Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Lady Acaster insisted that Elizabeth wear her favourite sapphire earrings to dinner.
“They draw attention to your lovely eyes, my dear.” She reached out and clasped a necklace set with matching gemstones around Elizabeth’s neck, positioning them low on her chest. “And these will enhance your other charms.” She laughed at Elizabeth’s scandalised gasp.
“Do not forget that I was once nothing more than Miss Hattie Jackson residing at modest Longbourn, who went on to marry the illustrious and impulsive Lord Acaster. In these matters, you must allow that I am in possession of some expertise.”
Heat crept across Elizabeth’s exposed neck and shoulders under the cold weight of the jewels. She looked at her reflection, hardly able to recognise the woman who stared back. “I am no temptress,” she muttered. “I have no arts and allurements.”
“No,” replied Lady Acaster stoutly. “You have yourself. One day, hopefully in the very near future, you will come to realise how much of a jewel you are.” She pinched Elizabeth’s cheek affectionately.
“Now, I wish to give you some advice, and you will certainly not welcome it, but I shall say it nevertheless. If you are to attract Colonel Fitzwilliam’s attention, then be sure to divide your conversation equally between him and his cousin. ”
Through the mirror, Elizabeth frowned at her aunt. “I do not understand.”
“Earlier today, when we were all introduced properly, I was not ten minutes in the colonel’s presence when I noted his attraction to you.
And, by the glow in your eyes, am I to suppose that his attentions are not unwelcome?
No, Elizabeth, do not blush, for we are past such nonsense.
He enjoyed your quick wit, which I am very pleased about, for it indicates that he is a man of sense.
The colonel is a charming individual, and it suits him well to have the undivided attention of a pretty girl. ”
“You do not think him too charming?” Elizabeth wondered aloud, seized by a fleeting doubt at how openly he complimented her on their first meeting.
“No man that handsome can avoid being pleasing.”
“Then why must I not speak exclusively to him?”
“Make yourself an object of interest to other men, and that will rouse his curiosity. The colonel is a man of action—he will enjoy the pursuit.”
Elizabeth choked back her indignation. “May I repeat that I am no temptress. Taking advantage of men for my own benefit is not in my nature. Besides, I do not think Mr Darcy is a believable candidate upon whom to bestow my attention. He hardly speaks to me. I do not think your plan will work.”
Lady Acaster gave a firm tug of Elizabeth’s gown so it revealed a little more of her back and shoulders. “Masculine competition can bring out the strangest behaviour. Whether you like it or not, you will be a battlefield. You must use it to your advantage.”
Elizabeth returned her hem to a modest level. “It is only my great love for you that prevents me from detailing how ridiculous you are.”
Her aunt took no notice of her comment. “It is almost dinner time. I have not anticipated a meal so much since Lady Helmsforth was placed next to her lover at Lady Cartwright’s supper table.”
Elizabeth had known that her aunt’s machinations were for nothing, for they all hinged upon one significant occurrence—that Mr Darcy would welcome her conversation.
And that was as likely as Napoleon deciding to hang up his musket and try his hand at sheep farming.
Their host appeared to be in a particularly foul mood tonight, speaking only when spoken to, his brow contracting every time his cousin made a joke.
This was the first Elizabeth had seen of Mr Darcy all day, for he had secluded himself away in his study.
Fortunately, the colonel had kept the women company, but Elizabeth could not dismiss the feeling that Georgiana would have been happier if Mr Darcy had joined them.
Even now, her young friend would glance at her brother, who was sitting stiffly in his elegant attire, his reticence clearly bothering her.
Resolved not to dwell upon the emotions of another over whom she had no influence, Elizabeth struck up a conversation with Georgiana about the merits of fly-fishing, and she, the colonel, and Georgiana indulged in reminiscences over their exploits along the banks of the lake.
“It was a pike,” insisted the colonel, “of at least three feet in length and weighing twenty pounds. It had a tremendous spine, which caught me upon my wrist and from which I still bear the scar.” He pushed up his sleeve to reveal a narrow white mark.
“No, indeed, it was a trout of about a quarter of the length and could not have been more than six pounds. And I believe I would remember if you suffered an injury.”
“Do you suggest that I am exaggerating? I have half a mind to call you out, Miss Bennet. Can you wield a pistol?”
Elizabeth began to laugh but was stopped by Mr Darcy’s interruption. “It would not be the first time my cousin has overestimated his achievements.”
Next to her, Georgiana protested, but Colonel Fitzwilliam simply grinned, saying, “Now I advise you to take absolutely no notice of my cousin, for he is certain to reveal something vastly unflattering and entirely untrue.”
Elizabeth glanced at Mr Darcy, who appeared more foreboding by the minute. Determined to prevent an argument, she replied playfully, “Mr Darcy forgets that I knew you long ago and am already aware of your propensity for self-aggrandisement.”
“Mutiny!” The colonel chuckled. “I thought we were friends, Miss Bennet, and you are taking my cousin’s side against me.”
The reality was that Elizabeth had no wish to take Mr Darcy’s part in anything, but she could see that the colonel’s monopoly of their conversation annoyed their host. She drew the party’s attention to Georgiana, wishing to include her.
“If I were ever to choose a side between any of you, it would be that of this lovely woman next to me. She is the only one amongst all of us who speaks with any sense.”
The colonel flung his arms up in a theatrical display. “Well, what use would that be to me? Dearest Georgie would always favour Darcy.”
“That is unfair!” Georgiana was caught between indignation and amusement.
“Let us put it to the test, then.” Colonel Fitzwilliam raised a roguish brow in Mr Darcy’s direction. “If I were to race Darcy, who do you think might win?”
