AFTER ANOTHER INSUFFERABLE hour in the parlour, the din in that small room brought to mind an incident from William’s youth. Shortly after his ninth birthday, he had sneaked into one of Pemberley’s chicken coups to obtain some eggs for his favourite hound, which relished the treat. While he was occupied, a fox suddenly appeared, pacing the fence outside the coup and stirring the frightened birds into turmoil. The racket became so unbearable that he decided he had rather face the fox. Much to his relief, a servant had heard the uproar and arrived, rifle in hand, to rout the animal just as he exited.
I doubt that I can depend on a servant with a rifle to dispatch this henhouse!
The image of the ladies running like frightened chickens caused a furtive smile to appear. A squeeze of his hand let him know that Elizabeth had seen and, glancing at her puzzled expression, he tilted his head in a shrug and brought her hand to his lips for a tender kiss. Satisfied, she went back to listening as one of the hens, err ladies, finished explaining her latest remedy for gout.
Happily, for those uninterested in the subject, the door suddenly opened and Mrs. Hill appeared with a tray of cakes, biscuits and sweets of every description. A maid followed with a tray containing a pot of tea and cups. After the trays were set on the largest table available, everyone rushed to partake of the food and drink—everyone except Elizabeth and William.
“Will, please do not think that you have to stay with me,” she said so quietly that the others could not hear. “I know how you dislike listening to my mother and her friends, and Papa said he would welcome you in his study.”
William took her hands in his. “Are you saying that you would rather not have my company?”
“Goodness, no! Your presence is what makes all of this bearable. I just do not want you to think—”
William’s thumbs began making circles on the tops of her hands. With an expression of unconcealed adoration, he said, “If you do not hush, Elizabeth Darcy, I shall kiss you in front of all these witnesses.”
Elizabeth’s heart melted. “And if you keep looking at me like that, I shall let you.”
Abruptly, an idea came to mind, and she addressed Mrs. Bennet. “Mama, the trip was tiring. I believe I should have a nap before dinner.”
Mrs. Bennet’s eyes lit up as she turned from putting cakes on her plate to face Elizabeth. “That is exactly the point I have been trying to make for months. Now that you are with child, it is likely that you will not have the stamina to stand throughout the entire wedding.”
Then she began to pester Jane. “Lydia can be your attendant. I even had a new gown made especially for—”
Jane’s posture stiffened, and she interrupted. “Mama, we have discussed this before. Lizzy will be my attendant and no one else.”
With Jane’s pronouncement, all activity in the room ceased in mid-air. Curious eyes darted between Mrs. Bennet and her two eldest daughters. Had they alighted on William instead, they would have seen that his eyes were locked on Elizabeth’s mother in a lethal glare.
Oblivious to her new son’s posture, the mistress of Longbourn’s smile deflated, and her eyes flashed with anger aimed at Jane. “Then do not blame me if Lizzy faints at the altar and ruins everything.”
A collective gasp escaped from the guests.
That William was furious became evident when he addressed her through clenched teeth. “Mrs. Bennet, my wife suffered through a very long trip in order to be here for her sister. I assure you that she was perfectly fine before we left Derbyshire, and she will be perfectly fine once she has rested.”
Though she was still of a mind to argue, something in William’s expression made Mrs. Bennet concede. “Any... anything you say, Mr. Darcy.” Swallowing hard against the lump in her throat, she reached for a dangling rope. “I have rung for Hill. She arranged Lizzy’s former bedroom for your comfort.”
William began to escort Elizabeth from the room. “Mrs. Hill will not be needed. I am sure Elizabeth remembers which bedroom was hers.”
“Yes... yes, of course she would,” Mrs. Bennet stammered.
With that, he and Elizabeth went out the parlour door, closing it behind them. Mrs. Hill was coming toward them in the hall and was told she had been called in error.
The old servant nodded, then looked around before she spoke. “Miss Eliz... pardon me... Mrs. Darcy, I am so pleased to see you again, and to know that you are expecting your first child makes me very pleased.”
