"Miss Bennet's fiance died four years ago,” put in Darcy.
"I am very sorry to hear it,” said Mrs. Clarke sympathetically. "Was it his grave that you were tending when we saw you outside the church?"
"Yes."
They had now passed through the gate, and as Crystal Cottage was very close to Longbourn, they naturally started to walk back together. Mrs. Clarke took Mr. Darcy's left arm and, as Elizabeth was walking on the other side of him, he offered her his right. It was the first time that she could recall taking a gentleman's arm since Peter's death.
“I'm afraid I cannot ask you in," said Mrs. Clarke apologetically when they reached Crystal Cottage, "as I am still unpacking. But I hope to welcome you to drink tea with me Miss Bennet, as soon as I have myself properly organized."
They parted in good humor, and Elizabeth felt that she had gained an agreeable neighbor. After that, it would have been strange had Darcy not escorted her home.
Once again, he offered her his arm and she took it, but somehow it seemed far more intimate than it had when the three of them had been walking together.
"Is Mrs. Clarke a widow?" asked Elizabeth, after they had resumed their journey.
"Yes, she is," replied Darcy. "Her husband was an acquaintance of mine. He died in a riding accident several years ago."
"How dreadful for her!" replied Elizabeth with immediate sympathy.
“It was a terrible shock."
"Has she been living in London ever since?"
"Yes." He paused briefly, then went on, "I do not want to betray confidences, but I can tell you that she has not been very happy recently. Her bright manner is in part assumed, and I know that she would be very glad of friendship at this time."
"I will gladly do what I can," replied Elizabeth.
He murmured thanks for her forbearance and, as they had now reached the bottom of the drive to Longbourn, he touched his hat to her and they parted company.
Elizabeth started to walk up the drive, but she had not taken many steps before something made her stop and look round. Darcy was striding off towards Netherfield Park, his coat swinging about him as he walked.
CHAPTER THREE
It was not long before Elizabeth visited Mrs. Clarke in order to take tea. She had made no plans to do so; she was on her way back from the village when her new neighbor came out of Crystal Cottage into the garden and attracted her attention.
"Miss Bennet, are you in a hurry? Can you spare half an hour?" Elizabeth thought of the duties that awaited her at home. A quiet half-hour would certainly be very welcome. After only a brief hesitation, she opened the gate and walked down the garden path.
Crystal Cottage was let fully furnished, but Mrs. Clarke had brought a few pieces of her own with her, and the presence of the little writing desk in the window, the matching vases on the mantel shelf and the spinet in the corner all seemed to indicate that the inhabitant had made the house entirely her own.
"Do come in and sit down," said Mrs. Clarke. "You will see that I have been very busy, and have just about got myself straight down here."
"It looks lovely," said Elizabeth looking round.
"I can assure you that chaos still reigns upstairs," replied her hostess confidingly, as she rang the bell. "Tea for myself and Miss Bennet if you please, Joanna,” she said, as soon as a middle-aged maid appeared. When the maid had gone, Mrs. Clarke confided, "Joanna has been with me for years. Sometimes I think that she knows me better than I know myself. She will certainly never allow me to do anything that she thinks might be bad for me."
"Mrs. Hill is rather like that," replied Elizabeth. “I don't think that she really believes that any of us has grown up."
At that moment, Joanna brought in the tray. Mrs. Clarke poured the tea, and it proved to be delicious, a fact on which Elizabeth felt herself bound to comment.
"I brought it with me from London," explained Mrs. Clarke. Then, after a brief pause, she went on, "Do you get to London very often, Miss Bennet?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "I have never been to London," she said simply.
"But how come?" asked her hostess with such obviously genuine interest that her words were robbed of impertinence. “I am sure that I was told by someone that you have an aunt and uncle that live in London."
"Yes, that is true," answered Elizabeth.”
"Forgive me, Miss Bennet, that does not answer my question."
Elizabeth sighed. "I became engaged when I was eighteen. Taking me to London would have been an unnecessary expense,” she went on quickly.
