The children had just finished their game, for which they’d required Elizabeth’s ignoble skills as a referee, when a figure approached. The woman was dressed head to toe in unrelieved black, including the veil which shadowed her face.
Elizabeth walked over to greet the woman, lest she frighten the younger children by treading too close.
“You are Miss Elizabeth Bennet?” said the figure by way of greeting.
“I am,” she answered. The woman lifted her veil.
Chapter 18
“My name is Anne de Bourgh,” she said. “I believe you met my mother, Lady Catherine, in town last week.”
“Ah,” said Elizabeth faintly. “Yes. I did. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Anne de Bourgh laughed softly. The sound was thin and reedy, like an instrument that still functioned but had not been used in a long time.
“You need not fear me, Miss Bennet,” said Anne. “And have no fear of visiting Pemberley today, for my mother departed for Kent last evening. You are safe for the time being.”
“Of course,” Elizabeth said politely. She was utterly at a loss, to be addressed in such a manner by a person who had more cause to hate her than most. After all, was not Anne de Bourgh Darcy’s true intended wife?
“There’s a bench just past this hill with a lovely view of the lake,” said Miss de Bourgh. “Would you care to have a look with me?”
There were three servants attending the children, and Elizabeth was not presently needed. She nodded, and they commenced.
“We are not acquainted, Miss Bennet, but I can guess at your thoughts,” said Miss de Bourgh.
“By all means,” said Elizabeth, too surprised by the afternoon’s turn of events to mind the familiarity.
“You think I approach you to warn you off my cousin, Darcy,” said Miss de Bourgh. She walked quite slowly.
“Is that not the case?” Elizabeth hardly knew her own thoughts at that moment, but Miss de Bourgh had guessed at them closely enough.
“On the contrary,” said Miss de Bourgh. “I sought you out today to let you know that I have no designs on Fitzwilliam, nor any hopes in that direction whatsoever. The favor of the match belongs entirely to my mother and Fitzwilliam’s mother, Lady Anne. They thought it would be charming and romantic. After Lady Anne died, my mother seized on the idea. I rather think it made her feel connected to her late sister somehow.” They reached the bench and sat.
“It brought my mother comfort in her grief, and so I let her carry on with her wish. Only in the past few months has she begun to seriously impress that design on us. That is, on myself and Darcy.”
“You speak as though you dislike the idea,” said Elizabeth.
“Forgive me if I am familiar, but I hear the disbelief in your voice. You think because he is an earl, and of great fortune besides, that any woman in the country would wish to land him.” Miss de Bourgh turned her gaze to the lake, and Elizabeth followed suit. It truly was a fine prospect.
“I have no desire to be a countess, Miss Bennet. I have grown up with wealth, and I have seen what happiness it can bring. I have also known loss; wealth is no barrier to death, nor to the grief it brings. I have a substantial dowry of my own, should I choose to marry. At present, I do not choose it. Certainly, I do not choose to marry Darcy.” She looked at Elizabeth. “I would not have you consider me a rival.”
The strange events of the last several weeks descended upon Elizabeth all at once. She laughed.
She laughed loud and long, drawing the gaze of the children as they wandered back toward the house. The servants turned, trying to discover the source of mirth. Finding nothing to amuse besides the vista of their workplace, they followed the children back up to the house.
Miss de Bourgh waited until her laughter subsided.
“I beg your pardon,” said Elizabeth, wiping the tears from her eyes.
“You don’t need my pardon,” said Miss de Bourgh. “You have been through quite enough already.”
“It is no excuse,” said Elizabeth with a sigh. “But that is kind of you to say. Thank you.”
“If it’s any consolation, I envy you a bit.”
“Oh?”
“I do not wish you ill – by no means. But I envy you the adventure. I have been all but a prisoner at Rosings since I was old enough to speak.”
“Rosings – that is your home, yes?”
“It is my mother’s home. It is very grand, but living under her protection requires conforming to her rules, and at the risk of sounding petulant… It chafes.”
