by P. O. Dixon
“What are you insinuating?”
“Having met Miss Darcy, I can honestly say she has no interest in Mr. Bingley. However, I begin to suspect that Miss Caroline Bingley is not the only one who desires an alliance between your families where your sister and Mr. Bingley are concerned.”
“You could not be further from the truth.”
“Prove it, Mr. Darcy. Speak with Mr. Bingley on my sister’s behalf.”
“I will do even better. Bingley will arrive here tomorrow. You may speak with him yourself.”
“Yes, Lady Gwendolen has assured me that Mr. Bingley will be joining us for the week. If nothing else, I ask that you do nothing to impede my ability to speak with him.”
“You have my word, Miss Elizabeth.” He smiled. “Now, shall we call a truce?”
Elizabeth conceded. Mr. Darcy need not be her enemy. He raised her proffered hand to his lips.
“Yes, Mr. Darcy. Let us consider our differences a thing of the past.”
* * *
What Lady Gwendolen observed of Mr. Darcy’s behaviour that evening displeased her. Not only had he contrived to escort Elizabeth to dinner, the two had sat together. She planned to speak with the butler. From that night on, formal seating assignments would be the rule.
Whilst she could not complain about the amount of Mr. Darcy’s attention she had garnered, for he had spent more time attending her that evening than ever before, throughout the entire time she could tell his true focus was her brother and Elizabeth. He behaved as though he were jealous.
Sally tucked the remaining locks behind her ladyship’s ears and finished braiding her hair. She stepped back and admired her work.
“That should do it, your ladyship.” Despite being her lady’s maid, Sally and she enjoyed a close camaraderie, made even stronger since the loss of her ladyship’s parents.
“How did you enjoy the company of the gentleman from Derbyshire, my lady? I am sure he fought hard to tear his eyes away from you all evening.”
Gwendolen stood, placed her hand on her waistline, and studied her image.
“Is there something amiss, your ladyship?”
“Sally, I need your help.”
“Anything for you, your ladyship. How might I serve you?”
“What I ask of you is a matter of some delicacy. However, my curiosity demands satisfaction.”
Gwendolen walked across the room and sat on her bed. “I have reason to suspect that my friend, Miss Elizabeth, is more acquainted with Mr. Darcy than she will allow. Ask around and find out what you can. If she is my competition for Mr. Darcy’s affection, I must know.”
“I understand, your ladyship. Give me leave, and I shall make inquiries amongst acquaintances in town.”
“Please, do what you must. I caution you, however, to be discrete.”
* * *
Lady Gwendolen drew herself away from the window of her brother’s study. The steady pounding of rain that had started the evening before was sure to delay the arrival of the last of the guests, if they even still were decided to attend. She took comfort in knowing that her particular guests were already in residence. Those delayed included the Duchess and Mr. Bingley, and since both had been invited at her brother’s request, she did not intend to make herself too upset by their absence.
As for the former, the Duchess, Lady Gwendolen should have been pleased by the delay, except that it had made no difference.
“Trevor, how goes your quest to become acquainted with Miss Elizabeth?”
“Your quest for me to become better acquainted with Miss Elizabeth is progressing nicely.”
“She is charming.”
Lord Latham nodded at the appropriate time. Lady Gwendolen supposed that Her Grace’s absence occupied his thoughts. He had that look.
“Mr. Darcy seems of that opinion.”
Lord Latham said nothing.
“I hate it when you ignore me.”
“I beg your pardon, dearest?” His brows were drawn together, as if his mind raced to determine what he had missed of their discussion.
“Did you not notice how Mr. Darcy attended Miss Elizabeth last evening?”
“Having learned of their prior acquaintance, I would not expect him to do otherwise.” He looked into her eyes. “Is that what is bothering you? He was only being considerate, I assure you, what with Miss Elizabeth’s being surrounded by strangers.”
“Are you quite certain?”
“Yes, I am. For as long as I have known Darcy, he has never shown interest in a woman whose circumstances were decidedly beneath his own.”
