The Last to Know

by Rebecca Hartford

  ‘Oh, my dear!’ Miss Bingley exclaimed, jumping to her feet. ‘I have embarrassed you! I am so dreadfully sorry!’

  ‘Not at all,’ Elizabeth replied calmly, watching her companion with renewed curiosity. ‘I am not embarrassed. Why would I be? You have simply mentioned a characteristic of London life that had entirely slipped my memory.’

  ‘Oh my dear,’ the other said with a delicate tut. ‘It will not do to show such indifference towards the way things work here.’

  ‘I am not at all indifferent.’

  But Miss Bingley would not be calmed. ‘You must allow me to help you. I can show you around and teach you the unspoken rules a young lady must obey in order to get by.’

  Elizabeth could no longer hold her tongue. ‘Miss Bingley that is very kind of you, but I assure you it is unnecessary. I have no need of being coddled in the way you suggest, though I welcome your friendship.’

  Miss Bingley did not say it outright, but there was a noticeable cooling of her manner from that moment onwards. She left not long after. Elizabeth sank gratefully into the sofa and smiled at her mother and sisters.

  ‘Well, had I known that my arrival would cause such a stir I might have sent for a sleeping tonic last night. I am positively exhausted from all of the wonderful young ladies who appear bent on nothing more than making my acquaintance.

  Lydia and Kitty tittered on hearing this, but their mother’s expression remained stony.

  Elizabeth frowned. Since she learned of her inheritance, she had been her mother’s favourite daughter and had received nothing but praise and compliments in the intervening weeks as plans were made to go to London. Thankfully for Lizzy, her mother was not one to hide her feelings—no matter how foolish their cause—so she did not have to waste too much time wondering at the reason for her mother’s sudden frostiness.

  ‘Would it have hurt you to accept the dear girl’s offer of help?’

  Lizzy baulked. ‘Help? Do you mean when she condescended to tell me the habits of the upper classes and offered to show me how to get on? Had I agreed, I have no doubt that I would have been brought around London and shown off as the backward friend Miss Bingley had been kind enough to educate.’ This, she had surmised, could be the only explanation for that young woman’s offer.

  This did little to improve her mother’s mood. ‘You might have been a little more agreeable.’

  ‘I was thoroughly agreeable! Did I not sit here silently as she talked and explained as if she was speaking to a simpleton?’

  ‘She has a brother! Did you not hear?’

  Lizzy laughed. ‘Should that soften my heart to her? Since when did having a brother suggest that one is pure of heart?’

  ‘Elizabeth Bennet you know well what I mean! Did you not hear? He has taken a house in London and is considering taking a place in the country too. You must have heard her. Only a wealthy man would have the means to do so.’

  ‘I heard her.’

  ‘Well then why would you not restrain yourself? He will not marry you; not if he hears you were impertinent to his sister.’

  Lizzy was perplexed. ‘But I have not come to London to find a husband. I thought you might relax now since I have inherited a fortune large enough to keep not just myself in finery, but my sisters too. We shall want for nothing. The need for us to find husbands has abated somewhat, do you not think?’

  It was not that she did not wish to marry now that she had come into such wealth. Rather, the sense of urgency had left her. There was no need to worry about the entail on her father’s estate. She could afford to marry for love and not necessity—they all could. It was perhaps the greatest freedom the money had bestowed on her. She glanced sideways at Jane, who said nothing.

  ‘Oh you silly girl!’

  ‘Silly? Just weeks ago I was the cleverest young lady in England for unwittingly charming Archie and causing him to leave his fortune to me. What has changed your mind so thoroughly?’

  ‘You must not call him that. It will come across as insolent.’

  ‘What should I call him? Archie is the only name I have known him by. He only inherited the title last year.’

  Lizzy was beginning to wish her mother would go back to meddling in the affairs of the house and trying her best to get rid of the housekeeper, who had been there for decades and whom Mrs. Bennet had immediately taken against for reasons quite unknown to her daughter.

