“Well, one never knows. You have not had tea with your old, boring father in such a time; I began to wonder if you would forget how I take it. Perhaps you have been too much in raptures over wedding lace and ribbons, like your mother, to have noticed your neglect.”
Elizabeth smiled apologetically as she handed him his cup and took hers to her seat across from his at the fire. “I have not forgotten your preferences, nor am I in raptures over lace. That I can assure you, sir.” She tried to chuckle lightheartedly.
For a moment, they warmed themselves quietly by the fire, and Elizabeth allowed the heat from her cup to soothe her. She breathed in the calming aroma and realized how much she had missed being in this room with her father.
Mr. Bennet pretended to relax in his chair and watch the flames of the fire lick the logs in the hearth while surreptitiously surveying his favorite daughter. She had been in low spirits for a while now, and although she often laughed or teased with her siblings, he had detected the occasional distracted look or abrupt turn of her features. The dark circles under her eyes indicated she had not been sleeping well. What had bothered him most, though, was her decided absence from his study and near avoidance of him for over a week. It was most unusual, as she had always spent time with him there. Sometimes it would be a quick hello, and other times she would sit and stay for a few hours to talk or read.
He watched one of her slim hands reach up to adjust a curl near her ear and then rub at her temple slightly. He frowned and asked, “Are you feeling well, Lizzy? You do not look like you slept well last night.”
Elizabeth started and sat straighter in her chair. “I am perfectly fine, Papa, but you are right, I did not sleep well.”
“Why not?” he asked, with evident concern in his voice.
Elizabeth looked up and gave a reassuring smile. “I suppose with the wedding planning, Christmas in a few days and our guests, I had too much on my mind to sleep.”
“Was that all that was on your mind, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth colored, and her eyes flashed to her father’s. His face was kind and patient, but she knew, as with her Aunt Gardiner, that she was not likely to fool him. She bowed her head for a moment and spoke quietly, “No, that was not all.”
Mr. Bennet put his cup down and leaned over to rest his hand on her knee so that she would look at him. “Would you like to talk about it, dear?”
His tender voice and gentle entreaty nearly shook her reserve regarding her feelings. “I do not know . . . that is to say . . . I have been so foolish, Papa.” Elizabeth placed her tea on the table and covered her face with her hands as she felt the hot sting of tears.
Mr. Bennet furrowed his brows and thought of what he could say. He began to understand the reason behind his daughter’s strange behavior possibly having something to do with the removal of a certain gentleman from the neighborhood.
“Dear girl, do not lose hope. It is not as bad as it now seems, I am sure.”
Elizabeth looked at her father and saw, from the look on his face, that he knew what was troubling her. He seemed to believe everything would work out. His kindness and faith comforted her even if she was not sure she could accept them. She smiled in thanks, and they sat back in their chairs to return to their private thoughts.
Having spent some considerable time in conversation with Mr. Darcy on their ride about the estate, Mr. Bennet had seen ample evidence of the regard the man had for his daughter. Therefore, he was not worried about the reason for Elizabeth’s distress. During their ride, Mr. Bennet had purposely made casual mention of Lizzy or ‘his daughters’ as he pointed out a view or prospect here and there. Each reference caused a slight change in Mr. Darcy’s countenance.
But the moment he knew for sure that the gentleman was in love with his daughter was when they had stopped to rest briefly under a large maple tree. Mr. Bennet had chuckled as he recalled the specific tree they were under. Mr. Darcy was then forced to question the source of his humor. Mr. Bennet’s eyes filled with laughter as he related the memory that had come to him regarding their location.
“I do not know if I should tell you, sir. I think my Lizzy would be quite upset with me if I did.”
Mr. Darcy’s head turned abruptly towards his companion, and his eyes went wide with poorly hidden interest as he said reluctantly, “Then perhaps you had better not say, sir.”
Mr. Bennet could clearly see that Mr. Darcy did not mean his words. As the memory was washing fresh through his thoughts, he could not help but share it. “She will, no doubt, wish that I not reveal this to anyone, but if I have your promise of secrecy, sir, I will share it with you.”
