by Wells, Linda
“Yes and no.” Lady Catherine said tiredly. She saw him glancing at the clock. “You must dress for your evening and go, I suppose.”
“Yes.” He said steadily.
“Will you hear me out in the morning?”
“I will, but I maintain that I will not marry Anne.” Lady Catherine pursed her lips and they returned to the silent sitting room. Fitzwilliam rose and looked at Darcy, who met his eye and shook his head. “I will leave you to entertain yourselves, and will ask Mrs. Mercer to show you to your rooms when they are prepared. I apologize for leaving you.”
“I will remain …” Fitzwilliam began.
“Go Nephew, we are accustomed to our own company.” Lady Catherine said tersely. The men bowed and left together.
“Well?”
“I do not know. She expressed unhappiness with Elizabeth’s origins and made it clear that marriage to Anne was the reason for her journey. We will discuss it in the morning.”
“She just cannot take no for an answer can she?” Fitzwilliam shook his hand and donned his hat before walking to the door. “Lock your chamber door tonight, Cousin, if you know what I mean.”
Darcy laughed and saw him out, then went on upstairs to prepare for his evening with Elizabeth. “The woman I will be marrying.”
Chapter 19
“The girls should be along soon.” Mr. Gardiner smiled. Harwick crossed his arms and watched as Darcy paced. “You look like a caged animal!”
“Why did I choose such a ridiculously distant wedding date?” He growled and looked up to hear his companions laughing. “That did sound pathetic, did it not? But it is not without cause. I have relative problems.”
“I thought that the Matlocks were welcoming.” Mr. Gardiner said with concern.
“They are; it is the House of de Bourgh.” He sighed and waved them off. “I will know in the morning. I will not allow my aunt to spoil this …” He stopped in mid-sentence when Elizabeth appeared dressed in a dark blue gown made of some translucent, magically light, beautifully embroidered, enticingly fashioned fabric. Her skin glowed, her hair, held up with bejewelled combs, shone, and her eyes while sparkling at him, immediately cast down shyly when she noticed his transfixed gaze. “Oh, Elizabeth.” He said softly and moved forward to take both of her hands, and applied kisses before looking up. “You are a vision that would soothe any man’s soul.”
“Thank you Fitzwilliam.” She whispered and watched as his eyes fixed on her blush as it travelled from her breasts to her eyes. His breath hitched and they both swallowed. He tucked her arm securely in his then tore his eyes away in time to see Harwick rise from bowing over Jane’s hand and complimenting her.
Gathering his wits he nodded his head. “You are lovely tonight, Miss Bennet.”
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy.” She smiled and looked back to Harwick, “It is so nice to spend a second evening with you, sir.”
He raised his brows and inclined his head. “The feeling is shared, Miss Bennet.”
“I expected more members in your party?” Mrs. Gardiner asked.
“We will meet Bingley at the theatre madam, and our chaperones are coming together as well.”
“Who are our chaperones?” Harwick smiled. “The Singletons again?”
“I am afraid so.” Darcy shrugged. “They were willing.”
Elizabeth and Jane kissed their aunt and uncle goodbye, climbed into the carriage, and were followed by the men who took their places opposite. Darcy’s gaze stayed fixed on Elizabeth’s face as she nervously clasped her hands, and remembered the soft slope of her bare shoulders and arms beneath the unnecessary shawl. Harwick watched his companion and smiled to himself, remembering the longing of days past. He turned to smile at Jane, and found that she was serenely watching the scenery pass by. They arrived at the theatre and stepped carefully out, dancing around the evidence of horses and gripping their escorts’ arms tightly to keep balance.
“This is certainly a challenge.” Elizabeth laughed when she hopped and fell against Darcy.
“I do not mind.” He slipped his hand onto her waist to steady her, catching her eye in the process, and too soon they gained the entrance to the theatre. Reluctantly he let go and assumed the more acceptable position with her hand on his arm. In the intimate confines of the theatre lobby they were on display to all, and Darcy made it clear how proud he was to have Elizabeth by his side. He walked purposely across the floor to approach the steps leading to the private boxes.
