A Fair Prospect

by Cassandra Grafton

  “Do you feel up to making some new acquaintances, Georgiana?”

  She nodded as the colour in her cheeks receded somewhat.

  “Forgive me, Fitz. I did not think – when Mr Bingley mentioned his Miss Bennet, I was so eager to join you. I do not wish you to be obliged to introduce me, yet nor do I wish to cause offence now that I have foolishly put myself in their way.”

  Content from the sound of voices behind him that they were being afforded a moment of privacy, Darcy studied his sister thoughtfully. Then, he sighed.

  “It is true that I had not intended for you to make the acquaintance of Miss Elizabeth Bennet. It is difficult for me to say more, but please be assured that my reasons for saying such are not through any objection to the lady herself.” He stopped, conscious that his sister’s eyes had widened and a tentative smile appeared.

  “Miss Elizabeth Bennet is here? She is one of the party? I did wonder - I hoped…”

  Darcy shook his head. “There is nothing to hope for, Georgie; on that we must be clear. But yes,” he paused and glanced quickly over his shoulder, reassured that their behaviour seemed to be causing no particular concern, though he had the distinct impression that Elizabeth had at that very moment withdrawn her gaze from them. “She is walking with family, to whom I have just been introduced. In the circumstances, I feel it would be fitting to include you, provided you are comfortable with the notion.”

  Straightening her shoulders, Georgiana looked up at him and smiled fully. “Well, Brother, I begin to feel I know the eldest Miss Bennet, so that is one less stranger, is it not?”

  With a small laugh, Darcy took her hand and placed it on his arm and then turned around to lead her back to the others.

  A small silence fell upon the company as Darcy and Georgiana re-joined them, and he was conscious of his sister’s grip tightening upon his arm. Absent-mindedly, he patted her hand, struck in an instant that every face before them was open, welcoming and friendly – such a stark contrast to many of the ton when an introduction was about to be made, whose expressions would mirror a chilling superiority or a sickening familiarity, dependent on their understanding or otherwise of the wealth and status of the newcomer.

  “Ladies, Mr Harington – please allow me to introduce my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy, to your acquaintance. Georgiana,” Darcy looked down at her, “This is Mrs Gardiner.”

  The lady came forward, and as his sister stepped aside to exchange a curtsey, Darcy fought the inclination to look over at Elizabeth. How she must wish him at the other side of the world.

  The remainder of the introductions were soon performed, and conscious of the deepening colour in Georgiana’s cheeks, Darcy sought a means of easing her immediate discomfort, but before he had determined upon a topic of conversation, Bingley spoke.

  “What a happy circumstance, that we should all meet this morning when we thought our occupations led to the contrary!”

  “Indeed, Sir. Quite the coincidence!” Mrs Gardiner turned her smile upon Georgiana. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Darcy. This is a pleasant garden for taking a stroll, is it not?”

  As she gently encouraged his sister into conversation, Darcy eased himself away from Georgiana’s side. Conscious that Elizabeth likely regretted the introduction, and probably planned as soon as practicable to remove from Town to Hertfordshire, that the acquaintance might remain nothing more than passing, he sought to distance himself from where she stood, feeling it was the least he could do in the circumstances.

  Bingley picked up the threads of his conversation with Harington, and Darcy turned to join them, attempting to focus on their dialogue. He hoped that Georgiana would not feel he had abandoned her, and with half his attention on the interaction before him, to which he contributed the occasional comment, he slowly adjusted his position so that his sister could catch his eye should she require his assistance. Yet from his place at Harington’s side, Darcy realised that he was well able to observe Elizabeth, who now conversed easily with his sister. Georgiana, though clearly striving to maintain her newly growing confidence, seemed to be listening far more than she spoke, but he could see from her stance and the alert expression upon her face that her interest in Elizabeth far outweighed her nervousness.

  Permitting his gaze to rest upon the lady in question for a moment, Darcy realised for the first time that she was not dressed as he was accustomed to seeing her, charming though her appearance was, but then a movement caught his eye and, conscious that Elizabeth had caught him staring at her, he quickly looked away. The colour that washed her cheekbones anew he could easily explain, for he understood the awkwardness of this meeting for them both, and he was certain that she felt far less at ease than her manner towards his sister implied.

  He risked another glance in her direction and then sighed. Elizabeth remained as lost to him today as ever, and seeing her again only reinforced that loss. The sooner he made his excuses and they departed with their respective parties, the better for them both. To that end, he turned to his friend.

