by Zoë Burton
“Certainly! This is another of my nieces, Mary’s older sister, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth, this is Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.”
Darcy reached out to grasp Elizabeth’s hand. Bowing over it, he resisted the urge to kiss it, instead forcing himself to stand up but retaining the delicate hand in his grasp. “I am pleased to meet you, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth startled at the sound of his deep voice. She blushed, curtseying and returning his greeting. Her attention had been riveted by the tall, handsome man when he entered the room, and his warm touch made her heart race. For that reason, she made no move to pull her hand away, though she knew very well that she should.
Mary and Georgiana exchanged glances, relaying to each other their happiness with the events of the evening so far. Of course, this was just a first meeting; there was still work to do to be assured an attachment would form, but so far, it seemed as though the couple in question was going to make it very easily done.
Lord and Lady Watts also exchanged amused glances. In the way that long-married couples often had, they communicated their delight at the apparent fascination Elizabeth had with Mr. Darcy, and he with her. They silently agreed to discuss it later, but both knew that it was an eligible match.
The spell that held Darcy and Elizabeth in thrall was broken by Mr. Clarke, who once again entered the room, this time to announce that dinner was served. They jumped apart, blushing deeply, and Darcy quickly introduced his sister to the newcomer. That nicety completed, the group paired up, with Lord Watts quickly taking his wife’s arm and Darcy, while surprised that the elder couple had chosen not to follow propriety’s rules for precedence, gladly offering his to Elizabeth. Mary and Georgiana followed at the rear, trying to contain their giggles.
Darcy received a further surprise when, instead of entering the formal dining room, Lord Watts led them into a parlor that had been set up as an intimate dining space. The small table just fit the six of them without feeling cramped. Darcy was seated at the right hand of his host, with Elizabeth to his right. Georgiana was seated to the right of Lady Watts, and Mary was across from Darcy.
The evening progressed as most dinner parties do, but the further along it went, the harder pressed Darcy was to give his attention to anyone but the woman beside him. He was intrigued by her conversation and witty banter.
Elizabeth was just as interested in Darcy. While she found him to be very formal in all their interactions, he displayed an interest in what she had to say and a respect for her opinions that she had never before experienced. It became, over the course of their conversation, a challenge for her to make the hint of his smile appear, and she took it as a personal accomplishment when she managed it.
Too soon for either of them, the evening ended. As they said good night, Darcy spoke quietly to Elizabeth. “May I call on you, Miss Bennet?”
Elizabeth was surprised and pleased. “You may.”
“Thank you.” His appreciation was clear in his voice and manner as he bowed over her hand once again.
As she got ready for bed that evening, after enduring the sly innuendoes of her family and their probing questions about her opinion of Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth let herself examine the evening and her dinner companion.
She was impressed with Mr. Darcy, she had to admit. He was attentive to her, but other gentlemen had been in the past. What intrigued her more was that he did not scoff at her opinions. He challenged her to explain them more fully at times, and debated them at others, but never did he belittle them.
He was gentle with her to the point of tenderness. She searched her mind for anyone of her acquaintance, including her family, who treated her so, and could not think of a single person, male or female, who did. She found that she rather enjoyed being the recipient of such attentions, and was glad he was to call on her.
Elizabeth had long ago realized her limited prospects at home. Everyone there knew of her small portion. They were well acquainted with her likes and dislikes, her pursuits and passions, and her sharp wit. Even if there were gentlemen of the right age and consequence, not too old or too young—which there were not—she was not able to compete with other women who had more beauty or a bigger dowry. She had nothing but her wit and her charm with which to entice a gentleman. Finally, there were few newcomers to the area. She had begun to fear that she would never marry, or would have to marry a tradesman and give up the luxuries she enjoyed as a gentleman’s daughter. Worse, she feared a marriage without esteem, respect, or affection. Given these facts, if Mr. Darcy continued to call, it would be a blessing that she would not take for granted.
