Smoky Dreams

by Jaeza Rayleigh

  "I understand you have been checking on your tenants, Mrs. Bennet," he said. "Were there any problems caused by the snow?"

  She seemed confused by the change of topic but answered him readily enough. Darcy began to draw out descriptions from her of the things she had ordered done for them and her thoughts on what issues Bingley might need to check on with the Netherfield tenants. Darcy made sure to compliment her on her handling of some of the trickier issues they discussed.

  In response to her questions, he told her how responsibility for the well-being of his tenants had been largely shared between his steward and his housekeeper after his mother's death. His father had overseen their work while he was still alive but had not been very involved due to his illness. Darcy had also left many of the details in their hands once he inherited because running the whole estate was overwhelming and the arrangement was already in place and working smoothly.

  "It is only in the last year or two I have been able to become more involved with the personal needs of my tenants instead of just the logistics of running their farms," he told her.

  "Well, that is the place of the mistress of the house," Mrs. Bennet said, looking a little suggestively at her two oldest daughters.

  "My sister could not be bothered with the needs of the tenants while she was here," Bingley put in. "Darcy had me work with Mrs. Nichols to make sure everyone was cared for properly."

  "I have trained Jane and Lizzy to look after our tenants from a young age," Mrs. Bennet said. "Perhaps it is time to start showing the younger girls what is needed."

  "You cannot start too early," Darcy agreed. "Mrs. Annesley has only been with my sister since this summer, but she has already started working with Mrs. Reynolds to help Georgiana continue her training and become more knowledgeable about the duties of the mistress of an estate. The welfare of the tenants is vital to the proper running of any estate. I applaud you for recognizing that here at Longbourn."

  Mrs. Bennet looked both pleased and confounded. Darcy wondered if she had never been praised for the good and practical things she did for her household. He also noticed Miss Elizabeth looking at him curiously, as if wondering at his motive or questioning the sincerity of his praise.

  "I do not want to go visiting with any old tenants," Miss Lydia said loudly. "I am going to marry an officer, so I have no need to learn about an estate."

  Miss Elizabeth colored slightly. It might have been embarrassment, although she also seemed to be waiting to see what happened next. Darcy saw Miss Kitty start to agree and then stop when Mrs. Bennet spoke up.

  "The officers, at least the ones who can afford to marry, usually come from landed families and may inherit an estate, even if they are only second or third sons now. It does no harm to be prepared. No, I am determined. You, Kitty and Mary will start visiting the tenants with me once the snow clears instead of Jane and Lizzy."

  There was definitely shock on Miss Elizabeth's face now, Darcy thought. Miss Lydia began to whine about how visiting the tenants would take time away from visiting and talking to the officers. Her voice made Darcy's head ache and he realized he was much more tired than he had thought. Struggling to his feet, he bowed to Mrs. Bennet.

  "Mrs. Bennet, I think I came downstairs too soon," he told her as soon as he could find an opening in the argument that had erupted between Miss Lydia and her mother. "If you will excuse me, I think I will go up and rest, so I will have energy enough to join you all for dinner."

  "Allow me to help you, Mr. Darcy," Miss Elizabeth said, quickly standing as well. She looped her arm through his as she had done when she helped him to his seat earlier.

  "Do you need my help as well, Darcy?" Bingley asked, half-rising before Darcy waved him back to his seat.

  "You continue your talk with Miss Bennet. Miss Elizabeth will see me to the stairs," he said. He nodded to Georgiana, who looked worried, to reassure her he was fine.

  "Lizzy, you take good care of our guest," Mrs. Bennet ordered. "Call for Mr. Hill if Mr. Darcy is too unsteady on his feet to make it safely back to his room."

  "I will, Mama," Miss Elizabeth said.

  Darcy gave another bow to the occupants of the room. Hoping he was being surreptitious enough to hide his weakness from the others, he leaned slightly on Miss Elizabeth for support as the two of them walked out and into the hall.

