Win, Lose, or Darcy

by Jennifer Joy

  Though Elizabeth had difficulty believing everything she heard, she could not prevent her heart from beating so nauseatingly fast, she struggled to sit upright when all she wanted was to curl up into a ball on her couch until the sensation passed.

  A knock on her door provided a welcome distraction. Molly entered hesitantly. “Excuse me, miss, but you told me to bring you all correspondence immediately,” she said in a rush, holding out a note.

  “Thank you, Molly. I will take that.” She took the note and quickly read the name on the outside, hoping it was from Father saying that he would return home directly. It was not. It was from Georgiana.

  Elizabeth debated whether she should tear off the wax seal and devour the contents of the note or discreetly set it aside to read after Sophia’s departure.

  Two sets of inquisitive eyes regarded her.

  Shrugging her shoulders and smiling weakly, Elizabeth said, “I only expect to hear from my father. It is nothing worth hearing, so I will not bore you with the details.” Yes, she would definitely wait until Sophia had left to read what Georgiana had penned.

  Charlotte accepted her explanation and tactfully asked nothing further. Sophia, on the other hand, asked, “It was from your father? How droll.”

  Having answered her own question, Elizabeth felt no need to expound on it. “Shall I ring for tea?” she asked instead, trying to show how unaffected she was by Sophia’s news.

  “No, thank you. I have so much to do and so little time in which to do it. I cannot very well be seen at my wedding in this old thing, can I?” She plucked her beautiful gown away from herself.

  Sophia rose to leave, conferring hugs and kissing the air beside their cheeks. The sickeningly sweet smell of her perfume made Elizabeth gag.

  Before reaching the door, Sophia said, “You are the best friend ever, Elizabeth, and any friend of yours is a friend of mine. I will do my best to see you both properly married before the end of the Season.”

  Her offer of assistance felt like a slap to the face, but her wording bothered Elizabeth more than the crushing of her dreams. “Will you not live at Pemberley?” she questioned. Mr. Darcy and Georgiana clearly preferred their country estate over their forced time in town. She had seen with her own eyes how miserable Georgiana had become of late and how she counted the days until they could depart.

  “Of course not! Why should I choose to leave when all the diversions are here?”

  Elizabeth could not imagine Mr. Darcy agreeing to stay beyond what he had determined beneficial for Georgiana. If Sophia married Mr. Darcy, theirs would be a match of constant disagreements and strife.

  The thought made her want to punch a pillow before she buried her face in it to weep.

  Chapter 25

  "The note is not from Mr. Bennet, is it?" asked Charlotte as soon as the door closed behind Sophia.

  Elizabeth pulled it out of her pocket and ran her finger over Georgiana's perfect lettering. "No. It is from Miss Darcy."

  Charlotte opened her novel. "You had best read it. If Miss Kingsley's claim is true, which I have reasons to doubt, then surely Miss Darcy would make mention of it." She placed the book before her eyes like a screen, giving Elizabeth the privacy she needed.

  Unfolding the page, Elizabeth read:

  Dearest Elizabeth,

  I must declare myself to be amongst the happiest girls in all of England today.

  But first, some news that is sad for the moment, but which will lead to much joy soon. William and I will depart from Darcy House today for Pemberley. My heart soars at the prospect of returning to my home. I do hope that you will come visit me soon.

  William has some business to attend to further north after ensuring my safe arrival to our family estate. Whatever the outcome, I am certain that it will please you.

  As for the news that has given me no end of joy, all I can say for now is that my happiness will be complete for my brother when I gain a sister.

  Your friend,

  Georgiana Darcy

  Elizabeth folded the letter with meticulous precision and slowly returned it to her pocket. Dread washed over her as thoroughly as the rain turns dirt to mud.

  Charlotte peeked over her book at her. "Oh, Lizzy," she said, setting her book down and hastening to her side. "What is wrong?"

  Without a word— her throat too tight to speak above a whisper or a squeak— Elizabeth held out the letter.

