by APRIL FLOYD
When all the servants had been hired, and Jane had chosen fabric from her uncle’s warehouses to have new linens and draperies made for all the rooms of her townhome, Mr. Bingley made an announcement at dinner.
“My cousins from the North will visit soon. They wrote to me at Hurst House for they knew nothing of Bingley House, of course. They are the two children of my aunt Dorothea on my father’s side. She married a Frenchman and lived in France for many years before returning home after her husband’s death. I have not seen them for years. Caroline was always jealous of them both for they are such a handsome pair.” He laughed as he supplied the information about Caroline’s envy.
Jane was quiet after the announcement and Mr. Bingley assured her there was no cause for concern. “We have a fine staff and plenty of room, my dear. They shall love you as I do, I know it!”
Elizabeth wished to know more of the pair. “When will they arrive? What are their names? I wonder how life is for them in England.”
Mr. Bingley speared a piece of lamb and looked thoughtful as he chewed. After he swallowed, he moved his fork to the side of his plate and leaned back in his chair. “I believe they are to arrive by the end of the week. Ferris and Emilie do as they please for their father, Hendrick Dumont, left them a fortune from his wine business when he passed. They share the country estate in Derbyshire with my aunt. She sold the wine business only a few years ago and I daresay they gained another fortune there. It irritates Caroline particularly that Emilie has no need of pin money from her brother since Hendrick settled a large sum upon her in addition to an estimable dowry.’’
Elizabeth smiled to think Miss Bingley had a cousin who caused her vexation. She certainly caused enough for others.
Jane pushed her plate away and pressed a hand against her forehead. “I declare I am not well this evening. Dinner has made me quite ill.”
Mr. Bingley stood and went to her side. “May I send for the family physician my dear? It is not too late to have a footman go round to his home.”
Jane waved away his concern. “I am not terribly ill, but I would not stay for the remaining courses. You and Lizzy should finish without me.”
“Nonsense,” said Mr. Bingley, “I will see you to your bed. I am not so hungry myself this evening.”
Elizabeth stood and went to the dining room door to hold it open for her sister and Mr. Bingley. “I am quite full, Jane. I hate that Cook went to so much trouble, but perhaps I will have dessert in the parlor after Charles and I see you settled.”
“You go on through to the parlor now, Lizzy. I do not need the both of you to put me to bed.” Jane gave a pained smile and rubbed her sister’s arm.
Elizabeth watched the couple ascend the stairs together and turned to peer inside the dining room. The butler was there with a footman. “I am so sorry,” she said to the servants, “would it be too much trouble to have my dessert brought to the parlor?”
The footman whisked away the plates and nodded to Elizabeth. “I shall see that one of the maids brings it with tea, Miss.”
The parlor was cozy with its roaring fire, but Elizabeth paced the room worried for Jane. Perhaps it was only a cold. If it were anything worse, Mr. Bingley would surely send for the doctor immediately.
Taking a book she had left on a side table, Elizabeth sat before the fire and read for a time before the maid arrived. “Thank you,” she said as the young servant poured her tea. Dessert was a baked apple, a favorite of her sister. Elizabeth was sad Jane would miss it this evening.
The maid left her and before Elizabeth might take a bite of her dessert, the butler knocked upon the parlor door. She placed her spoon beside the plate and stood. “Yes, Clarke, what is it?”
“A visitor has arrived. Mr. Darcy has come to see Mr. Bingley, but since he is indisposed I thought Mr. Darcy might wait in the parlor with you.”
Elizabeth allowed a smile to grace her lips. “Do not disturb my sister and brother just yet. I am sure Mr. Bingley will not be long. I would be happy to keep Mr. Darcy company.”
The butler nodded and allowed Mr. Darcy to enter the parlor. Elizabeth stood, her hands clasped before her. The man was far more handsome than she recalled.
Mr. Darcy made a small bow and handed his hat and gloves to Clarke. Elizabeth found her tongue at last. “Mr. Darcy, how wonderful to see you once more. Charles mentioned you lived but a few doors down the street.”