  "I think that is the most I have ever heard you speak at one sitting," Miss Elizabeth said quietly as they approached the stairs, "possibly more than in the whole course of our acquaintance. Were you trying to impress me?"

  "I was trying to have a pleasant conversation with my hostess. I have little interest or opinion on the topics of which she usually speaks, but I am always happy to discuss tenant issues or matters of the estate. If I impressed you by speaking rationally with your mother, then that was just a happy bonus."

  "Rationally and my mother are two ideas that usually do not go together," she quipped, but Darcy could tell she was thinking something through. After a moment she asked, "Do you feel up to the stairs?'

  "If you will walk beside me and help me keep my balance, I will make good use of the banister. That should suffice. I primarily have a headache and feel somewhat weak and slightly dizzy."

  "I would say you should have remained in your room, but that advice can be difficult to follow. I know I hate being confined and without company when I do not feel well. The trick is not to push yourself too far or you might have a relapse. If you do not have energy enough when it is time for dinner, no one will feel insulted if you prefer a tray in your room."

  They had nearly reached the top of the stairs and Darcy was feeling weak and a little out of breath. He stopped for a small fit of coughing before taking the last step.

  "I appreciate the reassurance. I have given enough unintentional offense in the past. I would not wish to appear as if I were deliberately avoiding the company of your family."

  "I suspect Mama would take more offense if you passed out in your soup and left stains on the linens."

  "I shall make note of that. Is it preferable, then, to pass out in the fish course, so long as one does not make a mess of the linens?"

  "Much more so, unless of course the fish was hard to come by or the act of passing out is seen as a commentary on the quality of the cooking."

  "Ah, I shall have to pass out on an empty plate, then, and compliment your mother on the meal first."

  "Well planned," she said with a chuckle. "I really had no idea you ever made jokes, Mr. Darcy. You always seem so serious."

  "I am woefully out of practice. I have really only ever felt comfortable joking with my cousin, Richard Fitzwilliam, and even that opportunity is more rare since my father's death. The weight of responsibility for so many people's lives has left me far more serious about everything than I was as a younger man. I do not exaggerate when I say that hundreds of people rely on my decisions – my servants, my tenants, all their families and even the businesses in the villages surrounding my home. It is a heavy weight."

  "I never thought about how many people rely on you for their livelihood," she said thoughtfully. "Will you tell me more about the things that burden you and the responsibilities and challenges you face?"

  They had arrived at the door of his room and came to a stop. Darcy leaned against the wall as he turned to her.

  "I will tell you anything you wish to know. That is the only way you will come to know who I am. Will you offer me the same courtesy?"

  "I will try. I…I am not ready for an official courtship, sir. To my mother that would be the same as agreeing to a betrothal, and after having refused Mr. Collins, I would never be free of her recriminations if I decided you and I would not suit. I do not want to be trapped into marriage based on the expectations of others. I am willing to talk with you and learn more of you, but that is all for now."

  "Then, that will be enough – for now. We can revisit your decision later, when we are better acquainted. Is that acceptable?"

  Miss Elizabeth
smiled and nodded. "You should get some more rest, sir. Would you like me to have Mrs. Hill bring you up another soothing drink?"

  "Perhaps a very small dose of one. I do not wish to sleep the afternoon away, just rest a bit."

  "I will tell her. She should be up soon."

  "Thank you, Miss Elizabeth – for everything."

  "You are welcome, Mr. Darcy," she said and headed down the hall. It was only after she disappeared around the corner to the stairs that he pushed slowly away from the wall and unsteadily made his way into the bedroom.

  He did not want to fully undress again, but he also did not want to be a wrinkled mess when he returned downstairs for dinner. Darcy settled for taking off his coat and shoes and loosening his cravat. Then, he piled the pillows so he could recline against them in a nearly seated position. He had just pulled a blanket across his legs when there was a knock at the door. Mrs. Hill came in at his invitation, carrying a partially filled earthen-ware mug.

