A Rare Ability: A Darcy and Elizabeth Pride and Prejudice Variation (A Pemberley Romance Book 10)

by Harriet Knowles

  She opened the sheet, recognising it as from her chest under the stump beside the old oak tree. It showed the effects of much handling, having been unfolded and refolded a great many times.

  And she recognised her own handwriting:

  Sir,

  I’m so sorry you didn’t have the assistance of someone who understood your difficulties when you were younger. I can comprehend just how distressing that must have been.

  But I think you must not disparage yourself. Your writing and obvious attainments show that you have overcome those difficulties, despite the challenges of doing so. It must have been utterly exhausting for you — I remember how very weary John was after even the most intimate family events.

  I believe you are to be congratulated, and you ought to be proud of what you have achieved.

  I will hope for you that you are able to find company that is understanding and congenial to you, I should not like you to be alone to have to ‘endure what you must’ as you wrote. Do you think there are members of your family who would be able to help make your life easier when you are obliged to be sociable?

  I am most fortunate in having a large and loving family and intimate friendships both within and without it, and reading your words has made me appreciate them even more. I believe I should be very lonely if I did not understand why they should be important to me, or why I am important to them.

  She kept her head bowed over the sheet, while she blinked away the tears. He had kept her note, reread it often, kept it with him.

  When she was sure she could stay composed, she folded the sheet again, and held it out to him.

  “I’m glad it seems to have been helpful to you.” But her own words were a barb within her — intimate friendships both within and without the family — she had no one outside the family now; the cut had been absolute. Even Charlotte had not written since their disgrace. Only Mr. Darcy was persistent. He had called and was here now, gazing at her solicitously.

  “Are you well, Eliz — Miss Elizabeth?”

  She nodded. “Please do not be concerned for me, Mr. Darcy. I am just worried that your call here might lead to your embarrassment if it became public knowledge.”

  He shook his head. “Please do not be anxious on my behalf, Miss Elizabeth. I have hopes that you might soon hear that the situation is much improved, and that you might consent to my request that I call upon you regularly.”

  She frowned. “I cannot see the situation improving in any way, Mr. Darcy. I am resigned to it, just as I am resigned to being unable to live my life as I had once believed I could.” She thought of something she could smile about. “But I am delighted that Jane was able to marry Mr. Bingley before it all happened, and that she is now safe with him, here in London.” She had to ask. “How is it that you think the situation might be improved?”

  But before he could answer, the footman was at the door again. “Mr. and Mrs. Bingley.”

  Chapter 45

  Darcy jumped to his feet, frustration coursing through him. He pushed back the feeling; he was almost at the end of the allotted time for a formal call, anyway, although he would seek Elizabeth’s consent to call again tomorrow.

  Mrs. Bingley hurried to Elizabeth and embraced her, before greeting her aunt similarly.

  Bingley was beside him, beaming as he watched his wife. “Have you heard the news, Darcy?” he murmured.

  “What news is that?” Darcy thought he knew — it was unlikely to be anything else.

  “Why, Miss Lydia’s marriage!”

  “I have, although I do not think Miss Elizabeth or her aunt know yet.” He raised his hand to silence Bingley, he really wanted to watch Elizabeth’s reaction.

  “Why are you not more excited, Lizzy?” her sister asked. “You, of all people, would have been so pleased to hear the news.”

  He watched Elizabeth glance at her aunt. “What news, Jane? For you to show such happiness demonstrates how important it is.” Her smile showed her enjoyment at her sister’s pleasure, and Darcy was pleased to see the lift in her spirits at her sister’s presence.

  Perhaps he might persuade Bingley to move closer to Pemberley. Elizabeth would benefit from having her sister live close by.

  He forced his thoughts back to the present. Mrs. Bingley was looking at Elizabeth with surprise. “You don’t know! Has Mr. Darcy not said?”

  Elizabeth laughed and hugged her sister again. “Until I know what you are talking of, I won’t know if I have already heard it, Jane. So, please do not keep us waiting an instant longer before relieving our curiosity.”

