“But we must make the best of it,” he continued, and sighed.
She glanced up. “You look tired, Mr. Darcy. It has been rather a whirlwind of change for you as well as me, I suppose.”
“Yes.”
If he was going to be as monosyllabic as this for long, Elizabeth thought she might be tempted to withdraw from the agreement herself. She watched as his gaze wandered around the room, and then she seized on the one topic she knew made him smile.
“I am looking forward to meeting your sister, sir. I hope she does not feel dismayed by this arrangement.”
He looked startled. “I have not yet told her of it. I will do so when I get home, now I have spoken to you.” He met her gaze calmly. “I am not going to tell her of the way this — has been done. I would ask that this appears real to her, or she will be most distressed by my aunt when we finally have to meet her.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Can you tell me a little about her? I only know that she is very shy. How old is she, and what is her name?”
He stiffened little, then seemed to relax, and smiled. “Georgiana is nearly seventeen now, but to me, she seems younger; I suppose because she has always depended very heavily on me.” He hesitated. “Our mother died when Georgiana was still a baby.” His gaze turned inward. “Georgiana looks very like her.”
“That must be painful for you,” Elizabeth acknowledged quietly.
There was a grudging respect in his expression. “Indeed, but no one else has ever thought to say so. Thank you.”
So he was capable of politeness and respect. Elizabeth was glad of it. “Perhaps Georgiana will help me to understand your family and who is who before I have to meet them,” she ventured.
He smiled slightly. “It will be a good idea.” He hesitated, “I understand you are accomplished at the pianoforte. That will please Georgiana, she loves music.”
This was very agreeable. Elizabeth kept the conversation on Miss Georgiana Darcy for several more minutes, until Mr. Darcy sighed.
“I would like to introduce you to Georgiana in the next day or two, but I would not like her to be distressed by the need to invite your family with you to Darcy House the first time.” He frowned. “Might Mrs. Gardiner be amenable if I call here with Georgiana tomorrow?”
Elizabeth smiled. “I am sure that will be perfectly all right, Mr. Darcy. Perhaps if the weather remains fair, we might talk a short walk in the park during the morning.”
He smiled appreciatively. “Georgiana would enjoy that.” Then his smile vanished. “I am sorry that we do not have very many days now, Miss Bennet. But my uncle has a great ball next week to celebrate attaining the age of sixty years. He is the Earl of Matlock. His younger sister is Lady Catherine de Bourgh.” He failed to quite stop a grimace. “She is determined I marry her daughter — and I will not.” His voice had turned fierce.
Elizabeth was curious. “I …” then she shook her head. It didn’t matter. She would find out soon enough.
He looked at her curiously, and she smiled at him.
“It is not important today, sir. We have more to discuss.”
His eyebrows went up. “I will be interested to hear your thoughts, Miss Bennet.”
“I am afraid I do not know exactly what is expected of me and our — engagement, Mr. Darcy. Nor what is usual for people of your social standing.” She smiled anxiously. “Just as an example, engaged people in my town would call each other by their forename when they are alone or with family. But that may not be the case for you. I would be very grateful if you can tell me what to do so that I do not disgrace you.”
His sudden smiled surprised her and warmed her through. “I’m sorry if I have seemed aloof, Miss Bennet. But I haven’t wanted to say anything until I was certain that this would all happen. I am grateful that you have agreed to do this and I am aware it cannot have been an easy decision.” He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “I will want to talk to you about Lady Catherine, I am concerned that she will be very rude and try and get you alone to intimidate you.”
She laughed. “My courage always rises when I am confronted by people like that, sir. But I will welcome any advice or information you can give me.” She huffed a small laugh, “and I would be grateful for your support.”
He rose to his feet. “I will, of course, provide that, Miss Bennet. And I will tell you about her, perhaps tomorrow. But I think it has been long enough for today.” He bowed. “I will return home and speak to Georgiana. I fear she will be surprised, but I hope to bring her to meet you tomorrow.”
