"With astounding regularity. It got so Edward nearly canceled his own leave just so he could find someone to talk to." The sound of laughter distracted the two lovers, and they sheepishly rejoined the conversation. After a short while, Elise decided to go and check on her daughters, and on her cue her brother, husband, and father also found an excuse to give the happy couple some privacy. As soon as they were alone, Olivia launched into an account of what had transpired between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy at the theatre.
"I must say that I am pleased by this development. I knew that if they could just find a way begin they could soon put things right. But I do not like the idea of Fowler lurking about," the Colonel said as he accepted a cup of tea from Olivia.
"Do you know him?" she asked, taking a seat beside the Colonel.
"Not well. He was in Darcy's class at Cambridge, a year behind me. I know of him, though. Something of a ladies' man and a bit of a rake," he said distastefully.
"I would not worry about him on Elizabeth's account," Olivia reassured him, "But I am concerned about her and Mr. Darcy. Lizzy told me that he was to come to call on her this morning, but she had Mr. Bingley prevent him. I hope that Mrs. Bennet will not make it impossible for them to meet. Not when things were just beginning to go well." The Colonel put down the cup.
"Look, if Darcy is going to marry Miss Bennet someday, he is going to have to come to some understanding with Mrs. Bennet," Colonel Fitzwilliam began, but Olivia shook her head.
"You do not know Mrs. Bennet, Richard. 'Understanding' is not her forte, and she is no small part of the reason why Mr. Darcy did not wish to connect himself with Lizzy in the first place. If she were my mother, she would put even you off, and you are disposed to like everyone!" Colonel Fitzwilliam flashed his most endearing smile.
"There is not a creature on this earth that could put me off you, my love," he said as Olivia's heart melted. He stole a quick kiss and then abruptly rose and led her to the door.
"Where are we going?" Olivia cried as she stopped only long enough to reach for her bonnet, reticule and parasol.
"To find Darcy; I do not want him to lose hope before he has had a chance to win his prize." As soon as Olivia had tied the pale blue ribbon under her chin, the Colonel whisked her out of the house. It was a sunny, hot afternoon, and the couple decided to take the scenic route to _______ Street, through the park.
• • •
"Is that not Mr. Darcy?" Olivia asked a short while later, gazing toward the pond where Mr. Darcy sat on a bench reading. The couple cut across the lawn to reach him. As they strolled in his direction, they saw a woman approach Mr. Darcy and confront him, a piece of paper in her hand. They stopped and exchanged a quizzical glance before quickening their pace.
"Mr. Darcy! Should you not be at Gracechurch Street this morning?" Miss Bingley asked sarcastically. Mr. Darcy was startled out of his concentration on the page he was reading. He had been waiting for some time for Bingley and the ladies to appear, and had become lost in a book of poetry as he passed the time.
"Miss Bingley," he said rising. "Please forgive me. I was absorbed by Shakespeare and did not hear your approach." Mr. Darcy had not heard Miss Bingley's first remark clearly; he heard the words 'Gracechurch Street' but was uncertain of what was said about it. Miss Bingley smiled archly. She was happy to have caught him off guard and would use it to her advantage.
"When last we met, sir, I told you of a most distasteful rumor. You seemed to take it as a joke on my part. But I assure you, sir, it is no laughing matter. Miss Eliza Bennet and her sister Jane Bennet are trying to entrap you into marriage." She brandished the paper in her hand. "They are even trying to involve my own brother, your dearest friend, into their ungodly scheme." Mr. Darcy peered at the paper in Miss Bingley's hand but could not make out what it was. He had no reason to connect it with the note Mr. Bingley had spoken of earlier. He started to reach for it, but Miss Bingley drew the paper from his grasp in a casual way, as though she had not noticed his gesture.
"Miss Bingley, what are you about? Speak plainly," Mr. Darcy replied with exasperation. He was not so much interested in what Miss Bingley had to say as in the speed with which she said it. After all, if everything went well for Mr. Bingley at the Gardiners', he and the Bennet sisters might appear at any moment.
"They are trying to ruin your good name, Mr. Darcy. And I have half a mind to let them succeed. It would be a fitting revenge upon both you and Miss Eliza Bennet." Mr. Darcy could feel his blood beginning to boil.
"You have the audacity to threaten me, Miss Bingley? Why? Because your own pathetic schemes to trap me into marrying you have failed?" Mr. Darcy rose to his full height, which became even more imposing when he went to stand very close to Miss Bingley and spoke in a voice so low and menacing only she could hear him.
