Confusion again filled him. “Of course I do! How could you think otherwise?” It was most uncomfortable to be in the presence of this young lady. He shuddered. Thank heavens it was only a for six weeks or so.
“Sir, I do not mean to offend. I am merely anxious that you be aware how difficult it might be for you to pretend an affection you do not feel,” she said hastily. “I wonder if just at this moment, you could imagine that it is your sister sitting here, not me. How would you greet her when you joined her before dinner, for example?”
That wouldn’t be difficult, and he found himself smiling as he imagined how he would ask her how her day had been, what she had accomplished.
She raised her hand and stopped him. “Thank you, you do not need to do more. I can see from the way you smiled that you are capable of a deep affection, and it is enough. I am sure with determination, and a short while to practice, you would be able to feign affection when it is necessary.” She smoothed the skirt of her gown. “I can see Lady Susan has now left her seat, and I imagine she is on her way to join us.”
Before she had finished speaking, the door opened and Lady Susan entered the room. Darcy turned to her with relief. He needed to know a lot more, but he was fatigued with the strain of the difficulties the girl had advanced. He wanted to get home, with time and privacy to think.
Lady Susan spoke to the young lady. “Please, will you remain here a few moments, while I escort this gentleman to his coach. Then I will return and have you taken home.”
Darcy turned to the young lady and bowed. “It has been a pleasure meeting you,” he said formally, not at all sure if he really meant it. The next few months were going to be hard work.
She curtsied in return. “A great honour, sir. Thank you for your time.” Her eyes were no longer dancing, he noticed, and her smile was merely formal. What did that portend?
12
Elizabeth sat with her eyes closed as Lady Susan’s coach drove her back to Cheapside, a lady’s maid sitting opposite her for the sake of propriety.
She was glad Lady Susan had not demanded her answer there and then, instead just seeing her to the coach.
“Go home and rest, Miss Bennet. I will call in the morning to speak to you.”
Arriving at Aunt Gardiner’s home, Elizabeth met the eager faces of Jane and her aunt.
“Well, Lizzy? How did it go? Is he very handsome?” Jane sounded almost as excited as if it were her own future husband that Elizabeth had met.
She smiled tiredly. “I’m not sure how it went, Jane. But yes, he is exceptionally handsome, his face is only marred by his pride, which is quite unconscious, I am sure.”
Aunt Gardiner assessed her. “I can see you are fatigued, Lizzy. Do you want to have a rest before tea? You can tell us everything that happened then.”
Elizabeth smiled. “It seems foolish to admit to being tired, I have not done anything active, but I confess I am quite fatigued. I would like a short while to rest.”
“Just tell us if you are proceeding or not,” Jane urged. “Then you can tell us the details later.”
“I don’t know,” Elizabeth shook her head. “Lady Susan is calling on me tomorrow morning to ask me if I wish to continue, and I imagine she will then ask the gentleman. Only if we both agree will the matter go ahead.”
“That’s enough for now,” Aunt Gardiner urged her towards the stairs. “Jane, you go with Lizzy and help her out of that gown. But then leave her to rest.” Her voice was firm, and Elizabeth was grateful. She wanted to be alone to sort out her feelings.
“What does he look like, then, Lizzy?” Jane’s whisper showed her that she was not going to get away without saying much.
Elizabeth laughed. “He is very handsome, as I said. Tall, and his demeanour and features show he is very well-bred. He has dark hair and very dark, almost black, eyes.”
“Oooh,” Jane almost swooned.
Elizabeth tapped her arm. “But he is also the coldest, most unemotional man I have ever met. I don’t think he has the slightest interest in any person other than himself and his sister. You are very much better off with Mr. Lawrence, Jane, whatever you are thinking.” She wriggled out of the gown and gave it to Jane to hang up while she slipped into one of her old dresses. “It is only because I could see his fondness for his sister that I did not refuse him at that instant.”
Jane’s face showed her disappointment. Then she smiled again. “Then he needs someone like you to make him come alive again, Lizzy. He must be very rich, to be paying for all this.”
“Indeed he is,” Elizabeth climbed on the bed and pulled the day covers over her. “One of the first things I will have to do is meet his relations who are convinced he should marry his cousin and he describes them as rude and demanding. Not very appealing, I think you would agree.”
Jane made a face. “I’ll leave you to rest, then, Lizzy, and ponder on what you have learned.”
As soon as she was alone, Elizabeth leaned back against the pillows, her hands behind her head. She had a lot to think about.
Did she really want to tie herself to a family who were proud, arrogant and demanding? Would they ever accept her, especially if her arrival meant he would not marry his cousin?
She made a face and rolled over. She knew aristocratic families preferred to keep their wealth in the family by marrying cousins, so they might shun her for ever, demeaning her own humble background and her need to support her own family. No, they would never accept her.
She’d thought she just needed time to think, but her eyes were heavy. Nothing would come of this, she thought drowsily, but she was sorry that she wouldn’t be able to help his shy little sister. She imagined that the girl must be terrified of the overbearing proud relations.
