by Wells, Linda
“THIS CANNOT BE TRUE!” Lady Catherine read the letter through for the fourth time. “It cannot be true! He was serious?”
“What is it Mama?” Anne looked up from the cloth she was sewing.
“Darcy writes that he is engaged to be married!” She dropped the letter and found Anne staring at her.
“He is engaged? To whom? He is promised to me!” Anne stood and picked the letter up from the floor to read Darcy’s words. “You told me he would come around!” A note of hysteria began to creep into her voice. Lady Catherine sent a sharp look to Mrs. Jenkinson who hurriedly ran to a sideboard and returned with a glass, stirring a liquid with a spoon.
“Take your medicine, Anne. You heard the physician, it must be taken regularly.”
“I do not want my medicine!! I want Darcy! You promised me!!” She clutched the letter and waved it in the air.
“TAKE YOUR ELIXIR!” Lady Catherine demanded. Anne shrunk down and swallowed the liquid. Within minutes she transformed back into her colourless, passive persona. Her mother sighed and looked at her companion. “I expect you to administer this on time Jenkinson or you will find a new situation, do you hear me?”
“Yes, madam.” The nervous woman said, and replacing the glass on the side board, took a seat next to her silent charge.
A man’s throat cleared. “Pardon me, madam, Mr. Collins has arrived.”
Lady Catherine looked around the room, picked up the fallen letter, saw that her daughter was staring at her hands then turned to the butler. “Send him in.”
Her prospective pastor bobbed his way into the room. “Ah, Lady Catherine, Miss de Bourgh, what a delight to see you this beautiful day!”
“What brings you to visit, Mr. Collins?” She said icily and shot a glance at Anne, who was blinking slowly.
“I received some wonderful, unexpected news!” He beamed and bounced. “I have been identified as the heir to an estate, well after my father passes that is, it is called Longbourn and is located in Hertfordshire …”
Chapter 18
“Come along Darcy pay up, it will be an expensive evening so you may as well keep your purse at hand.” Singleton laughed as Darcy provided the admission fee for the party of six.“You are not destitute, Cousin, I suspect you can buy us dinner.”
“He will need a king’s ransom for that, I am afraid.” Harwick laughed. “The prices are criminal, but it is our fault for not bringing a picnic.”
“I hear that the ham is sliced so thinly you can read through it!” Elizabeth said excitedly as she clutched Darcy’s arm and looked around her with wide eyes. “Look at all of the people!”
“It is fairly sparse tonight.” Audrey observed.
“Sparse?” Jane asked in disbelief.
“Oh yes, we nearly lost Laura Stewart one time.” She smiled at Elizabeth, “Lord Moreland’s youngest daughter? They are frequent visitors at Matlock. I remember so well playing with her brother, Daniel.” She bit her lip and looked away for a moment. Elizabeth startled when she heard the name then studied Audrey’s blush, and could not help but wonder if her Mr. Stewart was Audrey’s denied love. She recovered and continued, “You will have to meet her, she is just come of age and I think that you two would get along famously. When we all came for the masked ball there were over sixteen thousand people here!” Audrey laughed to see their mouths fall open and then glanced at Darcy whose face was the picture of discomfort. “Come Cousin, relax; this is where everyone comes to play!”
“Well, I have not been amongst them.” He said stiffly. Elizabeth looked up and saw his face become expressionless except for his eyes, which registered contempt for everything he observed. “Everyone indeed.”
“Come along; let us try the Grand Walk.” Singleton called. “Even you cannot protest this avenue amongst the elms Darcy, it is the place to see and be seen.” The group stepped onto the gravelled path, and joined the fashionable crowd as they paraded towards the Grove.
Elizabeth was doing her best to imitate the behaviour of the well-dressed women around her, and Darcy’s quiet stateliness certainly helped her to maintain her dignity when everything inside of her wished to run and gawk at the wonders that she saw. She glanced up to his stone-like countenance and hearing the sounds of an orchestra ahead, softly began humming the tune. She felt his arm relax a little and looked back up to see his eyes were fixed on her face. “Ah, there you are, Mr. Darcy. I was afraid that you had taken leave of me tonight.”