“Darcy!” A man called and he groaned softly then turned. “Good evening Miss Elizabeth, it is a great pleasure to see you again, and looking so lovely.”
“Thank you, Mr. Stewart, you are very kind.” She blushed and looked down.
“Stewart.” Darcy could not help feeling uncomfortable and placed his free hand possessively over Elizabeth’s on his arm, then smiled a little when he felt her fingers mesh with his. “This is a pleasant surprise.” He noticed a young woman on Stewart’s arm and saw Elizabeth studying her curiously. “Elizabeth, have you met Miss Stewart?”
“No, I have not.” She smiled warmly at the woman. “I remember Mr. Stewart speaking of you.”
“He has spoken of you as well.” She laughed. “He said that you were the best part of visiting our cousin. I wish that I had accompanied him to Hertfordshire, it would have been so much more fun than being at home with Mama.”
“Laura.” Stewart warned and saw her brow lift slightly then he shrugged. “Very well, I cannot deny the relief I felt leaving home behind.”
“Neither of you paint a pleasant picture of your mother.” Elizabeth admonished gently.
“Oh she is a dear woman, she sadly though thinks of us as perpetually five years old; and distinctly resembles a mother hen.”
“Particularly when wearing feathers.” Laura pointed out.
“But of course.” Stewart laughed and the group joined in.
Darcy heard Harwick and turned. “Forgive me, Stewart, Miss Stewart, have you met Jeffrey Harwick? I know that you have met Miss Bennet, Stewart.”
“Yes, Miss Bennet, you are lovely tonight, my sister Laura.”
“It is a pleasure, Miss Stewart.” Jane smiled.
“Harwick, I believe that I know your estate, Meadowbrook?”
“Yes sir.” Harwick smiled. “Have you been?”
“No, but my father, Lord Moreland, purchased a few mares from your father about … oh six years ago?” He nodded to himself, “Yes, do you still breed them?”
“Yes, I enjoy the hobby of searching out new horseflesh at the auctions, and seeing what I can make of it. I have had some great success.” He saw Miss Stewart nodding and smiling. “Do you enjoy horses?”
“Oh yes, I could ride all day, and often do enjoy morning rides in Hyde Park with my brother, and I love joining the hunts on the estate. Father takes me along to the auctions from time to time and I cannot wait to go to the Derby this Saturday.”
“Do you study the lineage of the entries?” He asked with interest and looked up when Stewart started laughing and received an elbow to his side.
He rubbed the spot and smiled. “Forgive me, but my sister chooses her winners by seeing which name catches her fancy.”
“Well there is nothing wrong with that!” Elizabeth declared as the men laughed. “I chose Pan last year at the Derby and won twenty pounds.”
“Well done, Elizabeth! You will have to pick our winner on Saturday.” Darcy smiled and kissed her hand before glancing at Stewart who was watching closely. “I hope that we see each other there.”
“Why not travel together?” Stewart asked soberly, “Or do you have a party formed already?”
“Unfortunately we do, but perhaps we will spot each other.” Darcy looked up when he heard a gong. “Speaking of which we should probably join the rest of our friends.”
“Enjoy the performance.” Laura called as they departed. She smiled at Harwick and he returned it easily.
Looking down to Jane he realized that she had
not joined the conversation. “Forgive me, Miss Bennet, I did not ask your thoughts on horses. Do you ride?”
“Rarely sir, we have the plough horses which also serve as our carriage horses, and Father has his mare.”
“Do you enjoy riding when you have the opportunity?” He continued as they walked along.
Jane flushed, “No sir, I do not, I ride only as necessary.” Harwick nodded, and looked ahead to Darcy and Elizabeth, and wondered to himself what he and Jane could do together besides sit silently in a drawing room or meeting occasionally in her bed chamber. He wondered if she enjoyed reading and thought that was a topic he had not tried as yet. Hearing Darcy ask Elizabeth the same question about riding, he listened to her answer.
“Oh I am a far better walker than rider.” She smiled.
“But you can see so much more when on horseback, and the exercise is significant to both rider and animal.” He tilted his head. “I am surprised that your father did not require you to learn.”
