by Wells, Linda
Elizabeth tilted her head. “That is because I did not behave as myself. If you think about it, I was behaving like you.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” She snapped.
Elizabeth dropped her hands. “Jane, what is wrong? Ever since we came to town, every man we met has been interested in you and barely acknowledged me. Do you begrudge me a little attention on one night?”
“No, no. I am sorry Lizzy, it is just … I suppose that I am a little jealous of you.” She looked up and smiled. “But you have been waiting for Mr. Darcy for a long time. I only remember speaking of him a little some time ago. I did not know that you had harboured these dreams.”
“Does it hurt you to know that I did?”
“It should not.”
“I am sorry, Jane. I barely let myself think of them.” Elizabeth smiled. “But now I will let my imagination run wild!”
“He is a very handsome man.” Jane acknowledged.
“I did not tell Aunt, but he kissed my hands twice and we held hands the entire time that we spoke.”
“Lizzy!” Jane cried then whispered, “What was it like?”
“Absolutely wonderful!” She sighed. “I hope that it happens again.”
“I have no doubt that you will encourage him.”
“Jane!” Elizabeth protested, then smiled. “Well, I will not discourage him!” The girls laughed and Jane stood.
“Good night, Lizzy. Get some sleep. I think that tomorrow is the beginning of your future.”
“No, that was today. Tomorrow I will embrace it with both arms.” Elizabeth saw the door close and blew out her candle, then settled into the bed. “Goodnight Fitzwilliam.”
Chapter 11
Bingley entered Darcy’s study with a smile. “Good morning!” Darcy looked up and back down at his letter, and said nothing. Bingley settled into a chair across from the desk and peered at him. “I say Darcy, are you well?”He slammed the letter down and glared. “I would like to know Bingley, by what authority you were moved to discuss my feelings with Miss Elizabeth Bennet? Or even to presume to know them? If I wanted her to know my feelings I would have told them to her myself!” Darcy growled and watched as Bingley shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Now you have given this woman the expectation of my addresses! If word of this gets around, I will be labelled a cad for raising her hopes and abandoning her, or worse, I might be seen as some rich gentleman wishing to take advantage of a poor girl as a mistress!”
“Darcy, I am sorry, I was not thinking of that I , I , I only saw that two of my friends cared … seemed to care for each other … and you have been so miserable, well not miserable, um, but I thought you could use a smile, and then I saw you dancing with that woman who resembled Miss Elizabeth …”
“Ah yes, and what of her? Do you know how many women I have danced with this Season?”
“No.” Bingley whispered.
“Three.”
“Oh.”
“Can you imagine how disappointed her mother was with her to lose a suitor like me?” Darcy was satisfied to see Bingley staring at his hands, and biting back the smile that was threatening to appear, schooled his features. “Well, I am afraid that this is very grave, Bingley. And I have two words to say to you.”
“Begone forever?” He said to his boots.
“Bingley.” Darcy said sternly and waited for his friend to finally look up. “Thank you. Thank you for being my invaluable interfering friend. You urged me from that ballroom before I made a terrible mistake, and yesterday …yesterday I met Miss Elizabeth in the park, and today …” Darcy sighed and beamed. “Today we begin our courtship.”
“What?!” Bingley stared and jumped up when Darcy came around the desk and placed one hand on his shoulder and shook the other. “You are courting Miss Elizabeth?”
“I am, Bingley. I am. I spoke to her uncle yesterday.” Darcy laughed. “I am meeting her today for a walk.”
“Good Lord! I was sure that you were about to call me out. Do not ever frighten me like that again!” Darcy laughed and Bingley stared at him in disbelief. “How did this happen?” He dropped down into his chair and smiled incredulously.
Darcy leaned on his desk and folded his arms. “Georgiana and I argued and I took to the park to walk off my frustration. Elizabeth, Miss Elizabeth was there, seemingly just waiting for me.” He sighed. “I am forever in your debt.”
“I did nothing; you found her and must have said something.”
