Thursday's Child

by Pat Santarsiero

  “Thank you, Miss Bingley, but that is quite unnecessary. I believe I can find my way myself.”

  As Elizabeth left their company, Darcy started his retreat also, but before he had taken two steps, Caroline stayed his progress with her hand on his arm.

  “I would be very careful if I were you, Mr. Darcy. You would not wish to be found with Miss Eliza in a compromising situation. Indeed, there already seems to be some talk amongst the servants regarding a night in the library.” Caroline lifted her chin in her attempt at superiority. Darcy, however, was not to be intimidated.

  As he moved his arm from her grasp, he addressed her. “One should never listen to the idle gossip of servants, Miss Bingley. They often embellish to elevate their own importance.” He then afforded her the slightest of bows and headed down the stairs.

  ~*~

  Darcy found Bingley in the billiards room and immediately grabbed a cue stick and joined him. “I think I should warn you, Darcy, I overheard Caroline planning some diversion that will include us all.”

  Darcy rolled his eyes. He knew his avoidance of her company would be thwarted sooner or later. However, he admitted to himself that an activity including the entire party would not be wholly unwelcomed.

  “I understand Miss Elizabeth asked to see the stables,” said Darcy as he lined up a shot. “Do you know if she rides?”

  “Yes. She said she learnt while in Mrs. Worthington’s employ. I selected a mare for her use during her visit. She also asked if I could supply her with a pair of breeches,” said Bingley, displaying a wide grin.

  Hearing this comment mid-shot, Darcy missed the cue ball completely, causing his cue stick to become airborne as it hurled towards Bingley like a spear.

  As Bingley sidestepped impalement, Darcy asked, “Are you joking?”

  “Not at all,” said Bingley. “It seems the young groom who taught her to ride had no idea how to teach her side-saddle, so he taught her astride.”

  “I cannot believe Miss Elizabeth would defy convention in such a way. I can just hear your sister now, disparaging her for such improper behaviour.” Darcy walked over to pick up the cue stick from the floor. Although he was shocked to hear that “Miss Elizabeth” would conduct herself so improperly, he was strangely aroused at the thought of “Lizzy” wearing breeches and riding a horse astride. This I will have to see.

  “Miss Elizabeth was concerned for propriety also and informed me she only plans to ride early in the morning so that there will be less chance of her being observed,” said his friend.

  “She seems a most unusual and intriguing young lady. Do you not think so, Darcy?”

  ~*~

  Once again he found himself making a late night visit to the library in the hope that she would again make an appearance, but she did not. Now convinced it had not been a dream, he wondered if she had any recollection of that evening.

  Obviously Lizzy had believed their encounter to be a dream, a result of too much brandy combined with sleeping powders. We are dreaming, are we not? Was it her habit to dream of him?

  When the startling realization had finally saturated his brain that his ”Lizzy” was indeed Miss Elizabeth Bennet, he tried to remember all the coincidences that had led him to that suspicion in the first place.

  There was the matter of the entailment. He recalled his conversation that evening at Rosings with Mr. Collins. She had refused his offer of marriage. She would not marry to secure the comfort of hearth and home where love was not in attendance.

  He recalled the clergyman’s words, the very same words she had used at their interview, “She vowed never to marry if she could not do so for love.” That prospect was now highly unlikely for no reason other than that Elizabeth would insist upon being completely honest with any gentleman who sought her hand in marriage.

  But the realization that had made his heart pound in his chest and his pulse race was the reason she sought their agreement in the first place. Wickham!

  She had selflessly sacrificed her virtue in order to save her family from a scandal at the hands of that blackguard. She had given up any chance she had to secure her own future for the sake of her sisters’ happiness. And he could have prevented it all!

  When Wickham had persuaded Georgiana to an elopement, she had been but fifteen years old, the same age as Elizabeth’s sister. If he had not kept Wickham’s character a secret from the world because of his pride, Wickham would not have been able to prey upon other unsuspecting young ladies. He would have been shunned by all decent society.

