“You know?”

  “Did you suppose my son would keep such a thing to himself?”

  “Fitzwilliam!” Darcy uttered aloud, his voice seething with annoyance. “I suppose not. Thank you for your discretion.”

  “What on earth is going on between the two of you?”

  “Fitzwilliam and me?”

  “You know bloody well I’m asking about you and Miss Elizabeth.”

  Darcy exhaled a frustrated breath. “My intended is entertaining the notion of ending our engagement.”

  “Why, if I might ask?”

  “She is angry—nay, disappointed in me for my role in separating her eldest sister from Bingley when I persuaded him to leave Hertfordshire last autumn.”

  His lordship diverted his eyes to where the aforementioned couple sat. “The two of them seem happy to be together this evening. Perhaps it will persuade Miss Elizabeth to show you a bit of leniency.”

  “I can only hope. I don’t know what I would do were I to lose her completely.”

  “Take heart. Perhaps we shall be celebrating a wedding in a matter of months—even weeks.”

  Caroline Bingley who happened to be passing by nearly stumbled. “A wedding? To whom should I be wishing joy?” In a voice meant for her own entertainment, she said, “Pray, Mr. Darcy, have Miss Eliza’s fine eyes finally persuaded you to do the unthinkable and offer her your hand in marriage?”

  Hoping against hope to avoid causing a spectacle, Darcy chose to remain silent. If only the same could be said for his uncle. Lord Matlock lowered his voice so as not to be overheard. “Nothing has been decided, but let me assure you that nothing would give me greater pleasure than the prospect of welcoming Miss Eliza and her fine eyes into the Fitzwilliam family.”

  Chapter 7 ~ All These Temptations

  Elizabeth wasn’t wholly opposed to the idea of seeing Darcy that morning, which was really saying something when one considered that a few days ago he was the last person in the world she wished to see. She had to admit he was putting forth a valiant attempt to make up for his ill treatment of her sister.

  Jane’s happiness at being reunited with Mr. Bingley rendered her giddy. Bingley had admitted to having known nothing of her being in town all that time, for surely if he had known, he would have made his way to her sooner. As for his leaving Hertfordshire in the first place, he owed it all to a severe misunderstanding of his intentions on the part of his family and, yes, even Mr. Darcy. Though words of love and marriage had yet to cross Bingley’s lips, Jane felt certain it was simply a matter of time.

  Elizabeth and Jane had talked past midnight, and the dawn of a new day saw a resumption of where they had left off. Not wanting to see Elizabeth miss any more of the happiness that awaited her as the future Mrs. Darcy, Jane encouraged Elizabeth to let go of the disappointed hopes that precipitated her sister’s current misunderstanding with Mr. Darcy.

  “Lizzy, you must admit that he was exceedingly kind and considerate of everyone last evening. He and Mr. Bingley are the best of friends. If they have not allowed this misunderstanding to impede their friendship, then why should I allow it to affect my feelings? You know I have always thought highly of Mr. Darcy.”

  “Then you are saying that you forgive Mr. Darcy?”

  “I’m saying I choose to believe him when he says he was acting in service of a friend.” Tilting her head and loosening her golden hair, Jane said, “As I look back over the entirety of my relationship with Mr. Bingley, I can see how one who didn’t know my character would have surmised that my heart had not been touched. Were one to accuse me of hiding my true feelings from everyone, I would confess to being guilty as charged.”

  Here, Elizabeth was forced to consider her own behavior over the entirety of her acquaintance with Mr. Darcy. As pleased as she was to be so admired by him, she didn’t intend for him or anyone else for that matter to know the depth of her regard for this man. No one was going to accuse her of nursing a broken heart should her romantic musings over this man prove to be nothing more than the wistful imaginings of a girl in the throes of her first infatuation.