“Yes, but you gave us both hope, and pointed out the obvious to me. Thank you, Charles.” Darcy smiled. “Thank you.”
“I still do not believe that I deserve your thanks, but after all you have done for me …” He smiled to see Darcy turn away from hearing praise and resume his seat. “Well, so you are paying a call.”
“Yes.” Darcy smiled ruefully. “I have no idea what to do.”
“Well that is simple. Miss Elizabeth is the easiest girl in the world to talk with. The difficulty is keeping up with her, but I daresay she will draw you out.” He saw his friend’s worry and laughed. “Where are you walking?”
“I would like to take her home. I know that she will love it there.” He looked up then back down to his hands.
“Hmm, a wonderful idea but seeing as Pemberley is three days away …perhaps the park in Gracechurch Street?”
“I suppose.” Darcy smiled a little.
“You will have a chaperone. Probably Miss Bennet.”
Darcy’s smile fell away. “I had not thought of that.”
“Would you like me to come along, keep Miss Bennet distracted while you court Miss Elizabeth?”
“Would that give Miss Bennet the wrong impression of your feelings, Bingley? You are in no position to be courting.”
“I will make that clear.” Bingley smiled. “I find her beautiful, but she is not the girl for me. When do we leave?”
“An hour, are you hungry?”
“Absolutely!”
ELIZABETH BATTED AWAY JANE AND HER AUNT. “Will you two please stop fussing over me? It is just a walk!”
“It is not just a walk, Lizzy! You must look your best!” Jane held her hair up and debated the arrangement of her curls.
“Jane, if you do not stop acting like Mama I will pinch you!” She hissed.
“Pardon me, madam. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley are here. I put them in the front sitting room.” The housekeeper announced.
Elizabeth froze and looked at the clock. “He is early!”
“Five minutes.” Mrs. Gardiner laughed. “Come along girls.”
Darcy paced nervously in the small sitting room, wiped his hands on his breeches, cleared his throat, pulled on his neck cloth, then paused to lean against the window frame. “Relax man!” Bingley laughed.
“I am.” He said unconvincingly. They both looked up when the ladies arrived and Darcy’s focus was immediately on Elizabeth. He bowed and watched her approach. “Good morning, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Good morning Mr. Darcy.” She took a calming breath then smiled to see that he had been struck dumb and clearly had no desire to look anywhere else in the room. Bingley nudged him and he startled, and bowed to Mrs. Gardiner, then looked inquiringly at Jane.
Elizabeth touched her arm. “Mr. Darcy, this is my sister, Miss Jane Bennet.”
He smiled slightly. “I am happy to meet you Miss Bennet. I remember seeing you in Hyde Park the day that I first noticed your sister.”
Jane looked down as she realized that he had not ever taken notice of her. “Oh, yes I remember you as well, sir.”
Bingley stepped forward and smiled. “Ladies, it is a pleasure to see you all today. I happened to be visiting Darcy this morning, and invited myself along for this stroll in the park.”
Elizabeth laughed, bringing a smile to Darcy’s face, and turned to Bingley. “How thoughtful of you to impose yourself upon us.”
He chuckled. “Ah Miss Elizabeth, I am merely doing my friend a service in providing a proper chaperone.”
> “Do you imply that Mr. Darcy and I are incapable of behaving properly? I am offended, sir!”
“Now, now, Miss Elizabeth, I am certain that your aunt would agree.” Bingley nodded to Mrs. Gardiner.
“But would Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth turned to him and saw that his brow had creased. Darcy had grown uncomfortable watching the easy conversation between Elizabeth and Bingley. “Sir?” She asked softly, not quite understanding his expression.
He read her worried eyes and jumped. “Oh, forgive me, of course I know that your aunt has no reason to fear my behaviour, but I will bend to her desires, I know what is proper.” Darcy bowed his head to her.
Mrs. Gardiner bowed her head in return. “Well, I am afraid that I must insist upon it. Jane was to walk along.”
“Splendid! Then Miss Bennet and I will serve as spies!” Bingley proclaimed and stepping to her side, winked. “We will keep the couple in line.”
