by Wells, Linda
“I expect you to entertain your brother and sister.”
His head wagged. “No, I have done that for months.”
“You should have accompanied Fitzwilliam.”
“No, this was a meeting about his money, and none of my business.” He grinned. “Try again.”
“Well we will shortly have three visitors joining us for tea. Perhaps you might act the gracious host while my dear husband is occupied?” She tilted her head and smiled.
“I get to play master of Pemberley?” He puffed his chest. “Why, I feel the mantle of responsibility falling on my shoulders as we speak! I am taller, I am prouder, I am Darcy!” He drew an imaginary sword and slashed the air. Laughing, he led her by the hand to a sofa and sat beside her. “Does this mean that I get to assume all husbandly duties?”
“Charles.” She said sternly.
“Yes, dear Elizabeth?” He batted his eyes and kissed her hand. “Tell me you care for me.”
“Like a brother and a friend.” Her lips twitched.
“Not the answer I wanted.” He sighed dramatically and gave her a rueful smile. “Darcy would rightly kill me if he heard this. Forgive me.”
“I know that you mean no harm. In any case, you had your chance.”
Bingley’s brow furrowed and he sat up straight. “When?”
“When you asked me to dance.” Elizabeth grinned and Louisa laughed. “Remember, I had no idea of Fitzwilliam’s interest. You sir, made me aware, you shot yourself in the foot. You could have swept me off of my feet that very night.” She placed her hand to her heart.
Louisa shook her head. “Do not listen to her teasing, Charles; she is paying you back for your insolence. Besides, Caroline would not have let you. She would have conspired to separate you.”
“Definitely. Once she heard that the estate was small, she was ready to move you on to greener pastures.” Hurst nodded
Bingley sat back and laughed. “Do you mean to say that if I had stuck by your side that evening I would have stood a chance?”
Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled. “What do you think?”
“I think that you spoiled your chance.” Hurst chuckled.
“I think that Mrs. Darcy’s heart was decided long before she ever favoured me with a smile, and she has never led me or any other man on. Her focus has always been on one particular person, just as her beloved husband’s was on her, whether either of them knew it or not.” Bingley smiled when Elizabeth’s eyes cast to the floor. “There Mrs. Darcy, I can tease back.”
“You were not teasing. You are always a gentleman, and very sweet.” She looked back up at him and saw his cheeks were pink. “Someday a wonderful girl will see that, too.”
“Pardon me Mrs. Darcy; we have finished the tour of the open public rooms.” Mrs. Reynolds announced.
“Oh, I forgot how much of the house is closed for winter. Please show our guests in, and have some fresh tea sent up. If Mr. Darcy is available, please let him know that we have some guests from Hertfordshire.” The group entered and Elizabeth and the others stood. “Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, Mr. Bingley, may I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox, and Miss Martin.”
“It is a great pleasure.” Bingley bowed to them and looked to Abbey as a slow smile spread over his face. Blushing, she smiled shyly and curtseyed, greeting the Hursts along with her cousins.
“Please take a seat.” Elizabeth glanced at Bingley and fought back her smile. “How did you find the home? Did it live up to the acclaim you have heard?”
Wilcox’s eyes were travelling over the room and came back to hers. “Absolutely, I look forward to writing to my family of the experience. There was much speculation over the interior, I admit, and I am pleased to say that we were all so incorrect.”
“Really?” Elizabeth laughed. “What was the debate?”
“Oh you know, dripping with ornamentation.” Abbey said and blushed when she saw that Bingley was completely focussed on her.
Elizabeth nodded. “I have been to a few houses like that, and I was pleased when my husband first showed me his homes to find that they are an excellent reflection of his personality.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Darcy.” Darcy said from the doorway. Immediately the guests stood and Elizabeth rose with them.
“Mr. Darcy, may I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox and Miss Martin.”
“It is a pleasure; I understand that you are from Hertfordshire?” He smiled slightly and glanced at Bingley, who smiled and moved from his seat by Elizabeth to take one on the sofa occupied by Abbey.
“Yes, sir.” Sarah breathed as she stared at the imposing man. “You probably do not remember me, but I was at Jane Bennet’s wedding.”
