The Challenge of Entail

by Jann Rowland

  “Quarters for which I have no concern at all,” replied Darcy.

  “Of course, you do not, and I cannot fault you for it. Please tell me one thing: she is suitable, is she not? Entering a world of which she has no knowledge, being a target for every jealous young lady and their mothers—and perhaps even some of their fathers—would be a daunting task for anyone. She will bear up under the scrutiny?”

  “I dare say there is nothing that Miss Elizabeth could not do if she set her mind to it. The thought of her intimidated by society is laughable—I suspect she will have them eating out of the palm of her hand in a trice and will soften all but the hardest of hearts.”

  “Well, then,” said Lord Matlock, smiling slightly, “it seems you may have chosen well after all, for I trust your judgment. Since I cannot imagine any young woman of the country refusing you, I shall consider it a fait accompli.”

  “This is not any young woman, Father,” said Fitzwilliam. “As I have also made her acquaintance, I can say she will not accept Darcy for his wealth or position. He will have to convince her—as he has never found himself in such a position before, it might concern me. But I think he will muddle through in the end.”

  Lord Matlock guffawed with his son. Darcy, knowing they would tease regardless, allowed them their mirth and waited for his uncle to speak again.

  “Then when you have secured her—if you secure her—bring her to London to meet us. Catherine will have no thought of supporting her, and we cannot allow her vitriol to affect us. If Susan and I publicly give you our support, it will go a long way to securing her acceptance. And if what you say is correct, your young lady will do the rest.”

  Their return to Darcy’s house coincided with a surprise visit from Bingley, who bounded in with his usual energy not long after Darcy and Fitzwilliam arrived themselves. “Darcy, I was hoping I would catch you before you departed for Hertfordshire.”

  “Bingley!” exclaimed Darcy. “What the deuce are you doing in London?”

  “My banker called me into town on an important matter of business. It should take me no longer than this afternoon to complete, and I should be ready to depart tomorrow morning if you care to wait.”

  Darcy did not care to wait, but another concern was of more importance. “It was my understanding you were to wait in Hertfordshire and watch the situation there.”

  Bingley shrugged and replied: “Hurst is there, and I was only to be gone for a day. And before you say anything about trusting Hurst,” added Bingley with a laugh, “since he came to Hertfordshire and Louisa has thrown off Caroline’s shackles, he has been much more alert and engaged. I dare say it has almost made a new man out of him!”

  “I would suggest that is a bit of an exaggeration, Bingley,” said Fitzwilliam.

  “Perhaps it is,” said Bingley, his grin never dimming a jot, “but there it is, all the same.”

  “Delaying your return may be beneficial,” said Fitzwilliam. “You have not seen Georgiana for some time—I believe she would appreciate the opportunity to visit with you.”

  While Darcy did not like the delay, he could only agree with his cousin. The decision was made, and Bingley left for his appointment with his banker, while Darcy went in search of his sister.

  It had not been Darcy’s intention to ignore Georgiana, and it seemed to him his sister had not taken it in such a way. They had met briefly that morning, Darcy stating his need to speak to their uncle before Georgiana began her lessons, and while he had thought to see her again before departing, Darcy’s attention had been fixed on the return to Hertfordshire. The delay chafed, but the opportunity to see his sister was one Darcy always relished.

  Georgiana was in the music room that morning, a place Darcy could always find her if she was given the choice. Mrs. Younge, though she could play, was not a superior performer, and she allowed Georgiana to play or allowed the master to do his job when the situation demanded it. That morning, she noted his arrival and nodded in deference, but did not speak when Darcy approached his sister, noting the sweet flow of notes as guided by her supple hands. When she finished playing, Darcy clapped, prompting her to turn to regard him. The smile which swept over her countenance was a testament to their shared affection.

  “Are you not to return to Hertfordshire this afternoon, Brother?”

  “I was,” replied Darcy. “Bingley arrived only a few moments ago, informing me he has been called here on a matter of business which was to occupy his time today. I decided to accommodate him and delay my departure until tomorrow.”

