Chapter Four
“You take delight in vexing me.”
LEAVING THE OTHERS TO THEIR ENTERTAINMENTS, DARCY CLOSED THE door solidly behind him and stood quietly replaying the last half hour.
With a shrug of defeat, he turned to the stairs leading to his chambers.
His ears still rang with the witty remarks slung at Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
Literally lifting his shoulders to steady his resolve, Darcy opened his eyes to find himself face-to-face with the image, which haunted his every private moment.
“Miss … Miss Elizabeth,” he stammered. “I did not expect to discover you here.” He offered her a proper bow.
Returning a small curtsy, she replied only with his name and moved past him.
Belatedly, it dawned on him that Elizabeth carried a tray with an ewer of water and a large bowl and clean cloths.
A bit taken aback, he said with more incredulousness than he intended, “Miss Elizabeth, should not one of the maids be assisting you?”
“My sister required fresh drinking water, and I must also bathe her feverish brow. I wished not to bother Mr. Bingley’s staff. They have so much to do already. I fear my family is a terrible imposition on his household and his kindness.”
“Nonsense,” he began, and then he realized it might appear a reprimand, so Darcy softened both his tone and his words. “Mr. Bingley would expect nothing less from his staff. It is the neighborly thing to do. Allow me to call someone to assist you.”
“No,” she pleaded. “I would not wish to embarrass myself or my family further in Mr. Bingley’s estimation. Please, sir, allow me to do this without his knowledge.”
“Very well, then,” he relented. “Would you permit my assistance? The pitcher is full and, therefore, heavy, and the stairs are both narrow and steep.”
He watched intently as Elizabeth dropped her eyes in assent.
He stepped forward and took the water pitcher from the tray.
They ascended the steps side-by-side. Darcy found he could not remove his eyes from the smoothness of her cheek nor the auburn curls that caressed it.
At her sister’s room, she retrieved the tray from his grasp and entered first to place it on a nearby table.
Darcy waited at the door’s threshold. Seconds later, she returned to retrieve the additional water pitcher from his hands.
“Mr. Darcy, your kindness was most generous.”
Her eyes did not meet his as openly as Darcy prayed they would.
“It is my pleasure to be of service to you, Miss Elizabeth.” As she accepted the pitcher, her fingers touched his during the exchange.
The sensation zinged through Darcy’s body: He took an awkward step backwards.
Before he could recover completely, Miss Elizabeth dropped a quick curtsy and disappeared into her sister’s chamber.
Darcy rushed to his chambers. His mind raced.
The brief warmth from her skin ricocheted through his body.
His hands actually shook as he reached for a recent letter from his sister.
He must find a means to clear his mind of Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
As odd as it was to admit, the lady’s touch had aroused him.
With forced determination, he swallowed his desire.
Snatching up the letter from his sister, he made himself think of something other than a saucy country miss.
10 November
My dearest William,
Your letters provide me such pleasure. The accounts of your activities in Hertfordshire are quite amusing.
I do not laugh at you, my darling brother.
I would never think of doing such an unattractive thing; yet, I do find it amusing how your affection for Mr. Bingley has placed you in a position to be an observer of these sundry activities. I delight in your retellings.
Sir William Lucas may be pompous, but I am confident that he possesses a compassionate heart.
His joy at giving pleasure to his neighbors showed through your narration.
Not all can be exposed to fine society; I admire Sir William for raising himself to the recognition he has been afforded at St. James.
However, I was a bit surprised at your censure of the behavior of Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst at the entertainment.
Their actions must be poor, indeed, for you to take such notice.
I was happy you gave credit to your dear friend.
Mr. Bingley is much favored by having you as his commendable model.
Your recollection of Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s musical interlude at least brought you some pleasure that particular evening.
From your description, Miss Bennet must possess true talent; I am certain such qualities make her all the more attractive to gentlemen.
Being accomplished in music is a virtue to which many women strive.
Mrs. Annesley says my needlework requires a purpose.
She has, of late, convinced me to assist Derbyshire’s poor by creating pieces to be given to the children by the local vicar.
He, when we attended church there last, preached upon the need of the rich to show charity to the poor.
The lesson included the rewarding of such actions ten times over.
Last week in our lessons, I was introduced to the phrase “noblesse oblige,” which you understand to be translated into the “likewise obligation.” I took it to be a mantra of what I should do.
Although I am, admittedly, a bit shy about viewing my needlework presented to others, I hope I have your blessing in this endeavor.
Dearest brother, please extend to Mr. Bingley and his family my deepest regards and respect. Your loving sister …
Georgiana
Darcy closed the letter and placed it in the desk drawer.
As he had hoped, the missive brought him a sense of calm.
It was a stark reminder of where his heart and his duty remained.
Pemberley. Georgiana. His tenants. He held responsibilities.
He had an obligation to his family name.
He had never felt as he had the past few weeks.
He was generally considered to be a man of position—of control.
It seemed of late he possessed no restraint; a pair of fine eyes and a wry smile had created havoc.
He wished for someone in whom he could confide and from whom he could seek advice.
Oh, to have his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, at Netherfield!
Edward would know what to do. For now, Darcy resolved that he would answer his sister this very evening.
If she found his narrative of the assembly and the supper at Sir William’s amusing, the change in the Netherfield dynamics should bring her “great joy” indeed.
Darcy wished he could find the simple pleasure in life Georgiana did.
Of course, she was but a child. Such antics would not seem so amusing if his sister knew the extent of his involvement in Hertfordshire society.
She might even pity her brother’s position at the hands of a saucy maiden.
Darcy wished Georgiana was older and could be his confidant; his “troubles” with Miss Elizabeth Bennet, however, were exactly that—his troubles. No one could resolve them but him.
The Bingley household gathered in the drawing room.
Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bingley were at piquet, and Mrs. Hurst observed their game.
As was his earlier intention, seated at the desk in the room, Darcy wrote to his sister.
Miss Bingley, finding nothing of her own for amusement, scrutinized his progress.
Eventually, Elizabeth joined the group. He noted how the lady took up her needlework and observed the others.
14 November
My darling sister,
I am pleased my letters are a source of entertainment.
Such was not my intent, but I feel no offense in your finding them so.
Our party at Netherfield Park has increased by two.
After spending an invigorating evening with Colonel Forster and some of his senior officers, Bingley and I returned to Netherfield on the tenth to discover Miss Jane Bennet had taken ill during her supper with Mr. Bingley’s sisters.
Rather than sending her home in a consistent downpour, the Bingleys provided Miss Bennet accommodations.
Miss Bennet is a favorite with Charles. A pretty face, which Miss Bennet does possess, often smites him.
Reputedly, she is the prettiest girl in the area.
While also being extremely concerned about the lady’s health, Bingley secretly delighted in having Miss Jane Bennet ill while at Netherfield.
To his credit, Bingley considered sending to London for a physician.
Miss Bingley, my dear, wishes me to interrupt my letter at this point to tell you how enraptured she is with your design for the table you decorated recently.
Truthfully, not wishing to take away from Caroline’s “raptures,” lately I find her compliments for everything relating to the Darcys and to Pemberley as annoyingly placating.
If not for Bingley, I would disassociate myself from her.
The other member of our party is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who has been asked to join us and to attend her sister.
Actually, I suggested this to Bingley. His having shown Miss Bennet as his local choice, it would not be proper for the lady to stay at Netherfield Park without a chaperone.
Propriety must be maintained. This is the same Miss Elizabeth of whom I spoke previously.