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

by Harriet Knowles

  “You will tell me at once if you are too cold?” He could not prevent himself from asking her, and she smiled and shook her head at him.

  “I will be sure to, Mr. Darcy. You must not be concerned, I am quite well now.”

  He followed her to the great glazed doors at the rear of the hall. There were wide, shallow, stone steps leading down to the garden, and Darcy offered his arm to Elizabeth. Thrilled at the touch of her gloved hand, he walked beside her as they strolled along the path.

  The gardens were well-kept and pleasant, although of course much smaller than those at Darcy House.

  Elizabeth looked up at the windows of the drawing room and waved at her aunt. “I am thankful for the opportunity of the privacy we have been afforded today, Mr. Darcy.”

  “Oh?” he said cautiously.

  She laughed. “You must know that I am very curious as to how our family’s deliverance came about, Mr. Darcy. If you thought you might escape questioning on that score, I am afraid you are sadly mistaken.” Her voice was light and teasing, and he relaxed a little.

  “You have a rare ability, Miss Elizabeth, to know how difficult I find it to interpret the tone of a person’s voice. I take it that you are not angry with my actions?”

  “No, I am not angry,” she said softly. “I am very grateful to you, on behalf of my sisters as well as myself.” She looked up at him. “I would still like to know how you were able to achieve such a feat.”

  There was a slight press on his arm, and he looked down at her.

  “Could we sit under the tree, there?” she asked.

  “Of course.” He was glad to oblige. Perhaps if her hand was not on his arm, he might be able to think more clearly without her closeness fogging his senses.

  She patted the seat beside her. “So, Mr. Darcy. When did you get the idea that Lydia needed to marry?”

  He smiled, thinking back. It seemed she wanted to know, and, while he was reluctant to describe his actions, he knew enough of her determination to know that it would be easier just to say.

  He shrugged slightly. “It was that first morning when you came downstairs, still quite unwell, and told your father what you had seen on the riverbank.”

  “I knew you had discerned from what I told Papa that I had seen, the implication of what I couldn’t say,” she nodded. “But then you came back to see us, and I was surprised, because I thought that, in your position, you ought to stay away.”

  He smiled. “I knew I ought to stay away, but somehow, my steps led me unerringly to Hertfordshire. I cannot regret it.”

  “So, my father had taken Lydia to some home for fallen women, and the militia are in Brighton.” Her expression was brightly inquisitive. “I am certain that Lydia had neither the means, the freedom, the imagination, or the fortune to permit her to arrange this most convenient marriage for herself. So my suspicions remain that this arrangement must have been due to the efforts of someone outside the family. And I thought that person must be you. Am I right?”

  Darcy bowed his head. “I am afraid so. I hope you can forgive this intrusion into your family’s affairs, since I was able to be successful.”

  “I was not thinking about that, Mr. Darcy, just that it must have meant a great deal of work for you — and possibly also a degree of mortification, if there is indeed bad blood between you and Mr. Wickham.”

  He frowned. “He must have told you of the disagreement between us; as I do not recall saying anything. But I was comforted when you told your father you did not trust him.”

  “Certainly not,” she shook her head. “But I am relieved you did not arrange that the marriage was to him.”

  He smiled wryly. “I did not want to have to speak too much of this, because I do not wish to cause you more pain than you have already suffered, but Mr. Wickham is, as you know, not to be trusted. In any event, he is previously married, and there are a number of young women in a similar position to your sister because of him.”

  She looked away from him, and after a pause, she sighed and turned back. “I’m sorry for asking you, Mr. Darcy. It must have been difficult, but I think I have asked enough for today, and we had better go in.”

  “Certainly.” He offered his arm, and they moved towards the doors. “One thing I must tell you is that my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, whom you will meet tonight, has been instrumental in assisting to resolve this matter. Without him, I would have been hard-pressed to complete it in time, so I have been grateful for his help.”

  “I look forward to meeting him, Mr. Darcy. And your sister.”

  Chapter 48

  Elizabeth smoothed her gown down nervously with her hands as she waited for her uncle’s coach to be brought round to the doors.