"Go ahead and do your worst, Miss Bingley. But you may be absolutely assured of two things: I love Elizabeth Bennet and will continue to do so until my dying breath, and that nothing on this earth could prevail upon me to feel anything more than the basest contempt for you." With that, Mr. Darcy backed away, and looked up to see Olivia and Colonel Fitzwilliam not three paces off. Miss Bingley followed his gaze, and seeing the approaching couple, she dropped the note and ran off. Olivia retrieved the note and tore it up without even looking at it.
"What was that all about?" the Colonel asked as he watched Miss Bingley scurry across the grass.
"Absolutely nothing at all, cousin," Mr. Darcy growled. He suddenly smiled, and offered a proper greeting to Olivia.
"It is very good to see you again, Miss Crenshaw. And may I wish you joy on your recent engagement to my cousin," he said with a glance in the Colonel's direction. Olivia graciously accepted the compliment before she told him what had happened at the Gardiners'.
"I am afraid that poor Lizzy was trapped; she could not come out to meet you, having refused Mr. Fowler. And had she been able to do so, she would have had to bring him along," Olivia explained as the trio sat on the bench by the pond. Mr. Darcy glanced at his cousin. They both knew what Mr. Fowler was capable of.
"Perhaps I should go to Gracechurch Street," Mr. Darcy said, rising from the bench. "I can cope with Mrs. Bennet," he said determinedly, "But I do not want Fowler ingratiating himself with Eliz--Miss Bennet." Olivia rose and held his arm.
"You need not worry about Lizzy, Mr. Darcy. She has no illusions about Mr. Fowler. And as for Mrs. Bennet, I believe that if nothing else happens to excite her she will soon calm down and go home. She has Jane's wedding to prepare for, after all." Colonel Fitzwilliam added weight to Olivia's argument.
"You have waited this long, you must simply be patient a bit longer, cousin."
"But I must speak with Miss Bennet. I have to know if I have a chance...if there is anything to wait for..." Mr. Darcy said petulantly. Olivia took his arm and she and the Colonel began leading Mr. Darcy toward his own home.
"If my assurances mean anything, Mr. Darcy, I believe that your forbearance will be well rewarded." She thought a minute, then added, "In fact, if you will be so good as to join us for dinner this evening, you will not have to wait very long at all." Mr. Darcy immediately brightened and accepted her invitation. Olivia made a mental note to send an invitation to Elizabeth as soon as she reached her home. As the trio took the familiar route out of the park, Olivia recalled the last time that they had taken that path together. She told Mr. Darcy the entire story of how she and Elizabeth had come to be in the park in the first place. "So you see, Mr. Darcy, I had this great notion that if we could just speak with Mr. Bingley...well, as it turned out, I was right," Olivia concluded with a laugh.
"Except that Miss Bennet got herself hopelessly lost, Darcy got himself injured, and Mr. Bingley found Miss Bennet completely by accident," Colonel Fitzwilliam deadpanned.
"Yes, but Mr. Bingley did speak with Jane that very day, and they have been inseparable ever since," Olivia retorted.
"Brilliant planning, Miss Crenshaw. I had no idea that you wer
e an expert strategist. I am beginning to understand your attraction to her, Colonel Fitzwilliam." The men laughed while Olivia smirked indulgently. Mr. Darcy suddenly grew serious. "Perhaps I should engage you to figure out how to straighten out my own love life."
"Be careful what you ask for cousin," Colonel Fitzwilliam said as Olivia rapped him on the arm with the tip of her parasol. But the Colonel remembered Olivia's failed effort to bring the pair together. "Trust me. You and Miss Bennet do not need anyone's help, just patience." He ignored his fiancée's pointed look as he repeated his advice. The couple left Mr. Darcy in front of his townhouse and walked back toward the Crenshaw townhouse.
"So? I am suddenly useless at matchmaking, am I? Did you not come to beg my assistance with Mr. Darcy and Lizzy not two weeks ago?" Olivia accused her chuckling companion.
"And did you not nearly ruin things by inviting Miss Bennet to town just as Darcy decided to go to Netherfield?"
"It would appear to me, dearest," Olivia said with a slight edge to her voice, "That my decision to invite Lizzy to town was a wise one, given that Mr. Darcy's appearance at Netherfield led her to flee Hertfordshire." Colonel Fitzwilliam opened his mouth with a well-aimed retort, then thought better of it. He drew Olivia closer to his side.
