Darcy and Elizabeth--A Most Unlikely Couple

by Brenda J. Webb

  Turning, Richard said angrily, “Mrs. Darcy! What in the blazes are you doing out in this downpour?” All the while he spoke, he was removing his coat and then proceeded to place it around Elizabeth’s shoulders. “Where in the world is Thaggart? He was supposed to keep an eye out for when you came downstairs.”

  “I spoke to the sergeant, and he offered to find you. Please do not fault him, for he did not see me go out the door.” She squirmed under his continued censure. “Sir, I know that you would rather not speak to me; you have made that perfectly clear. However, in light of the severity of the weather, I feel we must address your determination to ride outside the coach, along with the sergeant. In a downpour of this magnitude, both of you will surely catch your death, not to mention the danger from lightning.”

  As if to prove her point, lighting struck a tree on the other side of the road, causing a huge limb to hang precariously. Elizabeth ducked at the sound of it, but Richard never flinched.

  “Please, I beg you, ride inside the coach today.”

  “How very noble of you!”

  The irony of repeating the exact words she had said to Fitzwilliam was not lost on Elizabeth. Regardless, she was determined to be the better person.

  “I see no reason why we cannot put our differences aside, if only while the weather is so fierce.”

  “That is not the issue.”

  “I do not understand.”

  “The issue, Miss Bennet—oh excuse me, Mrs. Darcy—is whether I wish to ride with someone who disparaged my cousin so meanly after he rescued her, nay her entire family, from certain ruin. And, I might add, against my advice. I am not sure I can keep silent from here to Pemberley in the face of such ungratefulness.”

  “Ungratefulness!” Elizabeth’s colour rose as she lost her resolve to be civil. She sputtered, “I should be grateful to be married to a man who has fathered illegitimate children? Children you helped him to hide!”

  “Only someone wholly unacquainted with him could believe Darcy capable of ruining innocent women and fathering bastards.”

  “I know him capable because I heard it from his own mouth... and yours.”

  “And what exactly did you hear, pray tell? Did you hear me or my cousin actually say the children were his?”

  A puzzled expression crossed Elizabeth’s face. Try as she might, she could not recall the exact conversation. Seeing her hesitation, Richard expounded on the truth.

  “You did not hear that, Mrs. Darcy, because the children are not your husband’s; they belong to your favourite—Andrew. His dissolute ways brought those poor children into the world and ruined their mothers’ lives. Out of the goodness of his heart, my cousin rescued them, set them up in a decent home and began a fund to provide them with an education. Not unlike how he rescued you because of his generous heart.”

  “I... I did not—” Elizabeth mumbled, her mind too muddled to think.

  “Did not what?” Richard’s probed unsympathetically. “Did not consider why he should give a care if you or your sisters were ruined? Did not recognise that he is a good man? Did not give my cousin the benefit of the doubt? Not even once?”

  Finally pride stepped in, and Elizabeth’s hands formed fists. “Why should I trust you to tell me the truth? Or him, either? I found him kissing Lady Susan at the ball. Any man who would forsake his marriage vows would—”

  “For someone I once thought so clever, I am amazed at your inability to see what is right before your eyes. For reasons known only to God, he is utterly in love with you. Even my father, who is usually unobservant, said that Darcy looked like a lamb to the slaughter as he led Lady Susan to the dance floor. And she boasted that she had your blessing, I am told. I warned you that she desires him, always has. It was she who tricked him into coming to the gazebo, and she who instigated the kiss—not the other way around.”

  Stunned, Elizabeth was left speechless.

  “Excuse me,” Richard said wearily as he passed her, meaning to leave. “The weather is too poor to chance the roads. We shall spend another night here. Hopefully, the weather will improve, for, to be truthful, I much prefer Titan’s company. At least he is clever enough to feel gratitude when he ought.”

  Continuing down the narrow porch, when he got to the door, Richard glanced back to where Elizabeth stood in shocked silence. “I suggest you come in out of the rain, Mrs. Darcy. That is what any sensible person would do.”

