A minute later, Mr. Bennet rounded the corner staring at the newspaper he had folded in his hand. Dressed more casually than the group—except for Elizabeth—he caught sight of the small party. He stopped, snagged a flaky scone from the tray, and took a bite as he went on his way, giving them not a second look.
“Thomas Bennet, you stop right there. Do you not see we have guests?” Mrs. Bennet tilted her head and waited for his attention.
He stopped and ran his gaze around the table before landing on a perturbed Mrs. Bennet. “I have eyes, my dear.” He slipped the paper under his arm and reached his hand out to Granville just as the two gentlemen stood to meet him. “How do you do, sir?” he said around his chewing.
“Granville Ackerman, Mr. Bennet. And this is my younger brother, Patrick.”
Mr. Bennet shook Patrick’s hand with a silent nod.
“I’ve just brought him round to meet Mary,” Granville stated.
Mr. Bennet cocked his head at Patrick. “Is that so?” He passed his gaze over to Mary whose smile caused him to double take his attention back to her the moment he turned it away as if he hadn’t recognized her. “Takes a village, I presume,” he muttered under his breath.
Mrs. Bennet quickly spoke up to cover her husband’s comment. “Mr. Ackerman is a well-traveled business man and his brother is...well, he’s...”
“My brother is my protégé, ma’am.”
“I’m a graduate from UCL business school.” Patrick’s dark eyes skirted to Mary and with no reaction from her, he cleared his throat and returned to his seat.
Mr. Bennet gave the unlikely clan another once over as if trying to determine “whodunit” in a game of Clue. “Right, well, I’ll just leave you to...that.”
“Father won’t you join us,” Elizabeth said, her voice slightly strained. The one person she could feel herself around was the very person who speed-walked through the family—both literally and figuratively.
“Actually,” Mr. Bennet said, avoiding his wife’s contemptuous gaze, “there is a matter I need to speak to you about, Lizzy. Can I have a moment in private?”
Elizabeth seized the opportunity to pop from her chair, her mother and Mary both reaching for her arms at the same time like shackles on an electric chair. Her mother spoke first. “I should think this could wait since we—”
“I’ll be quick about it.” She wriggled her arms free of the women and followed her father away from the patio, back into the house.
Mr. Bennet didn’t stop until he reached his study. Inside, he leaned against an old walnut desk he’d had as long as Elizabeth could remember and folded his arms. “Be careful around that one.”
The side of Elizabeth’s mouth turned up slightly, and her soft brown eyes narrowed. “Granville?”
With a fist propped under his chin, he nodded.
Not that she had any reason to defend Granville, but she was curious why her father deemed him some sort of threat. “Father, you know nothing about the man.”
“On the contrary. I’m very well informed on the likes of Mr. Ackerman’s savvy business dealings not to mention his way with women.”
“But you’ve only just met him.”
Mr. Bennet went on to explain how Mrs. Bennet droned on about Mr. Ackerman the night before. How she boasted of his prowess and reputation and how Patrick would soon follow in his footsteps. He’d done a little research on his own as well, and without giving details, she could see he held no admiration for the man.
“I wouldn’t worry, father. I’m sure mother wouldn’t have gone on about him if there was something to be concerned about.”
Mr. Bennet shook his head and grinned before walking closer to his favorite daughter. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. “My dear, Lizzy. Thinking your mother would refrain from a good craic is like expecting the crickets not to chirp. As for the intent of those three out there...” He nudged his head in the direction of the door and rubbed the dirt from her cheek with the hanky. “...that remains to be seen.”
With that small act of love, both from his words and from his tending to her, Elizabeth transformed into a little girl again, just in from rousting about in the fields. She smiled and put her arm around him, leaning her head into his shoulder. “Given you’re about the only sane person in this house, father, I’ll consider your warning and be on guard.”
Mr. Bennet put his arm around her and squeezed. “Right. Do stay vigil. Now you should return before your mother starts discussing engagement parties that I’ll have to fund by selling the gold from my teeth.”