He looked about the room quickly and moved to stand before her. He smelled of the cold wind that whistled past the townhome. She adored that scent, the wild and dangerous aroma of sky and land awakened by Mother Nature’s whims.
Elizabeth smiled sincerely. If she could, she would go outside for a walk this instant. But it was late, and a lady did not go wandering the streets of London alone at night.
“Miss Bennet, I heard you had come to Town with Mr. and Mrs. Bingley. I apologize for interrupting your dessert. You may have it as we sit and wait for Mr. Bingley if you wish.”
Elizabeth would not think of eating alone in front of him. “I could have Clarke send for another baked apple. I am sure there are plenty to spare since my sister left dinner early. She is not well and Charles has gone to see her to bed.”
Mr. Darcy had smelled the spices used in the baking of the apple when he entered and his stomach had grumbled. “I accept your kind offer, Miss Bennet. I hope Mrs. Bingley is well in the morning.”
Elizabeth asked Clarke to have another serving of dessert brought to them. She turned back to Mr. Darcy and offered him a seat.
The man was a mystery, and had been her adversary in the past. Elizabeth could not think clearly with him watching her every move.
Mr. Darcy stood until she seated herself and then he sat beside her, leaning forward and inhaling the scent of the baked apple. “It is such a lovely smell in winter. My mother always had Cook prepare them for us after we had been outside riding in the snow.”
Elizabeth was astonished that he wished to share such a personal, private memory. Perhaps it was only the closeness of the room or the wind that rattled the window panes. “Our cook at Longbourn has a secret ingredient she uses in the preparation of baked apples. I could never quite figure it out no matter how many times I tasted them.”
Mr. Darcy smiled. “We ought to have a competition between the cooks of our acquaintance and find which is best.”
Elizabeth laughed, thrown by his amiability. She counted that as a mark in his favor. A tally on his balance sheet in the good column. The marks against him still weighed heavier in her mind, but he was kinder to her tonight than he had been before.
“I do hope your sister has not come down with a cold or fever,” he said with sincerity.
“I think she is only tired from her wedding trip and setting up house here in London. Netherfield Park was already staffed and in good repair. Interviewing staff and changing the decor of every room was a daunting challenge.” Elizabeth hoped it was exactly as she thought. Jane had never been the sickly kind.
Mr. Darcy took a bite of his apple and brushed at invisible crumbs on his coat. He sat watching her and Elizabeth was compelled to fill the silence. “Charles will be down soon, I suppose. Perhaps you would prefer to wait in the library? I think you might be impressed as it houses many more books than my brother has at Netherfield Park.”
He stood and offered his hand to his hostess. “I would dearly love to see such a thing in a home of Charles Bingley. He is a notoriously reticent reader, you know. Take me to see this library and I promise not to give offense as I did when we were all in Hertfordshire.”
Mr. Darcy winked and Elizabeth smiled, thoroughly confused by the way her heart was turning in his favor. “If I must, sir. As for your penchant to give offense, you are forgiven. Jane and Charles have married and are quite happy.”
He shook his head and laid his hand on top of hers. “I meant the offense I gave to you at the Assembly. I said you were not handsome enough to tempt me and it was a lie. I was not happy to be at the gath
ering and Charles was goading me to dance. You did nothing to deserve my rebuke.”
Elizabeth stared at him in utter disbelief. She could not even muster a bit of ire for the man.
“And if you wonder still, you are handsome enough to tempt any man, myself included.”
Elizabeth cast her eyes down to her feet and blushed furiously. She found she liked this Mr. Darcy much more than the one she had known in Hertfordshire. He was better at conversation and kinder in his manner.
“Let us go and read in the library until my brother has come to find us,” she said casting her eyes to the parlor door the butler had left open in consideration of her honor.
Together they left the parlor and made their way to the library.
Upstairs, Jane sighed as her husband brushed her hair and attempted to braid it for her. It was a good effort and she held his hand after he’d tied the ends with a strip of ribbon she gave him. “Honestly, my dear, I do feel much better after that embarrassment with the wash basin. I should not have allowed you to see me in such a state.”