  With his jaw firmly set in a scowl, he entered the inn and went straight to his room to rest.

  PEMBERLEY

  As Mrs. Reynolds stood in the hallway outside the library reading the express just delivered, her expression turned to one of bewilderment. Mrs. Fitzwilliam happened to be walking to the library at that particular moment and, seeing the housekeeper absorbed in the missive, stopped to enquire if all was well. Flustered to be caught unawares, the grey-haired servant uncharacteristically sputtered her answer.

  “I do not... that is to say, I am sure... it is just that... ”

  “That?” Olivia said kindly.

  “Mrs. Fitzwilliam, would you mind very much if I asked you... well, the circumstances surrounding the master’s marriage have taken an unexpected turn and... ”

  Olivia reached out to pat the long-time servant’s hand. “I know that you are not one to gossip, Mrs. Reynolds. If you have concerns, they are fuelled by your wishes for my nephew’s wellbeing. If I can answer your question without betraying a trust, I will be happy to do so.”

  “I have just received this express saying that Mrs. Darcy is to arrive tomorrow.”

  “How wonderful!” she declared. “We are at last to meet the young lady who has captured Fitzwilliam’s heart. I am just as ignorant of her as you, and I am excited to see the one he found irresistible.”

  “Yes, but this express raises even more concerns. Mrs. Darcy is coming alone, escorted by Colonel Fitzwilliam. It appears that Mr. Darcy sustained an injury to his ankle after a fire at his estate in Richmond and cannot travel.”

  “Good lord! Was Fitzwilliam badly hurt?”

  “He says not, but it would be like him not to tell me the full extent of any injury to keep me from worrying. Once Colonel Fitzwilliam arrives, I shall have the truth of it.”

  “Hmmm. So I imagine that you are wondering why Mrs. Darcy would not stay with her husband in London while he recuperates.”

  “Exactly. It just does not seem... normal. Added to the fact that he married someone entirely unknown to us and without an engagement... ”

  “The tendency is to think the worst, is it not?”

  Mrs. Reynolds nodded silently, her eyes searching William’s aunt for assurance.

  “Well, we who love the boy will just have to trust that he knows what he is about. I cannot imagine anyone as particular as my nephew marrying a lady who is improper or sending her to Pemberley alone without good reason. There has to be a worthy explanation.”

  The older woman smiled faintly. “I forget sometimes that the Master is no longer a boy to be watched over. Since he took over the estate, he has always done the right thing for Pemberley and for Miss Darcy. I am thoroughly ashamed that I have not trusted his judgement regarding his wife.”

  “Do not be ashamed. Mothers always wonder if their children’s spouses will be good enough for them, and you have been like a mother to Fitzwilliam. I remember when my Arthur was sweet on a local girl and I feared that she was not the right one for him. After he died, I regretted ever feeling that way, for her suffering was as great as Joseph’s and mine. For years afterward, she would visit, and we would reminisce about Arthur. Four years passed before she married, though she sought my blessing before accepting his offer.” Olivia sighed raggedly. “She would have made the perfect wife and the perfect daughter.”

  “I did not mean to revive sad memories. I well remember when we received word of your son’s death and, though your daughter died years ago, it is etched in my memory how hard Lady Anne took the news in both instances. Your children and hers
were so close in age that it was especially poignant. Both deaths saddened everyone at Pemberley, Darcys and servants alike.”

  Olivia smiled through tear-filled eyes. “Thank you for saying as much. It is a peculiar thing, but reminiscing about my children makes me both happy and sad; however, the alternative, never to speak of Arthur or Jenny again, is far worse. For then it is as though they never existed.”

  “I agree completely. I dearly miss Mr. Darcy and Lady Anne, but the thought of never mentioning their names just because it makes me so sad, well, it is insupportable.”

  Mrs. Fitzwilliam took the housekeeper’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Then we agree on that point. Now, what shall we do about Mrs. Darcy? What say you to doing our best to make her feel welcome when she arrives? We can decorate the door and the foyer and, of course, have all the servants form a line to greet her. Afterwards, we can serve punch and cake for everyone. That should mark the occasion as memorable.”