“That is a small consolation, I suppose. Still, I would rest easier if you spent more time entertaining Miss Elizabeth yourself. If I am to make any progress with Mr. Darcy this week, the last thing I need is competition.”
“I promised that I would get to know Miss Elizabeth better, and I will. These things take time, and I am in no hurry.”
Lady Gwendolen crossed her arms in protest, as she was wont to do whenever her brother did not give her opinions adequate consideration.
“Let us have none of that.” Lord Latham strolled across the room and offered his arm to his sister. “I know how much you wish to make a good impression on my friend this week, dearest. However, I caution you against being too zealous. We gentlemen rather enjoy the chase.” He kissed her forehead. “Now, come let us join our guests for breakfast.”
* * *
By midday, all had congregated in the drawing room. Lady Susan and Lady Alexandria paired in a card game with Lord Langley and Sir Downing. Darcy, Lord Latham, Lady Gwendolen, and Elizabeth were likewise engaged in a lively game of cassino, and the rest of the guests took up books for their afternoon diversion.
“Please play something for us, Gwendolen,” Lady Alexandria said.
Lord Langley seconded his wife’s request. “Yes, please do. What would a rainy afternoon at Latham Hall be without your musical genius?”
Never one to disappoint, Lady Gwendolen, an accomplished musician, regaled her guests for nearly a half hour. When it was Elizabeth’s turn to exhibit, she soon found Mr. Darcy rising from his chair with an offer to turn the pages for her.
“No, Mr. Darcy, I assure you that it is not necessary.”
“I insist.”
The two took their place at the instrument, and Elizabeth started looking through the music sheets.
“Mr. Darcy, if you mean to intimidate me by your presence, you need not bother. I am not ashamed to admit that my proficiency does not compare to Lady Gwendolen’s or your sister’s from what I have been told.”
“I recall your exhibition in Meryton. I was delighted, as I am sure each one here will be.”
“This is the finest instrument I have ever seen.” Elizabeth touched the keys with a light brush of her fingertips. “Lady Gwendolen’s performance was splendid.” Elizabeth silently chastised herself for not having made better use of her time and practised more.
Darcy laid his hand on her fingers, calming her nervousness in one regard, but inciting her in another. “You will be fine, Miss Elizabeth. Why not begin with Beethoven’s fifth. You performed the piece wonderfully when we were in Meryton.”
She marvelled at how he had recalled her exhibition from so many months ago. Elizabeth smiled. Together, they located the sought-after music sheet, and Elizabeth began to play. She could easily discern his pleasure in her performance by their exchange of furtive glances. Elizabeth hoped no one else in the room noticed how he looked at her throughout the piece, especially Lady Gwendolen. She knew by now how much the gentleman meant to her ladyship. She did not mean for Lady Gwendolen to perceive her as any sort of rival for his affections ... even if he did stir her passions as no other man had ever done previously.
“Mr. Darcy, are you concerned about Mr. Bingley’s delay in arriving?” Elizabeth said at the end.
“His delay is possibly attributable to his trying to dodge his sister Miss Bingley.”
“You mean to say Miss Bing
ley is not invited?”
“No, she is not ... to her dismay.”
“Why is that?”
“She has no prior acquaintance with Lord Latham or Lady Gwendolen; Bingley’s acquaintance is fleeting, at best. He is coming because I asked Lord Latham to invite him.”
“Why would you want to invite Mr. Bingley if they are not acquainted ... unless—” Elizabeth looked at Darcy pointedly. “Mr. Darcy, did you wish to have him here as a means of keeping us apart on the chance our paths might cross in town?”
His mouth falling open, Darcy feigned astonishment that she would suggest such a thing. “If that were my intention, I have failed miserably, have I not?”
“Have you? For all I know, you may have persuaded Mr. Bingley against coming once you discovered me here.”
“How would I have done that?”
“I put little past a man of your means. You are no doubt used to arranging things for your own convenience.”
