A Touch of Night

by Sarah Hoyt

  "I will order the carriage," said Darcy.

  "Will there not be suspicions? Two ladies leaving your house so early in the day, and nothing to explain their presence in the first place?"

  "Georgiana will take you through the house and let you out into the street with no one seeing you. My man often takes the carriage out for me, so no suspicions will be raised in the stables. He will meet you at the door and the two of you will be inside the carriage so quickly, none will be the wiser."

  "One would almost think you are accustomed to such clandestine measures," said Elizabeth, saucily.

  "I promise you," sad Darcy, "this is the first time I have had occasion to secretly transport ladies from any establishment of mine." His tone was severe. "There have however... been other moments of ... There have been other friends in need."

  "Darcy extends his protection to all his friends," Bingley said.

  As Darcy left the room to make the arrangements, Elizabeth blushed with embarrassment at her misplaced levity and with a strange, warm, blushing feeling at the idea that Darcy had just called her a friend. He who had been so horribly misjudged by her.

  The plan went without a hitch and soon Elizabeth and Jane were in a darkened -- and very opulent -- carriage being whisked through the streets of London to Gracechurch Street.

  "Oh, Elizabeth!" said Jane. "I know it was a terrible thing to happen, but at least something good has come out of it. Mr. Bingley has asked if he may call on me at the Gardiners'"

  "And what did you tell him?" asked Elizabeth, teasingly.

  "I said I should be very pleased if he did. That was not wrong of me, was it?"

  "No, Jane. Though I fear if he sees you again he will not be able to stop himself from falling even deeper in love with you than he already is."

  "Elizabeth! We are simply acquaintances, nothing more," Jane said unconvincingly. Then she giggled. "Isn't it amazing that Mr. Bingley and my spotted hunting dog are one and the same person?"

  "It is," said Elizabeth. "I am so happy for you, Jane."

  The rest of the way to Gracechurch Street, Jane smiled in a bubble of euphoria. Elizabeth was glad for her sister. It seemed everything would work out for her and Mr. Bingley. They had so much in common and they were both so much in love. At least someone would be happy because she was certain she had missed the only opportunity she would ever have for happiness.

  Mr. Darcy had been helpful and kind. He had endangered himself to save Jane and Charles. He had gone so far as to call her a friend. But the truth was that he must have been out looking for Charles, worried about his friend just as she was worried about her sister. It was true that before he had changed to dragon form he had called her name. Elizabeth. But she had been in danger and he was warning her -- nothing more. After the things she had said to his face, her disgraceful accusations about him and Bingley being lovers -- she knew that was unforgivable. She had lowered herself in his eyes for certain, showing the base routes her mind could run. And then today she had done something quite similar -- her silly joke about secretly getting ladies out of his house. She had said it without thinking of the implications -- but upon his severe reaction she knew he could only believe her thoughts coarse and depraved. He probably believed her to be joking -- joking! -- about illicit relationships. And before his sister, too!

  Oh, he would treat her with politeness as the sister of his best friend's love, and he would show her kindness because he truly was the best of men, but he would never again ask her to marry him. And now she could think of nothing she desired more than to be his wife. Dragon or man he was the most worthy of beings.

  Again the image of his glowing body as he changed from dragon to human returned to her. She remembered the amazing sensation of riding on the dragon's back and holding that warm golden-scaled body against her own, knowing all the time that the dragon and Darcy were one and the same. At least she would always have that to remember.

  But she wanted more. She wanted those emerald eyes -- the dragon's and Mr. Darcy's -- to gaze into hers and tell her she would never have to be alone again.

  A tear slid down her cheek, followed by another one. Even with Jane by her side, she felt most horribly lonely.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The next morning Mr. Bingley lost no time in paying a call.

