Chapter Sixteen
“Elizabeth, may I escort you home this evening?”
“Yes, thank you, Mr. Darcy.”
“Please, do not think me rude, but I wish to have a word with my sister before we take our leave.”
“I am at my leisure, Mr. Darcy, and will continue to enjoy the company of our lady aunt.”
“Thank you.”
He stood, took her hand, and bowed low over it, placing a warm kiss on the back of her fingers.
He was rewarded by her cheeks turning a rosy hue and the lowering of her lashes to hide her eyes.
After a quick squeeze, he released her hand and turned to approach Georgiana, who had watched with wide eyes.
“Georgiana,” he began, “might I have a word with you before Elizabeth and I leave for the evening?”
“You may,” she said, rising to her feet with natural grace.
Somewhere, somehow his little sister had grown up.
Once again, he marveled at how much she reminded him of their mother.
She followed him to their uncle’s study and took a seat.
He paused long enough to marshal his thoughts, then sat across from her.
“First, I apologize for what occurred when the Bingleys came to dinner after my return from Hertfordshire. My behavior was atrocious and you were well within your right to call me out over what I said and what I did.”
“Brother, I love you so very much, and to hear those horrible insults you said while at Netherfield with the Bingleys, shocked me to the core of my being. You are better than that.”
“No, my dear, I am not. I did much worse than spout stuff and nonsense, but that is not why I asked you here. I should have told you as soon as I came back from Meryton I was getting married. I have made many mistakes, and like compound interest on my investments, they have multiplied at a rapid pace.”
“Then tell me how it got out of control.”
“As you well know from my letters, I held Elizabeth in high regard, but had no intention of following it further as her family was well below us concerning money and connections.”
“But…”
“I did not say my judgment was correct, only that is how I saw it whilst there. Regardless of my concern over the vulgar behavior of her family, Elizabeth intrigued me, and at Bingley’s ball, I asked her to dance.
After our set, I saw her go outside and worried she would become chilled.
When I approached her on the terrace, I thought I saw Wickham sneaking behind some bushes. ”
“Mr. Wickham is in Meryton?”
“He was and I erroneously thought Elizabeth was working with him for monetary gain. When she tripped and fell into my arms, tearing her gown, I automatically assumed she had done so on purpose.” At Georgiana’s gasp, he leaned forward and patted her hand.
“She did not. It was an accident, but because of my anger I swore to make her rue the day she collaborated with Wickham.”
“Oh, my.” Georgiana’s eyes welled up with tears.
“You were so hateful, and the way Miss Bingley gloated over Miss Elizabeth’s fall from grace was horrid.
Her true nature was revealed in full that night.
I am also disappointed in Mr. Bingley. If he had truly thought well of Elizabeth’s cousin, he should have stayed and supported her, regardless of what action you did or did not take. ”
“I agree, Georgie,” calling her by her favorite shortened name. “As everyone in the family now knows, I love Elizabeth and must find a way to make amends. To that end, I would ask if you mind staying with aunt and uncle for a few more weeks.”
“I do not mind in the least.” She gave him a coy smile. “Are you going to woo her by taking her to the theater?”
“Yes, you little minx. I am going to woo her and it is none of your business how I go about doing so.”
“Fine. I will just ask Richard.”
“Ask away. Even he will not know.”
Georgiana looked at him from beneath her eyelashes.
“He will know. He always does.”
She was right. Richard always seemed to know.
“Let us join my bride so I may take her home at a decent hour.”
They returned to the drawing room and within the half hour, he and Elizabeth were tucked up snug and warm in one of his carriages heading for Darcy House but not before they had both promised to attend the theater next week as his uncle’s guest. After they disembarked from the carriage, before they’d reached the front entrance, he asked Elizabeth if she would join him for a nightcap before retiring for the evening.
She said yes and met him in the library as soon as she had changed her outer footwear for house slippers.
“My aunt is quite taken with you,” he said as he handed her a glass of wine.”
“At first, she had no choice but to come to my defense as Miss Bingley declared, in a loud voice, that I was the trollop Mr. Darcy had refused to marry after a failed compromise.”
“Miss Bingley said that? In public?”
“Oh, yes. In the only way she knows. Loudly.”
He shuddered. So many things had gone wrong since that night at Netherfield. Would it ever end? He gave a start when Elizabeth laid her hand on his forearm.