Elizabeth could not resist giving the old housekeeper a hug. “I will always be Elizabeth to you, Hill. And you must know that I have missed your kindness and encouragement.”
Over Elizabeth’s shoulder, Hill fixed her eyes on William. “You chose to marry the best of the girls, in my opinion.”
After another brief hug, she hurried back to the kitchen. Elizabeth watched her leave, teary-eyed. Two gentle fingers slipped under her chin to turn her head.
“I always knew that Mrs. Hill was a most perceptive woman.”
This brought back a smile. “You are prejudiced!”
“On the contrary, I am very proud!”
Picking up Elizabeth, he began up the stairs to the second floor. And, once ensconced in the solitude of her old bedroom, they made the most of being alone.
DOWNSTAIRS EVERYONE was now eating and, as silence reigned, it became possible to hear certain sounds emanating from the second floor. Whilst an outsider might not recognise them straight off, Jane did. Lizzy’s bed had always creaked, and that creaking was now being accompanied by an occasional thump, like a headboard hitting the wall. Jane was mortified that all present might recognise the cause and immediately launched into a louder than normal one-sided conversation with Mary who, momentarily befuddled at Jane’s behaviour, never answered.
Seeing that that was not working, Jane changed strategies. “Mary, would you entertain us while we eat? I would love to hear the new music you have been practising all week.”
Amidst loud groans of protestation from Lydia and Kitty, across the room, Mrs. Bennet’s brows knit in suspicion. With her mouth full of cake, she was unable to thwart Jane’s invitation, though she wondered at her motivation. After all, Jane was well aware of how ill her sister played.
“But, I have not practised very—” Mary began to protest.
“Then for heaven’s sake!” Jane interrupted in frustration, “play something you know! Something lively! Play a jig!”
As Jane pleaded, she continually rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. At long last a particularly loud noise overhead led Mary to know what Jane was about. Blushing furiously, she hurried to the pianoforte.
“I think I know just the piece.”
Pounding out a Scottish jig over and over, by the time Mary had played it through three times, all was quiet overhead. Looking over her shoulder at Jane, she was pleased to see her sister nod her approval. Hoping that another jig would not be needed, Mary again took the seat next to Jane. Both were blushing furiously and, glancing at each other, sighed in relief.
Jane’s relief was short-lived, however, for instantly, she recalled that she was to be married in the morning. Having listened to her mother’s version of the wedding night and then to her aunt’s, she could not recall either of them speaking of marital duties being so... spirited. The realisation made her cheeks turn bright red. Subsequently, she settled on a plan. I shall ask Lizzy tonight before she retires.
Mrs. Bennet, who had watched it all, made a mental note to speak to both Jane and Mary after their guests departed. She suspected that something had occurred right under her nose, and she was not one to let sleeping dogs lie.
THE WEDDING
The day of the ceremony dawned clear and sunny, and the wedding party looked handsome in their grand attire. The majority of the small village of Meryton turned out for the event, though, having been witness to Elizabeth’s marriage to Mr. Darcy, this time they were not as surprised that a Bennet was marrying a man of great fortune. After all, Fanny Bennet had predicted that very outcome afte
r her second daughter’s stroke of luck.
Though Jane was undoubtedly a beautiful bride, William thought Elizabeth outshone her sister in every way. Wearing a simple gown of striped French gauze over a yellow satin slip, she looked every inch a princess in his eyes. He was surprised, though, to see in Elizabeth’s hair some of the same yellow flowers he had fashioned into a crown at the pond. Not only had she managed to find the wildflowers in Meryton, she had kept them a secret until she had entered the church. The intimacy represented by the flowers made the ceremony seem more their own, and when Jane and Charles recited their vows, he and Elizabeth locked eyes, repeating them in their hearts.
