“Oh, Elizabeth, you play beautifully, and your singing is superb,” Georgiana defended her. “She has even taught me how to play with more feeling, and now I love to play even more than before!” Georgiana said enthusiastically.
“What did she teach you?” Lady Matlock asked.
Georgiana flushed and lowered her eyes, but then she raised her head, and squared her shoulders, though she still spoke softly and haltingly. “She taught me to,” she looked at Elizabeth who smiled, “to play with courage, to feel the music, and not to worry as much about what others may think, but to play how the music inspires me,” Georgiana finished stronger.
“Interesting. Miss Bennet, who taught you to play with courage.” Lady Matlock emphasized the word, recognizing that playing with courage was likely a metaphor for how Elizabeth lived her life.
Elizabeth looked kindly but steadily upon Lady Matlock and spoke, “Though I had my share of music masters, I would say that my father gave me the courage to play what inspires me.”
“Your father sounds very interesting.” Lady Matlock said.
“Yes, he does,” Richard added. “He taught her how to play chess as well,”
“Really?” Lord Matlock piped in. “How singular, Miss Bennet. And do you win?”
Elizabeth looked at Richard and laughed as he had asked a similar question. “Sometimes, Lord Matlock. Father and I are evenly matched.”
“I think it would be quite a privilege to lose to a woman as beautiful as you, Miss Bennet,” Hardston flirted. “But unfortunately, I have never developed a taste for chess.”
“Taste? You mean strategy,” Richard quipped, and Hardston raised his brow before returning to Elizabeth.
“Father plays. He is the self-proclaimed King,” Hardston issued the covert challenge while looking at his nails.
Lord Matlock laughed at his son’s antics. “Indeed, I do play, and I have labeled myself as such as I have only been beaten on the rare occasions when Darcy comes to play, for my sons have not the patience required to love the game.” Matlock smiled at Elizabeth, “Perhaps later, Miss Bennet you would honor me with a game? That is, if you are brave enough to attempt to topple the King,” he asked with a smile and a raised brow.
“It would be my pleasure, Lord Matlock.” Elizabeth said as she sipped her tea, “The Queen has no fear of the King, your lordship.”
At first, there was silence, all eyes upon the earl. Lord Matlock, blinked a few times, then he belly laughed, and the room joined in.
Afterward, they all chatted amiably and were all impressed with Elizabeth’s kindness and intelligence. Darcy sat back with a soft smile and watched Elizabeth charm his family.
In the carriage ride back to the Bingley’s, Darcy sat across from Elizabeth staring at her. The night had been phenomenal. Elizabeth had carried herself with grace and dignity, and yet, she had been warm, witty, and unpretentious. As the evening wore on, Darcy could see his family being drawn into her vivaciousness. Darcy smiled softly. Elizabeth was a rare breed, full of light and love and goodness. She drew everyone in with her care and her charm. She was the rarest of diamonds and the brightest star in the sky, and she loved him. He closed his eyes and wished that his aunt had not insisted that the maid accompany them.
Ten days after his return to town, Bingley walked slowly down the corridor with his head lowered.
“Dearest,” Jane called from the parlor having left the door open so that she would be aware of his arrival. Bingley turned at his wife’s voice and entered the parlor. Jane watched him, his shoulders had drooped, and his eyes were sad.
“You poor, dear,” Jane said, “was it very bad?”
Bingley sat down on the sofa and laid his head on Jane’s shoulder as she stroked his arms. “Yes,” he sighed. “Caroline would not even look at me. She boarded the carriage with her head held high as if we were to blame for her circumstances. And what was worst, she has refused to speak to Louisa this entire week, and even refused to say goodbye, though Louisa tried several times. The carriage pulled away with Caroline refusing to even turn her head in our direction.”
“How awful, dearest. But surely Caroline will come around once a little time has passed?”
Bingley sighed, “I hope so, for Louisa’s sake. I hope so.” Jane caressed Bingley’s hair as he laid upon her shoulder.