“Oh, well forgive me, but I was …” He looked at Elizabeth.
“We were a little preoccupied that morning.” She smiled and he nodded, having no recollection of her, let alone most of the day.
“So were many other girls.” Sarah sighed. “Many were disappointed to see Mr. Lucas marry, but none were surprised it would be to Jane, we all saw how he looked at her, even as the other girls wished he would look our way.”
Bingley turned to regard her. “So he was a desired suitor in the neighbourhood?”
“Oh yes. After all he is heir to Lucas Lodge, and there are not so many suitors of his worth in the neighbourhood. Of course I met my Mr. Wilcox so I was completely satisfied.” She smiled up at her blushing husband.
“Nobody needs to hear that, Mrs. Wilcox.”
“Oh, let her be happy with you, Reverend.” Elizabeth smiled and slipped her hand into Darcy’s grasp. “There is no shame in caring for your spouse.”
He saw their entwined fingers and smiled. “I suppose not.”
Darcy looked at her sparkling eyes and smiled warmly. “Thank you, dear.”
“There were those gentlemen who occupied Netherfield this autumn.” Sarah continued on. “The judge and his nephews. They departed just before our wedding.”
“What did you think of them?”
“Not much.” Abbey said and rolled her eyes. “I was there for several weeks before Sarah’s wedding and ran across that group of rakes at a few functions. One at Lucas Lodge.” She said thoughtfully. “Why the label of gentleman gives a man permission to behave so ungentlemanly, I will never understand.”
“I understand precisely what you are saying.” Elizabeth laughed and she saw Darcy’s brow crease.
“You do?” Darcy asked her.
“Of course, think of the men who approach a lady with a silver tongue and an empty conscious, or worse, one who thinks so well of himself that he not only informs them of their inferiority, but explains that they must be grateful for his condescension to address them.” She watched his brow furrow further and squeezed his hand.
“I see.” He said softly as the memory of Creary flooded back. “I know men like that. And men who are no longer like that.”
“So do I. We have certainly met a few.” Elizabeth’s grip tightened and she turned to Sarah. “What did these men do? Surely they did not behave too badly?”
“Oh … I suppose not. But when rich men come into the neighbourhood you know that their every move is watched. If I was not engaged to my Mr. Wilcox, I know that Mama would have been eyeing them for me.” She smiled up at her husband and looked to her cousin. “She was pushing you towards one was she not, Abbey?”
“Yes.” She sighed. “It was embarrassing.”
“Were they rakish, then?” Mrs. Hurst smiled, “Or just a little more charming than the neighbourhood was accustomed to seeing?”
“I heard of a great deal of galloping through the neighbourhood.” Abbey smiled. “They had a certain charming way about them, perhaps it was just something in their air and manner of walking that made the hearts flutter. And perhaps it was a great deal of wishful thinking by some romantic girls.”
“I think that there is much in that. I remember the giggling of girls when we would attend the assemblies.” Elizabeth smiled when Darcy squeezed her hand and
moved his leg to touch hers. “Now, Miss Martin tells me that her father is in trade, and that they purchase fabrics from mills in Yorkshire. Could you be in business with her father, Mr. Bingley?”
“Oh.” Bingley startled from his preoccupation of studying Abbey and blinked. “Martin.” He chewed his lip and then nodded slowly. “I believe that I do business with a man named … Auggie.” He laughed when Abbey blushed. “Forgive me, Mr. August Martin. Is he your father?”
“Yes.” She smiled. “That is Papa. He is Auggie to very few.”
“I am not so involved with the daily affairs of the business as I should be, but I have met him occasionally when our paths crossed at the mills.” Bingley’s eyes looked off in the distance and he chewed his lip again. “I remember … I was home on holiday, I believe it was the first break from Cambridge … Father took me around the mill, showing me off, you know, the first Bingley to attend.” He blushed and looked down and back up to see Abbey watching him. “Well, Father saw that Auggie, Mr. Martin, was there and went into his spiel, and then Aug … Mr. Martin said that he wanted to have his girls attend a proper finishing school. He asked Father where my sisters attended.” He looked to Louisa and she rolled her eyes.
