by Glenna Mason
Their horses lathered, the three paused at the top of the final rise and looked down. There wandering through the October leaves were three Bennets.
“Just the right number,” Darcy said under his breath. “Let’s go,” he shouted to his friends.
They kicked their horses and cantered down the incline toward the board fence. “One, two, three,” the colonel called. The riders soared over the fence together.
Elizabeth peeked from under her bonnet and said, “Just the right number.” Darcy was stunned. “Like minds think alike,” he intuited.
“Miss Elizabeth, how breathtakingly beautiful you are today,” Darcy said, dismounting.
Bingley and the colonel stared at each. “Is that the Fitzwilliam Darcy we just rode over with?” they asked simultaneously, bursting into happy guffaws. The two gentlemen slid from their saddles and held the stallions with a loose bridle. All three bowed to the Bennet sisters.
“Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Catherine, may I present my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam of the Prince Regent’s Honor Guard?”
The ladies curtseyed. Richard bowed ceremoniously.
“Where is Miss Mary?” Darcy asked, suddenly apprehending that with an equal number of men and ladies there was no customary chaperonage.
“Mary stayed behind to practice Beethoven’s Pathetique,” Kitty said.
“Oh?”
“She felt you might enjoy it,” Jane added.
“Actually,” Elizabeth said with disapproval, “Lydia was so miffed that she was not allowed to come—although she likes nothing less than walking in the fields and wading in the stream—that Mary stayed home to pretend that the outing was too strenuous for her and Lydia.”
“Then we shall have Miss Mary over very soon to play the Sonata Number Eight for us,” Darcy decreed.
“Lydia has been a trial ever since she got back home; nothing suits her,” Kitty explained.
Very effectively changing the subject and the tone, Elizabeth asked, “Shall we wade in the brook?” She bent down and unlaced her boots and stripped off her stockings. Jane very prettily found a stump and sat down to remove her boots and stockings. Kitty took her turn on the stump, when Jane finished.
“Darcy,” Richard whispered, as the men removed their own shoes and stockings, “you didn’t tell me they were all so incredibly extraordinary. I’ve seldom seen such loveliness.”
“I believe I did extend a hint or two, Richard. And, remember, no dowry, as in no dowry at all.”
“That won’t stop me. The Earl will have to make up the difference.”
“Richard, Bingley has his heart set on Miss Bennet, and I have this inexplicable connection to Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy warned.
“That’s perfect, Cousin. Miss Catherine is the one I admire most, anyway. She is spectacular.”
Darcy had actually never noticed, but, glancing her way, and seeing her now through Richard’s lens, he glimpsed Kitty with a new vision.
“Yes, I’d have to agree with you.”
“Darcy!”
“Take your best shot, Richard. Miss Elizabeth is the Bennet lady that I esteem.”
“Shall we wade then?” he asked Darcy with a brilliant smile. “Miss Catherine,” he shouted, “may I escort you through the stream?”
“Why, yes,” Kitty said, taking his arm. “Did I hear Mr. Darcy introduce you as a soldier?”
“Yes, Miss Catherine I’m in my vacation clothes today. Usually I’m in uniform.”
“Oh, how marvelous. I truly love to see men in the uniform of our great country, so patriotic.”
Kitty drew her arm further through his and smiled up at him. They stepped together into the gentle stream. “Oh, what fun! I haven’t done this since I was a little girl.”
Bingley was assisting Jane, and so Darcy found his way to Elizabeth “This is your domain, Miss Elizabeth,” he said, offering her his arm. “Lead on.”
As they stepped carefully, but nonetheless with a sort of carefree abandon, on the moss covered stones, Darcy said, “I am sorry Miss Mary couldn’t be here today, but at least she has Beethoven for a solace.”
Elizabeth smiled at him. Darcy drew a sharp breath. “I’m in love,” he thought, knowing now the power Elizabeth Bennet held over him.