"Have you been to Ramsgate?" asked Mrs. Clarke, as she poured them both another cup of tea.
"Unfortunately, I have not. I’m afraid my life is rather uninteresting.”
"You must give me leave to tell you that I doubt that," replied Mrs. Clarke. "Judging by what I have seen of your sisters, I think that your life has been anything but uninteresting."
Elizabeth called to mind one or two of her sister's exploits, and told them to her hostess, who rewarded her by laughing heartily.
"They certainly are lively," she commented. "But now I recall that the first time we met, you said something about the youngest girls ambushing Mr. Darcy, and I have been longing to hear the whole story ever since."
"There's very little more to say, ma'am," replied Elizabeth, but she obliged by telling her new neighbor the story in detail, which made Mrs. Clarke laugh once more.
"I hoped that coming to the country would do me good,” she said at last, And it has done so already. I cannot remember when I have laughed so much! Poor Darcy!" she went on. "I do trust his coat was not spoiled! He has always been rather particular about his clothes."
At that moment, there was a knock at the door and very soon the object of their present conversation was admitted to Mrs. Clarke's little sitting-room. Looking at him with her hostess's comments still ringing in her ears, Elizabeth realized that although his clothes were of a color and cut entirely appropriate for the countryside, he wore them without a wrinkle and with great style.
"May I come and drink tea with you?" he asked, sitting down and laying his hat on a chair.
"I suppose I must give you some since you are here," replied Mrs. Clarke, with the ease of long acquaintance. She rang the bell in order to send for another cup and a fresh pot of tea. "I must tell you, however, that Miss Bennet and I very much resent the curtailing of our conversation."
"Indeed? I suppose you were talking of things that I'm not supposed to know about," he said.
As a matter of fact, we were talking about you, Darcy, were we not? Miss Bennet was telling me something about you that would bring a blush to your cheek—were you not so full of effrontery."
The blush came to Elizabeth's cheek, and not Darcy's. She was not used to this kind of rallying conversation, particularly not with such a vain gentleman, and did not know how to correct the impression that her hostess had given without making matters worse.
Darcy, however, seemed to be not at all discomposed, and merely said, “If Miss Bennet told you anything about me that reflects badly on my character, then I will venture to say that the truth is not in her!"
"Now how can that possibly be?" exclaimed Mrs. Clarke. "You know perfectly well that a gentleman should never contradict a lady!"
"Mrs. Clarke pleases to jest," ventured Elizabeth at last. "I was only telling her the story about how we mistook you for Mr. Collins the other week, Mr. Darcy."
"You did indeed," he agreed. "I still have the bruises to prove it."
Joanna came in with the tea and another cup, and Mrs. Clarke poured for them all.
"By the way, Darcy, I have heard something from Miss Bennet that has surprised me greatly: apparently, she has not been to London. Is that not shocking?"
"I am not at all sure of that," said he. "Many people have gone to London who would have done much better to have stayed at home."
Elizabeth, unaccountably feeling that he had defended her, gave him a grateful smile, and for
a moment thought that she saw him wink at her!
"Yes, but listen," persisted Mrs. Clarke, who had been adjusting the tea-set and had thus not seen the wink. "She has never been at all, Darcy, and what is more, she hasn’t been to Ramsgate, either. What is to be done?"
"Why, nothing at present," he returned. "And certainly, whatever we may do must not constitute interference in Miss Bennet's affairs."
This closed the discussion of London and Ramsgate, and Elizabeth could not help feeling relieved. Deep down inside, however, she was conscious of a stirring of something that was rather like discontent. She had always known that visits to such places were impossible, because of the expense, and because she was needed at home. There had been a time when she had very much longed to go to London. Only by exercising the strongest discipline had she managed to stop herself from giving voice to such desires. She had thought that by now, she would have stopped wanting to go. It was rather disturbing to discover that the old yearnings were still there, not very far from the surface.
