Chapter 31
Darcy frowned suspiciously. Why was Richard asking about Miss Elizabeth, the lady he admired?
“What does that expression mean, Darcy?” Richard asked with mingled surprise and amusement. “It was merely a question.”
Darcy forced himself to take another sip of brandy and then said evenly, “I am confused as to why you are inquiring about the young lady; that is all.”
Richard tilted his head. “Darcy, she is worth more than eighty thousand pounds. I do not suppose she will be interested in an older, second son of an earl, but…”
“Eighty thousand pounds?” Darcy interrupted, vaguely aware that his eyes were bulging. “Eighty thousand…”
He trailed off, and Richard frowned and said, “You did not know?”
“I did not, and indeed, it is hard to imagine … are you quite certain?”
“Yes, because my mother is, and the Countess does not make errors regarding fortunes of eligible young ladies, you know.”
Darcy fell more than leaned against his chair and poured the rest of the brandy down his throat. Miss Elizabeth had told him, some months ago, that she had inherited money from her paternal grandfather, but he had had no idea that she was the mistress of a truly vast fortune!
“You are acting quite oddly,” Richard remarked. “First, I walk in to find you remarkably animated, then you wither in front of my eyes at the mention of a lady’s fortune. Whatever is the matter with you, Cousin?”
Darcy groaned and, turning his gaze toward the fire, said, “I, well … that is, I had no idea that Miss Elizabeth is so very rich, and I like her very much, you see. Given that she will be one of the great prizes of the Season, my chances of winning her are suddenly substantially diminished.”
A full minute of silence passed, and when Darcy finally turned to face his cousin, it was to observe an expression he had never seen before, one of thunderstruck disbelief.
“You admire Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” the colonel stated.
“Yes, very much.”
“And you did not know until now that she is fabulously wealthy.”
“I did not,” Darcy said, running an unquiet hand down his face.
“The countess had told me that her grandfather, a tradesman, was a man of substance, and I assumed there was a reasonable sum of money passed on to her, since the ladies are able to pay for a Season in London, but more than eighty thousand pounds? She could win an impoverished marquis with that much money!”
Richard shook his head. “Surely not, Cousin. I understand her mother is old Viscount Langdon’s daughter, but her father was very lowborn indeed.”
Darcy considered this and then nodded. “That is true enough, I suppose, and none of the marquises or dukes are in dire financial trouble as far as I know, except for the King’s sons, and they cannot marry a commoner, of course. Surely…”
“You are babbling, Darcy,” Richard interrupted. “Stop.”
He obediently closed his mouth, but his mind was a chaotic whirlwind.
Miss Bennet was not just affluent; she was exceptionally affluent.
That much money would draw attention from dozens of eligible young men, many of them of a higher rank than himself.
What chance did he have, really? He thought Miss Elizabeth liked him, but he was an awkward fellow when all was said and done, and there were doubtless far more charming men who would…
“Do you actually love her, Darcy?”
He lifted his eyes to meet his cousin’s, and he said, “I do. I admire her tremendously and feel strongly drawn to her. She is everything I could ever want in a wife; intelligent, beautiful, witty, and very kind to my sisters. They both have befriended her, you know, especially Serena…”
“You are babbling again,” Richard said.
“True.”
Once more they were silent for a moment, and then Richard said, “What is the problem then? If you love her, why not ask her to marry you?”
Darcy turned a forlorn look on his cousin. “I fear she would refuse me.”
“Why?”
It was a simple question, but it required significant thought and furrowing of the brow on Darcy’s behalf.
He had never imagined marrying into the high nobility, of course, but beyond that, he had assumed that he would have his pick of ladies.
He was rich, good-looking, well-connected, and master to one of the finest estates in England.
But again, he was sometimes awkward in company, and while he thought Miss Elizabeth liked him, he did not know if she loved him, and she could reach very high indeed with so much money.
He explained this to his cousin, though with far less fluency than usual, and by the end of his rambling, Richard was nodding along, although reluctantly.
“I do see your point. You have been pursued by ladies for so long, and yet you have no experience with making yourself charming to a woman. But you need not give up hope, Darcy. Indeed, given that I will be in London, it would be my honor to assist you in winning the lady’s heart.”
Darcy blew out a breath and then said, “Thank you for your offer of assistance in this. But I wonder whether ... it is an unusual situation, after all. Miss Elizabeth has lived all her life in a quiet country town, with no exposure to the Upper Ten Thousand. I want her to be happy, more than anything. She will have young gentlemen following her around like so many sheep, and she might well be happier with someone else, someone who…”
“Heavens, you must be in love with her!” Richard interrupted in a fond, if exasperated, tone.
“I have never heard such drivel from your lips, Darcy, but I suppose being in love accounts for it. You are not going to abduct her and ride away to Gretna Green, after all. You are going to do your best to win her, by fair means only, and if she chooses elsewhere, I am confident that you will accept it honorably. But this does not give you excuse to surrender without a fight.”
Darcy stared at Richard and then nodded. “Yes, I would accept it, even if my heart breaks.”
The colonel leaned forward to clap Darcy’s knee firmly and said, “Well, shall we call on your lady love?”
