An Unwanted Proposal: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

by Lane Cossett

  * * *

  The evening seemed interminable and it was a relief when their guests finally left. The only pleasant part of the evening was when Georgiana had sat down at the piano and expertly played a Mozart symphony for them all. All had praised her when she had finished, though he suspected Miss Wittington Wright’s fulsome praise was only in the hope of gaining his attention.

  Lord Frobisher asked if Georgiana would play some more, but she politely refused and it was down to Lady Frances to play, which she did with great aplomb, telling their guests she was nowhere near as talented as her niece.

  It was a pleasant end to the evening. As soon as they were alone, Georgiana decided to retire and Darcy was left with his aunt in the drawing room.

  “I think that went very well, do you not?”

  Darcy poured himself a glass of brandy and gulped it down in one go. The warm glow that ran down his throat to his insides was very warming.

  “Darcy?”

  Darcy poured himself a second drink and sat down opposite his aunt, who had eschewed the brandy and rang for Mrs. Hopkins to provide her with a cup of hot milk.

  “I do think Miss Whittington Wright is very pretty. I can quite see her at Pemberley.”

  Darcy nearly choked over his drink. He had to put a stop immediately to any designs his aunt had on finding him a wife. He put down his drink on the table beside him and looked squarely at his aunt. “I am grateful for your offer in coming to London with Georgiana, I really am, but it would please me if you did not…”

  “Interfere in finding you a wife?” asked Lady Frances with a smile.

  Darcy nodded. “Yes.”

  Lady Frances gave a wicked laugh. “Oh, Fitzwilliam, I know you only too well. I knew when I invited them that neither of them would be suitable for you as a wife. Both of them would bore you to death within an hour.”

  “And what sort of woman do you consider would be the right person for me?” he asked with a mixture of curiosity and annoyance.

  “Someone who will ensure there is some joy in your life and someone who will tell you when you are being utterly insufferable,” said Lady Frances bluntly.

  Darcy was accustomed to hearing her forthright opinions, but even so he was surprised by what she said. He was about to ask more when Mrs. Hopkins arrived with the hot milk. He waited until the housekeeper had left again before asking,

  “So pray, why did I have to endure such an evening if neither woman is the sort of person I would wish for a wife?”

  “Because I really did owe them an invitation. I am very fond of Miss Whittington Wright and she and Georgiana were at school together. But I also wanted to gently remind you that you must think of the future, however much we might jest about it. You must not take too long to find yourself a wife.”

  Darcy wondered whether to confide in Lady Frances about Miss Bennet and then decided against it.

  “I would consider it a favour to myself if you did not ask me to endure any more dinners,” he said.

  “That I cannot promise you. Darcy, if you insist on living such an isolated life, how will you expect to meet the woman who will be your wife?”

  “How indeed?” asked Darcy as he sipped on his brandy.

  36

  As soon as the viscount had left Elizabeth with her aunt, she quickly told Mrs. Gardiner of the strange encounter.

  “He seems to know father. I do not know how. I have never heard his name before.”

  Mrs. Gardiner laughed. “Oh, Lizzy, I do suspect there is much you do not know about your father.”

  Words got stuck in Elizabeth’s throat. She was sure Mrs. Gardiner was right and that added to her feelings of uneasiness. She could just not see the viscount as the type of man her father would be acquainted with. She looked towards the door, wishing Mr. Bennet would appear.

  “I wonder where father is,” she said.

  “I am sure he will join us later,” said Mrs. Gardiner calmly. “Do not begrudge him an opportunity to have some pleasure.”

  Elizabeth did not understand her aunt. Did she not see anything strange in the situation they found themselves in? It had been her father’s suggestion that they should come to the Assembly Rooms and yet the moment they had arrived he had disappeared. It did not make any sense to her.

  And as for Viscount Langley - who was he? Her father had never been one for associating with anyone. Where had they met?

