by Leenie Brown
Jane squeezed her close.
“This is my fault. If I had not allowed my anger to overcome me, William would not have said what he did, and Mr. Darcy would not have left me.”
“William was wrong,” Jane said firmly. “I will not excuse your actions, but I will also not allow you to bear all of this on yourself. You may have been demanding, and you may have spoken in anger. However, none of that would have happened if William had been reasonable.”
Jane always had a way of framing a picture as it should be when Elizabeth was beginning to scramble the pieces and create scenarios that were less than accurate as her mind spun in its distress and struggled to right whatever cart had been upset.
“Papa said that Mr. Darcy has not given you up completely.” Jane drew and released a deep breath. In it, Elizabeth could hear the weight of concern Jane bore. “We have only to hope William will regain his senses soon, and I think he will.”
“He is so stubborn,” Elizabeth refuted.
“As are you,” Jane said as she smoothed Elizabeth’s hair behind her ear on the far side of her head where Jane’s arm rested around her sister’s shoulders. “He was greatly shaken when I saw him. I have never seen him so.”
Elizabeth shrugged as if she did not care, even though she did. Her heart hurt because of the fracture that had occurred between her and her brother.
“Give him some time. He is not without sense. He will see reason. Papa will make certain he does.”
Elizabeth sighed. She hoped it was true.
Jane removed her arm from around her sister, wrapping it instead around Elizabeth’s arm and snuggling into her side. It was often how they would sit and tell stories to one another at night when they were younger. They still did it now, though not so often.
“Do you remember when William first arrived?” Jane asked.
Elizabeth nodded. “He was so big, and he scowled so much.”
Jane laughed. “That is what you said. You looked up at him and said, ‘you are very tall’ which you followed with ‘why do you not smile?’”
“And Papa explained to me what it meant for someone to die.”
Jane nodded. “And you decided it was your duty to see William smile. The torment you caused him with your questions! ‘Do you like apples, William? They are a very cheery fruit. Do you like horses, William? I like riding with Papa. Would you like to have my kitten? She is very good at catching mice and at snuggling with me when I am afraid of the thunder.’”
Elizabeth laughed. “I was a trying child, was I not?”
“Excessively,” Jane agreed. “And yet, you became the sister William loves best. No matter how you teased him about his incorrect sums or how often you followed him around when he had told you to stay home.” She laughed softly again. “Do you remember falling in the stream? I think you were about eight, were you not?”
Elizabeth nodded. “I was, and that water was not warm.”
“You had been told to stay home, but you wished to fish with William and his friends, who thought it great fun to challenge you to stand on a rock in the middle of the stream.”
“On one foot,” Elizabeth added.
“And you did it for about five seconds before falling into the water.”
“William fished me out and wrapped me in his jacket.”
“And proceeded to earn himself a black eye and a bloody nose venting his displeasure on his friends because they had caused you harm,” Jane finished the story quietly. “He loves you. He acted foolishly, but he did it because it was you. He did not challenge Mr. Bingley.”
Elizabeth dried her eyes again. She knew it was true. William was a determined protector of all his sisters, but he was downright immovable when it was anything that threatened her. When she was ill, it was he who would sit beside her bed reading or who would fetch tea and broth as needed. He had held her hand when the surgeon had stitched up the gash on her leg from another of her escapades when she had been following him without his permission. She could still see the ashen sheen of his face as she bit her lip to keep from crying out with each poke. He had made her look at him when her curiosity begged her to watch the gruesome work of the surgeon. And he had, after he had seen she was well, emptied the contents of his stomach.
“He means well, Lizzy.”
“I know,” Elizabeth admitted. “But he is wrong.”
Jane rested her head on Elizabeth’s shoulder. “And he will move the heavens above to correct his wrong for he will not be parted from you for anything in the world.”
Elizabeth hoped with all her heart that it was true, for though she longed to see Mr. Darcy again and eventually be his wife, she knew that she would never be truly happy if it came at the expense of an irreparable breach between her and her brother.
They sat in silence for some time. Elizabeth’s tears had finally stopped – or nearly had. There were a few that insisted on filling her eyes whenever she would think of either William or Mr. Darcy.
“Are you ready to go home?” Jane asked.
Elizabeth nodded. “I believe I am.”
Jane rose first and helped Elizabeth up.
“What does Mama know?” Elizabeth asked as they began the walk back to Longbourn.
“She heard everything Papa told me, and she has instructed that a bath be waiting for you as well as a cup of tea and a piece of toast.”
“Am I to be confined to my bed?”
Jane nodded her head. “You know Mama. She would take to her bed, and therefore, it is expected that you will as well. However, that will likely be for the best, as you will not need to see William, nor will you have to hear Mama’s moans over the situation, for I am certain I will be assigned to your care.”
Elizabeth smiled. “I am sorry to be such a burden to you.”
“You are never a burden, my dearest sister.”
“Unless I have angered William and caused Mr. Bingley not to be allowed to call,” Elizabeth teased.
