I Met Mr Darcy Via Luton

by Fredrica Edward

  Certainly this man had greatly insulted her, but Elizabeth was frankly incredulous that he did not now hate her. While her indignation had been righteous, in retrospect, she could not be happy with the way she had reacted. But how did one tell a gentleman politely that one did not wish to be his mistress?

  With the benefit of hindsight, she believed she had acted from within a seething tumult of emotions: shock, in realising Charlotte's suspicions of his attachment had been correct; confusion, at the effect of his kiss and her own rather wanton behaviour in responding to it; outrage, at his proposition; and fear, that he might use his superior physical advantage to overpower her.

  He who, she had been persuaded, would avoid her as his greatest enemy, seemed, on this accidental meeting, most eager to preserve the acquaintance, and without any indelicate display of regard, or any peculiarity of manner, where their two selves only were concerned, was soliciting the good opinion of her friends and bent on making her known to his sister. Such a change in a man of so much pride excited not only her astonishment but her gratitude–was it possible that he was truly in love with her?

  Chapter 35: Georgiana's visit

  The following morning, the Gardiner party had just returned to the inn after walking out when the sound of a carriage drew them to a window, and they saw a gentleman and a lady in a curricle driving up the street. Elizabeth, immediately recognizing Mr Darcy, retreated from the window, fearful of being seen; and as she walked up and down the room, endeavouring to compose herself, saw such looks of inquiring surprise in her uncle and aunt as made everything worse.

  Miss Darcy and her brother appeared, and this formidable introduction took place. With astonishment did Elizabeth see that her new acquaintance was at least as much embarrassed as herself.

  Since her arrival at Lambton, Elizabeth had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud. She had expected to be introduced to a grander version of Caroline Bingley, but the observation of a very few minutes convinced her that Miss Darcy was only exceedingly shy. Elizabeth found it difficult to obtain even a word from her beyond a monosyllable.

  Miss Darcy was tall and on a larger scale than Elizabeth; and, though little more than sixteen, her figure was formed, and her appearance, womanly and graceful. She was less handsome than her brother, but there was sense and good humour in her face, and her manners were perfectly unassuming and gentle.

  Glancing briefly at Mr Darcy, Elizabeth noticed he had cut his hair. Whenever she was able, she darted a look at him during the course of the conversation and always saw an expression of general complaisance, and in all that he said, she heard an accent so removed from hauteur or disdain of his companions, as convinced her that the improvement of manners which she had witnessed yesterday, however temporary its existence might prove, had at least outlived one day. When she saw him thus seeking the acquaintance and courting the good opinion of people with whom any intercourse a few months ago would have been a disgrace—when she saw him thus civil, not only to herself, but to the very relations whom he had openly disdained, and recollected their last lively scene in Hunsford Parsonage—the difference, the change was so great, and struck so forcibly on her mind that she could hardly restrain her astonishment from being visible.

  Their visitors stayed with them above half an hour, and when they arose to depart, Mr Darcy called on his sister to join him in expressing their wish of seeing Mr and Mrs Gardiner, and the Misses Bennet, to dinner at Pemberley before they left the country. Miss Darcy, though with a diffidence which marked her little in the habit of giving invitations, readily obeyed. Mrs Gardiner looked at her niece, desirous of knowing how she, whom the invitation most concerned, felt disposed as to its acceptance, but Elizabeth had turned her head away. Presuming, however, that this studied avoidance spoke rather a momentary embarrassment than any dislike of the proposal, and seeing in her husband, who was fond of society, a perfect willingness to accept it and in Jane, a silent entreaty to do so, Mrs Gardiner ventured to engage their attendance, and that very evening was fixed on, after which the Darcys took their leave.

  Eager to be alone, and fearful of inquiries or hints from her uncle and aunt, Elizabeth stayed with them only long enough to hear their favourable opinion of Miss Darcy and then hurried away to dress.

  But she had no reason to fear Mr and Mrs Gardiner's curiosity; it was not their wish to force her communication. It was evident that she was much better acquainted with Mr Darcy than they had before any idea of; it was also evident that he was very much in love with her. They saw much to interest, but nothing to justify inquiry.

