by Jann Rowland
“Do you not think you are carrying this a little too far, Susan?”
As Darcy had disappeared from her view, Susan turned to her husband and said: “I am certain I do not know what you mean.”
The level look with which he regarded her informed Susan her attempt at obfuscation was an abject failure. “It is plain for anyone who cares to look that you are intent upon pushing Darcy and Miss Bennet together.”
“That is nonsense!” exclaimed Susan. “Yes, I like Miss Bennet, Hugh—I like her better than any other young lady I have ever met. Can you say anything different?”
“Miss Bennet is a good sort of girl,” agreed Hugh, “and I like her very well. That does not change the fact that you invited the girl here, and I assume drew Darcy here when he did not come of his own volition. What I cannot determine is why you are so insistent on the match.”
Questioning her motives though he might be, Susan knew her husband did not suspect her of anything nefarious. In this case, however, he was incorrect as to the extent of her meddling, and Susan meant to correct him—and certain other misconceptions he might harbor.
“Come, Hugh, let us sit for a time and speak of this.”
Grasping her life partner by his hand, Susan led him to a nearby sofa and sat next to him. Though Hugh regarded her, a hint of amusement playing about his mouth, he did not speak, content instead to wait for her to explain herself.
“First,” said Susan, “let me disabuse you of the notion I am playing matchmaker. If you recall from the ball, their interest in each other is already well established, and Georgiana reports it has only grown since then.”
“I trust Georgiana’s observations less than I trust yours,” rumbled Hugh. “It is clear she wishes to have Miss Bennet for a sister regardless of the girl’s feelings.”
Susan laughed. “Yes, I dare say you are correct. But if you do not believe me, I suggest you cast your thoughts on what we just witnessed. Had there been no interest between them, or had it been nothing more than lukewarm, I would not have acted as I have.”
“You are certain this is what Darcy wants?”
“If Darcy were to look deep within himself, I believe he does wish it. Regardless, you know that Darcy’s biggest problem is his tendency to consider such matters to excess, though I suspect Robert Darcy’s influence on him still holds sway. If he stayed at Pemberley, he would think the matter through, coming to no resolution, and risk losing a girl I think could be the making of him.”
Hugh digested this in silence, and for a moment she thought he would object, or at least make some other point contrary to her own. After a moment, he sighed and fixed her with a wry grin.
“You know that I had hoped Darcy would make a society marriage with a woman of our sphere to secure an alliance.”
With a laugh, Susan patted his hand and said: “I suppose you have a bride picked out for him?”
“No, I would not push him toward any woman in particular. However, there are several who would be acceptable, and as he showed no inclination toward any particular woman and needs an heir, a political marriage is as good as any, is it not?” Hugh grinned and added: “It is not as if every woman in London is repulsive; some of the young ladies I had my eye on are pretty and accomplished and would be a credit to him.”
“As long as he remained unattached, I would not say your strategy is unsound,” replied Susan. “Except for Darcy’s temperament. You know he would be most unhappy in a political marriage.”
“His father accepted one,” said Hugh.
“But your sister was miserable,” replied Susan.
With that, Hugh could not disagree, for he was as aware of his sister’s unhappiness as Susan, for all Susan had been closer to Anne than he. This was where his argument fell apart, and Susan was not above using it to her advantage.
“Darcy is more like his mother than his father, Hugh. It was often said that Robert Darcy did not possess a heart, and in some ways that observation was true. While Darcy shares his father’s reticence, his caution, and difficulty expressing his feelings, he has them in abundance. If he allows this opportunity to pass him by, I suspect he will bow to your wishes, and in the process lose something of himself that he will never recover.”
Hugh regarded her for a moment before saying: “And you think Miss Bennet can change this for him.”
It was not a question, and Susan did not treat it like it was. “What do you think? What did we just witness passing between them?”
“I only saw them walking away, and nothing more.”
