Courtships & Corruption

by Cinnamon Worth

  The gentlemen strode down the path until they were certain of being outside of earshot of any in their party. The location provided enough of a clearing to ensure a decent vantage point. No one could approach the pair without giving the cousins forewarning.

  “Darcy, old chap. I do believe you led me astray in regards to a certain female of your acquaintance.”

  Mr. Darcy smiled and feigned ignorance. “I am sorry, Fitzwilliam. I do not recall making an introduction or recommendation of any sort to you in the recent past.”

  “Do you deny when you invited me to come visit with you at Netherfield, you implied there was an exceptional lady ripe for the wooing?”

  “I most certainly did not,” Mr. Darcy said with a smile, “I simply identified our host and hostess would be none other than Charles and Caroline Bingley.”

  “Yes. As I recall, you described Miss Bingley as being accomplished in music, singing, drawing, dancing, and modern languages,” Fitzwilliam quipped.

  “Why yes, I am sure I did, and I have no doubt she will tell you as much herself during the course of our stay. She has personally informed me of these virtues on multiple occasions, and I must admit, while she lacks the emotion, passion, and relaxed posture of Georgiana, her skill on the pianoforte would certainly be considered competent.”

  “Did you not further suggest she is handsome?” Fitzwilliam protested.

  “Do you not find her face worthy of your glance?” asked Darcy.

  “I fear I am unable to see past the pointed barbs that spring forth from her mouth. Even the beauty of an angel would be made unattractive if the mind of this angel was filled with sufficient pride to cause Aunt Catherine to appear modest.”

  “Do you suggest, dear cousin,” Mr. Darcy asked, “that our hostess, Miss Bingley, is a young version of the great Lady Catherine de Bourgh? If so, I shan’t be surprised if she held some appeal for the youngest son of an earl.”

  “Hardly on both accounts,” the colonel said. “Truly Darcy, I see you have played me most well, but was the meaning of bringing me here simply to find amusement at my expense or was there some other purpose. I am quite certain I shall receive the most urgent of news within the next few days should your motives be the former.”

  Mr. Darcy’s light mood vanished upon hearing his cousin’s threat. “I swear Richard, I desperately require your assistance. The lady you find so disagreeable has set her sights on me and has hunted me as though I were a helpless fox and she a pack of hounds. I have sworn to aid my dear friend, Bingley, for the next few months, but fending off such unwanted attention for any longer than a fortnight is utterly exhausting. I beg of you to provide me with assistance.”

  It was now Colonel Fitzwilliam’s turn to enjoy a chuckle at his cousin’s expense. “While my good opinion of you has bought you one week of my time, unlike our annual visits to Rosings Park, I, fortunately, have no connections to any of the residents at Netherfield, so I shan’t stick around long enough to risk jeopardizing this status. I understand there is to be an assembly in one week’s time, and I have worked quite hard to ensure my name is only tenuously associated with our beloved aunt. I will not risk publicly appearing with individuals whose manners might call my own into question.”

  Darcy looked at his cousin in disbelief. “Surely you are being too cautious. No one will judge your attitude or pride based on those with whom you associate.”

  “Darcy,” Richard found he often had to remind his cousin they were not currently held to the same standards, “A man of your wealth will be judged by his own actions. The manner or status of your associates will not impact your ability to have your pick of brides. As the second son of an earl, my prospects are more limited as well as more discerning. I must consider wealth when considering a future with a young lady, and as you are well aware, a woman of wealth tends to have overly protective family members who will use even the smallest of reasons to object to a suitor. Now I am certain an association with a well-mannered individual who is burdened by an ill-tempered relative would never be considered problematic. So, should Mr. Bingley ever be in need of company, I would be happy to oblige, but given your oath of silence at public assemblies it is logical that, should I attend the assembly in a week’s time, all those present will assume I am the escort of Miss Bingley. News travels fast and such assumptions would invariably travel to London. I can imagine the reputation she already has among the ladies I hope to impress there and am sure such an association would not bode well for me in the coming season.”

  Mr. Darcy could see the logic behind his cousin’s concerns, so he resigned himself to his fate. He was grateful his sister would write to him frequently. It would give him reason to engage in the solitary practice of responding.

  The gentlemen returned to the house to find their host in his study. “Ahhh, Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam,” Mr. Bingley greeted with the smile which nearly always graced his contented face. “You have had the misfortune of missing a calling from one of my neighbors who was kind enough to introduce himself. This county has so very many friendly people. I feel as though I have found my family.”

  From the moment he had ridden through town, Mr. Darcy had surmised that the locals would begin calling at the estate. It was not so much that the locals seemed excessively friendly. Rather, it appeared while the town had its share of landholders, the farms did not appear overly profitable. Mr. Darcy felt it was safe to assume Bingley would find himself falling prey to the same matchmakers and fortune hunters he himself had been dodging most of his life. “For the sake of confirmation Bingley, did the gentleman who came to call have any sisters, daughters, or nieces he felt compelled to mention?”