“Miss Elizabeth . . . ” he began and then he halted. “Be careful,” he admonished himself. “Don’t scare her off. You will have to win this lady. She will not fall at your feet like the belles of the ton. Elizabeth Bennet is not enamored of your 10,000 a year income.” He sighed. “Uh! Oh!” he said aloud.
“Uh! Oh!?”
“I’m on unfamiliar ground,” he answered, meaning every word of it.
“I won’t let you fall, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said with a glorious ripple of laughter.
“Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy said, beginning anew, “I—I—“
“Yes?” Elizabeth answered, quizzically, frowning.
“I need to tell you that we got a letter from Wickham this morning.”
“Oh, no. Small wonder you seem a little disoriented.”
“Now let’s not allow it to spoil our morning. There is nothing impending in its message.”
“Oh?”
“Mr. Bingley, the colonel and I will explain later.”
“We brought a picnic.”
“At the picnic then.”
*****
Darcy and Elizabeth wandered beyond the bend in the stream, leaving the others behind. His heart was beating so hard and fast that he was confident Elizabeth could hear it.
They searched for treasures in the water, finding odd shaped rocks and tiny fish flitting here and there. A frog or two jumped out of their way. Birds, frightened or excited, cried out at their arrival.
“Look, Miss Elizabeth, a flower is growing right in the middle of the water.”
“Why, yes, Mr. Darcy. That is not unusual.”
“It isn’t?”
She led him to a bank where they fashioned a fishing pole from a limb and a limp stalk. They sat on the grassy bank and pretended to fish.
“Do you like to fish? I have real poles at Pemberley.”
“I might if I could throw the fish back in.”
“You could of course. I do.”
“You do?” Elizabeth sounded surprised. “And do you ride the hunt, Mr. Darcy? Mr. Bingley will probably arrange one now that Jane is safe.”
“He will. And, yes, I ride the hunt, but at Pemberley our hunts are for riding and exercise. Georgiana and I do not allow foxes to be chased by hounds. That seems to us a rather barbaric way to enjoy oneself.”
“I’d like to meet her, your sister Georgiana. She sounds charming.”
“You shall. Can you come to London with me? I can get her out of school for the week-end.”
“Now, Mr. Darcy, you know I can’t do that.”
“I thought as my bride.”
“What!”
“I love you, Miss Elizabeth. Will you marry me?”
Elizabeth looked at Darcy, amazement spread across her face. “Mr. Darcy, I . . . “
“You don’t have to decide today or tomorrow or next week. Just know that I love you. I want you beside me for the rest of my life.”
“Mr. Darcy, I have to know you better. I appreciate all you have done for me and my family. I . . .”
Darcy raised his hand. “Miss Elizabeth, I did that for all the Bennets. You owe me no special gratitude.”
“I have an idea. My Aunt and Uncle Gardiner live in Cheapside. I visit them often. If we went to London so I could meet Georgiana, I could stay with them. We could get to know each other better.”
“And then—?”
“And then I shall decide. I never wish to hurt you, so I will not keep you waiting long.”
He stood up and pulled her to her feet. “We’d better join the others.”
“You may kiss me, Mr. Darcy.”
“I can?”
“You’ve asked me to marry you. You deserve a kiss.”
“I do
?”
“Remember I do not know how to kiss any man except Papa,” she persisted.
Darcy tilted her face up. Her eyes closed. He smiled unseen, and gently touched her lips with his. He stepped back.
“I’ll remember that kiss forever,” Elizabeth said. “I know now that you are one man in—what is it, thirty thousand?”
“Twenty thousand actually,” he laughed.
They started back downstream and found the others laying out a blanket and then covering it with plates, cups, cheese, bread and a bottle of claret, all pulled from two large straw baskets.
Darcy looked intently at his friends. Charles and Richard were heading for love too. What a family—these Bennets!
*****
At the picnic they discussed and then dismissed the letter from Wickham. This was a time for fun. They’d worry about Wickham tonight. Bingley asked Jane if she’d assist him in planning a hunt breakfast for the neighborhood. “You are familiar with the families. I might miss someone.” Jane agreed to draw up a list for the invitations. She would also join in the ride. The other Bennet sisters would stay at the house and entertain the guests who did not wish to ride.