“She did not harm me, Mr. Darcy. I am inured to her waspish tongue and her tart manners. Even if we had not married, she could never touch my heart and soul. I refuse to give her that power.”
“You are a strong woman. I should have seen it sooner. I believe I inherently knew it, which is why I was so drawn to you.” He held her gaze for a long moment, then broke the tension by saying, “My aunt came to your defense?”
“She did. Miss Bingley had no idea your aunt was in the tea shop, hidden as she and Miss Darcy were by a pillar, but when Miss Bingley invoked the name of Darcy as well as the Earl of Matlock, she had no choice but to stem the tide of gossip.” She smiled at the memory. “I like your aunt very much.”
“She is formidable and will be your greatest ally.”
“Are you not my greatest ally?”
“Of course,” he stammered. “It’s just… when it comes to the ton…”
“Mr. Darcy, I am but teasing. I know she is a formidable ally and I am grateful she has decided I am worth the effort.”
“You are more than worth the effort. I thought that before I even learned of your family history. I have not shown it, but I decidedly thought about it.”
“As we have only started to make amends, let us agree that you are trying to behave in a more gentlemanlike manner and I commend you. I am so glad you spoke with your sister this evening. Will she be staying at Matlock House for the next while?”
“Yes, I asked for a few weeks for us to gain ground in our friendship and she was more than willing to afford us some privacy. She is also well disposed to like you.”
“Wonderful.” She took a sip of wine. “Are there other topics you wish to canvas before we bid each other good night? Laundering issues, mayhap?”
He knew, by the heat on his cheeks, they had likely flushed a dark red.
“I apologize for what I inferred about bed linens to Aunt Catherine. It was not gentlemanly.”
“I…” She also flushed and her lashes fluttered down to sweep the top of her rosy cheeks. “I am sure you had your reasons.”
“I could not allow her to keep hinting you were not a maiden when you came to this marriage. It is the very least I could do.”
“I appreciate the sentiment and given time, I may be able to look your uncle and his sons in the eye.”
“Elizabeth, they are your staunchest supporters. Even Ashton, the reprobate likes you, and the viscount does not like anybody these days.”
“Then, I am honored.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying their wine.
“As you know, I spoke with Bingley the other morning. I told him we had married and apologized for not telling him that was my intention from the start. If I had, he might not have left Hertfordshire so precipitously and Miss Bingley would not have accosted you so grievously. I should tell him of her behavior.”
“Why?”
“Why?” he parroted back.
“Yes, why would you worry about what Miss Bingley says or does? She is not your sister. She is not even remotely related to you, so why is it your duty to tell Mr. Bingley of her outrageous conduct in public?”
“Because he should be made aware of how she insulted you.”
“And do you not think all the other times she insulted me and my family, in your company I might add, was not an obvious clue to her true nature?” Elizabeth placed her nearly empty wine glass down on the side table and heaved a heavy sigh.
“You are not Mr. Bingley’s keeper. He makes his own decisions and has to learn to abide by them.
I thank you that you took the time to advise him of our marriage and will gladly host him for dinner any time you choose.
However, if you spoke with him over a misguided attempt to steer him in the direction of my cousin, please stop.
She deserves better than a man who would abandon her over a matter which did not affect his family in any way shape or form, other than their desire to stay within the parameters of your friendship and social circle. ”
“He intimated that he might return to Netherfield after Twelfth Night.”
“Mr. Bingley may go wherever he chooses. Jane will not be at Longbourn, she will be in London, at her aunt and uncle’s house.” She dared to look at him directly. “The ones who live near Cheapside.”
He held her gaze for almost a minute complete before saying, “I must get their direction from you. When your cousin is here, we will have them for dinner.”
“You also said my family would be coming to town.”
“Ah… yes. I have yet to write them, but I will welcome your family any time in the new year and we can visit Vauxhall Gardens and maybe tempt your uncle to an afternoon of shopping at Hatchard’s”
“Well played, Mr. Darcy. You have already discovered the way to my uncle’s heart.” She rose to her feet and Darcy followed suit. “While we are making nice, may I request permission to attend Miss Lucas’s wedding in Meryton?”
“What is the date?”
“The tenth of January.”
“I see no reason, other than intemperate weather, for you not to attend.”