One Autumn with Darcy

by Rose Fairbanks

  “I am certain your father and I will pass many hours hiding away in here or on the grounds.”

  “You wretched thing! Cast me off to deal with my silly relations alone!”

  “Then we shall invite the Gardiners as well.”

  Elizabeth nodded her approval. “A lovely plan!”

  Darcy leaned in close to her ear. “Elizabeth?”

  “Yes?” she replied breathlessly.

  “May we misbehave now?”

  Elizabeth replied with a deep kiss.

  Chapter Seven

  November 6, 1812

  Jane awoke smiling. The sunshine promised a beautiful day to ride. Since riding with Mr. Burton nearly a month ago, she rode every morning the weather allowed. She sometimes saw him on a path and he would speak with her. Three days ago was one such day. It surprised her to see him with a small child on his lap. She had never heard anyone mention he had a daughter. Jane was happy he had such a nice reminder of his wife. The girl was named after her mother and was four years old. Little Sophie had bright brown eyes and thick brown hair. She reminded Jane of her sister Elizabeth. The two girls shared a certain mischievous air.

  Jane also enjoyed seeing the evidence of Mr. Burton’s affection for his daughter. If she were truthful she would admit her thoughts often turned to Mr. Burton, and as he had been in the neighbourhood for several weeks she could no longer claim it was simply the excitement of a renewed acquaintance.

  The nature of her thoughts was less easy to decipher. She was accustomed to certain attention from the male sex. When she would direct her thoughts on the matter of matrimony, and the suitability of a gentleman as her partner for life, she found that she frequently could only consider how the gentlemen treated her and made her feel. She had painfully learned, through Mr. Bingley’s behaviour, that such was no great revelation of their character. She still believed him the most amiable man she had ever met, but she could no longer admire him. His actions had proved him either fickle or capricious with her feelings. There was more to judge a man by than merely his manners. Perhaps that was what Elizabeth had been attempting to tell her months ago.

  She was beginning to consider Mr. Burton as a gentleman of superior character. He was also becoming a dear friend, but she truly gave little thought upon if her feelings—or even his—ran deeper. Her mother watched him with hawk-like eyes but was not promoting the match; instead she seemed to dislike him. It was very pleasant to simply be Miss Bennet and not a paragon of beauty and virtue or to be judged by her merits as a potential wife.

  About a mile from Longbourn she met with him again.

  “Good day, Mr. Burton,” she greeted him with a smile which he returned.

  “Good day, Miss Bennet.”

  “Miss Burton did not accompany you today?”

  “No, it is growing colder. She will come down to the stables and give June a carrot or apple though.”

  Jane laughed. “Forgive me, I do not mean to laugh at your horse’s name.”

  “Sophie wanted to name her June after the month I brought her home in and I wished to name her Juniper. June was our compromise.”

  She smiled again. “My little cousins are persistent like that. They will have you compromise with them rather than be firm. I am certain my mother would say I am too lenient when I am with them.”

  “On the contrary, I am sure they benefit from your affection.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “I think Sophie will miss the countryside when we return to London.”

  “Oh? Will that be soon?” Jane felt uneasy at the thought.

  “I am still settling affairs. It may be after Christmas.”

  “Mrs. Rutledge mentioned you will be moving to a new house. I imagine the memories of your wife may be bothersome.”

  He gave her a sad smile. “Actually, she died when Sophie was only a baby. We had been married just over a year. So, you see we continued in that home for quite some time.”

  “Forgive me, I did not mean to pry. I am sure it is painful to speak of her.”

  “Thank you, but it is well. Truthfully, it may not be as painful as you imagine.”

  “You did not love her?” She could hardly fathom the idea of him marrying without love.

  “We were very fond of each other and our temperaments were well suited to each other. We were only acquainted for a few weeks before our marriage. I had decided to take a wife, and she was a fine candidate. She wished for a husband.” He shrugged his shoulders, “Perhaps if she had lived longer it would have been more. I did and do miss her. When you know a person as a spouse, see them every day and begin to pass your life together, there ought to be a vacancy felt. I did not feel a very passionate love her, but I was committed to her. She was to be my present and my future; my whole life. It was strange, at first, to imagine a different course for my life.”