After half an hour, Elizabeth got up to leave and Darcy did the same. Mrs. Clarke bade them a cordial farewell, and assured Elizabeth of a warm welcome whenever she might choose to drop in. If she was disappointed not to have Darcy to herself at all, she certainly did not show it. Suddenly Elizabeth wondered whether the welcome was extended to Darcy also, and whether he ever visited Mrs. Clarke there alone.
They walked together towards the gates of the manor.
“I trust that Valerie did not distress you with her frank and direct manner," said Darcy. "She does not mean any harm, but she does not always know the difference between being interested, and being over-inquisitive."
“I was a little taken aback," admitted Elizabeth, "but she did not distress me. It is refreshing to have someone new living in the vicinity. I think she will make an agreeable neighbor."
"I am glad for her sake that she has someone like yourself nearby, who is prepared to welcome her," he answered. They soon reached the bottom of the drive, and there Darcy left her, before walking on to Netherfield Park.
As Elizabeth wandered up the drive, she found herself wondering how well he had known Mrs. Clarke in London. Certainly well enough for them to be upon first-name terms! It had been through his agency that Mrs. Clarke had come into the neighborhood. Was that only because he had wanted to help an old friend, or was there another, more romantic reason?
CHAPTER FOUR
Elizabeth often wandered in the direction of Crystal Cottage when she was at leisure. Mrs. Clarke was always ready to welcome her with a cup of tea, or a glass of wine, and it frequently happened that Darcy joined them. For her part, Elizabeth found herself feeling a little uncomfortable when he came, and she put this down to anxiety that she might be in the way of a romantic twosome.
One morning, about a week after Mr. Collin's arrival, when a message arrived that their father wished to speak to Elizabeth and Lydia in his study. They looked at one another in surprise, smoothed their hair and went downstairs.
They were glad that they had taken this trouble, for Darcy was also there. Greatly to her annoyance, Elizabeth found herself blushing. She had not mentioned the fact that she had seen him so often at Mrs. Clarke's house. Now, suddenly, she found herself hoping that he would say nothing of it, for fear that it might sound as if they were indulging in clandestine liaisons.
So busy was she with these thoughts, that she suddenly realized that she was missing everything that her father was saying. She thought that he seemed confused and not a little harassed.
“I will let Darcy explain for himself,” he was saying.
“I have just received a letter from my sister, who is residing with her companion in Ramsgate,” said Darcy.
He didn't look so overpoweringly big here as he did in Mrs. Clarke's tiny room, Elizabeth thought to herself considerably. But he towered over her father, and his shoulders were wide . . . Blushing again, she forced herself to listen properly. What on earth was the matter with her today?
“In order to divert her mind, I had written, telling her a little about your lively family and she was much entertained. She has become very much taken with the idea that two young ladies from your family might go to her for a visit. I am therefore here as her emissary to ask whether you, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Lydia, will be so kind as to oblige me by agreeing to visit her?"
Elizabeth's heart gave a leap before her mind told her how impossible such a venture would be. The whole household depended upon her. How could she get away, now or ever?
"Lydia may go if Mama and Papa are in agreement," she said eventually. "But what about Kitty instead of myself?"
“If Mrs. Younge is not well, then I fear that the task of chaperoning my sister might be beyond her powers."
“And besides," put in Lydia, “Lizzy is older and will make better company for Miss Darcy's companion."
Mr. Bennet pursed his lips. "Kitty is of an age to come out," he replied. "It would be a good opportunity for her to go into society a little. After all, Lizzy is now too old to gain full benefit from such a visit."
At these words, Elizabeth fell something shrivel and die inside her. She swallowed and looked up at Darcy and wondered why his expression should be so angry. Perhaps he was annoyed that they could not agree upon who should go after he had made such a kind offer. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, the door into the study, which had been ajar, flew open completely, and Jane and Kitty stood on the threshold.
"If Darcy's sister asked for Elizabeth, it must have been because it was Elizabeth that she wanted,” said Kitty decisively. “And if she wanted to send her guests out on their own, Lydia and I would not be able to go because I am too young to be a chaperon."
