Master Under Good Regulation

by Kara Louise

  I easily recognized the hurt that suddenly flooded my master’s eyes. It was the same hurt that I had seen when his father died and when he would ponder the hurt his sister experienced. It was disheartening to realize that Miss Elizabeth did not recognize my master’s attempts to bridge the distance between them. Perhaps this was going to be more difficult than I anticipated.

  He softly answered, “I do not dare.”

  A subdued silence took hold of everyone for the remainder of the evening. I believe that although Miss Elizabeth seemed oblivious to the fact, Miss Bingley was becoming strongly suspicious that she was gaining my master’s favour. My master, on the other hand, whilst succumbing to some wayward yearnings to engage Miss Elizabeth, knew not how to do it in a way that his admiration would be evident to her without opening it to the scrutiny of Bingley and his relations. Struggling openly with me on the subject of her unsuitability, I suspected he inwardly rejoiced at her set downs, hoping they would make his task at putting her out of his thoughts easier. I flatter myself that in this matter, I understood his heart better than he, for I believe he found that they caused her to have an even greater appeal to him.

  That night he was tormented with sleeplessness again, although he remained silent on the subject of Miss Elizabeth save for one utterance. With a great sense of desperation he looked at me and said, “There appears to be nothing she can do to affront me, Reggie. I truly believe that, were it not for the inferiority of her connections, I should be in very great danger!”

  For much of the evening, as he tossed and turned, I contemplated what that danger might be. I knew Miss Elizabeth would never harm anyone. I had to surmise, however, that the danger of which he spoke referred to allowing himself the liberty to fall in love with her. Would it certainly cause him such great distress to give consideration to this woman simply owing to her “inferiority of connections?” I could not construe one reasonable answer.

  It was my turn, then, to feel the full force of the affront that eluded him. I was disconsolate in the realization that he was allowing those inferior connections to interfere with what I believed would be a more than suitable attachment. It was perplexing to me that this was the same young man who eschewed superior lineage to choose me as his companion. I was determined to show that judgment of merit over bloodlines should hold for Miss Elizabeth as well.

  I knew I had little time left. I knew he was aware of how she treated me and how much I held her in my regard. I had to do something desperate! And soon!

  *~*~*

  Morning dawned with bright rays of the sun shining through the window. A beautiful day beckoned and my master promised me a walk later that morning.

  After eating a light breakfast, he and I furtively stepped out, hoping to escape the company of Miss Bingley. To my disappointment, Miss Elizabeth had not as yet come down from her sister’s room.

  As we stepped out, I made every effort to devise some means by which Miss Elizabeth would join us on our walk, but nothing came to mind. I was interrupted from my musings when Miss Bingley unexpectedly and quite lamentably appeared in the lane, assaulting us with her presence. We were both taken aback as she insisted upon joining us.

  My master and I both held out hope that the extent to which we wished to walk would soon become tiresome for her, but unfortunately she remained steadfastly by his side. Thus, our anticipation for a leisurely and pleasurable stroll as well as any plans I might devise to include Miss Elizabeth were thwarted quite cruelly.

  When Miss Elizabeth and Mrs. Hurst unexpectedly came upon us, I was rapturous, as I believed Miss Elizabeth’s lively and amiable presence on our walk would endear her to my master wholeheartedly. This would certainly make for a more enjoyable diversion!

  But to my dismay, neither sister seemed inclined to show any civility toward Miss Elizabeth. I watched incredulously as Mrs. Hurst sidled up alongside of my master, taking his one free arm, thereby effectively excluding Miss Elizabeth from joining us on our walk as the path only admitted three. I felt the rudeness strongly and could only hope that Miss Elizabeth would not blame my master for the sisters’ lack of courtesy. Apparently my master felt it as well, for he offered that they take the avenue instead, which would accommodate all four of them.