Chapter Forty-One
It was the morning of his engagement dinner. Darcy had barely seen Elizabeth in the last few days. His aunt and Georgiana had taken to shopping with Jane and Elizabeth, and taking tea with her as well, leaving Darcy with only the evenings where they dined in company with the Bingley’s. He had not had a moment alone with her for days.
“What!” Darcy answered gruffly to the knock on the door. When he saw his sister peek her head through the opening, Darcy grimaced and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Come in, Georgiana.”
Georgiana looked at him with a frown, “Are you alright, Brother?”
Darcy tried to smile, “I am well, Sweetling. I am sorry that I was gruff just now.”
“Do not worry, Brother.”
Darcy exhaled and really smiled this time. “How was your outing today? Was Elizabeth well?”
“Yes, Brother, she is. That is what I came to tell you. She is here.”
Darcy sprung from his seat, “Elizabeth is here?”
Georgiana giggled. “Yes, she is in the drawing room. She wanted to see you.”
Darcy grabbed the gift he had for Elizabeth and attempted to walk forward before he had cleared his desk. Instead, he bumped into the desk with his leg and dropped the gift. Darcy bent down so quickly to retrieve it that he banged his head on the desk. Darcy winced and looked up at Georgiana with a frozen expression. Georgiana’s eyes were wide, and her hand covered her mouth. Darcy cut his eyes away, grabbed the gift from the floor, and rushed from the room. Once he exited, Georgiana doubled over and gave in to a fit of hilarity.
Darcy entered the drawing room with one hand behind his back. Elizabeth looked up at him with such joy and love that he closed his eyes, his whole being responding to her presence. He closed the door and sauntered toward her, maintaining eye contact.
Elizabeth rose and drawn in by that intensely, sultry gaze, Elizabeth lost her smile, and her chest rose and fell rapidly. Darcy stood before her, his eyes caressing her face. “Hello, my love,” he said before his lips descended upon hers. Darcy dropped the gift on the sofa behind her and molded Elizabeth to his body. Darcy kissed her softly, tenderly, and just for a moment, he moaned against her mouth and deepened the kiss. Then breathing rapidly, he pulled away and laid his forehead against hers. “I have missed you so, my darling.”
“I have missed you, too,” Elizabeth said, her voice trembling slightly. “That is why I asked Georgiana to arrange for me to see you.” Darcy pulled her down to the sofa, away from the gift he had dropped there, and held her. “I feel as if we have had not a moment alone since we have come to town. It is even worse than it was in Hertfordshire.”
“I agree, darling, but we have just one more week, and then no one will be able to take you away from me at night, and I will awake with you beside me every morning. I cannot wait.”
“That sounds wonderful, Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth sighed. The couple sat thus for a long while, thinking of their future and savoring their love.
After a while, Darcy spoke, “I have something for you, love.”
“Hmm,” Elizabeth said languidly as she rested in his arms, “what is it?”
Darcy pulled away slightly and reached the box, “This.” He opened it, and Elizabeth gasped with her hand to her mouth. It was an exquisite diamond necklace and earring set.
“Fitzwilliam,” she breathed and looked at him with wide eyes.
“Do you like them?” he asked, smiling.
“They are exquisite. They cannot be for me,” she said, glancing back and forth between Darcy and the diamonds.
“Of course, they are for yo
u, my love.”
“I have never seen anything so beautiful,” she breathed, reaching tentatively to touch them.
“I have.”
“What?” Elizabeth glanced up at him, her eyes still wide.
“You,” Darcy said, looking at her with a soft smile, and Elizabeth was once again transfixed by his mesmerizingly beautiful gaze. Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak, but no words came forth. Darcy stroked her cheek, “Come,” he removed the necklace and placed it upon her neck. “You shine brighter than any diamond. You are exquisite, and I can barely contain my desire to make you mine,” he said, then drew her into his arms again.
