Flirtation and Folly

by Anna Harlow

  “Indeed not, sir, not when you are the daughter of the village’s mayor,” Elizabeth answered for her. “Sir William is constantly being called upon to take his family places, to dine or to dance, or even to enjoy a recital. There is seldom an evening wherein Charlotte can enjoy some time alone.”

  “But do not feel sorry for me over it,” Charlotte added, smiling. “I find it quite diverting, to be always in high demand. Now, if only I could say that it has helped me to find a suitable marriage so that I might run my own home—that, I regretfully cannot claim.”

  “I cannot imagine why that should be,” Mr. Percy exclaimed. “Were there not enough gentlemen present to allow for such a claim?”

  “That is part of the trouble, to be sure,” she explained. “As Lizzy will surely tell you, many a young woman has been forced to be a wallflower at the assembly balls. Would that the regiment had settled in Meryton, so that we could have enough male dancers to round out the party!”

  “Perhaps I and a few of my fellows ought to come out to Meryton to dance sometime,” said Percy suggestively. “For I have yet to find myself a manor to my liking, and I may well discover that Hertfordshire is a most excellent place to dwell.”

  “Oh, sir, you are too late I fear,” said Elizabeth. “For the most eligible manor was recently snapped up by Mr. Bingley. Which was how Mr. Darcy came to be there.”

  “This Bingley is a friend of yours?” Percy asked Mr. Darcy curiously.

  “The best friend I have,” said Darcy, smiling. “And, I suspect, now a very great friend to the Bennet household as well. I believe he has taken quite a fancy to Miss Elizabeth’s elder sister.”

  “Sir, never say that,” said Elizabeth, chuckling. “Did he actually tell you so?”

  “He did not have to, my dear. For you must have seen the manner in which the gentleman fauns over her.”

  “I have, sir,” she agreed. “But that does not always mean that a match will follow, you know.”

  “Yes, it is quite clear that Bingley likes Jane, but she is so shy and modest that she fails to help him along in his regard,” Charlotte pointed out. “If she really likes him, she must show more affection, not less, to accomplish that goal.”

  Darcy laughed. “And is this always how young ladies speak of us gentlemen concerning such matters?”

  “Women are a scheming lot, Darcy, are they not?” asked Fitzwilliam as he flopped back on the blanket and stretched out his feet. “But then, how do you expect them to become a group of scheming mothers intent on marrying off their daughters if they do not practice the skill in their youth?”

  “And what do they do if they bear sons?” Darcy wanted to know.

  “That, sir, I could not tell you,” Elizabeth commented dryly. “I can only tell you that a woman with five daughters had better get the art of scheming down quite well.”

  “Such as your own mother?” he teased.

  “Her skills in the art are legendary, sir, I assure you.”

  “I am rather enjoying the time here with all of you,” said Percy, clearly amused by the conversation. “I believe I agree with Charlotte. I should not like to leave this place for the rest of the day.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  When Elizabeth went out for a morning walk the following day, she was not greatly surprised to discover Mr. Darcy ambling along in the fields outside of Rosings as well. In fact, she had to admit that somewhere in the back of her mind she had been hoping that just such a meeting would occur.

  “Mr. Darcy, I see that you are true to your word about walking out each day,” she said, smiling as he offered her his arm.

  “Indeed, yes,” he said with a gratified smile when she took it. “I find it quite invigorating. Shall we walk this way together?”

  “Of course,” Elizabeth agreed. The two of them walked together for a time, sharing casual conversation and remarking often upon the surrounding scenery. With happy birds in the trees, and the wild flowers blooming all around them, in that regard there was plenty to see. At length, however, they had reached the parsonage, which was Elizabeth’s eventual destination, whereupon she said, “Well then, I am coming to see my sister. It has been quite pleasant, sir, but for now I must bid you good day.”

  “Perhaps we might walk out again tomorrow?” he inquired.

  “We must see how it goes, sir,” she replied. “If our habits hold true, it is certain I shall find you again.”

  “Or I, you,” he teased, tracing his finger down the length of her face.

  Elizabeth frowned and quickly hurried away. Her heart was racing as she entered the large house and inquired after Kitty.

  “Mrs. Collins is in her private parlor this morning,” the maid supplied, and Elizabeth soon entered, there to find that Charlotte had also come visiting for the morning.

  “Oh, Lizzy, you’ll never believe it,” she said excitedly. “Mr. Collins has agreed to hold a dinner party for us here, and he is to include Darcy and Fitz, and even Anne if she is well enough. He had also inquired of Lady Catherine, but she has declared that it is better for her to remain home and allow the young people to have their own little party.”

  “Yes, and Mr. Collins has even agreed that we shall have over his good friend, Mr. Tinker, who plays the cello, so that we can have dancing!” added Kitty excitedly. “Oh, Lizzy, I did not think my husband would be so very amiable, considering his profession and overall demeanor, but I find I am quite pleased to discover I was wrong about him.”

