A Certain Something

by Cassandra B Leigh

  “The holidays are nearly upon us, so I must remain with my family,” Bingley said.

  Elizabeth watched in amazement as Jane and her favourite spoke only to each other, the air around them glimmering with light. “Our families are the most important aspect of the holidays,” Jane said.

  “Yes, but after Twelfth Night, I shall be free to follow my own pursuits.”

  “The New Year always holds so much promise, Mr Bingley.”

  His shimmering lights intensified. “You must know that you may always depend on me, Miss Bennet.”

  The two admirers gazed affectionately at each other for an extended moment until the spell was broken by the sound of giggling. With two quick flicks of her wrist, Mrs Bennet used her fan to silence Kitty and Lydia, sharply rapping their knees.

  Mr Bingley rose. “It has been a pleasure seeing you all, but I am afraid I must be on my way. I plan to call on several other neighbours before I return to town.” His voice held no enthusiasm for that prospect.

  “We wish you all the joys of the season, and you must dine with us as soon as you return,” Mrs Bennet said. Elizabeth stifled a laugh at the third mention of supper; if nothing else, she admired her mother’s persistence.

  With his usual amicable demeanour, Bingley assured her that he looked forward to it, then turned to Jane. “May I trouble you to see me out, Miss Bennet?” Jane blushed lightly and left the room with him.

  Mrs Bennet jubilantly clutched her hands to her breast. “Mark my words!” she said in a loud whisper. “He is proposing right now! Oh, I knew how it would be. My dear Jane shall save us all!” She crept to the door, peeked out, and tittered behind her hand. “I always said he would marry her. Just think—Jane, the mistress of Netherfield. I am all aflutter!”

  Elizabeth wondered if her mother might be right this time. Bingley and Jane had seemed captivated with each other. However, the brilliant glimmer confused her now more than ever; if it did not signify love, what else could it possibly mean? The sound of the closing door echoed in the hall, and Jane returned swathed in brilliant light.

  Mrs Bennet met her at the door, agog with anticipation. “Are you betrothed?”

  “No, Mama. Mr Bingley repeated his apologies for staying away so long, especially after he had promised to return in less than a sennight.”

  “Oh, that is unlucky, but I suppose it shall do for now. However, you must do everything in your power to secure him when he comes back.” Mrs Bennet wrapped an arm around Jane’s waist.

  “Yes, Mama.” Jane’s serene smile never faltered, nor did her luminous glow.

  Her mother reached out to hold Elizabeth’s hand. “And Mr Darcy will come back for you, Lizzy.”

  “Yes, Mama,” Elizabeth dutifully replied. Even though she knew her mother was mistaken, it was far easier to agree than to reason with her.

  When Elizabeth and Jane were alone later that night, Jane finally disclosed the details of her brief tête-à-tête with Bingley. “He loves me, Lizzy. I had begun to lose hope, but he loves me, after all. When he returns, he will ask Papa’s consent for a courtship.”

  Elizabeth embraced her sister. “How wonderful. No one is more deserving of happiness than you.” Although curiosity taunted her, she dared not spoil the moment by asking if he had mentioned Darcy.

  “I shall count the days until Twelfth Night.”

  Glancing at their reflections in the looking glass, Elizabeth noticed no shimmers in the reflection, but the air around Jane still sparkled. She realised that the glass did not reveal the mists or lights, after all. However, what if the shimmering light did not indicate love but something more? —a higher purpose. There could be no truer, more angelic soul than Jane’s, nor one as sincere as Charles Bingley. She doubted Darcy shared their same virtuous qualities. Surely, if Darcy had returned her affections, he would not have gone away.

  Still, she sought to encourage her sister. “Knowing that our family will be changing soon, we shall have the happiest Christmas yet.”

  “Oh, Lizzy, if I could but see you so happy.”

  Darcy had not come; he had made no promises, no declaration, nor had he sent a message with Bingley. Although she knew he was truly gone forever, not for all the world would she disappoint her sister. “Perhaps,” she said, keeping her tone light. However, a disturbing thought hovered in the back of her mind; not only had she lost Darcy, but someday soon, she would also lose her dearest sister.