“We will attempt to, sir. However I know my sister; and it might be a challenge.” She smiled and Bingley smiled back.
“Now I am offended.” Elizabeth laughed. “I think that we should depart immediately and challenge these preconceived notions of our behaviour. Where is our destination, Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth looked up to him and he happily took his place beside her.
“You know that I will gladly take you wherever you wish, but I did think of your local park. It would achieve our goal sooner.”
“Then we shall go there, sir.” The two couples set out, and the instant they were outside, Darcy offered Elizabeth his arm and contentedly felt her hands wrap around it, and thrilled to hear her satisfied sigh. They walked in companionable silence down the street until they entered the park gate. Elizabeth looked up to his face, his eyes were soft, and there was a trace of a smile on his lips. “Shall we have some conversation sir, besides the one you are obviously holding with yourself? Would you care to share your thoughts with me?”
“Forgive me; you may as well know now that conversation is not my forté.” He glanced back at Bingley talking animatedly to Jane. “Unlike my friend. I fear that you are much easier with him than with me.”
“That is simply because we have known each other longer. I observed no trouble with your speech yesterday, Mr. Darcy.”
Shaking his head, he smiled. “I was behaving in spectacularly uncharacteristic ways yesterday, Miss Elizabeth.”
She raised her brow and regarded him speculatively. “So I have accepted your courtship under false pretences? You have misrepresented yourself to me?”
“You are putting words in my mouth.”
“Somebody has to.”
Their eyes met and they both laughed. Darcy visibly relaxed and lifted his hand to cover hers on his arm. “Thank you.”
“I did nothing, sir, but I am pleased to hear your laugh again. It is a very warm sound.” Darcy blushed with the praise and looked down. “Have you known Mr. Bingley for long?”
“You witnessed the moment our friendship was formed. In fact, you are the reason it exists at all. Your anger at his treatment at the Derby spurred me to act in his defence.” He laughed to see her astonishment. “Yes, Miss Elizabeth, I was trying win your approval.” He squeezed her fingers. “In the process I gained a friend who I value highly, and who has helped me to find you.”
She blushed with the affirmation of his admiration and squeezed his arm in response. “I was impressed with you, and I … I hoped that you would speak to me then. It looked as if you were trying to come over to me?”
“Yes, but my uncle kept interfering.”
“He did not wish for you to speak to someone like me.” She looked down at her feet.
“No, no Miss Elizabeth, he had no knowledge of you. He was speaking of Bingley. It is a very unusual choice of friend for me, you must understand. My uncle was expressing his approval and although it was welcome, I only wished for yours. And then before I could come to you, the crowd moved and once again you were gone.” Their eyes met and she saw his sincerity, and relaxed.
“Yes. I was angry that you never stay still.” She laughed and he joined her.
“I thought the same of you.” They smiled into each other’s eyes and walked slowly along. “My aunt and uncle will be hosting a ball in their home a week from now. May I hope for your company? I have no desire to attend without you.”
Mr. Darcy, I would love to go!” Darcy beamed then grew uneasy when her eyes cast back down to the ground. “Would they want me? I imagine that they are like you.”
“Like me?”
“I … I have been … I am acquainted with how unsuitable I am for a gentleman of your status, sir.”
Darcy knew she was speaking of Stewart, and he swallowed down his jealousy to address the woman on his arm. “Miss Elizabeth, I cannot say how my aunt and uncle will respond to you. I hope that they will welcome you because they care for me and have been hoping to find me a wife; actually they have been very insistent that I go out this Season to socialize and become attached to a woman. Only yesterday I learned that they have decided to leave me alone because I was so miserable.” Elizabeth looked up to him and he squeezed her hand again. “I was miserable because I wanted you.”
“oh.”
“I am sorry that you have experienced rejection at the hands of a gentleman. I can only imagine the hurt you felt, but …it did leave you available for me, and I am grateful for that man’s foolish decision. I know that there will be those who will not accept you and will make their opinions heard, but I will not be influenced by them, and I will defend my choice vigorously. You, Miss Elizabeth, are stuck with me.”
