Delighting Mrs Bennet

by Leenie Brown

  “I have sent a letter to Mrs. Nichols just this morning,” Bingley replied. “Everything at Netherfield should be ready for our arrival. Will you be joining us, Colonel?”

  Richard had just stepped into the sitting room.

  “I’ve not seen you in your uniform in days,” Darcy commented. Between the uniform and the grave expression Richard wore, Darcy knew that the news his cousin bore was not good.

  “I am to be in Manchester by next week,” he said simply. “I am to leave immediately.” He held up a missive. “There is no time to waste.”

  “Leaving?” Lydia cried. “Now?”

  Richard nodded. “There have been reports of fires and attacks on mills in the north, and the government expects it to only increase. There is a bill…” He sighed and then forced a smile. “This is my profession.”

  “Will you return?” Lydia was blinking rapidly, yet despite her best efforts, Darcy saw a tear slide down her cheek.

  “Eventually.”

  “You must come to Netherfield when you do,” Bingley offered.

  “Yes,” Lydia agreed. There was a hint of desperation in the word.

  “And call at Longbourn,” Mr. Bennet added.

  “I would like that very much,” Richard replied. “If all goes well, perhaps my journey will not be too long in duration, but with the sanctions that are coming…”

  Darcy rose from his chair. “It will not be a pleasant affair.”

  “It never is a pleasant affair when I am sent to see to it.” Richard’s attempt at a chuckle was weak. “I will write when I am settled.”

  “I’d not be opposed to a letter reaching Longbourn.” Mr. Bennet shrugged when Richard turned his direction. “My wife and certain of my daughters will worry.”

  Richard paused.

  Darcy could see the indecision on his face. Then, after a quick glance at Lydia, Richard’s expression shifted to a look with which Darcy was more familiar — that of a colonel with a mission before him that must be fulfilled.

  “Might I send it to Miss Lydia?” Richard asked.

  Darcy smiled at the declaration of Richard’s intent. It was like him to come directly to the point when a decision had been made. Richard was not one to dance around an issue, and Darcy was glad for it. For Richard to have gone off to Manchester without making his attachment known, or worse — denying it, would have made a miserable job that much more unbearable.

  “Do you know what you ask?” Mr. Bennet replied.

  “I do.”

  Darcy’s gaze shifted from his cousin to Lydia, who was likely holding her breath from the way in which she was sitting so motionless.

  “And what of your family? We are not of your sphere and should things progress favourably, Lydia has little by way of fortune.”

  Lydia’s expression fell, and Darcy turned his observation back to Richard.

  “I have considered that, sir, and I cannot say with any certainty what will transpire at such a juncture. All I can promise is that I do not seek such a privileged acquaintance with your daughter without thought, and I am prepared to endure whatever censure may arise.”

  Darcy had never seen his cousin shift so uncomfortably, but then, his cousin had never, to this point, lost his heart. And from the reluctance with which Richard seemed to be reporting for his duty to the crown – the profession to which he had proclaimed himself happily married – Darcy knew that Richard was more than a little attached to Lydia. He had finally found a reason to leave his life of single devotion to his commission behind.

  It still surprised Darcy that it was not some lady of the ton with a fortune as beautiful as her face but rather a simple country miss, who was not always sensible, who had wrought such a change. However, Darcy could not deny the fact that the Bennet ladies held a certain power that no sense of duty or demand of relations could quench.

  His eyes shifted to Mr. Bennet. That was likely how a man as seemingly astute as Mr. Bennet had gained a wife so unlike him. His lips tipped up on one side as he considered that perhaps that was why the man knew he did not need a fortune for his daughters. They had inherited something far more valuable than tuppence and crowns from their mother.

  Mr. Bennet nodded slowly and then turned to his youngest daughter. “Lydia, would you welcome a letter from the colonel?”

  Lydia’s head bobbed up and down rapidly, and she smiled through her tears. “Very much, Papa.”

  “Then I suggest you see the gentleman to his horse and make certain he knows the direction to put on the envelope.” He turned back to Richard. “I wish you well on your journey. May you return to us safely.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Richard turned to Darcy. “I will write.”

  “Take care,” Darcy replied. He disliked these times when he had to part with his cousin and friend, not knowing if the man would return to him or not.

  “I saw Georgie upstairs,” Richard said.

  “Is she well?”

  “No, but she assures me she will be.” He stooped to scruff the top of Dash’s head. “I shall miss you. Keep my chair warm.” Then with a final word of parting for each of the others in the room, he departed with Lydia at his side.

  “He will be well,” Elizabeth whispered as she came to stand next to Darcy.

  Darcy was unsure if she said it to reassure him or herself. Either way, he was thankful for it. It would be a trifle easier to endure this separation with her presence to cheer and distract him.

  “Walk with me?” he asked.

  “Of course.” Elizabeth took his arm. “Are you well?” she asked as they walked down the hall to his study.

  Apparently, she had made her comment, at least in part, to reassure him. He nodded his reply but said nothing until they were inside the study.