  ***

  “Jane loves me, Darcy, just as I suspected.” Grinning broadly, Bingley strutted into Darcy’s study Wednesday morning.

  Darcy rose to shake his hand. “Am I to wish you happy?”

  “You may wish me whatever you please, but we are not yet betrothed. I shall return to Netherfield after the holidays to court Jane and prove myself worthy of her.”

  Darcy had no doubt of his friend’s success. “I think you may have already done so,” he said, offering him coffee and scones from a tray. “Did you see Elizabeth?”

  “Yes, she was there— Blast!” he said, bumping his forehead with the heel of his hand. “I forgot to give her your regards. I was so overcome by seeing Jane, it flew right out of my mind.”

  “Perfectly understandable,” Darcy said, knowing Elizabeth held no expectation of hearing from him. Whether or not this worked to his advantage, he could not determine.

  “Jane was never lovelier. How is it possible that she is more beautiful with each passing day?” Bingley held that all-too-familiar distant gaze.

  No—Darcy held no doubt that his friend was completely besotted. “Your devotion only proves how well suited you are to her.”

  Bingley closed his eyes and released a meaningful sigh, but his serenity vanished as his eyes flew open and his brows drew together. “I daresay, my sisters will object, especially Caroline. You will support me against them, will you not?” he asked with a hopeful gaze.

  “You need not even ask.” Darcy would do whatever his friend required, and in the bargain, he would gain immense pleasure by taking Bingley’s side against his pretentious sisters.

  Once Bingley had gone, Darcy sat near the fireplace and stared into the flames, now regretting that he had not thought to accompany his friend to Hertfordshire. If he had, he would have seen Elizabeth.

  After witnessing Bingley in a state of blissful enchantment, he wondered if his own regard for Elizabeth Bennet might be something much deeper. He had never been in love before, so he had no experience to draw on. Something Bingley had said sprang to his mind: He would move heaven and earth. When he stood at the top of Oakham Mount with Elizabeth last week, he would have given anything to not have disappointed her. Watching her walk away had been far more disconcerting than he could have anticipated. Now that she dominated his every thought, he could no longer deny that he felt her loss acutely. Was that the same as love?

  She possessed every quality he wanted in a wife: kindness, intelligence, generosity, and humour. He desired no biddable wife, like his cousin Anne, a conniving one like Caroline, nor even a beautiful but uninspiring one like Jane. London abounded with marriageable heiresses, but none of them had intrigued him as Elizabeth had done.

  She had changed his views about so many things. So accustomed to the peaks of his beloved Derbyshire, he had once thought no view from anywhere in the world could rival it. But upon seeing the grandeur of the Hertfordshire hills, he had been forced to change his opinion. His favourite vistas from the outcroppings of limestone and gritstone in the Peak District, while majestic and awe inspiring, supported no human life. But in Hertfordshire, farms flourished, families prospered, and life sprang forth. How odd that he had never considered the possibility that his long-held beliefs might be proven false.

  So it was with Elizabeth herself. He had always held the notion that his wife would come from a noble or influential family, with a vast fortune and stellar connections; but now that he had met Elizabeth, although her family was severely lacking in every respect, he wanted none but her. Did this me
an he was capricious or easily persuadable? Not in the least. He had met several ladies who would have fit the requirements, but had never once considered them.

  If not for Elizabeth’s horrifying mother, he might have declared himself at the top of Oakham Mount. Seeing her with the sun shining on her face and her extraordinary eyes gazing up at him, he might have lost his resolve. However, at the time, he had thought their union impossible. Even now, he was unsure if he could overcome the obstacles.