  Jane, however, was not so easily satisfied. She followed Elizabeth into their chamber, ostensibly to choose their dresses for the evening.

  "Why are you behaving so stiffly to Mr Darcy, Lizzy? He has been more than gracious to us, and you are being almost uncivil."

  Having not been forthcoming to her sister before of her experience at Hunsford, Lizzy could hardly start now; and she suspected that even if she should reveal the truth, her sister would find some way to excuse Mr Darcy's behaviour at the expense of her own–that she had in fact precipitated the improper proposal by her own unseemly conduct. Indeed, in her most uncertain hours, she had re-examined their interactions at Netherfield and Hunsford for some false step on her part, but she could think of nothing. Oh, why could he not just leave her alone?

  "I do not know why he is being so civil to us, Jane. You know how horrible he has been in the past."

  "I know nothing of the sort! He is obviously partial to you, Lizzy. He danced with you twice at the Netherfield Ball! What more do you require? That he should knock you over the head?"

  Lizzy twisted her mouth at the irony of it. She was sure Mr Darcy would probably be very happy to knock her on the head and drag her off to his chambers to have his way with her. She was just not happy to comply.

  "Please don't leave me alone with him. In fact, don't leave me alone at all. Even if you should need to use the chamber pot, I will come too."

  "Very well," replied Jane, "I think you are being silly, but I will stick to you like glue if only you will be nice to him."

  The sisters then set about choosing their dresses for the evening. They really did not have anything grand enough for Pemberley; not having seen the need to bring their silk ball dresses with them on tour. Jane picked out a powder-blue muslin, which set off her guinea gold curls to advantage; and Lizzy selected a dusky pink dress that Mary had embellished with some embroidered cherries, which was the best her limited wardrobe could afford. Their aunt then joined them to discuss how to distribute the limited accessories at their disposal to complement her nieces' dresses. She loaned her set of pearls to Jane and a Norwich silk shawl to Lizzy, then returned from a call to a well-dressed friend with two pairs of long gloves on loan. The result was very respectable.

  Mr Darcy's carriage, which was sent to pick them up from the inn, arrived punctually, and two footmen jumped down from behind to assist the ladies inside. It was a very fine carriage, quite above the post-chaises they had frequented in their travels. Mrs Gardiner stroked the plush upholstery as she smiled at her nieces, but none of them were willing to say a word on the surrounding luxury lest the footmen should hear. Thus, they were whisked to Pemberley.

  On reaching the house, they were shown through the hall into the saloon, rendered delightful in summer by its northern aspect. Its windows, opening to the ground, admitted a most refreshing view of the high woody hills behind the house, and of the beautiful oaks and Spanish chestnuts that were scattered over the intermediate lawn.

  Miss Darcy and her companion, a Mrs Annesley, received them in the saloon. Georgiana's reception of them was very civil, but attended with all the embarrassment which, though proceeding from shyness and the fear of doing wrong, would easily give to those who felt themselves inferior the belief of her being proud and reserved. Mrs Gardiner and her nieces, however, did her justice and pitied her.

  Georgiana apologised for her brother being momen
tarily delayed by some estate business. A fire had started in one of the tenants' houses, and while not serious, it required the organisation of some temporary accommodation while the damage was repaired.

  Between Mrs Annesley and Mrs Gardiner, with occasional help from her nieces, the conversation was carried on. Miss Darcy looked as if she wished for courage enough to join in it and sometimes did venture a short sentence when there was least danger of its being heard.

  Elizabeth was not sorry to be spared the necessity of saying much. Her own thoughts were occupying her attention. She expected every moment that Mr Darcy would enter the room and began to wonder whether she feared or actually wished it, for he would at least provide more sensible conversation.

  No sooner did he appear than Elizabeth wisely resolved to be perfectly easy and unembarrassed, a resolution the more necessary to be made, but perhaps not the more easily kept, because she saw that the suspicions of the whole party were awakened against them, and that there was scarcely an eye which did not watch his behaviour when he first came into the room.

  Miss Darcy, on her brother's entrance, exerted herself much more to talk, and Elizabeth saw that he was anxious for his sister and herself to get acquainted and forwarded, as much as possible, every attempt at conversation on either side.