Mr. Darcy struggled a bit with indecision. He wanted to know anything he could about Elizabeth but did not want to raise her ire. In the end, curiosity won over ethics. He smiled mischievously at her father and nodded his consent to continue the story.
Mr. Bennet reached for a low-lying branch and held it for a moment as he considered where to begin. “When Lizzy was a little girl, she was quite . . . shall we say, enthusiastic in her ventures, as I am sure you can imagine.” Mr. Bennet smiled, and Mr. Darcy chuckled to himself at the way her father gently suggested that Elizabeth was a bit wild and passionate. It was something he could easily picture, and the image brought a smile to his face.
“When she was eleven, she had somehow procured a pair of boy’s breeches. Now, how she had come to obtain such an article of clothing in a house without brothers, I still do not know and she has never admitted. However, obtain them she did, and one day she came down to breakfast wearing them instead of her usual dress.” Mr. Bennet had to stop to chuckle again at the memory.
Mr. Darcy raised his hand to his mouth to cover his own amusement as Mr. Bennet collected himself to continue.
“I apologize; I had forgotten this story until now, and I can easily recollect the scene of that morning in the breakfast room. As you can imagine, Lizzy’s mother was quite upset over the state of dress of her second eldest daughter and demanded she return to her room and change. Lizzy refused, and the two quarreled over the issue until Lizzy ran from the house. I was summoned by Mrs. Bennet to retrieve her before any of the neighbors saw how scandalously she was dressed.”
Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy both erupted in chuckles at this point, and Mr. Bennet watched as his companion’s eyes not only were filled with mirth but also touched with obvious admiration and feeling for his Lizzy.
“I ventured out in search of her and found her at the top of this very tree.” Mr. Bennet pulled at the limb he held as he looked through the branches to the top. “When I came to her, she was quite upset and told me, quite vehemently I assure you, that she was never going to come down from this tree and that she would live up there for the rest of her life.” The two men burst into laughter again.
“Of course, I tried reasoning with her, but she would not come down. She declared she would rather wear breeches than the frilly gowns her mother chose for her. I still remember her passionate response when I told her if she did not wear gowns, she would not grow up to be a lady. She looked me in the eye and, with a boldness I have yet to tame, declared, ‘Then I shall not become a lady. I shall cut off all my hair and join the Navy, where I can wear breeches every day and travel anywhere I want.’”
Mr. Darcy’s rich, deep baritone laughter surprised Mr. Bennet as it came from the usually sedate man. When his amusement calmed a bit, he turned to Mr. Bennet and asked, “What happened then, sir?”
Mr. Bennet shrugged his shoulders and smiled at the memory. “I gave her my consent to join the Navy and went home. Eventually she got hungry, and as Mrs. Bennet had refused to allow her to eat if she was not properly attired, she changed her clothes and ate her dinner with a pout on her face. The breeches did not make another appearance and disappeared as mysteriously as they arrived.” Mr. Bennet looked towards his companion with a smile. “Though I suppose Mrs. Bennet had something to do with that.”
Mr. Darcy chuckled quietly as Mr. Bennet watched
him. It was at that moment he knew that the gentleman was in love with his daughter. His face was filled with an unconcealed adoration and contentment as he sat quietly in thought over the revelation regarding Elizabeth.
Now sitting in his study with the same daughter who nine years before had passionately declared her intentions to join the Navy, Mr. Bennet, too, was filled with love and adoration for her. She was still just as beautifully defiant, passionate and devoted to the voice of her heart, and he felt for her as she obviously struggled with her feelings for Mr. Darcy.
He stood up to replace his teacup on the tray table. He patted his daughter’s back and spoke tenderly to her as she looked up at him. “Give him time, Lizzy. Give yourself time.”
Elizabeth’s brows twitched as she pulled her legs up under her and leaned against the side of the chair. Mr. Bennet moved to his desk and began looking over his correspondence and estate matters. Before long, he could hear Elizabeth’s quiet breathing. Turning around in his chair, he found she had fallen asleep. He sat there a moment considering her sleeping form. After a short while, he stood up, carefully placed a blanket over her and returned to his desk with a sigh.