Elizabeth’s laugh make his heart soar and he wanted nothing more at that moment then to wrap her in his arms and kiss her senseless. His head dipped down to claim her mouth when Bingley’s cough stopped him. Darcy and Elizabeth both blushed. “Forgive me.” He whispered, “I do not know what came over me.”
“When you find out sir, please be sure to remember it for another time.” Elizabeth whispered but kept her gaze down to her shoes. She heard no response and peeked back up to find his focussed gaze waiting for her.
“I will.”
“Mr. Darcy, I am not as forward as I sound.”
“Miss Elizabeth, I am not as confident as I sound.”
“I am stubborn.”
“So am I.”
“I love to laugh.”
“I love to listen to you.”
“I am very afraid of doing something wrong.” She looked back up to him. Darcy tilted his head and regarded her with a creased brow. “Oh please, tell me what you are thinking!”
He entwined his fingers with hers on his arm and said quietly. “I am marvelling over the incredible good fortune that brought us together.”
“DARCY, I AM DELIGHTED to see you smiling!” Lady Matlock exclaimed when he arrived at Matlock House. “What has come over you?”
“I had a good day.” She laughed with delight when he kissed her cheek. “Is Uncle at home?”
“Yes, he is in his study with Layton.”
“Richard?”
“He is in his rooms.” He smiled and bowed. “Darcy, are you sure that everything is well?”
“Yes, Aunt.” He walked upstairs to his cousin’s chambers and knocked. “What is this, still abed? The day is nearly over!”
“Ha, I am just filling my reserves for the night!” Richard sat up and stretched his stiff legs. “By the grin on your face I would say that your little stroll today was a resounding success?”
“It was. My instincts were correct; she is everything my imagination created. I cannot wait to discover more.”
“Smitten.” Fitzwilliam laughed and stood up. “What is next?”
“I will visit her tomorrow, her family invited me for dinner, and I was thinking that I might bring Georgiana along another time so that I could introduce them properly.” He bit his lip. “I invited her to accompany me to your parents’ ball.”
“Uh-oh.”
“I know; I wa
s going to speak to your father but not with Layton in the room.”
“No, definitely not.” Richard leaned against a wall. “She cannot come alone with you.”
“Her aunt and uncle …”
“A tradesman in Matlock House? As an equal? Are you out of your mind?”
“Her sister?”
He shook his head. “She is unmarried and under thirty. This is a problem, Darcy.”
“Perhaps Bingley could chaperone her?” Darcy thought desperately and looked up to see his cousin’s incredulous stare. “What other choice is there? I will not come without her!”
Fitzwilliam donned his coat. “Come on, we will ambush them.”
“I hope that you truly are healed Cousin, because you may need to keep me back from strangling your brother.”
“Why would I stop you? I would be the Viscount then!” Fitzwilliam laughed and clapped his back, and they made their way downstairs. “What happened during the walk?”
“We talked, it was actually becoming a serious conversation and I believe that we both had a great desire to talk about ourselves, but unfortunately just as we were about to begin, Elizabeth’s sister inexplicably walked up to join us. Bingley followed naturally, and the four of us continued on. I cannot help but think that she was jealous of her sister.”
“She is the elder?”
“Yes. Very beautiful, in a classic sense.”
“hmm.” Fitzwilliam contemplated that fact and knocked on the study door. They entered and after the greetings were completed, took their seats. “Father, Darcy needs your advice.”
“Do you? Well I am happy to help. Estate business?”
“No, not precisely.”
“Love?” Layton laughed and saw his cousin’s glare. “Well, based on recent conversations in this house, I imagine that it concerns Georgiana, so I will remove myself from the room.” Fitzwilliam held up his hand to stop Darcy from correcting him. Lord Matlock observed the two men curiously and when the door clicked shut, Darcy drew breath and looked to see Fitzwilliam urging him onward. “I would like to bring a friend with me to your ball.”
“Bingley? Well of course, he is invited already.”