It was decided that next Saturday, the day before Richard had to return to his regiment, that Charles Bingley would throw a hunt party at Netherfield to welcome himself to the community and to meet his neighbors. “Those who do not ride can still eat, drink and be merry,” he concluded.
Sitting beside him on the blanket, Elizabeth asked, “Shall I ask Mary to accompany us to London? We could do more things together with Mary along, and it would be an excellent opportunity for Mary to expand her horizons.”
“That is a wonderful idea. I would like to introduce Mary to Georgiana and to some of my friends as well. Most are already in the country of course, but I’ve one or two in mind, whom Mary will admire.”
“Can we get her a couple of more fashionable dresses while we’re there?” Elizabeth asked with a knowing smile. “That is of course before you introduce her to this select list of eligible bachelors.”
“Yes, and believe me Georgiana’s French maid will do wonders with her hair style. She won’t recognize herself.” He laughed heartily.
“We’ll pull those monstrous glasses right off her face,” Elizabeth said, delighted to think of the new Mary.
“And buy her a more becoming pair.”
They smiled and turned to face each other. Elizabeth took his hand under her plate. “Whatever happens, you’re my hero.”
“When do you wish to go to London, Miss Elizabeth?”
“Why, the week after the hunt party, if that suits you, the Gardiners and Mary?”
He nodded.
“I’ll write Aunt Maddie this afternoon, after I secure my father’s and Mary’s assent of course.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Wednesday night August Rollins arrived for dinner a short time before he was expected. Darcy and Bingley had just come downstairs to await their guests in the library, while enjoying a glass of claret.
“I wanted to be here before Thomas,” Rollins explained. “I have news.”
Darcy and Bingley, who had risen to welcome Rollins, straightened.
“That Wickham chap came by today. He left in a fury.”
“How did he get there?”
“On a pretty little bay.”
“No wonder we haven’t found Callie.”
“We can call the lads back now. They’re wasting their time and our shillings,” Bingley said.
“Yes, right away. I’m sure they’ve better things to do.”
“If you will excuse me, Mr. Rollins, I’ll just have a word with Chambers.”
Darcy asked, as Bingley exited the room, “Claret or whiskey, Mr. Rollins?”
“I’ll join you in a little claret.”
“Now tell me how you came to be a tavern owner. I’m sure it’s a great story,” Darcy said, handing him the wine.
“Simple really. There was this bet—“
“No!”
“Not the kind you’re thinking. My father bet me that I couldn’t run a business. He said if I succeeded, he’d start me a bank.”
“And in the long run you chose the inn over the bank.”
“Exactly. I used some of my inheritance from my grandmother to buy the Imaginary Inn and Bar. It is not on any much traveled road, so actually my father and I both won the bet. I can run a business, but I don’t make much money doing it.”
“But he knew you could succeed in business, so he offered to stake your bank?”
“He did. He also left me a considerable fortune. I run the inn for fun. Many interesting people arrive there from time to time.”
“Oh, ho! So you never went into banking.”
“Not many interesting people arrive at a bank.”
“Do you include George Wickham in your cast of interesting people?”
“Do I ever! You and Mr. Bingley too.”
“Interesting! I’ve never been identified as interesting before.” The two men burst into jovial laughter.
A knock was heard on the front door. “Excellent! Here is Thomas now.”
“I guess I know why you two are such good friends.”
“Both brilliant eccentrics!?”
“Why, yes. That was my guess.” They clicked glasses.
A short time later, Colonel Fitzwilliam entered the room, with his arm around Mr. Bennet’s shoulder. “Look, whom I found wandering the hallways,” Fitzwilliam joked.
“August! What a surprise and what a pleasure!” Mr. Bennet said, moving quickly to embrace his old college friend. The two soon stood at arm’s length, hands on each other’s shoulders, beaming.
Bingley returned. Darcy poured three more clarets.
“Mr. August Rollins, may I introduce Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, my cousin on my mother’s side, whose family gave me my name?”