“Then, why would I do such a thing? I promised I would not interfere in your quest to see Bingley. To do otherwise would mean an end to our truce, would it not?”
“I shall not argue your point, sir.”
“Good, for I much prefer when you and I are not at odds.”
“I tend to think otherwise, Mr. Darcy. Our history suggests you rather enjoy provoking me.”
With a confident grin, Darcy acknowledged the veracity of her charge. “Perhaps, but I wager the joy I receive pales in comparison to the pleasure you get in rising to my every challenge.”
Wide-eyed, Elizabeth was speechless.
The lull in music must have drawn the attentions of some of the others. Lord Latham joined Elizabeth and his friend at the instrument.
“The two of you seem to have lost the meaning of exhibiting. Darcy, you do not mind if I take your place at Miss Elizabeth’s side, I am sure.”
Darcy relinquished his seat to his lordship. “Certainly not. Pardon me, Miss Elizabeth. I shall look forward to continuing our debate.”
Elizabeth smiled nervously and averted her eyes. Lord Latham looked at his friend, and then he looked at Elizabeth, his eyes silently questioning.
* * *
Lady Gwendolen’s maid had been one tireless truth ferret. The next morning found Sally in her ladyship’s apartment earlier than had been her wont.
“Your ladyship, I have news.”
“News?”
“Yes, my lady. It turns out your suspicions regarding Miss Elizabeth Bennet are not unfounded.”
“What? I mean to say, how? I thought it might take days, weeks even.”
“As did I, your ladyship. However, it turns out that my cousin, who now works downstairs in the kitchen, recently left Mr. Darcy’s employment at his London home.”
Lady Gwendolen sat upon her bed and folded her legs beneath her in anticipation. “Please, tell me everything. Do not keep me in suspense.”
“First, I confess it took quite a bit of coaxing on my part to persuade my cousin where her loyalties now lie.”
“Of course, I understand, and you need not tell me her name, if that is any assurance.”
“I appreciate it, but I have no concerns in that regard. I assured my cousin she shall suffer no retribution.”
“Excellent. What does your cousin say?”
“It turns out Miss Elizabeth Bennet spent an entire night with Mr. Darcy in his London home—only the two of them, save a few servants.”
Aghast, Lady Gwendolen coloured. “I have befriended a ... a fallen woman. No! This cannot be true.”
“I am afraid it is true, my lady. My cousin carried this burden from the moment of Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s arrival at Latham Hall the other day. You see, she recognised the young lady from having carried a tray up to her ... in the mistress’s suite.”
“I never would have expected to hear anything as scandalous as this. Please, tell no one else of what you heard.”
“I assure you, I shall not repeat a word.”
“Please, help me prepare for the day.” Her ladyship climbed down from her huge poster bed and walked over to her dressing table. “I must speak with my brother. He will know what to do.”
“Yes, your ladyship.”
Sally was rather quiet as she carried out her morning routine. Her ladyship had not enquired on the details of her cousin’s knowledge of her former employer’s affairs and she was glad that she had not. The truth may have cast aspersions on her cousin’s account, possibly resulting in her dismissal from her current position, were it made known that she had left Darcy House in disgrace, terminated for having spoken to other household staff not already privy to the information of Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s being there. Without informing the master, the butler had taken it upon himself to send her on her way. In fact, Sally had been the means of securing her cousin’s place in Latham Hall. She prayed she would not be the means of her removal. Lady Gwendolen promised that would not be the case. Sally took some comfort in that. She trusted her ladyship implicitly. Her promise was as good as gold.
Chapter 9
Lady Gwendolen walked back and forth across the floor of her brother’s study, having confided in him everything she had heard some moments earlier from her lady’s maid.
Tired of her pacing and having had time to take in the information, he stood from his desk, approached his sister, and embraced her.
The comfort of his arms let loose the tears she had fought desperately to hold back.
“Please, do not fret. This is not the end of the world. For all we know, it is untrue, mere rumour and unfounded speculation.”