  It was his fault that Lizzy sought their agreement! It was his pride that had been the catalyst that had diverted Lizzy from her previous course and redirected her fate. Would he ever be able to make it up to her?

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  To Caroline Bingley’s delight, the weather cooperated most pleasantly, and her planned group outing was about to commence. As the temperature reached a dazzling sixty-five degrees, it was decided that a picnic was in order. The servants prepared, packed and carried the food, plates and silverware needed for the “simple” luncheon Caroline had planned. Bingley had picked the perfect spot and, by noon, the entire party was happily engaged in various outdoor activities.

  Mr. Bingley and Jane were the first to suggest a walk around the pond situated a short distance away at the bottom of a sloping hill. Hoping for some time alone with Jane, Bingley held his breath, waiting to hear if there was anyone who cared to join them. To his relief, there was not.

  Elizabeth sat with her back resting against a tree reading a book. At every sound of her daughter’s laughter, she would look up to see what had amused her. More than once it had been William— no, I must think of him now as Mr. Darcy— who had enticed these lilting vocal responses. Finding it hard to concentrate, Elizabeth finally gave up her reading but still held the book in her hand, using it as a ruse for her observations. She was more than content just to watch Mr. Darcy’s efforts to entertain Ellie and Ellie’s delighted reactions to his efforts.

  Even though it was a “simple” picnic, Caroline was dressed in her finest silk, the colour not unlike that of a pumpkin. She carried a parasol and daintily twirled it overhead as she stood not five feet from Mr. Darcy. As was her customary manner, she commented regularly on all that he did.

  “Mr. Darcy, you are such an attentive father. How delightful to see you and Ellie so happily engaged!”

  On rare occasions, a deep-voiced response was heard, but Elizabeth could not quite make out what his reply was to such effusions. Not far from them, Georgiana was instructing the servants where to unpack the lunch and lay out the blankets. This duty should have fallen to Caroline, but she seemed to be unaware of anything other than attending Mr. Darcy.

  The sound of a horse’s neighing commanded everyone’s attention as they all looked up from their activities. “Richard!” cried Georgiana.

  “There you all are!” he said.

  After attending his horse, Colonel Fitzwilliam immediately strode to his cousin. “Darcy, how good to see you looking so fit! After Georgiana’s last letter, I was almost afraid of the condition in which I might find you.”

  As he spoke Georgiana came to his side and kissed him on the cheek. “Is it not astonishing?” she asked. “I would not have believed that so little time amongst his friends would bring about such a change.”

  Uncomfortable with the conversation, Darcy turned their attention towards Ellie. “I believe I have come to see that Ellie is my first priority. I shall do my best to keep her happy and make her feel secure.” As he spoke, he quickly looked over to Elizabeth. As she caught his eye, he gave her an almost imperceptible nod accompanied by the slightest of smiles.

  As Colonel Fitzwilliam turned, he saw the recipient of that barely detectable gesture. “Miss Bennet! We finally meet again! I was hoping our visits might coincide.”

  Elizabeth rose from her resting place to join the colonel and Mr. Darcy. She and the colonel then proceeded to carry on a lengthy conversation in whi
ch Darcy discovered they had met for dinner on a few occasions in London. This displeased Darcy more than he cared to admit.

  He imagined Elizabeth was grateful to his cousin for his part in locating Wickham and the wedding that quickly followed. Did she feel indebted to him for his role in saving her family?

  “Tell me, Colonel,” asked Elizabeth, “how did you find us so easily?”

  Richard smiled at her. “I would like to think that fifteen years of military training has at least prepared me to locate a large party of picnickers.”

  “Then perhaps,” responded Darcy dryly, “we should hope that Napoleon soon decides to go on a picnic.”

  Richard eyed him curiously and wondered if he had somehow unwittingly offended his cousin in some way to deserve such a remark.

  Realizing he had not yet acknowledged his hostess, Richard turned to Caroline. “Miss Bingley, a pleasure to see you again. I thank you for your kind invitation. Where is Charles?”

  “I am here,” said Bingley as he and Jane approached the colonel. “I was just showing Miss Bennet the pond,” Bingley explained while Jane blushed.

