The Choices Series: Pride and Prejudice Novellas

by Leenie Brown

  Richard laughed. “I thought the women in foreign ports were the best.”

  His uncle slapped him on the shoulder. “I said some of the best, not the best. Now, what has you shuffling about this district? Buying a dress for a ball?”

  Again Richard laughed. He had always enjoyed his uncle’s company, not that he often had the opportunity to see him as his uncle and his father were rarely on speaking terms. “I am researching the option of becoming a tradesman.” He pulled the box from his pocket.

  His uncle took it and turned it over in his hands. “For pins?”

  Richard nodded.

  “And would I be correct that your father is the cause of your foray into trade?”

  “He is. I have until the end of next week to tell him that I am not going to marry his choice. I expect I will be in need of employment shortly thereafter as my term in the militia is nearly at an end.”

  His uncle made a clucking sound as he handed the box back to Richard. “Well, as I said, she is a pretty thing.”

  “That she is,” said Richard with a smile.

  His uncle made a sweeping motion with his arm, indicating that they should begin walking. “You can tell me about her while you wait to see my friend Julie, Mrs. Havelston.” He shrugged. “I was not as brave as you. I married the sea instead of my father’s choice or defying him to marry the woman I loved.” He took note of Richard’s interested look. “Your lady first, and then when we have time, I will tell you of mine.”

  Chapter 5

  Sometime later that day, after the sun was gone and the darkness of night had fallen, Richard stood before the Gardiners’ home waiting to be allowed entry. He did not wait long, for the door was opened nearly before the sound of his knock had faded. Giving his name along with his hat and coat to the servant, he again waited, this time in the hall, to be introduced. He took note of his surroundings with an eager eye. This was the home of a well-to-do merchant, and as such, it was the sort of living arrangements he might hope to one day have for himself.

  “Colonel Fitzwilliam, a pleasure to see you, sir. A pleasure.” Mr. Gardiner greeted him with a firm handshake and motioned for him to have a seat. “Dinner will be served shortly. Might I offer you a drink while you wait? A bit of wine perhaps?”

  “My husband prides himself on his wine selections, Colonel,” said Mrs. Gardiner with a laugh. “It would do you well to enjoy it.”

  “Then I shall,” said Richard taking a seat near Kitty, who smiled and gave a brief greeting.

  “My wife and niece tell me that you are thinking of stepping down from the first circles of society to join my realm.” Mr. Gardiner handed Richard a glass of wine. “I shall refill it for your supper. No need to sip like a lady, so to speak,” he said with a wink.

  Richard took the glass and after a hearty sip began his explanation of his change in position. “My father is very set in the traditional ways of the aristocracy. I am not, and the difference in our opinions seems destined to lead to a parting of ways.”

  Mr. Gardiner nodded. “If not a parting, at least, a lowering of your status through the removal of inheritance or strictures being placed upon that inheritance.”

  “Precisely.”

  “Bennet faced the same from his father.”

  “Papa?” asked Kitty in surprise.

  “Aye, your father’s father did not approve of your mother since her father was from trade, and any true gentleman does not have ties to trade,” explained her uncle. “But your father would not hear of breaking off his relationship with your mother, and so, the entail on Longbourn was created.”

  “I did not know that,” said Kitty. “I thought it had just always been entailed.”

  Her uncle shook his head. “Your grandfather gave him a choice, and your father chose your mother over an unfettered inheritance.” He turned back to Richard. “Your father wishes you to marry well?”

  Richard nodded. “That is what he says, although again, our opinions on what that means differ. And so, he has selected a bride for me.” He heard Kitty’s soft intake of air, but he dared not look at her. “I have until the end of next week to accept or refuse his choice.”

  “And you are considering refusing?” Mr. Gardiner asked the question of Richard, but his eyes were on his niece.

  “I am not considering refusing him, sir. I am determined to refuse him.”

  Mr. Gardiner’s eyes shifted back to Richard, and a smile replaced his look of concern. “Am I to assume there is a reason of the feminine variety for this determination?”

