by Nicky Roth
It had been fortunate that he had been too engrossed in reading the letters he had obviously received that day, and she had to admit that she had been quite curious what they might contain, while at the same time scolding herself once again for being so nosy and silly. He had been smiling, occasionally a soft rumble escaped him when he found something particularly amusing and then he had sighed and almost looked sad.
But now, at long last, Elizabeth had her answer, or at least part of it. At least she hoped so. And then she could attempt to find out more about William himself, once she knew more about the cryptic Mr Darcy, a man who as yet evaded her but whom she felt was the centre of this mystery, if it could be called such. Tearing herself away from the window and from William busy cutting the edges of the lawn, she began reading eagerly.
My dear niece,
I am delighted to hear that you are all well and can assure you that so are we. Little Francis had a cold last week, but he is up and running about the house again now as it was not a bad cold, nothing but a runny nose and a sneeze here and there. Thank goodness!
As for Lydia coming out, it might be just as well. It is never easy being the youngest of the family and having to watch on as everybody else has their share in some fun one is cut off from. And perhaps it will cure her of some of her silliness. She is still very young, do not forget that. You have been silly at times when you were but fourteen and even still when you were fifteen. Do remind me, when was the last time you attempted to climb a tree?
I have to say, I am as surprised by Miss Goulding and Mr Watson as you are. I only saw them once or twice, but you are quite right, their disposition is very different from one another, and yet, as you observed so accurately, it might be that which holds the attraction. Love is a mysterious thing and one never knows when and where we might find it. Take your uncle and myself, for example, we literally ran into each other as we both rounded a corner and he was courteous enough to escort me home and carry my parcels. However, I do not recommend this way of meeting men. It is bound to end up with unseemly bruises on both sides and if you cannot see past that, it is unlikely that anything will come from it.
Elizabeth had to laugh at that. She never knew and yet, there was little doubt that it was true. The next lines, however, had her blanch in mortification. Her ruse had been on the verge of being discovered, though fortunately, her aunt had found herself an explanation for the discrepancy. But it had been a close call.
So Mr Darcy is thinking about renting an estate in Hertfordshire? That is some surprise, for he has one of the finest estates in the country near Lambton in Derbyshire where I grew up. So yes, I do know the man. Pemberley House and the park surrounding it are delightful, but perhaps they are inconveniently far off. Or he is acting on behalf of a friend since it is unlikely that he has any financial troubles and needs to retrench like so many other noble families of late. The Darcys have always been sensible and careful people as far as I know.
The family is not titled itself, but they have relations in the highest ranks. His uncle is an earl if I am not mistaken.
I do not know the man myself, not personally, only when he was little and he was a sweet little boy then, though also mischievous. He always escaped his governess to run over to Lambton to meet with the boys in town. Especially during the horse-chestnut season, he was quite a fixture. And he always had his dog in tow. A wretched little creature he had found in the gutter one day but gentle by nature and as loyal as any dog I ever saw. A person so loved by another creature can never be bad, do remember that. And Sally our maid absolutely doted on little Fitzwilliam Darcy, for every time she fetched water or was sent on an errand, he would offer to help and he sometimes did and I actually remember him sitting at our kitchen table picking the peas for our dinner. My mother was quite shocked. Young Master Fitzwilliam and picking peas was not to be borne. It was a sad day for Sally when he was finally sent to school. He turned quite serious afterwards if I recall correctly and we never saw much of him from then on. But then again, it was the time his mother passed away shortly after his sister was born. He could not have been much older than twelve, if not younger.
As said, I do not know him now and have only seen him twice at the theatre and I would not have known him at first if he had not been pointed out to me. You know how these things work. There is always someone there who knows this or the other person. He did not look happy then, but then, he must have a lot on his mind considering his father has passed away as well about four or five years ago and he cannot be much older than seven or eight and twenty now. And with an estate of that size and a little sister to look after, the last couple of years cannot have been easy on him.
He has, however, turned into a very handsome man. Some might say the most handsome you will ever see, and though I cannot agree there, for that is a title which for me your uncle will always hold, I still have to admit that he is quite a sight. Tall, with a fine figure, a fine cut face, a sensitive mouth, that one would love to see smile more often and a rather prominent nose as well as thick dark hair that has a slight curl to it and never stays quite put. His manners are impeccable, naturally, and from what I have heard he is just as good a master as ever his father was, and by all accounts, the old Mr Darcy was a very good one. So, if he should decide to take Netherfield Park, then all of Meryton shall only gain, and if it is one of his friends I dare say it shall likewise be the case. He does not seem to suffer fools very easily.
Did I mention that as yet he is still unmarried? I recommend not to tell your mother or you will never hear the end of it.
I will have to close now, for your uncle and I are invited to dinner at the Newtons and these days I need considerably longer to look presentable than I used to. The children forever pull on my dress, but at least the older ones are slowly but surely growing out of it.