  “Then I am please I shall have some of your time.” She paused and gave him a sly grin. “Or shall you spend the day in morose contemplation, wishing you were in the company of your lady friend?”

  Though Darcy could not help his responding grin, he was curious. “What do you know of the matter?”

  “Only what Anthony has told me and what I have gleaned from our correspondence. You never mentioned a woman in your letters until recently and having done so with such frequency suggests there is something about her you feel is important.”

  Darcy nodded. It had been a priority for him to teach her to read between the lines, not only in the written word but also when listening to another speak. A skill made necessary due to her position in society, not to mention their unfortunate connection with George Wickham, Darcy thought she had made excellent progress.

  “Then let us sit and I shall tell you of her. I do not think you will be disappointed.”

  They spent a pleasant morning in each other’s company, beginning with Darcy informing Georgiana of everything about Miss Elizabeth, to which she listened, showing her interest in her eager questions and expressions of delight. When he tried to speak of her doings, Georgiana’s answers were superficial, and her questions always directed the conversation back to Miss Elizabeth. After a time, Darcy did not even bother to attempt to induce her to speak of anything else.

  “This Miss Elizabeth sounds wonderful,” said Georgiana with a sigh some time later. “To think I shall soon have a sister! I cannot wait!”

  “Nothing has been settled yet, Georgiana,” said Darcy. “In all honesty, I have not even decided to offer for her.”

  “Given everything I am hearing, I cannot imagine you will not offer for her,” said Georgiana with a dismissive wave of her hand. “If even half of what you say of her is true, I cannot imagine she will fail to understand your worth.”

  His sister, in saying that, was referring to his worth as a man, Darcy knew. To a man who had often heard himself summed up by the size of his fortune, hearing such words was gratifying. Georgiana was as unpretentious as a young woman could be—both Darcy’s father and he himself had attempted to instill a sense of humility in her—and Darcy knew she meant every word, regardless of their familial relation.

  “If you like, you may come to Hertfordshire to meet her,” said Darcy. “Bingley would be willing to host you, and Miss Elizabeth would be eager to make your acquaintance.”

  Georgiana thought about it for a moment. “I would like to meet her, but at present, I should like to remain in town.” Georgiana shot him a grin. “I am still engaged with Aunt Susan, and I hardly think a man needs his younger sister underfoot while he is conducting his courting.”

  “You have never been underfoot, Georgiana.”

  “I thank you for that. But at present, I believe I shall stay here with Mrs. Younge. Perhaps in a week or two I shall come to Hertfordshire.”

  “Very well. Send me a note and speak to Fitzwilliam. He will escort you here.”

  “Of course, William,” replied Georgiana. “I look forward to it.”

  With a final smile, Georgiana turned back to her pianoforte and Darcy rose to leave the room. Before he left, however, a thought occurred to him and he approached Mrs. Younge, noting how the woman watched him.

  “Has anything of note occurred of late?” asked he of the companion. “Anything out of the ordinary?”

 
; “If you refer to what happened in Ramsgate, I have seen nothing of that sort in London, Mr. Darcy. Everything has been quiet.”

  Darcy nodded. “I am entrusting you with Georgiana’s care, with the assistance of Mr. Thompson and the staff. Please ensure my sister is protected to the best of your ability. When you go out, Thompson is to be with Georgiana at all times.”

  A frown graced the woman’s countenance. “Do you expect Mr. Wickham to make another attempt?”

  “It is difficult to say,” replied Darcy. “He is still at large, and his audacity is such that he might believe he can succeed where before he failed.”

  “Then I will remain vigilant, sir.”

  “Thank you,” replied Darcy. Then he removed himself from the room. As long as he was stuck in London for another day, he may as well see to some correspondence. The time before he might expect to see Miss Elizabeth again was beginning to seem like a lifetime.

