Chapter 12
The following day, Elizabeth was at Mr Frederick Darcy’s townhouse.
She, Marian, and Rebecca had previously arranged to spend the morning together, in part to talk over the previous evening’s ball.
After they had reviewed who they had met and the striking attire worn by some of the ladies, and just as they were about to comment on the gentlemen with whom they had danced, unexpected callers arrived—Lord Bramwell and Colonel Fitzwilliam.
Mrs Darcy was out, visiting friends of her own, and before receiving the gentlemen, Rebecca asked the housekeeper to remain in the drawing room with them.
It was an odd bit of delicacy which Elizabeth thought unnecessary, given there were three of them, but she was more interested in seeing the brothers than in wondering at her friend’s request. For all she knew, her mother had instructed her to act thus in her absence.
One reason for Elizabeth’s curiosity was to see how the viscount behaved.
His manner had been unusual when she had seen him at the start of the ball, and while he had been just as she recalled from Ireland when they danced, Rebecca had confided that he had barely spoken during their set.
Instead, he had gazed at her, and when he did speak, he had stammered and given every sign of feeling unsure and anxious.
“Ladies, I hope my brother and I are not intruding,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said. He glanced at Lord Bramwell, who stood next to him, almost as though wanting to encourage him to speak.
“Yes!” the viscount said. “Exactly. I—that is to say, we wanted to see how you were today. After the ball.”
“So we did,” the colonel added. “How fortunate that all three of you are here.”
“Indeed,” Marian said. “It would be difficult to know how Elizabeth and I are holding up after yesterday’s exertions if we were not.”
Her tone was amused, and Elizabeth supposed it was for the same reason she was struggling not to laugh. Lord Bramwell had not taken his eyes off Rebecca, and the colonel seemed trapped between frustration and bewilderment.
“Please, do sit,” Rebecca said, politely gesturing to the two men. “There should be tea shortly, if you would care for a cup.”
Lord Bramwell took a chair as close to Rebecca as possible. She was seated at one end of a sofa, with Marian occupying the other. Colonel Fitzwilliam sat near her, and Elizabeth was in a chair next to him, but in a position that made it possible to easily converse with either couple.
“My brother raised the idea of calling, hoping Miss Darcy would be at home,” the colonel said; he spoke mostly to Marian but also looked at Elizabeth.
“I must admit, it is odd to call her ‘Miss Darcy’ when that is also my young cousin’s name.
Georgiana, I mean, Darcy’s sister. I was just with her yesterday.
She and I went for a walk in the park, and whenever we saw people we knew or I introduced her to someone, I referred to her as Miss Darcy.
” He shook his head. “I suppose I shall become accustomed to it, but would it not be easier if we were not always so formal?”
Marian laughed. “What a radical notion, Colonel! I imagine your father and mother would have a thing or two to say of it. La politesse, toujours la politesse, as my governess used to remind me.”
He chuckled, as did Elizabeth.
“They certainly would,” he agreed. “But I have spent too much time with other soldiers, perhaps, and see the world differently from how they do.” He shrugged. “I believe my cousin Darcy would have come with us, but he is spending the day with his sister.”
“Oh?” Rebecca said. She leant towards them, her eyes wider than usual, and when they met Elizabeth’s, they seemed to be begging her not to leave her to speak to the viscount alone. Fortunately, servants entered bearing refreshments, which provided a distraction for a couple of minutes.
As soon as he had a cup in his hands, Lord Bramwell began chattering, his attention entirely on Rebecca.
“You know your cousin. My cousin. Our cousin? That sounds wrong, does it not? Oh, I know it is correct, but—Well, what I meant to say was that you know he is a devoted brother. Georgiana has started lessons or something like that. Masters. Music? Art?” He shook his head, indicating he was unsure.
“They were both at liberty today, and Darcy wanted to stay with her.”
For the moment, Elizabeth lost track of what the colonel and Marian were discussing in favour of listening to Rebecca and the viscount talk about their mutual relations.
She discerned that Miss Darcy and her companion were living at Mr Darcy’s townhouse, although that was contrary to what had previously been arranged, and that he and the colonel—who was also Miss Darcy’s guardian—had lately hired a new companion for her.
Naturally curious, she wondered what had brought about the changes.
