by Leenie Brown
Sir Matthew’s brows rose.
“That man has damaged people close to us,” Darcy said in explanation. “He narrowly escaped with his life the last time he and Richard met.”
“Indeed?”
Darcy nodded. “If an innocent’s reputation were not at stake, I would tell you the tale, but as it is, I cannot.”
“As I said, I will ask no more. I shall just remember that this Wickham is not to be trusted.”
Wickham was most certainly not to be trusted, and that was the reason Darcy needed to speak to Richard and quite likely Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. He turned toward the exit of the park but then turned back to Bingley. “He mentioned that he knew you were getting married.”
“He did?”
Darcy nodded.
“Gossip does circulate quickly,” Bingley said with a sigh. “It is not so horrid to have it spread among your acquaintances when they are friends, but…”
Again, Darcy nodded. It was never pleasant when someone who was not friendly knew details about you that you did not wish for him to know. “He mentioned Elizabeth,” Darcy added. “He knows I like her.”
“Oh,” Sir Matthew gasped, understanding dawning in his eyes. “This is that man? The one who has told lies about you and posed a danger to your lady and her sisters due to his debauchery?”
“Yes,” Bingley replied.
They had told Sir Matthew some about Wickham after Sir Matthew had agreed to marry Caroline.
“Do you fear he can cause harm now?” Sir Matthew’s mien was somber. It held no curiosity or amusement. He was, as he always seemed to be, sincere.
“I do not trust him to not act rashly,” Darcy replied. “However, I do not expect him to be able to do them any harm while they are at Darcy House, for he shall not gain entrance.”
Sir Matthew shook his head. “There are so many fools in this world, are there not?”
Neither Darcy nor Bingley could disagree with that.
“If you need anything,” Sir Matthew continued, “do not hesitate to ask.”
Darcy offered his thanks and set off for home.
Chapter 14
“Wickham is here? In town?” Richard’s fork returned to his plate, still holding its piece of beefsteak.
“I admit I was surprised to see him and not pleasantly so.”
Upon returning from his ride, Darcy had found his cousin eating breakfast and had chosen to join him and share his news since no one else was yet in the room.
Darcy took a sip of his coffee. “He knows Bingley is betrothed and that the Bennets are here as well as the fact that I like Elizabeth.”
Richard’s jaw tensed. “He has always been too good at ferreting out information,” he muttered.
“Only when it serves his purpose,” Darcy said after another sip of coffee.
Richard allowed it to be true.
Wickham was always attempting to gain information and then twisting it and turning it as needed to achieve his goals — whether that was getting himself out of trouble, placing Darcy in a precarious situation, or charming a young woman into thinking herself in love with him.
“However,” Darcy continued. “That is not the worst of it.”
“What could be worse?” Richard demanded.
“He said he might call.” Darcy watched Richard’s face darken. “He said it would be nice to see Georgiana again.”
Richard muttered a curse as he shook his head. “Not while I still breath.”
“I told him he would be turned away.”
“Or worse,” Richard muttered.
“Yes, I did tell him you were in residence. I hope it will help him be reasonable, but this is Wickham, and once he’s set on an idea, there’s little which can shake it from his head. This idea of his of calling here will likely be more firmly rooted in his mind than is normal since he sees this as a way to make certain the Bennets still view me as disagreeable.”
“Have you instructed Abram that he is not to be admitted under any circumstances? Because doing harm to you is incentive enough for him to disregard any fear for his life that he should possess,” Richard grumbled.
“I did. He will be turned away.”
“Good.” Richard shoved his beefsteak into his mouth and chewed with vigor as he stabbed another piece.
“Do not break the dishes,” Darcy said with a smile. “I know you despise him, but please spare the plates.”
Richard shook his head as he replied around his food. “If he were here, I’d not have to abuse your china.”
“Then perhaps we will be fortunate, and the blackguard will call this afternoon.”
Richard swallowed. “I almost hope we are.”
“Good morning,” Lydia chirped as she and Kitty entered the room. “Mary and Mama will be along soon, but Lizzy and Jane are likely still with Papa.” She slid into a chair next to Richard. “You look a bit like a storm cloud, Colonel. Does he not, Kitty?”
“He does indeed!” Kitty agreed.
Darcy smiled at the exuberance of the two youngest Bennets. Perhaps, he would not need to fear Miss Lydia being put out if Wickham were turned away. He suspected that one word from the colonel would make all well in her eyes.
“We were just discussing some unpleasant business,” Richard said in his own defense before popping another bite of food into his mouth.
“Well, you should not have been.” Lydia poured a cup of tea and placed a roll on her plate. “It is not healthy. One should only think on happy things while eating, or one’s stomach will ache dreadfully. And I imagine it becomes even more important to follow such a practice as one gets older. Old people seem to have so many ailments that if one can be prevented, it should be. Do you not think, Colonel?”
She smiled brightly at Richard as he attempted to clear his mouth of food before responding.
“Are you saying I am old?” he asked.
“Oh, goodness, no!” Lydia exclaimed. “Why would you think such a thing? Just because I mentioned your discussion of disagreeable things while eating and then the ailments of the elderly does not make you old.” Her brows furrowed. “Does it?”