Despite Mrs. Bennet’s prediction, the ceremony concluded without any problems. Elizabeth performed her duties flawlessly, except perhaps for stealing a glance too often at the handsome man next to Charles. Whenever she did, she would blush anew. Whether those blushes resulted from the hurried love they had shared just before leaving for the church, or because she felt, as he had, a rush of emotions to realise that they had stood at this very altar a few scant months ago, William knew not.
Nonetheless, he had intentions of finding out as soon as they got back to Longbourn and were safely behind closed doors.
NETHERFIELD
The wedding breakfast
Louisa Hurst had had no trouble convincing Mrs. Bennet to have the wedding breakfast at Netherfield, since it would accommodate more people. And, so long as she was completely in charge, Jane’s mother was only too happy to take over that venue and its kitchen, not to mention their cooks. She had neighbours to impress, and she was determined not to fail. However, instead of using the large dining room as Louisa assumed, Fanny conscripted the ballroom. It was now bedecked with beautifully appointed tables, full of good things to eat, and there were smaller tables where guests were dining on that fare. Meryton had not seen so elaborate a display of wealth since Elizabeth’s wedding breakfast, which had been much smaller due to the constraints of time.
Fanny was truly in her element now, flitting from table to table, flaunting her station as Mr. Bingley’s new mother and spreading the news that for their honeymoon the Bingleys had decided to tour the Lake District after spending a week in London. Little did she know that they also planned to spend several weeks at Pemberley afterwards. All parties involved, especially Jane and Elizabeth, thought it best not to mention that detail, lest their mother assume that she, too, would be welcome at Pemberley while they were there. For, since the Darcys’ arrival, she had hinted constantly that she expected to be invited to Elizabeth’s home very soon.
The day had passed quickly, and though Charles and Jane had left for London, many of the guests were still at Netherfield. That was because Mrs. Bennet kept insisting at the top of her voice that everyone keep eating and, of course, drinking from Charles’ extensive wine cellar. From his post at one of the double doors leading to the gardens, William followed her performance with disdain.
How that woman loves to be the centre of attention!
Determined that she would have no further opportunity to upset Elizabeth, who now sat between Lydia and Kitty at a table, his eyes flicked constantly between his wife and her mother. Looking dashingly handsome in his black suit, he drew the stares of many of the ladies still in attendance, and though he focused his attention solely on his wife, he could not help but notice who sat at the end of the table that Elizabeth occupied.
Caroline Bingley’s attendance at the wedding had been calculated to put her in Mr. Darcy’s company. Having resided in the country the entire time she stayed with the Hursts, she was willing to do anything to get back in Charles’ good graces so that she could reside with him and Jane. Neither Louisa nor her husband cared much for Town, though that was precisely where she needed to be in order to find a husband. Only by living with Charles could she regain her position in Mr. Darcy’s circle where real wealth was to be found.
Being too busy with his upcoming marriage, Charles had refused to meet with her before the wedding. So, today she decided to learn if Mr. Darcy was open to restoring their acquaintance if she asked forgiveness. If he forgave her, surely Charles would, too.
If it means acting as though I have changed my ways, grovelling to Brother and Jane, as well as being kind to Eliza Ben— she almost choked when she recalled Elizabeth’s new name—Eliza Darcy, then so be it. She looked down at the plain, beige gown she was wearing. I even made myself look dowdy to show that I have reformed. Surely that will count for something.
Suddenly, Mrs. Bennet said very loudly, and to no one in particular, that she would return after she waited with two of her friends for their carriage to be brought around. As soon as she left the ballroom, Mr. Bennet went out the other set of double doors into the garden, and William followed shortly after.
Looking back just in time to see William go out the door, Caroline stood and hurried in his direction. William had gotten about halfway down the gravel path when suddenly he heard his name screeched in a high-pitched wail. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, for only one woman of his acquaintance had ever sounded like that.
Without turning, he said, “Miss Bingley, why are you following me?”
“I... it is because I need to speak to you privately, Fitzwilliam.”
He faced her now. “Mr. Darcy to you, and we have nothing to discuss. I suggest you go inside before someone sees you.”