Sensing a weakening in her father's position, Jane took a step or two towards him. "Papa, I know everything that Lizzy does, and I can take her place. Mary can help you and do the accounts. After a day or two, you'll have forgotten what it was like to have her here."
Mr. Bennet sighed a little. "Well, I suppose you had better go and tell your mother," he said at last.
“Papa!" exclaimed Elizabeth, and ran to throw her arms around his neck in the manner of a girl half her age. She was also conscious of the desire to do the same to Darcy!
So enthusiastic was Jane to take charge of the household that Elizabeth began to wonder whether she would be quite pleased to see her sister go. She ventured to say as much in jest, but Jane hastened to reassure her.
"Of course not!" she exclaimed. "I shall miss you dreadfully and be quite envious, but I am relying on you to marry someone rich!"
"If you're hoping for that, then you will have a very long wait," replied Elizabeth. "Lydia is much more likely to oblige you."
"Perhaps. But don't shrink into the background with all the dowagers," insisted her sister.
Before she left, Elizabeth visited her new friend at Crystal Cottage. Mrs. Clarke was delighted to hear her news, and gave her much the same advice as her sister had done.
“There are plenty of men who would by far rather marry a sensible woman than a silly chit of a girl," she said. "You are by no means on the shelf, so don't act as if you are!"
Mrs. Clarke also bestowed upon Elizabeth a gown, which she had bought by mistake, some gloves which had turned out to be the wrong size, and a handsome silk shawl. Elizabeth accepted the gifts after only a short protest. New things would have to be found for their visit somehow, and very few of them would come cheaply.
Shortly before they were due to leave for Ramsgate, they went to say goodbye to their mother. She was sitting up in bed, but looking so pale and withdrawn that Elizabeth almost refused to go. Something of her feeling conveyed itself to Mrs. Bennet, for she said firmly, "I am so glad that you are both going. I should have made sure that you had a chance before, Lizzy; I rather blame myself. But thanks to Mr. Darcy's sister, you are to have that chance now."
"Mama . . ." began Elizabeth.
"You are going, and
that’s the end of it," said her mother. “I am not completely useless up here, you know. Jane can ask me for advice any time she likes. But for now, Lydia, will you pass me that wooden box that is on the chest by the window?"
Lydia did as she was bid, and Mrs. Bennet took a smaller box from inside it, and gave it to her. They belonged to your father's mother and I had always intended that you should have them some time."
Lydia opened the box, her eyes widening as she took out a delicately fashioned gold necklace with tiny flowers made from sapphires.
"Mama! It's beautiful!" she breathed. “Are you sure?"
"Quite sure, my dear." Lydia leaned over to kiss her mother.
"I shall think of you whenever I wear it," she promised.
Mrs. Bennet smiled, and took out another small box, which she handed to Elizabeth. Elizabeth opened it to find a diamond bracelet. She stared at it and swallowed convulsively.
"It is the bracelet which goes with Grandmama's pendant," said her mother. "I should have given it to you before now." Then she produced from her box a small velvet bag, which she also handed to her eldest daughter.
After a puzzled look, Elizabeth pulled open the drawstrings of the bag, and upturned it. Onto her hand, to Elizabeth's stunned amazement, spilled Grandmama's pendant.
“They make a lovely set, don't they?" said her mother, quite unconscious of the consternation that she had caused.
"Y-yes, thank you, Mama," murmured Elizabeth, utterly mystified.
"Mr. Darcy came up to see me yesterday, to assure me that he would take great care of you both. He had chanced to go into Meryton to retrieve the necklace which had been repaired and cleaned more quickly than expected."
"How. . .how kind," said Elizabeth faintly.
“Yes. It seems Mr. Darcy's character improves upon further acquaintance. Now, kiss me goodbye, both of you, and promise me that you will have a wonderful time."
The Ramsgate Affair Page 2