A Quest for Mr Darcy

by Cassandra Grafton

  ‘I have no fear of that nature; you misunderstand me—deliberately, perhaps. Let me be clear on this: I have no expectations towards your daughter; I do not intend to ask for her hand.’

  Latimer sat up straighter in his seat. ‘Though you have not been overt in your attentions to Eleanor since our arrival, I am nonetheless surprised by your declaration, sir.’

  ‘For which I can only apologise; it proves assumption can be a dangerous thing. That said, the situation stands.’

  There was silence for a moment as both gentlemen eyed each other across the expanse of Darcy’s desk.

  Then, Latimer settled back into his seat. ‘I hear your words, Darcy, though I do not appreciate them.’ He paused, then raised a brow. ‘Yet can you say, with full honesty, you did not consider Eleanor for a time?’

  What could Darcy say in response? He would not lie, yet to confirm his foolish plans on returning to England, to own to having considered Miss Eleanor Latimer the solution, would only open him up to more pressure from Latimer himself.

  ‘I am not so in error, then.’ Latimer narrowed his gaze. ‘I cannot help but wonder what—or who—has influenced you sufficiently to divert you away from your intentions?’ He paused for a moment, and Darcy almost held his breath. ‘A rhetorical question, of course; had I seen you look at Eleanor with but half the intensity you spare for a certain other young lady, then I would have been having the Banns read.’ Latimer laughed, though he sounded little amused.

  Darcy remained silent. Surely this was the end of the matter? Once Latimer had left the room, he could turn his mind to more important things, such as what to do about Wickham and his threats.

  Latimer, however, showed no sign of leaving, instead stretching his legs out in front of him. ‘I have become quite curious about these Bennets. They portray themselves as respectable, landed gentry, yet what if it is an illusion? As you say, assumption is a dangerous thing. One has to wonder if there is something disreputable about the family; something they are trying to hide.’ He stared at Darcy without blinking. ‘Perhaps I should summon an Express rider. I can have a man in—where was it your friend said his estate was near? Ah, yes, Meryton—in but a matter of days to ask around, make a few enquiries.’

  Darcy’s expression became noncommittal, despite his increasing heart rate. ‘I cannot imagine why you would think such a thing, or consider acting upon it.’

  Latimer eyed Darcy keenly, and he did his best to remain still and hold his stare. ‘Can you not?’ He raised a brow. ‘I am no fool, Darcy. For what reason might a gentleman lease out his family’s estate to another? Not only that, but why else might he move such a distance from it? Crippling financial difficulties?’

  Darcy shrugged. ‘Surely it is the act of a gentleman not to enquire into another’s business?’

  Latimer ignored him. ‘It could, of course, be to escape a scandal. I do not suggest making enquiries for myself, sir. It is for my daughter’s sake.’

  With a frown, Darcy got to his feet and turned to stare out of the window. Then, he swung around. ‘My connection to the Bennets can have no relevance to your daughter, sir.’

  ‘I disagree. You have forced the acquaintance upon Eleanor by placing these Bennet girls in your house when you knew you had visitors arriving. Did you not trouble yourself to investigate them properly when they applied to be tenants?’

  Darcy glared at Latimer. ‘You would do well to temper your words, sir, when you speak of the Bennet family. They are old acquaintances of mine, as you have already been told, and thus need no investigation; further, Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth are here under my protection in their father’s absence. You know this also.’

  Latimer got to his feet, a condescending smile on his face. ‘There, there, Darcy; calm down. Surely you do not blame me for being a little disgruntled about Eleanor’s position being usurped by an upstart young woman with no fortune and no connections to speak of. Oh yes, Darcy; as I have already intimated, I have seen your eye upon Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and it is not protection which draws it so frequently.’

  Struggling to contain his anger, Darcy walked round from the desk and faced Latimer. ‘Let us be clear on two things,' he bit out. 'Firstly, your daughter does not have, nor has she ever had, a ‘position’ in relation to me, and thus it is impossible for her to be usurped. Secondly, you will not impress me with talk of wealth and consequence. There was a time when I was as much a slave to them as you appear to be.’ Duty, status, connections... it was a trap Darcy had almost allowed himself to be caught in again. ‘Thankfully, I have learned the error of such narrow-minded thinking, for I have discovered something I value far more highly when considering a marriage union.’

