Two Gentlemen of Honor

by Clara Willoughby

  And would she ever know of it?

  * * *

  *Scott, Walter. The Lady of the Lake; A Poem. John Ballantyne and Co. Publishing, 1810.

  Chapter 3

  The Bennets were engaged in a serious argument, one that Elizabeth found especially tedious as the entire of it was the result of her mother’s schemes to leave Jane caught at Netherfield. A storm approached and Mrs. Bennet prayed that Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst’s invitation would end with Jane as their overnight guest. The argument continued until at last, Elizabeth could hold her tongue no longer.

  “That would all be a good scheme,” said Elizabeth, “if you were sure that they would not offer to send her home.”

  Mrs. Bennet was preparing to present even more facts to advance her position in the quarrel when a knock on the door surprised and silenced the whole family.

  “Were we expecting a visitor?” Mr. Bennet asked.

  Jane stole a glance at the clock in the sitting room.

  “Might I have misunderstood? I do not believe Miss Bingley intended to come to Longbourn.”

  “I most certainly hope not. Longbourn is not prepared to welcome a woman of her consequence. Where is the letter, Jane?” Mrs. Bennet cried.

  As Jane and her mother searched about for the note Caroline Bingley wrote to Jane that requested she spend the day at Netherfield, Mr. Bennet put a stop to the madness and simply opened the door. They were all surprised to see Lord Adrian Spencer standing on their doorstep. It had been nearly a month since Elizabeth had seen or heard from him, a fact which had been the topic of many a dinner conversation in the Bennet home. Because of this, it was quite impossible for Elizabeth to hold her tongue.

  “Lord Spencer! I dare say I had given up on seeing you again after your last visit. It is a pleasure and a surprise to see you.”

  Adrian gave a polite bow, then stood tall and straight once more, reminding the Bennet ladies how handsome he was.

  “Please accept my sincerest apologies, Miss Elizabeth. I have come both to explain my absence as well as to invite you and Miss Jane to spend the next several days at Westerhall. My sister Rebecca is home from her school for a few days time and she wishes to meet both of you. My carriage is outside and I am happy to wait while you gather your bags.”

  Neither sister, nor Mrs. Bennet or Mrs. Hill, moved from where they stood and each had a very different reason for doing so. Elizabeth just happened to be the first to speak.

  “Was it your sister whom took you away for so long?”

  “It was, Miss Bennet. There was some confusion regarding her education after the death of my father, thus my presence was required in Reading. I apologize for not writing, but Rebecca took up the body of my time for this past month. I do hope you can forgive me.”

  Elizabeth was about to answer that she did when Jane took hold of her arm and pulled her aside into the sitting room.

  “Lizzy, please, decline his invitation. If I do not go to Netherfield, Caroline will believe I have refused her offer and she might never forgive me. Even if he is dining with the officers, there is still a chance I might see him. Elizabeth, I beg you…”

  Without hesitation, Elizabeth intended to agree to her sister’s request. She maintained it was more important for Jane to marry first, thus she had no intention of doing anything that might stand in her sister’s way. Yet, before she could give Jane her answer, Mrs. Bennet appeared behind them like an apparition.

  “You will not decline Lord Spencer’s invitation to Westerhall. Jane, you may write to Miss Bingley before you depart and explain that you had a prior engagement. Do not mention what that prior engagement is, though I am sure she will hear about it in due course. Simply decline and offer to visit upon your return to Longbourn.”

  If there was one thing upon which Elizabeth could count, it was that Jane would never cause a quarrel with her mama and papa. But today, she could see in her sister’s eyes that she was prepared to fight for her opportunity to spend more time in the company of Mr. Charles Bingley. However, if Jane did cause an argument, there was no chance Mrs. Bennet would allow Jane to visit Netherfield without a chaperone.

  If mama accompanies her to Netherfield, Elizabeth thought, we shall never hear from the Bingley’s again.

  In a panic, Elizabeth reached out for Jane and took her hand in her own, holding it tight in an attempt to silence her.