  “Ah, yes,” said the colonel smiling quite blatantly. “The pond holds many allurements.”

  After greeting Jane, the colonel again turned his attentions to Elizabeth and spent much of the next hour in her company, much to Darcy’s vexation.

  Soon lunch was served, and the group sat upon various blankets on the sunny hillside. As it happened, Darcy, Ellie, Elizabeth, and Caroline all occupied the same blanket—Darcy with a determination to situate himself near Elizabeth, and Caroline with an equal determination to situate herself near Darcy— while Charles, Jane, Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam sat some distance away on another.

  Eager to show Mr. Darcy her motherly instincts, Caroline was thwarted time and again as she tried to engage Ellie only to have her crawl back towards Elizabeth. After several attempts to forestall her, she finally scooped the squirming child up in her arms. Upon noting the wet condition of Ellie’s bottom, she immediately held the little girl out at arm’s length.

  Looking about in desperation, she called to Mrs. Hawkins for assistance. Elizabeth was only too happy for the chance to remove her daughter from the woman’s cloying grasp. Ever since that first night with Ellie, she had known everything about Miss Bingley she needed to know.

  “I have finished my lunch, Miss Bingley. I shall be happy to take Ellie off your hands and locate Mrs. Hawkins.”

  Undecided whether or not to relinquish Mr. Darcy’s precious daughter to this unsophisticated little country chit,

  Caroline quickly realized that doing so would allow her to be quite alone . . . with Mr. Darcy. . . on a sunny hillside . . . lounging on a blanket . . . just the two of them mere inches apart. She smiled ever so sweetly.

  “I would do it myself, Miss Eliza, but, as you can see, my silk gown is much more susceptible to stains than your cotton muslin.”

  Ellie clung to Elizabeth’s neck, content to be nestled against the softness of her body. “It is no trouble at all, I assure you, Miss Bingley.”

  Not wishing to be alone in Caroline’s company, Darcy was about to stand when Caroline put her hand on his arm. “Mr. Darcy, how nice it is to finally be alone, is it not?”

  No it was not, he thought, but said nothing.

  Trying a different tack, she said, “I do believe that little Ellie gets prettier each day, Mr. Darcy; such a dear child.”

  “Yes, I see much of her mother in her looks,” he replied, not realizing his indiscretion.

  Surprised by such a comment, she retorted, “Hardly, Mr. Darcy. She is all you with her dark hair and eyes.”

  At this reply, he said nothing, concentrating fully on a blade of grass that he twirled between his thumb and forefinger.

  “I did not wish to mention this in front of dear Jane, but I noticed that Miss Eliza seems to have some sort of fixation on the child. If I were you, Mr. Darcy, I would not leave Ellie alone in her company.”

  “That is absurd, Miss Bingley. I see no reason to be suspicious of Miss Elizabeth. She seems to have a genuine affection for the child,” he said as he tried to hide his annoyance.

  “Really, Mr. Darcy, you are much too trusting,” objected Caroline as she again placed a hand on his arm. He immediately stood, not wishing to be pawed any further by the solicitous Miss Bingley. Can this woman not take a hint? “If you will excuse me, Miss Bingley, I have matters I need to discuss with my cousin.”

  As he left Caroline’s company in search of Richard, he noted his cousin no longer sat on the other blanket. As his gaze travelled down the hill, he saw him once again in Elizabeth’s company, heading towards the pond.

  He was almost of a mind to follow them, but thought better of it. What was his cousin about? Was he taking advantage of her indebtedness to him? Surely he must know Elizabeth would not be a suitable candidate for marriage. Richard was a second son; he would need to make an alliance with a woman of some wealth, and his cousin was certainly aware that Elizabeth was not a woman of means.

  She has little to recommend her, except, of course, for her fine eyes, or perhaps her light and pleasing figure, or maybe her wit and intelligence. Some might even find her determined independence and sense of adventure appealing, but beyond that, what could possibly be the attraction? And if his intentions were not honourable, if he was playing with her affections . . . Darcy clenched his fists at the thought.

