Clever Compromises

by APRIL FLOYD

  Chapter 15

  Elizabeth sat in the parlor at Longbourn a week after Jane’s wedding composing a letter for the newlywed. In it, she relayed Mr. Darcy’s tender moment before the wedding breakfast and the fact that he was to pay a call that very afternoon. She would have to wait to send it until Jane supplied an address where the couple would stay in a seaside town for most of their days before returning to Netherfield Park.

  Jane had said Mr. Darcy loved her and now Elizabeth had come to believe it must be so for why else would he have touched her face and said he was most fond of her impertinence? Now that she could no longer deny Jane’s assertions, Elizabeth thought on Mr. Darcy’s actions. He had been kinder to her since Jane’s illness and after her family had surely sunk once more in his estimation the afternoon of Mr. Collins’s second proposal.

  When Mr. Wickham had shown undue attention to her younger sisters in Meryton, Mr. Darcy had given a warning of the man’s treachery though he certainly held no obligation to do so.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by the whining of her sister Lydia. “But Mother, it is not fair that I must stay at home while Kitty is traveling about with Jane and Mr. Bingley! I ought to be allowed to go into Meryton as I please.”

  Mrs. Bennet was in no mood for her youngest daughter’s petulance. Though Jane’s wedding had left her most pleased, Mrs. Bennet was implacable in her resentment of her second eldest daughter. In her mind, Elizabeth had stolen the chance to truly shine among her friends with two daughters married within weeks of one another.

  “Elizabeth, take Lydia into Meryton and see that she behaves. Your father has said you are responsible for her and I agree. You chose to be the spinster sister when you should be planning your own wedding so you ought to be happy to play the part.”

  Elizabeth had left her letter to dry on the writing desk as she thought of Mr. Darcy and now folded it neatly and placed it in the pocket of her skirt. It would do no good to argue with her mother over the care of Lydia. Instead she rose and motioned for her sister to join her. “Come Lydia, I will not remain in Meryton the whole of the afternoon.”

  Knowing she would see Mr. Darcy later gave Elizabeth the patience to shepherd her annoying sister to the door of the home and listen to her prattle on about the lieutenants she might see in town.

  “Father has said you must not seek their attention, Lydia, especially not that awful Mr. Wickham. Mr. Darcy warned us against him and I would not doubt his word.”

  “La, Lizzy! You would and you did once upon a time. What has changed your mind? Mr. Darcy seems as haughty and boring as ever to me.”

  Elizabeth followed her foolish sister out the front door and thought of just the right words to explain her regard for the man who had insulted her the first night they met at the Assembly. “That is the difference between you and me, little sister. You seek many suitors because you have not the discernment nor patience to learn the true character of a gentleman.”

  Lydia only laughed at her and rushed into the lane, her eyes set towards Meryton and her thoughts on the compliments the soldiers might pay her. She would not have to share their attentions with Kitty or Elizabeth.

  When at last they gained the road into Meryton, Elizabeth was weary from the endless chatter and speculation of her sister. Excitement over new ribbon or flowers for their slippers were the chief concerns of Lydia Bennet. It was little wonder that her head was full of nonsense and romantic notions. What young lady of sense could endure such thoughts night and day?

  Their father had been right to limit the trips into Meryton and place Elizabeth over the younger girls. There were far too many ways the two of them might find themselves compromised without too much effort. Elizabeth knew a man could not want her sisters for their dowries, though the Bennets did not want for much, their wealth lay in the land their father held and not their mother’s purse.

  Following her sister to the milliner’s shop, Elizabeth thought of hurrying Lydia along. She must be home when Mr. Darcy came to call. As they neared the door of the shop, Mr. Wickham appeared from around the corner. “Miss Lydia and Miss Elizabeth, how lovely to see you again.”

  Lydia melted in a silly burst of coquettish giggles and Elizabeth grabbed her elbow to keep her on the path to the shop. “Mr. Wickham, if you’ll excuse us, we must attend our errands.”

  The smiling lieutenant stationed himself by the door and swept it open for them in a charming manner. “I would not dream of becoming a hindrance, Miss Elizabeth. I would only go about with you as you complete your tasks. Surely, you would not mind?”