  “Mama, do you not think it is more important for Jane to visit with Caroline Bingley at Netherfield? Jane will be in the company of Miss Bingley and Miss Hurst, thus she will not be in need of a chaperone. Then, perhaps father could accompany me to Westerhall? This would answer both problems, would it not?”

  For a moment, Elizabeth thought she had convinced her mother. Then the woman’s face settled into an expression of stern anger, which let Elizabeth know that whatever came next would be the final word on the matter.

  “Elizabeth Bennet, if you have the opportunity to marry a man with 15,000 a year, then on my life, you will take it. For as many times as Lord Adrian Spencer stands in our home and wishes for you to come visit with him and his sister, you will do it. Once he has expressed interest in courting you, then we shall proceed with Jane’s romances. Have you heard me, girls?”

  Jane and Elizabeth could manage little more than a nod, which their mother returned in kind.

  “Good. Now, go and get your bags before Lord Spencer changes his mind.”

  The sisters were ready to depart Longbourn within moments of their mother’s stern notice. When they rejoined the household outside next to Adrian’s most impressive coach, Elizabeth could tell that her sister was deeply disappointed in spite of the opulence in which they would be riding to Westerhall. She wished she could do something more for Jane, but their mother had made it impossible for either of them to change their mind.

  If Adrian detected even a hint of distress in the Bennet home, he did not show it. He only smiled and welcome Elizabeth and Jane into the coach as he secured their bags to the back himself.

  “I promise your daughters will be well cared for at Westerhall. My sister will be truly grateful for the company,” Lord Spencer said to Mr. Bennet. Their father nodded respectfully at the gentleman but smiled at Jane and Elizabeth.

  “I trust them to your care, Lord Spencer. Regards to your sister.”

  Following a few jealous waves from their younger sisters, Adrian joined Elizabeth and Jane in the coach and they began the ride toward Westerhall. Elizabeth was anxious to see the estate and meet Rebecca Spencer, but she could not help but notice the sadness in her sister’s eyes. She did not know how, but Elizabeth was intent on mending any damage done to Jane’s relationship with Mr. Bingley or his horrible sisters. Somehow, she would repair it, even if it damaged her own friendship with Adrian.

  Chapter 4

  The ride from Longbourn to Westerhall hurried by thanks in part to the comfortable coach, but almost entirely to the pleasant company. Lord Spencer told Jane and Elizabeth stories of his time at Cambridge, and more than once, Elizabeth spotted her sister smiling in spite of her great disappointment at declining Miss Bingley’s invitation to Netherfield. By the time they arrived on the estate grounds, Jane even appeared to be enjoying herself. Elizabeth thought that, perhaps, for a few days at least, Jane could forget her sadness and engage in a bit of a distraction.

  As the coach rambled down the path and through a grove of trees, Elizabeth peeped outside and was overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of what surrounded her. The grounds were green and maintained exquisitely, the house was itself a grand and lovely place, and set in front of the entrance was yet another lovely and elegant coach.

  “Lord Spencer, do you really have two carriages as fancy as this?” Elizabeth asked without much thought for propriety. She saw in Jane’s face that she had asked something bad but there was little she could do to correct it now.

  Adrian took a look out the coach for himself and let out a small laugh of confusion.

  “Interesting. We were not ex
pecting any other visitors and I do not know the coach. I wonder who it might be.”

  After their own carriage came to a stop just in front of the mysterious coach, they followed the footman through the extraordinary doors that lead into the main entrance of Westerhall manor. Elizabeth was given no time to admire the elegant design and extravagant sculptures around them, however, because no sooner did they step inside than they were approached by Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.

  “Darcy! I was not expecting you! What brings you to Westerhall? Is something the matter?” Adrian asked, approaching his friend with a firm hand shake. “Of course, I am delighted to see you, but you are some distance from Pemberley, no?”

  Mr. Darcy appeared to need a minute to gather his thoughts before he offered an answer.