“Mrs …” Louisa began.
“Farnsworth.” Abbey finished. All eyes turned to her and she stared at Bingley. “Your father is the reason we had to go to that terrible woman?”
“She was a harridan.” Louisa agreed.
“No, calling her a harridan is an insult to harridans!” Abbey proclaimed and then catching a twinkle in Bingley’s eye she blushed and looked down, then back up. “You knew that.”
“I certainly heard enough stories from Louisa and Caroline.” He smiled at her and looked to Louisa. “Did I not?”
“I think that they were entirely justified.” Louisa sniffed. “Miss Martin, I congratulate you for surviving. I am only amazed that the school remains standing. You cannot be long from it?”
“I left there when I was eighteen.” She said softly and again found Bingley’s gaze on her. “Two years ago.”
“And her mother is frantic to marry her off!” Sarah proclaimed. “She will not let her other sister come out until she is settled. Much different from your mother, is she not?” She smiled at Elizabeth.
Darcy squeezed her hand. “Yes, quite.” Elizabeth then smiled at Abbey and changed the subject. “For your father to be known by such an endearing nickname, he must be a wonderful man.”
“Oh, he is a dear.” She said tactfully.
Bingley chuckled. “He is a gifted tradesman, born to sell, I remember thinking. I believe that he could sell a tired mule to a gentleman and convince him he was buying a stallion.” He looked at Abbey and she shook her head at her hands, but had a wide smile on her face.
The rest of the company laughed, and Darcy lifted his chin. “Sounds as if he is the perfect customer for you, Bingley.”
Bingley nodded, but did not take his eyes off of Abbey. “Yes, I am sure that he is. Well if I give it all up, whoever purchases will be glad to have his business.”
“Give it up?” Abbey looked back up to him. “Why would you do that?” She saw his warm gaze travelling over her again and pulled herself together in the face of the handsome man’s attention. “I mean, that would be a shame to have such a good business relationship die.”
“It would.” Bingley agreed. “However I am to purchase an estate.”
“Oh.” She nodded and realized at once the difference between them. “I see, and you need capital.”
“Precisely.” Tilting his head, he smiled. “And perhaps I might improve the general neighbourhood in Hertfordshire and take Netherfield.”
“Really?” Sarah cried delightedly. “Oh, what news! May I tell everyone?”
“Mrs. Wilcox, no agreement has been reached with the owner; this is still speculation on Mr. Bingley’s part.” Darcy said quietly and sent his friend a stern and pointed look.
Sighing, he nodded at his friend. “Yes, of course, but I admit that I have been considering the estate for some time. Perhaps next autumn I will be the annoying gentleman at the dances making eyes at the young ladies.”
“And raising the speculation of the Mamas.” Hurst said with a twitch of his lips.
Louisa sighed. “Oh my, why do I see us spending the autumn in Hertfordshire? You will need a hostess, Charles.”
“I will, indeed, thank you for volunteering Louisa!” He laughed. “You may put to work all of those skills you learned from Mrs. Farnsworth.”
Abbey and Louisa both sighed and smiled at each other. “Come now Miss Martin, let us commiserate together.”
“Oh Mrs. Hurst, please, I prefer to put the past behind me!”
“My goodness Mary, I think that you must have done very well with Mrs. Banks!” Elizabeth smiled and encouraged her. “Or have you been keeping your woes to yourself?”
“I enjoyed my schooling very much, Lizzy.” She said diplomatically, but seeing Abbey’s smile, she looked to her hands and murmured, “But I was glad to see it end, too.”
“Ah, I believe that we all share that sentiment, Miss Mary.” Bingley nodded.
Sarah sat quietly and Elizabeth, noting her silence, leaned towards her. “You know Sarah, I think that listening to all of this talk, you and I are the fortunate ones.”
She sat up a little and saw her husband’s gentle smile. “Yes, we are.”
“Now tell us all about your honeymoon.” Elizabeth turned and gave her full attention to the bride. “And if you do not mind waiting a bit after we finish our tea, I would be grateful if you could deliver a letter to my family?”