“I’m that much more surprised you’re not eager to marry,” said Elizabeth. “Perhaps your status affords you more options.”
“It’s not likely,” said Miss de Bourgh with a trace of humor, and not a little regret.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” asked Elizabeth. She still could not make out Miss de Bourgh’s purpose in seeking her out.
“You are generous to offer,” she replied. “But no. My situation is all but fixed, and I am nearly at peace with it. Sometimes, less so. I shall be well again tomorrow, I think.”
They sat in silence some minutes, enjoying the last of the sunshine.
“Forgive me, Miss Bennet, but I want to ask you a question. It is rather personal, I’m afraid.”
Elizabeth laughed lightly, without the touch of her earlier madness.
“Perhaps you ought to call me Elizabeth,” she said. “After this conversation, we are practically confidants.”
“I shall do so, and you will call me Anne,” replied the older woman. “My question is this: Do you love him?”
Elizabeth gaped. The expression was impolite, but words simply would not surface.
“Fitzwilliam is not an easy man,” said his cousin. “He can be ill tempered and his pride runs deep. Perhaps he is justified in having that pride but it must be mentioned, for you cannot have the man without that feeling. So I ask you a question I have never asked another woman in my life – Do you love him?”
“Anne,” Elizabeth spoke slowly. “The understanding between myself and your cousin is not— it is not of the traditional sort.”
“You mean, because your arrangement was a sham,” said Anne simply.
Elizabeth forced her mouth closed when it gaped this time.
“Georgiana confided in me yesterday,” said Anne. “I would not dream of trespassing on Fitzwilliam’s privacy, nor yours, despite the nature of my question. I ask because if you love him, you need to give him an opportunity to be close to you.”
“I hardly know him,” said Elizabeth, speaking the first words that came to mind for fear of discovering the truth of her own heart before a near-perfect stranger.
“I think you know him well enough,” said Anne. “Be at ease, for I will not press you for an answer. I will tell you, however, that if you love him, if you think it is within you to truly love him; if even the possibility has occurred to you, you ought to reconsider leaving him.”
Elizabeth said nothing for a long moment.
“It’s too late,” she said, when finally her voice returned. “I’ve already broken with him. No doubt he has already read my letter. I believe your mother delivered it herself.”
“She did,” said Anne. “And I know too well what lengths to which the great Lady Catherine will go to see her will obeyed. If there is even the slightest chance she influenced your writing that letter, I beg you for my cousin’s sake, reconsider your choice.”
“Why should you argue on his behalf? Why go to such trouble?” asked Elizabeth. “Heaven knows, there’s no shortage of available females who’d like to bear the title of his countess, and many of them are far more suited to the position than I.”
“Ah, but there you have the soul of it,” said Anne, smiling at last. “He went to the trouble to secure your accord. Such subterfuge is wholly unlike my cousin; frankly, I’m surprised the idea occurred to him at all. But that he chose you to take part in it, that he trusted you in an act which is so wh
olly outside his character… I deduce from these things that you must mean a great deal to him.”
“I cannot see what you must see, for I’ve only known him a few weeks,” said Elizabeth helplessly. The conversation mortified her, even if she dreaded it’s ending. It was the first time she’d been able to talk freely about her arrangement with Darcy, and with someone who knew him well.
“Then believe me when I say, I love my cousin,” said Anne. “He is a generous man, and a good man. Duplicity is not in his nature, and while I am surprised by his actions, I will not condemn him for them. Involving you was a choice carefully made; whimsy is not in his makeup. Therefore let me urge you, once and for all, if you hold him in any tender regard whatsoever… reconsider.”
There was a noise behind them, then a deep voice spoke.
“Reconsider what?” asked Darcy. The women whirled around to witness him coming down the hill just behind their seat at the bench.
“I asked her to come visit me at Rosings when their trip to Scotland is concluded,” said Anne, lying with aplomb. “Elizabeth has declined, but I have hopes she’ll reconsider.”
