A Case of Some Delicacy

by K C Kahler

  “When did you arrive, Mr Lucas?”

  “Yesterday evening. But you must not tell anyone, Li—Miss Elizabeth. It seems my mother has learned a certain flair for the dramatic from Mrs Bennet, and she wishes me to make a grand, shocking entrance at the engagement party tonight. She does not even know I have left the house.”

  “I certainly will not spoil Lady Lucas’s moment of triumph, and Mr Darcy will not breathe a word of your return to anyone. He is most reticent. Is that not right, Mr Darcy?” She tried to tease him into a better humour.

  “I shall not mention it.” Nothing but impenetrable gravity.

  “There’s a good chap,” said John. That manner of address momentarily cracked Mr Darcy’s reserve, but John did not notice. “Charlotte wrote to me that you—I say! That is a fine animal!” John stepped around Mr Darcy to examine his mount, which waited on the path just off the road.

  Elizabeth took the opportunity to move closer to Mr Darcy. He stubbornly would not meet her eyes. She finally poked his arm, and his eyes flew to hers. She mouthed, “I’m sorry,” and shrugged with a smile. His expression softened but his eyes remained intent, those gold flecks seeming to shine at her. She did not know he had reached for her hand until she felt him squeeze it through her glove. She gasped.

  “I plan to indulge in a good bit of horseflesh and spend some of my newfound fortune,” John was saying, still admiring the horse. “Do you have any suggestions on where I might find one like yours, Mr Darcy?”

  Mr Darcy released Elizabeth’s hand with one last squeeze. “If you seek variety, I would suggest going to Bath. There are several quality horse traders there.”

  “Now would my parents not love a trip to Bath? Perhaps we can persuade some of the Bennet ladies to accompany us. What say you, Lizzy?” John added sheepishly, “Pardon me, Miss Elizabeth.”

  “It is not my decision. I should think Maria would like to take Kitty. I imagine there are a multitude of fashionable bonnets to be seen in Bath. And of course Lydia would not rest until she was invited as well.”

  He laughed. “How is the little imp?”

  “She is hardly little anymore as she will proudly tell you. She is the tallest of all her sisters now.”

  “Surely not! Taller than Jane, even?”

  “Taller even than Jane.”

  “Oh! But I have been remiss. I offer my congratulations on Jane’s engagement. I seriously doubted anyone could be good enough for her, but Charlotte has put me at ease that this Mr Bingley fellow may be just right.”

  “He most certainly is, as you will soon learn. And I offer my heartfelt congratulations to you on Charlotte’s engagement as well. Did you meet your future brother last night?” She smirked at him.

  John glanced at Mr Darcy. “I did.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “You need not worry about offending Mr Darcy. He is the soul of discretion. Speak your mind.”

  John heaved a sigh of relief. “I did feel compelled to seek reassurances from Charlotte that she knows what she is about. She need not marry at all if she does not wish it. She said you told her the same thing.”

  “Yes, I did. But she has her own goals in mind, it seems, and I can only support her. Though I needed some expert convincing.” She smiled at Mr Darcy who smiled back, finally.

  John replied, “She is determined. I wish…well, it is done now, and the entire neighbourhood will offer its congratulations tonight, no doubt.”

  “Oh yes, tonight. Will that be before or after you induce all the young ladies of the neighbourhood to swoon at your grand entrance?”

  He rubbed his hands together with a wicked grin. “Any admirers must first pay proper respects to Charlotte. Only then shall I bestow my favour upon them.” He winked.

  Elizabeth laughed. “You are more ridiculous than ever. Gussy is very eager for your continued antics.”

  “Gus! How splendid it will be to see him without his loathsome brother jowling about.”

  Again, she laughed. Every time she stopped, he would utter some new inanity. “I believe you have invented a new verb. Mr Goulding jowled himself right into an elopement with the help.”

  “His father must have loved that. But we are being terribly rude, speaking about all these unknown people in front of Mr Darcy.”

  “Actually, I am well-informed about the Gouldings. Miss Elizabeth has shared some stories with me.” Elizabeth beamed at him.