  ~*~

  “Tell me, Miss Bennet, are you enjoying your stay at Netherfield?”

  “Yes, Colonel, I must admit, I am enjoying it far more than I ever would have imagined.” Realizing that perhaps her reply was much more enthusiastic than called for, she added, “It is so good to be in Jane’s company again.”

  “Yes, I daresay, your spirits are much improved since I saw you last in London.”

  As they approached the edge of the pond, they stopped. Richard turned, facing the hill they had just descended, while Elizabeth gazed upon the water. As he looked up, he could see Darcy staring at them from a distance.

  “My cousin seems to have made a miraculous recovery. I wonder what has caused such a change. Even Georgiana, who never questions miracles, seems quite perplexed by his sudden improvement, but is grateful, nonetheless.”

  “I am sure it is just as Mr. Darcy stated, Colonel. He has realized that Ellie should be his first concern.”

  “I see you and Ellie have become well acquainted. She seems to have taken to you quite easily,” he observed.

  “Yes, she is a wonderful child, is she not?” enthused Elizabeth.

  “Indeed, she is,” replied the colonel as he glanced upward once more at Darcy’s still-staring countenance. “She seems to have inherited many of Darcy’s dark features, but her eyes appear even darker than the deepest brown reflected in his.”

  At this statement, Elizabeth coloured slightly, not meeting the colonel’s gaze. “Did Mrs. Darcy possess such dark eyes?” inquired Elizabeth after regaining her composure.

  “No, indeed, her eyes were as green as the clover,” replied the colonel. “I had often wondered from what past relative she had inherited that unusual colour.”

  Elizabeth remained quiet for a long moment.

  “What was she like?” Elizabeth surprised herself by asking. How could she not be curious about the woman who had cared for her daughter for the first several months of her life?

  “Mrs. Darcy? She was a very sweet and kind-hearted woman,” replied the colonel as he observed the woman before him.

  “He must have loved her very much,” she said, hardly believing she was again speaking of such intimate details of Mr. Darcy’s life.

  “I would say he was most devoted to her,” he replied as Elizabeth’s eyes met his.

  An awkward silence prevailed, a circumstance that usually did not occur when they conversed, until the colonel finally spoke again. “I am looking forward to attending the ball.”

  “Oh yes,” said Elizabeth “Beside
s many of their Netherfield neighbours, I understand some of Miss Bingley and Mr. Bingley’s acquaintances from London are to attend. It should prove to be very entertaining.”

  “Will your family also attend?” asked the colonel.

  Elizabeth’s back stiffened slightly at the prospect of her mother and younger sisters attending the ball, but she was also looking forward to seeing her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner again. “Yes, all my family will attend, with perhaps the exception of Lydia and Mr. Wickham, as Jane received word that Lydia has begun her confinement.”

  The colonel was relieved to receive such news and was sure Darcy would be equally relieved. At the thought of Darcy, he looked again up the hill and found him in the same menacing pose.

  “Perhaps we should rejoin the others,” he said as he offered Elizabeth his arm.

  She smiled at him as they proceeded up the hill. “How long do you intend to stay at Netherfield, Colonel?”

  Though Darcy had now retreated from his post and no longer observed them, the colonel could not help but think, One opinion may be that I have already stayed too long.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  “Elizabeth hurried down the stairs as quietly as she could, hoping the early hour of her departure would guarantee no encounters along the way. The breeches she had borrowed from Mr. Bingley were tighter than was her wont, but she would have to make do. As she passed the breakfast room, a servant stood at the ready to open the door for her to enter, but she gave him only a slight nod of her head as she passed him and headed outside.

  As she reached the stables, the young groom who had been instructed by Mr. Bingley to attend her, approached. As he eyed her outfit, he smiled a wide grin, revealing every tooth in his head. He brought around the horse that had been selected for her use—a beautiful chestnut mare named Echoes, whose coat matched exactly the colour of Elizabeth’s hair. He assisted her mount, and she thanked the young boy as she guided the horse away from Netherfield at a steady trot. When she reached the open fields, she kicked Echoes into a full gallop.