  “Lizzy, do not look so pensive. You are here to enjoy yourself,” whispered Mrs. Gardiner, noting her worried expression.

  Elizabeth tried to smile. “I think I found that last dance more exhausting than expected.”

  “Then I shall pray this next one is not long,” said Mrs. Gardiner.

  Elizabeth was about to say she had no partner, when a young gentleman in a military uniform approached.

  Mrs. Gardiner’s serious expression transformed into a broad smile. “Sam. My dear, this is most unexpected.”

  “Hello, aunt. I thought it was you, but I was not sure.”

  “Elizabeth, this is my nephew Sergeant Samuel Tennant,”

  “Samuel, this is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Gardiner’s niece.”

  Samuel Tennant was not a handsome man, but he had a warm smile and gave a smart bow to Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet, I would see it as an honour if you would join me in the next dance.”

  Elizabeth had been of a mind to refuse anyone who asked her to dance, but the sergeant was so friendly and as her aunt’s nephew she could not refuse him.

  He took her arm and led her to the floor and after a minute the music started.

  She did not know a great deal about Mrs. Gardiner’s family and certainly not that she had adult nephews. She did not want to appear unduly curious so she did not ask.

  Sergeant Tennant was a pleasant man wanting to know more about her than sharing about himself, but she did learn that he was soon going to be promoted to lieutenant and he found military life most enjoyable. She also learned that he was the son of Mrs. Gardiner’s older sister and had grown up near Buxton in Derbyshire. He spoke fondly of his aunt and was sorry that he did not see her or his young cousins more frequently.

  When the dance was over, he took Elizabeth over to two more men similarly dressed who turned out to be officers in the same regiment. Introductions were made and one Captain Bellamy introduced her to his sister who was also in attendance. There was not much time for the two women to do more than acknowledge each other before Captain Bellamy asked if she would like to dance and she happily found herself joining with other couples for the next dance.

  * * *

  Elizabeth was happy that she was no longer sitting and waiting for a dance partner and indeed for the rest of the evening she danced every reel and grew rather flushed.

  Even after the dancing had stopped so people could eat, she still found there were young men eager to dance with her and she gladly accepted their invitations after being introduced by the Master of Cermonies. They were not all so pleasant or as light on their feet as Samuel Tennant or Captain Bellamy, but she still enjoyed herself.

  It was not until the evening was drawing to a close that she thought about Viscount Langley again. she suddenly spied him standing by a pillar with a drink in his hand, his eyes firmly fixed on her. She tried to ignore him and continued with the dance, but she found her cheeks flushing at such scrutiny and several times she stumbled and had to apologise to her partner. She saw the amusement on the viscount’s face as he raised his glass in her direction. The gesture annoyed her and she turned her head in the opposite direction and made every effort not to catch his eye again.

  As the dance ended and they stood clapping, Elizabeth suddenly caught sight of her father. She stared at him, but he did not acknowledge her and she watched as he joined the viscount. They exchanged a few words and then they parted. The viscount had a strange smile on his face and once again raised his glass at her. She wondered what it meant. It was an odd gesture and it spoiled the evening for her.

  3
7

  Elizabeth was thankful to sit down when they arrived back at the Gardiners’ house in Cheapside. It had been a long evening and she was feeling weary. They sat in the parlour with Mr. Gardiner who had joined them to ruminate over their evening.

  “Did you enjoy yourself, Elizabeth?” asked Mr. Gardiner as he poured them all drinks.

  “It was a triumphant evening for Lizzy. She had many young gentlemen asking her to dance,”said Mrs. Gardiner.

  Elizabeth wriggled her toes. Her feet were quite sore. “No one asked me to dance at the beginning.”

  “Then they lacked good judgment,” said her uncle as he passed her a drink.

  “Elizabeth managed to dance with the most flamboyant gentlemen present,” said Mrs. Gardiner as she sipped her drink.