  Lydia shook Elizabeth’s hand from her elbow and placed her own hand on the lieutenant’s arm. “We would be most honored, kind sir. You must see us home if you can spare the time from your regiment.”

  Elizabeth wished she might take her sister by the ear and drag her away but they were now the center of attention as their neighbors in the shop, young ladies as bored as Lydia to a one, turned to murmur over the handsome soldier with the Bennet sisters. Instead of causing further distraction, Elizabeth followed behind Lieutenant Wickham and her sister.

  Lydia giggled and batted her eyelashes at the man and quite forgot her desire to rummage in the ribbons and lace. As the trio walked the aisles, Elizabeth endured the whispers and muffled titters of laughter from the other young ladies who would certainly carry the gossip home to be shared at dinner tables that very evening.

  Losing interest in the conversation of her sister and the dashing red-coated rake, Elizabeth left them to stand by the large front window of the shop and look out upon the street. She was quite lonely with Jane gone and her heart ached in her chest for the camaraderie of her dear sister.

  The striking pose of a man upon a fine horse in the road caught her attention and Elizabeth was pleased to recognize the rider as Mr. Darcy. All thoughts of Jane and Lydia with her suitor flew from her head and she made her way quickly to the door of the shop. Hesitating for only a moment, she thought to turn and call to her sister before leaving to speak with Mr. Darcy.

  Three young ladies had gathered around Lydia and Lieutenant Wickham at the far side of the shop and so she knew there was very little trouble her sister might encounter. Turning again to the door, Elizabeth straightened her skirts. With a smile for Mr. Darcy in place, she sailed happily outside.

  As he passed, Elizabeth waved to him and Mr. Darcy steered his horse to where she stood. Her heart did that odd little flutter and selfishly she hoped that Lydia would remain inside with the man Mr. Darcy had warned them against.

  “Good afternoon Miss Elizabeth,” he called as he dismounted and kept the horse’s reins in hand.

  “A good day to you, sir. Have you come to town for a purpose or only to give your horse a bit of exercise? He is quite a lovely beast.”

  Mr. Darcy’s brows raised in surprise. “Why, my lady, do you ride?”

  Elizabeth bit her bottom lip to keep from giggling like Lydia and the silly girls in the shop behind her. Mr. Darcy stepped closer and she breathed deeply. “I do not as a rule. If I am honest, they scare me a bit. I trust my own feet far more than their prancing hooves.”

  Mr. Darcy chuckled at her words. “I have no doubt you possess the charm to tame any four-legged beast, Miss Elizabeth. I find myself quite a changed man in your presence.”

  Now twin flames of delight and not a little embarrassment flushed across her cheeks and Elizabeth did not trust herself to answer his tease. Just then, the door to the shop opened and Lydia’s voice acted as a pitcher of cold water on Elizabeth’s happy demeanor.

  Mr. Darcy’s countenance changed in the blink of an eye as he stepped past Elizabeth to take Lydia by the arm. He pulled her easily behind his back though she struggled against him and cried out. “La, Mr. Darcy! Take your hands off me you brute!”

  Elizabeth could not believe the scene unfolding before her. Lieutenant Wickham stood nose to nose with Mr. Darcy. Lydia screeched and pulled mightily against Mr. Darcy’s iron grasp. Grabbing her sister’s f
ree arm, Elizabeth pinched the tender skin above the elbow.

  Mr. Darcy’s voice was low and menacing as Lydia fell against her sister and pulled against Mr. Darcy with all her might. The gentleman released her and advanced on Wickham. “If I ever see you near the Miss Bennets again, you will regret it deeply. Go back to your regiment and forget Miss Lydia.”

  To Lydia’s astonishment, Wickham backed away with his hands in front of him in a placating gesture. “As you wish, Darcy. I did not know you preferred the young lasses.”

  Elizabeth gasped as Mr. Darcy took the man by his lapel and pulled him close. “What I prefer is that you behave as the gentleman your father raised you to be. Do not dishonor his memory.”

  Chapter 16

  Later at Longbourn, Lydia relayed the dramatic meeting to their mother in the parlor. “Mama, who could know Mr. Darcy would behave so in sight of our neighbors? I was horrified by the violence but thrilled at the same time.”

