As he said the words, Darcy realized they were completely true. Years ago, he would have desired such a thing strictly and only if he it would benefit his person in some manner. This time around, he wanted to do the right thing for the good of everyone. He shook his head to clear it and said, “I need some fresh air. I am going for a walk. I need to speak with you, Bingley. Do come find me when Miss Bennet takes her leave.” He inclined his head to Jane, spun on his heel, and went out the door.
Jane and Bingley looked at each other with surprise on their faces. “What was that about?” she asked.
He looked at the door Darcy had gone through and shrugged, shaking his head. “I have no earthly idea,” he replied.
* * *
Darcy went through the door in a hurry, not stopping for his hat or jacket. He pushed his hands down in the pockets of his trousers and went down the steps to the pathway that circled around and led back toward town. He turned in the direction away from the stables so that the groom would know he was not leaving and did not need his horse saddled.
He took the small path made of stone toward the garden and followed it around the side of the manor. He had to take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the land around him. It was true, the Bingleys took excellent care of the land, only hiring the best gardeners. But even beyond the beautiful garden, the stream, the sculptures, and the decorative furniture, he could see beauty stretching out to the mountains beyond. The rolling hills around him looked like green waves of an ocean when he went to the highest peak just beyond Netherfield Manor.
He sighed. He should feel peaceful standing here. But the problems in his life were weighing down on him. He had heard the clergyman, Mr. Collins, was trying to make a deal with the family for the ownership of Longbourn, which seemed a bit perfidious for a clergyman. As the cousin of Mr. Bennet, he stood to inherit the place when Mr. Bennet passed away. They did not have a son to leave it to, so he supposed it stood to reason that Mr. Collins would believe himself to have a certain say in matters pertaining to the house.
Mr. Collins, it appeared, also wanted to marry one of the Bennet daughters, his second cousins, in order to keep the Bennet women in a place of residence.
He knew there was no way Elizabeth would agree to such a thing.
But would she?
He shook his head, answering himself. “No,” he murmured. “She would not do that. Not after…” He knew her feelings for him had grown, just as his had grown for her. He wondered if she knew how much he had changed for the better since meeting her. He would have to tell her that.
When he cautioned her about spending time with George Wickham.
Darcy was instantly in a bad mood. He wished Wickham had not come to Meryton. He suspected the young officer was keeping tabs on where he was. But since Pemberley House was not a long way from Meryton, he supposed Wickham had some sort of right to be where he was. Pemberley House had been in the family for many generations and Wickham had spent time there as a lad.
His mind went back to many years before, when he and Wickham were friends. They were young and had not experienced the trials of life yet. They ran through the fields, kicking balls, and throwing rocks at trees to see if they had good aim. He remembered those times with fondness. But Wickham had grown into a man who could not be trusted. He would make it clear to Elizabeth. He did not want her to be fooled by Wickham’s charms. So many men were.
He clenched his jaw and stomped through the garden as if he was in a hurry to get through it. Wickham had a lot to be held accountable for and he would make sure Elizabeth knew everything.
By the time he saw Jane’s carriage leaving Netherfield, Darcy had calmed himself down. He would speak to Bingley about all of these issues and get his input. Ultimately, he would be making the decision himself. But he trusted Bingley’s opinion and knew some things that Darcy did not. That was why he made sure Bingley was a friend and not an enemy. Charles Bingley was a man Darcy did not want to cross. He was friendly and kind, but also stubborn and strong-willed at the same time. When a lady was present, he was not the Bingley that Darcy knew behind closed doors.
He walked back to the front of the house, taking his time. It had been nearly half an hour. He needed a cup of hot tea and some warm biscuits to fill his stomach. It was early November and the air was crisp and cold. He regretted leaving his hat and coat inside the entire time he waited for Jane to leave.
He went in the front door, slapping and rubbing his hands together.
“Oh, sir!” The housekeeper gave him a sympathetic look. “I will fetch you some hot tea, if you like.”
He nodded. “Yes. And if you have anything warm to eat, I would appreciate that, too.”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy.”
She was gone as quickly as she appeared.
Chapter 27
Bingley waited for him in the parlor. He lifted one hand and indicated that Darcy should sit where he had been.
“Did you enjoy your walk, Darcy? You look like you nearly froze to death. You did not have to go out there. This house is big. If you wanted to get away from Jane, you could have stayed inside and still accomplished your aim.”
Darcy shook his head. “It is not that. It was not my wish to offend Miss Bennet, but I was… I was thinking and wanted to be alone to sort through my thoughts.”
“Does Wickham’s presence bother you that much, my friend?”
Darcy scowled and nodded.
“Why?”
The housekeeper knocked and then came through the door and brought Darcy a cup and saucer. Steam lifted from the swirling liquid. He took it from her eagerly and thanked her. He brought the cup to his lips and let the warm steam slide over his face. He sipped from it. The heat traveled down his throat and he closed his eyes in relief.
“Delicious,” he breathed. He cupped his hands around the cup so that they would warm up. “I dislike him because of the things he has done to my family. You know all about it, Bingley. I have informed you before of his bad behavior.”
