7
Next morning sunshine replaced the usual cloud, and Lady Selborn proposed an outing to the Royal Palace where her husband was to confer with the governor.
Although the distance from Hotel Metropole was a few hundred yards Lord Selborn insisted on a cavalcade. At the front he shared a landau with Lindale, Koch, and another secretary, two guards riding at their flank. The plan was for Lady Selborn to accompany Justina and Elizabeth, but at the last minute Justina swapped with Mrs Bingley so as to continue a conversation with Miss Darcy, who was sharing the third carriage with her brother and Mr Bingley.
As they threaded the busy streets, Mrs Bingley told Elizabeth of her husband’s movements after quitting Netherfield. He had acquired a manor at Wingfield in Derbyshire, 20 miles east of Pemberley—and near an estate at Tupton, where his eye was caught by the daughter. Like Jane, Eleanor Fairley proved an ideal foil for Bingley’s impulsive nature. Quiet, supportive, she was happy to play second fiddle—but Elizabeth sensed a determination that asserted itself when necessary.
Drawing Mrs Bingley out was patient work; before long Lady Selborn turned to Elizabeth.
‘You seem well acquainted with Mr Darcy.’
Elizabeth had already decided what she could reveal. Yes, she had met Darcy in Hertfordshire and come across him again in Kent. They had danced once or twice at balls and soirées …
Best not even to hint at the reasons for her bitterness.
‘I wonder he remains single,’ Lady Selborn said. ‘A fine-looking gentleman, and according to my husband, intelligent and well-informed.’ She looked at Mrs Bingley. ‘Also wealthy, I imagine?’
‘He has a large country estate, and a house in town,’ Mrs Bingley said.
‘I have noticed him at Almack’s but he does not attend regularly.’
He dislikes society, Elizabeth wanted to explain, and goes to balls and concerts only for Miss Darcy’s benefit. But she kept silence as Lady Selborn continued, ‘It probably comes down to clubs. My husband frequents White’s, Mr Darcy prefers Brooks’s. It is odd, all the same.’ She looked again at Elizabeth. ‘Is he very particular?’
‘I could not say, your ladyship.’
Lady Selborn glanced at Mrs Bingley, then with a smile dropped the subject. It was a smile Elizabeth thought she understood. The interrogation would continue later.
The Royal Palace had been admired; Lord Selborn and his team had entered; everyone else was strolling along Place de Palais, where a row of lime trees lined the Royal Park. Elizabeth had remained with Lady Selborn and Mrs Bingley, but was pulled away by Justina to join Miss Darcy.
‘Lizzy, is it not wonderful!’ Justina spoke in an excited whisper. ‘Father conferred with Mr Darcy after breakfast, and our parties will travel together until we reach the Rhine at Cologne.’
Elizabeth felt her stomach lurch. ‘Excellent news.’ She smiled at Miss Darcy. ‘And then?’
‘We will go upriver if possible.’ Miss Darcy frowned, as if aware she was displeasing Justina. ‘I’m sorry, but William has longed to see Italy all his life …’
‘He can do both,’ Justina urged.
‘Enough!’ Elizabeth said. ‘Let our friends go where they want.’
‘This has nothing to do with you!’
Elizabeth disdained to respond, and after an uneasy silence Miss Darcy muttered, ‘The gentlemen, I am sure, will decide for the best.’
They passed stalls offering memorabilia of Waterloo—cannon balls, hats, sabres, gathered from the battlefield for sale to eager visitors. Miss Darcy paused, looking puzzled, then shivered and moved away.
Justina sniffed. ‘How tasteless to profit from such horror.’
‘Our cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam was here with the 52 nd Regiment of Foot,’ Miss Darcy said. ‘We were most anxious, but he received only minor injuries.’
Elizabeth gasped, embarrassed that she had not asked after the colonel. ‘What a relief! I met your cousin once at Rosings, and he was most charming.’
‘Oh yes?’ Justina sounded piqued. ‘You know everyone, Lizzy.’
‘It was the merest coincidence. A friend married a parson whose patron was Colonel Fitzwilliam’s aunt.’
‘Yet you never met Miss Darcy?’
‘I rarely visit Rosings,’ Georgiana blinked. ‘My aunt is rather daunting.’
‘And what account did your brother and cousin give of our esteemed Miss Bennet?’
‘William did speak of a party from Hertfordshire.’ Miss Darcy glanced at Elizabeth. ‘My recollection is hazy, but I think he remarked on how he had enjoyed your singing.’
‘Ha!’ Justina gave Elizabeth a shove. ‘You have an admirer, Lizzy!’
Elizabeth sighed. She had genuine affection for Justina, but wished sometimes she could lock her up and enjoy a few days of calm.
Inside, the park was a matrix of lawns, hedges, and broad tree-lined paths. From the gate they reached a promenade, where Darcy joined their group. She assumed he had something to say, but apparently not, for he continued facing stiffly ahead.
The awkwardness became too much for Elizabeth, and she said, ‘Miss Darcy has told us of your cousin’s service at Waterloo. What a mercy that he came through without serious injury.’