  Latimer looked genuinely puzzled. ‘In truth? And what, may I ask, is that?’

  ‘Happiness,’ Darcy replied, regaining his composure, and he turned to open the door. ‘I believe our discussion is at an end, Latimer.’

  Barely had the door closed on the gentleman’s back when a rap came upon the wood and the colonel breezed into the room.

  ‘How was it, old man?’ He studied Darcy thoughtfully for a moment. ‘Hmmph. If your air and countenance are anything to go by, it was not an easy canter.’

  Still trying to calm his anger, Darcy walked over and threw himself into the chair behind the desk. ‘It did not all go as well as I had hoped.’

  ‘He is intransigent? Would you like me to take him out?’ Colonel Fitzwilliam made a movement as though wielding his sword as he walked across to stand before his cousin.

  Reluctantly, Darcy smiled. ‘It is the nineteenth century, Cousin, not the Middle Ages.’

  ‘You are not considering my satisfaction in the matter.’ The colonel turned to pull up a chair. ‘What possible hold can he have over you? You were never engaged to Miss Latimer.’

  ‘I have no fear in that respect, and I have told him so. But I will not have Miss Elizabeth Bennet dragged into this.’

  ‘Ah. So he has seen sufficient to give him reason to suspect your... interest in the lady.’

  Darcy drew in a shallow breath. ‘So it would seem.’

  ‘But what of it?’

  ‘You may recall Bingley being swept into conversation with Latimer after dinner last night.’

  ‘Indeed. Poor chap!’

  ‘Latimer, I suspect, showed some interest in Netherfield and thus managed to extract the name of the nearest town from Bingley. He has suspicions over why Bennet removed from his estate, claimed he could have a man in Meryton in days, asking questions.’

  ‘These are idle threats, Darce. What use is any intelligence his man finds out?’

  ‘It would undo all the good of the Bennets’ attempt to make a fresh start here in Derbyshire; their lives would become tainted by the past, and they do not deserve it.’ Darcy got to his feet and turned to the window. ‘Miss Elizabeth’s spirits are already disturbed by her father’s absence and the contents of Wickham’s letter. I will not have Latimer causing her more pain and anxiety.’

  The colonel’s hand landed on Darcy’s shoulder as he came to join him. ‘Go for a gallop, Darce. Outrun your distaste for the man, he is not worth it.’

  Darcy stared out of the window, then studied the blue sky. ‘I will do as you say, Cousin.’

  ‘And keep away from Latimer until you are calmer!’ The colonel grinned as they walked to the door where he preceded Darcy out into the hallway. ‘He is keen to visit the stables to select mounts and so forth, but I will stall him for twenty minutes or so to give you time to escape.’

  Chapter Fifty

  Jane and Elizabeth returned to their rooms after quitting Mr Darcy’s study, the better to speak in confidence, and as soon as they entered Elizabeth’s chamber, she sank onto the bed.

  ‘I wish I understood what was happening, Jane.’

  Coming to sit beside her, Jane took one of her sister’s hands in her own. ‘As do I; but there is nothing we can do at present other than wait for Papa’s return. At least Mr Darcy and his
cousin are aware of the situation.’

  Elizabeth smiled ruefully. ‘It is a strange thing, is it not? On the one hand, I am horribly embarrassed such a personal predicament is known outside of our own family circle; on the other, I cannot think of anyone I would rather have shared the intelligence with.’ She frowned. ‘What did you make of the line about ‘your daughter will be at risk’? In what way? Which daughter, and why only one of us?’

  Getting to her feet, Jane patted Elizabeth’s hand before releasing it. ‘I do not know what to think. But for the present, Mary and Kitty are quite well, as are we. You must put it aside, Lizzy. There is nothing you nor I can do to solve the puzzle of Wickham or the content of his letter. We must leave it in the hands of others for now.’

  Elizabeth sighed. ‘I suppose you are right. We have the protection of both Mr Darcy and the colonel, after all.’

  ‘Speaking of Mr Darcy, you have chosen well, Lizzy.’

  Staring at her sister, Elizabeth’s throat tightened. ‘What—what do you mean? Jane, you know Mr Darcy is destined for...’