The same night, Darcy House…
Darcy dismissed his valet, Mr. Smith, and climbed into his large, empty bed. His thoughts were full of Miss Elizabeth Bennet, as they had been since he first laid eyes on her at Arthur Place.
Never had he been so captivated by a woman. He had been master of his family’s estate for five years, taking the reins at the death of his father. At every turn after that—even before then, if he were honest—he had been pursued by many women. He had danced with hundreds of them, but none had held his attention for longer than a set. Miss Bennet, however, had. He mentally listed her good qualities: she was vivacious, good humored, intelligent, accomplished on the pianoforte, had expanded her mind by extensive reading, spoke and read French, and read Latin and Greek. She played chess, and was able to hold her own in a debate. Her opinions were well thought out. Beyond her mind, her person was attractive, as well. Her figure was light and pleasing, and her eyes were expressive. There was none of the bored debutante about her, with cold eyes and blank looks. She exuded warmth, and it drew him to her like a bee to a flower.
Darcy turned his mind to her connections and circumstances. Her aunt and uncle were peers, and that was in her favor. It was unfortunate that her mother’s family was from trade, but he had learned long ago not to judge a person based on his position in society.
It was also unfortunate that she had so little by way of a dowry. While he did not know the exact figure, Lord Watts had told him that the Bennet sisters would have equal shares in their mother’s portion after her death, and that was all. Their father had not saved to add to that amount. Of course, Darcy was wealthy enough that it did not matter much to him; his concern was his family’s reaction. While he did not cater to their whims, wants, or desires, and would marry whomever he chose without regard for their opinion, he did not want his future wife to be treated poorly because she was not from the same circles. I shall have to make it plain to them, should I choose Miss Bennet, that she is to be treated with the same accord they would have treated my mother, had she lived. And I am almost certain I shall eventually offer for her; she is everything I have looked for in a wife. With those pleasant thoughts, Darcy drifted off to sleep, a smile on his face.
The very next day found Darcy and his sister knocking on the door of Arthur Place. They were immediately granted entrance, Clarke taking their hats and gloves and handing them off to a maid before escorting the Darcys to the drawing room. Georgiana and Mary, after observing the niceties and greeting everyone, sped off to the pianoforte to practice and observe. Lady Watts rang for tea, and she, her niece, and Darcy arranged themselves on the sofas. Darcy claimed the seat next to Elizabeth, and Lady Watts sat across from them.
“My husband sends his apologies, Mr. Darcy. He wanted to be here to visit with you, but was called away on an unexpected matter of business.”
“Please relay to him my understanding. At times, I, too, have been summoned unexpectedly and forced to miss visitors I greatly desired to see.”
The tea arrived just then, and Lady Watts set about pouring out for everyone. The younger girls, called away from the instrument to partake, accepted their cups but hurried back to their previous location, so as not to miss a moment of whispered conversation and giggles.
The group on the sofas spent the next hour, far beyond what was the usually acceptable time, chatting. They discussed books this day, Darcy a
nd Elizabeth discovering that they had similar but not identical tastes. Lady Watts took part in the conversation when called upon, but for the most part, she simply sat back and let the young people talk.
While Darcy and the older ladies were thus engaged, Georgiana and Mary were practicing on the room’s pianoforte and conducting their own discussion. They whispered to each other observations on how well Darcy and Elizabeth looked together, how they got on so well, and much giggling about their lack of attention to anyone and anything else but each other. The girls were greatly encouraged that the match would be made, and with little effort on their parts.
Before taking his leave, Darcy invited Miss Bennet to visit Kensington Gardens with him on the morrow.
“Have you ever visited Kensington Gardens, Miss Bennet?”
“I have not, though I have always wished to. My Uncle Gardiner has never had the time to spare when I have visited, and as I have already shared with you, my father does not much like to visit town, so he has not brought us either.”
“If it would please you, I should like to invite you and your sister along with Georgiana and me tomorrow. Of course, Lord and Lady Watts are included in the invitation, should they wish to come.”
