Colonel Fitzwilliam said, "How comes it about that two ladies as lovely as yourselves have not been snapped up? Is there a shortage of men in Hertfordshire?"
Lydia smiled uncertainly, then turned away, leaving Elizabeth to say, "Not at all. I was engaged to be married a few years ago, but my fiance died."
“I am sorry to hear it," he replied, the mask of social assurance slipping briefly to reveal an expression of real regret. Then he carried on in his usual languid style. “And your sister? She's much too beautiful not to be spoken for. Perhaps there's a squire or farmer languishing in her absence?"
“I shall not give away my sister's secrets, sir," she answered smiling. Lydia, away from the colonel's disturbing innuendos, was now talking and laughing easily with Mr. Denny.
"You probably don't know them all," he said with a roguish grin.
At that moment, Darcy came in with Mrs. Clarke, who was looking extremely elegant in a gown of olive-green silk which admirably complemented her auburn hair. She was also wearing a magnificent emerald necklace. Elizabeth fingered her pendant again, more thankful than ever that it had not found its way around Mrs. Clarke's neck.
"My dear Miss Elizabeth!" she exclaimed as they came over to her. "How charming you are looking! Do you not think so, Mr. Darcy?"
Darcy took Elizabeth's hand and bowed over it, sending a frisson of awareness all the way up her arm.
"Certainly not,” he replied smiling down at Elizabeth. "Charming is not an adequate description at all. I like the new hairstyle, by the way."
"Yes indeed; very becoming,” agreed Mrs. Clarke. "I was just saying earlier that . . ." She broke off, then exclaimed, "Good heavens! If it isn't Colonel Fitzwilliam! What unlucky chance has brought you here among these charming young ladies?"
The Colonel grinned and bowed with careless grace. "Valerie Clarke, as I live and breathe! You behold me the picture of innocence! I am here merely in the guise of an older relative. Pray, guarantee not to sully his youthful ears with tales of my scandalous past!"
"Past, my dear fellow?" murmured Darcy, one eyebrow raised. The two men laughed and for an instant, there was something in their stance and expression that made them look strangely alike. In contrast to his cousin, Darcy's complexion had a healthy tan, and he seemed to Elizabeth to be just as much at home here in a fashionable drawing-room as he did striding across the fields near Netherfield Park.
“Pray excuse us for a while,” said Mrs. Clarke, tucking her hand into the colonel's arm. "I want Richard to tell me all his wicked secrets!"
"How much time do you have?" asked Colonel Fitzwilliam as they strolled away.
If Darcy was annoyed at the appropriation of the lady whom he had brought that evening then he did not show it, but turned to Elizabeth saying, “I have made inquiries about a horse for you, and I believe that there will be no difficulty in procuring a suitable mount."
“Thank you," replied Elizabeth. "You are very good."
"Nonsense," he said a trifle roughly. "If I'd been very good, I'd have thought about that long ago, and enabled you to ride more at home. You could easily have ridden one of the horses at Netherfield Park."
“I am fond of walking.”
“Yes, I know.” He stared at her as if he knew her more intimately than she knew herself.
"How kind of you to think of it," exclaimed Elizabeth nervously. "But how eccentric of Mr. Bingley to have kept all these extra horses stabled at Netherfield just for your own use, and how strange that I have never had an inkling of their presence!"
He flushed a little. "Bingley always keeps extra horses for a hunting party," he said defensively. There was no time to say more for Sims came in to announce dinner. Nevertheless, Elizabeth was touched by his kindness and kept thinking about it again during the evening.
At dinner, Elizabeth found herself seated with Colonel Fitzwilliam on one side of her and Wickham on the other. The Colonel was an amusing table companion, keeping Elizabeth laughing with a stream of nonsense. For all that, she did not lose sight of Lydia sitting next to Denny and giving him her full attention. She could also see out of the corner of her eye that Mrs. Clarke was putting forth her best efforts in amusing Darcy, and that he was responding with smiles and occasional laughter.