“Ah,” said Darcy. He did not give his opinion, but his color rose markedly. “Miss Bennet, your aunt was asking for you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy,” she said, blushing herself. “That is, my lord. I’ll be along presently.” Elizabeth thought perhaps she saw the hint of a smile on his face as he turned back to the house.
“What were you saying about lying being out of character?” she said to Anne.
“That was in reference to my stalwart cousin,” replied Anne, standing. “I’ve no room for such compunction. Come, let’s return you to your aunt. Remember what I have said, Elizabeth.”
To that charge, Elizabeth had no doubt she’d be faithful.
* * *
After supper they were all bound up in their respective coaches. Darcy’s accompaniment saw the party shift, for a third carriage was now required for the comfort of all. The children shared seats with their siblings and nurses, while Darcy, Elizabeth, and the Gardiners were afforded the most spacious seats in the head carriage.
Travel came easily the first few days. Mr. Gardiner and the earl both expressed a wish to ride alongside while the weather remained fine, for at this time of year there was no guarantee it would hold. Elizabeth found much relief in this. She and Mrs. Gardiner were able to pass the time as they would always have done, in pleasant conversation and periodic, but equally pleasant silence.
It also gave her space to consider Anne’s words. Did she hold Darcy with that much regard? All this time Elizabeth had seen the color of her feelings to be amiable and respectful, no hint of romance among them. But divesting herself of the show of courtship had brought her so much confusion and pain, though she’d thought at the time it was just sympathy for the man who’d been so kind to her, such a friend while she’d been ill at Netherfield.
Yet Anne’s questions resonated in Elizabeth’s mind, and the peaceful time she passed alone in the carriage with Mrs. Gardiner left her unable to focus on anything else.
It was on one such day, after luncheon when they still had a fair distance before their stop for the night when Mrs. Gardiner broke their amiable quiet and said, “You have never met my sister, have you Elizabeth?”
“I have not, but I look forward to it with pleasure,” she answered. “You’ve told me so much about her, I feel I may know her already.”
“Yes,” said Mrs. Gardiner. Her tone had a peculiar quality Elizabeth could not quite place. “She and her husband have been married nearly so long as Mr. Gardiner and me. Of course, they had children much earlier on.”
“Have they many children?” asked Elizabeth, more from politesse than real curiosity. Mrs. Gardiner would come to her point soon enough, Elizabeth knew.
“Only three,” said her aunt. “Their two daughters are about the same ages as your youngest sisters. The eldest is your age, I believe. His name is Henry.”
And then Elizabeth understood.
Mrs. Gardiner had brought her to Newcastle to matchmake.
Chapter 19
Mrs. Gardiner had not pressed the point, leaving her Elizabeth to mull the implications at the end of their conversation. They’d not since been able to resume the subject, as the weather turned harsh; the party was forced to stop awhile to let Mr. Gardiner and his lordship back into the carriage.
“I do so hope this wind lets up tonight,” said Mr. Gardiner. “It’s been an age since I got to ride this much. I’ve never seen this part of the countryside on horseback before.”
“Nor I,” agreed Darcy. “But snow is common in these parts this time of year. I shan’t be surprised if we see a flurry or two before we see Newcastle itself.”
“Have you ladies enjoyed your solitude, then?” said Mr. Gardiner turning to address his niece. “I hope we’re not intruding on your confidences.”
“You tease, uncle, but as a matter of fact, you are doing just that,” said Elizabeth. She knew not what devil prompted her next words, but they came before she could consider their cost. “Mrs. Gardiner has just revealed to me the true purpose of our journey north.”
“What, hey?” said Mr. Gardiner, laughing. “Have I been duped then? Here I thought we’re just up to see the family.”
“We are just up to see family,” Mrs. Gardiner said, her eyes round as saucers as she stared pointedly at Elizabeth.
“Oh, yes, family,” said Elizabeth, smiling a little. “Haven’t you heard, uncle? You’ve an unmarried nephew about my age.”
Darcy’s amusement dimmed from his face. Abruptly he turned to the window and became preoccupied with the view, whatever there was of it.