He managed a little smile. “What do you mean, I am right here. Why are you humming?”
“Because I thought that it would embarrass you if I sang.” She smiled and started humming again.
“But why sing at all? I love your voice, but I would prefer to hear your thoughts of this place. I have avoided it because I have heard stories from others that did not appeal to me. I would like to hear the judgement of someone so innocent.”
Elizabeth blushed and then tilted her head to study him. “I was under the impression that you disapproved.”
“No, I am very uncomfortable; I suppose that comes across as haughtiness.” He heard his name and he nodded to some passerby, then looked back to her. “I am on display, and you are the object of speculation.”
“Why?” She gasped.
“These people are very fond of the society pages, Elizabeth. Our engagement is ripe for gossip. Everyone knows of you, and after the ball at Matlock, I know that our behaviour was discussed.” She flushed and looked away. “Dearest, do not be embarrassed, by the end of the evening the speculation was of our attachment, not your origins. It was jealousy that fuelled much of the talk. Everyone wonders what on earth you did to capture me.” He smiled when she peeked back up at him and he saw a smile spreading over her face, and then she laughed. “Ah and that sound is what captured me, I dreamed of a laughing girl named Lizzy until I finally learned your name.” Darcy kissed her hand and put it back on his arm.
“That is the first time you have called me Lizzy.” She said as she dealt with the feelings his kiss and confession inspired.
“No dearest, it must be the millionth time I have spoken that name.” Drawing a deep breath, he looked quickly about. He heard of the paths that existed in this garden meant for young couples to escape their chaperones, and returned to find her gazing at him, “What are you thinking?”
“Do you know how many times I whispered Fitzwilliam Darcy? And talked to you? So many conversations I had with this phantom man. I conjured so many things. I admit that I almost feared meeting you to have all of my imaginings disappear like smoke.”
“And have I lived up to the dream, my love?” he asked hopefully and felt his heart sink when she shook her head.
“No, you have surpassed it.”
“If I do not kiss you this instant I will surely die.” He gripped her hand on his arm and leaned forward towards her mouth.
“Darcy!” Singleton called and started laughing. “I see that you truly do need a chaperone!” He looked at Harwick for his approval and instead saw a deep frown. “I was just having some fun.”
“I am sorry that you derive enjoyment at the expense of others.” Harwick said coldly. Audrey glanced at him and smiled with a slight nod. Harwick raised his brows and then nodded to her in understanding. He saw her shoulders square as she looked forward and walked on her husband’s arm, then he looked down at Jane. “Are you enjoying the evening, Miss Bennet?”
“Oh yes, I am afraid that the atmosphere is quite beyond anything I have ever experienced before. Travelling performers do come through the county, but I have not seen anything such as this.” She smiled at him and he nodded, smiling in return.
“Then I am glad that you are happy here.”
“Have you come frequently?”
“I did, Ellen … forgive me, Mrs. Harwick was fond of the music and exhibitions.” He looked off in the distance to blink hard, then dropped his gaze to rest on Elizabeth who was looking raptly at a tightrope walker and laughing as Darcy bent to say some
thing to her. She turned to smile at him and clearly blushed when he spoke again. Harwick took a breath and looked back to the ground, then noticed Jane’s silence. She was staring at her sister as well. “Miss Elizabeth will undoubtedly demand that Darcy bring her back, despite his reticence.”
“Yes. She should be careful of her behaviour, everyone is looking at her.”
“She is behaving no differently than the other visitors, Miss Bennet. This is a place for frivolity; there is no shame in enjoying a laugh. I notice that you are fond of smiling.”
Jane blushed. “I smile where my sister laughs; it has always been that way.”