Mr. Bingley kissed the tip of her nose and laid his hand against her forehead. “You are not warm and I am not repulsed at the sight of my wife indisposed. It does worry me, but I would rather you have my comfort than only a maid to stand over you. I think I may know what ails you, though.”
Jane looked at him and saw he was thinking the same as she was thinking. She whispered so that only he might hear. “Perhaps a babe will come to us in but a few months?”
Charles nodded and beamed with joy. He leaned closer to her and kissed behind her ear and down her neck, gently holding her shoulders. “We do not have to tell a soul until you are certain, but I may appear happier than I have ever been to our friends and family.”
Jane cradled his face in her hands. He made her happier than she had ever been. “They will only think us a silly pair of newlyweds since we are indeed so incandescently happy.”
She kissed him gently on his lips as her hands moved up through his fair curls. Bingley House was full of wedded love upstairs in the mistress’ bedchamber and the beginnings of friendship in the library below.
4
Ferris and Emilie Dumont arrived at Bingley House in the afternoon a few days later just as Mr. Bingley had said they would.
Elizabeth had been sitting by the parlor window writing a letter to her father with her suspicions as to the cause of Jane’s discomfort and illness. Her sister had been unable to tolerate the aromas of breakfast, luncheon, and dinner. Even tea was difficult at times. For Elizabeth, it meant she might welcome a niece or nephew by the winter.
A physician had come that morning, but Jane and Mr. Bingley had not made a private announcement to Elizabeth nor a public one to the staff.
Elizabeth saw the pair as they quit their carriage and walked up the front steps of Bingley House. Miss Bingley had reason to be envious for Elizabeth had not seen a more beautiful man or woman in all her life.
She rose swiftly from her seat and looked down at her skirt. The dress was new, and she was happy she had chosen it instead of the dress her maid had selected earlier that morning.
It was a very nice muslin with sprigs of blue and green adorning the neckline and there was a blue sash that trailed down the back of the skirt. Elizabeth felt quite feminine in it as she would never wear it to wander the fields between Netherfield and Longbourn.
Mr. Bingley came down the stairs in a rush with Jane on his arm. She seemed in good spirits and Elizabeth was pleased to see the color in her cheeks. “Come Lizzy, we must meet the Dumonts. Is it not exciting to welcome company we have never met?”
Jane’s smile was genuine and Elizabeth followed her downstairs to the entry. Mr. Bingley and Mr. Dumont greeted one another most heartily while Miss Dumont looked to Jane and Elizabeth awaiting an introduction.
Her features were pleasing without being too perfect, but Emilie Dumont was beautiful. Elizabeth could see why Miss Bingley was filled with jealousy. She smiled and the Bennet sisters as one stepped forward.
“My dearest husband,” Jane said as she placed a hand upon Mr. Bingley’s arm, “please do introduce us to this most lovely young lady.”
Mr. Bingley blushed and embraced Miss Dumont immediately, kissing both her cheeks. “But of course, this is the legendary beauty, my only female cousin, Miss Emilie Beatrice Dumont. My dearest cousins, this is my wife, Mrs. Jane Bingley and her sister, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. They are quite eager to make your acquaintance.”
Miss Dumont went to Jane first. She spoke with a fine accent but her French connection was evident. “Ma chérie,” she said and opened her arms as Jane approached, “how lovely it is to see my cousin married to such a beauty. I was terribly afraid he might marry Mrs. Riddington’s plainest daughter only a few years ago.”
Jane turned her cheek to receive both kisses Miss Dumont gave, but she was at a loss for words. She would never have mentioned a prior beau before her husband’s family.
Elizabeth saved her sister. “Oh Miss Dumont, how delightful that you have stories to share! You must come sit with us in the parlor while the men smoke their horrid cigars.”
Mr. Bingley’s cousin took Elizabeth’s hand and then tucked her own arm in Jane’s and winked at Mr. Bingley. “I shall not speak of your most embarrassing moments, Charles. See that Ferris does not drink all your port before dinner for we have not eaten since early this morning. We wanted to hurry here and meet your wife. Thank heavens Caroline is not come to welcome us to Town.”
Elizabeth and Jane exchanged amused looks of astonishment at Miss Dumont’s forward manner of speaking. Tact was not her way.