  “Lucky fellow! I have missed your stories, Li—Miss Elizabeth. You must have some new ones from the last two years.”

  “I am convinced they are nothing in comparison to your stories, Mr Lucas. Surely you have had many adventures.”

  “I suppose I have,” he said as a strange cloud passed over his eyes. He blinked it away and continued. “I shall promise to tell you one of them if you promise to dance the first with me tonight. We must make everyone terribly jealous.”

  “Oh! I had not expected dancing tonight,” she stalled. It was silly of her to think Mr Darcy might wish to… She could not help but glance at him, only to find his gaze steadfastly upon her. She nearly gasped again

  “Certainly, there will be dancing,” John said, “if we can prevail upon Mary to abandon her concertos and play some music fit for the pursuit.”

  Elizabeth tore her gaze from one gentleman to answer the other. “Mary will no doubt assent. I suppose I shall have to endure the envious glares of the neighbourhood girls and dance the first with you. But you must dance with Kitty and Lydia as well.”

  “Ah, all is as it should be again. You are bossing me about. But of course no Bennet lady will escape standing up with me. I may even dance with your mother.” He winked again.

  She could not help but laugh. “Oh dear, I am not sure that is the wisest course of action.”

  “When have I ever followed the wisest course?”

  Elizabeth made a great show of racking her brain. “Never.”

  Both of her companions laughed, and she silently rejoiced.

  They heard the sounds of a carriage around the bend in the road. John retreated farther back onto the path. “I really ought not be on the road—my mother’s surprise will be ruined.”

  Mr Darcy gathered the reins of his fine animal and faced Elizabeth. “I regret I must return to Netherfield.” Elizabeth did not wish him to go, and he made no move to leave. “Since you have ensured that there will be more than one dance tonight, Miss Elizabeth, might you favour me with one?”

  “Yes, I would be delighted,” she answered a trifle too enthusiastically. “I hope no one asks me how my dance card was so mysteriously full upon my arrival.”

  John laughed. “You will find some way to evade any prying inquiries. I can hear the stream,” he said excitedly. “I simply must see it! Shall we, Miss Elizabeth?” He held out his arm for her.

  She looked between the two of them, torn. It did not seem right that she should walk on John’s arm along Oakham Stream. But it was a ridiculous thought, for the stream actually ran through his property. She went to John’s side. “I look forward to our dance tonight, Mr Darcy.”

  “As do I, Miss Elizabeth.” He bowed to John. “Mr Lucas.”

  “A pleasure to meet you, Mr Darcy.” John replied.

  Elizabeth watched as Darcy mounted his horse and rode away. She and John walked to the water, and then he turned to her, “What was that all about?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You were meeting him here, weren’t you?”

  “Do not be ridiculous!” He shook his head at her feigned outrage. “I believe I mentioned this,” she motioned towards the stream, “as a picturesque spot to visit when he dined with us the other night.”

  “So it was a pure coincidence that you were both here soon after sunrise on a Thursday in December?”

  “It was a coincidence that you were here too.”

  “No, it was not. I came to look for you specifically.”

  “Oh,” she said dumbly. He continued his suspicious inspection of her face. She never
could lie to John. “Whatever Charlotte has told you…”

  “Does Charlotte have anything to do with it?”

  Elizabeth turned towards the water. “No. And there is no ‘it.’”

  He shrugged. “If you say so. But I shall soon charm my way back into your confidence, so you might as well just tell me.”

  “Gah! You are just as infuriating as ever!”

  He laughed. “It is good to see you too, Lizzybits.” He touched her nose.

  “Stop that, you dolt!” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the stream in ill humour. This was all wrong.

  “What’s wrong, Lizzy? You know I shall keep any secret you wish, even from Charlotte.”

  She sighed. “I know, John.” But she could not speak of Mr Darcy to anyone. She was too confused about him. “I…I feel like you went off and had this grand adventure. Now you have come back and I am exactly the same as when you left, with nothing new or exciting to share.”