“Well, yes, there is that,” Jane agreed with a small laugh. “Perhaps that should be how we pass our time – teaching you how to hold your tongue.” She pulled Elizabeth close. “I own that it is a fault and needs correction, but I love you just as you are, you know.”
“I know, and I love you. However, I do not think I will need much instruction. If I can remember this day and the way my heart hurts for those I love, it will be enough.”
“He loves you. Mr. Darcy, that is,” Jane said. “Papa told me before I left to come to you about how he promised to wait for you and that he cried.” She sighed. “You must admit that that is very romantic.”
“Jane!”
“I know, the rest of the story is not pleasant, but to be loved so dearly.” She sighed again. “I almost wish William had challenged Mr. Bingley.”
“You do not,” Elizabeth said with a laugh. Jane could be just as given to fanciful notions as Lydia at times.
Jane shrugged. “Perhaps I do not, but I would adore having a gentleman be so moved at the thought of losing me even for a short time.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “You are impossible at times,” she chided playfully, but she would not have Jane any other way, and she was excessively thankful for such a whimsical conversation that would put her in better spirits before she was to face her mother’s sighs and lamentations before being tucked into bed.
Chapter 15
For two days, Darcy hid himself away in his room. The first day, he was accompanied by a bottle from Bingley’s wine cellar. It had imparted the numbing stupor he sought for a time. He had felt blissfully separated from the real world and its woes until he awoke the next morning. Then, just as he knew it would, the world crashed in upon him in loud, nauseating waves, pounding at his head, and churning his stomach.
On the third day, Darcy arose and prepared himself for the day. He would not wallow in misery for another day. Elizabeth was not lost to him forever, just for now, and his friend had need of his advice about accounts and crops and other such things. He
would find a purpose – something into which he could throw himself, and in so doing, he hoped to be able to weather the time between now and when the younger Mr. Bennet finally located his senses and welcomed him with something a touch friendlier than a fencing foil.
“Good morning,” Caroline greeted as Darcy entered the breakfast room. “I trust you are feeling much improved today.”
He gave her a small smile. “I am, thank you.” He poured some tea and took a seat.
“I visited Longbourn yesterday,” Caroline continued.
Darcy took a sip of his tea and braced himself for what he assumed would be another attempt to sway him to her cause now that she knew Miss Elizabeth was not to be his for some time since Bingley had shared with her all that had happened.
“I called on Mr. William Bennet.”
Darcy lifted a brow, curious to know why she had called on the gentleman.
“He was not home.”
“Indeed?”
She nodded. “He left Longbourn the same day he met with you in the field.”
“Why did you call on him?” Darcy was interested in the fact that Mr. William Bennet had not been home, but at the moment, he was more interested in why Caroline would be calling on him in the first place.
“To prove that my cap is no longer set at you.” She lifted her chin and held his gaze.
“And it is set at Mr. William Bennet?” Darcy asked in confusion.
“Oh, goodness, no!” She laughed and then stopped suddenly as if captured by a thought. “I suppose he might not be so bad a catch.” Her head tipped to the side as if she were considering the idea for the first time. “He is tall and, though not particularly handsome, he is not dreadful to look upon.” She shrugged. “Many ties between families is often better than just one.”
“You will have to explain that,” Darcy said, lowering his cup and reaching for a scone. The cook at Netherfield was no slouch. Her work was delightful, and her scones were quickly becoming Darcy’s favourites.
“You shall marry his sister. Charles will marry his other sister. And then, if I marry him, we shall all be tied together in several different strands. A nice tight knot.”
“You would marry him just to complete some knot of relations?” Darcy was still not certain he followed her logic.
Caroline shrugged again. “I would prefer not to, I believe, now that I have spoken about it. I do not think I could manage to keep my composure if I were to be too tightly tied to either Mrs. Bennet or her youngest daughters. I am not disparaging. I am simply declaring we do not get on well. Not to mentions, there is a noticeable lack of shops in Meryton.”
Darcy nodded. He could not see Caroline tolerating Mrs. Bennet or a lack of shopping for any extended period of time.
“Then why did you call on him?” Darcy asked.
“I wished to share with him what I knew of Mr. Wickham. Mr. Wickham did attempt to flirt with me when we first met him, but I was too cunning to be drawn in.”
“He did?”
She smiled at him and nodded. “Some gentlemen find both me and my inheritance attractive.”
“I have never said you were unattractive,” Darcy countered.
“No, you have not, but then you have not fallen for my charms either.” She refilled her cup and settled back in her chair. “I thought if I could convince him of Mr. Wickham’s rakish ways, I could perhaps do you a service.” Her gaze fell to study the contents of her cup. “You are a friend, and even if that is all you shall ever be, I do not wish to see you suffer as you must have been – indeed, as you likely still are.”
“I thank you for your kindness,” he said. He would overlook the small amount of pleasure that seemed to fill her voice as she spoke of his suffering. He had disappointed her, and such feelings of satisfaction that the person who had disappointed you was suffering somewhat of the pain that he had caused were not unusual. He was thankful that she had been able to rise above those vengeful feeling to attempt to help him. If she had acted so thoughtfully more often, perhaps he would have considered her more closely. He paused before indulging in another bite of his scone. “I am still not choosing you.”