  Jane listened to him speak and thought she knew no gentleman more honourable. “Yet, you have made a different course for your life.”

  “I had to, for Sophie’s sake.”

  “The poor dear, to have no mother,” Jane muttered. She glanced to Mr. Burton to see if he had heard her and he caught her eye with a peculiar look in them. “I ought to turn back.”

  “Allow me to escort you.”

  He said such a thing nearly every time they met but now it seemed there was more weight behind the words.

  Upon reaching the lane, she invited him for tea as it had been a cold morning. They were greeted in the breakfast room by Mrs. Bennet.

  “Jane! What lovely news we have from Lizzy. We are all invited to Pemberley for Christmas!”

  “Oh! How wonderful!” Jane had dearly missed her sister.

  “I cannot wait to see my daughter as Mistress of Pemberley! Such jewels she must have! Such fine carriages! Mr. Darcy has offered to send two for us. His noble relatives shall visit as well.” She glanced toward Mr. Burton, “Oh, do sit down, Mr. Burton.”

  He and Jane sat to enjoy breakfast as Mrs. Bennet chattered on. “Then you are to stay with them until they go on to London for the Season. I asked for her to take on Kitty or Lydia as well, but she would not.”

  “Mamma, what of Mary?”

  “Oh, why had I not thought of that? Of course, Mary should go with you. Your beauty would shine all the more then.”

  Mary did not as much as look up from her book, but Jane felt for her all the same. Their mother meant well but frequently hurt her daughters by her careless lack of regard.

  “Mary may enjoy visiting my aunt and uncle.”

  “Oh, of course. She would be no trouble to them.”

  Mary then peeped out from behind her book and gave Jane a grateful smile.

  “We may be certain you will come back with a great match, Jane, for no matter how much Lizzy and your father say otherwise I am certain Mr. Darcy is still the proudest man in the world. He would not suffer to have anyone of inferior connections related to him.”

  Jane blushed at her mother’s words. It was very improper for her to say such things in company about her son-in-law and Jane was now convinced Darcy was one of the very greatest of men. That Mrs. Bennet would choose to voice her complaints now, when usually she could not praise him enough, was a strangeness Jane could not puzzle out.

  “How happy you must be at the thought of spending the Holidays with your daughter. When do you depart?” Mr. Burton asked.

  “We leave in less than a week and we shall have to promptly host you and Mr. and Mrs. Rutledge for dinner, as I understand you will be gone when we have returned.”

  “Yes, I will shortly be returning to London.” He paused and Jane saw him meet Mrs. Bennet’s eyes. “In fact, my business associates were just begging for me to arrive with all haste. I ought to take my leave of your family now, for I may not be in the country for your dinner.”

  Jane was quite confused. He did not hint earlier at his departure being so imminent. In a matter of minutes, he had risen from his breakfast and said goodbye to the family. Th
e whole thing was so strange. Jane knew not if she would see him again at all.

  *****

  December 2, 1812

  Despite fears that her family would overwhelm her husband and embarrass them both, Elizabeth greeted them in excitement. Only Jane seemed altered. Mr. Bennet was relieved to arrive at last and eagerly sought the direction of the library. Mrs. Bennet demanded a lengthy tour and quizzed her on the costs of every object. Kitty and Lydia were agog over Miss Darcy’s gowns, entirely frightening the dear girl. Mary eyed the music room with covetousness. Jane seemed...content...or perhaps something more.

  It was two whole days before she had a moment alone with her dearest sister, but she could resist no longer.

  “We shall not be disturbed in here, dear Jane. This is Fitzwilliam and mine’s private sitting room. Not even, Mrs. Reynolds will interrupt us here.”

  Jane blushed at her words. “Now, there is no need to be so missish. A sitting room is entirely proper.”

  If anything Jane turned redder and her eyes darted to the several connecting doors, clearly scandalised by even the hint of anything improper happening anywhere near their current room. She would tease no longer.