From her tone of voice, it sounded to Darcy as if she had reasoned her way into doubting her own supposition.
“I’m not old,” Richard replied.
“No, but you are older than I am.” Lydia was still looking perplexed.
“That does not make me old. You are just young.”
“Not so very young!” Lydia now sounded offended. She huffed and then shook her head as she sat straighter and lifted her chin. “We must think on pleasant things,” she instructed. “Dash can hold a biscuit on his nose until I tell him he can eat it.”
Darcy chuckled at Richard’s look of bewilderment caused by the sudden change of topics.
“He will sit just so.” Lydia held her finger on her nose as if it was a biscuit. “And then when I say ‘good boy,’ he flicks it in the air and catches it.” She spooned some jam onto her bun. “He is very smart.”
“And adorable,” Kitty added. “You should have seen him wearing his cravat last night. I tried to draw it, but he is not very good at sitting still just yet.”
“Except for when he has a biscuit that is on his nose,” Richard inserted.
“Yes, but he cannot sit forever with it on his nose. Half a minute is all. Longer than that would be torturous. He is just a puppy,” Lydia’s tone held a great deal of shock.
“But perhaps he could learn to sit with it longer,” Kitty said.
Lydia tipped her head to one side and then the other. “Perhaps, he could.” She took a bite of her bun.
“Do you think we will get to purchase some ribbons today?” she asked Kitty. “I should like one for my bonnet. Red would be delightful to go with my sprigged muslin dress, do you not think so, Colonel?”
Richard, who had just taken a sip of his tea, coughed. “I really could not say,” he managed after a few moments of coughing followed by another sip of tea. “I am not even sure I know
what sprigged muslin is.”
“It is the one I wore when we had our dance lesson.” Lydia’s lashes fluttered as she blinked.
It was as if she could not fathom that the colonel did not know to which dress she referred. She might be the Bennet who posed to cause the most disturbance to Darcy’s life, but Lydia was also proving to be the most entertaining, and, surprisingly, he was beginning to appreciate her lively mind. Lively, but not logical. He chuckled to himself behind his cup.
“Maria Lucas has always said a red ribbon would set it off nicely,” Lydia added.
She said it in such a tone that Darcy could imagine her mother saying that very thing. Lydia was indeed her mother’s daughter. He had to admit he was enjoying the chance to learn so many intimate details about Elizabeth’s family. He shook his head before taking another sip of his coffee. He never thought he would be enjoying having the Bennets at Darcy House. He had thought he could endure them, but he had not expected to benefit from their stay in such a fashion.
“Well, then it must be true,” Richard replied.
Richard did know how to bow out of an argument he was sure to lose.
Lydia huffed as she swallowed the bite of jam covered bun she had taken. “I shall wear it again tomorrow, and you will see.”
Darcy chuckled to himself. Richard was not going to get away from the argument without admitting defeat. Miss Lydia was a determined young woman.
“I look forward to being proven wrong,” Richard responded with a smile that was returned in kind.
And his cousin, who would have at any other time likely argued his position of not needing to know which dress Georgiana wore or with what ribbon, was in danger of becoming the pupil rather than the instructor.
Chapter 15
Elizabeth rolled her shoulders and rubbed her neck. The rest had felt good, but the stiffness that followed was not as pleasant.
“That is not the best place to take a nap,” said her father. “Those chairs were not designed for comfort when resting.”
Elizabeth smiled. The soreness in her neck could attest to the truth of his word. “How are you feeling?”
“As well as a man who is confined to a room might,” he replied with a smirk. “Truly, the pain is not so bad today as it was yesterday. I do believe in another week’s time I will be set to return to my study, unless?” His brows rose and then waggled.
“Unless what?” she asked.
“Unless more time is needed at Darcy House?”
Jane laughed from her place near the window where she was keeping a watch on the front door of Darcy House. Elizabeth knew that her sister was hoping for Mr. Bingley to call again today.
“For either of you,” her father added.
“I believe Mr. Bingley intends to return to Hertfordshire,” Jane replied.
“But will he bring his friend?” Mr. Bennet asked.
“I doubt he could keep his friend from following him.”
Jane’s answer was met with a chuckle from Mr. Bennet.
“What think you of this, Lizzy?” her father asked. “I have not inquired about your opinion of Mr. Darcy since before taking up residence in this room. I should think I — and that rascal of a dog — have given you enough time to consider all that might need considering. Ah! I am right, am I not? That is why your sister is looking as if she is about to burst, is it not, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth’s cheeks grew warm. “Yes.”
He clapped his hands. “Does your mother know?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “Only Jane.”
“Not Mr. Darcy?” her father asked in surprise.
Again, Elizabeth shook her head.
“But you would be favourable to an offer of marriage from the man?”
Light as a butterfly landing upon a rose in the garden at Longbourn, nerves alighted in Elizabeth’s chest. Below the lace trimmed edge of her day gown, her heart raced. There was a slight uneasiness to the feeling but not so unsettling as it had been before she had come to her decision while talking to Jane yesterday. It was becoming a familiar, nearly welcomed, excitement of her senses very like unto how she felt when Mr. Darcy said something about loving her but heightened by the knowledge that she returned his sentiments.