  “Why, Lydia’s marriage, of course!” Jane was smiling more animatedly than Darcy had ever seen her, but he was more concerned for Elizabeth.

  “M ... marriage?” she stammered. “How …?” She looked dazed, and he jumped forward.

  “Please sit down, Miss Elizabeth. You are very pale.”

  As soon as she was seated, with her sister and aunt with her, he stepped back and stood beside Bingley again.

  She was questioning her sister, still trying to understand. “How could Lydia be married? Who did she marry? Papa said he had sent her to a home. Why didn’t he tell me what he was doing?”

  “Are you sure you’re all right, Lizzy?” Mrs. Bingley asked anxiously. “Perhaps you should lie down in your chamber for a while?”

  Elizabeth gave her sister a reproachful look and Darcy almost chuckled. Being able to discern her feelings and emotions had opened his mind to how very much he had missed before, and although it was only Elizabeth whom he could understand so easily, his life was immeasurably the richer for it.

  Mrs. Bingley laughed. “Well, stay sitting down, anyway, Lizzy, and perhaps we may call for more tea in a moment. Yes, Lydia was married yesterday in London — and guess who? Mr. Chamberlayne, from the militia!” She clasped her hands together. “Oh, they will suit each other so well! I am very glad she’ll be happy!”

  Elizabeth’s brow furrowed slightly, and she cast Darcy a slightly suspicious look, but said nothing to him, addressing her sister.

  “So, they’ll go back to Brighton?”

  Mrs. Bingley shook her head. “Apparently he has a commission to the regulars, and the regiment is based in Newcastle.” She looked pensive. “I am glad of the opportunity for them, but Mama will miss seeing her grandchild grow.”

  The servants brought in fresh trays of tea and pastries, and Elizabeth sat listening to her aunt and sister, although she was uncharacteristically quiet.

  Darcy and Bingley joined them, Darcy shamelessly not taking his leave just yet.

  He was sitting quite close to Elizabeth, enjoying the feeling of belonging, and she leaned towards him.

  “Am I correct in thinking you had something to do with this, Mr. Darcy?” she murmured.

  He felt himself flush. “It seemed the best thing to do.”

  She laughed softly. “We will have to wait for a quieter moment for me to find out exactly what you have done, but I must thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am sure no one else could have achieved it.”

  He shook his head. “Thanks are not needed, Miss Elizabeth. I am grateful for the opportunity.”

  A few moments later, when Elizabeth and her sister were deep in conversation, Mrs. Gardiner beckoned him over and nodded at the chair beside her.

  “It seems you are better known within the family than I have been aware of, Mr. Darcy. Perhaps I might take the opportunity of finding out how it came about?”

  Darcy shifted in his seat uncomfortably. “Well, I …” he hesitated, missing Elizabeth being there to assist him. “I went to Hertfordshire to stay with Bingley when he first took Netherfield Park.”

  She nodded, listening quietly, and he tried to think of what to say. “I met the family at an assembly in Meryton.” He berated himself. She must think him a tongue-tied fool, but he could think of nothing else to say.

  She smiled, seeming to understand. “Have you spoken to Lizzy’s father, Mr. Darcy? I hope you have obtained his appr
oval to call on her.”

  He nodded. “I have.”

  She relaxed. “I’m happy to hear it, Mr. Darcy. Lizzy is very special to us, and I want her happiness above all else.” She smiled at him. “I know the family can seem a little overwhelming to those from — more refined — backgrounds, but they have wonderful loyalty and love between them.”

  “I understand that,” Darcy acknowledged, “but, on marriage, things do change.”

  Mrs. Gardiner nodded. “Of course they do. I know you must have Lizzy’s best interests at heart, for you haven’t abandoned her during this difficult time.”

  Elizabeth seemed to notice his unease, for she rose to her feet and came over to them. He stood and waited for her to take a seat, then he sat down again.

  She smiled at him. “Has Aunt Gardiner been telling you about her childhood in Lambton? She never tires of talking about the beauty of Derbyshire.”