* * *
After his butler closed the study door, Mr. Darcy turned to his cousin and invited him to sit. He shook his head in rebuke for a moment before saying, “That was hardly fair, cousin.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed and propped his feet up on the ottoman as he shrugged his indifference.
With barely concealed amusement, Darcy continued his rebuke. “You know, if I begin to lose valuable members of my staff to your charades, I shall not be amused. Mr. Carroll’s wife is my housekeeper and essential to the smooth running of my household. If you drive away my butler, she will go too!” Mr. Darcy could not maintain his serious mien at the chuckle Richard gave to his speech.
“But Darcy, you should have seen the man’s face when I handed my hat and gloves to him instead of the footman and left to find you. He had only time to unceremoniously dump the items on the man before trying to catch up with me.”
“Well, temper yourself a bit if you can. The only reason he stays on under my employ is that I have it on good authority from Mrs. Carroll that it is as much a game to him as it is to you. She believes he tries to provoke you into behaving badly by pretending his frustration.”
Richard’s eyebrows shot up at this revelation. “Is that so? Well then, I might have to reconsider my next move.”
Mr. Darcy poured his cousin a glass of wine, and after procuring one for himself, he sat down opposite to him. It was a signal that the intended purpose of the visit was about to begin.
With new seriousness, Mr. Darcy thanked his cousin for coming. “Last night when you and your parents dined here, you said you had a matter of importance to discuss with me.”
Richard’s jovial face instantly drew to a frown as he put his feet on the floor and leaned towards his cousin, matching his gravity. “Yesterday, I received a letter from Colonel Forster.” He saw Darcy frown with frustration. “He informed me that Wickham has left the regiment — deserted the militia. He has not been seen in the area for several days.”
Mr. Darcy stood abruptly and began to pace the floor in front of the fireplace. “Do you think he is coming here?” His voice rose in anger. “Coming for Georgiana?”
“Calm yourself, Darcy. I do not think he is so stupid as to try to come for Georgiana, but perhaps you should tell the household she is not at home for visits and require a footman to accompany her and Mrs. Annesley on their outings.”
“I will accompany her myself from now on. I cannot let Wickham get near her,” Mr. Darcy said resolutely.
“Very well, do as you wish, but there is more.” Richard watched as his cousin stopped his pacing and stared at him.
Before he could continue, Darcy nearly shouted, “What other news, Cousin! Go on with it for heaven’s sake!”
“I am just getting to it, Darcy. Colonel Forster’s man reported that Wickham was witnessed leaving on the London post coach the day you received his letter.”
“He must be planning something, Richard. What is the militia doing to recover him?”
“I have sent word throughout my regiment and those in the surrounding areas, but there is no place he can be so well hidden as in London. Believe me; I want to find him as well.”
Mr. Darcy simply nodded his head distractedly as he walked to his desk and wrote a quick note to his housekeeper, informing her of the new policy regarding Georgiana. “Excuse me a moment, Richard,” he said as he briefly left the room to deliver his note.
Upon his return, he took his seat across from his cousin, and the two sat quietly for a moment. Richard looked to him and said, “Perhaps it is good you are in London for Christmas, even if Wickham is here too. It is certainly easier to coordinate efforts this way.” When Darcy simply nodded, Richard decided a change of topic might be useful. It was not in his nature to brood like his cousin. “Does Bingley stay at his estate for the holidays or will he come to London?”
Mr. Darcy looked to his cousin at the change in topic and said, “He is staying in Hertfordshire. Christmas is only days away, and his intended’s family is there.” After a pause, he added distractedly, “Miss Bennet does have an aunt and uncle in Cheapside, now that I recollect, but I suppose they would have gone to Hertfordshire for the wedding last week and will remain there for the holidays.”
“Wedding? Intended?” Richard looked to his cousin in confusion.