  Mr. Gardiner sat down next to his wife. “And who was that, pray?”

  “Viscount Langley.” Elizabeth stared at her father hoping he would say something, but he did not appear to be listening.

  “The viscount me you were acquainted, even friends,” she said, hoping to jolt her father into replying.

  Mr. Bennet gave a wry smile. “Friends, no… but I am acquainted with Viscount Langley. He is an interesting man.”

  “He is a boastful fool with few manners,” said Elizabeth harshly.

  “Oh, Elizabeth, I am sure he was not quite as bad as you describe,” said Mrs. Gardiner.

  “Indeed he was. He boasted about the number of women who wished to dance with him. As he did not dance again, I can only assume he was lying.”

  Mr. Bennet sighed impatiently. “Elizabeth, I do not understand why you are always so quick to rush to judgment.”

  Elizabeth was astounded by her father’s sudden criticism. “I do not understand what you mean, sir.”

  Mr. Bennet glared at her over the top of his glasses. “I am sure you do, Lizzy. You have only just met the viscount and yet you choose to make accusations about him which I am sure are unfounded. Remember how wrong you were about Wickham.”

  Elizabeth was hurt. Why had he mentioned Wickham? She had not understood the true nature of Lydia’s now husband but then neither had anyone else.

  Mrs Gardiner tried to smooth over the awkward moment. “The viscount may have been more flamboyant, but I noted he danced the Irish reel very well, Lizzy.”

  Elizabeth conceded he had. She was still upset by her father’s criticism. She didn’t ever remember him speaking to him so sharply before.

  “And who else did you dance with?” asked Mr. Gardiner.

  Elizabeth reeled off several of the young men who had asked her to dance. Mr. Gardiner listened intently, but Elizabeth noticed that her father was not listening at all. He wore a pensive look on his face and she wondered what was worrying him.

  Mr. Bennet finished his drink and rose to his feet. “I will bid you all goodnight. I have matters that will take me back to the city.”

  Elizabeth could not hide her surprise. It was late at night. “What matters, father?”

  Mr. Bennet looked disapprovingly at her. “Elizabeth, it is not for you to question me in that manner.”

  Elizabeth flushed with embarrassment. “I only express my concern, sir. It is late and I thought you would be ready to retire.”

  “Alas, no. I will see you all in the morning.”

  After he had gone there was silence in the room. Elizabeth waited for her aunt and uncle to speak, but they did not. After a few minutes of silence, she could bear it no longer. “Where has he gone?” she asked.

  “I do not know,” said Mr. Gardiner. “I am sure he will be back in the morning.”

  Elizabeth was not certain she believed her uncle. Her father had been going out a great deal, though it was often after she had retired. She found it difficult to believe that her father had given her uncle no explanation of his nightly excursions.

  She finished her drink and then rose to her feet. She affectionately kissed her aunt. “Thank you for accompanying me this evening.”

  “It was my pleasure, Lizzy,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “It was not all bad, was it?”

  “Not at all,” said Elizabeth quite truthfully. “Goodnight.”

  Elizabeth left them and went up to her room. She sat down at the small dresser and began to take the pins out of her hair. A few minutes later there was a knock at the door. Phoebe had come to help her dress for bed. Elizabeth did not really need her help, but she let her remove the rest of her pins and then help her out of her dress. As she carried it away to hang it up, Elizabeth pulled on her robe which she had left hung over the back of the chair.

  “Your nightgown, miss,” said Phoebe, sounding a little shocked.

  “I shall change later. That will be all.”

  Phoebe curtsied and left the room. Elizabeth sat down at the table and pulled out her writing materials. Dipping her quill in the ink, she was soon filling up the paper with her memories of the evening and in particular Viscount Langley.

  The viscount was amusing enough, but there was something about him that left me wondering what the true man is like behind the smiles. He said he and father are friends and yet I have never heard him mention the name before.