  “How have you been? I worried when you began to delay your answers to my letters.”

  “Forgive me. I did not mean to cause you alarm! I found myself enjoying many pursuits and my dedication to letter writing was the price.”

  “Do not apologise. If you passed your time in happiness instead, then I am glad. Tell me of these pursuits. I am sorry you are visiting during the winter but if you stay through the spring with us you will get to see the beauty of Pemberley’s grounds. I suppose you spent many hours in the still room?”

  Jane gave Elizabeth an apologetic smile. “Actually, it was you who always desired to be walking amongst the flowers and forests.” Elizabeth furrowed her brows and Jane hastened to reply. “I enjoyed working with you on the tasks you preferred, and I have terribly missed you but I now find great joy in riding every day.”

  How had she never known this of her sister? “Why did you never tell me? I would not have pushed my preferences on you!”

  Jane grasped Elizabeth’s hands. “I know, but you had very strong feelings on how you passed the time and I did not. I wished to have your company and offer you mine. I would not trade any of those hours with you but now that you are not at Longbourn it is necessary that I exert myself more to my own tastes.”

  “Dearest Jane! I had feared your temperament had changed due to your recent disappointments, but you are still as kind as ever!” Elizabeth squeezed Jane’s hands and beamed with tears forming in her eyes. After a quiet moment, she cleared her throat and asked with a sly smile, “And were these solitary rides?” Perhaps she was more like her mother than she cared to admit.

  “There was a riding party formed twice.”

  “You actually formed a riding party?” Jane was usually far too reserved for such a thing.

  “No, Mr. Burton was the one who made all the arrangements.”

  “Mr. Burton is a relative of the new family that is leasing Netherfield, yes?”

  “Yes, he is a very pleasant gentleman.”

  “Mamma was certain he was paying you attentions.”

  She crinkled her brow. “I cannot imagine what made her think so. He left Netherfield before even we did, and with barely a goodbye to us. The Misses Long were invited on our excursions as well as Mr. Goulding and Mr. Stevens.”

  Elizabeth turned her head to hide her smile. She immediately counted three couples, but her dear sister was as oblivious as ever to the intentions of men. She would guide her along this Season.

  “I am glad the riding improved your spirits. You are welcome to any of the horses in our stables, of course.”

  “Thank you! It was not only the riding. I felt a burden lift. You know how melancholy I was after Mr. Bingley left Netherfield. I am now ready to face my future instead of regret the past.”

  “Excellent news! For I am certain once we have you dressed in the finest gowns of London you will be the envy of every lady.”

  Jane blushed. “Lizzy, I do not know if I mean to ever marry. I would so very much like to be sought after for more than mere beauty.”

  “And so you shall! Everyone who meets you cannot help but see how sweet and serene you are. No man could ask for a better wife.”

  Jane smiled but not as brightly as Elizabeth intended. Then her mouth slipped into a seldom-seen teasing smirk. “I am certain at least your husband would disagree.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “Oh, yes. He is much better about thinking before speaking these days!”

  The two laughed, and the sisters discussed unimportant things for the remainder of the morning.

  About a week after the Bennets came to Pemberley, Darcy’s relatives, except for Lady Catherine and Miss de Bourgh, arrived. Elizabeth was relieved and hoped the presence of the Countess would help quiet her mother. The gregariousness of the Colonel and jolly Earl could only help matters as well. The Viscount had been unable to attend the wedding, as he was needed last minute at his estate. His demeanour was unknown to Elizabeth but one she believed would be enjoyable to sketch.

  James Fitzwilliam, Viscount Arlington, was a tall man with dark hair and warm brown eyes. He was recently elected as an MP for Yorkshire. While it was clear he enjoyed the charmed life of the heir to an earldom, he also had an air of responsibility and maturity about him. Elizabeth could see he was instantly taken with her sister Jane.

  After dinner, Elizabeth opened the instrument, and Lady Matlock was performing while Arlington eagerly sat next to Jane. Elizabeth sitting on Jane’s other side was able to hear their conversation.