  Elizabeth, who had seen the looks exchanged by her sister and the amiable young man, was not surprised at all at his appearing at the Gardiners' doorstep as early as it was decent to call. What surprised Elizabeth, though, was that he did not come unaccompanied. His friend Mr. Darcy was with him, looking as severe as Elizabeth remembered him from the early days in Netherfield. It was difficult to believe that this austere gentleman was the same one she had watched change to and from the dragon form just a short time before.

  She couldn't help remembering the shimmering green and gold scales she had pressed herself against as they flew through the night sky, or the golden hued skin the scales had transformed to, the rippling muscles, the beauty of his naked form. She blushed at her thoughts, so out of place in her aunt's drawing room with its formal atmosphere, and clasped her hands together primly in her lap. When she had composed herself enough to look up, she found Mr. Darcy's green eyes directed upon her, and their expression made her cheeks flame once more. The dragon was indeed not far buried in their emerald depths.

  Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner had been told some of what Jane had gone through during her ordeal in the city, but not enough to give away the secret that the two gentlemen were also weres. They knew the gentlemen had aided their nieces, but nothing more, though they had their suspicions that more was involved than a fortuitous meeting in which the gentlemen had scared off a pack of wild dogs that had cornered the girls in an alley.

  This morning visit proved to them that, with at least two of the parties, it was clearly a case of reciprocated love. With the other two, nothing was plain. That there was attraction was evident, but it was also evident that pains were being taken on both sides to hide this attraction. As Mrs. Gardiner played hostess she paid close attention to every nuance of conversation, every surreptitious glance, the slightest tell-tale movement. The protection of her nieces was her paramount concern. Love could conquer many obstacles, but Jane's condition was a greater impediment than most had to face in the course of true love. Mrs. Gardiner was not sure that Elizabeth would ever trust to another the protection of her sister. And, in fact, if Jane were determined to marry -- and certainly Mr. Bingley seemed determined to marry her -- Mrs. Gardiner was sure that Elizabeth intended to follow her sister and help her contrive to hide her condition in her new estate as she had up till then. Many a love affair had crumbled over much more superficial problems.

  The two, however, did look to be as in love as anyone could possibly be. Jane glowed with a quiet radiance while Mr. Bingley overflowed with exuberant bonhomie. He politely conversed with all present, but his eyes returned always to Jane.

  "I believe there is a park to be found in this neighbourhood," he said to Mrs. Gardiner.

  "Yes, sir," said she. "It is small but considered quite fine, even though it borders on one side upon warehouses. There is a lovely avenue of limes leading up to an ornamental pond."

  "A duck pond, rather!" laughed Mr. Gardiner.

  "I am very partial to ducks! Finest of fowl!" cried Bingley. "I feel a great urge to see them, and I cannot but think that a walk out in the fresh air upon a sunny day such as this would do the ladies a world of good and help repair the ravages brought on by shock. What say you, Miss Bennet?"

  Jane glanced from her aunt to her uncle, a look of pleading in her eyes. "May we?"

  Mr. Darcy added his voice to the request. "We would be most honoured to escort your nieces," he said.

  Mrs. Gardiner turned to Elizabeth who smiled and nodded, a high spot of colour on each cheek, then consulted with her husband. Finally they gave their consent though she still wondered where all this was going to lead. If only she were sure of the gentlemen's secr
ecy and their acceptance of Jane's unusual situation. She didn't quite know what to make of the fact that her nieces were encouraging their suitors. They had -- subtly and otherwise -- discouraged so many others before.

  "Mind you do not tire the girls," said Mrs. Gardiner.

  "Thank you, aunt!" said Jane, getting up and kissing her cheek.

  "Wrap up well," said Mr. Gardiner, still a little concerned.

  "Do not worry, Uncle," said Elizabeth reassuringly. "We shall be well taken care of."

  * * * *

  They walked along the quiet morning streets, passing none but a few nurses promenading well-behaved charges or pushing them on prams. Mr. Bingley led the way with Jane upon his arm and Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy followed behind, walking side by side.

  "Shall we see exotic birds?" asked Mr. Darcy, raising one eyebrow in question, a smile in his eyes.