  I am master of my own fortune, should I not also be master of my own destiny? Who is to say I may not marry where I choose? My uncle may be disappointed and may rebuke me, but he cannot prevent me from marrying the woman of my choice. Since he would never offer for Anne de Bourgh, Lady Catherine would be enraged no matter who he decided to marry. Georgiana and Richard would offer no resistance, and since he valued their opinions most, it seemed his path was clear. He would find no other woman who suited him better than Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

  He noticed how effortlessly he pictured her installed as the mistress of Pemberley and the pleasures he derived from that possibility. He chuckled to himself, wondering when he had first fallen in love with her. Was it at the ball or when she stayed at Netherfield to care for her sister? Regardless of when it happened, there was no denying that he loved her now. Instead of attempting to ignore his feelings, he should have acknowledged them. How much easier that would have made his decision.

  Thinking clearly for the first time in days, he knew he had come to the right conclusion. Elizabeth Bennet was the woman who held his heart, and someday soon, she would bear his name. “Elizabeth Darcy.” He repeated that name several times, pleased with his astute reflections. Yes, he loved the sound of it almost as much as the lady herself.

  ***

  Not one to make decisions based on the impulse of the moment, Darcy continued to reflect on the ramifications of marrying below his station. By Friday, he convinced himself that, despite the potential difficulties, Elizabeth Bennet held the key to his future. After coming to this momentous conclusion, he wanted to share the news with the two people who meant the most to him: Georgiana and Richard. He invited his cousin to supper that night and waited until the meal was nearly over to make his announcement. “I plan to offer for Elizabeth Bennet.” When his sister and cousin sprang up from their chairs in delight, he could not help breaking into a smile himself.

  Georgiana embraced him. “Oh, Fitzwilliam, I am so pleased. I shall finally have the sister I have always longed for.”

  Richard clapped him on the back. “Well done, Darcy. You know what they say about absence.”

  “Yes, I freely admit that I have grown even more fond of Elizabeth since we parted ten days ago, and I am determined to secure her.”

  Mrs Annesley expressed her fond wishes for his every happiness, and even the butler and footmen in attendance shook his hand and offered their felicitations.

  “Have you given up your objections to the mother?” Richard said as they resumed their seats.

  Darcy refilled their wineglasses. “No, but fortunately, Pemberley is over one hundred miles from Longbourn, so she will be well out of the way.”

  “Well, then, I offer my congratulations,” Richard said, raising his glass. “I never would have suspected that a country maiden would have turned your head. She has succeeded where many ladies of the ton have failed. She will be despised by them all.”

  “Elizabeth will not care one jot for their disdain; you will learn when you meet her.”

  “Will you introduce her to the earl?”

  Although Darcy valued his uncle’s opinion, he had given up his previous apprehension regarding his disapproval. “Of course, I am certain she will charm him just as she does everyone in her path. She is remarkable.”

  “And you deserve nothing less.”

  When a footman ushered Bingley into the parlour, Darcy requested another place setting at the table for his guest. Richard rose to greet him. “Bingley! I have not seen you in months. How are you?”

  Bingley smiled in his usual unaffected manner. “I am perfectly well, Colonel, and you look as fit as ever…for an old man,” he said with a wink directed at Georgiana.

  Richard erupted into laughter. “Respect your elders, greenhorn.”

  Bingley chuckled merrily as he joined them at the table. “I have come to beg you to take me in, Darcy. My sisters insist on opposing me, and I cannot endure another day at Grosvenor.”

  Darcy could well imagine the storm Caroline must have raised. “You have indulged them too long, Bingley. They are far too accustomed to having their way.”

  “No, my father indulged them, then left them in my care, but after the holidays, it won’t matter in the least. I will be back at Netherfield and Henry can deal with them.”

  Judging from his ride back to London, Darcy had no doubt of Henry Hurst’s ability to take control of Caroline. “You are welcome anytime. Did you bring your trunks?”

  Bingley nodded sheepishly. “And I have my valet and driver with me.”

  “They are also welcome; we have plenty of room for them,” Darcy said, then gave instructions to the butler to see to the accommodations for the two men. While Bingley enjoyed his meal, Richard and Georgiana exchanged meaningful glances with him. Darcy assumed they were eager to continue the topic they had been discussing before Bingley’s arrival. “I have decided to offer for Elizabeth,” he finally said, to which Richard nodded his head.