“I am quite sure Miss Elizabeth did not know about it. I guarantee you if she has spoken to Wickham several times, he told her nothing of this matter between you.”
“Surely he knows that she and I are…” He did not know how to finish. Were they acquaintances? Friends? Were they more than that?
“Very close, yes, I know.” Bingley supplied the words for him.
He nodded.
“Yes, exactly. Would he dare to interfere with that? After all that he has done? He knows I can simply tell Elizabeth all about it. She is not a judgmental girl and has a soft heart for most people. But if I tell her what he has done in his past, she will despise him.”
“You are still very bitter about it.”
“I am.”
Bingley nodded. “I truly cannot blame you, Darcy. You only have one sister.”
“I think I should go find her. What do you think?”
“Is this what you came here to talk to me about? Because it seemed like there was something else.”
Darcy shook his head. “That can wait. It is not as important as this.”
“Your hatred for Wickham is putting you at odds with your normal life. That is a danger sign, my friend.”
“I do not care about any of that. I have been focused on class and wealth all of my adult life. This time, it is not about station. It is something personal.”
“You are very fond of Miss Elizabeth. More than I thought.” Bingley became serious.
Darcy did not respond. He sat forward and covered his mouth with his hands, resting his elbows on his knees.
“Do you intend to marry her?”
That was the original deal, he thought but did not say it aloud. Now, he did not want to marry her to fix the familial relationships. He wanted to marry her because he was falling in love with her. She was the most beautiful, elegant woman he had ever met who could at the same time be a sweet, innocent young girl.
“You do intend to marry her.”
“I am
not ready for this discussion, Bingley.”
“You will need to have it at some point and who better to have it with than me? Would you rather it be Mr. Bennet asking these questions?”
Darcy had to acknowledge that fact. He raised his eyebrows and nodded. “I suppose I would rather talk to you than Mr. Bennet about my intentions toward Elizabeth,” he responded. “But I do not want to have it yet. Even with you.”
“You said you were planning to go to Longbourn yourself and speak to Elizabeth. You cannot do that without speaking to her father. You know this to be true. If you were to do that, you would be having this conversation with Mr. Bennet, instead of me. You must choose. I know you want to speak to her and I have no doubts that you will. But you will not be able to without Mr. Bennet knowing, especially if you are at Longbourn when you do it.”
Darcy sighed. He did not want to hear Bingley’s lecture, but he knew he needed it.
“Yes, I see your point.”
“Then let us have this conversation to spare you the agony of going through it unprepared when Mr. Bennet does speak to you.”
Darcy contemplated it and then shook his head. “No, I do not want to talk about it now. I want to find Elizabeth and speak to her. Alone.”
“That may be frowned upon by society, my friend. You must keep that in mind. Is Elizabeth worth a blight on your reputation?”
Darcy’s eyes moved up to Bingley’s face. “What do you mean by that?”
“If you are seen alone with her in public, you will suffer the wrath of the rumor mill. And those ladies can talk, you know that. It could affect your future because those are the Ladies and Lords of the Ton.”
Darcy closed his eyes and pulled in a deep breath. He had not thought of that.
“Then I will speak to her in the midst of company. When is the next dance?”
“There will a to do at the Smythe estate a week from tomorrow.”
Darcy rolled his eyes. “A week from tomorrow? That simply will not do. I must see Elizabeth today or tomorrow.”
“How will you find out where she is?”
Darcy frowned. “I will simply have to send a messenger to Longbourn to see if she is there. If she is, I will go there. If she is not, I will inquire again tomorrow. I believe it is my safest route.”
“I think I agree with you. I want you to know that I bear no mind to the class difference between the Bennets and ourselves. But it is not I that will judge you or spurn you.”
Darcy nodded. “I understand, Bingley. And I appreciate your warnings. I do not want to go off half-cocked and make a mess of things. That is Wickham’s forte.”
Both men laughed.
“What are you laughing about?”
Darcy was almost surprised by the streak of revulsion that ran through him when he heard Caroline Bingley speak from the door. He turned, as his back was to the door, and then stood up as she entered. Charles was also standing and both men sat when Caroline took a seat by the window. Neither men answered her. She was watching them with narrow eyes, apparently waiting for a response.
Bingley and Darcy looked at each other. “Matters you need not worry your pretty head about, my dear,” Bingley finally said, taking a drink from his cup of tea. “I am sure tea is awaiting you in the parlor, Caroline, perhaps you should go and see to it.”
Darcy almost choked on the pastry in his mouth. He knew Bingley was teasing his sister and the urge to laugh was almost stronger than the urge to swallow. He looked at Caroline to gauge her reaction. Her eyes widened and she looked shocked.
“Me?” she screeched in a high-pitch tone of voice. “You are sending me to the parlor to get food? I am suddenly your maid, fetching you snacks?”
Bingley guffawed. “No but if you had seen the look on your face, you would be laughing too.”
“Oh!” Caroline huffed. “I cannot believe you, Charles!”
“Oh, it was funny. Loosen the binds of your corset, dearie, and breathe for a minute.”
