“Ah, London. I’ve always wanted to visit, Mr Hammond. I’ve always wanted to visit, haven’t I, Mr Bennet?
“I know, my dear. You’ve told me often enough.”
“Is it as wicked as they say, Mr Hammond? Is it a haven of sin? Do the ladies paint their faces and wear outlandish clothes?”
“My dear,” her husband chided her gently, “is this really appropriate conversation for our daughter’s anniversary celebrations?”
“Well, if you’d taken me like I asked, Mr Bennet, then I wouldn’t need to talk about it would I?”
Mr Bennet made a comical little bow to his wife.
“The fault is mine, Mrs Bennet, the grievous fault is all mine.”
“Good. Now, pass me the salt.”
Mrs Bennet seasoned her food and continued with the conversation.
“Anyway, Mr Hammond, what do you think of my two younger daughters? They’re not married you know. Don’t you think Catherine is pretty?”
“Not here, my dear,” whispered Mr Bennet. “Not now.”
“Well, at least I’m trying, Mr Bennet,” she said in a whisper that could be heard all around the table.
Jonny turned away from Mrs Bennet. His brother and Mr Collins were talking about tomorrow’s match. Jonny joined in their conversation.
“I understand you’re a wicket keeper, Mr Collins,” said William.
“Yes, that’s right, sir. I used to play rather a lot in my village.”
“It can make the hands rather sore, I hear. You show me a man with gnarly hands, and I would wager that he’s spent time behind the timbers.”
Mr Collins looked at the palms of his hands in a self conscious manner.
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“I knew a fellow down in Hambledon,” said Jonny. “He was a wicket keeper. Played all his life, but he had the softest hands I ever saw. You know why? Beefsteak. He used to put a fresh steak in each gauntlet when he went out to play. He absolutely swore by it.”
“A beefsteak?” said Collins. “How extraordinary.”
“Well, that’s what he told me.”
Mr Collins turned to his wife.
“Did you hear that, Mrs Collins? Mr Hammond and I were discussing the cricket match tomorrow and he said that most wicketkeepers put a beefsteak in each wicketkeeping gauntlet. Can you imagine? A fresh beefsteak? Apparently, it helps to keep one’s hands soft.”
“How very interesting,” said Mrs Collins sipping her third glass of white wine.
The evening was a great success. After dinner, the ladies talked among themselves while the gentlemen smoked cigars and drank fine port.
“Oh, Mr Bennet, isn’t Pemberley marvellous. So much prettier than Meryton, don’t you think,” said Mrs Bennet.
“Indeed, my love.”
“What do you think, Lydia?”
Lydia was missing her husband.
“I liked Meryton. Especially when the militia were there. Derbyshire seems a dull old place without my George.”
“What about you, Mary?”
Mary of course, had no husband to miss.
“I like it,” she said. “I should like to explore further. Lizzy, what is the large round building, at the top of the hill? I caught a glimpse of it earlier.”
“Oh, that’s merely a folly, Mary. Everybody calls it The Tower.””
“Well, I should like to go and see it. perhaps tomorrow morning before it gets too hot.”
“Of course, Mary,” said Lizzy. “But alone? Why not wait until later? I’m sure one of the maids or servants would be happy to accompany you.”
“Oh, Lizzy. This is the nineteenth century. I think I shall retire to bed, in order that I can wake early tomorrow.”
“Yes, Mary,” said Mrs Bennet, “I think we shall retire also. It’s an early breakfast tomorrow.”
They all retired to their bed chambers.
All except Mr Collins. He decided, without a great deal of evidence, that the cricketers from Kent seemed a godless group of men who would benefit from his ministry. He would, he said, visit their quarters on the other side of Pemberley house and deliver a sermon, extolling the virtues of his own muscular brand of Christianity. He would, he said, warn them of the dangers of strong drink and gambling. He would, he said, make a valiant attempt to restore their poor souls to God.
“We’ve put them in the smaller dining room,” said Lizzy.