"My love, you are a wonderful matchmaker. Through your efforts, Mr. Bingley and Jane have been reunited and you and I have found a happiness together that I never dared to hope for. But I do not believe that Darcy and Miss Bennet need your help any longer. You can bring them together, but they have to find their own way after that. And, if Darcy loves Miss Bennet half as much as I do you," He said as he slipped an arm about her waist, "There will be three wedding for our friends to attend this year."
• • •
Mr. Darcy entered his house and repaired to his study. He poured out a brandy and stared at the clock. He had four hours before he was expected at the Crenshaws. He leaned back in the soft armchair. Maybe Miss Crenshaw is correct. All it takes is a simple notion and the will to carry it out. Mr. Darcy stretched out his long legs and thought. After a quarter of an hour, an idea came to him, and he went to his desk and drew out a sheet of paper. Some two hours later, Mr. Darcy heard a knock at his door. Mr. Harris came in and announced his aunt, Lady Rebecca Fitzwilliam. Mr. Darcy rose and warmly welcomed her. He offered her a chair and a glass of sherry and, warning her of his forthcoming dinner engagement in an hour and a half, sat down to talk.
"I was certain that I would be intruding upon your time, but I could not resist taking an opportunity to visit with my favorite nephew."
"And I am glad to see you, Aunt Rebecca," Mr. Darcy said. Lady Rebecca Fitzwilliam, mother of the Colonel, was like a second mother to Mr. Darcy. She had been in the country since the start of the warm weather, and only her son's engagement had persuaded her to abandon her estate and come to town. They began by getting caught up on family news. Mr. Darcy asked after his sister and learned that she would be arriving in town in two days to attend her cousin's engagement party. Lady Rebecca waxed poetically over Georgiana's progress in her art and music lessons for several minutes before startling Mr. Darcy by asking how he was faring with Miss Bennet.
"What do you know of Miss Bennet?" he asked.
"I am neither deaf, dumb, nor blind, dear. Richard first mentioned Miss Bennet to me some months ago, and you spoke of little else but Miss Bennet while you were visiting with us last month." Mr. Darcy blushed. He had not realized that he had been so unguarded. He gave his aunt a brief account of his entire history with Elizabeth, and concluded with his hope of seeing her at dinner that very night.
"I have to agree with Richard. After so many mistakes and miscues, patience is called for at this stage. However, I agree with Miss Crenshaw as well. You could use a helping hand." Mrs. Fitzwilliam rose and went to the desk. "I have met the girl on several occasions, but I cannot say I know her well. I do, however, think we are going to get on famously," Lady Rebecca added as she drew out a sheet of paper and added the Bennets, Gardiners and Bingleys to her guest list for her son's engagement party. Mr. Darcy thanked her as he escorted her to the door.
"Remember, Fitzwilliam," Lady Rebecca said as she gazed into his eyes. "If she is worth having at all, she is worth waiting for. Now," she said, kissing him on the cheek, "Go and dress for dinner." Mr. Darcy smiled all the way upstairs to his chambers. Then, remembering his forgotten project, he turned back and called for Mr. Harris from the top of the stairs. The butler appeared instantly.
"Sir?"
"I left something on my desk in the study. Take care of it, would you?"
"With pleasure, sir," was Mr. Harris' reply. With a nod of thanks, Mr. Darcy disappeared into his chambers and prepared for his bath.
• • •
It was hours before Elizabeth slipped downstairs again. She made her way into her uncle's study, where her uncle offered her a glass of Madeira before she curled up with a book. Her uncle had dozed off before long, and Elizabeth started to leave the room when she was met at the door by a maid.
"This just came for you, Miss," the maid said with a curtsey before excused herself.
"What is it?" Mr. Gardiner asked as he roused himself. Elizabeth's smile was reassuring.
"I have been invited to dinner at the Crenshaw's. May I go, Uncle?"
"I do not see why not." He drew out his watch. "It is growing late. I will order the carriage while you go and prepare yourself." A half hour later, Elizabeth descended the stairs. She was glad to have a reason to leave the house, an excuse to avoid her mother. Mrs. Bennet had doggedly pursued her to her room and demanded that she select fabric for her bridal attire. Elizabeth complied simply to be rid of her mother, but Mrs. Bennet remained with Elizabeth for over an hour fretting on minute and irrelevant details. She had been avoiding her mother ever since; she had not even told her Mrs. Bennet of her dinner plans.
