Chapter 4
WHERE ELIZABETH BENNET MEETS A GENTLEMAN.
Elizabeth’s skirts billowed in the wind as she wandered the countryside, breathing the fresh air and distinctive scents of late autumn—composting leaves, wood smoke, apples, and hay.
The weather was surprisingly mild, enough so to remove her bonnet, which she had done the moment she could no longer be seen from the windows of her father’s house.
A healthy breeze danced through the fields, and she tilted her face heavenward, inviting the sun’s rays to warm her skin as she closed her eyes with a contented sigh.
The sky was cloudless, a brilliant, almost impossible shade of blue that presented a striking contrast to the rich golden hues and pale browns of the November landscape.
Beneath her closed eyelids the glow of the sun shone brightly with vivid colours and soft, muted shapes.
A familiar pair of eyes appeared, darkening her light-hearted moment.
With a jolt, Elizabeth opened her own eyes and extended her arms until her fingertips skimmed the tops of the stalks of dried grass and rye swaying in the wind.
It would do her no good to continue to dwell upon a future that could never come to pass.
She had lived quite happily for one-and-twenty years of her life without Fitzwilliam Darcy to distract her and make her forget herself with impossible dreams.
It was time to shake off her melancholy.
Though the prospect of a future without Darcy was painful to her, Elizabeth knew she needed to embrace her fate wholeheartedly rather than scorn it.
The sooner she could master her emotions, the better it would be for her peace of mind; but thus far, exorcising Darcy’s ghost proved a task easier said than done.
It was a task she sincerely wished she need not do at all.
Perhaps she would have more success on the morrow.
With her heart and her head full of him she walked on, but the sound of distant hoof beats interrupted her ruminations.
A bevy of partridge took flight and Elizabeth turned, startled to see a lone rider guiding his mount towards her at a rapid pace.
The gentleman gained ground quickly and, once upon her, reined in his horse and dismounted with a dramatic flourish.
He sank to one knee and bowed his head. “My lady,” he said with a deep, mirthful tenor as he peered at her through his lashes. “I am, as ever, your servant.”
Elizabeth found herself staring into a familiar pair of twinkling eyes the colour of thunderclouds. A smile spread across her face as she greeted him with a startled laugh. “Get up! Get up at once, you goose, and let me look at you!”
With a hearty laugh of his own, the gentleman did as he was bid and, with a wide grin that was as familiar to her as her own laughter, touched the brim of his hat.
“Do you not think it fortuitous, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, that you are the very first of my neighbours I have the pleasure of meeting this fine day?”
“I do not think it fortuitous at all, Mr Ellis, for I believe you and I have been friends long enough for you to know that I am a creature of habit. You, sir, always seem to know precisely where I can be found. I trust after all this time that you are well?”
“I am,” he said as he accepted her proffered hand and pressed it between his own. “It does my eyes good to see you, Lizzy. Cousin Charlotte was correct. The last several years have been very good to you. You look remarkably well.”
Elizabeth could not hide the blush that heated her cheeks at his familiar childhood address, nor his compliment.
“I can already tell your manners have altered but little, though I can hardly take you to task for them when you pay me such pretty compliments. Are Sir William and Lady Lucas in good health? They must be very pleased to have their favourite nephew back with them at Lucas Lodge after all this time.”
“They are indeed! I must confess I am exceedingly glad to be home. My time, both at Oxford and in America, was of infinite value and I would not trade it for the world, but I have sorely missed my family and friends, and this place,” he said as he looked about him with a fond, wistful expression.
His countenance, however, soon grew serious.
“Did my addressing you as I used to do truly cause you offence? It was certainly not my intent. We have always been easy and informal with one another, you know—you, Charlotte, Jane, and I. But if you desire it, I will address you as Miss Elizabeth from this moment forward. I should warn you, though, no matter how many times the appellation leaves my lips, in my heart you shall remain Lizzy to me.”
Elizabeth shook her head, a nostalgic smile upon her lips as she studied the ground.