  “I think that a brilliant idea! I only wish I had thought of it first.”

  “I am certain that you would have after the surprise of this express wore off. Now, let us go to your office and plan what we will need to carry this out.”

  Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Fitzwilliam walked arm-in-arm towards the front of the house, chatting and laughing as they made their plans.

  MERYTON

  The parlour

  Surreptitiously looking over the top of the newspaper he was reading, Thomas Bennet tried not to smile. Mr. Bingley was pretending to be absorbed in yesterday’s news when, in fact, he was only mooning over Jane, who sat on the settee with her mother. Unable to resist, Mr. Bennet laid down his copy and reached out to turn the paper Charles was holding right-side-up. Embarrassed to be found out, Bingley turned as bright red as his hair.

  Pretending to take a better look, he opined, “No wonder I was having difficulty making sense of it.”

  “Yes. Holding the paper in the correct direction often helps one read,” Mr. Bennet said dryly. “What is most puzzling is that you did not notice the drawings were upside down.”

  This caused a new round of laughter from his youngest girls, and he pursed his lips in order not to join them. Bingley only smiled drolly and shrugged.

  Feeling sorry for her fiancé, Jane enquired, “Have you heard from Mr. Darcy? I have yet to get a letter from Lizzy, and I am beginning to become cross with her. She has never been away so long without at least one letter.”

  “La! Your sister is a newly married woman,” Mrs. Bennet said authoritatively, as she continued knitting a pair of gloves. “You cannot expect her to write as often as she once did. I imagine Mr. Darcy requires most of her attention at present. Of course, his interest in her will lessen as time goes on, and things will return to normal. You shall see.”

  Mr. Bennet huffed, pulling his paper up to cover a scowl. He was unwilling to dwell on what activities his favourite daughter might be engaged in with Mr. Darcy.

  “I have not gotten a letter from Darcy, though I did hear from Colonel Fitzwilliam. I thought it odd that he did not mention his cousin or Mrs. Darcy, but his missive was short, and he may have been pressed for time. In any event, he informed me that he was off to York, so he will no longer be staying at my townhouse.”

  Mrs. Bennet beamed. “I imagine Mr. Darcy will not rush to Pemberley, but stay in Town a while longer so that he can introduce Lizzy to all of his friends.”

  “I do not know about that. Darcy is not one for the social scene, and most of his friends are his neighbours in Derbyshire,” Charles allowed. “Other than the opera and theatre, he rarely attends events when in Town.”

  “Well, I imagine that all changed when he married!” Mrs. Bennet crowed. “What man would not want to show off his new bride?” She sighed. “I cannot wait until they host a dinner for us, Mr. Bennet.”

  The newspaper crumpled to the tabletop. “What earthly reason do you have for thinking he shall host a dinner for us?”

  “Because that is the proper thing to do—throw a dinner party and introduce your wife’s family to your own family, as well as to your friends. I, for one, cannot wait.”

  Sighing heavily, Mr. Bennet retreated once more behind newsprint, murmuring sardonically, “Do not hold your breath, my dear.”

  Shrugging off his advice, Mrs. Bennet focused on Charles. “Do ask Mr. Darcy if he has given any thought to a family dinner party the next time you correspond with him.”

  Bingley nodded cheerfully. “I shall.”

  All of a sudden, a grand idea seemed to come to Mrs. Bennet. “I do not know why I did not think of it until now, but if the colonel is not staying in your townhouse, that means it is available for Jane and me to occupy when we visit Town to select her trousseau.”

  A smile brightened Bingley’s face. “That sounds splendid! Of course, all of you would be welcome should you wish to come, and I could accompany you and stay at my brother’s townhouse, for the Hursts are not in Town, and Caroline is travelling with them.”

  While Lydia and Kitty danced in a circle, exclaiming their joy at going to London, Mr. Bennet let his sentiments be known. “I have no wish to go to Town. I shall be perfectly happy to remain here by myself.”