  Charlotte hesitated until Elizabeth pushed it into her hand. She read it in seconds.

  Dropping it down to her side, she embraced Elizabeth. "I am sorry."

  Elizabeth's breath shook and she wondered if this was what heartbreak felt like. Poor Jane. How had she survived it?

  Elizabeth did not have time to speak to Jane, nor to despair in her disappointed hopes for long. Father was announced, and he asked for her to join him in his study, a room he neglected with his absence.

  "Lizzy!" he said cheerfully, patting the seat beside him. "I received your message." He chuckled as he polished his spectacles. "You are a plucky girl! I only wish I had been there to witness your exchange. I have never seen the doorman so disconcerted."

  Putting his spectacles back on, his eyebrows bunched together. “My dear girl, are you well?”

  Elizabeth forced thoughts of Sophia and Mr. Darcy out of her mind and attempted to focus her mind on her motive for ousting Father from his club.

  "I have had some bad news today, and I seek your reassurance. I went to the dress shop this morning. The owner of the establishment called me aside to inform me that we still owe her money."

  Father waved off her concern. "I will add a nice little bonus to her payment for her trouble. Your mother spent more than I had anticipated upon learning that many shops would extend credit to her. I daresay that she was never offered that luxury in Meryton, and it rather went to her head." He shook his head and chuckled.

  "Father, if Mother is not checked she could exhaust our entire fortune on fineries. Does that not concern you? The Season has yet to start, and you have five unmarried daughters…" If only Mr. Bingley would return for Jane and declare his undying love. If only Mr. Darcy would ease her anxiety with a look. She would know if he was still free in a look.

  Father interrupted her. "Lizzy, there is no need to fret. There is some news I have neglected to share with you since it is not a subject considered proper for young ladies, but I see that I must make an exception in this case and ease your misery." He clapped his hands and rubbed them together, leaning forward and resting his elbows against his desk. The gleeful grin on his face cast doubt over her concerns.

  "There are a few gentlemen of means at my club who gave me advice when we first came to town about how to wisely invest our fortune. At first, I paid no heed to them, but they gave me examples and stories I was able to verify of how they had turned neat profits by listening to the advice of one gentleman who is fast rising in influence in the financial world— Mr. Andrich. Being the cautious type, I took a small sum and invested it on his next recommendation."

  "You took part in a speculation?" asked Elizabeth, stunned that her father would be convinced to gamble their fortune on something so uncertain.

  "That is what I thought at first too, my dear. Only, after a considerable checking of the facts and a long conversation with your uncle Gardiner— who had to admit that Mr. Andrich had yet to falter in his speculations— did I dare invest. But the most incredible thing happened. Not only did my investment profit, it earned twofold from one day to the next."

  Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief.

  "So you see why I am not concerned about Mrs. Bennet's spending. In the short time we have resided in town, I have managed to nearly double her winnings."

  "As much as that? Were there more investments then?"

  He looked down sheepishly. "There were more. I wanted to be certain before I made any definite decisions. As it is, I feel confident in my choice to put all of our money in Mr. Andrich’s bank. A man with such incredible luc
k, who has yet to falter in an investment scheme in the last three years and has amassed an uncountable fortune for himself, is a gentleman worthy of keeping our money safe."

  "I suppose so," said Elizabeth, wishing that Father would listen to her opinion as thoroughly as he had the gentlemen in his club.

  He looked around his room. "This really is a nice spot. I ought to spend more time here." He picked up the book he had brought home and placed it gently on a sparsely populated shelf. "I ought to have filled these shelves by now. Perhaps I will spend more time at home."

  Elizabeth sat on the edge of her seat and held her breath so that she would not miss a word.

  When he remained silently contemplating his half-vacant shelves, she said, "We would all like that, Papa."

  He turned around and smiled at her. "Maybe I will do just that. I could put some potted plants by the window so that it resembled my old study at Longbourn…" His voice trailed off, and he stared blankly out of the window.