  “I will not lie. I worry about him every time he leaves.” He pulled her into his embrace. “But I think I can endure it far better this time with you by my side.” He kissed her forehead.

  They stood silently for a moment, her head against his chest, arms wrapped around each other as they did nothing but breath and be.

  “He’s never courted anyone before,” Darcy finally voiced a portion of the thoughts swirling in his mind. “He’s never even hinted at wishing to court someone before.”

  “Lydia has attempted to draw several gentlemen along enough to court her,” Elizabeth replied with a small laugh.

  “They are very different from each other, are they not?” Darcy looked down at Elizabeth and smiled.

  “They are,” she replied.

  “And yet they seem to fit well together.”

  Elizabeth’s cheek rubbed against his jacket as she nodded her agreement.

  “Just as we do.” He pulled back far enough so that he could look at those captivating eyes of hers which spoke to him even when she didn’t say a word. At this moment, they were speaking of happiness and contentment – or was that just his heart reflecting itself in her eyes? Whichever it was, he did not care. “I love you, Elizabeth.”

  She smiled. “And I love you, Fitzwilliam.”

  He kissed her once, just lightly, and was about to speak again when he thought better of it and kissed her again. This time he kissed her deeply, and for some minutes. Finally, when his mind was wandering to wishes beyond kisses, and his hands were itching to roam, he leaned his forehead against hers.

  “I have spoken to my uncle about our betrothal.” This was not news to her, he had told her he was going to visit the earl. “And I stressed that now was not a good time to visit as your father is still recovering.”

  “Are you afraid to have them meet my family?”

  He smiled at her playful tone. “Perhaps,” he teased and then shook his head. “His schedule is busy at present. There was no need to push things aside for us. There will be plenty of years for them to get to know you and your family. He gave me his blessing without more than a question or two about who you were. I believe he is just happy that I am finally marrying. Of course, that was my uncle. His sister, m
y aunt Catherine will be less obliging.”

  “She is the one with the daughter to whom you are not betrothed?”

  She was teasing him again, and willingly, he played along.

  “Yes, she is that as well as your cousin’s esteemed patroness.”

  They both chuckled.

  Darcy wrapped her tightly in his embrace one more time before giving her another quick kiss and releasing her.

  “We should return to the others, no matter how much I wish to just remain here with you.”

  She wrapped her arm around his and leaned her head against his shoulder as they walked back toward the sitting room. “It is not many days until we are in Hertfordshire. Do you think you can continue to tolerate my family even in the wilds surrounding Netherfield?”

  “I believe I am up to the challenge,” he replied with a chuckle.

  “My mother will be delighted to have you and Mr. Bingley to reintroduce to the neighbourhood. Are you prepared for that?”

  Darcy looked down at her upturned, smiling face. “I believe I can endure anything for you.”

  “Even Sir William and my aunt Philips?”

  “Have I not yet proven myself enough to you?”

  She shrugged and pursed her lips as she tried to contain her smile. However, she could do nothing to hide the sparkle of amusement in her eyes.

  “Just you wait and see, Elizabeth,” he said, pitching his voice low. “I shall perform admirably.”

  She giggled. “I do not doubt you will.”

  “Yet you question me most severely.” He darted a look up and down the corridor before giving her impertinent, puckered lips a quick kiss.

  “Mr. Darcy!”

  Had she not been smiling, her scold might have given him a moment of pause. However, she was smiling, so he kissed her again. “That, my dear, is my promise.”

  “Your promise of what?”

  He took both her hands in his and grew serious. “It is my promise that come what may, I shall endure it all, for I love you – and that is a fact which I will not allow you to forget.”

  “You will not?” Delight shone in her eyes.

  He shook his head. “And do you know how I will remind you?”

  Her left eyebrow arched. “How?”

  He lifted her hands. “By kissing you.” He kissed the knuckles of both her right and left hands, and then, leaning forward, he pressed his lips against hers one final time before returning with her to the sitting room where a very delighted Mrs. Bennet was presiding over a discussion of wedding breakfast receipts.

  Darcy knew that his life would never be without some amount of liveliness and possible chaos, thanks to his new family. However, the thought of it did not unsettle him as it once might have. Instead, he welcomed it – not with eager anticipation, but with calm assurance. As he had told Elizabeth, he was determined to endure it all, for he could not, would not, face life without her by his side, no matter what might lie ahead.

  Before You Go

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  Turn the page to read an excerpt of Loving Lydia, book three in the Marrying Elizabeth Series

  Loving Lydia Excerpt

  As I mentioned in the note at the beginning of this book, Delighting Mrs. Bennet was first posted as a work in progress on my website each Thursday. The next book in this series is posting there now. Loving Lydia is still a work in progress and will not be published for some time, but if you wish, you can follow along as I write the book at this link, which will take you to the Thursday’s Three Hundred section of leeniebrown.com.

  Below, is the first chapter as it appears on my website.

  Chapter 1

  “Are you certain you will be well?” Fitzwilliam Darcy asked his sister, Georgiana. They had just arrived at Netherfield, and she was still getting settled into her room while he leaned against the doorframe, watching.