  ‘Oh, that is beside the point! Why can you not see? You are all in a better position to find good husbands than you ever have been!’

  ‘Yes of course, because we no longer need to find them so urgently thanks to the Earl’s fortune.’ It was still too new for her to even think of it as her own.

  ‘Wealth attracts wealth!’ Mrs. Bennet shrieked, looking as if she might suffer an attack of the nerves at any moment. Lizzy considered sending a servant to retrieve the smelling salts but reconsidered—saying such a thing aloud would likely only send her mother into an even more frenzied state.

  ‘Yes, but…’

  ‘Do not try to convince me, girl! I am your mother and I know what is best for you! You will stop your foolishness at once.’ She paused and took a breath. All of a sudden her anxiety was gone and her eyes shone. ‘You would do well to take time at your toilette this evening.’

  ‘And why is that?’ Lizzy asked with a growing sense of wariness.

  ‘Because I have secured us vouchers for Almack’s.’

  Lizzy baulked. ‘Surely not. It is famously difficult to get vouchers for Almack’s. Even if one is a duchess, entry is not at all guaranteed.’

  ‘Yes, I know that,’ Mrs. Bennet said impatiently. ‘But that is not a concern for us. Lady Castell is one of the patronesses of that fine establishment and the Earl of Essex was a favourite godson of hers. She was most gracious in admitting us.’

  ‘How did you come to know this? We have been in London for a little more than a day, Mama!’

  But Mrs. Bennet did not appear to hear her. She was too busy turning to the others and shaking her finger. ‘Behave yourselves properly, my dears, and Lizzy may soon be your poor relation!’

  Chapter Six

  ‘Good God, my dear fellow,’ Fitzwilliam Darcy declared after he had looked around and found the place lacking. ‘Could you not think of a better place in which to meet?’

  Lord Henry Trevalyan almost choked on his lemonade. That was another thing Darcy felt was wrong with the place—the food and drink were bland—and that was putting it kindly. He had not seen his friend since their days at university and now he wondered if the man had lowered his standards.

  ‘You have not changed, Darcy.’

  ‘If you mean I am highly discerning as regards the places I frequent, then yes, I have not changed. It is funny that you mention it. I seem to recall you were quite discerning in our younger days. Do you recall you would only eat what your own private chef had prepared for you? It is good to see you have relaxed a little, at least.’

  Lord Henry threw his head back and brayed with laughter. ‘Oh, my dear Darcy, no-one comes to Almack’s for the food! Everyone knows that.’

  ‘That is beside the point—surely the refreshments ought to at least be of a suitably high standard!’

  ‘We have not come here to eat and drink.’

  ‘My good man, you invited me to join you here for supper.’

  ‘That was a ruse,’ Lord Henry said with a glint in his eyes.

  ‘Well then what have we come for?’

  ‘To find you a wife, of course! It is high time—I have mentioned it to a number of people and they all agreed.’ He threw his hands out in an expansive gesture that drew attention from all of the neighbouring tables.

  Of course, that attention might have had more to do with Lord Henry’s vast family wealth than with anything else. All around them, young ladies cast him furtive glances and their chaperones watched him with poorly-disguised greed.

  Darcy had heard of Almack’s; of course he had. Friends had talked about it in
hushed toned but he had paid little heed. It was famed as a place where people went to socialise and dance. Not being an enthusiast of either activity, he had never had much interest in going. Lord Henry had been so adamant that they must go that he had agreed.

  Now he regretted that decision. The whole place seemed designed to achieve one end—to cast young women and men into each other’s paths.

  He groaned.

  Lord Henry leant over and clapped his shoulder. ’Steady on, old chap! It is not as bad as you think. Not just anyone can come in here, you see. In order for a young lady to gain entry, she must have wealth or connections or both. Nay, that alone does not guarantee entry! So you see, it is safe here. All the young ladies you see are of a suitable background and pedigree.’

  Darcy looked around again, disheartened to find himself meeting the eyes of at least three young ladies who each looked as dull as the other.

