Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Darcy’s forced composure and cheerfulness for the sake of his guests’ feelings had been near to the breaking point when his cousin suddenly appeared in his breakfast room, coming right up to his side of the table saying, “Darcy, how are you?”
He rose, astounded. “How d’ye do, Fitzwilliam?”
His cousin gripped his hand, concealing in that handshake his friendship to such a degree that it might have convinced his guests of their indifference. Darcy knew, however, that it held all the closeness that would have led either cousin to do anything for the good of the other.
“I did not expect you to come all this way when I—” Darcy narrowed his eyes. “But I only wrote to you Wednesday evening! There is no way you could have received my letter, let alone come here by Friday.”
Fitzwilliam gave him a surprised look. “I read of the storms and floods in Derbyshire in Tuesday evening’s newspapers.
They said the area near Bakewell and Matlock were underwater and that the Derwent rose three feet.
I left London first thing Wednesday morning to see of what use I might be, long before you ever put pen to paper. ”
Proof of his cousin’s genuine attachment moved him, and Darcy turned away to hide a grateful smile. He quickly gestured to his friends, saying, “You know everyone here, of course.”
Fitzwilliam had by this time kissed Georgiana’s cheek and greeted Balfour and Utterson.
“I am glad you are here, Fitzwilliam,” Balfour added. “I need another cheerful friend to help me force Darcy into taking a respite from his concerns now and then.”
“Have you had any luck so far?” his cousin asked kindly.
“Not at all, but perhaps together we can influence him. I worry for his peace of mind.”
Darcy heard Fitzwilliam give an audible swallow before addressing Balfour’s sister. “Mrs Lanyon, always a pleasure to see you.” Mrs Lanyon bowed her head. He then turned to Elizabeth with a bemused smile. “And I trust you will not misunderstand me when I ask how you came to be here.”
“My friends abandoned me here to go to Scarborough without me.” She gave a little laugh. “In truth, I chose to remain in Mrs Lanyon’s care until she and her brother see fit to return me to them.”
Fitzwilliam gave Mrs Lanyon a smile that she did not see since she was staring into her lap. “You could not be left with a better companion than Mrs Lanyon.”
Balfour then said, “Miss Bennet has kindly glossed over how she would rather spend her time with Hester instead of with Bingley’s haughty sisters.”
“Miss Bennet’s good manners are to her credit,” he said, “and I agree that anyone of sense would prefer Mrs Lanyon’s company to Miss Bingley’s or Mrs Hurst’s, but if you tell Bingley I said that I shall deny it.
” Everyone laughed good-naturedly. “How came you to be travelling with Bingley’s family, Miss Bennet? ”
“I am now in Bingley’s family; in fact, I live with them.
My eldest sister resumed her acquaintance with Bingley this spring, and they married this summer.
We all travelled north together, and I will reunite with them when Mrs Lanyon, Mr Balfour, and Mr Utterson go to Scarborough in September.
For the present, I have the pleasure of Mrs Lanyon’s company and the chance to further my acquaintance with her and Miss Darcy. ”
“Did you say that Bingley resumed an earlier acquaintance with your sister?” Fitzwilliam asked.
Elizabeth nodded, but her attention was gained by Mrs Lanyon who asked to hear all about her sister’s romance.
Georgiana, under Mrs Annesley’s prompting, brought Fitzwilliam a plate and encouraged him to sit.
As Fitzwilliam took his seat and other conversations began, his cousin lowered his voice and leant towards Darcy.
“Was her sister the woman you had strong objections to last winter?”
The look on his own face must have been answer enough. Fitzwilliam’s eyes widened, and he whispered, “I think I accidentally told her about your efforts to separate them.”
There was another reason for Elizabeth to be furious with me during my proposal in April. Of course, it would have ended about the same even if he had not nearly ruined her sister’s happiness.
“I confessed to Bingley after we left Kent. He has forgiven me,” Darcy murmured, “and so has Miss Bennet.”
“There must be a story there,” Fitzwilliam said, quietly laughing.
“I have plenty to tell you when we are alone,” he said.
Bingley’s marriage was the least important thing he had to tell Fitzwilliam.
Perhaps he could help him make sense of the missing candlestick and the death of Molly Carew.
I hardly know what to make of it, and my mind revolts at the idea that anyone in this house is capable of murder.
Soon, Mrs Lanyon set aside her napkin and stood. “Miss Darcy, did you not say that you wished to ride before it grew late? Are you and Mrs Annesley ready to leave?”