“Oh, I should greatly enjoy it!” Turning to her aunt, Elizabeth added, “I must defer to Lady Watts, of course.”
“Of course we will go! Well, I shall, at any rate. Lord Watts will if he is able. My husband and I greatly enjoy the gardens and had hoped to visit while Elizabeth was here. Thank you, Mr. Darcy, for your kind invitation.”
Darcy bowed. “It is nothing, I assure you. Shall we all ride in my carriage? Georgiana and I can be here at, say, noon, to pick up your party?”
“Excellent! We shall be ready and waiting!”
Elizabeth’s aunt gave her a nudge, causing her to realize she had been staring at Darcy. “I look forward to it, Mr. Darcy.” She gave him her hand and watched as he bent over it, wishing as he did that he would kiss the fingers so she could discover the softness of his lips.
Little did she know that Darcy wished for the same thing and that it was only with the greatest of effort that he was able to control his impulses and behave in a gentlemanlike manner. He tore himself away with his heart pounding, bowing again and wishing the ladies a good afternoon, before shepherding his sister out the door.
When their guests were gone and they had resumed their seats, Lady Watts and Mary turned to Elizabeth with matching smiles.
“So, Lizzy…what do you think of my friend’s brother? He is very handsome, would you not agree?”
Elizabeth blushed to the roots of her hair. She cleared her throat. “Indeed, he is. He is a very nice gentleman, and I am glad to have the opportunity to get to know him.”
“He would be a very good match for you, you know,” her aunt pointed out. “Mr. Darcy is well respected and has a handsome fortune. I doubt you could do better were you to set your cap at a peer.”
“As you know, I am largely indifferent to fortune. I wish to marry someone I respect and esteem. I do not need a great deal of money; I have not grown up with great riches. And, while I would rather not go lower and do without the servants and things I am accustomed to, I do not require more.” She paused, not wanting to give away too much because she was not certain of her feelings. “I like him very much. I am eager to learn more of him, and...well...I should just like to know him better. That is all I will say at present.”
Lady Watts nodded. “Very well, we shall not tease you further. I encourage you, though, to take this time to judge his behavior, and his pursuits and passions, and see if they match your desires. It truly is an eligible match for you, and I would hate to see you pass it up.” She stood, and the girls rose with her. “I believe I shall rest in my rooms for a while. I give you both leave to pursue whatever activities you would like, though I do ask that, if you leave the house, you take a footman along with you for protection. One cannot be too careful here in town, even in a neighborhood like Mayfair.”
“Yes, Aunt.”
“We shall.”
They curtsied and watched their aunt retreat from the room. By mutual agreement, they spent the remaining hours of the afternoon in the library, alternately reading and chatting about all the things they would like to do while staying in the house of Mary’s godmother.
The following day’s visit to Kensington Gardens was delightful for the entire party. Lord Watts was able to join them, and conversation flowed freely amongst the group.
From that day forward, it was not only Georgiana Darcy that could be found in the vicinity of Mary Bennet. Since Mary and Elizabeth were always together, and Darcy visited Elizabeth daily, it was Darcy as well as his sister who could always be found in the company of the Bennets and their relations. For several weeks, his daily calls continued. Often, he would invite Miss Bennet and her family for outings, to the museum or for a walk in Hyde Park, and once to a ball.
Those outings always involved talks with Miss Bennet, who Darcy found to be more fascinating the longer he knew her. Finally, the day came when he knew he wanted to ask her to marry him. He was reasonably certain she would accept based on her looks when he entered the room she was in, her expressions when she gazed at him without knowing he saw her, and her responses to his touch, which had gotten a bit bolder over the weeks.
Darcy wanted to create a special atmosphere in which to make his proposal. He decided to host Miss Bennet and her family for dinner, and enlisted his sister to help him plan it.
Chapter 3
“Georgiana,” he began, walking into the breakfast room. “I need you to do me a favor.”