  He put his arm around her shoulders. “That’s not true. You are much prettier than when I left.”

  She smiled. “Perhaps, but still not as pretty as Jane.”

  “Peter and I are of a different opinion on that matter than most.” He looked back towards the road. “Though I think Mr Darcy may be of similar mind.”

  She snorted. “Fools, all of you. Peter must be so happy to see you!”

  He allowed her to change the subject. “Peter is a fine lad, as is Walter. I cannot tell you how glad I am to be back with my family and loved ones again. You know you are among the very dearest to me, do you not?”

  She had a lump in her throat, so she only nodded. They stood together in silence for some minutes.

  “Now,” he said as if clearing the air, “tell me whether I should wear my blue or my red waistcoat tonight. What will the ladies prefer?” He stood posing like a drawing in a fashion plate.

  She burst into laughter. “Have you become a fop as well? You look best in green, if you must know.” He had always been handsome, but now he looked the picture of masculine health, his skin tanned, his brown hair lightened by the sun, and his physique shaped by constant activity. Indeed, John would set hearts aflutter when he appeared tonight. But not Elizabeth’s. No, she realised now, only one man had ever set her heart aflutter. Perhaps she was not as confused as she had thought.

  “Ah, green. I have just the ensemble. And what about you? The two most eligible bachelors in the area both wish to dance with you. You must look the part.”

  “This is Charlotte’s night,” Elizabeth scolded, though she was already devising her best options. She would ask Kitty to arrange her hair again. She had done a splendid job for the ball.

  “Quite right, quite right. You see, it is just like old times; you are already reminding me of propriety.”

  “Someone ought to do it. I must go now, John. I shall keep your secret from all except Jane, I think. Do you mind?”

  “Not at all. Until tonight then, Lizzybits.” He took her gloved hand and made a big smacking sound as he kissed it.

  She laughed as she turned away, and she arrived at Longbourn just as Mr Bingley did. “Good morning, Lizzy,” he said with a grin.

  “Good morning, Charles,” she returned. “You are before your time today.”

  “I have come early so as not to interfere with preparations for the party at Lucas Lodge tonight. I understand it is quite an undertaking when all six of you Bennet ladies must prepare yourselves for such an affair.”

  “A very wise choice, sir. You do not wish to hear Lydia carry on when she thinks Kitty has had the mirror too long.”

  They entered the breakfast room together to enthusiastic greetings. Jane said, “Did you meet Lizzy on her walk today, Charles?”

  “No, we met just in the yard here. I believe Darcy comes in this direction more often than not for his morning rides. Have you never run into him, Lizzy?”

  To be nearly discovered by two different people in the course of one morning was surprising indeed. “There are so many paths around here, that it is unlikely two people should meet by accident.” She carefully avoided both lying and actually answering the question, and Mr Bingley was content to turn his undivided attention to Jane.

  Elizabeth thought about Mr Darcy as she ate her toast. His taking of her hand despite the possibility of John seeing, his request for a dance—these were very deliberate signs from one so reserved. She dare not put a name to it, but something had changed in her and in him. They had changed each other. Tonight would be different.

  Tonight would be different. Tonight, Darcy’s dream would end differently. He was determined that it should, and when Fitzwilliam Darcy made such a determination even the dream world yielded. Tonight, she would not slip from his grasp on the balcony, or if she did, he would leap immediately to her side, no matter who else called her. He had learned his lesson about hesitation.

  John Lucas had returned, and although Darcy’s every instinct told him to retreat from the torture of witnessing another man’s familiarity with Elizabeth, he had remained. In eight and twenty years, Darcy had only ever loved one woman. Now that he had admitted to himself, he could never leave her, and he was not about to shrink away from a little competition. He may have flinched at every slipped “Lizzy” falling from John Lucas’s lips, he may have roiled and seethed when Lucas asked her for the first dance of the evening, he may have felt like crying when the pair stood together ready to walk along Oakham Stream as if it were the most natural thing in the world, but one precious comfort remained for Darcy: she had wished to set him at ease. She had come to him and made him look into those fine eyes, and he had understood that she did not forget him, that he still had a place in her life.