“How can we be certain? I have seen how he looks at her. Theirs is more than a mere acquaintance. She is his ... his mistress! How could she deceive me this way?”
“Let us not jump to conclusions. I am certain there is more to this than meets the eye. Besides, since seeing the two together, I have had time to consider something Darcy said to me when he visited us earlier this year. He congratulated himself on having saved a friend from an unfortunate alliance with a young woman from Hertfordshire owing to her low connections and her unsuitable family. I am certain he was speaking of his friend, Bingley, in light of the two of them having spent the past autumn together. Perhaps he prevented his friend from marrying Miss Elizabeth or one of her sisters.”
“If what you say is true, and he merely sought to save his friend from an alliance with a family with no connections, it does not mean he would not seek such a woman as his mistress.”
Lady Gwendolen wondered why her brother looked at her so, as if stunned by her declaration. Did he think she was naïve? She had witnessed the way Mr. Darcy looked at Elizabeth when he thought no one else was aware. She had witnessed the same gaze in her brother’s eyes when he looked at the Duchess. Too many times to recount.
“A young woman’s reputation is at stake. Darcy is a friend. I will not have a scandal on account of rumours circulated from this house. Say nothing of these unfounded allegations to anyone.”
“Naturally, I shall not. I am fond of Miss Elizabeth. I have no desire to hurt her. Besides, how would that suit my purposes?”
“I believe you, dearest.”
“But what if the rumours are more widely circulated than we know? What if Mr. Darcy should offer to marry Miss Elizabeth in hopes of quieting the speculations? He obviously holds her in some esteem.” How I wish he looked at me the way he looks at her.
“We do not know the entire story. If it is true, he has not done anything yet. Maybe he will do nothing.”
“What if his honour combined with the threat of scandal compels him to marry her?”
Lord Latham placed his hand upon his sister’s. “He may well marry her, but that would be his choice, would it not?”
Tears pooled in her eyes once more. “I cannot lose him ... not to a fallen woman ... not this way.”
“Only he can decide how this matter will be handled. He is my friend. You do understand I will support him in whatever decision he makes
.”
She felt crushed by his avowal. He pulled her into his embrace again. “Fear not, dearest. I shall speak with Darcy.”
After a few moments, Lady Gwendolen gained her composure. “Thank you, Trevor. I had better attend our guests.”
“Good idea. I shall join you shortly.” He walked across the room to ring the bell.
“What are you planning?”
“I am summoning Mr. Johnson to locate Darcy. I need to speak with my friend as soon as can be.”
* * *
Darcy and Elizabeth sat in the drawing room enjoying their tentative camaraderie born the evening before. She no longer faulted him if he happened to benefit from Caroline’s scheme in separating her brother from Jane, nor the fact he had turned a blind eye. Besides, as Bingley’s closest friend, she and Mr. Darcy would often be thrown in each other’s company once the confusion was cleared away.
The door of the drawing room opened and in walked Mr. Bingley. His surprise in seeing Elizabeth was great indeed. Any anger she held against him pursuant to his abandonment of her sister fled in the face of the unaffected cordiality with which he expressed himself on seeing her again.
“Miss Elizabeth, I had no idea I might see you here this week. Darcy spoke of your being in town. You must tell me how you are enjoying your stay.”
Elizabeth answered him in the usual way.
He sat in the seat next to her. “How is everyone in your family?”
In Elizabeth’s manner of thinking, Bingley’s eyes asked the question he dare not voice aloud. He continued in a tone that engendered something akin to regret, “A long time has passed since I have had the pleasure of seeing you ... not since November, when we were all dancing together at Netherfield.”
Elizabeth took it as a good sign. Anxious to ease the awkward tension, she opened her mouth to speak, but was forestalled.
Bingley asked nervously, “Are all your sisters at Longbourn, still?”
Bingley’s face beamed pursuant to her affirmative response. Indeed, a good sign.
Once again, the doors were opened. Lady Gwendolen entered the room. Both gentlemen stood.