He meant to elicit the usual giggle from the daughter who most appreciated his humor, but the joke hit too close to reality. “Father...”
“Now don’t you start in on me about the wedding again. We’ll manage.”
That’s what Mr. Bennet always said when it came to money and his daughters.
“But the firm...are you still worried?”
“With lawyers like ours and as old as I am, I have no doubt I’ll be the first to go if it comes to it; they’ve already reduced my time by twenty-five percent. What do they need a business manager for if they are getting no cases after all?”
She put on a brave face to spare her father of the guilt. She wished there was more she could do to help. She’d discussed her father’s troubles with William hoping he might have some idea of what to do, but so far he hadn’t mentioned it.
He tapped her on the chin and lifted his brows. “I’m sure it will all work out. Like I told your mother, we can always rent the house.” He winked, leaving Elizabeth unsure if he was joking. “Wouldn’t your mother be the most hospitable hostess?” he added.
They both laughed, and Elizabeth headed to the door with a sigh of concession. Good times or bad, her parents remained committed to torturing each other.
“And what of Darcy?” His words caught her before she stepped out. “Will he be home soon to protect what he’s claimed?”
“Father!” It was a weak attempt because they both knew nothing he could say would take him from her good graces. “Yes, William should be home tomorrow.”
Her father nodded with a small smirk, and she was on her way. As she walked back through the house, she felt a hint of sadness for the changes that waited ahead. Her heart and future belonged to William, but leaving her family home and its fate both weighed heavily on her heart. If indeed her father lost his job and they had to give up the house, or worse, rent it, it would kill her mother. Her brain couldn’t comprehend all the implications. Could her parents’ already shaky marriage survive? It was as if the house and the kids were keeping them together. The only thing she knew for sure was that Mrs. Bennet would look to her daughters for support and Elizabeth feared she would draw the short straw.
She returned to the patio, welcomed by her mother’s cackles and Mary’s pout. It appeared her mother had monopolized the conversation again, and from the sound of it, had taken to boasting about her eldest and most respectable daughter, Jane. Hearing her name touched an achy spot in her heart. She and Jane had been so close, and now more than ever she needed her. So many things in her life required dissection; Jane had expertly led Elizabeth through many tough times. But, Jane needed to follow her heart, and her husband, to a new life. Believing things happen for a reason, Elizabeth set her faith in the new closeness between her and Mary, something that could benefit them both.
Granville and Patrick stood for Elizabeth to take her seat, but before she could do so, Mrs. Bennet suggested they have a stroll and show Granville and Patrick the garden. Had Patrick’s allergies slipped her mind already?
“Thank you, Mrs. Bennet, but I’ll be fine with my view from here,” Patrick said, sitting once again.
Mary’s lips pulled into a straight line as she caught her mother’s eye. Mrs. Bennet smiled and stammered for a response when Granville spoke up.
“I hear Mary is an excellent pianist, Patrick. Maybe you can convince her to play something for you while we take a short walk.”
Elizabeth attempted to pass an apology to Mary through her eyes, but Mary didn’t appear concerned about being alone with Patrick. In fact, she brightened at the suggestion. Patrick’s expression, on the other hand, appeared as though he’d rather risk the hives.
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Mrs. Bennet agreed.
Elizabeth could have sworn she saw a strange look pass between Granville and her mother. And as they stepped onto the path toward the garden, Mrs. Bennet suddenly felt a chill and returned to the house to fetch her sweater.
Without waiting for her, Elizabeth and Granville walked in silence for the first few minutes. Elizabeth filled the empty space with trivial facts about the area, pointing out where her father had added this tree or that set of hedges.
“Your home is beautiful,” Granville said when she’d had nothing more to say. “Very...quaint.”
“Yes, I’m sure it is quaint compared to what you’re used to.”
“I’m not used to anything at all. In fact, my family started out rather like yours. I’ve worked extremely hard to get where I am today.”