“Then let us watch and wait, Hugh. Miss Bennet is a girl who has already pulled Georgiana from her shell; I have every confidence in her ability to work the same magic on our nephew.”
“She is delightful,” mused Hugh. “And there is no sign of her eagerness to secure a fortune or raise herself in society, unlike that Bingley woman of whom Darcy always complains.”
“Nothing of the sort,” replied Susan. “She is as unpretentious as anyone I have ever met.”
A slow nod was Hugh’s response. “Then I will watch and wait. If Darcy decides he wishes to have Miss Bennet for a wife, I shall not stand in his way.”
“That is all I ask, Hugh.”
“But you must also promise not to interfere,” said Hugh, laughter in his voice. “No matchmaking and no pushing them together. Allow them to discover their wishes on their own.”
“Now that Darcy is here, I do not think my interference is required, so it is an easy promise to make.”
“Shall we wager on whether he will propose?”
Susan could not help but laugh at her husband’s irreverent statement. “The victory will be mine if you choose against it. A far fairer venture would be to guess the timing of the proposal.”
“You are convinced of this!” exclaimed Hugh, as if he had not taken part in the discussion at all.
“I am,” replied Susan. “If you wish to try me, I am certain you will lose.”
“Then if Darcy does not propose, I shall tease you within an inch of your life.”
“When he does propose, I hope you will forgive my smugness.”
With laughter echoing between them, they left the subject behind. In the back of her mind, however, Susan was planning, considering what she could do to help Darcy along. She had promised her husband she would not interfere, but that did not mean she could not create a welcoming atmosphere for romance in her home.
Darcy could not believe his luck. Eager as he was to see Miss Bennet as soon as may be arranged, catching sight of her as he rode up to the house was better than he could have imagined, his dusty riding attire notwithstanding. Miss Bennet was an intrepid lady, one who would not shy away from the scent of horses or wrinkle her nose at his less than perfect windblown hair.
“Miss Bennet,” said Darcy in greeting, swinging himself down from his mount. “How lovely it is to see you again.”
“This is a surprise, Mr. Darcy,” said she, looking at him with some astonishment. “I had thought you meant to stay at Pemberley for some weeks.”
With her answer, it was clear to Darcy that Lady Susan had not seen fit to inform the company of his coming. That could not have been an oversight, so Darcy suspected she had kept it from Miss Bennet, in particular, because she favored the match. Though a distant part of him felt a hint of annoyance at her interference, the greater part recognized it had worked to his advantage. Thus, he gestured to Miss Bennet and offered his arm.
“I found that there was little holding me there, for the work I stayed to complete was not as pressing as I thought. Shall you accompany me while I take Zeus to the stables?”
Acquiescing, Miss Bennet placed her hand in the crook of his arm, though Darcy noted there was a hesitant quality in her actions, as if she were uncertain of him. She had reason to be, Darcy reminded himself. Darcy was not too proud or blind to overlook his culpability in the matter, for his attention to her had alternated from hot to cold, from fervent to distant. Now was the time to
change that.
“Zeus is a rather grandiose sort of name, is it not, Mr. Darcy?”
His attention pulled to her again, Darcy grinned and said: “That it is, but he is a magnificent fellow, is he not?”
Miss Bennet chuckled and said: “Yes, I suppose he is, though I have never heard you speak his name before. With such splendor, I might have thought you would wish to trumpet the name from the rooftops.”
“No, I leave that to my cousin, Fitzwilliam,” said Darcy. With a grin, he added: “Fitzwilliam believes the Roman pantheon is preferable and has named his horse Jupiter.”
This time Miss Bennet’s laughter was louder and gayer. “You shall not provoke me into supporting one position or the other, sir, for I know little of equines!”
In this friendly manner, they bantered until arriving at the stables, where Darcy separated from her a little, consigning Zeus to the care of the stable hands with a few instructions. Then, he turned and gathered Miss Bennet’s hand again to his arm and began leading her toward the house.
“Were you returning to the house or departing for a walk?” asked he.