  Seeing only Mary and Georgiana browsing the music books, Arlington asked Jane, “Miss Bennet, do you not play?”

  “No, my lord.”

  “Then you sing, of course.”

  “Truly, I cannot, my lord.”

  Clearly casting about for something positive to say he concluded, “I am certain you would have very good taste had you ever learned.”

  His words were so very reminiscent of Lady Catherine that Elizabeth resisted the urge to laugh.

  Jane smiled at him. “I wonder how that can be predicted, sir.”

  The Viscount laughed. “You must have mercy on me, madam. I am attempting to compliment you.”

  “Perhaps it is your punishment for restricting yourself to only the normal modes of conversation.”

  “What do you propose we speak of?”

  Jane hesitated, and Elizabeth felt compelled to assist her sister. “If it is too sensible to speak of music in the drawing room then we must instead speak of politics.”

  Jane sent Elizabeth a grateful look, and the Viscount managed to monopolise the conversation for some time on his experiences as an MP and his hopes for the future. Jane was the attentive listener, but surprised Elizabeth with some observations. Jane had always been intelligent and sensible but now she lost some of her reserve and voiced her opinions more readily. It was encouraging to see.

  As the evening wore on he sometimes engaged others in conversation but continually returned to Jane’s side. Elizabeth watched it all with trepidation as Jane’s heart had been broken by Bingley’s very similar behavior but worried about prematurely counseling her.

  Three days later the Gardiners arrived. Mrs. Gardiner was even shrewder than Elizabeth. During supper her very first night at Pemberley, she drew Elizabeth aside.

  “Lizzy, I mean to speak with you very seriously about Jane. What can the Viscount mean by paying her so much attention? Tell me she is taking care to guard her heart this time.”

  “My dear aunt,” was her reply, “I am certain any relative of Mr. Darcy’s is honourable.”

  “Such as any of his friends were?”

  “You can hardly believe her to be in danger of falling in love so easily again.”

  “I can believe her tender heart as much ready to fall in love as she ever was with such
an amiable and respectful man who shows her every attention.”

  “I do give her more credit than you do, but I will ask Mr. Darcy about his cousin and if we should put Jane on her guard.”

  “Well, I only hope they will not be much in company in London.”

  The evening soon concluded and before retiring for the night, Elizabeth spoke with her husband.

  “Darling, Aunt Gardiner was alarmed at your cousin’s attentions toward Jane.”

  “Why should she worry?”

  “We do not wish for Jane to suffer another broken heart.”

  “I know I have said so before, but I truly do not think she is affected by him.”

  Although she agreed, Elizabeth was annoyed he felt capable of discerning her sister’s emotions now after being so wrong before. “The topic at hand is if your cousin could have any intentions toward her.”

  “He has been careful to never be so attentive before.” She frowned, and he added, “He told me he means to find a wife this Season.”

  “I assume your uncle would be pleased if his eldest son chose for love just as he wishes his younger one will?”

  “She will be the future countess so her behaviour must be superior, but if you are concerned that Jane’s standing in society would make them object, I do not believe so. Do not impute my previous arrogance to all of my relatives, dearest. You know since…” he trailed off for a moment, and Elizabeth saw him swallow as his throat tightened in emotion. “You know since Charles has gone, James and Richard are my closest friends.”

  Elizabeth nodded her head but made no reply. She did not like how Mr. Bingley treated her sister, but he had been an amiable friend to all he knew, especially to her dear husband. The wretched war made it so difficult to know anything

  He interrupted her thoughts, “Nor should you scheme to unite, any more than you should scheme to divide. Now, come to bed.”

  She gave her husband an anxious smile. She would not scheme, but neither would she idly allow Jane’s heart to be used badly. They would enjoy the Season. Jane would be allowed to attend as many parties as she wished, and she would be allowed to make her choice, not due to family pressures or lack of suitors or anything but her own wishes. Their parents ought to have taken them to London years ago but at last Jane Bennet would be seen by Society.