Caroline had been held up at an inn not far outside of London for a day now. The coachman and the two footmen her brother had sent to transport her to her trade-infested relations, had been told that she was too indisposed to travel that day, and had been encouraged, courtesy of the extra coin she had given them, to enjoy themselves while she recovered. They were now somewhere in their cups she hoped. Caroline huffed. She had no intention of being exiled and stripped from her place in society. Before her unreasonable brother had shown up to see her off, she had gone into Hurst’s study and found the invitation to Darcy’s engagement dinner. From there, she had implemented her plan. Bingley had wanted to send her away days ago, but she had feigned an illness. When she feared that her brother suspected her of pretense, she had suddenly recovered and left. However, feigning illness again, she had directed the coachman to stop at the closest inn, just outside of London. Today was Darcy’s engagement dinner.
Caroline sat in the inn’s dining room and waited and watched. Her lady’s maid, whom she had bribed with the promise of a good reference and a month’s wages for her silence, had been given some of Caroline’s outdated gowns, and now sat with her acting as Caroline’s companion. Caroline saw a few fashionable couples dining, but she did not know them, so they were useless. An hour passed by, and Caroline tapped her finger on the table and gazed about. Caroline looked out of place in the dining room dressed in her elaborate evening wear, and to be truthful, she was beginning to sweat. If she could not implement her plan soon, she would be forced to return to town by coach. Caroline grimaced and shivered, at the thought.
“Hurry along, Anthony, or we shall be late.” Caroline’s head snapped up at the cultured tones. She looked around. Yes! It was Mrs. Folsom. Caroline sighed in relief. If all went as planned, she would be back in town in a few hours and driven in a well-sprung carriage to boot. Caroline smiled.
The Matlock’s long, elegant dining hall brimmed with the highest-ranking members of the ton, at least thirty persons in attendance, all dressed elaborately, dripping in jewels, and wrapped with lace. Elizabeth, wearing a silk dress that Lady Matlock had moved mountains to have completed in time and dripping herself in the Darcy diamonds, was a vision of loveliness. When he had arrived to collect her, Darcy had stood still, staring for several moments as she descended the stairs. It was not that she was overly seductive, but that the dress somehow enhanced every beautiful feature she had, and Darcy had stood still, mesmerized until Bingley cleared his throat.
Now, the gentlemen eyed Elizabeth appreciatively while the matrons were civil, but not overly welcoming. However, Lady Matlock, true to her promise to her nephew to make sure Elizabeth was accepted, had remained by Elizabeth’s side, smoothing the waters by introducing topics in which she knew Elizabeth would shine. Elizabeth, grateful for her assistance, had cooperated fully, and by the time dinner was called, most had begun to warm to Elizabeth calling her beautiful, and witty, and declaring that they understood why Darcy was so smitten.
Darcy had stayed close by Elizabeth’s side, ready to intervene if necessary. But Elizabeth had not needed his assistance even once. Even in the beginning, when a few of the matrons had made acerbic comments, Elizabeth had cleverly deflected or answered gracefully and often humorously. By the end of the conversation, most, who had been determined to look down upon the country girl, had smiled, some enthusiastically, some reluctantly.
Now sitting at the table, Lady Carlisle spoke, “You and your sister are remarkable beauties.”
“Thank you, your ladyship,” Elizabeth said.
“I should think your mother would have delighted in bringing you both to town and giving you a season.”
“My mother would have adored it; however, unfortunately, my father avoids town.”
“Highly unusual,” Lady Carlisle declared, unaware of her supercilious tone. Elizabeth smiled. “And you did not know Darcy, nor Bingley before they moved into the nearby estate?”
“No, we did not, your ladyship.”
“And two daughters from the same family captured both of the gentlemen?”
Elizabeth smiled. “Yes, your ladyship.”
“Highly unusual. Debutantes, widows” Lady Carlisle leaned slightly closer and whispered, “and a few married ladies,” she returned to her original position and vocal level, “have tried to capture Darcy for years and here he was dropped in your midst, perhaps, your mother had the right of it after all.”