“No, I am hardly offended, only surprised. I have not been so informally addressed by a gentleman other than my father and uncles since I was little more than a girl. I do not object to it in this case, but it will never do should you forget yourself when we are in company together.”
“Then I will endeavour to remember myself and respectfully address you as Miss Elizabeth on those occasions. How I have missed our spirited conversations! You were always able to challenge me in ways very few others are capable.”
“The same was always true of you. And speaking of challenges, my sisters will be pleased to see you, as will my mother, for your presence here will undoubtedly mean the addition of one more eligible gentleman to the neighbourhood.”
Her companion rolled his eyes. “Has your dear mother not yet found suitors enough for all of you that she must now include me in her schemes? She must be desperate, indeed! Given time, I might even be convinced to oblige her, but only provided she pushes me towards her most enchanting daughter.”
The corners of Elizabeth’s mouth quirked impishly.
“I am sorry to inform you, then, that you will have to make do with another. Jane’s heart has belonged these many months to Mr Bingley.
He let Netherfield Park last Michaelmas and fell madly in love with her.
They are to be married at month’s end. As you can imagine, we are all ridiculously happy for her. ”
“And I am nothing but pleased for her as well. I have heard tell of her good fortune from my aunt and cousins but cannot say I am the least bit surprised by the news. I always knew Jane’s beauty and infinite goodness would someday capture the notice of an earnest, discerning gentleman.
“You must tell me, though, whether this Mr Bingley truly deserves her. According to Charlotte, he and his party left Hertfordshire rather abruptly last autumn and the gentleman’s absence was of some duration. Dare I ask whether it was his admiration of your sister that compelled him to return?”
“Yes, I believe it was,” Elizabeth lied, though she told herself it was not a complete untruth, as Bingley’s feelings had never faltered, only his confidence in his own judgment.
“Both were equally affected by the separation, and I have since come to understand that it was only a lack of courage on the gentleman’s part regarding my sister’s sentiments that kept him in London for such an extended period.
Do not judge him too harshly, for you will be hard-pressed to find a kinder or more amiable gentleman than Mr Bingley.
He and Jane are infinitely well suited, and I daresay shall find much happiness together. Indeed, they already have.”
“Very well, then. Until I have the honour of making the gentleman’s acquaintance, I shall give him the benefit of the doubt, but in return you must now tell me whether Jane’s excellent Mr Bingley does not have a friend worthy of you as well.”
Elizabeth’s smooth countenance faltered, but she recovered her wit quickly.
“When compared to Jane’s sweetness of temper, my impertinent ways could hardly charm a gentleman of fashion and means.
You know it is not in my nature to alter my opinions or curb my spirited tongue simply for the sake of flattery or to garner praise.
I am afraid I shall have to content myself with teaching Jane’s ten future children to embroider cushions and play their instruments very ill.
Now,” she declared, “it is your turn to satisfy my curiosity, and I demand to know what news you have of Charlotte.”
With a flourish, Mr Ellis produced a thick packet from his greatcoat pocket.
“My dear cousin is well enough, but she misses your excellent society exceedingly, I am afraid. As a matter of fact, she mentioned several times her hope that you will consent to visit her again in the spring. She shall enter her confinement by then and I believe will be rather desperate for sensible conversation as it seems neither her husband, nor the residents of Rosings Park are reliable enough to perform that particular office with any degree of competency.”
Elizabeth smiled knowingly. “I see you have made Lady Catherine’s acquaintance, then. Pray, how did you find her?”
Mr Ellis chuckled. “There are simply no words to do her justice. As you can imagine, I by no means share my Uncle Lucas’s opinion that she is a woman of true affability, though I will go so far as to indulge the sentiments of our Cousin Collins and agree that no detail is too trifling for that great lady’s notice.
She has an opinion on every subject, her favourite, of course, being her future son-in-law, his independent fortune, and his fine estate.
While I do not know the gentleman myself, I cannot help but pity this Mr Darcy of whom she spoke so intimately, and I daresay constantly. ”