“Returning, for I have already walked.”
Darcy nodded, the distracted thought crossing his mind that had she intended to walk, he might have asked her to wait awhile, so he could accompany her. As it was, he would make do with whatever opportunity he was given, and thus began to speak.
“Your journey to Snowlock was comfortable?” When she told him it had been, Darcy asked: “And what do you think of the estate?”
“Oh, no, Mr. Darcy!” said she, her amusement at his question spilling out into her voice. “You shall not draw me into this incessant rivalry concerning your estates. I shall only say that I have found them both to be pleasing and not take either side!”
“I see you have some knowledge of it already, Miss Bennet,” said Darcy with a grin. “In that case, I shall not press you to echo my opinion of the matter, though I hope you will forgive me if I hope you come to agree with me.”
Miss Bennet started at Darcy’s words, her gaze on him turning speculative. Sensing this was an important moment in the course of their relationship, Darcy forced himself to push his natural reticence away and meet her eyes without wavering. It did not miss his attention when her expression became softer, but, at the same time, more curious.
“Why did you come early, Mr. Darcy? As I recall, you were adamant at the time of your need to stay at Pemberley.”
The impulse to inform her that he came only for her was on the tip of Darcy’s tongue when he reined it in. It was not proper to state such things openly, not when he had botched his courtship of her to the extent he had. More subtlety was called for but offered in a fashion she could not misunderstand. Intelligent as she was, Darcy could not think she would not understand his meaning at once.
“As I have said, I found the matters keeping me there to be less demanding and urgent than I thought,” said Darcy after thinking about it for a moment. “Furthermore, I realized there were many reasons to come here, not the least of which were those of a more personal nature.”
With a grin, Darcy stopped and turned to her, saying: “I hope my presence here is not distressing to you—should I have remained at Pemberley?”
“Of course, you may visit your relations whenever you please,” said Miss Bennet without any hint of diffidence. The woman paused for a moment, considering him, before speaking again. “These reasons you mention—have they brought clarity which was lacking before?”
Nodding, Darcy said: “When I remained at Pemberley, I did not know what path I should take. I am a careful man, Miss Bennet, one who has rarely done anything without thinking about it in excruciating detail before acting. However, that approach, which has served me well in the past, seemed destined to failure if I adhered to it this time. This, in turn, has clarified matters for me. I can truthfully say that I do not doubt my course now.”
It was as if saying the words made them real, for while Darcy had acted on his impulse and come to Snowlock with little thought, the journey had allowed him too much time to think, resulting in second-guessing, more cautious thoughts, as his nature reasserted itself. With this woman before him now, seeing her excellence, drinking in her beauty, body and soul, all doubts faded away. In their place determination set in, a steely resolve to show this wondrous creature the man he could be, the man he wished to be by her side. The conviction was stronger than anything Darcy had ever felt.
“Then I wish you well on the journey, Mr. Darcy,” said she at length. “And I pray for your success.”
Beaming a smile at her, stretching muscles not often used, Darcy gathered her hand to his arm again and led her into the house. Her words were nothing less than an invitation to proceed. Darcy intended to make use of the opportunity.
Chapter XXVII
Georgiana Darcy could not be more excited. All she had ever wished for her brother was for him to be happy in his life, and there was little doubt in her mind that Elizabeth would provide him with that happiness. That he would achieve it with a woman who had become her greatest friend was akin to a dream. Now if he would only come to the point and finalize what everyone at Snowlock already knew!
“Darcy and Miss Bennet have walked out together again, have they?” asked her uncle.
Turning, Georgiana observed her uncle, knowing he understood her position at the window as evidence that she was watching her brother. “They are never to be found outside of each other’s company these past days,” replied Georgiana, unable to hide the satisfaction she was feeling. “It is so unlike William’s behavior at Pemberley, I do not know how to account for it.”
The look exchanged by her aunt and uncle did not miss her attention, nor did Charity’s giggle or Rachel’s more reserved smile. “Please tell us, Georgiana,” said Aunt Susan, “how did Darcy behave at Pemberley?”
