Chapter 2 An Extraordinarily Popular Guest #3
“Hmm, that is just as well.” He mumbled the statement under his breath, so I could not be certain of his words.
“Did you just say, ‘That is just as well'? If so, I do not take your meaning.”
Graham’s complexion deepened in colour. “By George, your hearing is excellent. I…um… did not intend to impart aught of significance. My mind often entertains idle thoughts that do not bear repeating.”
“I see.” My husband had a peculiar friend in Graham.
When we reached the Hound and Hare, Graham insisted we should repair therein for refreshments.
I agreed, for a quiet respite from the prying eyes on the high street sounded most welcome.
However, the dining room abounded with people, all female except for a pair of older men in a back corner, dashing any semblance of privacy within.
Had someone called a town meeting? If so, I ought to have been notified.
I tugged on Graham’s arm. “The room appears to be full, so they may not be able to accommodate us. Perhaps we ought to leave.”
“Nonsense, I am certain they can meet our needs.” Graham signalled to a young male servant, who directed us to an unoccupied table in the centre of the room.
Fie, it seemed we should stay.
The frequent glances from the other patrons of the inn betrayed an interest in the two of us that superseded the attraction of those seated at their own tables. My bearing stiffened as I perused the room.
“Elizabeth, is aught amiss?”
My face glowed with heat under his pointed attention. “You cannot be unaware that the ladies in the room keep staring at us. A few of them may believe it improper for me to be here alone with you, though we are not doing anything wrong. I hope they will not spread spurious gossip.”
Graham twisted his upper body to behold the women at the other tables, offering them a charming smile.
“I cannot imagine why they would do so. I am one of your husband’s oldest friends, and we are out in public, not hiding in a dark room.
But maybe we should prove we have nothing to hide.
” He stood and turned in a circle to include all present in his address.
“Pardon me, ladies, may I have your attention?”
His opening statement could not have been more unnecessary—he had everyone in the room riveted upon him.
“I have observed that this town is blessed with an extraordinary abundance of attractive and amiable ladies.” Graham paused to give me a surreptitious wink.
“Mrs. Darcy and I invite everyone here to join us. We should appreciate the company. Since I am new to the area, I want to become acquainted with all of you.” He turned to address the two male servants present.
“Would you be good enough to place the other tables together with ours and move the chairs so the others may sit with us?”
The two men voiced their agreement and set to the task.
Frenzied movement ensued as the women rose from their seats and hied towards our table.
I gaped at the spectacle. Had I ever before witnessed a group of ladies moving with such haste?
Many opted to carry their chairs rather than wait for the servants to move them, and they positioned themselves as close to Graham as possible.
My friend Mrs. Sarah Mead managed to seize the available spot on my right.
I moved close to her with the intention of remarking on the singular behaviour of the ladies present, but the sight of her stilled my tongue.
Sarah’s eyes, glassy and directed at Graham, revealed her to be no less fascinated with him than any of the others. What could explain this phenomenon?
The young male servants worked with diligence to accommodate all the ladies who, without exception, accepted Graham’s invitation. The serving girl, upon her return from the kitchen, halted and blinked at the sight of the rearranged furniture.
By and by, I faced Mrs. Mead again. “It is a pleasure to see you here.”
After a long moment, she appeared to return to herself and met my gaze. “Mrs. Darcy, I am glad to see you as well.”
“Can you account for why so many ladies have come to the inn today?”
Her lips pursed. “I…no, I cannot. My own presence is somewhat of a mystery.”
“How can that be?”
“An hour or so ago, I sat in my parlour working on an infant’s dress for my neighbour’s baby when a sudden inexorable impulse pressed me to go to the Hound and Hare at once.
So, I readied myself and walked towards the high street.
I encountered several of my neighbours along the way, all of whom had acted upon a similar urge.
The closer we came to the inn, the more ladies we encountered. ”
“That is…extraordinary.”
“Yes, I know.” Sarah’s sight returned to Graham. “It is all quite strange.”
Graham raised a hand to the serving girl. “Miss, bring out your best teas and cakes for everyone.”
The girl stood transfixed for several moments, her eyes glued to Graham. When one of the young men who had moved the tables coughed, she flinched and blushed. “Yes, sir, at once.” She scampered back to the kitchen.