“Certainly,” Darcy said, his countenance brightening, “so long as you do not hint by word or deed that I am in love with her. She and Serena are such good friends, and I do not want either of them to be uncomfortable.”
“I am not a fool, Darcy, but I warn you that a hint of your love for the lady may be necessary if you are to win her heart. Come along then!”
***
Hyde Park
Later
As Jane strolled along the trail with her hand tucked into the crook of a gentleman's arm, she reflected humorously that she and Elizabeth, at least, appeared to be developing a new habit here in London.
The previous day they had ventured across the street to Hyde Park for a long wandering walk in company with the Darcys.
Now, on the second day, they were once again walking in the Park together with Mr. Darcy and one of his relations.
She had been surprised when Darcy’s card had been brought in, for though the Bennets and Darcys were good friends, two visits upon consecutive days right after both families had arrived in London seemed unusual.
This second visit was soon explained; Miss Darcy and Miss Georgiana were not with their brother today, but instead he had brought his cousin, the second son of the Earl of Matlock, to be introduced.
Colonel Fitzwilliam was an amiable man of charming manners, with a cheerful countenance rather than a handsome one.
An acquaintance with an earl’s son was not a connection to lightly be dismissed, and when Mr. Darcy suggested another walk to the park, the younger ladies had agreed with enthusiasm.
Elizabeth, of course, rarely needed encouragement to wander in the midst of attractive surroundings.
Jane was much less enthusiastic a walker than her younger sister, but her entire being had been a-thrum with excitement ever since arriving in London.
It was pleasant to be striding along amidst such beauty, stretching her legs and breathing deeply of the spring air.
It was a warm and sunny day, too, and the azure sky stretched from horizon to horizon.
It was a glorious change after the cold and the gray skies of winter.
Indeed, she was aware of an incandescent joy over her present circumstances.
For years, she had concealed her desire to go to London for the famed season.
Jane loved her home in Meryton, and Longbourn held her heart, but the local society was admittedly limited and at times dull.
She longed for the excitement of balls and parties and Venetian breakfasts and routs and squeezes.
It had always seemed an impossibility, so Jane had said nothing, refusing to pine for something that could not be.
Fate had decreed that the Bennets would stay quietly in sleepy Meryton their whole lives through, with only occasional visits elsewhere.
When Elizabeth had learned of her fantastic inheritance, Jane had dared to begin to hope that perhaps the money could be found for a launch into Society.
Then Mrs. Bennet had spoken, albeit reluctantly, of her cousin the Viscount, which meant that the family had close ties to the nobility, and not only was the money available, but also the connections to allow for a successful foray into the haut ton.
Now here she was, strolling the streets of fashionable London, walking in Hyde Park to take in the sights with highborn friends. It was incredible.
“Are you enjoying your time in London so far, Miss Bennet?” her companion asked, and she turned to look into the colonel’s face.
“I am, very much,” she said, and though the words were conventional, she knew her smile was genuine.
“I assume this is not your first stay in London?”
“No,” Jane said and then, after a moment of hesitation, continued, “I have stayed with my aunt and uncle in Cheapside before and have had a wonderful time, but shopping and visits to the Theater are not the same as a Season.”
She had only met Colonel Fitzwilliam a few minutes earlier, and she knew that in mentioning her relations in Cheapside, she was betraying her more plebeian connections, but she refused to hide their existence.
Her aunt and uncle Gardiner were absolutely wonderful people, and when and if she ever married, it was important that her husband accepted them.
Not that she hoped to win an offer from an earl’s son, but she intended to begin as she planned to go.
“What does your uncle do for a living?” the colonel asked.
“He is in trade,” Jane said simply. “Indeed, the fabric for this very gown came from his warehouse. He received it only a few weeks ago when it arrived on a ship from India.”
The colonel paused, stepped back, apparently the better to inspect the fabric in question, and then grinned and said, “My sister Rebekah would be quite envious, Miss Bennet. She is coming out in a few weeks, and she and the countess have been eagerly searching for the newest and best fabrics for her gowns.”
There was no hint of superiority in the man’s tone, and Jane found herself relaxing.
“I am grateful to my uncle, very much,” she said and then paused as the pair waited for a curricle to pass before crossing the street and entering Hyde Park. “And to Elizabeth, who made it possible for me to enjoy a Season.”
“That is kind of her,” the colonel said with a smile. “I understand that you and Miss Elizabeth are stepsisters?”
“We are,” Jane agreed with a nod, “though my parents married when she and I were one and two years old, respectively, so we grew up together. She is my sister in every way that matters, and we have always been the closest of friends.”
“My two sisters are very near in age, and I enjoy seeing their relationship. I am twelve years older than Rachel, and ten years older than Rebekah, who is entering Society this spring.”
“And you have an older brother who is…?”
“Three years older than I am,” the colonel said. “Now, Darcy tells me that you will be attending Serena’s and Rebekah’s coming-out ball?”
“Most certainly,” Jane said, “if we receive an invitation, that is. I am well aware that, well, your father and mother are highly ranked, of course, and they do not know us.”
“The Darcys appreciate your family very much,” Colonel Fitzwilliam responded heartily, “so you will most definitely receive an invitation. Now, what else do you like to do in London? Do you like plays? Museums?”
“Oh, most definitely…”