“There are great variations among siblings, Miss Bennet. It does not make one better than another, only different.” He gave her a small smile and looked back to Elizabeth and his smile grew wider. Jane looked from him to her sister who was gesturing ahead to the Rotunda and was speaking animatedly to Audrey about the wonders within. The two women laughed together and Darcy was shaking his head, being stuck in the middle of the conversation while Singleton stared off to the side, seeing who was passing by and tilting his head to Darcy and exchanging knowing winks with the curious onlookers.
Darcy heard his name called and was forced to stop, his smile disappeared and his body stiffened when introducing Elizabeth to a group of six people. She performed perfectly, as Lady Matlock and Audrey had worked with her for just such a possibility. They moved on and she smiled as she felt him relax. “See, it was not so very bad.”
“Please do not laugh at me.” He said softly.
“I was not, dear.”
“Forgive me, you were wonderful and I should have said so immediately.” He smiled to see her look to the ground. “I think that we both are shy about some things.”
She squeezed his arm, then cried out when suddenly the pathways were ablaze with light as thousands of lanterns hanging from the trees all lit simultaneously. “Oh my!” She turned to see Jane’s mouth open and even Darcy looking around with wonder. “That was spectacular!”
“I have never seen the like.” He laughed. “I have seen well lit gardens, but this was as if some magician waved his wand over the park and the sun appeared!” Darcy looked down to see Elizabeth’s face. “Oh darling, your eyes are sparkling like a thousand stars.”
“And your smile takes my breath away.” She whispered.
“Darcy! Imagine my surprise to see you here. You hate such places.” Darcy’s head snapped up and instantly his eyes narrowed. “Will you not introduce me to your …well, this must be your betrothed. I read the notice in the papers.” Bowing low he raked his eyes over Elizabeth then back up again to smile with appreciation. “Just lovely, but of course Darcy, you only prefer the best.” He leaned close to Elizabeth and whispered loudly and winked. “I should know; I shared rooms with him for years.”
Elizabeth felt great discomfort with this strange yet familiar man, and confusion with the implications of his words. She felt the tension in Darcy’s arm and saw that his face was red with anger. “Wickham, I believe that I told you to stay away from my family.”
“But she is not family yet, is she?” He bowed again. “Well clearly Darcy has forgotten his manners. I am George Wickham, and I presume that you are Miss Bennet? You do not remember me? I was visiting Darcy House when you were there recently. I do hope that you have recovered from your upset?”
Elizabeth nodded coldly. “I do remember you, sir. And as I recall, manners were being taught to you at the time.”
“Ouch, feisty!” He laughed then looked back at Darcy. “I hope that you have rethought our discussion?”
“Why would I do that?”
Wickham shrugged. “I do not know, I could let the news slip about your previous engagement to Miss de Bourgh?” He saw Elizabeth’s eyes widen. “Oh, did I say that?”
“Wickham, whatever your game is, drop it. Attempting to disconcert Miss Elizabeth is a waste of time. Leave us alone.” He growled in a dangerously low voice. Wickham smiled and bowed as he moved aside.
“Singleton!” Wickham held out his hand. “It has been months, how is your play, man?”
Audrey looked at her husband who was greeting this man like a long-lost brother and back to Darcy whose barely repressed anger was clear. Harwick stepped forward and spoke in Darcy’s ear. “You obviously have an unpleasant history with this man. Why do you not take another path and I will remain to look after Mrs. Singleton. We can meet up in the Grove?”
“Thank you Harwick, that is tempting, but I will not allow a pandering profligate to ruin my evening.” Darcy said softly. Harwick’s brow rose and he looked at Wickham with new eyes. Darcy cleared his throat. “Singleton. I did not know that you had met Wickham.”
“Ah yes, we have played many games together!” Singleton chortled and Wickham winked knowingly.
“I am surprised that you made an exception to your rules for him, given your disdain for my friend Bingley.”
“What do you mean? Bingley is new money from trade.”
“And Wickham is the son of my father’s steward. Which man is more worthy of your company now?” Darcy looked at him inquiringly as Singleton startled and turned to Wickham.
“You are what?”
“I see other friends, good evening.” Wickham ran off into the crowd and Singleton gaped first at his cousin then his wife, who looked at him with disgust.