Elizabeth rose and curtsied to him. “I will look forward to it, sir.” She was surprised to find she meant it.
He bowed. “Is your uncle at home today? I would like to have a brief word with him.”
“Yes, sir. He is.” Elizabeth rang the bell and asked the housekeeper to show Mr. Darcy to the library to meet her uncle.
After his grave farewell, she sat down for a few moments to collect her thoughts.
15
Richard paced up and down the great hallway of Darcy House, unable to stop himself, despite being aware of Georgiana’s anxious face in the drawing-room doorway.
Where the blazes was Darcy? Georgiana had been unable to say, apart from the fact that a lady had called yesterday, when he had told her he was expecting a business call. And now he had gone out this morning without leaving word with Georgiana.
At least he’d told her he’d be back for lunch, so Richard was hopeful of finding out what he needed to know.
He had ridden hard from Rosings Park at first light this morning.
Lady Catherine had been enraged that Darcy was not answering her letters and Richard had sat for almost the whole day letting her vituperation wash over him.
He had been stunned to hear that Darcy had told her he was betrothed — several weeks ago! Why hadn’t he heard?
He had gazed at his Cousin Anne. She’d looked troubled and was trying to attract as little attention as possible.
So he was delighted when Lady Catherine developed a headache after luncheon and went to her chambers to rest. Richard walked out around the gardens with Anne. She walked slowly, her frailty more apparent than usual. His heart had pounded with affection and concern.
All he wanted to do was sweep her into his arms and protect her from this poisonous atmosphere. He was certain she would be much happier away from her mother. But he knew that she could not imagine life without her mother’s presence.
And Richard could not countenance living at Rosings after marriage, under the baleful control of his aunt. Even for Anne; for he could not think it would make her any happier.
But now, Lady Catherine had determined that she would come to London, would confront Darcy about this young lady. And Richard had taken the opportunity to rise at dawn and try to find him, warn him about her arrival.
He turned and looked at Georgiana. She looked miserably worried, and he forced his mind away from Kent. He crossed to her.
“Let us have some more tea, Georgiana. It means Darcy will be certain to arrive soon after.” But he was not so sure. If Darcy was indeed engaged, he might spend longer there than a formal call.
But how could he be engaged? Richard had written that letter to Lady Somerville, desperate to save both Darcy and Anne from being unhappily joined in marriage. Darcy’s letter to his aunt had been written before Richard’s own letter could have reached its destination, so where had this fiancee come from? Had he lied to his aunt? Surely not, or how could he have expected to keep the lie going?
“Here you are, Cousin Richard.” Georgiana’s timid voice drew his attention. She had poured his tea and was holding out the cup to him.
“Thank you,” Richard took the cup from her. “I’m sorry to seem distracted.” He sighed. “I do hope your brother will be back soon. Are you sure no one knows where he is?”
She stared at him. “The only one who might have heard what he told the coachman is Mr. Jones. But he says he had stepped back to the house and
the coachman shut the coach door and took the instructions.” She paled. “Is William in danger?”
“No, no! It is nothing like that, Georgiana.” Richard hurried to reassure her. “It is only that Lady Catherine intended to come here to berate him for not marrying Cousin Anne. She was going to leave Rosings this morning, so I rode ahead early to warn him.”
The drawing room door was open, and he heard the front door creak open. He hoped it was Darcy. Georgiana certainly thought so, she jumped to her feet and hurried to the door.
“William! I’m so glad you’re home!” Richard heard her voice from the hall. “Come quickly, Cousin Richard is here with urgent news!”
He heard Darcy’s voice. “I am coming, Georgiana. Is it bad news?”
“I don’t know. Well, I think so.” Georgiana appeared in the doorway, tugging her brother’s arm.
Darcy met Richard’s eyes over the top of his head. There was a warning there. Why?
“Good day, Richard.” Darcy turned and put down his hat and gloves, having not had time to remove them in the hall. “What has happened?”