  He shuddered. He had always valued rank and duty above anything else, but something about this place made him rail against that very notion.

  ‘Wonderful,’ he murmured, not meaning it at all. ‘So you have brought me here to find me a wife, quite against my wishes.’

  ‘Yes of course, old friend,’ Lord Henry brayed. ‘I have hardly come here on my own accord—I have a wife already, not to mention two mistresses!’ He roared with laughter as if his own words were the most amusing he had ever heard.

  Darcy smiled thinly. So many years had passed that he had forgotten his old friend’s crude nature. ‘Quite. Well I am afraid we have wasted a trip. I have no interest in any of these young ladies.’

  ‘But Darcy! I have discussed it with many of our friends from Cambridge and we are of the same mind. It cannot be good for you stranded alone on that estate in Derbyshire with only your staff for company.’

  ‘Why not? I shoot and hunt. Why in blazes do you think a woman would improve my situation? If anything it would worsen, for I would surely be forced to throw balls and attend dinners at her friends’ houses.’

  Lord Henry pursed his bloated lips. ‘Children, my dear chap. You must secure your legacy.’

  ‘Come on now,’ Darcy snapped. ‘That is no concern of yours and this is hardly the place.’

  But Lord Henry showed no sign of heeding him. ‘Yes,’ he drawled, flicking his manicured nails. ‘You do not want your sister’s children laying claim to your estate, do you? Why, if you do not marry soon it could be said that some scoundrel might see your sister as the ticket to not just her fortune but to yours too!’

  ‘That is quite enough!’ Darcy roared, jumping to his feet and striking the table with his fist. The thing was flimsier than he expected—he felt the wood give a little under his hand. He looked around and saw that the rather prim-looking woman on the sofa opposite watching him with contempt. That might usually have been enough to subdue him, for Darcy was not at all wont to draw attention to himself.

  This time, he could not back down—not after Lord Henry’s frightful impertinence. Darcy was about to turn back and further admonish his old friend when a young lady entered the establishment and stole his attention away. No, that was not true. A group of young ladies had entered the room, but Darcy had only noticed one of them.

  He froze as he watched her, entirely oblivious to the look of panic on Lord Henry’s jowly face. There was something about her that set her apart from all of the other young ladies present. He could not make out what it was at first. Her clothing was not extraordinary, especially compared to the finery worn by some of the other young ladies.

  There was nothing remarkable about her on the surface of it, and yet he could not compel himself to look away.

  The others in her party appeared overjoyed to be there. Their eyes skittered around the room and they talked excitedly amongst themselves. The young lady he could not stop watching did so too, but though she tried valiantly to smile, she could not fully mask her look of displeasure as she took in her surroundings.

  At last he realised what it was about her that had captured his attention. Her eyes were lively and intelligent. It struck him that she saw the place for what it was and dismissed it as a trifle instead of being almost reverential of it like all of her contemporaries appeared to be. He was greatly heartened by this and he could not understand why.

  And then that lovely young lady shifted her gaze and those intelligent eyes landed on his. He felt a bolt of something hit him—he was not at all sure what it was.

  With great effort, he looked away and sat back down at the table. His anger had started to dissipate almost from the moment he laid eyes on her.

  ‘Darcy,’ Lord Henry said with a mixture of fear and resentment in his tone. Darcy remembered it clearly now—Lord Henry had always hated to be challenged.

  But no matter how much he wished to chastise his friend for his impertinent remark, he found he could not retain his outrage.

  ‘Who is that young lady?’ he murmured. He pursed his lips—for a mere moment after he asked the question, he remembered Lord Henry’s notorious indiscretion. He felt the need to justify his question and pretend he was simply a disinterested bystander: ’she does not seem at all pleased to be here.’

  ‘She is not the only one, it seems,’ his companion remarked sourly.

  Darcy waited, having no tolerance for his old friend’s petulance and even less inclination to apologise. If anything, he wanted to take his leave of the fellow and never set eyes on him again. But he could not. As well as being indiscreet, Lord Henry was also very well connected. If anyone knew who she was, it would be his lordship.