  ‘You, Lizzy.’ Jane opened the door to the dressing room, then turned to face her sister. ‘Think on it! How many times in the past four and twenty hours have you caught the gentleman with his eye upon Miss Latimer?’

  Elizabeth frowned, but when she met her sister’s gaze, Jane laughed.

  ‘Precisely. And how many times have you caught him with his gaze upon you? I declare, it is more than I can reasonably count!’

  Elizabeth got to her feet. ‘It means nothing more than absence of mind, I am certain.’ With another laugh, Jane walked into the dressing room and Elizabeth followed her. ‘Why do I amuse you so?’

  ‘Because you are not being honest, with me or with yourself.’

  Elizabeth released a huff of breath. ‘I am attempting to face the truth of the matter. Whatever may be derived from Mr Darcy’s present demeanour, his sister would not lie. If she says he intends to secure Miss Latimer, then so he does.’

  Jane straightened from the drawer she had opened. ‘And that was, I am certain, before he became reacquainted with you, dear Lizzy. Whatever he may have intended, I believe he is as much in love with you as ever.’

  Elizabeth walked over to the full-length mirror and stared at her reflection. Could it be so? She raised a hand to her face. Why would Mr Darcy have placed a kiss upon her cheek the other night? Why would he have placed his hand there only last night? He had told her, oh so long ago, how disguise of every sort was his abhorrence. Was it as simple as a mark of affection, an indication of the continuance of the admiration he had declared for her back at Hunsford? Was it truly just as it seemed?

  But what, then, of Miss Latimer?

  ‘What do you think, Lizzy? Shall I wear the cream or the white?’

  Spinning about, Elizabeth stared at the gloves her sister held. Then, she frowned. ‘Dress gloves?’

  Jane dropped them onto the dresser and opened the closet, pulling their new gowns to the fore. ‘We have a ball to prepare for, Lizzy! Which colour is best with my gown?’

  Elizabeth’s eyes widened. ‘It had almost slipped my mind! It feels wrong to be considering such a thing, with all that is happening and when we know not what has become of Papa.’

  ‘We have to continue with life as best we can in his absence. At least we can assume he is nowhere near Wickham at present, and that is a comfort, is it not?’ Jane smiled reassuringly at Elizabeth. ‘Besides, we could speculate on that horrid letter the whole day long, and still we would be none the wiser by nightfall.’

  ‘Why are you so sensible, Jane?’ Elizabeth smiled ruefully. ‘Forgive me; I will do my best to put it to the back of my mind.’ Walking over to the closet, Elizabeth extracted her new ball gown and held it up against her body as she walked back to the mirror. The silk fell in generous folds and the small beads edging the bodice sparkled as the light caught them.

  ‘Let us speak only of the ball, and perhaps later we ought to attempt a movement or two.’ She caught her sister’s eye in the reflection and laughed. ‘After all, it is so long since we danced, I am not certain I recall the steps!’

  Jane merely smiled and turned to remove her own gown from the closet, and they busied themselves in laying out their dance slippers and cloaks ready for brushing by the maid, before making their way back downstairs.

  Before they were half way across the entrance hall, however, Mr Bingley came bounding out of the drawing room.

  ‘I appear to have mislaid the twins again!’ He beamed at them both, and Elizabeth could not help but laugh.

  ‘You seem rather as though there could be no finer thing than mislaying two of your sisters, sir!’

  Mr Bingley’s grin widened. ‘You forget I have other sisters whom it has been a great pleasure, before now, to lose sight of. Now, Miss Bennet. Will you do me the greatest of favours, or do I ask too much? I am certain they went out into the grounds to seek adventure, though they have been banned from approaching the woodland. Will you accompany me in search of them? Miss Elizabeth,’ he turned to her. ‘You are most welcome too.’

  ‘Lizzy?’ Jane looked at her sister, but Elizabeth shook her head, smiling.

  ‘I have seen the twins move at great speed. I will leave you both to begin the chase and will take a more leisurely stroll, if you will excuse me.’