Wickham, too, seemed determined to put his worries about Georgiana behind him, and enjoy the evening. All in all, thought Elizabeth, it would be perfect if only. . . but she could not think what the "if only" might be. After the dinner was over, the ladies left the gentlemen to their wine.
"If Colonel Fitzwilliam has anything to do with it, they'll be there for hours," said Mrs. Clarke dispassionately. But either the colonel's counsels did not prevail, or else he had decided to abandon his customary habits, for a very short time later the door opened and Wickham was one of the first, wandering casually over to where Lydia was playing the pianoforte and singing.
"I am so pleased that I have come to Ramsgate," Mrs. Clarke went on. "There is so much to do; shopping, going to the assembly hall, meeting one's friends. I am told that there are some fine bursts of countryside around here. Do you ever go riding, Miss Bennet?"
“As a matter of fact, some of us are to go in a few days' time,” said Elizabeth.
"How delightful,” she replied. Only the rudest of people could have denied her an invitation. Elizabeth, while wishing that she was the rudest person, could not bring herself to achieve her desire.
"You are very welcome to come,” said Elizabeth. It is just a party of friends; mostly those you see now.”
"I should like it of all things,” said Mrs. Clarke warmly. "I am sure that Darcy will procure me a mount. He is so obliging."
"Yes, he is," murmured Elizabeth.
****
Four days later, Darcy and Mrs. Clarke arrived promptly at Lilley Place, the lady looking dashing in a riding habit of olive green. Until her arrival, Elizabeth had been very pleased with the peat-brown habit which had belonged to Mrs. Younge's daughter and which had been skillfully altered.
After the widow's appearance, she suddenly felt a little dowdy and under-dressed. Lydia looked enchanting in a royal blue habit which she had had for her coming-out two years before and which Mrs. Younge had tweaked to give it a more fashionable touch.
Georgiana, in a lighter shade of the same color, was very pretty and it did not surprise Elizabeth at all that Wickham was captivated with her. Her only anxiety would be to see that he did not spend his whole time in Georgiana's pocket and that Lydia did not do the same with Denny.
Elizabeth was above all a country girl, and it was not until they were out of the city that she realized how much she had missed the open spaces, trees and hedgerows. She turned a glowing face to Darcy and when he smiled back at her she suddenly felt her heart skip a beat.
He had found her a docile mount as promised and she soon found old skills returning and she began to relax. Moreover, she had every confidence in Darcy, who was a fine horseman, and on the alert for any difficulty that she might have.
As they set out, Denny and Mrs. Clarke led the way with Lydia riding beside Wickham and Georgiana beside Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Elizabeth and Darcy bringing up the rear. Once out in the countryside, the party sorted itself out a little and eventually Elizabeth found herself riding for a time next to the colonel whilst Darcy talked with Mrs. Clarke, and the others rode together in a group.
For a woman who says she cannot ride, you are doing remarkably well," said Colonel Fitzwilliam, looking at her reassuringly from beneath his rather heavy, lazy lids.
"I did not say I could not, I said it had been a long time, and so it has. And I have to admit, sir, that I am enjoying it very much indeed."
"Oh why so formal?" he exclaimed. "Please call me Richard."
"I couldn't possibly," she returned.
“I don't see why not. You call Darcy by his Christian name.”
When she hesitated, he went on, "Perhaps you feel that to call me by my given name might not accord with the high respe
ct in which you hold me. Now Darcy, as we know, is such a proud fellow—"
"Not at all,” she interrupted, laughing. "It is simply that I have known Mr. Darcy for a number of months. You, on the other hand, I only met a few days ago."
"But does long acquaintance necessarily bring with it a desire for intimacy? I can think of people whom I have known for years with whom I have no wish to be more closely acquainted. Take my older brother, for example! He stands to inherit everything, leaving me to fend for myself!"
"Colonel Fitzwilliam, for shame!" exclaimed Elizabeth, laughing again almost in spite of herself.
"On other occasions, however, one need only know someone for an instant and immediately one desires intimacy with them." He put one hand on his heart and cast her a look that was so exaggeratedly arch that she could not help but laugh once more.