  It was enough for her to enjoy his attentions and even fancy herself in love with him—a man of consideration in the world who had the means of satisfying her every notion of what the perfect gentleman—the perfect husband really ought to be. Every one of their encounters held the promise of that which she longed for—the rousing sensation from the incidental touch of his hand, the excitement evoked when she caught him staring at her. Even the thrill of debating him and arguing opinions that were not always her own merely in hopes of challenging him excited her, for it always promised the chance to lose herself in his smoldering eyes and rich melodic voice.

  What’s more, being in his presence still engendered in her all those feelings. Now they were even more powerful. Incidental touches were nothing compared to the excitement of purposeful, lingering brushes of his fingers and most especially his soft lips upon her skin. If she didn’t love him as much as she ought to by now, she was certainly over halfway there.

  Jane is exceedingly happy, and she bears no ill will towards Mr. Bingley or Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth reached for her pillow and then hugged it to her bosom. Is it not time for me to let go of my disappointment and seize my chance for happiness as well? Crumpling her brow, she bit her lower lip. Still, there’s the matter of how Mr. Darcy regards the rest of my family. It’s easy for him to show Jane and the Gardiners their due deference. Their understanding is exceptional and their manners are beyond reproach. But what of the rest of my family?

  Placing the pillow aside, Elizabeth tossed off her bedcovers and sat upright. It was time to get her day underway as Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley had promised an early morning call so they might all enjoy a stroll in the park. Soon enough Elizabeth and Jane would be returning to Hertfordshire. The gentlemen had promised to do the same. Once I see how he behaves with my family, then I will truly know how to act. Thoughts of Hertfordshire gave rise to another matter that weighed on Elizabeth’s mind. By now, her father would have received her letter informing him of all that had happened in Kent. If she knew anything at all about her mother, she was certain that all of Meryton knew it too. What bothered Elizabeth was her not knowing how her father had taken the news. In addition, she had urged Darcy not to travel to Hertfordshire to speak with Mr. Bennet personally, so long as there was this lingering uncertainty between them. Pray I shall hear from my father soon.

  ~*~

  “It was a pleasure dining with your aunt and uncle, last evening,” Darcy said, walking arm in arm with Elizabeth and trying to ignore the unspoken tension between them. Bingley and Jane walked just up ahead. They were much more animated.

  Elizabeth said, “Indeed. My aunt spoke of what a pleasure it was discussing shared accounts of Lambton, sir.” Mrs. Gardiner had said a bit more than that, impressing upon Elizabeth her good opinion when saying there was something of dignity in his countenance that would not give one an unfavorable idea of his heart.

  “Your uncle and I spoke at length about his love of fishing, and I mentioned Pemberley’s well-stocked lakes. He seemed very excited about the prospect of fishing there. I shall look forward to the Gardiners visiting us at Pemberley.”

  “Do you truly mean that, Mr. Darcy?”

  “Of course I mean it. How can you ask me such a thing?” Darcy slowed his pace, compelling Elizabeth to do the same. “Do you imagine I would object to your family’s visiting our home?”

  Elizabeth folded her arms over her bosom. “Did you suppose that your actions towards Jane and Bingley are insufficient cause for me to think as I do?”

  “I would be lying if I said that I did not immediately congratulate myself on the prospects of acquaintances whose connections were not so lofty as my own. I have been a selfish man all my life, in practice, though not in principle.

  “As a child, I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. Unfortunately, as an only son and for many years an only child, I was spoiled by my parents. Though good themselves, they allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing; to care for none beyond my own family circle; to think meanly of all the rest of the world; to wish at least to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own.

  “I would like to think we have in us the capacity to change. Last evening was but the start. I promise you I will give you no cause to doubt the strength of my devotion to you—to us, ever again.”

  Elizabeth said nothing in response to his ardent declaration, and thus he continued to try to reassure her. “You must give me the chance. Pray last evening cast aside any reservations you entertained about all my relatives being like Lady Catherine and Anne.”

  “I confess to being favorably impressed with your aunt and uncle. Georgiana is such a delightful young woman. It’s no wonder Miss Bingley dotes on her.”