  The two sisters looked at him with much displeasure for his suggestion, but Miss Elizabeth laughingly answered, “No, no; stay where you are. You are charmingly grouped, and appear to uncommon advantage. The picturesque would be spoilt by admitting a fourth. Good bye.”

  Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst seemed content with Miss Elizabeth’s response and in unison turned so that my master was forced to walk away with each lady on an arm. I watched as he guardedly turned his head to see Miss Elizabeth gaily run off. When he turned his attention back to the ladies, I decided to leave him and follow my new friend, hoping it would compel him to come after me and join Miss Elizabeth.

  She ran a short distance and stopped when she espied me dutifully following her. Looking down, she laughed. “Why, Reggie! What are you doing here?”

  I offered up a paw to her in apology for the rudeness to which she had just been subjected, wagging my tail to show my earnest. She stooped down and beckoned me to come. When I approached her, she cupped my face with her hands.

  “Reggie, how pleasant it is to witness such gracious and affable manners! I asked you this once and I shall ask you again. How is it that you are so polite when he is so ill mannered?”

  She reached down and picked up a stick and I waited with great expectancy for her to throw it. But instead of letting it go, she held onto it; resolutely pounding it into her open palm.

  “He certainly is an enigma, Reggie. If he is not brooding and silent, he is critical of everyone and everything he sees. I sense his disdain for me as sure as I do Miss Bingley’s.”

  I found it difficult keeping my eyes adhered to the stick whilst attending to her words about my master. Unfortunately, the words were neither heartening to me nor complimentary to him.

  “One would think that a man of education and striking advantage would somewhere along the way have acquired even the most basic civilities.” She paused contemplatively. “Perhaps he does not oblige himself to attend to those for whom he sees no advantage to himself.” She let out a breathy laugh. “If that is the case, Reggie, I can hardly expect that he would concern himself with satisfying my demands for well-mannered behaviour.”

  She continued to tease me with the stick as she dispirited me with her words. “And his idea of an accomplished woman! Has he ever met a lady who has attained all that? I would imagine that even all the ladies he has met in the ton would scarcely meet his unrivalled expectations.”

  I sadly realized that she was completely unaware that my master considered her to be most accomplished. Miss Elizabeth may not be all the things Miss Bingley had in her list of accomplishments, but she certainly possessed the ones my master deemed essential. My tail gave a few fervent thumps against the ground, surging from a deep sense of frustration at the manner in which my master and Miss Elizabeth continually misapprehended one another.

  She unexpectedly gave the stick a spirited toss and with a great laugh, called out, “Fetch!”

  My legs responded with little thought as I quickly set out to retrieve it. But at my old age, my eagerness to please her propelled me more than my vigour, and I returned to her panting, but in proud possession of the stick.

  “Good boy, Reggie. You are an infinitely preferable companion,” she affirmed, as she took the stick and patted the top of my head.

  We began walking again and I glanced about me to ascertain whether my master had come in search of me. I was disappointed that he did not seem inclined to oblige my scheme by coming after me.

  I turned my attentions back to the path along which we were walking and found myself even more dismayed at Miss Elizabeth’s next words. “You must see how he looks at me, Reggie, when I am petting the top of your head. I am quite sure he is of the opinion that a fine, well-bred wo
man should refrain from bestowing her attentions on a mere dog!”

  I could not but whine in commiseration as I realized I had seen that look as well. However, rather than condemnation of her actions, I believed his severe countenance was due more to his imagining that instead of her fingers combing through my fur, they were running through his hair.

  “Forgive me, Reggie. I did not intend to refer to you as a “mere” dog. You are quite special and it is only for that reason that I enjoy bestowing my attentions to you.” Her voice softened. “Sometimes I feel that save for Jane’s excellent Mr. Bingley, you are the only friend I have at Netherfield.”

  She threw the stick again and then walked over to a fallen log, upon which she sat. I laid the retrieved stick carefully before her and rested my head in her lap.

