"Perhaps it is 'much ado about nothing'? " Jane replied. Elizabeth threw a pillow at her. "Lizzy, your course would appear to be simple: tomorrow make it perfectly clear to both Mr. Fowler and Mr. Darcy where your preference lies."
"And Mama?" Elizabeth asked, as she rose to blow out the candles on the vanity.
"You have me there," Jane conceded. "But once Mama knows your feelings...."
"When has she ever shown any indication of--."? Elizabeth sprang out of bed and relit the candle. She dug into her drawer in the tall bureau and drew out her writing materials.
"What are you doing, Lizzy?"
"Mama may understand nothing of my feelings, but I know who does," she responded, as she began to write a letter to her father.
• • •
Mr. Bingley arrived at Mr. Darcy's townhouse very early the next morning. He joined Mr. Darcy in the breakfast room and helped himself to a cup of steaming coffee while a footman filled his plate. When the footman was gone, Mr. Bingley sought to satisfy his curiosity.
"So, what is this about receiving an invitation to the Gardiners'?" he began as he sliced into his sausage.
"I had the good fortune to dine with Miss Bennet last night at the Crenshaws' and she invited me to come round this morning," Mr. Darcy said as he tucked into his own plate.
"Were you with the Gardiners last evening?"
"No. I spent the evening trying to talk Caroline out of joining the Hursts on the Continent. I do not know what came over her, but she suddenly expressed an urgent desire to quit London and go to Italy. I tried to talk her out of it but she was quite adamant about leaving as soon as possible." Mr. Bingley sat back and sighed. "I guess I am to have neither of my sisters at my wedding." Mr. Darcy was very surprised by the news but he said nothing.
"So tell me about your evening with the Crenshaws. How was it?" asked Mr. Bingley, who was not one to dwell on his own problems. He leaned toward Mr. Darcy expectantly. Mr. Darcy said nothing for a moment. He merely smiled, and Mr. Bingley joined him, remembering how he had felt when he had been reunited with Jane and began to dream of a future by her side.
"It was quite...pleasant," Mr. Darcy said with an enigmatic smile.
"Pleasant! Come on, man, you are positively beaming! It must have been more than merely 'pleasant.'" Mr. Bingley cried.
"Well, productive, then," Mr. Darcy added as he waved over a servant for a second helping.
"I have never thought of an evening in the company of a beautiful lady as 'productive,' Darcy. Stop being so bloody cryptic and tell me what happened!" Mr. Bingley challenged. Mr. Darcy sat back and recounted the evening, even including his jealous frustration with Mr. Fowler and Mr. Douglass.
"Why it even makes me jealous to think that you, who can virtually come and go as he pleases in Gracechurch Street, can see her almost at will," he declared, rising from his seat and pacing before Mr. Bingley.
"Well there is only one thing for it, Darcy," Mr. Bingley said airily. "Marry her!"
"Bingley that is exactly what I intend to do!" Darcy maintained. "I would ask her this minute if I could be certain that she would have me," he said in a much lower voice that conveyed all his doubts and insecurity.
"Darcy," Mr. Bingley said, as he rose and put a supportive hand on his friend's shoulder. "Why is it that you are the only person in Christendom who doubts Miss Elizabeth's feelings for you?"
"Then you think that she does love me?" Mr. Darcy asked hopefully. Mr. Bingley threw back his head and laugh. "I am only slightly less sure that the sun will rise upon the morrow," he said, and he led his friend toward the door. As they made their way to Mr. Bingley's carriage, a servant strode up to Mr. Darcy and handed him a letter. Mr. Darcy quickly perused its contents, and with a smile of satisfaction, excused himself to return to the house for a few minutes. Inside, he gave precise instructions to Mr. Harris before he stepped into Mr. Bingley's barouche and headed for Gracechurch Street.
Elizabeth dressed with special care and descended to the breakfast room where she knew she would have a private moment with her aunt and uncle. Jane had also risen early, but her sore ankle would delay her progress, so Elizabeth took advantage of the opportunity to seek out her relatives' advice. She greeted them each with a hug and kiss before joining them at table.
"How was your evening at the Crenshaws', dear?" Mrs. Gardiner asked as she poured out a cup of chocolate for her niece.
"It was wonderful, Aunt Gardiner. Livy invited Mr. Darcy to dine with them as well." Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner exchanged smiles.
"So you have seen the gentleman at last," Mr. Gardiner said.
"Yes, and I have invited him to call on us this morning," she confessed. "Of course, that was before I knew that Mama had also invited Mr. Fowler," Elizabeth said as she spread jam on a biscuit.