  She missed the countryside as much as Georgiana missed Pemberley. Elizabeth missed the freedom of it. The unchaperoned walks, the familiarity with her neighbors, the honesty with which everyone expressed themselves— it was impossible to have a secret in a town where everyone knew each other. It had been tiresome at times, but it had been real and vastly different from her acquaintances and friends in town. Except for Mr. Darcy. There was not a duplicitous bone in his entire body.

  Mr. Darcy. Would he remain her friend after he wed Sophia? Or would it be too painful to see him and know that he belonged to another? That he was forever out of her reach.

  Chapter 26

  Darcy breezed through White's, asking the footman who kept up with him where Gordon was to be found without slowing his pace. As he had suspected, he was at the gambling tables. Gordon preferred the thrill of gratification at a win to the edification of his mind through reading or conversation.

  He stood in the center of a crowd of gentlemen at a long table where fortunes were won or lost at the fall of the dice. From the gleeful shouts and the buzz of excitement in the air, Gordon was winning.

  As soon as he saw Darcy, his expression straightened, and he had the decency to gather his winnings and rush to his side. "What has happened, Darcy?" he asked, still shoving bank notes into his pockets.

  "Where can we talk?" Darcy asked.

  Gordon led him down a long hall to a room which he checked for occupants before pulling the door open fully.

  There were some chairs and tables scattered about, but they were the only people present.

  "I thank you for joining me so promptly, Gordon. Ironically, you are the only man I would entrust with what I am about to ask of you." He scoffed and leaned back against the red, velvet chair.

  Gordon leaned forward. "What is it?"

  Darcy grimaced and began. "Sophia is attempting to blackmail me for a proposal of marriage."

  Gordon's jaw dropped, and he slumped back against his chair.

  Darcy continued, "She has convinced herself that she alone is entitled to my affections and is jealous of Miss Elizabeth."

  Gordon massaged his temples. "I am shocked. I had always thought that… Oh, never mind what I thought." He slammed his fist down against the arm of his chair.

  "I will not marry Sophia. My heart belongs entirely to Miss Elizabeth."

  Gordon's hand unclenched and he sat up. "You will not do as Sophia bids?" he asked, one side of his mouth twisting up.

  "I never have done so before, and I do not intend to do so now. What she demands of me is impossible."

  Clapping his hands and bouncing his feet against the carpet, Gordon said, "I would have loved to see her face when you refused her!"

  "Gordon, I came here to ask that you prevent Sophia from acting against Elizabeth in any way. You once said that you loved her and, while it pains me to do so, I must trust you to protect her while I am away. There is no one else who holds influence over Sophia as you do, and I cannot leave London unless I have your promise that you will protect Miss Elizabeth from her."

  “Why are you leaving if you are so concerned?”

  “Georgiana needs to return home, and I have an urgent matter to see to up north.” The timing was atrocious, but it was a gamble he had to take.

  “How do you know that I will not propose while you are away?”

  Darcy gripped the arm of his chair. “I have no way of knowing that. I can only rely on your word as a gentleman that you will act honorably and for the best interests of Miss Elizabeth.”

  Gordon grinned. Not since Wickham had Darcy wanted to strangle a man so badly.

  “I do believe that she might accept me if I offered for her,” Gordon said through his toothy smile. He would not look so handsome with his front teeth missing.

  “If it is you she chooses, then I will wish her happiness and a husband who strives to deserve her.”

  Gordon tapped his fingers against his chin. “When do you expect to return?”

  “No longer than ten days.”

  Gordon’s eyebrows shot up. “Are you traveling by horseback then?”

  “I dare not delay any longer than absolutely necessary. Believe me, Gordon, if there were any way for me to remain here, I would not leave. And I certainly would never entrust Miss Elizabeth’s protection to you on a whim.”

  Gordon shifted his weight in his seat. "How is it that Sophia is blackmailing you? I have never known you to do anything remotely questionable. Were it me, there would be an endless list from which to choose of my many faults and errors."

  Darcy thought it amazing that a man such as Gordon could be aware of his faults and not seek to correct them directly.