Yours affectionately
Madeleine Gardiner
Tall and handsome, with a fine figure and a prominent nose and a sensitive mouth as well as dark unruly hair... That sounded strangely familiar. But no, that notion was even more ridiculous than any she had come up with so far. It could not possibly be.
Yet everything fit too perfectly. He was good with animals, thorough in his work, he had a sister and he was courteous and well-spoken, both traits that pointed to a good education beyond a school for tenants' children. Not to mention that his appearance matched the description of her aunt to a T.
Was it possible that William and Mr Darcy were not former servant and master but one and the same person? But then, it was even more puzzling as to why he was here. And besides, even the thought was preposterous.
Chapter 17
The light of starry dreams can only be seen once we escape the blinding cities of disbelief.
- Shawn Purvis
'Lizzy?' Jane's voice sounded from the other side of her door. 'Lizzy, are you well?'
She sounded concerned, worried even.
Waking from her stupor Elizabeth collected herself before swiftly replying: 'Yes, I am quite well, Jane. I was just far away with my thoughts. Come in.'
'That I easily believe, for I knocked a couple of times and received no answer,' Jane smiled as she stepped into the room. 'Is there any news from Aunt Gardiner? Mother said you had a letter from her. How is the family?'
'Well. Everything is in perfect order,' Elizabeth replied, not quite recalling what her aunt had written at the beginning of her letter.
'Are you sure you are fine? You do look pale, Lizzy.'
Her sister approached her, a small frown crossing her pretty features as she reached out her hand to feel her sister's forehead.
'Yes, I am sure, Jane. I am just a little confused, that is all.'
'So something did happen, did it not?'
Now Jane's voice trembled.
'No, as said, all is well in Gracechurch Street. It is just that... - Jane, if I gave you a description of a person, would you tell me if you are reminded of someone?'
'Certainly. But, Liz
zy, you are speaking in riddles.'
'Yes, I am quite aware of that, but please indulge me,' Elizabeth pleaded before taking a deep breath to continue: 'A tall, handsome man with a fine figure, hair that never stays quite put, a fine cut face, aristocratic nose and a sensitive mouth.'
'That is it? Sounds like a hero from Kitty and Lydia's romance novels, though you forgot to add brooding. But no, no one comes to mind. Why? Are you intending to write a romance?'
'No, of course not. It is just that... - Oh, never mind!'
Her sister's answer had unsettled her. Did she just imagine things? Perhaps she had gotten lost in a fantasy and nothing more. It was silly anyway.
'You are upset,' Jane observed, pulling her into an embrace. 'Of course I mind, Lizzy. How could I not? You have not quite been yourself for the past week, do not think it escaped me. Please tell me what is the matter?'
'Other than me being a silly goose, nothing. Absolutely nothing. It is just that I cannot get this man out of my head and it vexes me! I have never been so silly in the entirety of my life. Pray why do I have to start now? It is ridiculous!'
'So he is actually a real person?'
'Yes, very real. Unfortunately.'
'But should I not know him as well then? It is not as if we meet many gentlemen around here and most certainly not any that fit your description. Believe me, he would have been noticed and not just by you and me. If there were such a man, you would never hear the end of it from Kitty and Lydia.'
'He is not a gentleman, not even close.'
'Oh?!' Jane exclaimed and then sank onto her sister's bed as realisation dawned upon her lovely face. 'Goodness, I do know a man that fits the description.'
Her face was now a mask of thorough shock.
'Read!' Elizabeth ordered and handed over her letter. 'Mr Darcy is the man he supposedly worked for before he came here.'
Jane read the letter once, then again, her face turning from gentle curiosity to eventually sheer disbelief.
'But...?'
'Exactly, and right now, if you glance out of the window, you will see the very man feeding an apple to a hedgehog. It has been following him around all morning. You might recall that he also has a sister. He told us so when we met him by chance on our way to Meryton last week and discovered that he could write and read.'
'I do remember. But Lizzy, this is impossible!'
'One would think so, for what reason would a man like Mr Darcy have to come here and work as an under-gardener? The notion is downright absurd.'
'It ought to be so. Do you think he is in trouble of some kind? Perhaps over the woman, he has left behind?'
'I thought so as well at first, but what if she never existed? Think about it. What if it was merely a handy explanation of why he left his former position? A position he never held in the first place? Had there been any trouble with a woman all he needed to do is to remove himself to his estate in Derbyshire and that would have been the end of it.'
'That is true, it does not make much sense,' Jane answered thoughtfully, putting down the epistle. 'If William really is Mr Darcy.'
'None at all, I quite agree.'
'And you are determined to find it out, whatever it is. No use denying it, I can see it in your face. - But Lizzy, do be careful, there might be some danger in all of this.'
