I Met Mr Darcy Via Luton

by Fredrica Edward

  Georgiana's present was duly bestowed and loudly praised by Elizabeth's mother. Mrs Bennet had never seen a finer mantilla comb! She knew they had become all the rage after the war in the Peninsula! For her part, Elizabeth was duly touched by her sister-to-be's thoughtfulness.

  Over tea, it was decided that Mary and Lizzy would travel to Netherfield with the Darcys, who planned to tour the establishment with Dr Gregory. Kitty, who had not yet seen the place since its refit had begun, decided to join them. They would all return for dinner.

  When asked to nominate his favourite dish, Mr Darcy carefully replied roast beef. In fact, he preferred venison or sanglier, particularly squeakers, which he enjoyed at Pemberley, but it hardly seemed fair to inflict this preference on Mrs Bennet in Hertfordshire.

  As they finished their tea, Mr Jones arrived, and they all moved to the portico. Lydia bounded down the steps with Kitty's medicines and climbed into the gig with a facility that belied her cumbersome skirts. Taking the ribbons from Mr Jones' hands, she gave them a smart snap, and they were off, leaving the others to follow in their wake.

  There was some confusion as the ladies climbed into Darcy's carriage, with all of them attempting to take the forward-facing seat, before Kitty gave Lizzy an unceremonious push toward the rear-facing seat that made Georgiana giggle. Darcy climbed in quickly behind them and, grasping his betrothed's hand, secured her beside him. Darcy's valet, Finn, who had occupied the backward-facing seat on the journey from London, removed himself to the Dickie seat while Darcy's groom mounted his master's horse.

  Lizzy spent the trip to Netherfield staring out the window of the carriage, unable to meet the eyes of any of the ladies on the opposite seat. Darcy had enveloped her dainty hand between his large ones and was surreptitiously tracing a pattern on her palm with his fingernail. As much as this simple ministration affected her, Lizzy could not enjoy it with her sisters in the carriage. She kicked his top-boot with her heel, but all this produced was the faintest of smiles to play about his lips, which did not go unnoticed by his sister.

  Dr Gregory appeared at the entrance to Netherfield as soon as the carriage came to rest under the porte-cochère. After Darcy and Elizabeth descended the steps, Dr Gregory contrived to hand the other ladies out and escort Georgiana. They toured first the new facilities, including the water closet, which Georgiana much admired, the new dispensary, and the ward; before heading out to the terrace where they found Lydia setting up a game of loo with some of the patients.

  "Miss Bennet, how many lovely sisters do you have?" joked Lieutenant Entwistle before he was apprised that she could, indeed, claim both additional ladies as her sisters in the near future.

  "This is Georgiana Darcy, the sister of my betrothed; and the other lady is my sister Kitty, who prepares some of your medicines."

  The gentlemen expressed their gratification at having so many lovely ladies in their midst, showering many compliments upon them.

  Georgiana was touched by the plight of the soldiers, particularly by the handsome Captain Kirkby in his wheeled-chair, whose air of resigned melancholy greatly affected her. When Dr Gregory mentioned his plans for the hydropathy pool that had been made possible by her aunt's generous donation, Georgiana silently vowed she would pledge five hundred pounds of her pin money to the cause.

  After listening for half an hour to tales of the soldiers' experience in the peninsula, Mrs Fletcher announced lunch was ready to be served in the dining room. They removed there to a very creditable three-course meal that had been contrived for the Darcys, which was the best the patients had been gratified to receive yet during their stay at Netherfield. However, they did not feel they had anything to complain of, for the hospital meals were generally on par with those obtainable at a good inn and far exceeded some of the fare they had been forced to subsist on during their campaigns.

  After the covers had been cleared, Darcy declined coffee and signalled his intention to rest after his journey, a declaration that greatly surprised Georgiana, who had never known her brother to suffer from fatigue. She was not surprised when Elizabeth excused herself soon after.

  Georgiana stayed at table for coffee and a delightful trifle, which the soldiers greatly appreciated, not generally expecting a dessert. They were gratified to find that Mrs Fletcher had not stinted with the sherry.

  Darcy had in fact whispered in Lizzy's ear that he wished to see her alone when they walked into the dining room. When she reached the foyer, she found him waiting for her at the base of the stairs. He wasted no time in pulling her upstairs behind him.