Richard glanced unhappily at the window. “I hope I am not too late, Darcy. But I was at Rosings Park yesterday. Lady Catherine is furious that you are not answering your letters, and haven’t called on her. She said she was going to call here today to berate you.”
Darcy scowled. “Enough.” He glanced at the clock and rang the bell. Then he looked at Richard. “You must have set off early to warn me; Mr. Jones tells me you have been waiting some time. Thank you, and I am sorry, but we have no time to lose.”
He turned to the butler. “Mr. Jones, get the coach readied at once. We are going out. If — or when, we have a caller, you are to say that Miss Darcy and I have gone out for the day. Colonel Fitzwilliam did not call here.”
Then he turned to his sister. Richard noticed his voice was gentle. “I have something to tell you, Georgiana. And I do not want to be interrupted by our aunt. So we will go where we will not be disturbed, and we can talk as long as we need.” He raised her hand to his lips. “Please ready yourself as quickly as you can.”
As Georgiana hurried away, Darcy turned to Richard. “You’re welcome, too, Richard. I need to share the news with you, too.” He laughed, “and hear what has infuriated Lady Catherine.”
He went to the door, his mood seeming uncommonly lighthearted.
“Mr. Jones.”
Richard watched as Darcy spoke to the butler. “When the coach is ready, do not bring it to the front. We will go from the courtyard. I do not want to pass Lady Catherine in the road.” He glanced at the clock. “Please hurry.”
He turned and clapped Richard on the shoulder. “I should have returned earlier, perhaps. Then we could have had a whisky and talked before going out.”
Richard shook his head. “You will have to face Lady Catherine sooner or later.”
Darcy’s lips thinned. “I have told her that I will see her at Uncle Henry’s celebration. I see no reason to be at her beck and call before then — and she should have written to inform me she was intending to travel to London to see me.”
He picked up his hat and gloves. “I would have relished the chance of a whisky first. But perhaps there will be a suitable inn where we can stop for refreshments.”
He went to the door. “Where do you think we should go?”
“Kew Palace? A gallery? Hyde Park?” Richard suggested a few places.
Darcy glanced at him. “Lady Catherine might follow us to any of them.” He looked into the hall. “Good. Georgiana is ready.”
Richard followed. “I think Lady Catherine will seek us at Matlock House, perhaps.”
“Perhaps.” Darcy said no more until they were in the coach and turning out of the courtyard.
Richard leaned forward. “Darcy, you cannot run away from her for long. What if she is sitting waiting for you when you arrive home tonight? Then she will have to stay the night.”
16
Darcy looked at Richard. He did not understand why he suddenly felt this implacable determination that his aunt was not going to chart the course of his life any more. If she would not be dissuaded, then he thought that his life might be better without her in it at all.
“She will not stay at Darcy House. If necessary, I will have runners light the way for her to Matlock House and she can stay there. Your parents have more patience than I.”
He turned to Georgiana. She still looked perplexed and bewildered. He wondered if Miss Bennet — no, Elizabeth — would indeed befriend her and help her to become more grown up in her manner. His lips thinned. Two months was not long enough for that. But it was time to tell her.
He leaned forward and captured her hand in his. “Georgiana, I have some news for you. It is where I was this morning, and I hope to introduce you tomorrow to the young lady, for we are engaged.” He felt her hand jerk in his grasp, and her surprise was palpable.
“My felicitations, Darcy.” Richard’s voice was rather ironic, and Darcy supposed Lady Catherine had told him that she had heard several weeks ago.
Darcy kept his attention on his sister, he must not make her feel that she was any the less important in his eyes. After all, this engagement would end soon enough, although Georgiana wasn’t to know that; but she would always be his sister and his responsibility.
“Her name is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and she is one and twenty. She is lively and loves music, in addition to having a number of younger sisters, so she is very much looking forward to meeting you.”