Caroline came closer, causing William to step back. “Please, you must listen to me. It is a matter of life and death.”
William’s eyes narrowed. “Whose life or death?”
“My own.”
When he did not reply, she added, “That is why I came for the wedding. I wish to... to apologise to you. I am so sorry for all that I said or did to hurt you.”
Stifling a rising storm of words, he said evenly, “Do you not mean what you did to hurt Mrs. Darcy?”
She swallowed hard. “Yes, I meant to say Mrs. Darcy. My only excuse is that my expectations were dashed, and I lashed out at her because I was hurt.”
William seemed to grow five inches taller as his jaw clenched. “If Elizabeth decides to forgive you, that is her prerogative. I am not of a mind to forgive or forget as easily as my wife. And, as for your expectations, I never gave you any reason to expect an offer from me. On the contrary, I always made it clear that I would never do that.”
Caroline began to stutter. “I... I did not mean to infer that you had. I meant only that I had allowed myself to imagine expectations.”
With his silence, she hurried on. “I tried to speak to Charles before the wedding, but he was too preoccupied. However, I need him to forgive me and let me live at his home. At least, on occasion, Charles and Jane will partake of decent society while Hurst and Louise care not if I ever make a respectable match.”
“Madam, none of this is of concern to me.”
“You are my brother’s friend and my only hope. He will listen to you!”
“Then you have no hope, for I have no intention of speaking to Charles about you.”
“But... but,” Caroline sputtered incredulously. “It was not supposed to be this way. You are a gentleman. You are supposed to accept my apology and—”
Unbeknownst to William, Mr. Bennet had found a quiet place in the garden to occupy. As luck would have it, his respite was a bench on the opposite side of the tall shrubs where William had stopped. Deducing from the conversation between his son and Miss Bingley that he could be of help, in addition to teasing someone he disliked, Elizabeth’s father stepped into view.
“Miss Bingley! What a delightful surprise finding you here!”
A small cry escaped her throat at the sight of him, and Caroline scurried back towards the house as though she had seen a ghost. Mr. Bennet chuckled for a long time before noticing that William was still scowling at her departing form.
“Do not let that sort of woman bother you, son. She is not the first, nor will she be the last, to approach you. For a fine looking chap lik
e you, some may even sweeten the pot to gain your favour. Even so, your rebuff will sting far more if you act totally unaffected. And I would think that if word gets out, it will render others unlikely to bother you in the first place.”
Not amused, William replied, “I shall never understand women like Miss Bingley or her ilk. I never paid her any attention or gave her reason to expect an offer from me. I have always treated her civilly because Charles is my friend, but after what she did to disparage Elizabeth, she is deranged if she thinks I would help her in any fashion.”
“I think that is an apt description of Miss Bingley.” All was eerily quiet for a moment, and Mr. Bennet cut his eyes to the side, studying William. “It has been a long day. I found a lovely spot to rest on a bench just behind these shrubs. Why not join me?” He chuckled aloud. “Surely you do not expect any more women to follow Miss Bingley?”
At this jest, William begrudgingly smiled and slowly shook his head side to side.
“Excellent! Then we may be able to enjoy a few minutes of peace before Mrs. Bennet returns to the ballroom and realizes I have escaped.”
He began to walk away and William followed. They had no more than sat down on the bench when Elizabeth’s father said, “I have not had the chance to say how pleased I am that my daughter is so blissfully happy. I know she is because she tells me so in her letters. At one point, I feared I might have done the wrong thing in encouraging her to marry you rather than Collins.”
William glowered at him.
Mr. Bennet smiled wickedly. “That look will not silence me. Besides, I am only being truthful. When you were injured, Elizabeth’s letters began to make me uneasy, for it was obvious that she was very unhappy. Then when she decided to go to London, and I got the letter from my Brother Gardiner saying that neither she nor Bingley had arrived—” He hesitated for a moment. “However, seeing the guards you brought on this trip, I know that will never happen again.”
Darcy and Elizabeth--A Most Unlikely Couple Page 81