“I would be.” She knew that the foolish smile, which accompanied any sweet words from Mr. Darcy, was now scrawled across her face.
“Your mother will be in her glory.”
Elizabeth was not sure she had ever seen her father smile so broadly. To her, it looked a lot like her father was in his glory as much as her mother might be on hearing such a thing, though her father displayed his delight in a more subdued fashion.
“To return to Longbourn with two daughters so well-matched,” he continued, “she will be the envy of the community. Well, of the ladies of the community that is.” He chuckled and then expelled a breath. “Do you think we can find three more such gents before my leg heals? I can insist that the physician recommends I not be moved for longer if necessary.”
“Papa!” cried Jane. “You sound more like Mama than yourself.”
He only chuckled in response. “Your mother is not your only parent who has worried about your futures.”
“Indeed?” The comment surprised Elizabeth. Her father had never appeared to her to be overly concerned with anything beyond the here and now.
“Oh, it is very true. I would do almost anything for any of girls. I cannot say I look forward to parting with any of you, but it is not so dreadful to contemplate when I know you will be cared for so well.”
He chuckled again. “I guess your mother and I have begun to prove the naysayers wrong,” he murmured.
Jane and Elizabeth shared a confused look.
“What naysayers, Papa?” Jane asked.
He shrugged and smoothed his blanket. “I did not marry a gentleman’s daughter.”
Jane and Elizabeth waited patiently as her father found it necessary to smooth the same portion of his bedding before continuing.
“I had relations who condemned me for lowering myself so.” He shrugged again. “Fanny Gardiner had more ability to run an estate than the young ladies of my circle. She was not the most intellectual of the lot of ladies, but she knew how to manage things and,” he smiled at some imaginary object far in the distance, “she was prettier than any lady I had ever seen before or indeed have ever seen since. Save for my daughters, but then they all resemble their mother.”
Elizabeth had never heard her father speak in such an affectionate way about their mother. She had always known he loved Mama, but he had never said so much in praise of her. He often teased about her beauty being enticing to others, but at this moment, there was no teasing tone. His words were spoken in such a sincere and almost longing fashion that Elizabeth could not help but to feel them greatly.
In addition to this new realization of how deeply her father loved her mother, Elizabeth realized that she had never considered how he might have been looked upon for marrying the daughter of a country solicitor. She, herself, had never felt a compelling need to make a great divide between classes, but then that was likely because she had relations in trade.
“Mr. Collins offering for you, Lizzy,” her father’s words interrupted her contemplations, “was indeed a thing of significance as your mother was never accepted by his father. So, to have his son accept the daughter of my unacceptable wife was a true gesture of goodwill.” He shook his head. “Not that he would ever be good enough for any of you in my eyes. He has too much of his father’s preposterousness. Not even Lydia, who I must say has the most creative way of reasoning out anything, would be well-suited to such foolishness.
“There were others as well. It is not easy to move from one sphere to another without someone watching and waiting for you to fail.”
A whoosh of air from Elizabeth was met with a shake of her father’s head.
“You will do well, as will Jane, and, I hope, eventually Mary, Kitty, and Lydia will follow suit.” He smiled. “Perhaps we s
hould stay longer so that the colonel has more time to instruct Lydia.”
Elizabeth and Jane laughed.
“I appreciate your willingness to see me entertained, but there is a gentleman below who would surely like a few hours of Lizzy’s time, and there is also an outing planned. I would not wish to keep you both from such things.” He winked and picked up his book.
“I have my bell,” he said when they did not immediately rise. “If I have need of anything, I shall summons someone. Now, away with you.” He made a sweeping motion with his hand in the direction of the door. “I will be well.”
“There is nothing you need?” Jane asked as she rose from her chair.
“Nothing, save a kiss for each of my cheeks,” he replied, tapping his left cheek for Jane to kiss and then doing the same to his right for Elizabeth before settling into the silence of the room when the door clicked closed.
Chapter 16
Elizabeth wandered the hall from the sitting room almost to the door of Mr. Darcy’s study and back three times before finding enough courage to rap softly at his door. She blew out a breath and was just about to scurry away, assuming he had not heard her knock when the door before her opened.
“Miss Elizabeth.”
Darcy’s smile of greeting was enough to cause her heart to flutter. It was intoxicating to be met with such pleasure.
“Please, come in,” he offered.
“We are to leave shortly,” she said as she entered at his invitation. “My father has insisted that he be left alone and that Jane and I go with Mama and the others.”
She looked around the room as she was talking. It was not much larger than Papa’s study at Longbourn, but it was much more organized. Books did not lie upon shelves. They stood in fine array. Papers were not scattered across the desk but were contained within tidy piles. The room seemed to exemplify the personality of its master – dignified, reserved, and proper.
She took a seat in the one chair that faced the door but was positioned in such a way that its occupant could share in the conversation at the hearth to their right or with Mr. Darcy while he sat at his desk on the left. It was a plush chair with a wide seat of creamy fabric decorated with flowers and vines.