  They sat down to dinner, slightly overawed by the modern Wedgwood dinner service. Darcy, who sat at the head of the table, had positioned Miss Elizabeth on his right and Mr Gardiner on his left. Jane sat on Georgiana's left at the foot of the table with Mrs Gardiner on her right, while Mrs Annesley sat down between the Gardiners.

  They had almost finished the soup when a slight commotion was heard in the hallway.

  Darcy looked up to see his cousin, Viscount Stanley, walk in the door.

  "Darcy! Good to see you!" said the Viscount, lurching suddenly to one side.

  Darcy stood up quickly. Dammit, he is drunk. His eyes flicked to the two footmen who trailed uncertainly into the room. They could tell the master was not pleased, and rightly so, but they were also unsure if it was permitted to tackle the Earl's son.

  "Stanley," Darcy said, moving towards him. "I wasn't expecting you."

  "No, I bet your weren't!" his cousin said too loudly, moving diagonally across the room as if he was doing a half-pass in dressage and picking up a brandy decanter which sat on a sideboard. "Trouble is," he said, pulling out the stopper, "they've hidden all the damn stuff at Matlock!"

  And with that, the Viscount upended the decanter into his mouth, taking two gulps as Darcy stood frozen, aghast that he'd put his lips to the bottle. Thereupon Lord Henry Fitzwilliam, Viscount Stanley, and heir to the Earldom of Matlock wavered and promptly collapsed onto the floor.

  A footman snatched at the decanter as it tipped sideways, spilling some of its contents onto the carpet.

  Darcy turned towards his guests to apologise. Mr and Mrs Gardiner were quietly conversing with Mrs Annesley as if nothing had happened. Georgiana had her hand over her mouth. Jane Bennet gave him a timid smile, and Elizabeth? she was staring at him with her mouth agape. Darcy was mortified.

  A pair of boots could be heard tromping loudly down the hall, and into this tableau stalked Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, accompanied by a flustered Mrs Reynolds.

  "Ah, Darcy!" Richard said, observing the prostrate form of his brother. "I see you've found Henry."

  Mrs Reynolds bustled over to kneel beside the viscount.

  Richard then became aware that they were not alone in the dining room, and spinning on the spot, he was preparing to make a polite bow to the guests when he recognised Miss Elizabeth.

  "Miss Bennet!" he exclaimed, stepping forward to bow over her hand. Then his eyes popped when he saw the other young lady seated at the table.

  Noticing the familiar reaction frequently exhibited by males entering her sister's orbit, Lizzy laughed.

  "No, sir, I am Miss Elizabeth! This," she gestured to Jane, "is Miss Bennet!"

  "Two lovely Miss Bennets!" said Richard, bending over Jane's hand, "My cup runneth over!"

  He winked at Georgie.

  Darcy coughed, "Richard, I'd appreciate if you could help me with the viscount."

  Richard bowed again and turned away.

  The footmen had lifted the viscount from the floor and were awaiting instructions.

  After a whispered conference between Darcy and Mrs Reynolds, the footmen moved off, carrying the viscount, with Mrs Reynolds and the colonel trailing behind.

  Chapter 36: Richard joins the fray

  Darcy returned to the table. "Please accept my sincere apologies for the interruption. My cousin, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, will be joining us soon."

  As the soup plates were cleared, Darcy ventured to enquire of Mr Gardiner's business, a development that greatly surprised Elizabeth. She listened as Mr Gardiner spoke very intelligently of his import/export business. For his part, Darcy could only wonder that this man was Mrs Bennet's brother.

  The dishes for the main course were just being laid on the table when Colonel Fitzwilliam reentered the room and sat gleefully in the vacant chair between the two Miss Bennets. Darcy performed the necessary introductions to the Gardiners, which had been neglected in the general confusion following the viscount's collapse.

  "I beg you will excuse my brother," said the colonel. "He has had some sad news and is not coping well."

  "Of course," replied Mrs Gardiner. "I hope he is feeling better in the morning."