Mr. Darcy nodded his head. “I suppose I forgot to mention I received a letter a few days ago from Bingley. He has proposed to Miss Jane Bennet of Longbourn, and they are engaged. The wedding I referred to is that of a younger sister, Miss Mary Bennet, who married our Aunt Catherine’s clergyman.”
Richard surprised Darcy with his sudden burst of laughter. “What a small world, eh, Darcy? Bingley is going to be related to our Aunt Catherine’s rector. What kind of man is this parson? I cannot recall his name from our visit to Rosings last spring.”
Mr. Darcy smiled mischievously as he remembered the odious Mr. Collins. He allowed himself a moment to let his thoughts drift back to the Netherfield ball and his orchestration of that man’s future. “He was not there when we were last. His name is Collins, and he is as ridiculous as they come, Cousin.” Darcy laughed lightly. “And our aunt takes prodigious care of him.”
Both men broke into laughter as Richard said, “She takes prodigious care of everyone she can get her claws on.”
Richard then recalled his cousin’s uneasiness when he had previously provoked him on the subject of ladies in Hertfordshire. Finding in this current topic an avenue in which to return to that one, he studied his cousin closely and said, “Tell me about Bingley’s girl.”
Mr. Darcy swirled the contents of his glass around for a moment and, without looking up, said, “I am not sure what there is to know. She is a gentleman’s daughter, and their estate, Longbourn, is a few miles from Bingley’s. He met her at an assembly held in Meryton.”
Richard’s apparent lack of interest put Darcy a little at ease but did nothing to slow his now rapidly beating heart. “And has she any brothers?”
Darcy tried to match his cousin’s bored tone as he answered, “No brothers, only four sisters. In fact, Mr. Collins is their cousin and will inherit Longbourn as it is entailed from the female line.”
Richard watched the brief gleam pass across his cousin’s eyes and his renewed interest in the contents of his glass. “Four sisters! That is singular. Knowing Bingley, he will have taken the most beautiful one. Mr. Collins has married another and that leaves only three to choose from for you and me, Cousin. What say you; shall we be brothers to Bingley?”
Although his comment was made in jest, it had hit an unexpected mark. Richard was delightfully surprised to see his cousin’s eyes dart up to his. Darcy’s face first displayed shock but soon turned into one of embarrassed confusion as if he had been caught at something. Richard knew that face well, be
cause as boys, the two of them had often been caught in various ill-conceived schemes.
“Whoa-ho, Darcy! What is this you are hiding from me? I believe I have found the location of the lady who has caught your eye in Hertfordshire.”
“I have no notion of what you are speaking, Richard,” Darcy shot back.
“I am sure you do. Tell me about her, Darcy. She must really be something if she has caught your interest.”
“I have nothing to say to you.” Darcy swallowed the contents of his glass and stood to refill it from the decanter.
“Very well, then, Cousin. I shall know how to act. If you will just allow me some ink and paper, I shall write Bingley directly and ask him if he knows of any particular lady in residence at Longbourn who might have caught your attention.”
Darcy turned around to face his cousin. “You shall do no such thing, Richard!”
Richard smiled. He now knew it was just a matter of reeling his cousin in; he had already gotten Darcy stuck on his hook.
“Why do you not tell me who this lady is then, Darcy? What are you afraid of?”
Darcy glared at his cousin and fumed at his challenge for several long minutes. After a lengthy battle of wills, his shoulders drooped, and he folded himself into his chair again, saying in defeat, “Her name is Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
Richard smiled in triumph. He marveled at the sudden drop in his cousin’s countenance, as it looked as though he were about to relate that the lady had died or something equally horrific. “Why the long face, Darcy; what is wrong with the lady?”
Darcy looked up briefly at his cousin as Richard sat himself down in the chair across from him. He lifted his chin and said defensively, “There is nothing wrong with her.”
Richard sat back and raised his eyebrows at the suddenly fierce tone of his cousin’s voice. “I did not mean to imply that something was wrong with the girl. But you look as if you are not happy talking about her.” He laughed as Darcy gave him a sarcastic expression that said he, indeed, did not wish to speak of her.
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