  The second day of Mr. Darcy’s absence from Hertfordshire, the Bennet sisters paid a morning visit to Netherfield. While Elizabeth could have cheerfully forgone the visit altogether, she went for Jane’s sake, though she would readily confess that Mrs. Hurst was a good woman. Miss Bingley, however, was not, leading Elizabeth to wish to avoid her. But attend her sister she did, along with Mary, who dutifully embraced their social responsibilities, despite her preference for spending the morning at the pianoforte.

  When they entered the sitting-room, it surprised Elizabeth to see only Miss Bingley and the Hursts in attendance. While the thought of Mr. Darcy having hurried back had crossed Elizabeth’s mind, she had not expected to see him, and as a result, she was not disheartened by it. Mr. Bingley’s absence, however, was quickly noted by Jane, who frowned, earning a satisfied smirk from the ever-detestable Miss Bingley.

  “Charles was obliged to go to town today on a matter of business,” said Mrs. Hurst, noting Jane’s expression. “Before he left, he informed us he would return on the morrow.”

  Miss Bingley frowned at her sister, but Jane nodded her acceptance of Mrs. Hurst’s assertion, and for a time all was well. Mrs. Hurst called for tea, earning a sharp look from her sister again, and they sat down to their visit. Conversation flowed with ease and interest, and even Mr. Hurst, the lone man in a room of woman, was induced to make a few remarks on occasion.

  To Elizabeth’s surprise, it was not long before Mr. Hurst moved, it appeared to address Elizabeth in particular. Not having spoken to the gentleman much before, Elizabeth was uncertain what to make of his apparent interest in her, but he soon revealed it with his words.

  “Miss Elizabeth,” said Mr. Hurst, “is everything well at Longbourn?”

  Surprised, Elizabeth paused for a moment before responding. “As well as can be expected, Mr. Hurst. Was there something specific you wished to hear?”

  Mr. Hurst smiled and sipped from his teacup. “To be honest, I am not certain. But when Darcy went away, he charged my brother to keep watch, and when Bingley left, he passed the responsibility down to me. It is my understanding you have had some difficulties with a past associate of Darcy’s?”

  “Mr. Wickham,” replied Elizabeth. “But he left soon after your brother arrived in Hertfordshire and has not been here since.”

  “Aye, I have heard of this Mr. Wickham before. He is a bad sort and no mistake.” Mr. Hurst paused and considered her. “I do not suppose Darcy to be inclined to hysteria with no reason for it, as he is a most rational sort of man. Though I cannot say what manner of devilry this Mr. Wickham is capable of perpetrating, you will take care, will you not?”

  “I have been doing exactly that,” replied Elizabeth. “Though I have not ceased my walks altogether, I have curtailed then to a great extent and take care when I do go out.”

  “Then that is well. As I said, Miss Bennet, Darcy is not the kind to worry with no cause. If he is concerned there is danger, you should heed his warning.”

  With those final words, Mr. Hurst rose and excused himself. “While a man finds himself alone amidst a bevy of lovely ladies but rarely, I find this talk is not to my taste. Enjoy your visit.”

  When he had gone, the ladies resumed their conversation, and after a time, Mrs. Hurst rose to retrieve an item of which she had been speaking with Jane, returning soon after. Mary drew in close to the other women, and while Elizabeth thought to join them, a look at Miss Bingley showed her to be glaring at them all with disdain. To that point, Miss Bingley had not been part of the company, preferring to sit to the side like a sulking child. Feeling it incumbent upon her to at least attempt civility Elizabeth nodded in her direction.

  “The weather has been fine of late, has it not?”

  While a discussion of the weather was among the most banal, Elizabeth was uncertain the woman would not take offense if she said anything else. Offense, however, was not what Elizabeth prompted, though she supposed she might have guessed in advance.

  “It is tolerable, I suppose, but I care little for the dreary months of winter.”

  “Oh, I agree,” said Elizabeth, grateful at finding a subject about which they were not at odds. “I understand you are from the north. It does not become too cold in Hertfordshire, and there is often little snow, but I imagine it must be different there.”