Though his tone was not defensive, Elizabeth felt contrite. “Oh, I didn’t mean to...it’s just that—”
He reached out and touched her arm before he stopped to face her. “It’s all right. I took no offense.” His teeth were brilliantly straight and white, and his sweet smile relaxed her. But her father’s words hovered overhead like a dark cloud threatening rain. She looked away toward a flowering bush. “Right, well...” Before she could think of something else to say, he spoke again.
“You know, most women try to impress me somehow. You seem to be doing whatever you can do to accomplish the opposite.”
She turned in surprise. Though the words could be deemed showing he was offended, the look on his face exhibited amusement. She pressed a firm line into her lips and cocked her head at the most overly presumptuous gentleman. At this point, she cared not one way or the other for the charming Mr. Ackerman. “I’ve no earthly idea what you’re talking about.”
“Well you’re certainly not dressed for tea, and you left the room the moment you had the chance, and your demeanor suggests walking with me in the garden is likely the last place on earth you’d choose to be.”
Every word he’d spoken held plenty of truth but no evidence to support his claim. Her mouth hung open, and she narrowed her eyes on him. “Really? Mr. Ackerman, I had no idea tea was on my mother’s agenda for today. I only returned home when she asked me.”
He tilted his head, seeming to consider her response. “All right, Miss Bennet,” he said copying her return to formality. “I stand corrected.” He showed her a wide grin as his gaze lowered on her face. “At least you saw fit to rid yourself of the grime that graced your beautiful face earlier.” He reached up and brushed his thumb down her cheek where the spot had been. So gentle from such a powerful man, Elizabeth’s skin erupted in goosebumps. And when his eyes traveled back up to meet hers, she noticed for the first time his intense pearly blue eyes. Their beauty took ahold of her for a moment before she looked away, back up to the house.
“I think it’s time we got back to the others,” she said, taking a step back. Elizabeth took the trail at a brisk pace with Granville clipping at her heels. All the while she denied his charms had broken through, if only for a moment.
When they entered the house, she headed straight for Mary and Patrick at the piano. Upon her arrival, she noted Granville was no longer behind her.
***
Mrs. Bennet stood in the doorway of the kitchen, watching her daughter attempt to impress her first gentleman caller. She’d seen Mary interact with young men at various events along with her sisters, but it always ended the same way: Mary either lost interest and walked away, or she made it perfectly clear to the poor chap she’d had no interest in him whatsoever. But this time seemed to be different. The way Mary sat up straighter at the bench. The way her eyes flitted to Patrick between verses. And even her playing sounded better than she’d heard in a long while. Yet, Mrs. Bennet sighed through a lump of disappointment sitting at the bottom of her stomach as she eyed Patrick, catching that same apathetic expression typically present on her daughter’s face. It only made matters worse when Elizabeth arrived all too soon from the garden. Would these two girls ever cooperate in her lifetime? More likely they’d send her to an early grave. Or worse yet, the poor house.
A heavy footfall behind her startled her. She turned to find Granville standing at the counter with an unreadable expression on his face.
“Mr. Ackerman, did you enjoy the garden?”
He paused, looking past her to catch a glimpse of the three at the piano.
Mrs. Bennet almost resigned herself to accept the inevitable. Mr. Ackerman’s intentions may have been beneficial to everyone, but Patrick and Lizzy seemed to be stubborn roadblocks to their successes. She stepped toward him and spoke again before he could answer her question.
“I suppose my Lizzy was a bit caught off guard today. I apologize she wasn’t at her best. I’m sure you’ve seen enough of this side of her.”
He chuckled. “On the contrary. I found her even more enchanting than our first encounter.”
Mrs. Bennet cocked her head. “Really?” She purred the word in song as if she were solely responsible for her daughter’s appeal.
“I’m afraid the feeling was not mutual, however.” His eyes fixed on her, wide and innocent, playing to the motherly instincts he obviously did not know were lacking.
“Oh,” she replied. “And I’m afraid Patrick seems to have no interest in Mary either.”