Fitzwilliam opened his mouth, but Mrs Lanyon was not done.
“I suspect Colonel Fitzwilliam shall be too tired to join us, since he has travelled so far today.” Darcy looked at his cousin to see how he bore being dismissed, and he thought that his polite nod hid disappointment.
“Another time,” she added, linking an arm through Georgiana’s. “It shall be just us ladies today.”
“Then what about Miss Bennet?” Georgiana asked. “She is not a horsewoman, you know.”
Mrs Lanyon looked embarrassed by her misstep, but Elizabeth did not look as though she felt slighted. “I am perfectly capable of finding my own amusements. You must enjoy yourselves whilst the weather is fair. I am happy to walk the park.”
“I think,” Darcy said, and the ladies all turned to look at him, “that until the looting in Lambton is certain to be stopped, none of you ought to go far from the house alone.”
He felt his cousin’s sharp attention, but Mrs Lanyon and Georgiana agreed as they left.
Elizabeth turned pale before his eyes. She alone understood there might be more to fear than her jewellery being taken.
Whilst it was not likely Carew had been murdered for appearing like Elizabeth, there was still reason for caution.
Is she frightened to stay at Pemberley? Darcy wondered if he had been wrong to talk with her so plainly about his thoughts on Carew’s death. Her observations about Carew’s hands and her ring were astute, but he would rather not distress her by talking over the matter with her again.
“I promise to stay near the house,” she said.
“Perhaps, Miss Bennet, you would permit me to join you?” Utterson asked, with more pleasantness than he typically demonstrated. “I am willing to be of use and escort you anywhere you wish to walk.”
“Certainly,” she said brightly, “thank you.”
“I shall go along too,” Balfour added, “since Darcy said he did not need further help today. Besides, I cannot go to Buxton to gamble away my fortune every day.”
“What fortune?” Utterson drawled. “As far as I know, your father is still alive and well.”
“Aye, as is yours, but at least on my father’s death, I expect an increase in fortune.” Utterson looked away.
Elizabeth gave them a long-suffering glance before laughing. “So long as your quarrelling over fortunes and inheritance are left in the house, you may join me. Let me run upstairs to change my shoes.”
They all rose as she left, with Utterson, nearest to the door, opening it for her. She smiled her thanks as she passed, and he returned her gesture. It was odd to see an open smile on Utterson’s face. He often looked upon everyone with impatience.
But who could not be charmed by Elizabeth’s good nature and friendly manner?
“Utterson, do you admire Miss Bennet?” The jealousy Darcy had begun to feel on Wednesday, that had been building whenever he saw Utterson and Elizabeth in conversation, overrode his good judgment, and he immediately wished the question unspoken.
Utterson looked at him askance. “Why do you ask?”
“Because she is a pretty, sprightly woman,” Balfour answered for him.
“She is good company,” Utterson said with a shrug. “And I would never single out your or Balfour’s sister.”
“Quite right,” Darcy and Balfour muttered. Darcy noticed Fitzwilliam pointedly avoided looking at Balfour.
“Then,” Darcy said after a pause, “then you do admire her?”
Utterson wrinkled his nose in distaste. “She is too poor, and rather all in one straight line from head to foot for my liking.”
Darcy was unsure how to respond because to argue against these criticisms would show his own feelings.
He felt half about to strike Utterson, and half ready to thank him for his reassurance.
It ought to make him happy to hear that Utterson could not admire her, but as far as he was concerned, Elizabeth was the handsomest woman of his acquaintance.
“I made my situation clear to her our first evening at Pemberley,” Balfour said, to Darcy’s surprise. “I must marry with attention to money, like most of us. Miss Bennet seems sensible; she would not expect a proposal because of a conversation or a walk.”
“I think,” said Fitzwilliam slowly, “that any man in this room could afford to marry wherever they liked if they better managed their expenses.”
Balfour laughed. “Miss Bennet is pretty, but not worth the effort in my own case. I prefer to spend and act as I have always done.”
“Which is spending a lot and acting very little,” said Utterson, smirking.
“And you are right there alongside me, my dear Utterson.”
“You will sink into unmanly sloth if you are not careful, Balfour,” Darcy said, now in a lighter mood.
“Oh, nae, I have a desire to prove myself,” Balfour said in mock seriousness.
“A desire to prove that you can spend as freely as you like?”
“And that desire is little restrained by prudence,” Utterson added wryly before Balfour could speak.