  Lydia became breathless in the retelling and Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Mr. Darcy warned me against Mr. Wickham the last time we met in Meryton. If he does not trust the man, I would not either. He is far too fickle in his pursuit of the ladies. Charlotte told me yesterday that the lieutenant has been calling on Miss King.”

  Mrs. Bennet would not be moved from her ill opinion of Mr. Darcy. “Perhaps Mr. Bingley's friend is merely jealous of Mr. Wickham’s charm? That is it, I declare! Mr. Darcy is as boring as our Mary with little more to recommend him than his ten thousand a year.”

  Elizabeth found her ire rising at her mother’s words that caused the foolish Lydia to laugh and agree with the nonsense. She rose to his defense before she might think better of it. “Mother, Mr. Darcy is a gentleman above all else. If Lieutenant Wickham were sincere in his feelings, why would he court Miss King one day and flirt with myself and Lydia the next?”

  Lydia stuck out her tongue and crossed her arms. “He did not flirt with you Lizzy! He has always paid particular attention to me. Mr. Darcy is the one who flirts with you and you return his moon eyed glances that last longer than they ought.”

  Elizabeth was aghast at her sister’s charge but could not deny the truth of her words. Mrs. Bennet turned suddenly, her eyes narrowed. “Is this true, Lizzy? Mr. Collins laid such a charge that day he proposed but I assumed it was out of anger for your terrible behavior.”

  Fixing Lydia with a withering gaze, Elizabeth wished Jane were present to distract their mother. Before she might address Mrs. Bennet, Hill entered the parlor. “Ma’am, Mr. Darcy has come to visit.”

  Mrs. Bennet’s surprise was evident and she waved her handkerchief excitedly. “Please see him to the parlor, Hill.”

  Elizabeth’s heart leapt to her throat as Lydia clapped her hands. “See, mama? I did not lie! Mr. Darcy is in love with Lizzy and she with him!”

  Mr. Darcy appeared behind Hill and Elizabeth was certain he overheard Lydia’s declaration. His face did not show it if he did and Mrs. Bennet stood at once to welcome him to Longbourn. All trace of her disapproval of the man had vanished as though she believed Lydia’s gossip. “Mr. Darcy! How lovely to see you this afternoon. Shall I send for tea?”

  Mr. Darcy’s countenance was one of irritation but Elizabeth saw that he attempted to appear polite. “I would not trouble you Mrs. Bennet. I have come to speak with Mr. Bennet on a matter of great importance.”

  Mrs. Bennet frowned at being denied the opportunity to question the man about Lydia’s accusations. She turned to quit the parlor and tell Mr. Bennet of Mr. Darcy’s arrival. Before she reached the door, she turned and wagged a finger at Elizabeth. “Young lady, we shall speak later about your feelings for you-know-who.”

  Mr. Darcy’s gaze flitted from Mrs. Bennet to Elizabeth and Lydia giggled. “Oh Mother, perhaps Mr. Darcy would care to hear that conversation?”

  Mrs. Bennet hushed Lydia. “Hold your tongue, Lyddie, and do not vex Mr. Darcy while I fetch your father.”

  Hill appeared again after Mrs. Bennet bustled from the room, this time with the post, and Lydia was thrilled to receive a letter from Kitty and quit the parlor without a thought for Mr. Darcy. Hill held out a letter for Elizabeth. “I believe your sisters must have dashed off a line or two while stopped overnight on their way to Bath.”

  Elizabeth was thankful for the distraction and the sound of Lydia’s footsteps on the stairs. She tucked the letter from Jane into her skirt pocket and stared at Mr. Darcy for a moment before speaking. “Mr. Darcy, I did not think to see you again today after the incident in town.”

  “Miss Elizabeth, I did promise to return to Longbourn today when last we spoke and I keep my promises. I would walk with you in the garden after I speak with your father.”

  Elizabeth bit her bottom lip at this news. Of course she would not mind a walk with the man whose presence melted her heart! “'Tis not much to see in the gardens now, I fear. The flowers have faded and frost covered the ground there this morning.”

  Mr. Darcy gave a nod. “Tis not the garden that holds my interest, Miss Elizabeth.”

  Before she might hide the blush that crept up her neck, Mr. Bennet entered the parlor with Mrs. Bennet on his heels. Giving a slight nod to his visitor, Mr. Bennet did not mince words. “Mr. Darcy, won’t you step into my study so that we may speak plainly?”