  Richard then turned to Elizabeth and began to talk of happier times at the Parsonage. Darcy looked on ruefully, but he did his best to focus on his conversation with Mr Gardiner. Jane and Mrs Gardiner were meanwhile doing a sterling job of drawing Georgiana out, much to Mrs Annesley's satisfaction.

  As the covers were removed, Darcy despaired that he would ever get a chance to speak privately to Miss Elizabeth.

  "With your permission, Mr Gardiner, perhaps we could forgo the ladies' withdrawal?" Darcy suggested.

  Mr Gardiner expressed his acquiescence if the colonel was in agreement.

  Excellent, thought Darcy: he certainly didn't want to touch the brandy now anyway…

  "Perhaps, Georgiana, we should move to the music room for tea?" he prompted.

  His sister smiled and led the way.

  Colonel Fitzwilliam offered his arm to Miss Bennet, leaving Darcy to escort Miss Elizabeth. He was wracking his brain to think of some way to get her alone, so that he could speak to her.

  Upon entering the music room, Georgiana immediately sat down at the piano and began to play a piece by Mozart. This she found far less taxing than conversation.

  The colonel led Miss Bennet to a love seat facing a settee and promptly sat down with her, causing Darcy to scowl, since this was the exact spot he had hoped to occupy with Miss Elizabeth.

  Instead, he led Elizabeth to one end of the settee, indicating to Mrs Annesley that she should sit beside her. He placed a carver at the opposite end of the settee, so Mrs Gardiner could occupy the vacant position on the sofa with her husband beside her in the carver. He then retrieved another carver for himself and placed it beside Miss Elizabeth.

  "So, just how many lovely sisters do you have, Miss Bennet?" asked the colonel. He remembered, of course, that Miss Elizabeth had four, but information was not his game.

  "Four, Colonel," replied Jane with a smile.

  "And are they all as lovely as yourself and Miss Elizabeth?"

  "Many older gentlemen say that our mother far outshone us all," replied Jane modestly.

  "How gallant of them!" replied Richard. He then leaned closer to Jane and said in a staged whisper, "I would suspect their motives."

  Darcy used the distraction of the tea arriving to give Richard a swift kick, an action that did not go unnoticed by Elizabeth.

  Mrs Annesley got up to help Mrs Reynolds serve the tea.

  Elizabeth was made uncomfortable by Mr Darcy's proximity. The seat of the carver he was sitting on was higher than the settee and his long legs se
t his knee even higher than his hip. She was too aware of his muscular thigh displayed in his skin-tight pantaloons just beside her.

  When Mrs Annesley handed her a cup of tea, she stood up to receive it, then wandered over to Georgiana at the piano.

  Mr Darcy sighed into his cup.

  Elizabeth sipped her tea as she watched Georgiana's fingers fly over the keys. Recalling Mrs Reynolds' praise of the mother's proficiency on the harp, she noted that musical talent seemed to run in the family.

  She rued her mode of escape from Mr Darcy as soon as Georgiana finished her piece. Once the applause died down, the colonel requested a song. Elizabeth attempted to demur, encouraging Georgiana to continue, but Mr Darcy's little sister added her entreaties to the colonel's, and Elizabeth agreed to sing, provided Georgie would accompany her. They put their heads together to select a piece.

  "Do you also play and sing, Miss Bennet?" asked the colonel as he selected another macaroon from the dish in front of him.

  "No, sir," replied Jane, "only Elizabeth and Mary play. Elizabeth is the better singer and Mary the better pianist."

  Elizabeth then proceeded to display her talents with a lovely rendition of Se tu m'ami, se sospiri by Pergolesi. As her clear, bell-like voice filled the room, Darcy sat back in his chair and sighed, then drifted off into a reverie.

  Upon completion of the piece, he rose to meet her as she walked back towards the settee.

  "Miss Elizabeth, I noticed you appreciated the library. Could I tempt you to take a personal tour?" said Darcy, wincing mentally as soon as the words were out of his mouth. There were at least two associations there that were best not alluded to, foremost being their previous embarrassing encounter there.

  "Do you think it is handsome enough to tempt me?" she replied with an arched brow.

  Ah, thought Darcy, she does not spare the lash!