  “Tell me, Reggie,” she whispered. “What secrets can you divulge of your master?” She looked at me with her shining, dark eyes. “I pride myself on being an excellent studier of character and he has proven to be the most difficult I have ever encountered.”

  It was difficult for me to give any thought to what she was saying as her fingers found the place behind my ears that caused me to moan unwittingly again. At any rate, she did not seem inclined to wait for an answer on my part.

  “Do you recollect how last night he seemed to take great delight in arguing with me about whether Mr. Bingley would readily yield to another friend’s request, and then -- quite unexpectedly -- in the next moment, he asks me to dance a reel?”

  She stood up laughing, taking my forward paws in her hands. As dear little Georgiana did when she first learned, Miss Elizabeth pretended to dance with me. I gladly assumed the role of her partner. “Dance a reel! In the drawing room! But I would not let him get the better of me! I cleverly foiled his attempt to discredit me. I remained silent and refused to accept his absurd request.”

  Taking several more steps forwards and backwards, she abruptly stopped, a puzzled countenance overtaking her fine features. “And yet there was something else.” She tilted her head to the side as she tried to put her finger on what it was. “A hint of gallantry, perhaps?”

  She looked down at me, the sudden sound of her laughter as refreshing to me as a spring rain. “Mr. Darcy gallant?” She laughed again. “Ludicrous, Reggie! Simply ludicrous!”

  Miss Elizabeth continued to hold my paws and dance. As much as I enjoyed our play, I suddenly became aware of my master’s scent, and in looking around, I discovered him, somehow disengaged from the sisters, watching us furtively and quite intently from up the road.

  Chapter 13

  It seemed too short a time before Miss Elizabeth thanked me for honouring her with the spontaneous dance and for being such a delightful dance partner. She released my paws, and with a ready smile, beckoned me to join her on the walk back to the house. I gave a final glimpse back to where I had observed my master earlier. He was no longer there.

  I took as great a delight in my walk with Miss Elizabeth as I ever did with my master. Her love for the outdoors was clearly exhibited in the manner in which she leaned over to smell the flowers that we passed or ran her fingers across the leafy branch of a tree. At one point, she leaned over and picked up a fuzzy little creature which she called a caterpillar and brought it down so I could see it. She let out a gleeful laugh when she noticed my head tilt as I watched the funny way it inched along in her hand.

  When we arrived back at the house, Miss Elizabeth prepared to go inside whilst I decided to remain outside to await the return of my master. She turned and looked down at me. “Waiting for Mr. Darcy, are you? Very well, I should see to Jane. It was a lovely walk, Reggie, and between you and me, I have not enjoyed a dance more than the one I just shared with you.” She reached down and tousled the fur atop my head. “If truth be told, I have not had a more delightful diversion since coming to Netherfield!” She smiled, and with a firm nod of her head said, “Thank you, my good friend!”

  When she stepped inside the door, I turned back to watch for my master. As I lay down and waited, I pondered the predicament before me.

  Since his father’s death and assuming the role of Master of Pemberley, my master had become far more serious than any man of his age ought. But he had exhibited more spark and liveliness in these last few days in the presence of Miss Elizabeth than I had seen from him in the last five years put together. Her wit and vivacity evoked something in my master that I knew had been sorely lacking in his life.

  For that reason I had always treasured those times when my master and I took to the grounds at Pemberley together. It was on those walks that I beheld more of an unrestrained nature on his part. He laughed openly at my antics, exclaimed in marvel at some beautiful sight, or even took off in a run when incited by me to do so.

  I lowered my head onto my paws, letting out a mournful groan, wishing for some way to enlighten him as to the pleasure he would truly know if he were but to walk with her. I could easily envision the two of them walking the grounds of Pemberley; Miss Elizabeth taking great pleasure in the sights and smells and sounds as my master escorted her down every path and lane he had ever traversed throughout his years there.