  This made Elizabeth a little nervous. "If you wish to be private, Fitzwilliam, the library is free."

  "I have a surprise for you, Elizabeth. Come with me," he said, pulling her into the master's chambers.

  Finn, who was in the process of attending Darcy's clothes in the dressing room, beat a hasty retreat down the library stairs.

  "I have a present for you," Darcy announced, shutting the door.

  "Another present? The mantilla comb was delightful. There is no need for such extravagance."

  "That was from Georgie," he said, removing something from the pocket of his greatcoat, which had been draped over a chair. "Now hold out your hands and close your eyes."

  Acutely aware of her compromised position in the master's chambers, Elizabeth hesitated.

  "Please?" he breathed.

  When she finally obeyed, Darcy placed the box in her hands and stole a quick kiss on her cheek.

  Opening the box, Elizabeth gasped. "What a beautiful cameo! Oh, it is Asclepius! And the woman?"

  "…is Hygeia, the goddess of health."

  "It is beautiful!" she cried, smiling at him. "How thoughtful!"

  He was gratified. "Will you wear it?"

  "Of course!"

  Elizabeth deftly removed the garnet cross and placed it in her pocket.

  Stepping around her, Darcy threaded the cameo round her neck, fumbling for a moment with the delicate clasp. Then, before she could escape, he snaked his arms under her bosom and pulled her back towards him, planting a lingering kiss at the base of her neck before hovering there, over the skin, teasing the short hairs on her nape with his lips.

  The combination of the kiss with his lingering hot breath proved too much for Elizabeth, and her knees collapsed beneath her. She gasped as she began to fall, but Darcy's arms tightened, and he grabbed her, most fortuitously, with one breast caught fully in his palm. He felt the nipple instantly harden through the material of her dress.

  "Ooh, Fitzwilliam!" she moaned, twisting to escape. "We need to be careful!"

  "Forgive me," he said, a slight smile playing about his lips, "it got a little out of hand."

  She eyed him suspiciously. "Fitzwilliam, was that a bad pun?"

  "Exactly, I wish it were still in my hand," he smiled.

  "Behave!" she admonished, as she stalked towards the pier glass. After checking her hair had not been disturbed by their encounter, Elizabeth admired the cameo in reflection. "Thank you, but I must get back to work."

  "Will you let me join you in the library this afternoon?" he asked.

  "Of course," she replied.

  As they descended the library stairs, Finn, who had been quietly reading at the far end of the library, stood and skirted the far wall before silently ascending the stairs like some counter-mechanism.

  So while Elizabeth sat at a large desk that had appeared in the middle of the library's Aubusson rug since Bingley's sojourn there; Fitzwilliam sat down at the small secretaire beneath a window, which had always graced the library, removing a sheaf of letters from his waistcoat pocket. They spent a companionable afternoon: she dealing with hospital business; and he, with correspondence from his steward at Pemberley. Stopping only for the afternoon tea Mrs Fletcher delivered, they went for a short stroll around the rose garden afterwards.

  It was not until four in the afternoon that Fitzwilliam finally remembered he possessed a sister who might possibly be cavorting with sol
diers somewhere. Excusing himself to Elizabeth, he went in search of her.

  Chapter 53: Dinner at Longbourn

  Darcy found Georgiana engaged in a game of pall mall with Lydia and several soldiers on the front lawn of Netherfield. A few other invalided servicemen looked on with Kitty and Mary.

  "Oh, dear," said Georgiana, as her ball hit the hoop and finally rolled through. "I believe that is five!" She had been a complete liability to her teammates, Lieutenants Entwistle and Manwaring.

  Lieutenant Entwistle, one-handed, proceeded to knock his ball through the hoop from three yards with one stroke. "But only nine in total, Miss Darcy, so let us see if the other team can do better."

  Lieutenant Harboard and Captain Beckett hit three each, then Lydia's first shot rebounded from the hoop and she tapped it in for two.

  "Victory!" yelled Lydia, with a triumphal prance.

  "And she's so modest about it too!" laughed Lieutenant Entwistle.

  "You are a sore loser, Entwistle," jeered Lieutenant Harboard.

  "We had the prettiest team," retorted Entwistle, batting his eyelashes.

  Being on the opposing team, Lydia stuck out her tongue at him.