“Patrick tends to take his time...warming up to people.” He folded his arms and squinted his eyes as if in deep thought. “I wonder if perhaps Mary might have some influence on Elizabeth, and I could have some on my dear brother.”
Mrs. Bennet appreciated his confidence but had little faith herself. “Lizzy is not one to be manipulated—" She gazed over her shoulder to check on the trio, catching a content look on Elizabeth’s face as she sat and watched the two who were now chatting. Or more accurately, Mary appeared to be doing all the talking. “But she is quite fond of her sister, and I know she’d do what she could to ensure her happiness.” She turned back to Granville with skepticism. “And you’re going through all this because you fancy my daughter that much? Someone to whom you only just met?” She lifted an eyebrow in his direction.
“I understand your suspicions, Mrs. Bennet. But I’m a man who knows what he wants fairly quickly. And Lizzy not only appeals to me on a personal level. You see, my grandfather has been, let’s just say, less than satisfied with the type of women I’ve spent time with. So you understand the full breadth of the situation, he’s a majority shareholder and founder of the company I work for. He’s like a father to me and...pleasing him at this time in his life is imperative on several levels.”
Granville didn’t come right out and admit he wanted to be in the old man’s good graces before he passed on, but Mrs. Bennet couldn’t see things any clearer after their conversation. Especially when he brought up the financial situation their home was in and Mrs. Bennet’s possible fate should the house need to be sold. His thoroughness impressed her almost as much as his charisma.
So, a compromise was made in which neither party made any outright promises but both intended to do whatever needed for the outcomes they both desired. And Granville’s allusion about how well they take care of family did not go unnoticed. Once they all retired to the parlor, Granville mentioned a music festival he and Patrick had planned to attend.
“It’s the perfect entertainment for a music enthusiast such as yourself, Mary,” Granville said.
“I can’t believe I’ve never been,” Mary replied, her eyes shimmering.
“We have two extra tickets if you and your sister would like to accompany us. It would give you and Patrick a bit more time to get acquainted.”
Patrick had pulled out his phone a moment before and appeared to have not heard the
invitation. Mary glanced to Elizabeth with her shoulders pressed up to her ears. Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak but Granville continued.
“As you know, our work keeps us away often and doesn’t allow for making many acquaintances. It would be a most hospitable gesture if you would both agree.”
“I think it sounds lovely,” Mrs. Bennet said. “My girls could always use a little more culture, hmm?” She glanced to Elizabeth. Mary took hold of her sister’s wrist. “I agree. Please say you will, Lizzy.”
And with a slight nod of her head, Elizabeth had agreed to much more than she probably realized.
Chapter 4
No sooner did Elizabeth’s fiancé answer the door than she leapt into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck.
William caught her around the waist, his face brushing through her shoulder-length hair. She inhaled the fresh, masculine scent from his neck.
“Madam, I’ll kindly request you unhand me. I’m engaged to a feisty young vixen who wouldn’t hesitate to give you an ear-bashing.”
Elizabeth squealed as he whirled her about. “I’d do a right more than that if I saw some slag trying to nick my man.”
He squeezed her tighter, enjoying her possessiveness and wholehearted greeting. “Should I make these trips a regular occurrence after we marry? The reunions are fantastic.”
Her hands went to his shoulders, pushing back slightly so she could see his face. And what a sight it was—had he grown more handsome in his absence? “Don’t you dare think of it, Mr. Darcy.” They exchanged bright smiles before he took hold of her cheeks, and their lips met in an enthusiastic connection.
“That was definitely worth the wait,” William said, releasing her.
Elizabeth beamed and grasped his hands, leading him to a brown leather sofa. “I know you were only gone a week, but so much has happened. It’s felt like forever. And there’s much to talk about.” Long forgotten her frustration with him the day before, Elizabeth couldn’t contain her excitement for future husband’s return. “Not just our wedding, darling, though that must be a priority. But there’s Kitty’s wedding—oh, it was grand and beautiful—and there’s news about Mary you wouldn’t believe and—”
A Rival for Mr. Darcy Page 3