Looking up from the sideboard, where she was filling a plate, her face reflected her surprise. It was a rare thing for her brother to request anything of her. “Certainly; you only need ask.”
Picking up his own plate, Darcy joined her. “I want to hold a dinner party. Will you organize it for me?”
Alarm spread over Georgiana, reflecting itself in her countenance. “I have never done anything of that nature before. I, I, I-“
“Did school not teach you such things?”
“Well, yes, we had lessons on entertaining, but, that is hardly the same thing as actually arranging one!”
“Then this shall be practice for you, will it not?” Seeing her doubtful look, Darcy continued. “I have every confidence in you. Mrs. Annesley is here to help you. And, it will be just a small party in attendance: the Miss Bennets, Lord and Lady Watts, us, and Bingley. Oh! And the Gardiners and Jane Bennet, as well.” Darcy and Georgiana had met Mary and Elizabeth’s Aunt and Uncle Gardiner the day before, and were aware that the eldest Bennet daughter was due to arrive in London in another day or two.
“Not Mr. Bingley’s family? Just him?”
Darcy cleared his throat. His sister was unaware of Miss Bingley’s recent attempt to force him to marry her, and he had no intention of informing her. “Yes, just Bingley. Miss Bingley is attending a house party with friends, and Mr. and Mrs. Hurst are visiting his father’s estate.”
Georgiana nodded. “Very well, then. To be honest, I am happy to hear it. They make me uncomfortable, and I do not like the way Miss Bingley behaves as though she owns this house when she is here.”
“No, I do not like it either, but I did not realize you were uncomfortable with them. Why did you not tell me?”
“Mr. Bingley is your friend, Fitzwilliam. It pleased you to have him here and that meant having his sisters, as well.” She shrugged. “I could bear it for your sake.”
“Well, thank you. I hope, though, that you no longer will need to. I do not see Bingley’s sisters visiting anymore. Not Miss Bingley, at any rate.”
Georgiana’s brows rose at this, but she knew better than to question her brother. If she needed to know, he would tell her. He would not appreciate impertinence on her part, and inquiring into his business would most certainly been seen as such. “Well, then. I will plan for nine. Should I invite someone else, or will Mrs. A
nnesley do to give us an even number at table?”
Darcy paused, thinking. “Mrs. Annesley is a good choice. You will then have her guidance as you serve as hostess for the evening.”
The pair had moved to the table while they were talking, and began to eat as Darcy laid out his desires for the event. Setting a date for three days hence, they decided that Georgiana would write out the invitations and plan the menu after breaking her fast, and take them to her brother, who would give final approval to the menu and send a messenger to deliver the notes.
The longer they spoke and the clearer her plans became, the more excited Georgiana was. It would truly be a momentous occasion for her, but given her brother’s close attention to every detail, she suspected it might be for him, as well. She would discuss it with Mary when she arrived today to visit. Brother will keep Miss Bennet occupied, I am sure. Perhaps I will ask Mary to help me with the planning.
~~~***~~~
While Darcy and his sister were planning their dinner party, Elizabeth and Mary received word that their eldest sister, Jane, had arrived at their Aunt and Uncle Gardiner’s house on Gracechurch Street. They sent a message back to her via Lord Watts’ private courier that they would call the next day.
As soon as was acceptable the following morning, Mary, Elizabeth, and Lady Watts were knocking on the door of the Gardiner residence. Jane met them in the entrance hall rather than waiting in the drawing room.
“Lizzy!” Jane rushed to her sister, enveloping her in a hug. After a moment, they drew slightly apart, each reaching out to Mary to draw her in.
“Oh, Jane, I have missed you!”
“I have missed you, as well, dear Mary. Let me look at you.” The girls separated so Jane could take in the gorgeous dress Mary was wearing. “What a beautiful gown! So elegant!”
Mary blushed at the compliment. “Thank you. Aunt Agnes insisted on purchasing me some new things. I worry that the color is too bright,” Mary glanced at Lady Watts, “but she insisted that I was too young to dress somberly.”