‘Indeed. Thank you.’ He slowed, so that they were separated from the other ladies. ‘It is belated, Miss Elizabeth, but may I say how sorry I was to hear of your father’s passing. We knew through Collins of course …’
Elizabeth could only mutter her thanks, after which he continued, ‘I know from experience that one does not easily recover from such a loss.’
‘True.’
He hesitated, then said, ‘I wanted to consult you over Lord Selborn’s suggestion that our parties join together, at least until Cologne.’ He turned, as if to gauge her reaction. ‘My sister enjoys Lady Justina’s company, and I see no objection to the arrangement except …’
He broke off, and Elizabeth with a sigh replied, ‘Duty obliges me to defer to Lady Justina, and I would hate your sister’s pleasure to be denied on my account.’
‘It saddens me you are reduced to this role …’ Anger crossed his face. ‘But be assured, I will not distress you by, ah, unwelcome attentions.’
She could not help smiling at his formality. ‘You already promised. In your letter.’
‘Ah.’ A nod. ‘So I did.’
‘May I ask how Mr Bingley feels about this?’
‘I think he will probably return to England, not because we are joining your party, but because Mrs Bingley is finding travel a strain. Her life centres on home and family, and she feels the separation exceedingly.’
‘He was not embarrassed at meeting me again?’
‘Why should he be?’
Why indeed, Elizabeth thought bitterly. After all, any affection between Bingley and Jane had been the growth of only a few weeks: easily formed, easily forgotten. If a cab passes you by, no matter, you catch the next one.
But she made no reply, and they walked on in silence.
As the afternoon unfolded, Elizabeth recovered her composure. Darcy, mercifully, left with the Bingleys, to see the 14 th century church of Notre Dame de la Chapelle. Justina and Miss Darcy played duets on a pianoforte in the lounge. As she listened from a nearby divan, Elizabeth was joined by Mr Lindale, fresh from his encounter with Francois Joseph Charles Marie de Mercy-Argenteau, Governor of the province of South Brabant. The politics, like the names, were impenetrably complex, and she was grateful to have the situation summarised. In the north of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, the population was mostly Protestant and spoke Dutch. In the south it was mostly Catholic and spoke French. Demand was growing for an independent state to be called Belgium. Faced with such divisions, the governor was not much interested in disputes between the German Confederation and Russia.
‘Are your duties over for the day?’ she asked.
‘I have a report to write.’
‘Confine yourself to what you have just told me. Half a page will suffice.’
He smiled. ‘It is a little more complicated than that. But I have bored you enough.’
‘On the contrary.’ She pointed. ‘I was studying a map in the foyer, and noticed that Brussels is less than 250 miles from London. Nearer than Newcastle. Yet before this trip my knowledge of the region was negligible.’
‘We live on an island.’
‘Yes, and this makes us lazy! Our waiter is fluent in French, Flemish, English, German. I know only my own language plus a smattering of French.’
‘Time is finite, Miss Bennet. A person who studies languages all day long has little to say in any of them.’ Lindale glanced at his pocket watch. ‘Regrettably I must leave you and start my report.’
At dinner, Elizabeth found herself next to Mrs Bingley, a pairing that renewed sad memories of Jane, but at least kept her away from Darcy. Occasionally she watched him speaking with Lord Selborn at the other end of the table, the handsome face even haughtier than usual.
Later, in their chamber, Justina spoke of a plan to visit the battle site at Waterloo next day if the weather remained dry.
‘Will you go?’ Elizabeth asked.
A shrug. ‘It has become a shrine. Artists go to paint it, poets to write about it.’
‘Surely all traces of the battle are gone?’
‘I certainly hope so.’
‘Then what is the point?’
‘I confess I’d rather visit a modiste.’ Justina met her eye. ‘Mr Darcy was attentive to you this morning.’
‘We said very little.’
‘Oh yes?’ A smile. ‘There’s something between you, I’m sure of it. Mother agrees, and she is never wrong.’
‘You should hear what she says about you.’
Justina waggled a finger. ‘You’re changing the topic, but I shall not allow it. Confess!’
‘I was acquainted with Mr Darcy four years ago. When acquaintances meet, they make polite enquiries about their health and that of their families.’
Justina shook her head. ‘It’s more than that. I noticed at dinner that you keep glancing at one another, while pretending not to. Like secret lovers.’
Elizabeth snorted. ‘Lovers, are we? And is this the opinion of your mother, who is never wrong?’
‘All right. From your reaction I see you are not lovers, and that indeed the very idea is absurd. But why? Mr Darcy is handsome, wealthy, and so far as I can tell, exemplary in his opinions and conduct. What reason can you have for disliking him?’
Elizabeth sighed. ‘I’m sorry, Justina, this is too private. I would only point out that people are not always as they seem.’
‘Hmm.’ Justina frowned. ‘You are warning me?’
‘Take it any way you want.’
‘I shall judge for myself.’
‘As you should.’
They smiled at one another, and settled down to sleep.