  “When is this dinner to be?” asked Elizabeth curiously.

  “Tomorrow night, Lizzy! Oh, I do hope Anne will be able to come. It should please Mr. Darcy greatly, don’t you think?”

  A surge of jealousy slammed into Elizabeth’s gut at the notion that Anne might be pleasing to Darcy. Surely not, since they had both expressed a disinterest in forming such a union. And yet, with Lady Catherine remaining so insistent that the pair spend time together, it was not impossible that she may get her wish, even if neither one had any such hopes for themselves.

  “Lizzy, what on earth is the matter?” Charlotte asked her. “I have never before seen such a frown from you.”

  “Was I frowning? Forgive me, my mind was completely somewhere else.”

  “Don’t worry, Lizzy, the Colonel shall certainly be here too,” Kitty teased her. “And that should please you.”

  “I confess, the Colonel can be quite diverting, but I am sure there is no special attachment between the two of us,” said Elizabeth. “As he has said, he is very much married to the army.”

  “Never tell me that you are still interested in Mr. Darcy?” Charlotte asked, her hand flying up to her mouth to cover her laughing. “Oh, I never would have guessed such a thing!”

  “Who said I have any interest in Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth complained. “You know what he did to Mr. Wickham. Such an odious, unfeeling behavior. I should be quite appalled to associate with such a creature beyond what is politely required, I can assure you. I do not care for him at all.”

  “Take care, Lizzy, I think you protest too loudly,” Charlotte pointed out.

  “Oh, Lizzy, you must take care,” cried Kitty. “You must know that Mr. Darcy is practically engaged already. Lady Catherine is quite adamant about the arrangement. You will not want to do anything that might upset her.”

  Elizabeth did not walk out into the fields the next morning, but instead spent the morning in a long, hot bath which Channing had insisted on preparing for her. “You will want to be fresh for the evening, Miss Bennet, for it is certain that one gentleman or the other of your choosing might endeavor to flirt with you, do you not think?”

  Elizabeth laughed at her musings. “I think that you pay far more attention to what goes on around Kent than you ought to be.”

  “Sorry, miss, it is only that I hear you and Miss Charlotte talking,” she explained. “But in that regard, I feel there is something that I must ask you. Have you ever attempted, Miss Elizabeth, to discern if what you were told by Mr. Wickham was
actually the truth? I have met the gentleman myself, and though his manners are quite pretty, I can assure you that he is quite a nefarious character. You cannot know if his assertions were true or false, though he may have made them with eloquence.”

  “What know you of the gentleman that makes you say that?”

  “I have had it from Mrs. Farrow, who is a maid in the King’s household, that he is a true bounder. The gentleman found one of the scullery maids there to his liking and tried to have his way with the girl. Luckily, he quit the house before he managed to accomplish the deed, but I can assure you of one thing—it is Miss King’s money, and not her heart, the gentleman must surely care about.”

  “So you think that Mr. Darcy has not denied him his money as the gentleman states?”

  “I think your only way to know is to ask Mr. Darcy yourself,” she insisted. “You may discover, miss, that you have disliked the gentleman for no good reason at all.”

  “Thank you, Channing.” She sighed. “I shall give the matter more thought.”

  That evening, the gentlemen arrived, including Mr. Percy, who had been invited for Charlotte. However, it was discovered that Anne was again unwell, and unable to attend.

  “So unfortunate, for I had hoped I might see her again,” Kitty lamented. “Though she is frail, she is an avid reader. We managed to read a book of poems to each other shortly before the arrival of my sister and her friend, and I would not mind finding occasion to do so again.”

  “It is certain that once all the company has gone, you will get your chance again, my sweet Catherine,” Mr. Collins reassured her. “Unless, of course, a certain desirable event should finally take place, and Miss Anne might be whisked off to Derbyshire at last.”

  “I can assure you, sir, that such an event shall not happen,” said Mr. Darcy, frowning. “For I should worry that such a long trip may very well end her life, and if it did not, that the subsequent night or any issue from it would do the job admirably. I shall not become the means of my own cousin’s early demise, no matter how much Lady Catherine may wish it.”

  “Sir, I admire your conviction about sparing your cousin’s life,” said Mr. Collins, his hands working together as he attempted to overcome his flustered state. “But to go against the express wishes of such a great and noble lady is ill-advised. Surely, there must be some sort of a compromise?”

  “None that I have been able to devise,” Darcy assured him. “I shall simply have to look elsewhere for a more suitable wife. But do not concern yourself with such matters at present, sir. Until such an occurrence were to be forthcoming, I shall keep the opinion to myself. I would not wish to bring about my aunt’s censure prematurely.”

  “That is wise, sir,” he agreed, ready now to speak to anybody else but the pariah who would defy his noble patroness so unduly. He quickly said to Fitzwilliam, “And, pray, how are you doing this evening, Colonel? Will you be remaining in Kent throughout the summer, sir?”

