An Accident at Pemberley, page 15
The lady was as good as her word, rejoining him in under five minutes. Darcy offered her his arm, and soon they were strolling along the paths of Netherfield Park's formal gardens. Darcy looked down at his companion. He could almost feel the tension ease as she relaxed at nature's magic touch. Darcy almost hated to remind her of her worries, but he was anxious to know what she had learned.
"When we sat down to dine, your distress was evident. Will you please tell me what you learned about your family? Did something you discover cause your distress?"
"You are correct; some of what I learned was very unsettling. My name is Elizabeth Anne Bennet, and I am the second of five daughters. My family's estate, Longbourn, borders this property." Elizabeth spoke of how she had come to be in Derbyshire and of the constable's search and ultimate conclusions.
"That matches what Mr. Stone told me. Forgive me; I should have followed up further and contacted the Gardiners. You might have discovered your family sooner."
"After what I have learned, I am glad you did not." She spoke the words so softly, Darcy was unsure whether he heard them correctly.
Elizabeth continued the tale, speaking of the Gardiners and their efforts to recover her. She expressed an interest in meeting them when next in London. Pausing to compose herself, Elizabeth told William what she had learned about her birth family. As Darcy listened, his fury mounted. He could not believe Elizabeth’s parents could value her so lightly.
"From what my sisters said, they do not think I would be welcome to return home. And despite the fact that I like both Jane and Kitty very much, no new memories of my past awakened in me since I met them. How do I face my family even should they wish to meet me? It does not sound as if my home life was very happy. How would I ever become accustomed to living with so many strangers, especially as it does not seem I am wanted or was ever really appreciated? Perhaps I should consider finding a way to support myself.
Darcy placed his hand over Elizabeth’s where it rested on his arm. He looked around and, seeing a tall hedge a short way off, led Elizabeth in that direction. When they rounded the tall shrub, they found a conveniently placed bench, no doubt designed as a place for lovers to escape the watchful eyes of a chaperone. Darcy seated Elizabeth on the bench and sat beside her, taking both her hands in his.
"Last night when you mentioned having decisions to make about your life, dread filled me. You have become so much a part of my life; no longer can I imagine it without you. From the first moment I looked upon your face, my heart felt something it had never experienced. The time we spend together reading and discussing what we read is the most happiness I have enjoyed in quite some time. I wished to speak with you of this before now, but we did not know enough about your past for me to do so. I even had my solicitor and my cousin, who is a bishop, investigate our options. I no longer care about the past—only the future."
Darcy slid from the bench onto his knees, still holding Elizabeth's hands tightly in his.
"As you did not mention a husband or betrothed in the tale you recounted, I can finally ask what has long been in my heart. Beth, you brought joy back into my life and my home. You gave me back my mother and helped her from the brink of despair. Pemberley has changed for the better since you awoke there. I will happily host you for the rest of my days, but I would prefer to share them with you as my wife. I love you dearly. Will you give me the very great honor of accepting my hand in marriage?"
Elizabeth had sat frozen from the moment William knelt before her. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she thought her heart would burst. Though she had come to love both William and Lady Anne, she had never expected to receive such an offer, certain her lack of knowledge of her background would make her an unacceptable candidate for William. As she gazed down into the warmth of his eyes, she saw the love he had for her. She tried to speak but no words would come, so she nodded her head enthusiastically.
William squeezed her hands. "Is that a yes?"
"Yes, oh yes! I love you as well, William, but I never thought to hear such words from you! Before our arrival in Hertfordshire, I was a nameless waif. Now, upon discovering my family, my unsuitability is even more obvious. Though I have loved you for some months now, I believed the situation to be hopeless. Thank you, William. Thank you for loving me. I shall never give you cause to doubt my love or regret your decision." Tears shimmered in Elizabeth’s eyes, making them luminescent. Her face glowed with love for William and he thought his heart would burst.