  I was not ignorant of the fact that I was aging. I acutely felt my aching muscles that slowed my movements considerably and my propensity to fatigue with little effort. And I knew that the time would soon come where I would no longer be a proper companion for him. At that moment I made it my office to do everything in my power to persuade my master to pursue his happiness with Miss Elizabeth.

  Before I was blessed with any sort of reasonable scheme as to how to achieve my plan, I espied my master walking toward me with a brisk and resolute stride. When he came to stand before me, he locked his arms behind him and took a firm stance as he regarded me sternly.

  I wagged my tail in an earnest, yet somewhat apprehensive greeting, uncertain of his disposition toward me.

  “Without a doubt, Reggie, you have been exhibiting the most uncontrolled behaviour of late.” He shook his head at me. “Do you truly believe, in your wizened old age, that your designs will have sway over me?”

  I let out a quick yap to protest my innocence and he leaned over to ruffle the fur on my head, much like Miss Elizabeth had just done.

  “In spite of my misgivings toward your conduct,” he began reflectively, “I must confess that I have not had any greater pleasure in the past few days than observing Miss Elizabeth’s particular attention to you.” He brought up one foot and placed it on the first step, resting one arm across his knee to more easily facilitate his leaning down to scratch my head. He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly before continuing. “It appears that she has a great fondness for you.” His eyes looked out toward the place where she and I had been dancing.

  “And she honours you with a dance when she has refused me… twice!”

  He reached under my chin to scratch it as well as lift my head up and our eyes met. “I know you are fond of her, Reggie…” He paused and his voice softened, “and I concede she can be most beguiling when she chooses.” He sat down upon the step and looked out again across the grounds. In a contemplative yet resolute voice he declared, “But it cannot be.”

  We sat for a few moments in silence as I pondered why it was so easy for me and yet so difficult for my master to garner Miss Elizabeth’s favour.

  I looked up at him and noticed the struggle in his eyes. I was confident he was not battling Miss Elizabeth’s desirability nor her pleasing behaviour, for I had seen the look of admiration and longing in his eyes. Indeed, even in their spirited disagreements, he had each time come away from it with a stronger sense of Miss Elizabeth’s merit. No, he was continuing to address the issue of the inferiority of her relations and all I could hope was that he would be reminded of how, as a young boy, he chose me over the puppies of superior lineage because he wanted a suitable companion for himself. Should that not be of greater merit to him? All I could do now would be to assist my master in seeing all that was excellent in
Miss Elizabeth and hopefully every other argument against her would fade.

  After we had been sitting for some time in silence, my master finally spoke. “Come, Reggie, we must join our hosts directly! I told Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst that in your old age you had a very disagreeable tendency to wander away and get lost and that it was vital I found you immediately.” He let out a soft chuckle whilst I let out a low growl to voice my displeasure at such a characterization of faculties. “I am sorry to say that was the only thing of which I could think to separate myself from Bingley’s sisters. It is very likely they will return at any moment!”

  At least my plan had separated him from the two sisters; however it fell short when it came to bringing my master and Miss Elizabeth together. All the walks my master and I had ever taken were where he and I forged our acquaintance and where we deepened our attachment. I remained confident that a walk together was all that my master and Miss Elizabeth needed.

  *~*~*

  True to her word, Miss Elizabeth continued at her sister’s side for the remainder of the day. When Miss Bingley inquired after them later in the day, she returned with a more tolerable report. Miss Bennet was improving, and although she would nevertheless take dinner in her room, she might feel inclined to join us afterwards in the drawing room. Whilst I was grateful for her recovery, I was aware this meant Miss Elizabeth would soon be returning home.

  After the evening meal, Elizabeth excused herself to return to her sister to see if she was well enough to join the others in the drawing room. The men quit the dining room to take some port in Bingley’s study. His sisters proceeded to the drawing room, with whom I reluctantly followed, hoping Miss Elizabeth would return directly.