  “You look delightful, Lizzy,” her uncle tried to reassure her.

  “It is a beautiful gown,” her aunt agreed. “As well suited to a dinner as to your sister’s wedding.”

  “I know,” Elizabeth acknowledged, “But I am concerned because Mr. Darcy was groomsman at the wedding, so he probably remembers it.”

  Aunt Gardiner laughed. “I doubt it, Lizzy. Not as many men remember the clothes a lady was wearing as the ladies do — and a true gentleman would be careful not to admit to it if he did.”

  Her uncle turned away studiously, his lips twitching, and Elizabeth laughed. “You are most diplomatic, Uncle Gardiner!”

  * * *

  Mr. Darcy was waiting in the grand hall of Darcy House to welcome them, with his sister and the same tall gentleman in military uniform she had seen in the distance at the Netherfield ball.

  Mr. Darcy bowed, “Welcome, Mr. Gardiner, Mrs. Gardiner.” He turned slightly to Elizabeth. “Welcome, Miss Bennet. May I introduce my sister, Georgiana?”

  Elizabeth smiled warmly at her. She was apprehensive herself, but she could sense the girl was exceedingly shy, and determined to try and help her.

  “I’m very glad to meet you at last, Miss Darcy.”

  Miss Darcy looked startled, and glanced at her brother, but took a deep breath and turned back to Elizabeth.

  “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Bennet.” Then she turned to Elizabeth’s aunt and uncle to greet them.

  Soon Elizabeth found herself sitting on the sofa beside Miss Darcy. She was a pretty girl, but with her head down in nervousness, it was hard to tell if she was even listening.

  Elizabeth smiled. “You have a beautiful home here, Miss Darcy. What is your favourite room?”

  There was a moment’s silence and Elizabeth wondered for an instant if the girl was going to be as hard work as her brother, but then she lifted her head slightly.

  “I think I must say it is my day room upstairs, Miss Bennet. It is smaller and cosier than these very grand rooms.”

  “I can understand that,” Elizabeth agreed. “How do you like to spend your time? I’m very fond of reading, but I also like to play the pianoforte, and practicing makes time pass swiftly.”

  Miss Darcy looked a little more animated. “Oh, yes. I practice a great deal. William — my brother — has had an instrument placed in my day room, and of course there’s one in here, as well as in the music room.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “I would find I always wanted the piece of music that was on the other instrument — the furthest from where I was!”

  Miss Darcy smiled, her face looking as if she was most unused to it, and Elizabeth persevered. Gradually, the girl thawed a little.

  “Might you call me Georgiana, Miss Bennet? Everyone around me calls me Miss Darcy — Mrs. Annesley says she must, and it is very depressing. I think it merely emphasises that she is my paid companion.”

  “Of course I will, and you must call me Elizabeth, or even Lizzy, if you wish,” Elizabeth said readily.

  A few moments later, she asked, apparently casually, “what do you do here when your brother is away, Georgiana? Are you permitted to entertain?”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t want to, Elizabeth,” Georgiana said hastily. “No, sometimes Cousin Richard
stays here, and sometimes he takes me back to Matlock House to stay with Uncle Henry and Aunt Alice.” She smiled slightly. “I like Cousin David very much, and his wife, Susannah, is very kind to me.”

  “I’m happy you have family around whom you are fond of, Georgiana. I am from a large family — I have four sisters, and I cannot imagine not having someone I can readily confide in.” Elizabeth watched the girls’ expression become wistful.

  “Four sisters!” She sounded awed. “Is it very noisy sometimes?”

  “All the time, Georgiana!” Elizabeth laughed. “I usually go out for a walk when I need time to think or write in my journal.” She remembered the turn her writing had taken and forced herself not to look at Mr. Darcy. She’d known he was watching her from the first moment she’d sat down and was determined not to blush.

  When dinner was announced, Mr. Darcy came over to them. He escorted Georgiana to the dining room, followed by Uncle and Aunt Gardiner.