  “It is,” said Miss Bingley. “Sometimes there is enough snow to make travel difficult and dangerous. Why, I have heard Mr. Darcy say he has been snowed in at Pemberley many times.”

  The mention of Mr. Darcy seemed to recall to her mind to whom she was speaking, and she scowled. The congenial moment lost, the woman fell silent, and Elizabeth, in part due to desperation, turned the subject.

  “Since the weather is excellent, I assume your brother will travel without difficulty. I hope he will return soon.”

  It seemed that was the wrong comment to make, for Miss Bingley sneered at Elizabeth and affected an uncommon haughtiness seen. “Yes, I am certain he arrived in London without difficulty. His return, however, is less certain.”

  “I am sorry, Miss Bingley, but I do not understand your meaning,” replied Elizabeth with a frown.

  “It is simple, Miss Elizabeth,” replied Miss Bingley. “This business which drew Charles to town might be more complicated than he expected—it is a similar matter which delayed our arrival in Hertfordshire, you understand. And once Charles is in town, with the amusements available there, I doubt he will be eager to return.”

  “He will not?” asked Elizabeth, the skepticism in her voice prompting a further glower from Miss Bingley.

  “Nothing is certain, of course. But I know my brother as well as anyone in the world, and I suspect his return will be delayed. It is possible he might even call us to town. While our time has been interesting here in Hertfordshire, I will not pretend to miss it. Town is far pleasanter than the country.

  “Furthermore,” said Miss Bingley, leaning closer as if to impart a secret, “I suspect Mr. Darcy’s absence will lessen the chances of my brother’s return.”

  “Is that so?” asked Elizabeth. “That would suggest that Mr. Darcy has no intention of returning himself, and I had it from him before he left that he plans to return as soon as possible.”

  “I am sorry, Miss Elizabeth, but you must bow to my superior knowledge of him. Mr. Darcy, you see, is a good and amiable gentleman, but he also takes great care in choosing his associates and a prodigious deal of care of his affairs, and particularly his sister. Leaving Hertfordshire will, I have no doubt, recall to his mind the need to hold himself to his strict standards, and there is nothing in Hertfordshire to meet his exacting requirements. Mark my words, he will not return.”

  It was more with amusement than anger that Elizabeth listened to Miss Bingley’s attempts to convince herself. It was why she resisted the urge to throw Mr. Darcy’s promise to her in Miss Bingley’s face or abuse her lack of knowledge of the gentleman. In the end, she knew to do so would be to infuriate her, drawing her into a confrontation. Elizabeth had no intention of allo
wing such unpleasantness to occur.

  Instead, she rose and looked down at Miss Bingley, saying: “Thank you for this interesting conversation, Miss Bingley. With respect to Mr. Darcy or your brother’s return, I suppose time shall tell the truth of the matter. I shall choose to believe Mr. Darcy’s words to me and not this portrait you paint of a fickle man.”

  Then she left the woman fuming behind her, instead, approaching her sisters and Mrs. Hurst, who were speaking of whatever item Mrs. Hurst had left to retrieve. If Elizabeth never spent another minute in Miss Caroline Bingley’s company again, she would be well pleased.

  Chapter XXIV

  It is the fate of all men to feel incomplete when the company of the woman they admire is denied them, and Darcy found he was no exception to this rule. Though it was only two days since he had last seen Miss Elizabeth, it seemed like an age, so much that he spent much of the previous night in quiet contemplation of her perfection, rather than sleeping as he ought. His eagerness to return, however, was such that fatigue did not plague him as he arose and prepared. In fact, he felt nothing but energetic and impatient to set off.

  The final preparations for the departure were completed with his staff’s usual efficiency, and soon the carriage was ready to depart. Georgiana, though usually not an early riser, was on hand to see him off—Fitzwilliam had already departed for his barracks.

  “Whenever you wish to come to Hertfordshire,” reminded Darcy, “ send me a note and inform Fitzwilliam. I should like to have you with me again.”

  “Thank you, Brother,” replied Georgiana, giving him a warm embrace. “I shall anticipate it keenly.”