  “There is.”

  “Well, then,” said Mr. Gardiner as he rose to lead them into dinner and the others followed suit, “we shall have to discuss your plans for your business. I am well-established and would do whatever is needed to assist you if it means the happiness of my niece.”

  “I beg your pardon, sir?” The comment had taken Richard somewhat by surprise.

  “Bennet has told me not to refuse you,” said Mr. Gardiner. “I am correct to assume that my niece is your choice, am I not?”

  Richard felt his cheeks grow warm. This was not how he had anticipated the evening progressing. He had expected to discuss his business with Mr. Gardiner over their meal, and then he would discuss Kitty after the meal when they were alone in Mr. Gardiner’s study. With all eyes turned toward him, he nodded. “You are correct. I should very much like to marry Miss Katherine if she will have me.” As he spoke, he felt a small hand slip into his.

  Mr. Gardiner smiled at him, nodding to where Kitty stood next to Richard with her hand in his. “I believe you have your answer.” He turned to his wife. “We could hold the meal for a few minutes, could we not?”

  “At least five,” she replied as she followed him out of the room and closed the door.

  Richard looked at the door for a moment as he gathered his thoughts before he turned to Kitty. “I am not romantic ─.”

  “I know.” Kitty lifted his hand and brushed her lips against his knuckles. “A simple question is all that is required.”

  “But, what about the pretty words that all women wish to hear?”

  She shook her head. “I see your love for me in your eyes and the things you do. You have chosen me ahead of family and fortune. There is no need to put it into words.”

  “I would choose you before I would choose myself.” He placed a hand, which had been made rough from working with his men in the militia and the wood he loved, on her cheek. “I do not have the means just yet to support a family,” he began.

  “But you will.” She squeezed his hand tightly.

  He smiled and nodded. He would gladly face whatever trials might come as he established himself as a tradesman just to have her continue to look at him as she did now with such confidence in his abilities. “Yes, I will, and when I do, I would very much like to create that family with you. Will you marry me when I am established?”

  A smile lit her face and eyes as she nodded. “I would like nothing better.”

  “It will not be a life of ease,” he cautioned. For a moment, despite his desire to have her as his wife, he doubted whether he was doing the right thing in asking her to share such a life. His thumb caressed her cheek. “You deserve so much more.”

  “I love you,” she said, pressing her cheek more firmly against his hand. “I will be happy nowhere else save at your side.”

  He knew that he felt the same. It was why he was prepared to defy his father. No matter the money and property he may be losing by choosing her, he knew his life would never be so pleasant with those things as it would be with her at his side. Still, he could not resist asking, “You are certain?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then, may I ─ ”

  “Yes. You must kiss me.”

  And he did ─ soft as a butterfly landing on a delicate flower in a garden. But even though it was a brief, gentle kiss, the emotion that passed to her through it ─ to be thought of as so precious, so treasured ─ melted her to her very core. She wra
pped her arms around his waist and pulled him close so that her head lay on his heart. And so they stood until a soft knock at the door drew them apart and sent them on to dinner.

  ~*~*~*~*~*~

  Richard whistled to himself as he descended the stairs Monday morning. His time over the last two days with the Gardiners had been an extremely pleasant. He and Mr. Gardiner had discussed the possibilities of his business, and he felt encouraged having the support and guidance of a merchant who was so well-established. His smile increased as he remembered the few moments of privacy that the Gardiners had allowed him with Kitty before he had returned home each time. He poured himself some coffee, and giving a greeting to Mr. Wood, settled into his seat and began to eat. They both ate in silence. Mr. Wood read the paper while Richard contemplated the events of the past two days and the things he planned to accomplish today.

  “Oh, my,” said Mr. Woods in alarm. “Oh, my.” He lowered the paper and looked at Richard, who was just finishing his meal. “You will want to see this.” He rose, folding the newspaper as he walked toward Richard. He clapped Richard on the shoulder as he lay it before him. “I am grateful my father was not so scheming.” He pointed to the announcement of the engagement of Mr. Richard Fitzwilliam to Miss Anne de Bourgh.