As Elizabeth drifted off to sleep, she smiled. She didn’t know his sister, but she had imagined they would be friends. It was silly, she knew nothing about her, how could she possibly know they’d be friends?
She stirred sleepily when Aunt Gardiner came into the room, and noticed the sun was much lower in the sky.
“Goodness!” Elizabeth sat up suddenly. “I didn’t think I’d sleep this late!”
Her aunt smiled at her and put the teacup down on the side table. “I think you might not have slept so well last night as you told us you had.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Would you have?”
“Indeed not,” Aunt Gardiner laughed, too. “In fact, I did not, either. I was concerned for you.” She sat on the bed beside Elizabeth. “I am concerned you make the right decision.”
She took Elizabeth’s hand. “Jane has told me what you told her. Perhaps you and I could talk quietly later, so that you think about both sides of the situation before you have to tell Lady Susan what your decision is.” Her eyes were full of loving concern, and Elizabeth swallowed. What seemed an adventure to her was causing her aunt great anxiety.
She couldn’t bear it. “Aunt Gardiner, if you think I should stop this, you must tell me so and I will refuse Lady Susan — I will write tonight and not wait for the morning.” She embraced her aunt. “I would not have you worried for all the world.”
Aunt Gardiner shook her head. “No, Lizzy, you must take more thought than that. You and Jane are right in one way. There is no good fortune to be had for you to find a good marriage partner in Meryton.” She sighed deeply, and took Elizabeth’s hand. “It may be this gentleman is the right choice for you, or it may need to be another gentleman from the same service — or it may be right for you to walk away.” She squeezed Elizabeth’s hands. “Come downstairs. You and I will find time to talk later.” She rose and kissed her forehead. “You are very wise, Elizabeth. You can make good choices from little information — if you think it through well.”
13
Darcy paced the floor of his library, waiting. After luncheon, he had sent Georgiana upstairs with her companion on the pretext of having a business visitor due later.
Lady Susan had told him yesterday that she would interview the y
oung lady in the morning and would then see him in the afternoon. When he’d demurred, she had shaken her head.
“I would not waste your valuable time discussing a mere possibility. I will first discover if the young lady is willing to proceed, and then you will have all the information you need to make your decision, sir.”
He had nodded. “Very well. I will expect you then.”
Now he waited impatiently. The wait had been a waste of time, really. After all, what did she have to lose? It was only a short time, and then her fortune would be greatly improved. Surely she could bear anything for a few months? He could, even though it would be difficult. He’d had a bad night after her searching questions yesterday.
He shrugged and rang the bell for coffee. He’d better not have a whisky before Lady Susan called.
When the coffee arrived, he was sitting in his great library chair and nodded at the footman, who poured his cup and handed it to him.
“Thank you.” He nodded again, and the footman noiselessly left the room, shutting the heavy door behind him.
He sipped the steaming drink. He would assume the young lady had said yes. So he supposed that at this visit, Lady Susan would tell him her name and arrange that he call upon her to begin the arrangement. He would begin to act like an engaged man. He would call on the lady at her home. He frowned, wondering idly where it was. He supposed it was helpful that she was of humbler birth than he, or his family might well know hers.
He thought back. Did he recognise any familiarity in her features, any likeness to any of the families he knew? Perhaps he might ask Lady Susan if she thought this was a possibility. If he knew the family, then when the engagement was broken, the repercussions might be — difficult.
He sighed, what should he tell Georgiana? He disliked the thought of pretending a proper engagement, and she would be unhappy when it was broken off, but he dared not tell her the real plan. Without a doubt, Lady Catherine would manage to find out from her what the plan was, and all this effort would be wasted.
There was a quiet knock on the door, and he hastily put down his cup, glancing at the clock.
“Lady Susan’s coach is just turning into Brook Street, Mr. Darcy.” His butler bowed.
Darcy rose to his feet, glancing at his appearance in the glass of the portrait over the mantel. “Thank you, Mr. Jones. I will see her in the drawing room. Please arrange for tea to be brought in.”
“Very good, sir.”
Darcy walked through to the drawing room, trying to slow his breathing. His plan was coming to fruition and he was uncomfortably aware of the possible pitfalls. But what else was to be done?
He waited, leaning against the mantel, until he saw the butler entering the room.
“Lady Susan Aldridge, Mr. Darcy.”
He bowed. “Please come in, Lady Susan. I have ordered tea to be served.”
She swept into the room, nodding regally to him. It piqued him when his aunt did it, and was no less annoying now, but he swallowed his irritation and waited until she had seated herself, her maid moving to the far end of the room, to give them a semblance of privacy.
He smiled sardonically, and took his own seat. It was only a moment later that the tea was brought in. The housekeeper quietly supervised the maid pouring their tea, and he watched in silence until they had gone and the door closed behind them.
He could not wait for her to make light conversation, as he ought. It wasn’t a social call, after all.
“So, Lady Susan, I presume the young lady is willing to proceed with the arrangement.”
One elegant eyebrow lifted slightly, but Lady Susan put her cup down. “Yes, she is.”