  "Only the commonest ducks, I am afraid," said Elizabeth. "But the lime trees are worth the walk."

  "I would be content with thistles and blackthorn," said Darcy. "The company is inducement enough."

  "For Mr. Bingley and Jane, indeed!" said Elizabeth to hide her confusion at the directness of his words. She suspected, even if she didn't know, that he was not one to pay compliments lightly, so she must assume he had some object in mind. But surely he couldn't mean to court her now after the rudeness and outlandishness of her rejection of him.

  "They do appear quite happy in each other's company," Mr. Darcy conceded ruefully. "But I had hoped your opinion of me had changed."

  "I did not mean to say . . . that is . . I am quite content in your company, sir."

  "I am pleased to hear it."

  "I only meant that for them it is something special . . . with what they share."

  A shadow of sadness seemed to fall across Darcy's visage momentarily. "That they are both weres."

  Elizabeth looked up at him eagerly. "Yes! Does that not make it easier for them? They can love and not worry . . . I have worried for Jane for so long, that she would never find this kind of happiness. Never have what was due a lady of her sweet temper, of her beauty."

  "You care for your sister deeply." The green eyes were concerned and reserved.

  "I have been her guardian ever since she first began to change. There is no one closer to my heart." As she looked up into Mr. Darcy's green eyes, Elizabeth realized that what she had just said to him was now untrue. Jane had been superseded in her thoughts, in her heart, and even in her soul. She cared no less for her sister, but another, stronger, deeper feeling filled her at the same time. A love that she felt was as hopeless as it was powerful. And it was the man by her side that caused the feeling to course through her veins. She could not find it in her heart to think less of him, or of the bright creature he transformed into, than she did of her beloved sister. She felt a blush suffuse her cheeks, at her thoughts.

  "An enviable position," he whispered.

  Elizabeth was caught by the wistful tone of his voice, and a tiny little seed of hope began to blossom deep within. She smiled up at him in such a way that could only be considered encouraging, and his expression changed subtly.

  "We are here," she said inconsequentially, breaking the spell that had bound them.

  Bingley and Jane had already entered the garden and were wandering down the avenue seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. Darcy held the park gate open for Elizabeth and then followed her through.

  They found the lime-bordered avenue cool and fragrant on this lovely morning, and set upon it, at a leisurely pace.

  "The trees are all you promised."

  "Are they not majestic?"

  "Yes, and very green."

  "That is due to the profusion of leaves." Elizabeth smiled saucily.

  "Yes," said Darcy. "Quite unexpected in trees. Next I shall find that the ducks on the pond are covered in feathers."

  "I must admit that they are," said Elizabeth in mock seriousness. "But most of them are brown, unfortunately."

  "I will attempt to bear that with equanimity." Something like a smile danced in his green eyes, though his lips betrayed no hint of his levity.

  Elizabeth giggled. She had never yet seen this light-hearted side of Mr. Darcy, and it endeared him even more to her. They continued their banter all the way to the pond, where they met up with Bingley and Jane. Mr. Bingley had begged some bread from a young boy and his nursemaid, in exchange for a peacock feather he had found, and the four of them tossed morsels to the greedy birds. They returned to the Gardiners' house as a happy group, chatting and laughing, and then the gentlemen took their leave, but not before inviting Mrs. Gardiner and the Bennet sisters to join them at Darcy's townhouse for tea the next day.

  "My sister made me promise not to come away without a positive reply," said Darcy to Mrs. Gardiner, so she was left with no choice but to accept the invitation.

  * * * *

  Lady Catherine DeBourgh was beside herself. Her constant demand to know "Where is my nephew?" had been met only with evasive answers from both Fitzwilliam and Anne, who both seemed to think there was some secret involved and one they must keep.

  Darcy had never before left Rosings Park so secretively. He had never before left Rosings Park without giving notice of his leaving. And he'd never before left it without taking with him so much as a valise or a neck cloth and -- further more -- leaving behind his valet. It was all very vexing and lady Catherine had a good idea that something very smoky must be going on behind her back.