  Dash sniffed his way around the perimeter of the room. Why Darcy had allowed himself to be talked into bringing that dog by three young ladies, he was not certain. It was likely his inability to say no to three sets of begging eyes. He shook his head. He was becoming soft – dreadfully soft. He reached down and scratched Dash’s ear when he came to sniff Darcy’s boots for the third time.

  “I am certain I will survive if I have to see him. I am not without friends or you.” She turned and looked at him while she held her jewelry box. She always saw to the arranging of her dressing table. “I am not as foolish as I once was. I do not trust him, and I know for a fact that Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty no longer like him either. You have very little to fear.”

  “I will worry nonetheless.”

  She smiled. “Of course, you will. You are most proficient at worrying about me.”

  It was true. He did excel at worrying about many things – his sister had been at the top of that list, followed by his cousin Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. However, Georgiana would now find that top position a trifle crowded, for there was now Elizabeth and her sisters – most especially Miss Lydia – about whom to worry.

  “There.” Georgiana stepped back and admired her table. “Everything is just as it should be.” She glanced around the room. “Where is Dash?”

  Darcy sighed and pushed off the doorframe. “He must have escaped.”

  “Which is not hard to do when the door is standing open.”

  “You have grown a tad impertinent over the past few weeks.”

  “And your smile says you are not truly displeased.”

  He offered her his arm when she exited her room.

  “I cannot say that I am as long as your impertinence keeps its place.”

  “Which is not in public,” Georgiana replied.

  “Precisely.”

  “What is the cause of that sigh?”

  Darcy grimaced. He had not meant to sigh, but thoughts of impertinence and worry naturally turned his mind to Lydia Bennet. “I was remembering my promise to Richard.”

  “What promise is that?”

  “I am not certain I should say.”

  “Is it that dreadful?” Her tone was teasingly horrified.

  He chuckled. “That depends on how you receive the information. I know Miss Lydia is your friend.”

  “Please? I know he loves her and that he has asked for permission to write to her while he is away.”

  Darcy nodded. That was all true. But how did he explain the rest? “This might be said badly,” he cautioned. “Richard asked me to help Miss Lydia improve.”

  “Improve what?” Her brow was furrowed as she attempted to understand his meaning.

  “Her behaviour in public is not precisely how it should be.”

  “Oh! I had not considered it, but I do see what you mean. She does speak more freely than I was taught to do.”

  “And her choices of topics are not always the best – such as asking you if you had a beau at your first meeting.”

  Georgiana nodded her head. “I understand. It could put her in a place to be ridiculed and hurt. Richard would never wish for that.”

  “Indeed, he would not.” It impressed him how Georgiana had so succinctly stated what the jumbled mess of thoughts in his mind seemed unable to tell him clearly. “I could not have said it better. That is it precisely.”

  Georgiana patted his arm. “Then we have nothing to fear. I shall behave properly as I usually do, and Mrs. Annesley can assist us. I shall have her spend some time teaching me things that I already know, but that Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty might not know.”

  It seemed as if it was a plan which might work, but… “I
do not wish to tax Mrs. Annesley too much.”

  “I will ask her, and if she so much as hesitates in replying, I will think of another plan that shall be just as good.”

  Darcy grimaced as he heard a crash in the drawing room. “I think we have found Dash.”

  As suspected, Dash was in the drawing room next to a vase which lay in pieces on the floor.

  “It was not him,” Bingley said in response to Darcy’s growled Dash. “Did I tell you I acquired a kitten for Miss Bennet?”

  Darcy blinked and looked at Bingley. “You did what?”

  “Before I left town, Miss Bennet was telling me about a cat she once had but which ran away during a storm. She seemed to miss it a great deal, so when I arrived, I sought out Sir William and inquired if he knew where I might find a grey tabby cat. As luck would have it, he knew precisely where I might find one.” Bingley lifted the drapes out of the way and scooped up a kitten. “This is Oliver. He has yet to learn not to push vases off tables.”

  Bingley crossed the room to where Dash sat. “Dash this is Oliver,” he said crouching down.

  When Dash sniffed the creature, Oliver meowed and attempted to climb Bingley’s arm.

  “He is a friend,” Bingley scolded.

  “You are talking to a cat as if he can understand you,” Darcy said flatly.

  “Who is to say he cannot,” Bingley returned. “I think it would be best if they become friends.”

  “This is what you were doing for two days before we arrived? Acquiring a kitten.”

  Bingley released Oliver who looked at Dash for only a moment before returning to his hiding spot behind the drapery.

  “No, no, I was also making certain all was ready for your arrival.” He blew out a breath. “And that of my sister. She arrives tomorrow.”

  “Sir Matthew will be joining her?”

  Bingley nodded. “Thankfully. No, Oliver. He is a friend.”

  “Perhaps Dash should be made comfortable in your room,” Darcy suggested.

  Dash had gone to attempt to make friends with Oliver, but Oliver was none too complacent about the whole idea and had decided it would be best to climb to safety.