“My mother would be highly gratified with your approbation, your ladyship.” Elizabeth smiled. Lady Carlisle was a duchess and one of the most influential members of the ton. She was also the most eccentric; she delighted in the unusual. If she approved of Elizabeth, all the others would follow. Thus, Lady Matlock had sat them together.
“Tell me, Miss Bennet, how did you capture him?”
Elizabeth raised her brow at the blunt question; however, as always, her courage rose, and she answered. “By despising him, your ladyship.”
Lady Carlisle’s eyes bulged, and she nearly choked on her white soup. Elizabeth smiled and related to Lady Carlisle an abbreviated story of the Meryton Assembly and a few of hers and Darcy’s subsequent encounters. By the time she had completed the tale, the cultured tones of Lady Carlisle’s laughter could be heard by all. For a moment, everyone paused and gaped, then remembering their manners, they turned back to their dining, but not before they all understood the significance of the occurrence.
“Highly unusual,” Lady Carlisle said again, but this time through a smile. “You shall do nicely, my dear.” Lady Carlisle caught Lady Matlock’s gaze and winked. Lady Matlock, who had been surreptitiously watching their interactions smiled, nodded, and relaxed. Her job was done. Though there was still work to do, Elizabeth would be accepted.
The Folsom carriage clopped into town. “We have nearly arrived, dear,” Mrs. Folsom said.
“Thank you so very much, Mrs. Folsom and Mr. Folsom. I do not know what I would have done if you had not come along.” Caroline’s voice trembled, and she dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief, grateful that the waning light concealed the fact that her eyes were dry.
“Think nothing of it, dearest. How awful to have a suffered a broken axel returning to town, and you an honored guest at the Darcy engagement dinner. Well, it was fortuitous that we arrived when we did, with you being such an intimate with the Darcys, and,” she whispered even though everyone in the carriage knew of what she spoke, “with Darcy being trapped by that country-girl as you say. Such a shame, and of course, he would need the support of his dearest friends during such a time, and we were happy to assist you.”
“Thank you again, Mrs. Folsom.”
“Not at all. It was my duty; you must think nothing of it, nothing at all.” Mrs. Folsom tapped her foot on the carriage floor. “Of course, you will mention to Mr. Darcy and Lady Matlock that it was Mr. Folsom and I that ensured your arrival, will you not?”
“Of course, I will.”
“Of course, I do not ask for myself, you understand. But it is good that they know who they can depend upon, who their friends are, do you not agree?”
“I do, indeed. I will be sure to mention it as soon as I arrive.”
Mrs. Folsom smiled widely, “Very good, my dear, very good.” When Mrs. Folsom turned away, Caroline dropped her smile and rolled her eyes.
“We are here, my dear. Of course, it was our pleasure to assist you, and the Darcys, and the Fitzwilliams. Of course, it was. No one was happier to assist than we were.” Mrs. Folsom continued as Caroline stepped from the carriage, straightened her shoulders, and smoothed her dress. She had ceased listening to Mrs. Folsom the moment the carriage turned onto the Fitzwilliam’s street.
Caroline hurried up the stairs. She knocked, and the door was opened by the distinguished butler.
“How may I help you?”
“Miss Caroline Bingley,” Caroline said in her most regal voice.
“Yes, ma’am. How may I help you?”
Caroline huffed. “I am here for the dinner, of course. Take me to the others at once,” Caroline said with a raised chin.
“I apologize, madam, but you were not an invited guest.”
“How dare you question me! I am an intimate friend of Mr. Darcy and my brother, Mr. Charles Bingley, is within. Now allow me to pass, or I shall report your treatment to Lady Matlock,” Caroline said with her most authoritative voice as she stared down the butler. The wise butler paused and then stepped aside.
Caroline swept past him with her head high, her ostrich feathers flitting as the wind stirred.
“Please wait here, madam. I will inform Lady Matlock of your arrival.”
Caroline bit her lip, “No! No,” she said, “tell my brother, Mr. Charles Bingley, that I must see him immediately on a matter of urgency.”
The butler looked at her with slightly narrowed eyes, then he turned and walked to the dining room.
Men of Consequence Page 44