  “It shall only be Jane and me,” Mrs. Bennet declared, causing her youngest daughters to whine and her husband to frown. “For Madeline, Jane and I must have time to concentrate on finding the finest materials and locating the best seamstresses, not supervising the lot of you.”

  Her pronouncement sent the two youngest Bennets into a tizzy of crying and whining even more loudly. Mr. Bennet stopped reading to warn them to cease complaining or to go to their rooms. Lydia bounded up the stairs, hoping her mother would call her back, and Kitty followed, as she always did; however, Mrs. Bennet appeared to be dreaming of staying in Bingley’s fine home and did not seem to care that her favourite child was disappointed.

  She laid down her handiwork and walked over to a table where she withdrew pen and paper from a drawer before sitting down. At once, she began a list of all the things she needed to accomplish while they were in London, including listing all the materials she would peruse at the various warehouses, including the Gardiners’. As she wrote, she named each item aloud, and the enormity of the expense of Jane’s wedding began to make Mr. Bennet feel ill. Citing a need for peace and quiet, he left the room in favour of his study.

  LONDON

  As the Gardiners sat at a small table in the confectioner’s shop enjoying tea and sweets, they were entertained by watching the inhabitants of London going in and out of similar shops nearby. In her condition, Madeline craved the chocolate biscuits, strawberry scones and vanilla fudge unique to the establishment. Never being one to deny his wife anything, much less when she was with child, when she mentioned Colette’s Confectionary that morning, Edward decided to surprise her by coming home early and escorting her there.

  Enjoying refreshment at Colette’s had become a habit of Madeline’s, as it was a true respite from supervising the children, for though they might be in the care of their nurse, they were never truly out of her mind when she was at home. Normally, she and Edward stayed no more than an hour, but with her relations in Lambton presently keeping all the children, they were free to stay as long as they wished. And desirous of purchasing a few new items for the coming child, with Edward along to give his opinion, she could not have been more pleased.

  Edward, who was also enjoying the break from work, had fixed his gaze on a gentleman coming out of a boot shop across the way and began to rise from his seat. He intended to cross the street and bid the man to join them, as he was positive that it was Lizzy’s husband. Then the gentleman turned to face them, and he quickly sat back down, for it was obvious at that point that he was not Fitzwilliam Darcy. Seeing his perplexing behaviour, Madeline’s brows rose in question.

  “I know you think my actions curious, my dear, but I could have sworn that that was Lizzy’s husband across the street.”

  “Which gentleman?�
� Madeline asked, narrowing her eyes to scan the crowd across from them. “Oh, I see the one you mean. My goodness, he does favour Mr. Darcy, does he not? Except with better scrutiny, he is not nearly as handsome.”

  “No, he is not. But from behind, I could have sworn it was he.”

  “In any event, that reminds me. I am worried about Lizzy,” Madeline Gardiner said.

  “So soon? Has something happened I should know about?”

  “She came to see me early one morning after you had left for work. It concerned something she had overheard Mr. Darcy and his cousin, the colonel, discussing. I, of course, told her she should not jump to conclusions. I advised her to tell him what she thought she had heard and give Mr. Darcy the opportunity to explain. I did not mention it to you because I thought it would be resolved quickly.”

  “And did she speak to him?”

  “That is why I am worried. I told her I would be uneasy until I heard from her. She promised to let me know, but I have not heard a word.”

  “Mayhap she has not found time to talk with him as yet. I think our Lizzy would not purposely keep you uninformed and certainly not in your condition.”

  “I agree, but I cannot help but think the worse.”

  Edward patted her hand. “You know that anxiety is not good for the baby or you,” he said lovingly. “I shall call on Mr. Darcy tomorrow if he and Lizzy are still in town. I wanted to inform him that I received a shipment of the cigars he mentioned preferring, and that shall be as good an excuse as any. While there, I shall determine if there are any problems. Perhaps then your nerves will settle.”

  “My nerves,” she laughed. “You make me sound as awful as Fanny!”

  Edward chuckled. “I did not mean to imply that you are anything like my sister, dear, but when you are with child, you are more excitable.”