  Mr. Bingley’s eyes widened. “Darcy, you never fail to amaze me! I find myself constantly astounded at how you are able to deduce such specific details regarding a conversation to which you have not been privy.” Mr. Bingley paused for a moment to think. His guest had made the most peculiar comment, and he wished to hear his friend’s thoughts on the meaning. “In fact the gentleman, who incidentally is named Bennet, has five daughters. Prior to making mention of the young ladies, he said something rather odd. He said he was obliged to divulge this fact simply to prevent his marital harmony from being in peril. What do you make of that?”

  Darcy rolled his eyes. He was unsure if he should pity this Mr. Bennet for being so keenly aware of his wife’s matchmaking tendencies he felt compelled to comply with her wishes in a begrudging, and somewhat disapproving manner, or if he should pity the man’s inability to control his wife. “Bingley, I believe Mr. Bennet probably has a wife who was cut from the same cloth as my aunt.”

  Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled at the reference to Lady Catherine. “Do you mean your future mother-in-law, Darcy?”

  At that moment, Caroline Bingley was standing outside the study. Upon hearing her beloved’s name and talk of marriage, she felt inexplicably drawn into the room. As she entered, all the gentlemen in the room stopped talking and bowed.

  “Oh, do not stop on my account,” Miss Bingley said with a smile, which looked like, but lacked the warmth and sincerity of, her brother’s.. “Mr. Darcy,” she cooed, “I did not expect you until after lunch. I am rather surprised you have arrived and no one notified me.”

  “My apologies, Miss Bingley. I arrived not more than an hour ago and was called away by my cousin to discuss an urgent matter,” Mr. Darcy replied.

  “Well, you will just have to ask me to dance at the upcoming assembly to make it up to me. I hope it was not a serious matter and all is well with your family,” Miss Bingley felt an uneasiness given the last two statements she had heard. “Did I hear, as I came in, congratulations are in order?”

  After a moment’s reflection, Mr. Darcy deduced his hostess had overheard Richard’s comment about a mother-in-law and had drawn the conclusion he was now engaged. While he did not want to encourage Miss Bingley’s affections, he most certainly did not want rumors to begin circulating that might further encourage his aunt. “
No. My cousin spoke out of turn. I am not currently looking for a wife.”

  “Mr. Darcy, surely you know it is not always necessary for a man to look for a wife in order to find one. Sometimes, the right partner just appears right under his nose,” Miss Bingley said as she gave a coy smile.

  Colonel Fitzwilliam took pity on Mr. Darcy. “I am sure our aunt would most readily agree with you, Miss Bingley. She has been planning a marriage between Darcy and my lovely cousin, Anne, for as long as I can remember.”

  Not to be deterred, Miss Bingley addressed Mr. Darcy, “Of course, I remember you mentioning your cousin, Anne. Is she feeling quite well? Did you not say her poor health has often prevented her from attending social events over these past several years?”

  “I believe she is as well as she has always been,” Mr. Darcy responded looking to Mr. Bingley for help.

  Surprisingly, it was Mr. Hurst who came to the aid of Mr. Darcy. The man had sought out his sister-in-law in order to inquire about the dining schedule. While the pair were engaged in conversation, Mr. Darcy quickly excused himself and slipped into the library. He imagined this room would prove to be an excellent sanctuary. Unfortunately, the book collection was not as robust as he would have liked, but he had seen a book shop in town. He resolved to take an outing in order to limit further encounters with Miss Bingley.

  ∞∞∞

  Agnes had been working in her new position for two weeks now and was amazed that despite her diligence, there never seemed enough hours in the day to finish all she was expected to do. She was finding ways to complete her work more quickly, and Mrs. Butler was pleased to see improvement. Agnes’ mornings started before sunrise, and her evenings ended after the master and his guests had retired for the day. Over the past two weeks, she found herself repeatedly wondering how often silverware truly needed to be polished and why the floors, located in a wing of the estate that was rarely traversed, required daily mopping. But Mrs. Butler believed in being thorough, especially since she was no longer involved in carrying out tedious tasks needed to achieve her exacting standards.

  Agnes had discovered on her first day that her job was exhausting and, as such, had abandoned her plan to return home in the evenings. Instead, she had taken Mrs. Butler up on the offer to sleep in one of the small bedrooms set up for servants. She was provided with a single day off each week and, after sleeping in, she would go home and spend time in the comfort of her family. She would hurry back to Netherfield before the evening meal because the Bingleys had hired an excellent cook and she did not want to further tax her parents’ budget when she could eat her meals for free. At least, this was what she had told herself. If her job had not been so exhausting, she might have had time for honest introspection and would have noticed David, one of the servants the Bingleys had brought with them from London, had a way of making her heart race. It was entirely possible he also was a factor in her desire to return to the estate before sundown.

  David had dusty blond hair and the most amazing blue eyes. It was not the unique color as much as the way the light danced off them that made his eyes so striking. It felt like looking at two sapphires. He had approached Agnes one day while she was fetching a block of ice from the ice house. “Do you need a hand?” he had asked.

  “No, thank you. I can handle it,” Agnes answered. She did not want anyone thinking she was incapable of performing her duties on her own.