Darcy stood and pulled Elizabeth along with him. He picked her up and swung her around in circles. When Darcy set her back on her feet, he cupped the sides of Elizabeth's face with his large hands, his thumbs caressing her cheeks. Staring down at her, he leaned forward slowly until his lips gently met hers. He kept the kiss chaste, as she had received enough shocks for the present, but he wished to never let her go. "Let us return to your sitting room and join Mother. We must share the good news with her."
Suddenly, Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears. "Oh no!"
"What is it, my sweet Beth?"
"What if I am not old enough to marry without permission? What will we do if my father will not grant it?"
Darcy paused as the words struck him. However, he would let nothing take away the joy of this moment. "Do not worry about that now. We shall ask your sister your age and then make our plans accordingly. Perhaps the Gardiners had permission to act in your father's stead during your travels with them. Maybe we can receive approval for our marriage from Mr. Gardiner." Darcy knew he was grasping at straws, but now that he had Elizabeth's consent to marry him, he would let nothing stand in their way. He placed her hand on his arm and they returned to the house.
Miss Bingley was lying in wait for his return. "You both enjoyed your walk, I hope. Now Miss Chamberlayne must need rest after her exertions. Please allow me to entertain you with some music, Mr. Darcy." Caroline placed her hand on his arm and attempted to drag him away from Elizabeth.
Annoyed with the woman's constant attempts at gaining his notice, Darcy spoke abruptly. "Please desist, Miss Bingley. I have a matter I must discuss with my mother, so I shall escort Beth to their sitting room." Darcy pulled his arm from her grip and both he and Elizabeth mounted the stairs, making their way to where Lady Anne waited.
When the door opened, Lady Anne glanced up from the needlework in her hands. She noted the look of joy on her son's face and the tentative happiness on Elizabeth's. Closing the door firmly behind him, Darcy led Elizabeth to the settee, where they sat beside Lady Anne. Darcy spoke in a hushed voice, as he doubted Miss Bingley was above listening at keyholes.
"Please wish us joy, Mother. Beth consented to be my wife."
"Oh, it is what I most desired! Nothing could make me happier than gaining such a wonderful daughter!"
"But, William, we still have much to learn before this happy event can take place," Elizabeth reminded him, her voice barely above a whisper.
"The Darcy name is an old and well-connected one, Beth. I am sure we can overcome any obstacles. I lost one daughter already, and I shall not allow another to be taken from me," said Lady Anne as she hugged the young woman beside her. "William, why do you not wait here for us? We shall pay another call on the Bennet sisters to see what further information we can garner. Come, Beth."
Darcy opened the door to find Miss Bingley lingering in the hallway. When Lady Anne saw her, she spoke in an ingratiating tone.
"Miss Bingley, would you please ask the housekeeper to send up some tea for us? I am afraid I received a letter that has unsettled me, and I require some tea to help me recover."
Thinking this an opportunity to show off her skills as a hostess to the woman she needed to impress, Caroline said, "I shall attend to it personally, Lady Anne. I will return momentarily." Caroline hurried away. As soon as she disappeared from view, Lady Anne and Elizabeth quietly approached Miss Bennet's room. They knocked and received permission to enter.
"You look further improved, Miss Bennet. I do hope you are feeling better."
"I am. Thank you, Lady Anne. We did not expect to see you again so soon. Is there something we can do for you? Lizzy, are you well?"
"I am well, Miss Bennet, but we did wish to ask a few more questions of you."
"Please, will you not call us Jane and Kitty? We are, after all, sisters."
"I thank you, but may I ask you to call me Beth? It is the name I am comfortable with at present. When you say Lizzy, I look for someone else."
"All right then, Beth, what is it you wish to know?"
"How old am I, and when is my birthday?"
"You are twenty. Your trip with the Gardiners was an early birthday gift to you." Elizabeth's face took on an expression of panic, so Jane hurried to answer the other half of her question. "You will be one and twenty on the twenty-second of November."