Caught between her two favourite relations, Georgiana faltered.
Elizabeth was quick to her rescue. “Do you mean on horse or on foot?”
“Would it matter?”
Elizabeth glanced at Mr Darcy, who looked severely displeased by the turn of this conversation. Struck with an impulse to provoke him to smile, she replied with mischief, “It might, when taken into consideration that your cousin is at least four inches taller than you.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam raised his eyebrow in a show of confidence that contradicted his defensive tone. “Extra inches signify nothing.”
Mr Darcy met Elizabeth’s gaze before addressing his cousin with a smirk. “I have it on good authority that a few inches can make all the difference.”
Lady Acaster choked back a snort of laughter.
A frown puckered Colonel Fitzwilliam’s brow. “Some men can accomplish a great deal with their skill and stamina, Darcy, you may be surprised to learn.”
Elizabeth did not think it possible for Mr Darcy to glower any more, but he visibly fumed at his cousin’s riposte. She glanced at her aunt for assistance, but that lady looked far too diverted for her own good.
Feeling as though she were a governess pacifying two wayward charges, Elizabeth said firmly, “I am sure that you are both very capable competitors, and it would be a close race indeed. If it is not too much trouble, I should like to return our conversation to more sober topics.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam was the first to answer.
“But goading Darcy is far too entertaining a sport! And it is even better now that I have an audience. Besides, when you have spent as long as I have on the blood-soaked battlefields, you would do anything to pass an evening next to an attractive young woman.”
The colonel looked at her warmly as he said this, and Elizabeth tilted her head to hide her blushes.
“Miss Bennet must be tired of your compliments,” Mr Darcy verily growled. “I am sure she and the other ladies would prefer to converse without our presence.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam shot his cousin a withering look.
“It may shock you to learn that women generally enjoy compliments. However, chivalry compels me to seek Miss Bennet’s opinion regarding our next move.
” He leant in, a dimple forming in his cheek.
“I would like very much to continue becoming better acquainted with Pemberley’s guests.
I am of the opinion that the ladies should not withdraw, and then I can enjoy more of your pleasing company. ”
“This is Mr Darcy’s house—it is for him to decide.”
“Well, that is no kind of answer! I shall have to apply to your aunt for support.” The colonel granted Lady Acaster a playful smile. “You would wish for us all to remain together, would you not?”
Lady Acaster’s eyes twinkled at his mischievous tone, and she glanced at Elizabeth.
“If I may express a preference, I would like to stay together, if only to ask you for your opinions regarding my dearest niece. I understand you are already acquainted. I believe she is much changed from the last time you met?”
“Undoubtedly!”
“Is there anything you would like to share from the summer you all spent together?”
The colonel’s eyes twinkled in Elizabeth’s direction. She tensed. So much had happened when they were together five years ago. With bated breath, she awaited his answer.
“Where do I begin! For a start, there are no twigs in her hair or mud on her cheeks from whatever tree she climbed. On her clothes, there is a marked absence of animal fur, an unhappy consequence of her proclivity to play with the dogs and cats in the scullery downstairs. When I look at her fingers, I see no smudges—which is a strange occurrence, for she was never far from her pencils and notebook.”
Relief flooded her body, followed by a prickling self-awareness; that morning, when she had been left disappointed by his inability to recall her, she had thought herself quite inconsequential in his regard, but his last words left her in no doubt that she was remembered very well by the colonel.
Lady Acaster raised a meaningful eyebrow. “Once again, I must beg Mr Darcy’s forgiveness for ever suggesting my niece be a suitable friend to his sister. The more I hear of you, the more I am put to shame.”
Before Elizabeth could reply, Georgiana protested. “My cousin exaggerates. Elizabeth and I spent many hours studying our lessons and practising the pianoforte together.”
Elizabeth’s heart warmed to hear her friend’s defence. It was not needed, and she opened her mouth to say so but was surprised when Mr Darcy’s deep voice rang out.
“It would appear that the times in which Miss Bennet and my sister were up to no good were in the presence of my wayward cousin.” He glared at the colonel. “One might infer that you were an unhelpful influence.”
The colonel acknowledged Mr Darcy’s remark with a pointed stare of his own. “There was only ever one malevolent presence when we were all together at Pemberley, and it was not I.”
Elizabeth’s heart dropped. Mr Wickham. She risked a glance at Mr Darcy, whose expression was severe.
Colonel Fitzwilliam must have sensed his misstep, for when he spoke next it was about something else entirely.
“Do you know, I have a desire for some music. Perhaps, Georgiana, you would indulge us?”
Even in the candlelight, Georgiana’s face was deathly pale. Clearly, she did not want to play. Elizabeth stood swiftly, giving her friend a compassionate smile. “I shall perform for you. Let us see whether I can sufficiently redeem myself as a gentlewoman in the eyes of my scandalised aunt.”
The others followed Elizabeth as she led the way to the drawing room, where in one corner stood a somewhat neglected pianoforte.
Approaching the instrument, she glanced back, her gaze resting upon Mr Darcy.
Their eyes met briefly, and she detected an emotion other than anger.
Gratitude, or perhaps remorse—she could not say, nor could she deny the unsettled feeling it inspired in her chest. By the colonel’s remark and Mr Darcy’s response, it sounded as though the Darcy family no longer supported the roguish son of Pemberley’s previous steward.
Placing her fingers upon the keys, she valiantly tried to suppress these unwelcome thoughts, her hands trembling as she recalled the last time she and Colonel Fitzwilliam were both in the presence of that awful man.