She shrugged. “I know, but one cannot fault a lady for the attempt.” When she smirked, she looked very much like her twin. “Truly,” she continued, “I have given you up. I am not so foolish as to attempt to come between you and Miss Elizabeth. Truly.”
“Thank you.”
“Mr. Darcy.”
Darcy looked up at the butler.
“When you are finished, sir, you have a visitor.”
Darcy’s brows furrowed. “Who might that be?”
“Mr. William Bennet, sir.”
Darcy could not contain his look of surprise. He expected the young man to come to his senses at some point, but he had not thought it would be so soon. He had seemed more reticent in personality than to easily capitulate.
“Will you see him, sir? He was concerned you would not.”
With good reason. “As soon as I have finished, I will join him in the front drawing room.”
“Very good, sir. I am certain he will be most appreciative.”
“You are not rushing?” Caroline asked as Darcy settled back into his chair to enjoy the last of his tea and scone at a leisurely pace.
“I think allowing him to cool his heels for a while might be best.”
This reply was met with an approving smile.
“Would you like to join me for this?” he asked Caroline when he had finished his last morsel of food and drained his second cup of tea.
She sighed. “I do enjoy a good spat, but no. I will allow you the privacy you deserve.”
He thanked her and went to find Mr. William Bennet.
“Mr. Darcy.” William shot to his feet when Darcy entered the room.
“Mr. Ben –” Darcy’s greeting stopped abruptly as he took in the condition of the gentleman before him. William appeared to be wearing the same clothes he had been wearing on the morning of their appointment, and they were exceedingly rumpled. However, that was not what arrested Darcy’s words. No, that honour went to the state of the man’s face. His right eye was nearly swollen closed, and his lower lip was two times the size it should be with a nasty gash held together by two stitches near the right corner of his mouth.
“Please forgive my appearance and my early call.” He fiddled with what remained of his hat. “But I knew that if I were to go home first, Mother would not allow me to leave once she saw me.”
“I can see why.” Darcy motioned for him to retake his seat, which he did.
“I have been to town.” He paused and looked at his hat. “I should have gone to town before now.”
“I apologize, but I do not understand.”
William blew out a breath and rose from his seat. “My father died when I was ten. That is when I came to live at Longbourn.”
“I know. Your sister told me.”
He paced in front of the windows behind the chair where he had been sitting. “What she likely did not tell you is that I thought I would never again have a reason to smile. I thought that my world had come to an end. My father was no pillar of exemplary behavior, but he was my father. He had told me about his unreasonable cousin and his wife who only had daughters. He had thought it humorous that they would be at my mercy when I came into my inheritance. I had no reason to not believe what he had told me about them, and so, I arrived at Longbourn expecting to be reviled and treated poorly.”
“But you were not.”
He shook his head. “No, I was welcomed with great comforting arms and by one impish young lady determined to see me smile.” His lips attempted to tip up into a smile, though it was difficult with the lower one being so swollen. “Lizzy latched onto me and followed me around like a lost pup might do someone who fed it.” He shook his head. “She was a lovely little bothersome shadow.”
“And she stole your heart.”
William nodded. “I would do nearly anything to protect any of
the Bennets, but for Lizzy, I would do so much more. And I confess that desire clouded my judgment of you. For that, I must apologize.”
Darcy gave him a small nod of his head. He could understand that sentiment. He was much the same when it came to those he loved.
William took his seat once again. “I went to town in search of Wickham. I now have in my possession nearly the full, truthful story of your relationship. There was a portion he would not tell me, no matter how much I insisted. He only said he could not because it would put his life in danger.” Again, his lips attempted to tip into a smile. “More danger than it was in as I was asking him. I guess he knew I would not hang to know a secret.” He met Darcy’s eyes and held them with a knowing look. “I assume it is about your sister, and I will ask no further.”
“Thank you, and it is. She was not ruined, but it was close.”
William shook his head. “I have been an unmitigated arse.”
“I will not refute that,” Darcy agreed.
William chuckled. “You could not. Your character would not allow you to lie in such a fashion.” He shifted uneasily. “I know I have no right to ask this, but there is something that I would very much like for you to do for me.”
Darcy’s brows rose. The fellow expected a favor?
“Elizabeth refuses to speak to me or even see me, and not without justification, as I have said, I was an arse. However, I do believe she might forgive me for my stupidity more easily if you were to accompany me to Longbourn.” He blew out a breath. “There is no gentleman of more noble character with whom I would see her, for I know that from what I have heard, you will protect her as fiercely as I would, and that is all I have ever hoped for her to find in a husband.”
Darcy smiled. “I would be delighted to be of service to you in such a fashion.”
“Mr. Darcy.”
Darcy turned to the butler.
“Your cousin and sister are here to see you, but I told then you were occupied.”
“We are finished, are we not?” Darcy asked William. “I was about to ride out with Mr. Bennet, but I believe I can welcome my cousin and sister first while my horse is readied.”