  “I believe we should continue on our way, Bingley. The cloud becomes ever darker, and I fear our opportunity for walking will soon be over.”

  Casting a quick glance to the skies, the other gentlemen concurred, and turning as one they approached the ladies. The success of the meeting on Georgiana was apparent even now upon her features, though she seemed somewhat disappointed over their imminent parting.

  Even though he was conscious of his desire to free Elizabeth of his company, Darcy could not help but indulge his wishes for one last moment, though he suspected he would chide himself thereafter for the indulgence. He bade farewell to Harington, whom he begrudgingly allowed to be as likeable as Bingley had implied, Mrs Gardiner and Miss Bennet before turning to face her fully for the first time since their initial words at this unexpected meeting.

  “Miss Elizabeth.”

  “It was an honour to make your sister’s acquaintance, Sir.”

  “I am certain that the pleasure is all hers.” He cast a glance towards Georgiana, who waited with Bingley for him to join them, unsurprised to see her attention quite fixed upon them. “She is but little in company as yet.”

  “But she is full young, Mr Darcy, and I believe she coped admirably with so many new faces.”

  Warmed by her approbation, he smiled, feeling the tightness about his chest ease a fraction as she returned the gesture. Unable to look away, a silence settled upon them as those around them made their farewells. Then, he cleared his throat.

  “It has been a pleasure to see you, Miss Elizabeth.”

  “Goodbye, Mr Darcy.” She dropped a quick curtsey; the moment was over, and returning the farewell gesture with a bow, he straightened slowly.

  “I wish you an enjoyable stay in Town. Good day.”

  With that, they turned to re-join their respective parties. Offering Georgiana his arm, a position she accepted this time with alacrity, leaving Bingley to wander on ahead of them, Darcy fought with the desire to look back at Elizabeth, but had no wish to see her at Harington’s side.

  As they reached the corner in the path that once more led to the arbour, his sister did precisely that, glancing over her shoulder towards where the other party were now moving away in the opposite direction, only to observe that Elizabeth Bennet mirrored her action.

  Turning back quickly, she bit her lip, keeping to herself the thought she dare not utter: “You may suspect that the lady does not like you, Brother… but whatever her feelings, I believe she is not indifferent.”

  ~o0o~

  As the Gardiner carriage trundled slowly around Berkeley Square and out onto the main thoroughfare of Piccadilly, Elizabeth stared unseeingly out of the window, conscious of the murmur of voices but hearing nothing of her companions’ discourse.

  She felt strangely unsettled and, on reflection, could find nothing of comfort. That Mr Darcy wished to escape her company was certain for, their initial exchange excepted, he had addressed no words
to her until they took their leave, and the distance he sought to put between himself and her was most evident, something she could hardly blame him for in the circumstances.

  Yet it all seemed so contradictory. Though good manners had obliged him to introduce his sister, there was no denying that he had chosen of his own free will to meet with Aunt Gardiner, yet he must have known that this might be one of the dubious connections that he had denigrated during his proposal.

  The remembrance of that incident caused Elizabeth to stir restlessly in her seat, and conscious of the warmth invading her cheeks, she rested her face against the coolness of the window, chastising herself for her impetuosity. What on earth had inspired her to approach the man in the first place? What must he think of her?

  “Lizzy, dear? Are you quite well?”

  Turning to face her aunt, Elizabeth summoned a smile. “Perfectly well, Aunt. I was merely reflecting on Mr Darcy’s request for an introduction to yourself and Nicholas; I am quite astounded by it.”

  Mrs Gardiner looked amused. “Indeed? Are we such poor company?”

  “Of course not, dear Aunt! My words were a reflection of my opinion of Mr Darcy, not of yourselves!”

  “I suspected as much. Yet Mr Darcy does not appear the proud and arrogant man you would have had me believe. There was an element of reserve in his manner, I will own, but he was more than civil.”

  Elizabeth exchanged a swift glance with Jane. “I have never seen him so willing to converse, or so open to meeting strangers.”

  Mrs Gardiner frowned. “I am not ignorant of the family as you know, but it was Mr Darcy’s father who ran the estate when I was a child. Thus my only intelligence of this particular generation comes from one source. You, Lizzy.”

  Elizabeth blushed. Her feelings of discomfort were growing, and she knew not what to say.