"You look lovely, dear," Mrs. Gardiner said as she emerged from the parlor. Mrs. Bennet came down the stairs behind her second born.
"Yes, you do look lovely, child. I am certain that Mr. Fowler will be pleased." Elizabeth turned to look at her mother.
"Mr. Fowler? Mama, I am dining with the Crenshaws tonight. Olivia's note said it was to be a simple family dinner. I do not believe that Mr. Fowler is invited." Mrs. Bennet's face became red.
"The Crenshaws? You most certainly are not dining with the Crenshaws this evening. I forbid it. I have invited Mr. Fowler to dine with us this evening--did I not sister?--and he has most graciously accepted. This is meant as a compliment to you, Lizzy, and I will not hear of you dining with the Crenshaws!" Elizabeth's mouth fell open. She looked at her aunt, whose face belied the truth. Mrs. Bennet had taken the liberty of inviting Mr. Fowler to dinner and only informed Mrs. Gardiner of the deed after he had accepted. Elizabeth looked at her uncle. He nodded to Elizabeth.
"Fanny, I gave Lizzy permission to dine with the Crenshaws this evening. It is too late for her to refuse the invitation now. Go on, Lizzy, the carriage is waiting for you." Elizabeth kissed her uncle and turned to leave.
"Wait right there, Miss Lizzy Bennet! I am your mother and I insist that you stay and dine with Mr. Fowler!" Elizabeth turned back and stared at her mother defiantly.
"He is your guest, Mama, not mine. You stay and dine with him!" Elizabeth raced to the carriage. As it pulled away, Elizabeth sat back and sighed. Maybe coming to London had not been a good idea after all. Had she stayed in Hertfordshire and spoken to Mr. Darcy--. But there was nothing to be gained in dwelling on the past. All she could do now is look forward to a quiet, pleasant evening among her friends, a turbulent and painful return to the Gardiners, and--if she was lucky--another chance to see Mr. Darcy on the morrow.
Nine
—
"Do not worry yourself, Lizzy. You know we never stand on ceremony here, and besides, our other guest is even later than you are," Olivia said with a sly smile.
"Another guest? Your note said nothing about--."
"I
need not tell you everything, need I?" Olivia seated herself on the settee next to Elise. Elizabeth claimed a chair close by as she began to explain the reason for her late arrival.
"You would not believe what I was subjected to while trying to leave the house this evening," Elizabeth began. She glanced at Elise and then quickly moderated her tone.
"Mama was not at all pleased that I came out tonight," she said more calmly. Elizabeth was about to take a seat when she heard the sound of men's voices in the hall.
"Darcy! At last! I thought I might starve to death awaiting your arrival," Colonel Fitzwilliam was heard to exclaim.
"Well, I hope you do not, for it would weigh very heavily on your mother's conscience. It was she who delayed me," Mr. Darcy said with a laugh. Elizabeth froze, her eyes fixed upon Olivia. Olivia smiled and nodded. Elizabeth rose to her full height and turned away from the door as it was opened. Tears were welling up in her eyes and she struggled to regain her composure.
"It would pain my dear Mama greatly to learn that you have abused her so abominably to her own son," the Colonel retorted. But Mr. Darcy was no longer listening. He had seen Elizabeth, or rather sensed Elizabeth's presence. He did not trust himself to look in her direction just yet. He knew that once he did, he would be unable to concentrate his attention on anything or anyone else. Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam led the male contingent of the party into the parlor, where Mr. Darcy greeted Elise and Olivia. He turned to face Elizabeth just as she regained her composure and turned toward him.
"Miss Bennet! We meet again. I seem to have been blessed with extraordinary good luck this week," Mr. Darcy said as he glanced meaningfully at Olivia and smiled.
"You are too kind, sir," Elizabeth managed, extending a trembling hand. Behind her, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Olivia exchanged smiles. Mr. Crenshaw suggested that the party adjourn to the dining room. Mr. Darcy offered to escort Elizabeth and she happily accepted his offer. To no one's surprise, Mr. Darcy claimed the seat beside Elizabeth at the table. When the soup had been served, Elise reminded Elizabeth that she had not finished her explanation of why she was late. Elizabeth blushed.
So Long, Sentiment Page 21