“Oh!” Sarah smiled. “I would be honoured, Mrs. Darcy!”
“Thank you, Mrs. Wilcox.” She saw Darcy’s small smile and felt his hand squeeze hers again. “I am so happy that you came to visit us today.”
“LYDIA! YOU ARE HOME!” Kitty flew into the bedroom where Lydia stood staring at her open trunk. “I am sorry I was not home when you arrived. I was visiting Maria, they are decorating Lucas Lodge for the dance tonight and …” She stopped. “What is wrong?”
“Where did you get that dress?” Lydia walked over to Kitty and touched the fine fabric.
“Oh.” Kitty smiled. “Lizzy bought it for me. We went to the modiste that she and Georgiana like and she bought me some new things for school. Is it not pretty? Georgiana got one that is similar, but hers is in a shade of blue that nearly matches her eyes, it is so pretty! We went on an outing one day and I know that she was the prettiest girl there! We went to the museums and took our papers and crayons and drew, and we go to performances, and … Well you know, it is all in my letters. I wish that she could have come home with me for Christmas, but she is staying with Lord and Lady Matlock. Did you get the letter we sent? We were so worried about you and that girl Jessica; you really have to start minding your teachers.”
“Lizzy bought you that?” Lydia grabbed at the gown and Kitty pulled away. Immediately she ran out the door and into the bedchamber formerly occupied by Jane and Elizabeth, and tore open the closet, grabbing a gown from a peg. “All of these are yours? From Lizzy?” She screeched.
“Lydia!” Kitty ran and played tug of war with her. “Stop it!”
“What on earth is happening in here?” Jane demanded from the doorway. Mrs. Gardiner was by her side. “Lydia put down that dress at once!”
“No! Lizzy bought her lots of fancy new dresses, and all of the dresses that Mama had made for me are gone! I have to wear this!” She glared at her simple gown.
“There is absolutely nothing wrong with that gown and for your information, Lizzy bought all of your school gowns, too! There is no difference in the style from Kitty’s gowns.” Jane took back the now hopelessly wrinkled dress and set it aside. “So stop this noise!”
Lydia stared at her. “Where are Mama’s gowns?”
“You may have them back when you are a woman.”
“I am a woman!”
“Hav
e you learned nothing at that school?” Mrs. Gardiner asked.
“Jessica said it is a waste of time, Jessica said …”
“Jessica! We wrote to you and told you to get away from her!” Kitty cried. “She is bad!”
“Who is this Jessica?” Mrs. Gardiner asked and crossed her arms.
“She is …”
“My best friend.” Lydia said positively. Kitty stared at her and turned away. Jane put her hand on her shoulder.
Kitty sniffed and raised her chin. “She is her roommate and she flirts with the officers. Lydia does, too.” Lydia stared at her sister’s betrayal.
“Lydia!”
“They smile at me!” She shrugged and tried to look nonchalant. “Oh it is just a joke. We do it to get back at the headmistress. She has chaperones following us and we play a game, taking turns distracting them, while the other slips away into the shops to meet the soldiers for a few moments. They think it is funny. One of them said he had a really wonderful hiding place that he will show us when we return.”
“You will do no such thing.” Mrs. Gardiner declared. “I will go now and speak to your parents, but hear me now, young lady. Do not even think of approaching another man again or I will make sure that you spend the rest of your days reading aloud to the children in the poor house.” She glared and left the room.
Jane looked between the sisters. “What else happens at your school, Lydia? Are you learning anything at all? Do the other girls talk to you?”
“We do lessons, and they are so dull! Handwriting, letter writing, sewing, languages, reading. So deadly dull! The only lessons I like are dancing.” Her face brightened. “I always pay attention there.”
“Everything that they are teaching you is important, Lydia.” Jane sat her down. “You are too old now to behave as a child. You must prepare for your future.”
“I will marry a soldier.” She said dreamily.
“And he will expect you to keep house for him. There will be no money for servants to do all of the work. You will have to help.” Jane saw the surprise in Lydia’s eyes. “If you do not improve yourself, you will not find a man with the means to provide all of the luxuries you enjoy at Longbourn. You have to understand this!”