  Richard snatched the paper from the table. “No.” He shook his head. “No, it is not true! I am promised to Miss Katherine.” The room felt as if it were making circles about him, and he was aware of the sensation of his breakfast fighting to stay contained in his stomach. How could this have been printed? He still had a week before he had to tell his father of his decision. Unless ─ “No, she wouldn’t.” He stood, the paper still grasped in his hand. Rushing from the room, he grabbed his hat and coat from the chair near the door and ran into Darcy as he stepped into the street.

  Darcy took note of the paper in Richard’s hand and the way his coat was thrown on but not fastened. “I see you have seen it.” He placed a hand on Richard’s arm. “Take a moment to think before you act.”

  Richard shook his head and pulled his arm away. “No. There is no time. When Katherine sees this…,” His voice trailed off, and he closed his eyes as if it could prevent him from feeling the pain that he knew this announcement would bring to Kitty.

  Darcy took a step in front of his cousin. “She will be hurt, but a letter of explanation sent immediately might stem some of the damage.”

  Richard shook his head again. “She is not at Longbourn. She is in town.”

  “With the Gardiners?”

  Richard nodded. “I must go.” He stepped around Darcy and ran down the street and around the corner just as a carriage was coming to a stop before number eight Bartlett’s Building.

  Darcy had never seen his cousin in such a fit of agitation, and for a moment, as he watched him running down the street, Darcy considered chasing after him.

  Admiral Fitzwilliam climbed out of his carriage and came to stand by Darcy. “I see I missed him,” he said.

  Turning toward Admiral Fitzwilliam, Darcy’s eyes grew large and his mouth opened just slightly before forming a pleased grin as he recognized his uncle.

  He chuckled at Darcy’s expression. “Richard was just as surprised to see me on Saturday.” He looked down the street in the direction Richard had taken. “I had hoped to ask him how his evening with his lady had gone. I did try to call on him yesterday, but he was out. I assume, therefore, that I might be gaining another niece in the near future.”

  Before Darcy could question his uncle about his statements, Mr. Wood had joined them and was introducing himself.

  “I can tell you,” said Mr. Wood, “that the colonel was successful. He asked the lady to marry him and was accepted. He has not stopped grinning since that evening, and he was whistling his way into the day until he read that bit in the paper.”

  “He proposed to Kitty?” Darcy groaned and scrubbed his face.

  “And was accepted,” said Mr. Wood.

  “That adds a wrinkle to this mess,” muttered Darcy.

  “What bit in the paper?” asked Admiral Fitzwilliam.

  Darcy pulled a newspaper from his pocket and handed it to his uncle. He was allowing his uncle a moment to read the announcement when a horse carrying a finely dressed rider came up the road at a fast pace, then slowed and finally stopped in front of them.

  “Darcy, you are not easy to find,” called Rycroft swinging down from his horse. “Uncle Reginald!” He embraced the man and thumped him firmly on the back. “My mother will be delighted to see you.” He cocked his head to the side. “You are planning to call on her.”

  “Of course,” said the admiral with a laugh. “I dare not slink back to the coast without seeing her.”

  “Mr. Wood.” Rycroft nodded his greeting to the gentleman. “Now, why are we all here?” He folded his arms across his chest and waited for an explanation.

  “Colonel Fitzwilliam is my tenant, my lord,” said Mr. Wood.

  Rycroft’s brows rose. “Indeed?”

  Darcy nodded. “While you have been otherwise occupied, our cousin’s life has been crumbling apart.”

  “Crashed to the ground this morning,” commented Admiral Fitzwilliam.

  “Perhaps you would like to use my sitting room for this discussion,” offered Mr. Wood.

  “Capital idea,” said the admiral.

  Rycroft led the way, stooping upon entering to scratch the ear of what he called a naughty cat. “Mr. Wood works with my solicitor,” he said in explanation of how he knew the gentleman. “Now,” he took a seat, “the lovely Mrs. Darcy said that I would find you here and that you were in need of my assistance.”