'I will be, I promise. But I must get to the bottom of this, if only for my own peace of mind.'
'You do love him dearly, do you not?'
'I at least like him very much and the more I get to know him, the more I do and I do not quite know what to do about it. It is by no means his looks alone, it is just that he is so very kind and calm and I like talking to him. He is intelligent and has wit. The other day when I went into the kitchen for an apple Smith was going on and on about him, how he helped to bring the water into the laundry all the while doing his own work as well. Everywhere I turn he is nothing but praised. Johnson was quite impressed as well when he drove us to Aunt Phillips the other day.'
'I dare say, if he really were a gentleman, you could not do better, Lizzy.'
'And that is yet to be determined. Not that it will save me from heartache, for a man like Mr Darcy surely could have any woman as wife he chose to take.'
'And he might be wise enough to choose you.'
'At present, I doubt that it would be a wise decision at all, Jane,' Elizabeth laughed.
It was good to have confided in her sister, and even better that Jane did not scold her for being silly. Then again, Jane never did.
Chapter 18
Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you mad.
- Aldous Huxley
To say that he had been surprised when he had been joined by his little friend the hedgehog would have been an understatement but alas, there it was curiously following him around, making Darcy smile.
Just as he had told Elizabeth Bennet, he liked animals and for many reasons. Not judging was only one of them, but they were also loyal, gentle and trustworthy, or had anybody ever heard of a dog giving away a secret entrusted in complete confidentiality? - Well, perhaps with the exception of his aunt's cat that was. That creature was a little demon capable of anything and deceit especially. Most of the time anyway. Darcy wondered how often a maid had been scolded for breaking something when in truth it had been the innocent looking culprit sitting next to the countess. At any rate, he preferred dogs. Well, and hedgehogs of late.
He could not help it but bend down and share his apple with the little prickly animal.
'Hm, Prickler is actually a good name for you, my friend,' he murmured. 'No, not everything at once or you'll upset your stomach, little one.'
'Whom are you talking to?' Peters' voice sounded from behind him.
'Prickler.'
Glancing at the hedgehog Peters began laughing.
'I see you've made a new friend, William.'
'So it would appear, Sir. Is there anything else for me to do? The lawn is cut, and I've done the edges as well.'
'I see you have anticipated me, lad. No, then you are free for the rest of the afternoon. And you well deserve it. Never had such a hard-working man before and most certainly none who didn't grumble about having to do so much. Mr Darcy must greatly regret the day you left.'
'That I dare doubt, Sir.'
'Then at least your head-gardener does. And now go away and take Prickler with you.'
'If I can persuade him to leave, Sir, for he is a bit prickly to carry.'
Again Peters laughed jovially. However, there was no need to worry, for the creature did indeed follow. It was actually quite comical. There he was, strolling through the gardens of Longbourn House with a hedgehog in tow.
Going up to his chamber, Darcy picked up some sheets of paper as well as his pencil and penknife and left for a little ramble. Well, he knew exactly where he would go. He knew the moment he had decided to walk a little and while doing so could also take care of his correspondence. The little hill where he had first met Miss Elizabeth would do just fine. The stile would make a decent desk and it was not too far off once one knew the shortcut through the meadows. He took it now. There was a small path there from the many times this route had been taken and Darcy was pretty certain that it was all Elizabeth Bennet's doing. He never saw anybody else take off towards this direction.
For a moment he hesitated, wondering if this was such a wise idea, almost fearing he might run into her, just before he recalled that she had not left the house. Or at least not through the front door where he would have seen her. But in order to get to the stile, she would have had to cross the lawn and that again would have brought her into his line of vision.
Prickler still hard on his heels considering his short legs Darcy made his way uphill and soon found his destination. Putting down his writing utensils, he sat down and began writing as the soft wind ruffled through his hair.
The letter to his cousin could be kept short. Fitzwilliam was not much of a letter writer himself and he had often b
emoaned receiving long letters for they quickly could become tedious to read through. Well, he was a busy man. A few lines thus were sufficient.
The letter to Bingley came next.
Dear friend,
do I have to pretend to be surprised at the news about Miss Catrell? Probably not. Though I have to say, that I rather think that it is you who deserves someone better instead of her. If she is taken aback by your lack of a title, then you have not lost much.
What had me honestly surprised, however, is your sister marrying. I think I do recall Mr Hurst. He is a rather portly fellow, is he not? He asked me about my gardens at Pemberley one evening. If it is indeed the very man, then it is him who gave me the idea for my present adventure albeit inadvertently. Take it as a compliment towards the man or leave it. If your sister has made her choice, then I am happy for her and I will keep my honest opinion to myself. Not that I have ever heard any evil about the man, so do not worry. And you know me too well to not know that my opinion of society is not very forgiving at the best of times. Not at present at any rate.