  Elizabeth paused for a moment. If the viscount was not her father’s friend, how did he know facts about her? It was most puzzling. Her father had never been in the habit of talking about his family.

  Jane, nothing seems to make sense. Father disappeared while we were at the ball and he did not reappear until it was time to leave. He did not tell me what he had been doing all that time. Our aunt did say there was a card room, but I cannot believe father was there as he has never liked to play cards.

  Elizabeth stopped again. She read what she had written. Perhaps it was wrong of her to put down her fears. Jane was so recently married, and she did not want to spoil her sister’s homecoming. She was a little disappointed that she had yet to hear from Jane. Perhaps it was because her letters had gone to Longbourn. She hoped Mrs. Hall would send them on to her.

  Elizabeth finished the letter and then spent some time preparing for bed, brushing out her hair, washing her face and hands and dressing in her nightgown. She then said her prayers before getting into bed. Although she settled down to rest, sleep eluded her. She was too busy worrying about the whereabouts of her father.

  38

  Elizabeth did not see her father again until the following afternoon. Mrs. Gardiner had a friend she wanted to visit and although she asked Lizzy to accompany her, Elizabeth chose to remain in the house.

  She spent some time with the children much to their delight and Mrs. Bonner’s annoyance and then she spent some time writing to Charlotte to tell her she was in London.

  She even penned a short note to Kitty. It was quite difficult to compose. She knew her sister was both envious and resentful that she was staying with her aunt and uncle in London and she did not want to add to Kitty’s misery. However, she knew her sister would not be having an easy life in Longbourn with only Mrs. Bennet and Mary for company. She hoped that Kitty would be pleased to receive a letter knowing that she had not been forgotten.

  By the time she had finished, Mrs. Gardiner had returned, and Mr. Bennet joined them for lunch. Mr. Gardiner did not join them as he was at his place of work and would not return until later. Her father looked tired, but he smiled cheerfully at them both and said that he had spent the morning reading. Elizabeth was curious to know when he had returned to the house, but she did not ask.

  As Elizabeth ate some bread and cheese, Mrs. Gardiner suddenly asked her if she would like to go the theatre while they were staying. “Mr. Gardiner suggested last night that you might enjoy a trip to the opera.”

  “That would be lovely,” said Elizabeth, who rarely had the opportunity to go to the theatre, but always enjoyed it.

  “Good. Then I shall tell your uncle and we will see what is on. I would like to see Esta Williams. I hear that she is performing in London at the moment - Covent Garden, I believe.”

  Elizabeth was startled
at the name. Esta Williams. She was certain it was the name Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst had spoken so coyly about. She did not believe there had been anything between this woman and Mr. Bingley and she had only been spoken about to hurt Jane, but she was curious to see her perform.

  “Thank you, a visit to the opera would be most enjoyable,” she said to her aunt.

  “Good, then I shall speak to your uncle. I hope you will join us, Mr. Bennet.”

  “Elizabeth will enjoy it to be sure, but I would rather have a quiet evening reading.”

  Elizabeth thought her father’s refusal was rather rude. It was kind of her uncle to suggest it.

  Mrs. Gardiner appeared to take no offence at his remark. “Very well. I shall speak to Mr. Gardiner and ask him to arrange it, though how we will fit it around the invitations you will receive I am not sure.”

  Elizabeth was puzzled. “Invitations for what, aunt?”

  Mrs. Gardiner reached for another slice of cheese. “Lizzy, my dear. There are several gentlemen that you danced with yesterday who would be delighted to renew their acquaintance with you,” she explained patiently. “There will be invitations to dine or to attend a ball, I am certain of it.”

  Elizabeth heard this news with disquiet. She did not want to attend any more balls or go out to dine. Although she had enjoyed parts of the evening during the night, she had felt guilty that she had even entertained dancing with another man when she had already given her heart to Mr. Darcy. It was a perplexing problem. She had been told to forget Mr. Darcy, but she did not see how that was possible.