  The way Anne and Fitzwilliam huddled together and talked all the time, too, must mean something very bad had happened, something they did not wish her to know about. And Lady Catherine had very strong suspicions what.

  At breakfast, she glared at both of them, "I wish you'd tell me why Darcy has disappeared," she said. "All your mumbling and whispering has gone beyond the line of pleasing."

  "But, Mama," Anne said. "We know as much as you do. We can only presume he's been called away on a matter of business."

  "You must think me a babe unborn!" Lady Catherine said, hotly. "What business can he have while at Rosings? And I have it on good authority he has taken no more than the clothes he was wearing. Not so much as his neck cloth or his toothbrush. No gentleman could travel that way. And, Quentin, I'll have you know that I called the Bull, where he would change horses, if he'd taken a carriage of accommodation or even the post. No one has seen him, no one has heard from him. I have sent express couriers to both Pemberley and London to know if anyone has heard of him."

  Fitzwilliam folded his napkin and set it aside, "Dear aunt, do not worry yourself. I'm sure that Darcy has left for some rational reason and will be back in time none the worse for the wear."

  But Lady Catherine could not rest. Her awful suspicion woke her from sleep and kept her terrified during the day. Was it possible Darcy had discovered something that disgusted him so much he'd left Rosings in a great hurry, with no thought of coming back?

  She knew what had scared her enough that, had she been a gentleman with a fortune and full command of her life, she would have run from Rosings too and possibly never returned.

  When she received an express from her nephew after breakfast it did nothing to dispel her fears.

  Dear Aunt, it began in proper style. I beg you to forgive me my hasty departure from Rosings and further beg you to believe that nothing but the most exigent of necessities could have prompted me to leave you like that without giving you my kindest regards and thanking you for your kind hospitality and condescension during my stay.

  I regret to inform you I cannot return to pay you my proper respects or give you earnest of my gratitude any time soon. The same affair that called me to London will keep me here for some time, I fear. I beg you the kindness of sending my valises and my man in my carriage, accompanied by my cousin, Quentin Fitzwilliam. And I trust I will see you again at Rosings for Easter next year.

  Sincerely, your devoted nephew, F. Darcy.

  There was only one thing, Lady Cat
herine knew, that could force this headlong flight from such a gentleman as Darcy. He was brave, she didn't doubt that. All the Fitzwilliams, her and her sister Anne's birth family, were brave. So only one thing could fill him with such repulsion that he would immediately and without appeal leave Rosings and have no intention of returning any time soon.

  She sat for a long time in her morning room, the menus that her housekeeper had dropped off in front of her for use during the week, sitting unread on her desk.

  At long last she sighed. There was nothing for it, and it couldn't be avoided. Fortunately -- in the process of rehabilitating a young man from a nearby manor family, whose blood was not so impure he needed to be killed -- Lady Catherine had stumbled on just the people to help in this situation.

  She rang the bell and told the answering footman, "Send Miss De Bourgh to me, as soon as possible."

  * * * *

  That evening, Mrs. Gardiner joined Elizabeth in her room.

  "Is this wise?' she asked.

  "What, aunt?"

  "Encouraging this relationship between Jane and Mr. Bingley."

  "But . . . cannot you see how in love they are?"

  "I would have to be blind not to notice," said Mrs Gardiner. "But if he offers for her he will have to be told of Jane's affliction, in all fairness. There is no knowing how he would react. I've heard of ladies exposed in just such situations."

  "I am not at liberty to tell you all," said Elizabeth, "but trust me when I say that she is safe with him. There is no more perfect match for either."

  Mrs Gardiner looked at her, understanding dawning. "Do you mean . . . ?"

  Elizabeth nodded her head.

  "This is more than we could ever have wished for. All we need do now is wait for him to ask for her hand. Your mother will be overjoyed."