“Now then, ladies”—Graham’s arms moved to emphasise his speech—“My name is Mr. Graham, and I have come from Calabria to visit my dear friends the Darcys. I should be obliged if everyone around the table would be kind enough to introduce themselves.” He indicated the woman on his left to begin the process.
In a beguiling exhibition of his personal charm, Graham spoke in turn to each lady gathered around us, exemplifying attentiveness, sympathy, and approval for every one of them.
Each of the women responded to him with enthusiasm and gaiety.
Even the most staid and reserved members of the group appeared captivated by Graham.
Unless I mistook the situation, he left every lady present convinced of his genuine interest in her.
What a rare gift he possessed! He managed to delight a diverse group of women, ranging in age from sixteen to about seventy. The ladies engaged him with the sort of familiarity that marked a treasured and significant connexion.
A trembling overtook me as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s poem “Pied Piper,” based on the old German legend, came to mind. How much evil could be done by a man with Graham’s ability if he used the talent for an unsavoury purpose?
After a while, Graham paid the bill, gave the three inn workers generous gratuities, and walked around the expanded table, kissing each lady’s hand as he bade them farewell.
One by one, the ladies, upon receiving their moment with him, stared into his eyes and conveyed their pleasure in the new acquaintance.
Several of them placed their hands over their hearts or held handkerchiefs to their faces as he left them, as though overcome with emotion.
As Graham and I walked away, a hubbub of chatter could be heard from the table as the ladies effused over his gallant manner, fascinating conversation, and striking appearance.
When we returned to the carriage, Graham sat with his gaze upon me. “Well, this excursion has been a pleasant amusement. I hope you found it to be enjoyable.”
“This has been a peculiar day, and I found what occurred at the inn to be extraordinary! It seemed you had every woman in the dining room ready to fall at your feet.”
“All but one.” He maintained a cheerful inflexion, but his brows shot up in a pointed way.
What? I stared at him. As my husband’s friend, what could he mean to imply?
He leaned back, his forehead contracting. “Pray, do not misunderstand me. As someone who receives more than my share of attention, I am pleased to find you so immune to my attractiveness. It bodes well for Darcy’s future happiness. My old friend is indeed a fortunate man.”
With a heavy exhalation, I recovered my smile. “Fitzwilliam and I are both lucky.”
Pemberley
Darcy
My interview with Mr. Boyle eliminated any doubt that the man possessed the knowledge, skills, and experience I had been seeking in a steward.
After I led him on an abbreviated tour of Pemberley’s grounds, including the steward’s living quarters, I offered him the position.
At his acceptance, we agreed he would report for duty in a se’nnight.
Once Mr. Boyle had departed, I walked back towards the house. Along the way, I raised and rounded my shoulders a couple of times to ease them into a more relaxed position. Now that I had found a suitable steward, I should soon have more time to devote to my wife and son.
When I drew near the side entrance to the house, several female voices caught my ear from the other side of a tall hedge. On mild days such as today, the servants often used the table and chairs there for their repast.
“Sally, ’ave you seen the master’s friend Mr. Graham yet? I ain’t seen a man so ’andsome and charming afore. I ’eard ’e’s to be ’ere a week.”
“I’ve only seen ’im from afar, and I’m right keen to see ’im again!”
“The gent passed by me once today, and I thought I’d faint. I swear ’e winked at me!”
“No, I don’t believe you, Milly. ’E wouldn’t do such a thing!”
“’Tis true, I tell you! The man ’as the most beautiful golden ’air I’ve ever seen and…”
Gritting my teeth, I increased my pace to escape the maids’ prattle. Upon my life, had everyone in the house become spellbound by Graham? Earlier that day, I caught even Mrs. Reynolds stealing glances at him.
For the rest of the afternoon, I worked in my study.
To my good fortune, Graham did not return before I left the room to change for dinner.
On a whim, I took a detour to the nursery and found Bennet seated upon the floor with an open book before him.
Miss Hunter spotted me, and at my nod, she left the room.
At the sound of my footfalls on the wooden floor, Bennet turned in my direction.
“Papa!” He toddled to me and placed the book in my hand. “Papa, read.”