"They are friends are they not?" Mrs. Gardiner asked naively. Mr. Gardiner, however, understood the problem.
"Mr. Darcy's regard for you is not so tenuous that he would be put off by this upstart Fowler?" he asked with some concern.
"I am not sure how 'tenuous' Mr. Darcy's regard for me is, and uncle, and I am unlikely to find out if my mother is here simpering and fawning over her precious Mr. Fowler," Elizabeth replied heatedly. "I am afraid Mr. Darcy and my mother have never got on well, and she is unlikely to make any effort to see good in Mr. Darcy while she has Mr. Fowler in her sights." Mrs. Gardiner sighed. "Jane said that I should leave Mr. Darcy in absolutely no doubt of my feelings," Elizabeth continued, staring into her empty cup. Mrs. Gardiner rose to refill it. "But I am not completely sure what my own feelings are."
"Are you not?" Mrs. Gardiner asked softly as she resumed her seat. Mr. Gardiner glanced at his wife.
"Well, you do know your heart where Mr. Fowler is concerned. You would be well advised to leave Mr. Fowler in no doubt, if you take my meaning."
"My thoughts exactly, brother," Mrs. Bennet cried from the door where she had overheard his last statement. "I think you should pay heed to your uncle's advice, Lizzy," she said. "A gentleman suitor should be left in absolutely no doubt of where his lady's affections lie." A crooked, ironic smile suffused Elizabeth's face.
"If you insist, Mama."
An hour later found the ladies of the house chiefly occupied with women's work. Mrs. Gardiner worked on a piece of tatted lace, and Elizabeth and Jane embroidered handkerchiefs. Mrs. Bennet was far too flustered by the prospect of Mr. Fowler's arrival to put her time to constructive use. She had picked up and thrown down her knitting twice, and had finally given up all pretense of concentration in favor of pacing back and forth before the windows. She suddenly sputtered and began to scurry about the room excitedly.
"He is here, he is here, Lizzy! The carriage just pulled up outside. Now, I want you to be as pleasant and as encouraging as you possibly can," Mrs. Bennet demanded breathlessly. "Eight thousand pounds a year," she whispered to herself as she picked up her knitting and assumed a pose of absolute indifference to the sound of approaching footsteps. Elizabeth looked at Jane and Mrs. Gardiner and sighed deeply. The door opened and Mr. Bingley, followed by Mr. Darcy, entered.
"Good morning ladies," Mr. Bingley said with a bow. Elizabeth and Jane suppressed a giggle, for their mother's disappointment was blatantly obvious, although nothing compared with her shock at spying Mr. Darcy.
"Oh, it is just you, Mr. Bingley." She barely spared a glance for the tall man. "Mr. Darcy," she spat. Mrs. Gardiner rose and welcomed Mr. Darcy with all the grace and cordiality that was in her nature. Elizabeth also rose, and following her mother's advice to leave her suitor in no doubt of her affections, she smiled warmly and invited Mr. Darcy to sit beside her. Mr. Darcy paused by Jane to ask about the condition of her ankle before he took the seat next to her in the window. Mrs. Gardiner poured him a cup of tea, and Elizabeth had just begun to chat with him, when Mrs. Bennet interrupted.
"We did not know you were in town, Mr. Darcy." Mr. Darcy replied that he had arrived in town just after Miss Bennet; in fact, h
e had met the Gardiners and Miss Bennet at the theatre just recently. Having silenced Mrs. Bennet for the moment, Elizabeth attempted to continue her conversation, when Mrs. Bennet interrupted again.
"Lizzy is expecting a caller this morning, Mr. Darcy," Mrs. Bennet said in hopes of hastening his departure. "You perhaps know Mr. Fowler?"
"Yes, I do," Mr. Darcy said tightly.
"Mr. Fowler has been paying my daughter most particular attention. He seems quite taken with her," Mrs. Bennet smiled. Elizabeth looked worriedly at Mr. Darcy.
"That does not surprise me in the least, Mrs. Bennet, with such a charming and amiable daughter as yours." Elizabeth's smile lit up the room. The warmth with which Mr. Darcy praised Elizabeth surprised Mrs. Bennet, but she soon regained her stride.
"Mr. Fowler came to dine here last night, but Lizzy insisted on going to dinner at the Crenshaws. Mr. Fowler was most disappointed. But Lizzy has promised to be here to receive Mr. Fowler's attentions this morning, and we expect him at any moment." She looked at Mr. Darcy pointedly. Across the room, Jane and Mr. Bingley exchanged worried glances. But Mrs. Gardiner spoke up first to ease the tension.