  Mr. Darcy followed Mr. Bennet as the man turned on his heel without waiting for his visitor to answer. He looked to Elizabeth as he passed her, his smile making her heart race so that she felt quite faint. It was silly of her to behave as Lydia or Kitty but the man’s presence was thrilling in a way no other man’s presence had ever been.

  Mrs. Bennet took her by the arm and Elizabeth realized that the men had left the room. “Lizzy, you must tell me if Mr. Darcy has made you believe that he cares for you! Tis too much to bear to think of you married better than my dear Jane. How could that be?”

  Elizabeth had not the words to address her mother’s concern. Mr. Darcy’s behavior was that of a gentleman interested in a lady and yet she did not wish to speak for the man. To give her mother’s suspicions validation would certainly open the fledgling romance to gossip and conjecture. “Mother, you must not listen to Lydia. She sees love in every glance or smile. Mr. Darcy is merely being kind to our family because of his loyalty to Mr. Bingley.”

  Elizabeth could see that her mother was not persuaded by her weak argument. “He did ask your father if he might walk with you in the garden after their meeting. I heard him as they entered the hallway.”

  Laughing at her mother’s habit of eavesdropping, Elizabeth escorted Mrs. Bennet to her favorite chair. “Let us have tea, Mother, and I shall read to you from Jane’s letter that has just arrived.”

  Mrs. Bennet was happy at the news of a letter from Jane and called for Hill to bring them tea. ‘What wonders she may have to report, Lizzy! The excitement and the romance of a wedding trip is so thrilling!”

  “Mother, she has only been gone a short time. There cannot be much to tell just yet.”

  Elizabeth took her seat and removed the letter and broke the seal on Jane’s missive. How she wished she was in the study with her father and Mr. Darcy but word from her dear sister would have to do for now.

  In Kent, Lady Catherine was handed into her carriage by her weary parson not an hour after she had given the order for a trunk to be packed by her maid.

  “Come along, Collins! We must be off to Hertfordshire before your cousin manages to steal my nephew’s affections. I don’t know why you were unable to force her father’s hand but I shall see it done myself.”

  Mr. Collins had any number of excuses to offer his patroness but wisely chose to remain silent. Lady Catherine was in no mood to entertain further discussion.

  “When we arrive, you shall take me directly to Longbourn and I will see whether this cousin of yours is foolish enough to believe she might marry into such an esteemed family. Why, the poor girl must be made to see that she is not fit for the nephew of a peer! Truly, Collins, I am greatly dis
appointed in your failure to impress upon her the folly of her ways.”

  Mr. Collins merely nodded his head in agreement and tried to soothe the lady’s discontent. “I shall do all that I might to atone for my failings Lady Catherine. My deepest apologies are as nothing, I realize, but I truly regret my part in this calamity.”

  Lady Catherine seemed to be pleased with his self-debasement as she turned her eyes to the window on the right side of the carriage. Mr. Collins released a shaky breath slowly so as not to draw her attention.

  Later, as she strolled in the garden with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth found herself thinking how lovely it would be to become his wife. As they completed their circuit for a second time, Mr. Darcy spoke of his sister.

  “I could not delay my visit with your father longer after the scene with Wickham in Meryton. I am most concerned for Miss Lydia as it was my sister that the man nearly compromised last summer.”

  Elizabeth could not contain the gasp of horror that escaped at this revelation. “But she is just a girl, is she not?”

  Mr. Darcy shook his head in disgust. “Indeed, she is close in age to Miss Catherine. I fear I am at fault for leaving her at Pemberley for so long while attending business in Town. She is in London now with the Fitzwilliam family as I did not wish to leave her at Pemberley with only a companion after the treachery of Wickham.”

  “Father shall demand that Lydia remain at Longbourn now. I fear she will be unbearably cross but that is better than losing her honor to such a dashing rake. He does have a charm about him and a young lady such as Miss Darcy must have had a terrible time of it to find he did not love her.”

  Turning to face Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy gazed into her eyes. “I have not shared this terrible news with many, Miss Elizabeth. I trust that you shall never speak of it to another soul. Confessing all to you was difficult, but I wanted you and your father to understand the danger Wickham presents. I could not see Miss Lydia harmed to save myself embarrassment.”