"Yes, my dear sir, that is very true," she acknowledged when she had finished laughing. "But both you and I know that such is not the case here. I may have lived all my life in the country, and I may find you entertaining, but that does not make me naive."
It was Colonel Fitzwilliam's turn to burst out laughing.
"Very well, ma'am," he said in much more normal tones. “I take your point. But I still maintain that sometimes a man can meet a woman, and he knows that she is special to him straight away. If you asked him to tell you why, he might not be able to give you a reason such as her beauty or her personality or her bewitching smile, although she might possess any of those. Perhaps in an effort to put her out of his mind, he pursues every woman under the sun, but none of them will do. The feeling will not be denied." He was looking straight ahead of him, his expression very serious.
“I suppose it might be true," she said after a moment's thought. “I notice that you speak only for men, but I think that women also can feel such emotions. Your observations should not be limited to the sphere of romantic love. Friendships, for example, can be forged at a single meeting."
“I would not dream of contradicting you, Miss Bennet." They rode on in silence for a short time, then Elizabeth asked a question which had been on her mind for some little time.
“I could guess that you and Darcy were close friends by the way in which you greeted one another," said Elizabeth carefully, hoping to find out more and yet not wanting to seem as if she was prying.
"Closer at one time than we are now," replied Colonel Fitzwilliam. “I've been out of the country for two years and long before that. Darcy had largely withdrawn from the London scene."
“I've never been to London," said Elizabeth, unaware of how wistful she sounded.
"Perhaps Darcy will take you there one day,” murmured the colonel provocatively.
"Why should he do that?" she asked defensively, blushing.
“I am sure he'll think of a reason: another relative for you to visit, perhaps? Shall we ride on and join the others?"
As Elizabeth could not think of a reply to this outrageous speech, she was very glad to do as he suggested, and besides, Mr. Wickham was spending rather too much time with Georgiana, and Lydia had not left Mr. Denny's side since they had got out of the city. In fact, Wickham and Georgiana had been making the most of the opportunity of talking together uninterrupted.
"When do you think I can approach your brother?" asked Wickham urgently, and not for the first time.
"Oh Wickham. I don't know,” answered Georgiana, her anxiety communicating itself to her mount. I have tried to hint to him that I am not inclined towards Colonel Fitzwilliam, or indeed towards any marriage arranged for monetary reasons, but he seems quite deaf to anything that I might say."
"Colonel Fitzwilliam!" exclaimed Wickham. "Is it certain then that he is to offer for you?"
"Nothing is certain," replied Georgiana wretchedly, "but I fear that it must be so. We were quite happily settled in London, and I cannot think of any other reason why William would suddenly want us to come here, for neither of us is ill or need of a holiday."
"But one good thing has resulted from it: we are able to meet one another," said Wickham smiling at her.
"As if I would deny that," returned Georgiana, answering him with a smile as loving as his own.
"Then let me speak to Darcy," urged Wickham "I so much want to claim you before the world with an honorable engagement."
"There is nothing I want more," confessed Georgiana. "But you don't know William as I do. If I venture to be more assertive, he just says that I'm too young to know my own mind. But I'm not, Mr. Wickham!"
“I know that, sweet," he answered. He thought for a moment then went on, ""I wish I knew how to convince Darcy that I would be an acceptable suitor for your hand," he said. "God knows we have enough if we married, but that would all be yours."
"Don't say "if" Wickham, say "when"," insisted Georgiana. "We will manage it somehow. Otherwise, what is the alternative? Could you bear to see me married to Colonel Fitzwilliam, or some other wealthy man of my brother's choosing?"
Wickham's hands tightened involuntarily on his rein and his horse reacted nervously.
"I would sooner kill him," he vowed.
"Oh pray do not talk so violently!" cried Georgiana.
"Forgive me! I am allowing my imagination to run away with me. Let us not spoil the time that we have. Whatever happens, I promise that we will be together somehow. Hush now, though. The others are catching up with us."
***
For a time, the party rode on as a close group, with the conversation being very general and somewhat disconnected. Soon afterwards, they turned back for home, and on their return, Elizabeth found herself riding with Darcy, whilst a little ahead of them, Mrs. Clarke and Colonel Fitzwilliam rode together flirting desperately.