“Are you really?” Elizabeth raised her brows. “Well, truth be told he did make an attempt with me, but I fell off twice and never got back up.”
“That sounds very unlike you.” Darcy said disbelievingly. “You are not one to give up on anything. Look at us.”
“I could say the same of you.” She said softly as they walked.
“I tried so hard to forget you.” He whispered sorrowfully.
Elizabeth stiffened. “While honesty is an admirable quality, there are times when too much knowledge is unwelcome.”
“But that is the point, do you not understand? I am being honest when I say that I never gave up on loving you. I could not; I hoped from the moment I heard your laughter that someday we would be man and wife.” They reached the door to their box, and he let Harwick and Jane enter first then pausing, spoke quietly, “Like music on the waters is thy sweet voice to me.”³
Elizabeth leaned on him and whispered, “Lord Byron?”
“Yes, dearest. I love your knowing that.” His lips brushed her hair and his warm breath caressed her ear. “I think that you must learn to ride.”
Her voice shook a little to match the shivers spreading down her back. “Why?”
“So that I can take you to the private places of Pemberley and we can explore all of your admirable qualities.” He smiled to see the blush spread over her shoulders and stepped into the box.
Jane and Harwick were greeting Bingley and the Singletons. Audrey gasped over Elizabeth’s gown, one of her new purchases, and had her turn around in the confined space as she admired it. “Oh it is perfect!” She cried and clapped her hands together. “Just lovely! And how did my cousin look when he spied you?”
“Dumbstruck.” Elizabeth whispered.
“She did that on purpose, you know.” Singleton nodded at the women. “Everyone is staring at this box. Your choice is the talk of the theatre tonight.”
“And why is that? Who knew that we were coming?” Darcy asked unhappily. “I really do not need your help satisfying the gossips, Singleton.”
“Do not be too hard on him Darcy, the gossips were approaching him.” Bingley said. “I even had a few come to me; apparently your approval is gaining me some respectability.” He winked and puffed his chest a bit.
Darcy relaxed and Harwick touched his shoulder. “After the wedding you will be old news, just ride it out for a few more months.”
“Where is your sister, Mr. Bingley? I thought that Miss Bingley was to join us.” Jane asked.
Bingley grimaced at Darcy then smiled brilliantly at Jane. “I am afraid that she found better company than her brother tonight. She is accompanying my sister Louisa and her husband to a ball. I decided that I could not let down my friend and chose to stay with our original plans.” He saw her nod with understanding. “May I say Miss Bennet, you look particularly lovely tonight, blue is a beautiful choice for you. I wish that my sister would choose so well.”
Jane lit up and Harwick noticed. “Oh Mr. Bingley, thank you. But you should not comment on your sister’s choices if she is not here to defend herself.”
“No, it is the best time; I prefer not to receive a lecture in my bad manners from her.” He laughed and moved over to visit Elizabeth. Jane smiled at his back as he bowed and had his hand grasped happily in greeting. Darcy’s focus was on his friend and Harwick showed Jane to a chair and sat beside her.
“You must be a great defender of your sisters if you stand up for Mr. Bingley’s. Do you know her well?”
“No sir, we have never met.” She said softly. “I remembered Mr. Darcy mentioned that she might come.”
Harwick studied her as everyone else took their places. And now she withdraws from me. Is it because she knows the importance of making the match that she is trying not to do anything that offends? She was different with Bingley. Does she not like me?
Before the lights were lowered he looked across the theatre to spot the box where Stewart sat with his parents and sister. Harwick noticed immediately that Laura was watching their box, and when he realized that her gaze was fixed on him, he felt a tiny lurch in his chest. He took a breath and looked down, he had not felt anything remotely resembling such a sensation since Ellen had died and it frankly frightened him. Slowly he raised his eyes to catch hers again. This time she realized that he had noticed her watching, and when she spotted his mouth lifting in a shy smile, Laura blushed and hid her face behind her fan, peeking over the top to see his smile grow.
Elizabeth noticed that Audrey had grown very quiet and was looking across the theatre as well. She leaned over and whispered. “We met Miss Stewart before we came up here, she is very nice.”