  Darcy cleared his throat loudly. "I believe we should be returning to Longbourn, Georgiana."

  "Yes, Brother."

  "Good day, gentlemen," said Georgiana, handing back her mallet.

  "Do come again, Miss Darcy," said Lieutenant Entwistle as he received it.

  By the time the Darcy coach drew up under the porte-cochère, the Longbourn party had assembled, and Darcy realised with dismay that there was one extra. He had forgotten that Lydia had driven Mr Jones' gig over.

  "Do not worry, Mr Darcy," said Lydia. "Kitty and I will sit on the dickie."

  Darcy was a little dismayed his face might have betrayed his thoughts. He was not at all sure that young ladies should ride on the dickie, but they climbed up with alacrity, and his groom silently took the place beside the coachman. Darcy handed the other ladies in, with Elizabeth entering last.

  Mary and Georgiana once more barred Elizabeth from occupying the forward-facing seat by placing their hands on the seat on either side of them, smiling sweetly all the while. They smiled sweetly at her. She took her place resignedly on the backward-facing seat as Darcy climbed in beside her and possessed her hand once more.

  As the carriage swayed towards Longbourn, Mary looked at Georgiana meaningfully.

  "Brother," proffered Georgiana, "Mary has invited me to stay at Longbourn while you journey to Derbyshire."

  "Surely you wish to see your Aunt Evelina, Georgie?" Darcy replied.

  "I have already spent half the year at Matlock, Brother!"

  "I suppose you have," he said thoughtfully. "Well, if Mr and Mrs Bennet have no objection…"

  "Yes!" said Georgie, bouncing on the squab and smiling at Mary.

  The carriage arrived at Longbourn with plenty of time to spare before dinner at six. Lizzy excused herself to her fiancé and went to her father's library, as was her wont after returning from Netherfield each day.

  Mr Bennet looked up from his book as she opened the door.

  "Ah, the party has returned! How did you all fit in the carriage coming back? Or did Mr Darcy ride his horse?"

  "Lydia and Kitty sat on the dickie," replied Elizabeth.

  Mr Bennet rolled his eyes. "Such decorum!" he muttered before noticing her hand touch the cameo.

  "What have you there?" he asked, standing to examine it.

  "It is a present from Fitzwilliam."

  "Asclepius and Hygeia–how appropriate. And how symbolic," sighed Mr Bennet, laying his book down and turning his back to hide his emotion. "I bought you the garnet cross on one of my rare trips to London. Do you remember?"

  "Of course, Papa. I will still wear it. Now I have two necklaces, one from each of the dearest men in my life."

  She gave him a hug. "Shall we go into dinner?" she asked.

  In the dining room, Darcy was quite astonished at the elaborate table setting, far grander than anything they attempted at Pemberley. He did not often entertain. Mrs Bennet obviously entertained in the grand style. Two soup tureens graced either end of the board, with a cod's head and a trout flanking the centrepiece that consisted of artfully arranged fresh fruit. He looked at his sister and could see she was drinking it all in; then glanced at Elizabeth, realising that it had been a long time since Pemberley had a mistress.

  Elizabeth grasped his hand and drew him down beside herself at her father's end of the table. Mary and Georgiana flanked her mother, while Kitty and Lydia sat opposite him and Elizabeth.

  After the first course, the tureens were duly removed to the sideboard, and the empty fish plates removed. A side of roast beef was placed in front of Mr Bennet; a rabbit pie and a dish of partridges in front of Mrs Bennet; and various vegetable dishes were arranged around the centrepiece: fried mushrooms; a haricot of beans; mashed potatoes and parsley; and baked carrots and parsnips. Two sauceboats were finally added to the groaning board, one containing a gravy and the other, a white sauce.

  "Given the roast beef has been prepared especially for you, Mr Darcy, perhaps you would care to do the honours?" said Mr Bennet, offering him the carving implements.

  "I defer to you, sir," replied Darcy formally.

  "Hmm," smiled Mr Bennet and then, under his breath, "I sincerely doubt it."

  Elizabeth was sure Fitzwilliam had heard, but fortunately her mother was too far away. She gave her fiancé's hand a squeeze.

  Darcy was amazed when the Bennet family duly disposed of a good part of the bounty on the table. Lydia, in particular, ate like a horse, although his betrothed seemed also to have a healthy appetite.