“Yes, they should be comfortable there,” said Darcy. “Hopefully they won’t be too boisterous.”
“No matter,” said Mr Collins, “after all, there is more joy in heaven over the one sinner who repents than the remaining ninety nine.”
“I think there’ll be more than one sinner,” whispered Darcy to Lizzy. “It’ll be more like sixteen sinners.”
“Then good luck to Mr Collins,” she replied with a grin.
When Mr Collins got there, the men from Kent had almost finished the hogshead of ale which Darcy had sent over and were now making bets on who would win tomorrow, who would score most runs and who would take most wickets. When he held up his hand for their attention and tried to deliver his sermon, they all hooted with laughter and practically drove him from the room.
When Jonny retired to bed that night, he found himself thinking about Mary. She was the plainest of the Bennet sisters and also the most serious. Nothing like himself and nothing like the women he usually met. And yet, and yet…
He took out a little flask of brandy and drank a decent measure.
“Strange,” he said to himself, “most strange.”
Chapter 5
Darcy woke early on Saturday morning. He pulled back one of the heavy drapes and looked out of the window. The sky was a perfect blue, with a little hazy cloud here and there to suppress some of the heat. He smiled. There was little chance of rain spoiling the match.
Soon afterwards, Lizzy woke. She yawned, stretched out her arms and smiled warmly at Darcy.
“How’s the weather, darling?” she said.
“Perfect. Blue sky. Not too hot hopefully.”
One by one they heard noises from guests waking from slumber.
“We ought to get ready so we can greet them for breakfast,” said Darcy.
“Indeed. I will just go and see if mother is awake. I’ll ask her if she slept well. And in any case, she’d hate to be late for breakfast. And I’ll say good morning to Kitty, Mary and Lydia.”
Darcy smiled as Lizzy left the room. At one time he would not have approved at such lack of formality. Now, it didn’t matter to him. Lizzy was her own woman and if she didn’t always stand on ceremony, well what of it? If anything, it made him love her more. Marriage had steadily chipped away the excesses of his pride and he knew it made him a better man.
Lizzy returned shortly.
“How is your mother? Did she sleep well? Is she looking forward to breakfast?”
“She always sleeps well. And she always looks forward to breakfast.”
“And you sisters?”
“Kitty and Lydia are awake. But Mary isn’t in her room. The others haven’t seen her.”
“Well, she’ll be around somewhere.”
They were quickly dressed and went down to the dining room and seated themselves, ready to receive the others.
One by one they came downstairs and took their seats.
“Lydia, you sit there,” said Mrs Bennet
“Yes, mother,” said Lydia with ill grace.
“And Kitty, you sit over there.”
“Yes, mother.”
Good morning, Mr Darcy,” said Mrs Bennet.
“Good morning. I trust you slept well?”
“Very well indeed. Sleep gives me an enormous appetite. Doesn’t it, Mr Bennet?”
“Like just about everything else, my dear,” he said quietly.
“Don’t be facetious, Mr Bennet. Ah, good morning Mr Hammond. Mrs Hammond. Did you enjoy dinner last night?”
“Very much thank you, Mrs Bennet,” said William.
&n
bsp; “And where is your brother this morning? I found him most amusing. I hope he joins us soon. I want to hear more of his stories about London. He was most entertaining. Is it true what he says about the gin palaces and the women with their faces painted?”
“Knowing Jonny, it’s all true,” said William. “I’m afraid I don’t know where he is this morning. Taking an early stroll in the gardens perhaps.”
“I heard him say he might rise early this morning,” said Tess, “and go and have a look at the folly. The one you call The Tower.”
Lizzy looked anxiously at her husband. Mary said last night that she might visit The Tower early this morning. And now, Mr Hammond. She had seen them in conversation at dinner last night. They seemed on very friendly terms. Surely, they had not planned some secret assignation in the early hours? The more she thought about it, the more concerned she became. Mary was young and innocent to the wiles of men. Mr Hammond on the other hand, she knew by reputation. And it was not a good reputation. From listening to him last night and from conversations with his brother and the letters William sent to Darcy, it was evident that Jonny Hammond was a rakish sort of fellow who had spent many gaudy years in the gaudy old capital.