"Mr. Darcy actually introduced us to Mr. Fowler, Fanny," she began, casting about for aught else to say.
"Oh, then we have you to thank, Mr. Darcy, for Lizzy's good fortune in attracting such a fine man." Elizabeth glanced down at Mr. Darcy's hand and saw his knuckles turn white. She attempted to disarm him with a laugh.
"Mama, you are behaving as though Mr. Fowler is a beau; I assure you, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Fowler means far more to my mother than he will ever be to me." She searched his eyes for a sign of understanding, and seeing it flickering deep in his dark brooding eyes, she smiled and allowed herself to breathe again. A look of horror grazed her mother's face momentarily, but as quickly as it had come upon her it was gone. She instantly assumed that Elizabeth was joking. "I understand that your sister is to come to town for Colonel Fitzwilliam and Olivia's engagement dinner," Elizabeth said quickly, lest her mother intervened again. "You spoke of her so warmly at Netherfield and in Kent. Do you think that we might have a chance to meet while she is in town?" Elizabeth blushed, realizing that she was openly begging for an invitation, but she did not care. She was determined to follow her mother's instructions to the letter. Mr. Darcy would know where he stood with her before he left that day, regardless of what it cost her.
"As a matter of fact, Miss Bennet, my sister Georgiana has expressed a similar interest in meeting you. I hope you will permit me to introduce her to you at Colonel Fitzwilliam's engagement dinner," Mr. Darcy smiled.
"Oh, but I--."
"Your invitations should arrive today," Mr. Darcy said to the whole room. "Aunt Rebecca added your names to her guest list the moment she arrived in town." Elizabeth beamed.
"An engagement dinner...hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam, you say," Mrs. Bennet said abstractedly, visions of social opportunities danced in her head.
"It is Lord and Lady Fitzwilliam, Mama. Colonel Fitzwilliam is the son of the Earl of Matlock," Elizabeth corrected her. Mrs. Bennet immediately seized upon this bit of information. Everyone else in the room instinctively cringed.
"An earl? Really! Leave it to Olivia Crenshaw to capture the affections of a future earl. Very ambitious, that girl..." Mrs. Bennet muttered.
"Mama!" Jane and Elizabeth cried simultaneously.
"My cousin is the younger son, madam," Mr. Darcy said evenly with forced calmness. He was nearing the end of his patience. He continued to find it inconceivable that Jane and Elizabeth Bennet shared blood with the infuriating woman.
"So Olivia's fiancé is your cousin," Mrs. Bennet said calculatingly.
"I explained this all to you when I told first you of Livy's engagement," Lizzy said be fore her mother could speculate on the number of connections such an alliance could bring her girls. "I told you that I had met Colonel Fitzwilliam in Kent--."
"Yes and you obviously frittered away your opportunity to secure him," Mrs. Bennet huffed. Elizabeth's eyes bulged open.
"The Colonel was already quite in love with Olivia, Mother," she cried, "and I had already..." She caught herself before she openly declared her love for Mr. Darcy, but Jane and Mrs. Gardiner knew what Elizabeth held back, even if neither Mr. Darcy nor Mrs. Bennet did. Mr. Bingley all but cried out "Aha!" He contented himself with a large and triumphant grin that Jane's hard nudge could not dislodge. The sound of voices in the hall spared Elizabeth the stares that turned her face crimson. Mr. Darcy's look was merely of curiosity, but Elizabeth could not meet his eyes. The door to the parlor opened and Mr. Fowler entered the room with Mr. Gardiner.
"Look who I met as I returned from my walk," Mr. Gardiner said. Mr. Fowler came forward and greeted everyone. Mrs. Bennet was effusive in her welcome. Mr. Fowler greeted Mr. Darcy somewhat like a fox caught among the sheep, and Mr. Darcy gave him no quarter. He resumed his seat beside Elizabeth, much to her relief, with a proprietary demeanor. Mr. Gardiner claimed the nearest seat on Elizabeth's other side before Mr. Fowler was aware of its availability. Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Darcy easily fell into conversation, Elizabeth joining in upon occasion. Mr. Darcy felt at ease with the gentleman, and understood that he and Mrs. Gardiner had been strong influences on Elizabeth and Jane. Mr. Fowler, meanwhile, was forced to sit near Mrs. Bennet, much to his chagrin. She once again fawned and fussed over him, praising his every opinion. Mr. Fowler kept his focus on Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, until noticing his distraction, Mrs. Bennet rose and approached them.