  “The gentleman whom I just met,” her aunt persisted, “he bore little if any resemblance to the man you described in your letters.”

  “It is true that Mr Darcy’s character is not as black as I believed it to be.” Elizabeth sighed. “He can be both proud and disparaging, but he does not possess the blackness of nature that I believed. I am ashamed of myself, most especially for being so liberal in sharing my negative opinion of him with others.” Lowering her gaze to her, she blew out a frustrated breath. “It is only in recent days that I have discovered just how in error my judgement was, but I assure you I feel it deeply.”

  Raising her head, Elizabeth caught the end of a look of surprise exchanged between her sister and her aunt, and Mrs Gardiner patted her gently on her knee.

  “Do not distress yourself, my dear. It is not as if the acquaintance has any particular significance.” She paused. “Yet I would be interested to know how you found yourself so misled and how the truth of the matter revealed itself.”

  “It is not possible for me to reveal all that I have learned. What I can tell you is that we are much deceived in Mr Wickham.”

  Jane looked troubled, but Mrs Gardiner had little to say other than express her surprise. Elizabeth was fully cognisant of her aunt’s concerns over her previous regard for Wickham.

  “I am afraid it is so, Jane. His word cannot be trusted. I have been unsure whether to advise our family of his duplicity, for they were much in company with him.”

  “Has he not left the neighbourhood?”

  “The regiment was for Brighton before I set off for Kent.” Elizabeth paused. “I shall talk to Papa on my return, and he may then decide what should or should not be revealed.”

  Mrs Gardiner, taking her cue from Elizabeth and seeming to understand that the matter was not up for further discussion, returned the conversation to their new acquaintance.

  “Miss Darcy is charming. Shy, undoubtedly, but utterly charming.”

  Elizabeth smiled. “I have learned that she has been raised by her brother, along with a cousin – a Colonel Fitzwilliam – whom I had the pleasure of meeting in Kent. They have shared guardianship of her since her father died five years ago.”

  “Then they have done an outstanding job. It cannot have been easy for them – for Mr Darcy in particular – inheriting an estate the size of Pemberley and then raising a young girl, for he cannot have been much into his own majority at the time.”

  Her aunt’s words were giving Elizabeth cause for reflection; she had never before considered the responsibilities that Mr Darcy shouldered, dismissing him as she had done as the idle rich. With a smile, she glanced over at her sister. “Jane never believed Mr Darcy’s character to be so deficient.”

  “Dear Jane!” Mrs Gardiner smiled at her eldest niece. “You would never believe ill of anyone.” She then turned her gaze upon Elizabeth. “He was very solicitous of his sister when she joined us so abruptly, and the level of affection between them was apparent. There is much to admire. He is, of course, an extremely well featured man and has a fine figure!”

  “Aunt!” Elizabeth exchanged an astonished look with Jane.

  “Pray, am I not allowed to acknowledge the fact? I may be old enough to be your mother, Lizzy, but I can appreciate a fine looking young man as much as anybody!” Elizabeth laughed, then her aunt added, “He was not liberal with his smiles, so far as I could see, but there is a pleasantness about his mouth when he speaks.”

  “Dear Aunt,” Jane said, smiling, and as the conversation moved on from the morning’s encounters to discuss their anticipated evening, Elizabeth turned away to resume her window gazing, conscious of her cheeks warming once more and wishing to disguise any tell-tale colour that might be evident.

  Mr Darcy’s mouth, however pleasant, was not something she wanted to dwell upon, and of her dream she adamantly refused to think, though it had come immediately to mind. Deeply unsettled, she stared unseeingly out of the window, willing the carriage onwards to the calming sanctuary of Gracechurch Street and away from the gentleman’s disturbing presence.

  ~o0o~

  To be continued in

  Volume II – Darcy’s Dilemma

  ~o0o~

  About the Author

  Cassandra Grafton has always loved words, so it comes as no surprise that writing is her passion. Having spent many years wishing to be a writer and many more dreaming of it, she finally took the plunge, offering short stories to online communities. After that, it was a natural next step to attempting a full length novel, and thus A Fair Prospect was born.

  She currently splits her time between North Yorkshire in the UK, where she lives with her husband and two cats, and Regency England, where she lives with her characters.

  Connect with Cassandra online:

  http://www.cassandragrafton.com

  https://www.facebook.com/cassie.grafton

  https://twitter.com/CassGrafton