  "It is only a bit of gossip she heard and chooses to believe in order to effect her purpose. Like all gossip, it is utter foolishness." He kept his face devoid of expression. After all, it had been foolish of Wickham to think he could get away with his plans. Georgiana, too, had acted out of the romantic notions of an inexperienced maiden with her head in the clouds. She was much wiser now.

  Gordon searched his face, but soon lost interest. "Very well, Darcy. Is that all you require?"

  "If you feel up to the task," he answered.

  Gordon chuckled and ran his fingers through his hair. "I will manage. I know some things about Sophia…" He chuckled again. "Suffice it to say that I can guarantee you that she will leave our Miss Elizabeth in peace."

  Darcy ground his teeth. ‘Our’ Miss Elizabeth? Oh, why had Bingley never answered his letters?

  He stormed back to Georgiana, determined to depart within the hour.

  Elizabeth paced in the hallway until Jane returned home from her visit to Aunt Gardiner.

  She heard the front door open and Jane's soft footsteps pad up the carpeted stairs slowly.

  Wringing her hands, Elizabeth waited until her golden head appeared.

  "Jane, how I have longed to speak with you today," she grabbed her sister's cold hands and warmed them between her own. "How are Aunt and Uncle?" she asked.

  "You should come with me next time, Lizzy. Our little cousins always put me in a lighter mood, and Aunt is understanding."

  "She does not think it is a special distinction to be crossed in love, as Father does? Nor does she mention it at every possible opportunity like Mother?" teased Elizabeth.

  Jane smiled weakly. "They try to be kind in their own way, but their comments only make me feel as if I am lacking."

  Elizabeth wrapped her arm around Jane's shoulders as they walked down the hall to Jane's room. "You lack nothing, Jane. I wish I could be more like you— with your patient perseverance and unending optimism that everything will be well in the end."

  Jane looked at her askance. "What is troubling you?"

  Elizabeth plunked down on Jane’s settee. "I have experienced a taste of heartache, Jane, and I have only now realized how I ought to have sympathized better with you. Instead of dragging you out with a new set of friends, I should have asked you if you were ready for company. There i
s nothing I want more than to wander alone in a field to clear my thoughts and sort my emotions."

  "Do not grieve yourself on my account. I know now as I knew then that you acted with my best interests at heart like the wonderful sister you are." She squeezed Elizabeth's hand, making Elizabeth feel that she did not deserve such a kind-hearted response and wondering why Mr. Bingley had not recognized and appreciated the treasure he had in Jane.

  "You are much more gracious than I am, Jane. But I suspected you would react as you always have, and so I will tell you the cause of my remorse and misery in the confidence that you will know exactly what to say to bring me comfort."

  Jane sighed. "Oh, Lizzy, only you can make an earnest plea sound selfish in your witty manner."

  Elizabeth gasped and placed her hand dramatically over her throat. "My sweet sister, calling me selfish? What has this world come to when Jane Bennet insults her own beloved sister?" She laughed before Jane could take her seriously.

  “Very well, then. Tell me everything.”

  Chapter 27

  Elizabeth prided herself on her ability to appear cheerful even when she felt quite the opposite. She gave the appearance of sunshine and optimistic rainbows when her emotional climate was cloudy with a significant chance of showers. Donning her brightest gown, a morning dress with printed flowers of pink blossoms surrounding a bright yellow center, she went downstairs to the breakfast room.

  Father was there. He had stayed at home and had taken his supper with them the evening before. It was a nice change.

  “You have not grown accustomed to waking at a more fashionable hour?” he asked as she sat to his left.

  “I do not think I ever shall, and it is worthy of noting that I am not the only one awake.”

  Elizabeth poured her tea and held it between her hands under her nose. For a moment she closed her eyes and was transported to Mr. Bingley’s drawing room at Netherfield Park. Strange that she should think of that place instead of home. She had argued with Mr. Darcy that day as Jane lay ill in a guest room. Funny how things changed.