  “Yes, I apologize for not informing you of my arrival ahead of time. I was meant to go to Netherfield, but I remembered you were back at Westerhall and though perhaps I would see you for a time instead. But it seems you already have guests,” Darcy said, nodding in their direction. “Would you prefer I call some other day?”

  Lord Spencer appeared wounded.

  “Do not be silly, old friend. Rebecca will be delighted to see you. I have known Mr. Darcy here since we were boys climbing the trees in the garden. Darcy fell out of the oak tree and broke his arm one summer. I thought his mother would never forgive me.”

  Elizabeth almost laughed as she tried to picture Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy as a boy, let alone the sort of little who climbed trees. The image of it was impossible to conjure. As if to prove her correct, Mr. Darcy quickly changed the subject of their conversation.

  “Rebecca is here then? I have at least seen you twice since your return to Hertfordshire, but she has stayed in Reading the whole time,” Darcy said, feebly hiding his own surprise at discovering the Bennet sisters behind a mask of pride. Elizabeth knew that her face was doing little to hide her own disappointment at being faced with Darcy again but she was not interested in making him feel more comfortable. Her sister, however, was not going to allow her to embarrass them and Jane gave Elizabeth a sharp poke in the side, guaranteed to change her countenance. Adrian was prevented from answering Mr. Darcy when Elizabeth cried out in surprise. Both gentlemen watched her as if she might faint away.

  Elizabeth quickly attempted to cover up the cry with a laugh.

  “I am sorry. I think I have a bit of riding dust in my throat. Do not mind me,” she said, thought it was clear no one believed her.

  “As I was saying, Darcy. Rebecca so enjoys her school that I can scarcely tear her away for the holidays. She was pleased to stay in Reading with some cousins of our last Christmas while I was in India, though I hated being away from her at her favorite time of year.”

  Jane and Elizabeth exchanged glances. Now Elizabeth could see that her sister was interested in at least a possible answer to their questions about Lord Spencer’s time in India, though Jane would never tell anyone what they heard. In truth, Elizabeth was quite surprised that Darcy kept the secret if he knew. He hardly seemed a loyal friend to any but himself.

  “Is your sister here, Lord Spencer?” Jane asked. “I would so love to meet her.”

  “Of course,” Adrian answered, slapping his leg at the second reminder to fetch his sister. “Where could my head be today? I am sure Rebecca is upstairs reading. I will go gather her and then we can all take a lovely long walk through the gardens and stretch our legs a bit? Darcy, would you take Miss Elizabeth and Miss Jane through the house and out to the garden, please?”

  Adrian ran like a hare up the stairs, where he disappeared into a grand hallway that was bright with afternoon sun. Once they were alone, Mr. Darcy turned back to the sisters and nodded again, with even greater politeness than the first time.

  “If you would follow me,” Darcy insisted. Though Elizabeth believed it was meant to be a question, his tone made it a command, which invited in her desire to go any direction he was not going. Jane anticipated this and took her sister by the hand, leading her with a strong hand toward Mr. Darcy. If it had not been for the astonishing scenery around them, she would have considered an irritable walk back to the coach and waiting for their time at Westerhall to end right there.

  Instead, as soon as Elizabeth saw the doors open up to the garden…

  She was enchanted.

  Chapter 5

  When they first walked out unto the garden grounds of Westerhall, Elizabeth almost forgot to take a breath. The gardens alone were as large as all of Longbourn and she wished to explore every tree and flower that they had to offer. While the oak tree at the edge of hedges held painful memories for Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth imagined the peace and joy she would find reading under it in the cool shade it provided. The flowers were bright and cheerful and the stone on the walk felt soft beneath her feet. Elizabeth could only dream of childhood in such a garden and thought Rebecca Spencer lucky to call Westerhall her home.