“Oh, oh yes she is.” Audrey startled, then fell back into silence. Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand and drew her closer to his side. She smiled at him then looking back to Audrey saw that again she was staring at someone in particular. Elizabeth finally realized that it was Stewart and felt such sadness for her when Singleton, who was speaking animatedly to their neighbours in the next box, took his place at her side but continued his conversation. Darcy leaned down to her ear.
“Are you well? You are too quiet.”
Elizabeth looked up to him as the theatre became dark, and felt his lips caress hers for several breathtaking moments before withdrawing. Elizabeth sighed and leaned onto his shoulder. Darcy stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers and lifted her chin for a second lingering kiss, then slipping his arm around her waist, drew her securely to his side.
Stewart had been watching the couple the entire time, confirming their attachment in his own mind, and saw Darcy leaning in for the kiss just as the light disappeared. He resignedly accepted his mistake, then just caught Audrey’s focussed gaze, and was left for the rest of the first act to contemplate what his childhood friend was thinking.
When the lamps were relit, Elizabeth was sitting up in her chair, Darcy’s face was smooth, the only hint to the observant that anything questionable had occurred was Elizabeth’s rosy blush, and Darcy’s crossed legs. He remained seated while the other occupants of the box stood. His eyes met Harwick’s who smiled broadly and moved to sit next to him, crossing his arms. “Care to go for a drink?”
“No, thank you.” He said with a determined look and shifted when Harwick patted his shoulder and stood with a laugh.
Elizabeth had gone to speak to Jane and returned to Darcy, standing by his side and unfortunately for him, leaving her beautifully displayed décolletage directly in front of his mouth. He bit his lip and taking her hand, gently pulled her down to sit. “Are you well?” She asked with concern.
“No dearest, I am not. You are driving me to distraction. Please speak of something …anything.” He looked at her beseechingly and moaned when she lifted her hand to her mouth and giggled. “That is decidedly not what I had in mind.”
“Forgive me Fitzwilliam.” She bit her lip and he stared at her expressively. “Is there nothing I can do that does not …inspire …your …”
“No.
There is not.” He sighed and looked over to the opposite side of the theatre and saw Stewart studying someone in their box. Angering, he looked to see if it was Elizabeth and realized that it was a different woman entirely. Seeing Audrey staring, he quickly returned his attention to Stewart who had an expression of confusion on his face. Again he looked at Audrey who looked down and wiped the tear that escaped her eye. “My God.” He whispered.
“Fitzwilliam?” Elizabeth saw his expression and noticing Audrey’s distress; rose quickly and handed her a handkerchief from her reticule. “I know, it is such an emotional story, is it not? It took everything I had not to burst into tears.” Audrey started and Elizabeth smiled.
“Oh, oh yes, I am quite overcome.” She clutched the handkerchief and Elizabeth squeezed her hand.
Darcy was now standing and watching the door for Singleton’s return and glancing back to Stewart’s box, where he saw the man still watching Audrey. Next he noticed Stewart’s sister, also staring … at Harwick? Good heavens what is happening tonight? Harwick seemed to be making an especially earnest attempt to encourage conversation out of Jane.
Bingley ambled over and spoke softly. “Caroline took the news of your engagement rather poorly, so I asked Louisa to take her off of my hands tonight. I did not think you would mind.”
Darcy stared at him blankly. “She what?”
“She was set on marrying you.”
“Pardon? I have seen her perhaps five times?”
“Yes, her theory is that if I had invited you more often …”
“Bingley the reason I did not come more often was to avoid her!” He said heatedly.
“Yes, I … um, considered mentioning that, but decided to be a little more tactful.”
“How?”
“I said that your heart was already engaged and I did not feel it was fair to tempt you with another pretty face unless you were free …”
“No doubt that set her to thinking of how to disengage me.” Darcy’s fingers itched to grab Elizabeth and either hold her or take her out of this opera and home. No, what is waiting for me at home? Aunt Catherine and Anne. Darcy groaned and closed his eyes, only to reopen them when he heard Singleton stumble into the booth. “This is a disaster.”