  But he did not know what that place was. She had been shocked when he grasped her hand. She had not rebuffed him, but that could have merely been a result of her discretion. Witnessing the ease with which John Lucas elicited her laughter was, in truth, the most discouraging of all. They were completely comfortable with each other, a consequence of their long shared history. They knew and cared for each other’s families and friends and concerns, and it was all effortless. How could Darcy compete with that?

  He took extra care with his appearance that evening, leaving Higgins a bit surprised, though he hid it well. Darcy was never one to ruminate on the appearance of another man, but he could not help but wish John Lucas was not quite so handsome. He did notice that Mr Lucas lacked one thing Elizabeth had mentioned: dimples. Darcy intended to use them to his best advantage tonight. It was a novelty indeed that he should, for the first time in his life, consciously and deliberately woo a young lady. He wished they could be afforded some privacy to speak, so he could tell her plainly his intentions, but he had wasted all his previous opportunity. Now he must show her with the distinct possibility that others would notice, and he needed all his charms for the task.

  The Netherfield party arrived at Lucas Lodge before the Bennets did. Darcy greeted his hosts and congratulated Miss Lucas and Mr Collins on their engagement. Mr Collins was profuse in his thanks. “I am particularly gratified by your kind words, Mr Darcy. Lady Catherine, too, upon hearing of my choice, so heartily approved my marriage that she wished it to take place as soon as possible. Though I shall be called from my amiable Charlotte on Saturday, the pain of separation may be alleviated by preparations for the reception of my bride, as I have reason to hope that shortly after my next return into Hertfordshire, the day will be fixed that is to make me the happiest of men.”

  Darcy made no special effort to continue the conversation. His mind was much too occupied to have the patience for the chore. He attempted to take his leave of them, but Miss Lucas spoke to him, “Mr Darcy, I hope I do not presume too much when I say that I shall look forward to seeing a familiar face when you next visit your aunt in Kent.”

  “Not at all; your presence will be a welcome addition during my yearly visit.” Just then he heard some frantic whispering from one of the doorways. Peter a
nd Walter Lucas had stuck their heads out and were beckoning Miss Lucas to come to them.

  “I am sorry, Mr Darcy, but I am wanted by my brothers. I’m sure you can imagine the excitement in the Lucas household tonight.” Darcy took her meaning. Apparently she knew he had already met John Lucas that morning. He could not clarify, however, for she left him to join her young brothers, and Darcy quickly retreated from Mr Collins.

  Darcy wished to silently stalk the edges of the room and gather his thoughts, but he did not want to stray too far from Bingley, who naturally was chatting amiably with everyone in the drawing room. Once the Bennets arrived, Bingley would of course greet his betrothed, and Darcy planned to be close behind him. So he suffered through stilted conversation with the Longs, Philipses, Gouldings, and Colonel Forster and his insipid wife, all the while witnessing the joyous anticipation of Maria Lucas and her young brothers, not to mention the elated pride of their parents.

  The Bennets were announced. They entered in order of precedence, and Mr and Mrs Bennet went immediately to Sir William and Lady Lucas. Bingley strode purposefully to Miss Bennet, and Darcy took his opportunity to follow.

  Elizabeth curtseyed and he bowed over her hand, never breaking eye contact with her. “Miss Elizabeth, I am exceedingly pleased to see you, but I find I must contradict one of my earlier statements to you.”

  She arched her brow at him as Miss Catherine dragged Miss Lydia past them towards Maria Lucas. “I am all anticipation to hear what has caused you to make such a grave error, Mr Darcy.”

  “It was indeed a grave error. I once said you were one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance. In fact, you are the handsomest, and I have been remiss for ever having conveyed otherwise.”

  She blinked and her hand trembled slightly as she retracted it. Then she met his eyes again and smiled brilliantly. “You are forgiven, sir.”

  “You are too kind. But I do not think my mistake can be so easily remedied as that. If you will allow me, I intend to atone for it over the course of the evening.”