She tried to push it from her mind and enjoy her breakfast, but unpleasant thoughts kept intruding into her head. Suppose they had met in the sultry dark, just before dawn? Suppose they had crept out of the house together in silence, gliding like phantoms through the empty corridors? Suppose they had climbed the hill together and lain on the grass in front of The Tower, hidden from view?
The more Lizzy thought about it, the more concerned she became. An unmarried woman. A single gentleman with a poor reputation. No chaperone.
“Why, Lizzy,” said Darcy, “you’ve hardly eaten a thing. Are you feeling quite alright?”
She forced a smile.
“It’s nothing. I’m in perfectly good health, thank you.”
Darcy looked at her, surprised. She hadn’t meant to be so terse with him, but she couldn’t help herself. For the rest of the meal, she picked at her food. She ate without tasting and looked up at the door every few minutes to see if Mr Hammond or Mary had arrived. In vain, however, for their seats remained vacant throughout breakfast.
Breakfast ended early. There were still three hours before the match commenced; plenty of time for the gentlemen to put on their cricket whites and maybe have a little practice before the game. Plenty of time too for the ladies to get dressed in summer attire and find their places to watch the entertainment.
Lizzy was still concerned though. Nobody had seen Mary or Jonny since last night and nobody had any idea where they might be. She waited until everybody had left to get themselves ready then asked Darcy to join her in the study where there was little chance of being interrupted.
“Why, what is it, Lizzy? Is something amiss?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps. It’s your friend Mr Hammond.”
“William? What about him?”
“No, his brother. Jonny.”
“What’s happened, Lizzy, tell me.”
“He wasn’t at breakfast this morning.”
“What of it? Perhaps he wasn’t very hungry.”
“Neither was my sister, Mary.”
Darcy looked at her. A look of doubt and uncertainty spread across his face.
“What are you driving at, Lizzy?”
“Neither of them were here for breakfast. Well, last night Mary said she might visit The Tower this morning. Very early; before breakfast. And according to William Hammond, his brother said pretty much the same thing. Do you think it’s possible they have gone there to meet? To have some kind of secret liaison? In the early hours of the morning without a chaperone? Who knows what people will think of poor Mary. They seemed on very friendly terms last night at dinner. I was watching them.”
“A secret meeting at The Tower? Surely not, Lizzy. After all, he’s the brother of one of my closest friends. All three of us were at Cambridge together.”
“I know. But tt’s possible though isn’t it? After all, doesn’t Mr Hammond remind you of somebody?”
“Remind me of somebody? I’m not sure I’m following you.”
“Oh, Fitzwilliam, how can you be so blind? Wickham. Doesn’t he remind you of Wickham? The easy manner, the stories of debts and impecunious life in London?”
“Wickham? No, of course he doesn’t remind me of Wickham. For one thing, I don’t despise him.”
“But aren’t you concerned? He didn’t come down for breakfast and he hasn’t been seen since last night.”
“Oh, Lizzy,” he said breezily, “I’m sure he’ll be there in time for the start of the match.”
“Fitzwilliam,” said Lizzy, “how can you be so flippant? I’m not talking about trivial game of cricket. I’m talking about my sister’s reputation.”
He saw her anger and realised at once that he had made a terrible mistake. He had underestimated how concerned Lizzy was about her sister. He had made a weak joke to try and lighten the situation and regretted it immediately. He looked into Lizzy’s eyes.
“Lizzy, I’m sorry, I just meant…”
He stepped forward to comfort her, but it was too late. She stepped back and turned from him.
“Lizzy, where are you going?”
“I’m going to see if I can find Mary.”
“Very well, I’ll go and look for Hammond.”
“Thank you.”
He knew exactly where to look first. He left the house and crossed the lawns and fields. He mounted the hill climbed up to The Tower. He walked around to the rear and there saw Jonny, sitting against the door, deep in thought, chewing on a blade of grass.