"You are being very rude, Mr. Darcy, holding Lizzy prisoner here while she has other guests to entertain. Come, Lizzy," she demanded, tugging at her hand. Elizabeth reluctantly rose and was made to sit in a chair closer to Mr. Fowler. But even as he paid her his addresses, Mr. Fowler's eyes were on Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Darcy's eyes were upon Elizabeth's. Elizabeth's eyes flitted about, to Jane and Mr. Bingley, to her aunt, her uncle; she looked at everyone and everything in the room except Mr. Fowler, Mr. Darcy and her mother until, summoning her courage, Elizabeth lifted her eyes to Mr. Darcy and held them there. When Mr. Fowler saw Mr. Darcy smile, he looked at Elizabeth and knew he would lose this fight. Mrs. Bennet, however, was very displeased by her daughter's continued staring at Mr. Darcy.
"Lizzy!" she cried. "It is rude to stare," she whispered so that only Elizabeth and Mr. Fowler could hear her. "I know you have always disliked Mr. Darcy but do not always stare at him so. I believe the man takes perverse pleasure in it. I dare say it suits his vanity." Mr. Fowler smiled.
"I thought that you and Mr. Darcy were friends, Miss Bennet," he said, his spirits rallying.
"We are very good friends, indeed, Mr. Fowler. My mother is greatly mistaken in saying that I dislike him. We did not get along well when we first met, but we have become good friends these last few months since we learned to understand each other," she said her eyes twinkling. Elizabeth heard her mother's hiss of disapproval. But Mrs. Bennet thought it unwise to insult Mr. Darcy in front of Mr. Fowler.
Mr. Darcy, for his part, had seen enough to reassure him. Mr. Fowler could not separate him from Elizabeth. Mrs. Bennet, of course, would continue to be a thorn in his side, but she was an opportunity cost he was willing to bear in order to have Elizabeth by his side. Mr. Darcy rose to take his leave, much to Elizabeth's consternation, and her mother's delight.
"I am afraid I must take my leave. I have a matter of business I must attend to," he said. He thanked Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner for their hospitality and Mrs. Gardiner expressed her hope that he would soon return as a dinner guest.
"I should be delighted, madam, sir," he said with a bow. Elizabeth rose and offered her hand. Mr. Darcy's smile stilled the fluttering in her heart.
"I look forward to seeing you this Saturday, Miss Bennet," he said. Elizabeth returned the smile and whispered that she also looked forward to the evening. Mrs. Bennet was aghast by her daughter's apparent intimacy with the accursed Mr. Darcy.
Mr. Darcy! D! It could not, it must not
be! No, it is Mr. Douglass, and she merely wants to deceive me. My Lizzy would have nothing whatsoever to do with that conceited, odious man! As quickly as the notion arose in her mind she had dismissed it as an utter impossibility.
Mr. Bingley and Jane called Elizabeth over to involve her in some debate about their wedding arrangements. The talk of weddings excited Mrs. Bennet's interest.
"I do love a wedding, Mr. Fowler, such gaiety, such happiness! And you know what they say: one wedding begets another!" Her meaning was all too obvious and the ladies in the room, save Mrs. Bennet blushed in embarrassment. Mr. Fowler beat a hasty retreat as soon as propriety permitted.
"Oh, it is a shame he had to leave so soon, Lizzy," Mrs. Bennet said consolingly to Elizabeth, who was only too glad to see him leave, "And without an indication of when he is likely to return. Lizzy you must make a point of being home every morning in future, lest Mr. Fowler appear unexpectedly and miss you. It would be tragic to waste such an opportunity."
"I doubt that I shall have any such 'opportunity,' Mama. We are to return to Longbourn soon, or have you forgotten," she said, hoping that her father's letter would soon summon them all home, or at the very least, Mrs. Bennet.
"Oh, well we shall have to invite Mr. Fowler to the wedding, Jane. Mr. Bingley, you could give him lodgings at Netherfield. That way he will have ample opportunity to be among the family, and who knows? Perhaps there will be a second wedding for me to plan." Elizabeth rolled her eyes, and went up to her room. She lay on the bed and remembered Mr. Darcy's glowing compliment and the look in his eyes as he departed. Elizabeth had accomplished her mission. She had left Mr. Darcy in no doubt of her affections, and in doing so, she was no longer in any doubt of her own.
• • •
Elizabeth was in her room reading when she heard a knock upon the door. It opened to reveal the elder of her two nephews, who poked his head in and told her that her father wished to see her in her uncle's study. Elizabeth lifted her head from the pillow, certain that she had heard the boy incorrectly. She rose and hurried downstairs, her curiosity mounting as she approached the door. She could hear the voices of both her parents from within. Her father was indeed in London!
So Long, Sentiment Page 23