  “I am not needed back in Dover for another month complete,” he replied. “At present, I cannot see any reason to depart from such pleasant company. Normally, I do not care to linger long at Rosings, since it is very unlike my own life. Yet, for reasons I dare not mention, I am very eager to remain here this time.”

  He cast Elizabeth a look that was meant to clearly suggest his admiration for her, even though she knew herself it was but a ruse. She blushed accordingly, but only because she was too aware of the tension that built up between her and Mr. Darcy the instant this behavior met his eyes.

  During the meal, Elizabeth was seated with Darcy on one side of her, and Fitzwilliam on the other. Admittedly, she was quite confused as to how she should feel as both gentlemen attempted to dance attendance upon her. It was clear that Darcy had every intention of playing the part more willfully than his cousin, for after a time Fitzwilliam turned away from them to join in a conversation with Mr. Tinker, who had a brother in the regulars and thus enjoyed talking about politics and the probability that the young man might be sent to France.

  Once they were being ignored, Mr. Darcy was quick to lean toward Elizabeth’s ear and say, “I missed seeing you this morning, my dear. I had thought surely you would be there.”

  She blushed. “I could not be, sir. I was kept home to prepare for the evening. Did not the bath bring out the shine in my hair?”

  “I pray you will not speak of bathing, sweetheart, when I should so much enjoy seeing my angel do that very thing,” he teased her. “Would that Master Will could have his way, I should very much like to take you swimming.”

  “Shocking, abominable reply, sir,” she whispered back. “How should I punish you for such a speech?”

  “I shall think of a suitable punishment, madam, when I see you in the morning,” he said, his eyes boring into her own meaningfully.

  Elizabeth smiled as she stared down at her food. “Very well,” she agreed.

  Chapter Fourteen

  On the following morning, Elizabeth’s heart fluttered wildly in her chest. She had such flutterings in her belly that she began to wonder if she had inherited a bout of nerves from her mother. This idea she tamped down with much ferocity, for her mother’s nerves had been a great contention in that lady’s marriage, and she certainly wanted no such misgivings if she, herself, should ever marry.

  The notion of marriage brought the gentleman she was to meet this morning into much sharper focus in her mind. If Channing was right, and Darcy had never done the abominable deed of which Wickham accused him, what excuse then could she have to continue to dislike him? Indeed, why did she persist in saying she did not like him, if the very thought of meeting with him for a walk this morning had her in such a state?

  No, clearly the exchange with him from last night had left her bewitched, and she must endeavor to combat her feelings somehow and bring her mind back to some sense of sanity. Otherwise, who could say what the two of them might get up to today?

  She walked out to the fields eagerly, and yet when she arrived at the place where she hoped to find Mr. Darcy, she found Colonel Fitzwilliam in his place. Tamping down a dejected sigh, she painted a smile onto her face.

  “Colonel Fitzwilliam, what a surprise to find you out walking this morning,” she said. “I am surprised you are not out here with Mr. Darcy, for did he not say that both of you enjoy the endeavor equally?”

  “That we do, Miss Bennet, and yet today Darcy has been deprived of it,” he commented dryly. “You see, Miss Anne’s birthday celebration is coming up very soon, and, unfortunately, Lady Catherine has convinced Mr. Darcy that he must help her to plan the thing. She has hauled him most unwilling off to the store for shopping, and he has asked me to come here today to convey his regret that he will not be able to see you.”

  “I see,” she said, sighing.

  “An assignation, Miss Bennet?” he teased. “Could it be that our bit of flirting is working?”

  “It was certainly not an assignation, sir,” said Elizabeth, blushing profusely. “Mr. Darcy simply knows of my enjoyment of walking in the morning and must surely have assumed that I would be here as usual. Certainly, there was no scheduled meeting.”

  He chuckled. “That is not the way that Darcy made it seem. He was quite put out by the whole thing.”

  “I see,” she said again, blushing more than ever. “Perhaps it had more to do with being told he must go shopping than it did with me personally?”

  “I doubt that very much,” Fitzwilliam scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest as he regarded her openly. “Do you know, Miss Bennet, I do not think that making Darcy jealous is at all the thing. He is clearly pining for you, and if my eyes do not deceive me, this attraction seems to be quite mutual. Would it not be much better for the two of you to admit to the thing and have done with it?”

  Elizabeth bit at her bottom lip. “Colonel, can you tell me something? It is quite important to my estimation of the gentleman of whom we speak, and I find myself far too shy to ask him about it directly, since he can
sometimes be quite severe.”

  “What is it, Miss Elizabeth? I shall answer you if I am capable.”

  “What can you tell me about Mr. Darcy’s dealings with Mr. Wickham?”

  “Wickham? That bounder?” he growled. “How do you even know about such a scoundrel?”

  “We met at a dinner party,” she explained. “I was seated next to him, and while I was there he made free to tell me of his childhood years spent in Darcy’s company. But he said one thing in particular which has troubled me greatly. Did the gentleman ever receive an inheritance from old Mr. Darcy, or did his son refuse him as Wickham has said?”