Georgiana looked completely overwhelmed. “I hope she likes me.”
Darcy squeezed her hand. “I’m sure she will,” he stopped, unable to think of anything else to say.
Georgiana was silent, too, and the coach rattled on through the busy streets.
Richard cleared his throat slightly, looking studiously out of the window.
Darcy smiled. “Perhaps you could tell us, Richard, what Lady Catherine’s ire is all about.” He still held onto Georgiana’s hand. She might be shattered at what was said, and he wished, in a way, that she could have heard it privately.
Richard laughed humourlessly. “I went down to call on them because my father asked me to. He had heard from Lady Catherine that she had booked you an appointment with the Archbishop to buy a licence, and was booking the church, so that you would marry Cousin Anne.”
Georgiana’s gasp caused Darcy to tighten his grip and he smiled at her reassuringly. “What else had you heard?”
Richard laughed. “I am not sure why it is so amusing to you, Darcy, but I suppose you to be in love, so everything is working out as you wish it. But Father said that you had written back to her to tell her you could not marry Cousin Anne, for you were already betrothed and you would introduce her to the young lady at Father’s celebration. Furthermore,” he continued over Georgiana’s repeated gasp, “you have subsequently failed to answer any more of Lady Catherine’s letters, and you did not attend the appointment at the Archbishop’s palace.” He laughed again. “You cannot be surprised that she is angered.”
Darcy felt his anger rise, but he pushed it down. “Lady Catherine may be my aunt, but I am the master of Pemberley, and I will decide when, and whom, I marry. I owe her no explanation, and no more civility than she accords me.” He felt a sudden light-heartedness again. “ And I would never choose a bride who would give me Lady Catherine as my mother-in-law.”
Georgiana giggled nervously, but Richard’s face was serious.
“But what do you feel for Cousin Anne?”
Darcy glanced at him. Did it matter, now he was engaged to another? But he kept his voice level. “As she is my cousin, I feel an affection for her, and I am also sorry for her situation.” He met Richard’s eyes. “I have long felt that perhaps your parents could have arranged for Anne to go with your mother or one of your sisters to take the waters at Bath. When she is away from Lady Catherine, she may well be much happier.”
Richard shook his head. “I do not feel
she would agree to that, and her mother would certainly insist on going with her.”
“I expect you are right.” Darcy wondered at the tone of his cousin’s voice — was it desolation? He glanced sharply at Richard.
“So,” Richard changed the subject determinedly, “tell us how you met Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and what has drawn you together,” he cast a glance at Darcy’s face, “but perhaps only when we have arrived wherever it is you have decided we are going.”
Darcy sighed. This subterfuge was going to become difficult, he could see that. “We are nearly at Hampstead Heath. The Swan is a very pleasant coaching inn. They will provide a good lunch for us.”
He wasn’t sure what he could say. They must believe his engagement was real, and they must believe he had made his offer knowing Miss Bennet quite well.
But there was not much he could say about her. He spent the next few minutes marshalling what facts he did know so that he could issue them in little fragments over lunch.
17
Elizabeth sat quietly in her aunt’s drawing room, watching the little Gardiner children as they clustered round their mother. Ten minutes before the formal hour for calls, the nursemaid entered and gathered the children together and took them up to the nursery.
Elizabeth turned to Jane. “I’m so sorry you have to wait until Mr. Darcy has gone before you can go out with Aunt Gardiner to choose more of your wedding clothes.” She reached out to hug her. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
“Oh, Lizzy!” Jane returned her embrace. “It was always going to be this way. Once I had married, and you too, we were always going to find our lives diverge.” She hugged her tight. “But Mr. Lawrence will not be able to travel often, with his parish duties, so I will rely on you to call on me when you can.”
“I will do my very best, Jane — and I will write to you every day.”
“I wonder what Mr. Darcy’s sister is like?” her aunt mused, as she sat quietly waiting for their visitors.
Impatiently, Darcy Page 6