"That is not so far distant. However, I do believe we should remove from Netherfield in the morning. We can go to London. Perhaps, Miss Bennet, when you recover, you and Miss Kitty could visit your London relatives and you ladies could spend more time with Beth. In the meantime, you may write to her as Miss Chamberlayne at Darcy House, Grosvenor Square in London. We shall need to return for the Bingleys’ ball on the twenty-sixth, as William promised we would attend, but by then Beth will be of age. Your parents will no longer have a say in your decisions." Lady Anne spoke the words with confidence.
"I shall write to you about my parents’ wishes as soon as I return home. Perhaps, as an excuse to visit Aunt and Uncle Gardiner, I can convince my mother that I need a new gown from London for the ball."
"I shall pray for your quick recovery, Jane, and shall hope to see you both soon," said Elizabeth before she and Lady Anne exited.
Avoiding Discovery
Returning to William in the sitting room, Lady Anne reported on what they had gleaned from the Bennet sisters. She suggested they depart for London in the morning. "While you work on the marriage settlement and obtaining a special license, Beth and I will work on her trousseau.” Elizabeth did not wish to put the Darcys to further expense on her account, but decided that conversation could wait until they arrived in London.
The three remained in the sitting room, sending their regrets at teatime. When the time for the evening meal arrived, they had made all the plans and arrangements for their departure on the morrow. Now all that was left was to inform their hosts and endure Miss Bingley's repeated attempts to get them to remain.
With just moments to spare, Mr. Darcy, with Lady Anne on one arm and Elizabeth on the other, arrived in the sitting room. Caroline cast an annoyed glance at the trio, but swiftly covered it with one of false concern. However, before she could speak, the butler appeared in the doorway and announced the evening meal. Because Darcy still had a lady on each arm, Bingley offered his arm to Caroline and led the guests to the dining room.
Once everyone had taken their seats, Caroline looked as though she wished to speak. Darcy forestalled her by turning to his host. "Charles, I am afraid to say we must depart early on the morrow. Something has come up and I must make haste to London to deal with it."
"That is disappointing, Darcy, but we will gladly entertain Lady Anne and Miss Chamberlayne during your absence. Hopefully, you will be able to return in time to attend the ball?"
"That is a kind offer, Bingley, but the ladies will travel with me, and we shall do our best to return in time for the ball. After all, I gave you my word that we would support you in this endeavor."
"Well, then, can I do anything to assist you with your travel arrangements?" asked his ever-kind friend.
"No, I took care of everything this afternoon. That is why we were unable to join you for tea."
Caroline, who was very disappointed at losing her prey, spoke. "Charles, our visit with the Darcys has been of such short duration. Perhaps we should pack up and return to London as well."
The two men replied at the same time. "We can hardly do that, Caroline, as other guests are also present and you must continue with the ball preparations," her brother said.
"That is not necessary, Miss Bingley. My business will prevent me from socializing while in London, and we will return in a few short weeks." Darcy's voice held a firmness that Caroline did not fail to notice.
"Then I insist the ladies remain with us, as business will consume your time,” Caroline said. “We would be delighted to entertain dear Lady Anne and poor Miss Chamberlayne during your absence." Besides, she thought, it will keep you away from the competition and give me the chance to impress your mother with my skill as a hostess and my many accomplishments.
"Your thoughtfulness is appreciated, Miss Bingley," said Lady Anne in a soothing tone, "but I have not been to London in quite some time. I plan to spend the time obtaining new gowns and such."
Though Caroline expressed her disappointment several times during the meal, she was unable to arrange matters as she desired. The separation of the sexes was very brief, and the Darcy party remained only long enough to take tea in the drawing room before retiring for the night. Lady Anne and Elizabeth stopped to wish the Bennet sisters goodbye and express the hope they would meet again soon.
The next morning, Bingley and the Darcys broke their fast at eight and by nine were on their way to London. The previous afternoon, Darcy had sent a couple of expresses. The first was to his housekeeper, informing her of their arrival, and the second was to his solicitor, requesting a meeting for three that next afternoon, saying to reply to Darcy House.