  Colonel Fitzwilliam bowed to her. “Might I escort you, Miss Bennet?”

  Elizabeth took his arm. “Thank you, sir.”

  As they followed the other couples to the table, Colonel Fitzwilliam lowered his head to her. “Thank you for taking the time to talk to Georgiana, Miss Bennet. As you must have gathered, she is very shy, and I am gratified that you seem to have gained her confidence.”

  At dinner, Elizabeth found herself on Mr. Darcy’s right side. Uncle Gardiner was on her other side, and her aunt was opposite her, between Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Poor Georgiana was seated next to her cousin, and rather out of the conversation.

  Elizabeth couldn’t really assist her, but was happy to note that Colonel Fitzwilliam was taking the time to talk to her. Elizabeth decided it was her responsibility to keep the rest of the conversation flowing, so that he didn’t have to feel he must take his attention from Georgiana to her aunt.

  She could also feel the tension in Mr. Darcy, and she knew how important the occasion seemed to be to him. So she set herself to ease his discomfort.

  “I know that Mr. Bingley and my sister came to London two weeks ago, Mr. Darcy. I expect the kitten is demanding even more attention from the housekeeper while they are away.”

  His expression lightened as he looked at her. “Indeed. Mrs. Nicholls is very fond of cats and he seems a determined little fellow.”

  Aunt Gardiner was looking from one to the other. “I haven’t heard about a kitten, Lizzy. When did he come into the story?”

  Elizabeth glanced at her host. He was smiling ruefully, but she thought he was not inclined to elucidate the matter.

  “It’s nothing, aunt. But when Mr. Darcy was climbing out of the river, covered in mud, he stopped to collect a very vociferous little creature, also covered in mud.”

  “Oh, how sweet!” her aunt exclaimed. “It was very kind of you, Mr. Darcy.”

  He nodded, looking both relieved and embarrassed, and Elizabeth realised that he had not wanted Mr. Wickham’s name mentioned.

  As they waited for the main course to be cleared away and the next brought in, she wondered why that was, and reminded herself to ask him at the next quiet opportunity.

  She saw Colonel Fitzwilliam talking quietly to Georgiana, and remembered he’d had something to do with Mr. Wickham being ejected from the Netherfield ball. It might be better to ask him, she didn’t want to cause any embarrassment to Mr. Darcy.

  William. That’s what Georgiana had called him. Her lips curved, it rather suited him.

  The servants set down a large selection of dishes for them and Elizabeth almost had to pinch herself to recall that only two days ago she had felt that there was no longer any sort of chance for her to move in the same circles that she had previously, let alone such exalted ones as these.

  And it was all due to Mr. Darcy. But he had said that his cousin had been instrumental in assisting to resolve it. So she could ask him — if she had the opportunity — later on.

  Chapter 49

  Darcy watched as his sister acknowledged his glance, and rose to withdraw with the ladies.

  He’d watched as Elizabeth talked to Georgiana before they were called for dinner, and he was sure that there would be no difficulties for his sister while the gentlemen drank their port.

  Normally, they’d only wait a matter of ten minutes or so before joining Georgiana. But with Mr. Gardiner here with them, it might be some time before they would be free to join the ladies in the drawing room.

  He nodded at the butler, and the man left the room noiselessly, and the door closed. He sighed a little. If it was just Richard with him, he would have been able to relax. But here was Mr. Gardiner, and he must get to know him. He was important to Elizabeth, and so he must do his best not to offend the man.

  But he was from trade, and the family lived in Cheapside. Darcy reminded himself he was prepared to do this for Elizabeth. And the Gardiners had been pleasant and refined during the Bingley’s wedding breakfast; he had also been most impressed with the quiet graciousness of their home and Mrs. Gardiner, too.

  This man might be another such person; the sort he had never thought of much. It might be that he had missed a great deal.

  He turned to him. “I am grateful that you have come tonight, sir. I was anxious that both of you — and Miss Elizabeth — had the chance to meet some of my family.”