Jane asked the butler for a hearty tea to be sent as the ladies climbed the stairs to the parlor. “Since dinner is a few hours off, let us have a light luncheon. I am delighted to meet you Miss Dumont, truly it is a pleasure to have you in our new home.”
The lady looked about as they gained the first floor of the townhome. “It is quite lovely. Is there much decorating left to do, chérie?”
It would take time for Jane and Elizabeth to become comfortable with such endearments, but it was not offensive coming from such a lovely and cultured young lady as Miss Dumont.
“There are two bedrooms upstairs in need of attention but the rooms for you and Mr. Dumont have recently been completed. I do hope you will enjoy them.” Jane sat with Miss Dumont upon the new velvet sofa in the parlor.
The entire room was done in shades of blue. Elizabeth adored the decor Jane had chosen for the parlor.
“Oh, you have made some bold choices, Jane. But they are most pleasing and dare I say, far more inviting than that stodgy old parlor at Hurst House. It smells of Mr. Hurst since he naps there most hours of the day.”
Elizabeth joined Miss Dumont in laughter while Jane seemed taken aback. She did not care for the Hursts or Miss Bingley but they were family too. “Oh, Mr. Hurst is not one for the air in Town in winter. I believe he ought to reside in the country instead.”
Miss Dumont was delighted by Jane. “You are too kind, chérie! Let no one say Mrs. Bingley is not charitable. I will rap their knuckles with my fan.”
Tea arrived and Elizabeth was grateful. She had not eaten very much for breakfast and the aroma of fresh bread complemented the meat, cheese, and fruit. Wine had been brought along with tea and coffee and sponge cake.
Elizabeth looked to Jane to see whether she appeared ill and rushed to pour her tea. “Here sweet sister, try this tea. I asked Cook to send up peppermint today. It is said to have soothing properties.”
Miss Dumont watched silently as Jane sipped her tea. Elizabeth distracted her by offering a small amount of wine to their guest with cheese and bread and a bit of fruit. “Would you care for some meat, Miss Dumont?”
Miss Dumont took the plate and smiled at Elizabeth. “You are a most thoughtful sister and hostess, chérie. This will do, thank you.”
Elizabeth helped herself last and watched as Jane entertained Miss Dumont. Whatever the phys
ician had done, Jane was in much better spirits and health. Perhaps it was the distraction of her visitors from Derbyshire. Elizabeth was pleased to have her sister well again.
After half an hour, the men entered and Elizabeth stood when she saw Mr. Darcy had come. He must have gone straight to the library without disturbing the ladies.
He moved about the room methodically, greeting everyone, and saved his last greeting for Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet, what a pleasure it is to see you again.”
Elizabeth smiled and sat with him near the windows, away from the merriment caused by Mr. Dumont. Her eyes wandered to him when Jane laughed louder than Elizabeth had ever heard her laugh.
Mr. Darcy cleared his throat to regain her attention. “He has always been the center of attention. Some things never change.”
It seemed Mr. Darcy was not fond of Ferris Dumont.
Elizabeth nodded. “I have not had the time to know him better yet, but he seems very much like Charles; amiable and eager to laugh with everyone.”
Before Mr. Darcy might answer, Miss Dumont joined them and placed a gloved hand upon his shoulder. “Fitzwilliam, how I have longed to see your handsome face. It has been too long.”
Mr. Darcy glanced at Elizabeth and stood to offer the lady his seat. “Yes, Miss Dumont, it has been some time since you were last in London.”
Elizabeth’s brow furrowed as she watched the young lady move her hand from Mr. Darcy’s shoulder down his sleeve to his hand. There she lingered and intertwined her fingers in his. Elizabeth had never seen such behavior outside of marriage. It was shocking.
“Perhaps we might leave in a while in your carriage and you may show me the most thrilling sights in London. It would be a pleasure to resume the friendship we once shared and have you call me Emilie once more.”
Mr. Darcy pulled his hand away from hers as gently as he could manage. Elizabeth struggled with the immediate jealousy that boiled in her heart at the woman’s familiarity with Mr. Darcy. She was both angry at herself and confused over her emotions.