Caroline’s face colored quickly, especially in her cheeks, which became apple red. “Charles! How dare you speak of such intimate things in front of…in front of…” She waved her hand in Darcy’s direction.
Bingley gave him a look before turning his eyes back to his sister. “You must be bamming me, sister. Darcy is one of my best friends. He is frequently here and very familiar with you. I do not believe a little teasing among friends will harm your standing in his eyes.
“Not at all, Miss Bingley. I am not a stranger.”
“You are not a friend, either. I mean to say, you are Charles’ friend. Not mine. Lest we become the talk of the town. I am sure someone expected it would happen one day. I suppose they know not of what they speak.”
“Things are always different behind your front door. Those people of whom you speak have no real idea what is happening in our lives. They will chatter about anyone they want to, even if it is not the truth.”
Caroline sighed, turning her head to look out at the land beyond. “Yes, I am aware.”
“You have not suffered from such talk, have you, Miss Bingley? I do not believe I have heard anything untoward about you.”
“I would certainly hope not,” Miss Bingley retorted, turning her head swiftly to look at him. “I am not one of the ladies of town that creates such a reputation for herself. Others are not so careful and will stop and speak to anyone in the park…or on the street.”
She did not have to keep talking. Darcy knew she was one of the people who had seen him walking in the park alone with Elizabeth, well, not entirely alone, her maid had been in attendance. Though, they still had not felt safe then because of their family’s ongoing feud and he did not feel safe now.
He stood up. “I believe I will go send that message to Longbourn.”
“Not that I pay heed to the Bennet sisters comings and goings, but if you are looking for Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy, you should not go to Longbourn. She has gone to visit at the Phillips in Meryton with Mary and Kitty.”
Darcy did not want to thank Caroline, but forced the words from his mouth so that he could maintain his reputation as a gentleman.
“Thank you, Miss Bingley.”
“You are welcome, Mr. Darcy.”
Chapter 28
Darcy tried not to push his horse to run to Meryton at a gallop. There was no need. It was early enough in the day that Elizabeth would be there for a few more hours. He did not know how he planned to get her on her own and not cause more gossip than was already spreading, but he was determined to find a way. He did not know why they were letting it drag on. He should tell her of his true intentions, those he did not want to reveal to Bingley, and they should being courting as normal people did.
His frustration mounted as he got closer to Meryton. He had a bad feeling.
He rode down the main street, looking at the people as they walked along the sides. Many of the women were blocked by the parasols they were holding. Darcy would recognize Elizabeth though without seeing her face. He knew what her body looked like and had become accustomed to seeing her in the same dresses. She had her favorites, he noticed, and she wore her favorites whenever she pleased. She did not care if the people of the Ton had seen her in the dresses repeatedly. Everyone knew the Bennets were not a vastly wealthy family.
He spotted a familiar sight and it sent chills up his spine. It was the back of Wickham’s head. There was no way he could miss the mop of brown wavy curls and the way he tended to lean toward the left when he was standing in one position. While most of his fellow militia officers stood completely straight nearly all the time, he was not one to do that. Darcy knew that Wickham had injured his left knee when they were very young. It was an ongoing problem for Wickham that he undoubtedly hid from his superior officers.
And he was talking to the Bennet sisters.
“Of course,” Darcy grumbled. “Of course.”
He was about to turn his horse when Elizabeth spotted him. She lifted one hand to get his attention and he stopped tur
ning.
* * *
Elizabeth’s heart jumped into her throat when she saw Darcy riding up the road. She was already nervous, having heard of their dislike for each other, and here she was, talking to him on the side of the street where everyone could see. She could tell by the look on Darcy’s face that he was more than displeased with it.
When she raised her hand to greet him, she was hesitant because she knew it would cause her companions to look in his direction. It did not look like he wanted to be seen by them. He gently kicked his horse’s flanks and the horse meandered over to where they were.
“Hello, Bennet sisters,” he said as politely as he could. He did not greet Wickham at all, even though he knew it was the gentleman thing to do.
“Hello, Mr. Darcy,” the women replied, smiling up at him.
He was sure they all knew about the bad feelings between him and Wickham and were too polite to say anything about it.
Wickham looked up at Darcy, sitting on his horse, high up in the air.
“Darcy,” he said in a fairly cold voice.
“Wickham,” Darcy replied. It was all he could manage before looking back at Elizabeth. “If I could have a moment of your time, Miss Bennet.”
“Yes, of course, Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth moved a few feet toward him and he dismounted, holding the horse by the reins.
“Shall we take a walk?”
Elizabeth turned to her sisters. “I will return shortly. Stay together and do not wander off. Catherine?”
Catherine gave a nod and moved to follow her.
“We will not leave you here, Lizzie,” Kitty said.
Elizabeth would be surprised if Kitty cared more about the fact that they were being delayed as much as she did by talking to the militia officers. Elizabeth did not know what her younger sisters found so interesting.
Elizabeth and Darcy: A Romeo and Juliet Twist: A Pride & Prejudice Regency Variation Page 14