  “Can I show you a trick then? If you carry it like that, your arms will go numb.” Agnes nodded her assent, and he grabbed a piece of sheep’s wool that hung near the entrance of the ice house. He laid it on his shoulder, grabbed the block out of her arms and balanced it on his shoulder. “The wool keeps my shoulder from getting wet or cold and it is easier to carry it this way. Don’t know why, but it feels lighter.”

  “I never carried ice before,” Agnes explained.

  “So, is this your first time working for a wealthy family?” David asked as he started walking toward the manor, the ice still balanced on his shoulder.

  Agnes admitted it was, and David started giving her all sorts of tips for ways to do her work more efficiently. When they reached the door to the kitchen, Agnes realized he had carried the block of ice the whole way. She wanted to be mad, but instead, she found herself grateful. After that, the two found time daily to talk.

  Today was her second day off. She had just walked back from her family’s cottage. The servants gathered for their evening meal, and Agnes learned of the arrival of a new guest. She was handing out the plates while listening to those who had already taken their seats around the table. “All I know is, when Miss Bingley heard he had arrived, she flew down those steps like her life depended on it,” Alice said. Alice served as Miss Bingley’s lady’s maid and as such had spent more time with the mistress than any other member of the staff. Regardless of the prestige her position offered, it would be hard to find anyone who would say they envied her position.

  “I caught a peek of him, and he’s rather handsome. I cannot imagine he is truly Miss Bingley’s betrothed. They say he is wealthy in his own right. In fact, I heard he’s worth 10,000 a year,” Betsy added.

  “I’m certain he’s not interested in the mistress,” David offered. “You should have seen the expression he had on his face at dinner when he thought no one was looking. She made some suggestive comment, and he looked repulsed,” David confessed. The table giggled until Mrs. Butler came in.

  “I certainly hope none of you are discussing our employer or his guests. I will have you know I do not tolerate gossip. If I find you engaging in it, I will need to let you go.” The table fell into a deathly silence as Mrs. Butler took her place at the head of the table. She led them in a short grace, then they all began eating their meal without further conversation.

  Chapter 3

  “I chanced to see the five Bennet daughters while I was in town today, and I must say, they are all very pretty creatures. I am rather sorry I will not be able to attend the upcoming assembly. I think you will not find a lack of fair dance partners.” Colonel Fitzwilliam had directed his comments to Mr. Bingley, but in truth, he was looking for a reaction from his cousin.

  The morning prior, Mr. Darcy had slipped off the estate without a word and had gone to town to peruse the local bookstore. Upon his return, Mr. Hurst, having been coached by his wife to attempt to engage the other gentlemen in conversation, asked if the town was pleasant. Mr. Darcy responded with his usual air of indifference, but he did make one comment, which happened to be overheard by his cousin, and the comment was sufficiently out of character to have caught the man’s attention.

  “You saw all five daughters and you mean to say they are all out?” Caroline asked the colonel rather appalled at the lack of decorum displayed by the rural masses.

  “It would appear so,” the colonel answered.

  “Well,” Caroline huffed, “I simply cannot imagine they can be as handsome as you imply if there has been sufficient time for the younger Miss Bennets to have already entered society before the older sisters have been able to find suitable husbands.”

  “I can see your point Miss Bingley, but it appeared to me the younger Miss Bennets are closer in age to Miss Darcy.” Richard turned to his cousin, “As to their beauty, Darcy, can you not vouch for my observation, at least in the case of one of the sisters?”

  “Decidedly not,” Mr. Darcy bristled, “I have never seen those women, and I cannot imagine what could bring you to conclude I had. I imagine the abundance of fresh air and sunshine has brought a rosy glow to their cheeks as it does with all who live in rural areas, but any such glow is simply a byproduct of country living. I am inclined to believe the population of this town is neither more handsome nor more plain than that of any other area of England.”

  “Darcy,” Richard pressed, “Did you not mention to Mr. Hurst yesterday that while you were in the bookstore one of the Bennet sisters came in and had some rather unique interests in terms of literature?”

  “I must s
ay, Richard, the act of eavesdropping is generally considered impolite, so it rather surprises me you should so easily confess it, but yes, I did say something of that nature.” Mr. Darcy was annoyed his cousin was somehow trying to pry into the prior day’s uneventful activities. To what purpose he had no idea. Still, for the sake of the others in the room, he would clarify his earlier comment, “I did not, however, indicate I had seen any of the ladies you now speak of.”

  “How is it you came to know of Miss Bennet’s reading preference without having seen the young lady?” Mr. Bingley asked rather confused.

  “I was reading an excerpt from a book I was considering purchasing when Miss Bennet arrived. She made inquiries to the shopkeeper about several books. This inquiry demonstrated she had a variety of interests ranging from politics to philosophy, but after being informed there had been no recent shipments of books on said topics, the lady departed. I did not happen to look at her.” His statement was nearly true. He had, in fact, looked at her over a row of books but saw only a fleeting glimpse of her retreating back. “I am unable to confirm or deny your assertions regarding the appearance of the lady.”