The carriage turned out of the drive in the direction opposite of what Elizabeth expected. "Is not the road to London the other way?" The look she gave Darcy showed her confusion.
"Yes, but we are taking a short detour," said Darcy. "I thought you might like a glimpse of your family home. Perhaps it will stir some memories for you."
"That is very kind of you, William, but what if someone sees me?" Elizabeth asked, concern evident in her voice.
"It is doubtful we will encounter anyone simply driving past, and should someone be awake I am sure no one would be able to recognize you from the house."
Elizabeth said no more but fixedly inspected the scenery. As the carriage passed through the small village of Meryton, a handsome young man in a militia uniform appeared from an alleyway, still straightening his clothes. At the sight of the crest on the door, George Wickham ducked back into the shadows. He studied the occupants as they rolled past. Without a doubt, there sat his most hated enemy, the man who was the cause of all the problems in his life—Fitzwilliam Darcy. He also noted Lady Anne Darcy, as well as a beautiful but unknown young lady. What was Darcy doing in this country hamlet? Was he passing through or staying somewhere nearby? Who was the woman? Perhaps fate was giving him another chance at gaining what he felt he rightfully deserved from the Darcy family. Wickham had to learn everything possible and plan accordingly.
At the far end of the village, the carriage took another turn. After about a mile, the driver slowed as a pair of tall brick columns came into sight. The carriage’s occupants observed a long, tree-lined drive. Where the drive widened, they saw a patch of drab green lawn and a red-brick house three stories in height. A wide door and several tall windows became apparent in the quick survey the trio could make before the house passed out of sight.
While Lady Anne and Elizabeth looked at the house, Darcy watched the young woman he loved, seeking to determine her reaction upon seeing her childhood home. Her expression gave away nothing, and her head remained turned to the window even after the house was out of sight. Lady Anne looked to see William's concerned expression and felt the need to ease the tension.
"It appears to be of medium-size, but looks to be well maintained."
Still, Elizabeth did not speak.
"It did seem to be in good condition," said William. "Bingley said it is the largest estate in the neighborhood, next to Netherfield Park.”
As this, too, drew no reaction from Elizabeth, Darcy reached across and gathered her hands in his. Elizabeth jumped slightly at his touch and Darcy started to withdraw his hands, but she tightened her grip to prevent it.
"My dear Beth, are you well?"
Finally, she turned her gaze to that of the gentleman seated across from her. "There is no need to be concerned. I was focused inward, hoping the sight would return my memories, but again I find nothing."
Lady Anne reached over, laying her hand on Elizabeth's arm. "Do not let it bother you, dear. You know Dr. Moreton said trying to force your memories may make things worse. Even if you never regain your memories, you shall always have a family that loves you, and you will make wonderful new memories." She patted Elizabeth's arm gently before removing her hand.
Elizabeth turned again to the windows. She found the undulating hills and vast fields lovely to behold. The memory of taking long walks ending in a steep climb floated along the edges of her mind, but she could not quite catch it. Darcy and Lady Anne both pulled out books and began to read as Elizabeth observed the passing scenery.
Halfway to London, the carriage stopped for a change of horses. The passengers took tea while the coachman oversaw everything. As they resumed their journey, Darcy spoke. "Is there anything special you would like to do while we are in town, Beth?"
"Though my sister informed me that I visited London on several occasions in the past, my lack of recollection leaves me unaware of what opportunities the city offers."
"I believe the first thing to do is order Beth's trousseau," said Lady Anne.
"That is not necessary," protested Elizabeth. "You have already provided me with so many beautiful gowns. I cannot see where I need more. Surely, there must be something among the gowns I own that would be suitable to wear for a wedding, especially as it shall be a small event."
Both Darcy and his mother shook their heads. "I insist you order a new wardrobe—one designed to your tastes," said Darcy.
Elizabeth laughed gently. "How do you know my taste in fashion is not as dreadful as Miss Bingley's?" she asked.