  Darcy rolled his eyes. “Georgiana hates that, you know.” Assuring Elizabeth that his sister’s feelings towards her were in stark contrast to her feelings for Miss Bingley, he then told Elizabeth of Georgiana’s delight in her acquaintance, especially after having heard so much about her in his letters.

  Despite her pleasure in finding in Miss Darcy a charming young woman who was just as eager to be pleased as Elizabeth was to be favorably received, Elizabeth was intrigued by Darcy’s assertion. “I had no idea you were writing about me to your sister. What could have been your purpose?”

  “You speak as if you were completely unaware of how much I admired you, even then. I always supposed that given the chance, my sister would admire you as well. And, she does. She looks forward to our nuptials. She proclaims you are everything a sister ought to be.”

  Elizabeth smiled at this account of herself. With four sisters already, it was not as though she lacked practice. Elizabeth bit her lower lip as the thought of what sort of brother Darcy would be to her own sisters encroached upon her mind.

  He must have surmised as much. Darcy said, “Though I’m far less experienced than you as regards being a sibling, especially given the disparity in age between Georgiana and me, and the fact that she regards me as much a guardian as an older brother, I shall endeavor to be an excellent brother to your sisters as well.”

  “No doubt you would do the job admirably as regards Jane, who is all loveliness, but you have yet to spend any time at all with Mary and Kitty and Lydia. I fear what little time you did spend in their company taught you to think unfavorably of them.”

  “I don’t deny it, but the truth is that it matters not what I think, but how I act. Your sisters will become my sisters, and I will do everything in my power to protect them.”

  A short while later, the two couples entered the parlor and saw at once that Mrs. Gardiner had guests. There sat Mrs. Bennet, Miss Mary Bennet, Miss Kitty Bennet, and Miss Lydia Bennet—all garrulously adorned in a cornucopia of brightly colored muslins and laces and bonnets.

  Mrs. Bennet sprang to her feet, hurried over, and embraced her second eldest daughter. “Oh! Here you are, my sweetest Lizzy!” She squeezed Elizabeth tighter. “How rich and how great you will be! What pin money, what jewels, what carriages you will have. Who would have thought it? I declare you are the luckiest woman in all of England.”

  Remembering herself, she dropped her arms and straightened her attire. Turning to Darcy, she fashioned a deferential curtsy. “Mr. Darcy, it’s my great pleasure to welcome you into our family.”

  “Mama!”

  Paying her daughter no mind and turning to Darcy’s friend, Mrs. Bennet curtsied. “Mr. Bingley, it is a long time since you went away.”

  Blushing, Bingley readily agreed to her assertion.

  “People say you mean to quit Netherfield entirely. However, I do hope that this good news about Mr. Darcy and my Lizzy will persuade you to change your mind.” Looking at her eldest daughter, she said, “I’m certain my Jane will be exceedingly agreeable to such a pleasing prospect, will you not, my dear?”

  Jane lowered her eyes, likely to hide her embarrassment, but not Elizabeth. Darcy could feel her eyes boring into him. No doubt, she aims to see how I endure her mother’s unabashed effusions as well as her blatant matchmaking.

  Clearing his throat, Darcy said, “I do not wish to speak for my friend, but as for myself, I pray Bingley has every intention of accompanying me when I return to Hertfordshire.”

  Darcy’s announcement pleased Mrs. Bennet very well, and she made no pretense of masking her joy.

  Soon, everyone was seated in the parlor. Darcy, however, did not have the pleasure of being seated next to Elizabeth for her mother had ushered her to the part of the room where she sat, but he was close enough to see and hear all that was being said and to suffer her increasing embarrassment as well.

  “Mama,” said Elizabeth, “what are you and my sisters doing in town?”

  “Why, where else would I be? As soon as I heard, I knew I had to come at once. There’s so much to be done, what with the necessary preparations of settlements, new carriages, and wedding clothes. Although, I suppose your father shall take care of the former, and I’m sure Mr. Darcy has many fine carriages. Although, it is the thing to do to commission new carriages before the marriage, but I do not know that there will be time enough for all that, for it’s my fondest wish that you and Mr. Darcy will be married by special license. However, your father and I would be remiss as parents of the bride were we not to see that you have a proper wedding trousseau, and hence my purpose in being here.”