  “You spoke to my wife?” asked Darcy.

  Rycroft nodded. “I came to see if you would care to go for a ride, and she greeted me. It seemed most urgent that I find you, so I spared no time in coming.”

  Darcy smirked slightly. Despite the seriousness of the matter at hand, he could not resist a small tease. “Your wife did not wish to ride with you?”

  “She insists on spending time with my mother and your sister.” He rolled his eyes. “I was instructed by all three that I was not needed for the morning.”

  Darcy laughed along with his uncle and Mr. Wood.

  “Could we return to the subject of Richard?” asked Rycroft in a slightly irritated tone. “What has been happening to cause him such distress?”

  “His father has demanded that Richard marry Anne.”

  Rycroft’s jaw dropped open slightly. “Cousin Anne?”

  “Yes,” said Darcy. “But, he has decided he will not marry her.”

  “Which led him to my door in search of accommodations,” added Mr. Wood.

  Rycroft, with brows drawn together, nodded to each bit of new information. “So, his father has threatened to cut him off if he does not comply.”

  “Precisely,” said the admiral. “It is a common tactic with the Earls of Matlock, it seems.”

  Again, Rycroft nodded. “But the breach has not yet occurred.”

  Darcy sighed. “Officially, no. In reality, yes. Richard asked for two weeks to contemplate his future, but his father has not honoured that.” He nodded to his uncle, who handed Rycroft the paper and pointed to the announcement.

  Rycroft let out a long slow whistle. “So, Richard has little hope of escaping a marriage of convenience.”

  “It is worse than that,” said Darcy. “You may not have noticed much other than Mary when in Hertfordshire, but our cousin has lost his heart to Kitty.”

  Rycroft blinked. “I knew there was an admiration on her part and a fondness on his, but it has progress to this?”

  Both Darcy and Admiral Fitzwilliam nodded.

  “He proposed to her and was accepted evening before last,” said Mr. Wood.

  Rycroft sank back in his chair. “What do we do?”

  Ideas were passed about, discussed and discarded.

  “There is always Gretna Green,” suggested Mr. Wood.

  “Not an unworthy option,�
� admitted the admiral, “but I think we are in need of my sister’s help.” He looked at Rycroft. “Your mother has always been able to sway our brother. I do not know what she holds against him, but whatever it may be, it is effective.”

  “Very well,” said Rycroft, “and if that does not work, then we shall cart them off to Gretna Green at midnight.” He stood. “I can well imagine Richard’s state of mind as it was not long ago that I was feeling as he is.” He looked around the group. “Do we all convene at Rycroft Place, or should one of us go in search of him?”

  “He was on foot and seemed to be headed to the merchant district. I would say he is at the Gardiners,” said Darcy. “I will go.”

  “Bring him to Rycroft Place,” Rycroft called to Darcy as he left the room. “Well, Uncle, it seems you are due for a visit to my mother and to meet my wife.” He smiled and threw an arm around his uncle’s shoulders. “I must caution you that Mary can be a bit rules minded.”

  His uncle chuckled. “And she married you?”

  “Fortunately, yes.” He gave a nod to Mr. Wood. “Thank you, sir, for the use of your sitting room. We will hopefully return your tenant to you in good order.” He turned to his uncle. “I will ride on ahead and warn the ladies that their morning plans are about to be altered.” He winked at the admiral. “No need for us all to get a lecture.” He held up a finger. “But you must never tell Mary I said that. She thinks it shows her in a poor light.”

  His uncle raised a brow and shook his head. “Is there no hope for you?”

  “Very little,” said Rycroft with a laugh. “Truly, I do not say such things to just everyone. At least not any longer.”

  His uncle groaned. “And she married you?”

  “Fortunately, yes.” Rycroft swung up onto his horse. “She is the loveliest lady in all of England, if not the world.” He clucked to his horse and, with a wave, was off.

  “If not the loveliest, at least, the most tolerant and forgiving,” muttered his uncle as he settled into his carriage.

  Chapter 6