"Having brought you to Ramsgate, I feel in some way responsible for you,” said Darcy, "so perhaps I should have warned you before now that Wickham is a notorious rake."
"First Mrs. Younge warned me, and now you," said Elizabeth good-humorously. "How naive do you think I am, Mr. Darcy? I was certainly able to discern that for myself."
"In that case, I have to say that I'm surprised that you were prepared to flirt with him so enthusiastically," he retorted.
"You must have uncommon powers of hearing and discernment, Darcy, if you think that you were able to detect a flirtation taking place all of twenty yards away," she said tartly.
"Elizabeth. . ."
"Furthermore, I am appalled by your conduct. Why should you judge others?”
"Elizabeth, I make every allowance for your intelligence," persisted Darcy, speaking a little louder and with a little less patience, "but you are wholly lacking in any experience of dealing with such a man."
“Oh for goodness sake, Mr. Darcy, what do you think could possibly happen here, among friends?” she said exasperatedly.
"I am not simply referring to today," he said impatiently. "You are being unconscionably foolish if you think that being near him safely in company means that all danger is past. Wickham, to put it bluntly, is a practiced seducer of anything in petticoats! No doubt after your protracted flirtation with him today, he regards you as fair game!"
Elizabeth colored, as much with anger as with embarrassment. "Well, I suppose you must know, intimate with him as you are!" she retorted swiftly.
“And what is that supposed to mean?" he asked slowly and with a hint of menace.
"I merely wondered how you could consider yourself to be a friend of such a "practiced seducer" unless . . . Her voice faded away. Suddenly, she realized that she had gone too far.
"Unless. . .” he prompted.
"It was nothing,” she said quickly. Just a passing thought.”
"Unless I am one myself. I think you were going to say,” he said silkily.
"No . . . no, of course not, I. . .”
"Elizabeth, my dear. A lady's imagination is very rapid.”
"What do you mean?" she asked suspiciously.
"Simply this. Tomorrow, I'm taking you for a drive—that is, if you are free,
of course."
“Yes, but William—”
He rode away before she could finish her protest.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The day dawned bright and clear for Darcy and Elizabeth's outing. Elizabeth had been more disturbed by her conversation with him than she was prepared to admit, even to herself. It was as if she had caught a glimpse of an entirely different man from the imperturbable one she had met many months ago.
The night before their outing, she found it hard to sleep, wondering what exactly he might be planning. She had half a mind to tell him that she would not go, but then he might think that she was afraid and that would never do!
She was glad to escape having to discuss the matter with Lydia, for her sister had gone out earlier that morning to spend some time with Miss King. Elizabeth had greeted this news with some surprise.
"Miss King must certainly improve on acquaintance," she said in puzzled tones.
"Yes, I think she does," Lydia had replied airily. "Do you want anything in town, should I chance to go there?"
Elizabeth did not want anything and she was glad to get away with saying nothing about her own outing. It only occurred to her later to wonder why she should be so embarrassed about going driving with someone whom she lacked all affection.
Promptly at ten o"clock, Darcy arrived. Elizabeth was ready to go—had been ready for the past half-an-hour at least—but for some reason she felt it necessary to loiter in her room for a full quarter of an hour before going downstairs. She had taken particular care with her appearance and was glad that her new amber walking dress had arrived in time from the dressmaker.
She was quite determined not to allow Darcy to intimidate her. Who did he think he was, warning her about Wickham's intentions? What right did he have to judge one's character? How dare he offended her sensibilities. Well, she would go, but he need not think that he would be able to play any tricks on her!
For his part, Darcy had been having second thoughts. His suggestion that he and Elizabeth go out for a drive together had been an impulse of the moment. Seeing her at ease around Wickham had so infuriated him that he had only just managed to conquer his feelings sufficiently in order to converse with her, and her amused rejection of his warnings and advice had filled him with a desire to demonstrate to her in practical terms how very unsafe some men could be.
The Ramsgate Affair Page 6