“Is that right, Mrs. Gardiner?” said Mr. Gardiner. “You had me fooled, wife. I thought for certain your sister was anticipating another happy event, and that’s why we’re visiting!”
Mrs. Gardiner was blushing and very deliberately not looking at Darcy, Elizabeth noted.
Elizabeth hadn’t considered what Darcy might think of her aunt’s matchmaking. At any rate, it likely didn’t matter. Theirs had been an alliance for show; there was no reason to think her aunt’s motives should bother him at all.
“I simply wanted Elizabeth to know she would not lack for company while we visit,” said Mrs. Gardiner, her nose in the air. She turned to stare out the other carriage window, effectively dismissing her husband even as he continued to chuckle.
“Never fear, Lizzy,” said Mr. Gardiner. “If Henry doesn’t suit, we could always wait until Scotland to marry you off.”
“Really, uncle,” said Elizabeth. It was her turn to blush. Her uncle’s teasing was never meant to be cruel, but he’d struck upon the one subject about which she could not easily joke.
“I don’t think Miss Bennet has so much as spared a glance at a suitor, much less made pursuit of one,” said Darcy suddenly.
“Why do you say that?” said Mr. Gardiner. He was a sharp-witted man, bent to a benevolent nature, but he perceived the Earl had come to some realization regarding his niece Elizabeth, and Mr. Gardiner would understand it fully before allowing her to be taken any further in jest.
“I think, Mr. Gardiner, had your niece ever cast an eye of favor upon a man, he’d have fallen at her feet on the instant,” said Darcy.
Elizabeth’s breath caught in her throat.
Darcy turned his gaze back to the darkening window. “That is why I defend her so.”
“I commend you, my lord,” said Mr. Gardiner, satisfied. “You have perceived what I think many a person would not. My niece is a doughty character, to be sure. Else she’d not have borne that bad business in London so well as she did.”
“Really, uncle,” said Elizabeth, but at the mention of London, Darcy returned his attention to the conversation.
Darcy focused his gaze on Elizabeth. “I had most of the story from my sister, of course, but would you tell me what happened, from your own lips? If it would not distress you, I should like to h
ear it from someone who was there.”
“Of course, my lord,” said Elizabeth.
“Is that really necessary?” said Mrs. Gardiner, turning back toward them and chancing a side glance at the earl. “You needn’t go over it again, Lizzy, if you don’t wish to.”
“It’s perfectly alright,” said Elizabeth. “What would you like to know?”
“My sisters claimed the villains were already in the house when you arrived; is that accurate?” asked Darcy, his tone quiet. The tension in the air of the carriage thickened.
“They were,” said Elizabeth. “Your butler had been rendered unconscious – I do hope he’s alright, my lord – and one of the men saw me when I entered the front door.”
“You were not accompanied to the house at Mayfair? Was there no servant or chaperone to attend you there?”
“No, my lord,” she said, blushing. “I sent my maid along with the coach on to my uncle’s home ahead of me. It had been a long journey and she’s been feeling poorly; I thought nothing would come of it.”
Darcy was silent a moment.
“Go on, please,” he said at last. Elizabeth recounted the events of that night as best she could. Each time she said the name ‘Wickham’, Darcy tensed visibly. When she told him of Lady Catherine’s threat and Wickham vanishing into the night, Darcy fisted his hands and breathed deeply in a clear bid to check his temper.
By the end of her tale, she could scarcely bear her curiosity any longer.
“If you don’t mind my asking,” Elizabeth said after a pause. “What is the nature of your connection to this George Wickham? I never had a chance to ask Miss Darcy.”
Darcy took his time forming an answer.
“George Wickham is the son of my late father’s steward. He was a very respectable man, and my father thought well of his only child. Wickham was his godson. As such, my father supported him at school, and after at Cambridge. It was important assistance, as Wickham’s own father was always poor due to the extravagant spending of his wife,” said Darcy. “His manners have always been engaging; my father thought it would bode well for his future life, and intended Wickham to join to the church; he intended to provide him the living as well.
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