  Elizabeth, who had been rendered speechless by all this, finally uttered, “Mama—”

  “Well, these things may not signify for you, but trust me, they are of utmost importance. We shall visit all the best warehouses while we remain in town, for what can be more urgent than your wedding clothes? There are things that must be ordered immediately!”

  “Mama, where is Papa? Did he also travel to town?”

  “Heavens, no, but you must not fret over that. Surely he will not object to such extravagance. It’s not every day that one’s favorite daughter marries a gentleman of ten thousand pounds a year.”

  Here, Elizabeth looked at the floor, but had she looked at Darcy, she would have seen that he bore her mother no ill-will for her unabashed albeit impolitic enthusiasm. Where he had once been silently outraged when Mrs. Bennet boasted aloud of her eldest daughter’s impending marriage to Bingley at supper during the Netherfield ball, he now gave a silent prayer of gratitude that she was doing his bidding.

  Mrs. Bennet said, “Oh, I nearly forgot. I have a letter from your father.” She reached into her reticule, retrieved it, and handed it to Elizabeth.

  Elizabeth accepted the missive and studied the penmanship, as if undecided whether to read it now or save it for later.

  “Well, do not keep us in suspense. You must read the letter now and tell us what he has to say. You know how your father enjoys vexing me. He would not mention a word of what he had to say to you, but I’m sure it’s good news.”

  “I suppose I had better wait until our guests are no longer here.”

  “Do not be silly. I insist you read it now.”

  Mrs. Gardiner, who had been very quiet through all of this said, “Lizzy, I should require your assistance in preparing tea for our guests. I’m certain Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley will not object to your absence.”

  It was enough said to persuade Elizabeth to pardon herself from her company and quit the room, her letter in hand, with her aunt.

  When they were alone, Elizabeth said, “How can I thank you for coming to my rescue?”

  “Think nothing of it, my dear. I could see that you are most anxious to know what your father has to say about all that has happened since you went away. Your uncle’s study is unoccupied. You are welcome to read your father’s missive in there.”

  Following her aunt’s advice, Elizabeth made her way to her uncle’s study. What a relief it was to be away from her mother. She quickly pushed aside the hint of guilt she felt in leaving Darcy to fend for himself. As she reflected upon his behavior in Kent whenever they were in company with his aunt Lady Catherine, she surmised he tolerated her mother’s foolishness much the same as he bore his aunt’s. Now that she had a basis for comparison for how he suffered the ridiculousness of others—calmly and with cool civility, she considered it had always been that way.

  Sitting on the sofa, she shook her head. Now, I shall see what my father thinks of my situation in his letter. With sudden haste, Elizabeth quickly tore it open.

  My Dearest Lizzy,

  I confess that your letter came as no surprise to me. I have Mr. Collins to thank for robbing me of the privilege of receiving such life changing news directly from you. You will not be surprised when I write of my first reaction to the following assertion:

  ‘Your daughter Elizabeth has aspired no longer to bear the name of Bennet, and the chosen partner of her fate is one who may be reasonably looked up to as one of the most illustrious personages in this land. This young gentleman is blessed, in a peculiar way, with everything the heart of mortal can most desire—splendid property, noble kindred, and extensive patronage and he is none other than Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire. In spite of all these temptations, I must warn you of what evils you may incur should you fail to persuade my cousin Elizabeth to think better of what she has done and indeed rescind her acceptance of Mr. Darcy’s proposal. Such a generous consideration, I declare, is of utmost importance for his aunt and my noble patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, does not look on the match with a friendly eye.’

  Mr. Collins goes on, but I shall not burden you with any more of what he had to say.

  You, my dear child, cannot imagine how diverted I was upon having read these words for nothing could persuade me of their veracity for the remainder of the day—nothing indeed, until your own letter arrived giving credence to our cousin’s assertions.

 

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