  Leaving Jane to agree with Mr Bingley on their route as they walked away, Elizabeth turned on her heel and surveyed the now empty hall. The corridor to her left led down to the music room, but there were no sounds emanating from it today. Surely Mr Darcy was not still holed up in his study with Mr Latimer?

  Elizabeth turned her steps in the opposite direction and passed through the door at the back of the stairs and continued along to the boot room, where she quickly donned some shoes and collected a shawl she had left there a few days before.

  Once outside, she could see Mr Bingley, with Jane on his arm, walking slowly towards the ornamental ponds, and she smiled. They were unlikely to come across the twins at such a sedentary pace!

  For a while, she meandered along the pathway closest to the house, but then she was drawn to the lawns and began to walk up the grassy slope. She had gone barely ten paces, however, when she was hailed from behind.

  ‘Miss Elizabeth!’

  Turning about, she saw Mr Latimer, his daughter and Colonel Fitzwilliam walking along the lower footpath, the latter of whom was waving an arm.

  She raised her hand in return, and within a few minutes, their paths had intersected.

  ‘Ah, yes, Miss Bennet.’ Mr Latimer met Elizabeth’s gaze, a small smile playing around his mouth. ‘Circumventing your companion duties yet again. Well, we are off to the stables. Come, Eleanor.’

  Elizabeth was conscious of Eleanor Latimer’s glance in her direction, her gaze then falling upon the colonel, who was sporting his usual wide grin, before she turned to follow her father.

  ‘May I, Miss Elizabeth?’

  She took the colonel’s arm, as they fell into step.

  ‘I am not certain I wish to visit the stables, sir.’

  ‘Take pity on me, ma’am. I am quite outnumbered if you do not stay with me.’

  Elizabeth could not help but laugh. ‘As you wish, Colonel.’ If only she could ask his cousin’s whereabouts, but—

  ‘Darcy has gone for a long gallop across the fields.’ Colonel Fitzwilliam threw her a quick glance. ‘He needed to blow off some steam.’

  ‘Oh dear. I am sorry to hear it.’

  ‘Do not be. It is merely the product of his having had a rather trying morning!’

  Elizabeth frowned. ‘I do not understand.’

  ‘Nor should you wish to. Take no heed of my ramblings, ma’am. Darcy often says I would do better to wear my neck cloth about my mouth!’

  With a smile, Elizabeth’s gaze roamed across the parkland as they continued to walk in a comfortable silence, soon reaching the gate to the grounds. Where had Mr Darcy gone? Was his difficult morning solely down
to Wickham's letter, or something else? What preyed so heavily on his mind, that he needed such an escape?

  ‘Here we are.’ The colonel stepped aside for Elizabeth as they reached the stable block, and she preceded him inside, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the dim light after the bright sunshine outside. Mr Latimer was speaking to a groom at the far end, and Miss Latimer had turned her attention to the horses, gently stroking their noses and talking to them softly.

  ‘We must select saddles, Eleanor. Come, let us go to the tack room.’ Mr Latimer followed the groom across the hay-strewn floor to a door standing slightly ajar, beckoning his daughter, who did as she was bid.

  The groom gestured for Mr Latimer to enter the room, but the gentleman stayed him with his hand. ‘Ladies first, if you please, lad.‘ He turned to his daughter as she approached them. ‘After you, my dear.’

  Exchanging a quick smile with the colonel as he walked over to inspect one of the horseboxes, Elizabeth looked around, then narrowed her gaze. Peering at her over the top of a large hay bale were Olivia and Viola, their eyes widening in panic.

  Elizabeth turned back to see what caused such consternation, when suddenly, three things happened in quick succession: a frantic shout of, ‘No, wait!’ came from behind her, followed by a shriek and then the clatter of tin striking the flagstones as the large bowl which had been precariously balanced on top of the partly open door liberally showered its contents over Eleanor Latimer, soaking her from head to foot in water.

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Elizabeth turned to the twins, who sported identical expressions of horror as they took in the disorder by the tack room door.

  ‘Go; quickly, now!’ She whispered.

  They exchanged a glance with each other before heeding Elizabeth’s advice and almost ran from the stables, their skirts whipping out of sight just as she turned back to find the colonel’s eye upon her.

  ‘I thought as much.’ He shook his head. ‘Bingley will have a devil of a task to rein those two in.’