“Hello, Jonny,” said Darcy.
“Darcy. Good morning.”
“What are you doing sitting by The Tower? How long have you been here?”
“Since dawn. I needed some fresh air, some time to be on my own and think things over. I found it difficult to sleep last night.”
Darcy looked around to see if there were any signs that anybody else had been here.
“You’ve been here alone?”
“Yes, of course. Why do you ask that?”
Darcy paused. He wasn’t sure how to approach the matter.
“Look, Jonny, your brother is one of my best friends. And of course, I knew you at Cambridge. I like you, Jonny, I always have. I know how that injury to Gibbs affected you and I’m grateful you’ve come to Pemberley. But I have to ask you one question. You may not like it, I want you to give me an honest answer.”
“You have my word. As William reminded me recently, I am still in your debt for that incident at Cambridge. We might both have been sent down if it hadn’t been for you.”
“Very well.”
Darcy braced himself mentally. It was an awful question to ask, and if he should be answered in the affirmative, the repercussions could be serious indeed.
“Have you seen Miss Bennet since last night? Miss Mary Bennet I mean.”
Jonny laughed to himself, but there was no humour in it.
In truth, Mary Bennet had been with him all night. Not physically, in the way Darcy meant, but in his thoughts. She had been in his thoughts since dinner. And that was why he came to The Tower alone. He wanted to think things over. He wanted to finally determine the direction of his life. At last he began to think about things beyond a bottle of brandy and a cheap woman with a painted face. But he didn’t want Darcy to know. He didn’t want anybody to know. Not yet.
“No,” he said.
“Then she hasn’t been with you this morning?”
“No, of course not. I’ve been alone.”
“You give me your word?”
“Yes. Absolutely. What on earth is this about, Darcy?”
Darcy grinned and shook Jonny’s hand.
“I’ll tell you on the way down. Now, come on, we’ve got a cricket match to prepare for.”
They left The Tower and walked quickly down the hill, over the fields and
meadows. Darcy told Jonny how worried Lizzy had been. Jonny expressed his regret that he had caused her to worry but maintained that he had not seen Mary that morning. But he managed to hide his feelings for her from Darcy. He would have liked nothing better than to have confessed to his old friend from Cambridge that his intentions were pure and that for all the world he would not damage Mary’s reputation. And that he had developed genuine affection for the lady.
They went directly to the house to find Lizzy. She was still searching the corridors of Pemberley for her sister. They found her in the study.
“Lizzy,” said Darcy, “have you found her?”
“No. I’ve searched most of the house.”
“Well, I’ve found Jonny. He was sitting by The Tower. He says he was there alone. He hasn’t seen Mary all morning.”
Lizzy wanted to believe him. She knew however, what men could be like. She knew from Lydia’s example how capricious young women could be.
At that moment, Uncle Gardiner walked in.
“Lizzy, there you are. I thought you should know. Mary is in the library.”
“In the library? Is she well?”
“Quite well. I went in to find a book containing the laws of cricket. I thought I should brush up on one or two things if I’m going to act as umpire today. Anyway, there she was, fast asleep with two books open in front of her.”
“Which books?” said Jonny.
“One was a medieval romance. The other, believe it or not, was a book of cricket laws.”
“Is she asleep now?” asked Lizzy.
“No, she woke when I sat down next to her. She says she awoke early and crept down to the library to read alone for a while. Then she said she must have fallen asleep. I didn’t ask her which book made her fall asleep.”
“The laws of cricket, without a doubt,” said Darcy and Jonny together.
They all laughed. Then Jonny apologised if his actions had caused any concern.
“It’s quite alright, Mr Hammond,” said Lizzy. “Sometimes people jump to unwarranted conclusions.”
“And I’m sorry if I was flippant and insensitive earlier,” said Darcy.
Lizzy smiled and squeezed his hand.
“I should apologise too. I directed all my concerns towards you.”
Darcy's Match Page 4