might endure the obligatory dances—one with Georgiana and one with her friend, and then be on his way to any place other than a crowded ballroom.

  His exodus from the part of the room where he had been standing about could not have been better planned, for by the time he arrived near the ballroom entrance, he saw his aunt and sister enter the room and await their turn to be announced. He breathed an abbreviated sigh of relief to see only the two of them—no Miss Elizabeth Bennet after all. Then, a young woman appeared in the doorway and stood next to Georgiana. His heartbeat pounded. The couple trailing along closely behind him nearly bumped into him as he stood frozen in place. She was nothing as he had pictured her. He had imagined a fair-headed creature with bright eyes and an angelic smile, much like a caricature of her older sister; not this dark-haired beauty with a light, pleasing figure and eyes even Poseidon would be tempted to drown himself in.

  Had I met her at the Meryton assembly, no doubt I would have been tempted to remain in Hertfordshire a bit longer.

  It would not do to let his aunt or his sister know how taken he was with Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s beauty. Darcy donned a stoic mask and approached the ladies once they were announced and inside the ballroom. One obligatory dance and he would be away from that place and away from the charming creature with the bewitching dark eyes who was too far below his social sphere even to contemplate what too much time in her company would portend. The sooner they danced, the sooner he would leave.

  Georgiana greeted him with a broad smile. “Brother, I am so pleased you are here. I was afraid you had come and gone, given our delay.”

  Darcy accepted his aunt’s proffered hand and raised it to his lips. “I feared you ladies had decided to forgo this soiree altogether, in favour of more illustrious company.”

  Lady Matlock hushed him with a brush of her fan. “Do not be ridiculous, Nephew. It does not do to arrive too early—you would know that were you to attend to such details. Come, meet Georgiana’s friend from Hertfordshire.” She encouraged Elizabeth to her side. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet, this is my nephew, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.”

  Darcy slightly bowed. Elizabeth curtseyed. “It is a pleasure to meet you, sir. I have heard so much about you.”

  Her ladyship said, “Indeed, and not from my niece, I understand. Miss Elizabeth tells me that you two have mutual
friends in Hertfordshire as well.”

  Darcy looked at his aunt, silently affirming her assertion. He returned his gaze to Elizabeth. “Pray there is room on your dance card for me.”

  “Indeed, sir, as I only arrived, my dance card is empty.” She surrendered her card to him. Accepting it, he made his selection and handed it back to her.

  Georgiana said, “I do not imagine you will be in want of partners for very long.”

  Darcy accepted his sister’s proffered card. “Nor will you, dearest. You look exceedingly lovely tonight.”

  When the dancing recommenced, Darcy offered Elizabeth his arm and escorted her to the middle of the dance floor. The touch of her hand upon his arm, as gentle as it was, sent a surge of power straight to his chest. They were walking close enough for him to appreciate the hint of lavender she wore. Funny how he had always thought it was a calming fragrance, and yet his senses were in an uproar. She showed no inclination to relinquish her light grip on his arm, and he was in no hurry to take his spot opposite her.

  Is this the reason my friend Bingley has not returned to town for the Season? Do these Bennets have some magical potion to ensnare otherwise sensible men? Surely they did not; else their mother would not have to work so hard to find husbands for her daughters. He simply needed to get away from her. Taking his place opposite Elizabeth, he fought a losing battle in his desire not to stare at her.

  Darcy sensed the danger in thinking too much about the woman standing across from him—her eyes staring, her lips slightly parted and enticing. How long will a set last anyway?

  Chapter 6 ~ A Lady’s Imagination

  Elizabeth’s adventurous spirit was heightened by the time of their arrival. While she looked forward to the gaiety a night at a London soiree afforded, the prospect of finally meeting Mr. Darcy held just as much intrigue. How one man could engender so much of derision and disdain, admiration and approbation in so many different people was increasingly puzzling, and Elizabeth thoroughly enjoyed a mystery.