“What games do you play with this man, Mr. Singleton? Is this the company you keep instead of coming home?” She said coldly.
“It is none of your concern.” He said in a low tone. “You are making a scene.”
“What has happened to you? I once respected you …and now …”
“Forgive me Audrey; you know that I am trying to do better.” He said softly, and placed his hand over hers. Audrey sighed and looked down at the ground. Jane watched the couple, knowing that there was a disagreement but not hearing the words. Harwick shook his head.
“What a fool, she is a good woman and he throws it away.”
“Oh, I am sure that all will be well. He seemed to be good friends with Mr. Wickham.” Jane smiled and Harwick’s brow creased. “Mr. Darcy was a friend as well.”
“Did you not hear, or at least see Mr. Darcy’s anger?”
“I imagine that Mr. Darcy was just playacting with him, after all, his friend interrupted his behaviour with my sister.” She looked at Elizabeth who was holding Darcy’s hand and listening intently as he spoke earnestly to her. “I notice that you were watching them.”
Harwick took a good look at Jane, and saw what could only be described as envy. He wondered if she would be satisfied with the marriage he might offer. He felt no stirrings of passion for her, if anything, walking with her was pleasant but no more pleasant than walking with his sister’s hand on his arm. Returning his attention to the Singletons, he noticed that he was paying her closer attention now, and she seemed to be resigned to accept it as his apology. Is this the cold marriage that I will have with Miss Bennet? I would not be out at night like Singleton, but there will certainly not be love.
“Fitzwilliam please tell me who that man is.”
“This is not where I wished to have this conversation, Elizabeth.”
“I assure you that I have no wish to conduct it here either, but I will not be put off any longer. I cannot bear to allow my imagination to wander any farther than it already has. Who is this man? What does the son of your steward hold over you? And what of this engagement and …”
“His other implications?” Darcy sighed and recognized so many conflicting emotions registering in her eyes. “You are so young to hear of these things.”
Her eyes flashed at him. “If I am old enough to marry, I am old enough to … oh Fitzwilliam, please relieve my fears!”
“Dearest …” He looked around and bent his head as close to her as he could, placed his hand over hers and held it tightly. “First …Wickham was a favourite of my father’s, he is charming, very charming, and my father after Mother�
��s death was very susceptible to it. He also felt an obligation to …educate a good servant’s child. He sent him to university with me and we roomed together. He was a drunk, a gambler and often I found …visitors of questionable worth in our rooms.” Darcy looked at her intently to see if she understood.
Elizabeth studied his eyes, trying to appreciate his implicit explanation, and she gasped when she took his meaning. “Women?” He nodded. “Did …did you?”
“No dearest, never.” He sighed and closed his eyes. “He was disciplined on campus, but it did not stop him from roaming the countryside. I …often paid his debts of honour because he was considered my father’s ward. It was an error, I should have exposed him. Well, when my father died, he left him a bequest and a living, he agreed to accept four thousand pounds immediately in its stead.”
“But …that is nearly half of your yearly income!” She cried.
Darcy could not help but smile at her reaction, and lifted her hand to his lips. “It upset me as well, but it was significantly less than what he demanded. When you saw him in our home, he came to request more, saying I had cheated him. I refused.”
“I should hope so!” Elizabeth said angrily. “The nerve of that man! Why, four thousand pounds! A man could live for ten years on that if he is prudent!”
“That is the crux of it, my love, this man is not. You saw how he approached Singleton, he is a gambler.”
“As is Mr. Singleton. Oh poor Audrey.” She whispered and felt Darcy’s hand squeeze hers. “Did nobody know when they married?” He shook his head sadly, and Elizabeth looked down. “And … this engagement?”
“My aunt spoke loudly and frequently of her desire that I marry my cousin. My father assured me that it was my decision, and I made my feelings clear to her this Easter when I visited, even before I at last found you.” Darcy tried to understand what she was feeling and decided that the most upsetting subject was the most intimate. “I have never and will never take a mistress, Elizabeth. The only woman I wish to love is you.”