  Finally, Mrs Bennet called for dessert. The tureens were cleared away; and the roast, and what was left of the savoury dishes, replaced them on the sideboard. The desserts were placed on the table, consisting of an apple pie and a peach syllabub, with a quince jelly and clotted cream on the side.

  "Mrs Bennet," complimented Mr Darcy, "you set an outstanding table."

  "Thank you, Mr Darcy," replied Mrs Bennet graciously. "We dine with four and twenty families hereabouts."

  "And a more competitive set of tabbies you have never met," replied Mr Bennet sotto voce.

  This caused Lydia to snort, which drew an admonitory look from her mother.

  After dinner, the gentlemen retired to Mr Bennet's library with Mrs Bennet furiously mouthing the word "banns" at her husband's impassive face.

  Darcy produced the settlements, which specified a generous amount of pin money for his wife, but chiefly outlined what Elizabeth, her widowed mother, and any of her unmarried sisters would receive in the event that Darcy predeceased her. Further generous sums were specified for Elizabeth, and any daughters she bore, should it pass that an heir was not produced prior to this event, as Pemberley would, of course, pass to the eldest son of Georgiana. Should there be no male heir produced in the next generation of Darcys, Pemberley would pass to the eldest of Elizabeth's daughters whose husband was willing to take the name of Darcy, or default to the eldest daughter of Georgiana similarly circumstanced.

  Mr Bennet read this last statement with surprise. "If Pemberley is as grand as reported, you surely only require a single daughter to ensure the succession?" laughed Mr Bennet, quite overcome with the generosity being shown to his daughter.

  "Not at all," replied Darcy. "If my daughters marry titled gentleman, they will not be willing to relinquish their names and titles."

  "Is such a coincidence of fortuitous marriages likely?" scoffed Mr Bennet.

  Mr Darcy shrugged. "With large dowries it is a possibility. With the exception of one daughter who remains unmarried, all four of the Earl of Bute's daughters became duchesses or countesses."

  "You had better set the dowries low then," suggested Mr Bennet.

  Darcy raised his eyebrows at this but did not vouchsafe an answer.

  "May I enquire as to your intentions regarding the
reading of the banns?" asked Mr Bennet. "My wife would rather see them read earlier than later."

  "That is coincident with my own plans," replied Darcy, thinking of his Aunt Catherine. "I shall talk to Elizabeth and hope to visit the rectory before I depart."

  Mr Bennet nodded in satisfaction. That had been easy. He could not have cared less either way, but that was one monkey off his back.

  "Do you plan to stay long in Hertfordshire?"

  "Only two days."

  Mr Bennet raised his eyebrows at this. "Then I shall try to arrange for you to meet the rector tomorrow."

  "Thank you. I beg your pardon for my hasty removal, but I must journey to Derbyshire to apprise my aunt of my engagement. I expect to spend a week at Pemberley engaged with estate matters. I hoped on my return to take Elizabeth with me to London for a week before Christmas."

  Mr Bennet's eyebrows ascended even further.

  "You are asking to remove my daughter from this house when she is merely engaged?"

  "My sister will accompany us, and one of your other daughters may wish to attend Elizabeth. My sister's companion will also be staying at the townhouse. Some dresses will need to be ordered, both for the wedding and to furbish her wardrobe for married life. I will advance her pin money to cover the cost of her clothes."

  "Is there really a need for such a trip? All Jane's wedding clothes were prepared here at Longbourn. My sister-in-law was quite happy to send the fabrics."

  "I had hoped to spend a week or two at my townhouse in London after the wedding, before removing to Pemberley. Elizabeth will be attending Ton parties. Her gowns will need to be made by a modiste."

  "Very well," Mr Bennet sighed. "I defer to your greater knowledge in these matters. She may go if Mary agrees to accompany her. The other two are too young and silly."

  Darcy then offered to convey any letters or parcels to the Bingleys in Yorkshire on his trip north.

  "Is Sheffield not a little out of your way?" enquired Mr Bennet.

  "What is 50 miles of good road?" replied Darcy.

  After Darcy returned from the library, it proved impossible for Elizabeth to see him alone. They had tea in the drawing room with Georgiana and the Bennet ladies, after which Darcy called for his carriage and bid her goodnight. He stopped in the vestibule to kiss her hand.