  Luckily, Lord Henry enjoyed being the centre of attention when he had a story to tell, so he put aside his hurt. ‘That, I believe,’ he said, after turning around to see who Darcy was referring to, ‘is Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I have not met her, of course, but she has that look about her so I imagine it is she.’

  ‘That look… I am afraid I do not understand.’

  ‘Have you not heard, Darcy?’

  ‘I am afraid not,’ he replied with growing irritation.

  ‘Sometimes I am convinced you must be living in a hermitage!’

  ‘Pemberley is not a hermitage, I assure you, though it does have its charms in being located far enough away from society to have to deal with the more bothersome elements.’ He gritted his teeth. ‘Now, will you stop speaking in riddles or should I take my leave of you and ask someone more inclined to answer me?’

  ‘Oh, Darcy, Darcy, Darcy,’ Lord Henry said in a sing-song voice. He held his hands up in mock surrender. ‘It has been the talk of London, that is all. It surprised me that you had not heard. Well, that is your way. You see she is a young lady from an unremarkable background with neither fortune nor good connections.’

  ‘Well, that was certainly the case until recently. You see, no-one quite knows how she knew the Earl of Essex, but it is now clear that they knew each other well, for the man left his mother’s fortune to her! I heard it myself from his cousin Felix, who it is said is the closest living male relative and is likely to inherit the title and the family seat. It is outrageous, of course.’

  ‘Outrageous?’ repeated Darcy, who paid little heed to gossip and had not heard of this controversy, though he recalled having heard of the young nobleman’s passing. ‘So you do not think he has a claim to the title?’

  Lord Henry scoffed. ‘No, not Felix, you old fool. That woman! It is not right! She has tricked him, no doubt. And to add insult to injury, they come here where they quite clearly do not belong.’ He narrowed his eyes. ‘Of course I understand it now. Lady Castell was his godmother, you see.’ He rolled his eyes when Darcy’s expression remained blank. ‘She is one of the patronesses of this place, do you not see? Oh Darcy, what shall we do with you? One cannot simply decide on a whim to come to Almack’s. No, it is a matter of presenting oneself to the patronesses and hoping they condescend to allow one entry. Even for me!’

  ‘I see,’ Darcy said, recalling the fracas at the door when Lord Henry had produc
ed two pieces of card and wielded them as if they were hewn from gold.

  ‘About time, dear chap,’ Lord Henry said with a heavy sigh. ‘In any case, it is outrageous, is it not? Tricking a man into leaving her his fortune.’ He sat back in his chair, eyes glazed over. ‘Ah, but she shall have her dues. No doubt she shall fall for the flattering words of the first down-at-heel gentleman that makes eyes at her.’

  Darcy sat up straight. He did not know why but he found that prospect distasteful beyond belief. ‘Whatever do you mean? I thought you said this place would only admit high society.’

  ‘That is true.’ Lord Henry shook his head and appeared amused. ‘Of course, we both know that noble birth is no guarantee of a fortune. Look around. I can count at least three young gentlemen who could do with a fortune to shore up their estates. And if that fortune comes with a compliant wife who knows her place in the world, all the better.’ He sucked a breath in through clenched teeth. ‘All these well-born young ladies have ideas about themselves that make them more trouble than they’re worth. Why, I might pursue a divorce and see if young Miss Bennet will accept my hand. It is not as if I need the money, but twenty thousand pounds is nothing to be scoffed at and she seems a pleasant young thing…’

  Darcy was on his feet before Lord Henry could finish his loathsome remark. This time, he did not linger by their table. He felt feverish all of a sudden and he was not sure why. After all, it was not like he knew her. He had never even met her!

  He turned his head and his heart sank. Already he could see a number of young gentlemen lurking around the little group and it appeared that the older woman who was chaperoning the young ladies had every intention of encouraging their attentions rather than protecting her charges. If what Lord Henry said was true…

  Darcy moved faster, almost colliding with the first dancers as they took to the floor.

  Chapter Seven