  Bingley’s eyes flew open wide. “Capital! If all goes well with Jane and me, we shall be brothers.”

  “And I shall be your cousin,” Richard said.

  “By Jupiter, and Miss Darcy will be my sister! I should like nothing better.” Bingley’s enthusiastic spirits enlivened the whole party. “The doors of Netherfield are always open to you and Miss Darcy.”

  “This calls for a toast, Darcy.” Richard raised his glass, and the others followed.

  They drank to Darcy’s good fortune and Elizabeth’s good health. Yes, in the near future, Elizabeth Bennet would make Fitzwilliam Darcy the happiest man on earth.

  ***

  Dearest Jane,

  You must forgive me for neglecting our correspondence. We have been flying from one holiday party to another at such an exhausting pace that I have had no time to write.

  I wish I had news to share of my brother, but he has spent nearly every moment at Darcy House that we have scarcely seen him. This comes as no surprise to me and Louisa, as we are well aware of his devotion to one who resides there.

  Louisa sends all her best. We wait with eager anticipation of your next correspondence with all the news from Hertfordshire.

  Yours, etc,

  Caroline Bingley

  On Monday, Elizabeth laughed to herself after hearing Caroline’s latest letter. At least Jane was not deceived by this attempt to confuse her. In fact, Caroline only deceived herself. It seemed that Bingley had not confided his intentions to his sisters. Little did Caroline know, but she had lost her power over her brother and she would soon learn that she held none over Jane.

  “I have no fear that you will win over our future sister with your charm,” Elizabeth said with a smirk.

  Jane sadly shook her head. “Oh, Lizzy, our three sisters can be a sore trial at times, but Caroline makes them seem harmless. Why does she continue to insist that Bingley is pursuing Miss Darcy?” she said with an exasperated sigh.

  For Elizabeth, the reason was simple to discern. “This only proves that her brother has not confided in her. After his declaration, you can have no doubt that he will return next month.”

  “No, I am confident that he shall, but I wonder how we will succeed if his sisters oppose me.”

  “They may object all they wish, Jane,” she said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “Securing their regard should be of little importance to you.”

  “’Tis not true, Lizzy. You might be able to endure such resentment, but I abhor discord.”

  How spiteful of Caroli
ne to deliberately deceive Jane, who had done nothing to deserve such betrayal. Were there no depths too low for her? While Elizabeth would love to give the woman a proper set-down, she hated to see her tender-hearted sister in distress. “Well, then, you must win them over with your charm. Answer her letter and smother her with kindness,” she said, hoping to raise her spirits.

  Elizabeth wondered, if placed in a similar situation, would she would have been able to disregard Miss Darcy’s censure? Although she knew little about Miss Darcy, Elizabeth doubted anything would persuade her to relinquish Darcy, even if his sister opposed the match.

  However, she quickly discarded this absurd thought. How convenient for you to assume that you would remain devoted to a man who does not want you, Lizzy. What’s more, if his sister did not wish for the match, what makes you think he would pursue it? Undoubtedly, he would abide by his sister’s wishes.

  No, it would be far better to imagine herself living at Netherfield with Jane. She would be a devoted aunt and teach her nieces to be wary of life’s disappointments. The Lord knew, having a mother who conspired to attract every eligible man within a ten-mile radius had done her no good whatsoever.

  ***

  After breakfast on Tuesday, Elizabeth joined her father in the library, searching for a book she had not already read—no small task, since no new titles had been added recently. Perhaps a history of sheep husbandry would suit her mood.

  “So, Lizzy, now that Darcy has gone away, Wickham has shown his true colours, and Mr Collins is betrothed, who will next take your fancy?” Mr Bennet said, peering at her over his spectacles.

  Her father’s sense of humour always raised her spirits. “Perhaps John Lucas or the Goulding fellow,” she said, thinking of her neighbours.

  Mr Bennet scoffed. “John has been more your brother than anyone else, and William Goulding is yet a schoolboy.”

  “Oh dear, have I no better prospects?” she said, pretending to pout.