  "Miss Elizabeth said you wanted something to soothe your throat and help you rest, but not enough to send you to sleep for the rest of the afternoon?"

  "That is correct, Mrs. Hill. I am hoping to join the family for dinner this evening."

  "I think this should do the trick for you, sir," she said, offering him the mug. "It is not nearly as strong as the dose I have been giving you. Take your time drinking it down. You can set the mug on the side table and I will return for it later."

  Darcy thanked her, and she quietly left the room. Settling himself back against the pillows, he sipped at the drink, which was warm and tasted of lemon, honey and something else he could not identify. Whatever it was, by the time he had finished and set the mug on the table, the tickle in his throat was gone and he felt somewhat drowsy. Closing his eyes, Darcy drifted off to sleep.

  ~*~

  It was another knock at the door that woke Darcy up a few hours later. Mr. Hill came in with a pitcher of warm water. He set down the pitcher near the washbasin on its stand.

  "My wife said you wished to be wakened in time for dinner, sir. Do you still feel like joining the family downstairs?"

  "Yes, Mr. Hill. I appreciate the water to wash up in."

  "Did you require any other assistance, sir?"

  "I feel better after my recent rest. I think I can manage to get properly dressed and take the stairs on my own. Thank you."

  After Mr. Hill left, Darcy washed his face and hands. He combed his hair back into order before he put his coat and shoes on and re-tied his cravat. What he could see of himself in the small mirror by the washstand looked acceptable, although he was certain his own valet would not agree. At any rate, it was the best he could do under the circumstances, so Darcy decided it was time to brave the stairs.

  He found he was much steadier on his feet than he had been earlier. All the same, Darcy was both pleased and grateful when he turned the corner in the hall and found Miss Elizabeth waiting to go down with him. She was still wearing the sage-green muslin gown she had worn that afternoon. It was one of the colors he thought became her best, as it brightened the color of her eyes and complimented her complexion.

  "You look well this evening, Miss Elizabeth," he said. "I am pleased neither you nor any of your sisters took ill from our little adventure in the snow."

  She smiled shyly at him. "No, it was the men who faced the wet and cold on our behalf who also faced the danger of illness. While the carriages were not exactly warm inside, they were, at least, dry."

  Darcy felt she had missed the compliment to her looks but explaining further would only become awkward. He decided it was best to wait for another opportunity.

  "Are you here to help me brave the dangers of the staircase?" he asked instead.

  "Such perilous heights should not be faced alone, sir," she replied, taking his arm.

  This time he found he did not need the steadying support, but he would not have told Miss Elizabeth that for the world. It was pleasant to go down side by side in perfect accord.

  "The family is just going in now," she told him as she guided him to the dining room.

  They found Bingley just helping Miss Bennet into her seat. Kitty and Mary were offering Georgiana a place between them, while Lydia casually dropped into what Darcy assumed was her usual seat. Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Annesley were talking happily together as they entered the room followed by Mr. Bennet.

  As he placed Miss Elizabeth's chair, Darcy saw Mr. Bennet looking at him somewhat quizzically, with a raised eyebrow and expression similar to the one Miss Elizabeth so often gave him. His host said nothing, however, so Darcy supposed whatever it was, he would be teased about it later.

  Mrs. Bennet's reputation as a hostess was well-deserved. The food was very good and served in generous portions. There was also plenty of talk at the table, perhaps more than Darcy would have liked. Still, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, so he was not about to complain, especially since he had Miss Elizabeth as his conversation partner, with Mr. Bennet just the other side of her and Mary and Georgiana across from them.

  After some made a comment about the dinner they had attended, Darcy said, "I wonder if all the other guests made it home safely from the dinner? I suppose we will not find out until travel is a bit easier."