“Colonel.”
“Mr. Rollins.”
Fitzwilliam and Rollins both bowed formally.
“A toast to friendship,” Rollins proposed, raising his glass.
“To friendship,” they acclaimed.
Several minutes later, the men contentedly sitting around the fire, camaraderie ablaze, Mr. Bennet kidded Bingley, “I don’t see too many books in your library, son.”
Bingley rejoined with a jest of his own, “No, I’ve just begun to read.”
Entertained, they all laughed heartily.
Something buzzed through Darcy’s psyche. He had a brainstorm. “Mr. Bennet, I’ve invited Miss Elizabeth and Miss Mary to London next week to meet my sister Georgiana.”
“Yes, Elizabeth told me. Her aunt wrote back today, welcoming them to Gracechurch Street.”
“Why don’t you accompany us? I’ve been reading a long time. My library is comprehensive.”
“Hmm.”
“Then you could all stay at Darcy House in Park Lane. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner could join us at their leisure. They might bring their children and stay the week-end.” Mr. Bennet sat up straighter in his chair, looking thoughtful.
“We could go to the museums and the Theatre Royale. You and I could read to our heart’s content, while the ladies shop. Or perhaps we’ll visit some booksellers ourselves.”
That latter was apparently the coup d’état, for Mr. Bennet immediately declared, “What an idea! I’ve not been to London in a long while.”
“Could Miss Bennet join your party? I’d like to escort her on a ride through Hyde Park.”
Mr. Bennet’s face darkened. “I’m sure Jane would enjoy a trip to London, but how could we protect Mrs. Bennet, Kitty and Lydia from that swindler Wickham, if we’re all away?”
“Oh, Mr. Bennet, in the excitement of our plans I forgot,” Darcy said. “Of course you cannot travel just now.”
“I have an idea. Darcy is almost out of rooms,” Bingley said, winking at Darcy, “but I live a couple of blocks away. Let Jane, her mother and Lydia vacation at my house. Kitty is welcome too, but may wish to st
ay with Elizabeth and Mary at Darcy’s.”
“Hmm. That might work.”
“I can entertain them there and we can get together whenever we please.” Bingley knew this ploy was a solid one. He was well aware that Mr. Bennet’s enjoyment of almost anything increased tenfold when his wife was absent.
Bingley felt that Mr. Bennet would decline the invitation of a trip to London, wherein everyone stayed at Darcy House, which in point of fact had rooms to spare.
And if the ladies were not all included in the venture, Mr. Bennet would feel impelled to remain at Longbourn to insure the safety of the ladies left behind, Therefore, Jane would not be able to travel to London either, as Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner only had guest rooms for two.
“What a generous offer, young man. We accept.” Joy suffused the faces of all the men present, even August Rollins, who didn’t have a stake in this game. As he had mentioned earlier, he loved love.
A knock on the door announced Chambers and a call for dinner. “Shall we dine gentlemen?” Bingley asked.
When the five retired again to the book-less library for cigars and cognac, Bingley inquired, “Poker or billiards?”
“Both,” Rollins and Bennet answered.
“Both it is. Shall we begin with a little high stakes billiards and finish with some low stakes poker?”
“Low stakes in both. I’m saving up to get married,” the colonel said, winking at Darcy.
*****
Darcy called on Elizabeth the next morning. They sat quietly together in the music room, where Darcy confided to her about Mr. Rollins and Lydia. “Mr. Rollins is afraid that your father will not understand his motivations for helping two young people he thought to be in love.”
“He might not. It is difficult to anticipate my father’s reaction to anything,” Elizabeth admitted.
“Since we have Mr. Rollins’ testimony and the notes as proof, Richard has decided to go to see Colonel Forster today and arrange for Wickham’s arrest. He has secured an appointment for this afternoon.”
“That is perhaps for the best. I know he was once your friend.”
“Yes, that is why we waited and vacillated. He might hang. I’d not like that. It is not the money. It is the jeopardy he has placed you and your sisters in. Someone could get hurt.”
“I know.”