  Rebecca was a lovely girl, with rosy cheeks and hair as black as night. Elizabeth caught a glimpse of a portrait of Duke and Duchess Spencer while still in the main entrance of Westerhall. It was quite clear that their children took after their mother, who looked to be a lovely and kind woman. Duke Spencer was severe, his face cold and unfeeling. They appeared to be the subject of two different paintings, combined to complete a single portrait that did not quite fit. In both appearance and behavior, it was most obvious that Adrian and Rebecca had grown in the company of their mother, not their father.

  Jane and Rebecca led as the group walked down the garden path. Elizabeth and Adrian were side by side, with Mr. Darcy close behind. On several different occasions, the gentleman would appear next to Elizabeth and add something to their conversation, though he seemed generally content to listen from behind. It was not until they reached the center of the garden, where the oak tree loomed large and lovely benches surrounded it, that Darcy spoke up for the first time.

  “Spencer, I must say, it seems a bit daunting of a task.”

  Adrian and Rebecca both turned at the sound of their surname, though Adrian knew it was he that Darcy addressed.

  “To what are you referring?”

  “Westerhall. How do you plan to care for an estate this large with Rebecca at school and no wife or prospects? A grand old estate such as this truly needs a mistress of the house, do you not agree?”

  Elizabeth was not the only woman who looked to Adrian to sort out his thoughts on what she considered a rude and inappropriate question. Fear filled Lord Spencer’s eyes to a degree that did not seem appropriate to the situation, though Elizabeth understand his absence of interest is speaking of such things in front of his own sister, let alone Elizabeth and Jane. She thought it was very uncivil of Mr. Darcy to bring up Adrian’s matrimonial plans now.

  “I think that I am entirely capable of caring for my family home without the assistance of anyone. But Rebecca will not be in school forever and in truth, I hope Westerhall will not be empty of a female influence much longer.”

  Lord Spencer did not say her name, nor look at her, but Elizabeth saw the hint of a smile on his lips, and she could not help but wonder what made him smile so. She certainly would not ask in front of Darcy or Rebecca, but it would cause her to ponder over the meaning of the smile for the remainder of their time together, of that she was sure. Perhaps after dinner, she might find some time alone with her sister to ask her opinion on the matter.

  “Darcy,” Adrian started with confidence, “it is most amusing that you point your accusing finger at me when you, yourself, have no woman to care for Pemberley. Georgiana is at school as well, is she not? I have yet to see you courting a single soul. When can we expect you to fill your own grand estate?”

  Mr. Darcy made quick work of covering his nervousness once the same question was asked of him. He hid his hands firmly behind his back and rocked back and forth with such speed that Elizabeth thought he might lift off the ground entirely.

  “As you well know, Spencer, this is a subject I would prefe
r not to speak of in front of the ladies. Perhaps later. For now, I think we should inquire what the Bennet sisters think of your garden, Lord Spencer,” Darcy said, his change in demeanor and conversation both easily apparent to all three women.

  “It is most lovely, Lord Spencer. Thank you for allowing us to tour it,” Jane said properly. Elizabeth, however, was overwhelmed by her charm with the beautiful estate that surrounded them and it caused her to speak plainly, which would cause her sister to scold her later.

  “It is more than lovely. I believe I could spend the rest of my life in this garden,” Elizabeth said as she reached out to touch the trunk of the old oak tree. When she turned back to the rest of the party, they were all watching her with clear surprise, which turned her cheeks rosy. “What I meant Lord Spencer, was that this tree is the perfect one for reading. I only wish we had such an old and magnificent oak at Longbourn.”

  The party laughed in nervousness, though Rebecca appeared to take great delight in the uncomfortable behavior of her brother and his guests. No one spoke for a longer time than felt appropriate, until at last, Lord Spencer clapped his hands together and stepped toward the bench where the ladies sat.

  “Shall we return to the manor? Miss Jane, Miss Elizabeth, I had your rooms prepared while we were gone, so you may rest and change before dinner. Rebecca can show you to where you will be staying.”

  Rooms?

  Elizabeth stood to her feet and held a hand out to stop Adrian before he left.

  “Lord Spencer, I would not want to make the next few days difficult on you or your household. My sister and I can…”