  He relaxed. She was with him and would help him.

  Chapter 46

  Elizabeth retired to her room later that night, her emotions very different from those she had awoken with that morning.

  She had not had the chance to find out from Mr. Darcy exactly what had led to Lydia’s marriage, but she was quite certain in her own mind that he had conceived the idea and provided the resources to fulfil it.

  She lay back, her hands behind her head, and gazed at the draperies above the bed. Her whole future, so dark before, was now bright with possibility.

  He’d bowed to her when he left, dark eyes on her face. “Might I call on you tomorrow, Miss Elizabeth?”

  In the darkness, as she lay there, Elizabeth knew her face was flushed with pleasure. It seemed that her affections might be returned, something she had never really believed she could hope for.

  She rolled over and buried her face in her pillow. Acknowledging to herself that she loved him was the easy part, accepting that he could love her, too, was not so easy.

  She was from a level in society so much lower than his, she could scarce believe he had even noticed her. But she did know why. It was because she had tried to help him feel more at ease at the Meryton assembly.

  She smiled to herself. He had kept the note she had written to the unknown gentleman, found it valuable enough to carry with him.

  And he’d wanted to court her, she knew that now. He’d wanted to, even after her ruin, so he had arranged matters to remove that taint from the family. How he had arranged it, she wasn’t sure, but it must have taken a great deal of work — and money — she acknowledged to herself.

  As she drifted into sleep, she wondered at her complaisance about that. Only a few months ago, she would have been offended that he would think he could buy her hand in marriage, but no longer.

  She had seen the look in his eyes. She loved him, and she would ensure he knew that she expected a proper declaration of his affections.

  She sighed. She would dream tonight of the offer he would make. But the romance she’d always thought would come to her wouldn’t be part of it. Mr. Darcy was not the romantic sort.

  * * *

  She woke with a smile still on her face. Aunt Gardiner teased her gently at breakfast, and Uncle Gardiner chuckled.

  “Leave Lizzy be, my dear. I have never seen her blush so much.”

  Aunt Gardiner gave him a loving glance. “For you, my dear Edward, I will. At least until you are gone from the house.”

  Elizabeth was happy she had their example of such a loving partnership, just as she’d been grateful for that of Sir William and Lady Lucas when she was younger.

  She was sure there must be some affection between her parents, and there must once have been love; but little was demonstrated, and she’d often wondered whether it was possible to find real love amongst the limited number of eligible gentlemen they met.

  Then Mr. Darcy had come into her life — and left it again soon afterwards. She’d realised how limited her options were. He’d left the country, been gone for months, and she had been resigned to having to wait to find a marriage, resigned to the fact she might need to marry where there was mutual respect, but might not be love. She would not be able to wait forever.

  She took another slice of toast, smiling. She had not hesitated to refuse Mr. Collins, though. Without respect, without even the ability to tolerate the thought of a lifetime in the same home as him, she hadn’t hesitated. But she hoped Charlotte was happy enough.

  “What is amusing you so, Lizzy?” Uncle Gardiner took a final gulp of his coffee, and got to his feet. He patted her shoulder. “No matter. I must get to my warehouses. I’m very happy for you.”

  He went round to the other side of the table and dropped an affectionate kiss on his wife’s forehead. “I will see you later, my dear. And I will send an express to my brother to confirm that he has given his consent for Darcy to court Lizzy.”

  Elizabeth looked up startled. “Mr. Darcy would not say he had Papa’s consent if he did not.”

  Her uncle chuckled. “And I hardly think such a wealthy gentleman wouldn’t gain the consent of any father in the country! But I am in loco parentis to you, Lizzy, while you are here. It will be expected of me.”

  “Of course, Uncle.” Elizabeth subsided. Let the gentlemen do what they wished, she would enjoy this time of hiding her excitement close to her, this time of falling in love.

  The children ran into the room a few minutes later, and their excited chatter took Elizabeth’s mind from the expected morning visit.