Rolling her eyes with annoyance, Georgiana replied: “In a manner certain to provoke uncertainty on Elizabeth’s part. At times, he was engaged and attentive, and I had high hopes for him, while at others, he retreated into his customary mask of reserve. When we came to Snowlock, I wondered after Elizabeth’s opinion of him, for if I were she, I would not have known what to think.”
Georgiana once again cast her eyes through the window, though by this time her brother and closest friend had passed from her sight. “I cannot account for the change in him—if he had behaved like this all along, they may have been engaged before we left London!”
“Though I cannot say with any confidence,” said Aunt Susan, “I believe it likely that Darcy’s time alone reminded him of what he would consign himself if he allowed her to escape.”
“Well, I cannot be happier for them both,” said Charity. “I think very well of Elizabeth and suspect that if anyone can melt our cousin’s heart, it is she.”
“Is it wise for Darcy to marry her?” asked Rachel.
Charity looked at her aghast, while Aunt Susan showed her amusement. Lord Matlock, on the other hand, whom Georgiana thought not as warm to the match as his wife, watched, betraying no opinion on the matter.
“What have you to say against her?” demanded Charity.
“Against Elizabeth herself, nothing,” replied Rachel. “You may retract your claws, Charity, for I like Elizabeth very well and would not object to having her as a relation. My only concern is whether higher society will accept her.” Rachel paused and added ruefully: “I suppose Aunt Catherine’s reaction is also a concern.”
There was nothing anyone could say against her second point, though Georgiana knew William would never allow their aunt to browbeat him into anything. As for the first, Georgiana thought Elizabeth had dispensed with that objection already.
“Elizabeth showed no signs of being intimidated by the harpies of society,” said Georgiana, “though I will own I was not present for much of her dealings with them.”
“Yes, you are correct, Georgiana,” said Aunt Susan. “Yet being introduced as the sister of
a man of little standing in society is a vast step from marrying one of the most prominent gentlemen in the kingdom.”
To that, Georgiana had to concur, for her aunt spoke nothing less than the truth. Having said that, however, her aunt smiled and added:
“But I suspect you are correct, for Elizabeth is not one to be intimidated.”
“With the support of us all,” added Uncle Hugh, “she will do very well.”
While Georgiana regarded her uncle with interest, his comment surprised Rachel. “Are you supportive of Darcy’s interest in Miss Bennet? I might have thought otherwise.”
With a glance at his wife, Uncle Hugh said: “Your mother has persuaded me as to the advisability of Darcy’s interest. It is unlikely Darcy will find contentment in a marriage with a woman of society, and thus, he must look elsewhere. Other than those concerns of fortune and standing, I can find nothing to criticize, either in her manners or her situation. And William may do as he likes, for he is not beholden to me.”
“That is true,” conceded Rachel. “But the matter of Lady Catherine is still a mountain to surmount, for she will not sit still and watch while Darcy throws Anne over for a woman of little consequence. She would have complained, even if Darcy had married the daughter of a duke!”
“Darcy can handle Catherine,” replied Uncle Hugh. “And if she persists, then I shall take a hand in the situation.”
“Catherine is all bluster,” said Aunt Susan. “When she hears of the matter, she will no doubt act to confront them, but she will rant and storm and threaten to disown him, but she will bow to the inevitable when it becomes clear she will not have her way.”
Charity snorted. “Being estranged from Aunt Catherine carries some rather obvious benefits, I should say. I cannot imagine that any of us would repine her absence should she declare her intention to never speak to any of us again.”
The laughter Charity’s words provoked spoke to how the family regarded Aunt Catherine. Though her uncle had always demanded family solidarity to the extent they were able, Lady Catherine had always insisted on having her way. No doubt her uncle would require they keep the situation in the family quiet, but that would depend on Lady Catherine’s willingness to refrain from exposing them all to ridicule.