  Gardiner bowed his head. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy.” He smiled slightly. “We have been most impressed with how happy Lizzy’s sister Jane is since she married Mr. Bingley. I understand he is a great friend of yours.” He smiled more genuinely. “I have had very interesting conversations with him. It seems his father was very much the sort of man I have been modelling myself on. Like Mr. Bingley senior, I have been investing as much as I possibly can in trustee stocks. I intend that my elder son be such a man as your friend.”

  Darcy considered him. Bingley was his friend, and this man was a man like Bingley’s father.

  Was it a hidden rebuke for his apparent proud demeanour? He didn’t know, and Elizabeth wasn’t here to interpret for him. He took a deep breath. He must take the remarks as if they were a comment, not an attack. Perhaps he could ask Elizabeth later if there was opportunity.

  “I didn’t have the opportunity to meet the elder Mr. Bingley,” he said carefully. “Bingley tells me his father was a wonderful influence on him.” He thought for a moment. “I recall him telling me his father made his fortune in the textile trade. Is that your area of business, Mr. Gardiner?”

  “As it happens, it is.” Gardiner was settling in his seat, seemingly quite happy to talk of his business, although it was not properly a gentleman’s concern. “Although he was working with cotton and I’m currently concentrating on woollen fabrics.” He laughed. “I’ve been talking to Mr. Bingley about expanding into cottons, but if we don’t have a warmer summer next year, I’ll probably not take up that opportunity.”

  Darcy smiled. He liked Gardiner, he decided. He looked over at Richard. “Have you any thoughts on the wisdom of diversifying into cottons, or are you convinced of the deterioration of our weather?”

  Richard looked rather surprised at Darcy’s apparent interest in such business; he shrugged. “While there seems to be endless war, wool for uniforms will always be needed.”

  Gardiner took a mouthful of his port while he pondered. “You are right, sir. However, I can also see that there may ultimately be problems with enough pasture for sheep. Importing cotton might ultimately be a good decision, and the looms can be lighter.” He frowned thoughtfully.

  “It will be interesting to continue our conversation in future.” Darcy wondered whether a new investment opportunity might be helpful to Pemberley. “But now, shall we rejoin the ladies?”

  * * *

  He was pleased to see that Georgiana was deep in conversation with Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner, and she looked quite content. They all rose and curtsied as Darcy and the other gentlemen entered the room.

  Georgiana turned to the footman and nodded to o
rder coffee. Darcy was pleased at her poise. She seemed much more confident already, and he wondered at it.

  But he didn’t have time to think about it. His gaze turned at once to Elizabeth. She was smiling gently, and he bowed.

  Soon he was sitting quite close to her, holding his coffee. But the others were all within earshot, and he was unlikely to have the opportunity for a private conversation.

  He was rather annoyed at himself; why had he not used the time they had in the Gracechurch Street gardens this morning to make his offer? He knew he wanted to make her an offer, there had been no real reason to delay.

  But he had wanted Georgiana to meet her before he introduced her as his future wife, wanted Georgiana to feel that she could tell him of any concerns. He shrugged, he would wish to make Elizabeth an offer regardless of what Georgiana thought, so what had his caution won him? He knew she would like having Elizabeth as a sister, because Elizabeth was the kindest person, with sisters of her own.

  “You are very thoughtful, Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

  “I’m sorry, Miss Elizabeth. I was thinking of something your uncle had said of his business talks with Bingley.” He smiled. “I am learning a great deal.”

  She laughed. “I am very sorry, Mr. Darcy. I think you are finding out about the lives of people you have never really mixed with before.” Her eyes were dancing with amusement. “I hope it is not to your discomfort.”

  He smiled tightly. “It has been very good for me, Miss Elizabeth. I hope I have not offended you with any seeming disparagement.”

  “Rest assured, Mr. Darcy. I am impressed with your efforts to be polite and gentlemanly.” Elizabeth put down her cup, and glanced over at his sister. “Georgiana said before you returned to the room that you might like us to take turns to play for you.”

  “I would like that very much, if it is not too much of an imposition.”