  When the governess marshalled them together and led them upstairs to the schoolroom and nursery, Aunt Gardiner smiled at Elizabeth.

  “Mr. Darcy will undoubtedly be here at the appointed calling hour, Lizzy. What would you like to do until then?”

  Elizabeth felt her heart begin to race. “Perhaps I will write to Mama. I can talk about Mr. Chamberlayne and how much Lydia will enjoy life in an army town.”

  Aunt Gardiner nodded. “I am, of course, quite caught up with my correspondence …”

  Elizabeth laughed. “I am not surprised, but I do thank you for your tact yesterday morning. It was nice to have some privacy to talk.”

  “Well, you might stroll in the gardens this morning, if you wish. I can see you from the window if I sit in that chair to do some sewing.”

  Elizabeth jumped up and embraced her aunt. “You are so good to me, dear Aunt Gardiner.” She looked outside at the sky. “I’m happy the weather is getting warmer finally. I have never known it so cold — and it is nearly the end of June.”

  “Yes, I think everyone has been surprised how cold it has been this year, Lizzy. So it will be good to take advantage of the sun while you can.” Aunt Gardiner looked at her critically. “But you must wrap up warmly, your father has been very concerned that you were so ill.”

  “Of course, Aunt. I don’t wish to cause you any anxiety.” Elizabeth was so happy, she could barely contain herself, but she went to write her letter to Mama, determined to keep the subject on Lydia and how things at must be at Longbourn.

  She had finished long before the servant announced the arrival of their caller.

  “Mr. Darcy.”

  Chapter 47

  Darcy bowed at Elizabeth and her aunt as he entered the room. “Good morning, Mrs. Gardiner; good morning, Miss Elizabeth.”

  The ladies curtsied in return, and he was struck by how different Elizabeth appeared to him. She seemed to have an inner happiness and a sense of conviction. He puzzled over it for a moment, then realised, with a start, that his hostess was speaking.

  “I beg your pardon, madam.” He was mortified at having lost his concentration.

  But Mrs. Gardiner didn’t seem discomposed, or amused at his expense. “I only said that tea will be served, Mr. Darcy. Then I thought you might wish to stroll in the gardens with Lizzy.”

  He brightened. “It would be a great pleasure.” He turned to Elizabeth. “If you are sure you will not get too cold?”

  She looked reproachful. “As you know, Mr. Darcy, I
walk everywhere in Hertfordshire.” Her eyes danced, “even sitting out of doors to write journal entries.”

  He chuckled, unable to contain himself. “I stand corrected, Miss Elizabeth.”

  He was aware of a curious glance from her aunt, but didn’t look in that direction, determined not to be embarrassed.

  As they sat over tea and pastries, he turned to Mrs. Gardiner. “I am hoping that you might do me the honour of dining with me at Darcy House this evening with your husband and Miss Elizabeth? I would like you all to meet my sister and my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

  She looked enquiringly at her niece, then turned back to him. “We would be delighted, Mr. Darcy. Thank you.”

  The light conversation continued, and he again felt that sense of acceptance that he had felt at Longbourn after the incident at the river. But he was still relieved when Elizabeth went up to her chamber to find her warmest coat.

  He felt warm inside, she’d whispered to him as she left the room. “Rest easy, Mr. Darcy. No one is looking to find fault with you.”

  He stood, waiting for her, his mind busy with her words. Mrs. Gardiner was beside him, smiling serenely, and he wondered how much of their manners the two oldest Bennet girls had learned from this gracious lady.

  He must make conversation. “Has Miss Elizabeth spent much time here in London with you? She seems very happy here.” He was relieved when it seemed he had said nothing untoward, for Mrs. Gardiner smiled.

  “Both Lizzy and Jane spent weeks here several times a year. They are delightful company, and I am very fond of them.” She laughed, “and my children demand a great deal of their time when they are here.”

  He nodded, but was spared the necessity of answering when Elizabeth entered the room again.

  “All right, Mr. Darcy, let me show you my aunt’s garden. I’ve spent many happy hours there — in warmer summers.”