He hid his sigh of relief. He would have her on his arm when he attended Uncle Henry’s celebration ball — and Lady Catherine’s fury would descend upon them.
He pulled himself to the present, and saw Lady Susan was observing him curiously.
“Do I understand you also wish to proceed, Mr. Darcy?”
He was puzzled. “Of course — unless you have some further information about her background which might make it impossible.”
She thought carefully. “I don’t think so. The young lady has some reservations. She spoke to me about your conversation yesterday, that you wish there to appear to be some degree of affection from the beginning, rather than making the arrangement public — which is, of course, the best thing. However, she is concerned that you are not used to expressing emotions.” She smiled. “I explained to her how it is a normal part of your social standing, and I think she understands now. She is also concerned at the level of support you’d be prepared to offer her if your family persist in disapproving of your choice.”
Darcy regarded her thoughtfully. For a two-month arrangement, she seemed very concerned with trivialities. He pushed away his irritation. There was no time to find another.
“I will provide all that she wishes,” he said shortly. “When do we finalise things?”
“That is up to you, from now, Mr. Darcy. Our service has been to search out the young lady who meets your approval. Having done so, the finer details are better agreed in private between you both.”
Darcy stared at her in consternation. As an engaged couple, they would have more privacy than normally permitted between ladies and gentlemen. But he had no wish to compromise her in any way once she broke the engagement. It was another issue he had not considered from her point of view.
Lady Susan took a sealed envelope from her reticule. “I have here the directions to the address where the young lady and her elder sister are staying with their aunt. I suggest you call on her tomorrow.” She rose to her feet. “Her name is Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
Elizabeth Bennet. He would be utterly reliant on her integrity and reticence. Darcy took the envelope mechanically. He must call on her tomorrow, but facing her family would not be particularly agreeable.
Lady Susan suddenly sat down again, on the edge of the chair. “I’m sorry, Mr. Darcy. May I take up a moment more of your time?”
“Of course,” he murmured, and seated himself again.
“Our service is now completed, Mr. Darcy, and Lady Somerville will no doubt be expecting me to take my leave. However, I would like to say one or two things that I hope might be helpful, which you might not have considered,” she smiled gently at him, “given that events have moved very fast during this last week.”
He nodded ruefully. “I would be grateful to hear you, Lady Susan.”
“Thank you,” she said quietly. “I know that you move in general within your normal social standing, and Miss Bennet likewise has no experience of people of your wealth and breeding. When I have spoken to her, I have been impressed at her poise and elegance. Her knowledge is mostly self-taught, and she has extensive accomplishments and talent. I believe she will be admirably suited to her task — but it will be new to her, and you must not expect her to know things about you that she cannot possibly have discovered.”
She smiled. “After all, she does not yet know who you are. I will go there now, as you have expressed satisfaction, and I will tell her to expect you to call in the morning.”
She rose again, and he hastily got to his feet too.
“One moment …”
She smiled. “Be kind to her, Mr. Darcy, and thoughtful, and she will repay that kindness many times over.”
She was gone, and he stood staring after her. What had he done?
14
Elizabeth turned the note over and over in her hands. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. His Derbyshire estate was Pemberley, close to Lambton, where Aunt Gardiner had lived as a child. And he had a great London establishment in Brook Street.
Her aunt had been quite overcome. “Mr. Darcy! Mr. Darcy!” she had repeatedly exclaimed over the course of the evening. “Oh, Lizzy, I cannot believe it. Pemberley is the most beautiful house I have ever seen. And the family are of ancient lineage.” She had been quite unable to say more.
That wasn’t much help to Elizabeth. All she
could think about was that Derbyshire was a long way from Hertfordshire and her family. A long way from Jane.
Now it was morning. Mr. Darcy would call on her. She had agreed to marry him on the strength of a one-hour meeting.
She glanced over at her aunt, who was checking every cushion in the room was straightened. At least she was pleased and happy with Elizabeth’s choice.
Jane was quite overcome, and Elizabeth was sorry that her sister’s betrothal and London trip to gather her own wedding clothes was now quite eclipsed by this turn of events. But Jane had embraced her.
“If I was upset, Lizzy, it would be foolish, because I am the one who wrote the letter in the first place!”
She heard the sound of a carriage drawing up outside the door, and realised she was more nervous than she thought. Her heart was racing within her. She bit the inside of her lip, she must not show her anxiety to her aunt.
Certainly, Mr. Darcy would have been shocked when he read that she was living here, in Cheapside.
The housekeeper announced him, and Elizabeth stood with the others and curtsied. He bowed to her, and she introduced her aunt and Jane.
He was grave and unsmiling, and Aunt Gardiner nervously made some polite remarks until the tea was brought in and then she glanced at him and Elizabeth. She made an excuse of taking Jane up to see the children, and they left the room.
The silence was deafening for a few moments. Elizabeth smiled slightly and leaned forward to pour the tea. She would not wait for him to speak first.
“I am assuming your first intention was to change your mind when you realised I was living here, in Cheapside?”
“Yes.” His voice was terse, and she kept her eyes on the teacup in her hand. She would not be intimidated.
Impatiently, Darcy Page 5