Beyond learning this bit of interesting information, Elizabeth studied the behaviour of the couple.
Once again, Lord Bramwell appeared uneasy—like a combination of overly eager but unaccustomed to speaking to young ladies, which she knew was not the case—and she began to suspect why.
As for Rebecca, she evidently wished to turn his attention to anyone else, but there was no polite way to do so.
“Did you dance every set?” he asked Rebecca, his voice becoming noticeably higher towards the end of the enquiry.
“I did, as I believe Elizabeth and Marian did. Did you not?” Her question was directed to Elizabeth.
“Yes, I was fortunate enough to secure partners for all of them, despite knowing so few people in town,” Elizabeth said.
Her response would have been no had Mr Darcy not found her just before the penultimate dance of the night.
“Everyone there was very kind and friendly, I thought. Rebecca, Marian, and I were speaking of it when you arrived,” she added, indicating the viscount.
Her friend was visibly grateful that she was taking part in the conversation, but although he glanced at Elizabeth, he kept his attention fixed on Rebecca.
“Were there any you particularly enjoyed?” he asked. “Err…men who were more amusing or-or…”
Rebecca, who was fair-skinned, was turning redder by the moment.
Already, her cheeks resembled ripe strawberries, and the colour was moving down her neck.
“I suppose my cousin,” she said after a brief pause.
“I have not seen him often of late, and it was pleasant to speak to him again. That is, we have seen each other this autumn, but we have not had much occasion to talk just to each other. If you know what I mean.”
Nodding and his voice quiet, Viscount Bramwell said, “Darcy. Yes, that is good.” He went on to ask Rebecca about her other partners, occasionally making a remark or noise when she mentioned their names as though he disapproved of the gentleman in one way or another.
Elizabeth attempted to interject, but her efforts were unsuccessful in light of his apparent desire to understand how Rebecca had passed the ball and what she intended to do in the coming days.
“Bramwell,” the colonel said after about ten minutes, “you must not keep Miss Darcy and Miss Bennet to yourself. Not that I find my company unpleasant.” He smiled at Marian, who grinned in return.
“Oh, yes, Colonel, please, you and Marian must join us,” Rebecca said, sounding more relieved than was entirely polite.
She laughed, but it sounded forced. “You have been beside us this whole time, so I suppose you are not strictly joining us, but it would be pleasing to speak all together, would it not?”
“Splendid idea,” Elizabeth said, noticing the viscount did not appear to agree, given the stern expression he aimed at his brother. “We were speaking of what we would like to do in the next few weeks.”
“And I was just about to say that I would be very glad to escort you wherever you like, Miss Darcy,” Lord Bramwell said, adding after a barely noticeable pause, “You ladies as well, naturally. Miss Bennet, I know you will tell your friends I am an excellent companion on tourist-type excursions.”
Elizabeth was just agreeing to his final statement when Rebecca said, “That is kind of you, my lord, but surely you will not have time? Lady Cassandra will require your company. I hope she is well?”
“Who?” he asked, his brow furrowed.
“Lady Cassandra,” Elizabeth said, recalling Lord Halsley and Mrs Ryde speaking of the couple marrying in the near future. “She must be glad you are returned from Ireland.”
“Oh, her.” Lord Bramwell shrugged. “I would not know. I have not seen her since last winter. I do not even know if she is in town. Have you been to Ireland, Miss Darcy?”
“But I thought you and she were—” Rebecca began to say. Elizabeth supposed she realised it would be impolite to finish her statement and so stopped.
Lord Bramwell blushed. “I assure you, reports of our…friendship are greatly exaggerated.”
Beside her, Elizabeth heard the colonel quietly chuckling.
“I believe it is time for my brother and me to depart,” he said.
He stood, walked to his brother, and tapped his shoulder as though encouraging him to rise as well.
“If we could arrange it, I would be glad to join you ladies in seeking amusement, just as Bramwell proposed. Miss Darcy, Miss Bennet, I hope we shall have more occasion to speak soon. Miss Strachan, it was a pleasure to chat with you, and I look forward to continuing our conversation.”
His bow to Marian was slightly deeper than the ones he gave Rebecca and Elizabeth. Lord Bramwell remembered the niceties and wished them a good day before he left.