  "Actually, we learned this morning that everyone is well," Miss Elizabeth told him. "Mr. Goulding was concerned when he saw the storm worsen shortly after we all left. As soon as he felt it was safe this morning, he sent one of his men around to check at the home of each of his guests. Netherfield was to be his last stop, but the man was pleased to hear he did not have to go any farther when we told him the Netherfield party was staying with us."

  "That was kind of Mr. Goulding to check. Did the man have any problems by the stream?"

  "He said the spot where the water had drained across the road was still very icy. He discovered it when his horse slipped a bit. Fortunately, he had been riding slowly, so there was no harm done. It was after our people had been there to deal with the tree, so he could see some of what had happened. He told us he would be very careful going back that way. When he left, we had him carry a couple bags of straw to spread over that area. Even if it does not provide a better grip on the ice, it will warn other travelers to be cautious."

  "That was well thought of, Miss Elizabeth. The straw certainly would have been useful as we were trying to get the carriage out. It would have given the horses a little traction."

  "I thought of it because I remembered your man trying to put down some sticks and leaves for them to help gain a footing. Once we have a bit of a thaw, the water will drain off that spot, of course, so it is not a long-term danger."

  The talk turned to other things and soon the meal was complete. With only two male guests, Mr. Bennet saw no reason to go through the ritual of separating from the ladies. He was eager to return to his book, not talk. However, he did ask Darcy to stay back for a moment. Miss Elizabeth gave her father a questioning look, but he waved her on with the others.

  Once it was just the two of them, Mr. Bennet said, "It seems you find my daughter tolerable enough to speak with now."

  "I have apologized to her for that comment, which had not actually been aimed at her or intended for anyone to hear," Darcy replied. "I was uncomfortable in company and in a poor mood that evening. I consider Miss Elizabeth a lovely woman."

  "And what are your intentions, since you seem to have some?"

  "They are honorable and include marriage if I can ever convince her to accept me. We have had several misunderstandings and need to learn more of one another. I have asked her for a courtship, but she does not wish any relationship between us to be made official for fear of being pushed by her mother into a marriage in which she will not be happy."

  "She has reason enough to fear. Very well. Let me know when you both agree to the official version of a courtship. I still expect you to act the gentleman when you are with her. Your behavior seems improved, but you need to prove it to us all."

  "Yes,
sir," Darcy agreed. He kept any thoughts about Mr. Bennet's own behavior to himself. A disagreement at this point would not be productive. "Shall we join the rest of the company?"

  Mr. Bennet gestured for Darcy to go before him through the door. They followed the noise of female voices back to the sitting room where they would spend the rest of the evening.

  Chapter 15: Chess and Conversation

  Darcy woke at his usual time the next morning feeling much better than he had the evening before. The sun was not yet up, but the glow of the impending dawn showed a world still covered in deep snow. It was unlikely his party would return to Netherfield that day.

  Once he had washed up and dressed, Darcy headed down to the breakfast room. He expected to find Miss Elizabeth there and possibly her father, who had admitted the evening previous to being an early riser because he liked the peaceful time before the rest of the house was awake. As Darcy had hoped, father and daughter were sitting together at the table enjoying a hot drink as the servants were putting food out on the sideboard.

  "Good morning, Darcy," Mr. Bennet said, using the informal address he had been granted the evening before.

  "Bennet, Miss Elizabeth," Darcy replied with a bow. "It appears we are still snowed in, at least for travel by carriage."

  "I hope you do not mind," Mr. Bennet said. "Longbourn is no Netherfield or Pemberley."

  "And yet it provides all the comforts one might require," Darcy replied, accepting the cup of coffee Miss Elizabeth handed him. He looked at her in mild surprise when he realized it was already prepared exactly as he liked it.

  "It is the duty of a hostess to know the preferences of her guests. I took note of yours without even thinking about it on those mornings at Netherfield when we both arrived at the breakfast room earlier than our hosts."