Chapter 10 #3
After bidding everyone farewell, Matthew decided to walk home. His residence was only a few streets from the botanical gardens, an elegant house shared with several unmarried gentlemen engaged in business.
As he approached the front door, a stranger stepped into his path.
“?Senor Mateo de la Garza?”
**Mr Mateo de la Garza?
Matthew felt his heart sink.
“No soy Mateo de la Garza. Mi nombre es Matthew Andrews de la Garza.”
**I am not Mateo de la Garza. My name is Matthew Andrews de la Garza.
The man showed no sign of surprise.
“Tengo este mensaje para usted.”
**I have this message for you.
He handed Matthew a folded note, bowed briefly, and disappeared into the crowd before Matthew could stop him.
Matthew unfolded the paper, read its contents, and slowly crumpled it in his hand.
‘No ahora… no después de hoy.’
**Not now… not after today.
He closed his eyes for a moment.
‘?Cuándo me dejarás vivir en paz?’
**When will you let me live in peace?
◆◆◆
Mr Darcy had spent the past few days buried in work, and for that reason, he was pleased to see his friend.
Charles Bingley's cheerful disposition usually succeeded in lifting his spirits, but the moment he saw that Miss Bingley had accompanied her brother, his own immediately sank.
He concealed his annoyance as best he could and greeted them politely.
"I am glad to see you, Bingley. Miss Bingley."
"Darcy, you are always so occupied. We have not seen one another for weeks, and a great many interesting things have happened since then."
"And what might those interesting things be?" Darcy asked.
Mr Bingley wasted no time and explained.
"Lady Campbell invited us to dine at her house to thank us for our hospitality in Hertfordshire. And you will never guess whom we met there."
"I confess I have no idea," Mr Darcy replied with little enthusiasm. Society gossip held very little interest for him.
"I met four of the Bennet sisters—Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Kitty, and Miss Mary. And before you ask, they were there because they are Lady Campbell's nieces."
Mr Darcy's surprise was unmistakable, but before he could speak or ask any question, Caroline interrupted.
"Lady Westcliff informed me that Mr Bennet is nothing more than a distant cousin of Lady Campbell. Apparently, she has taken it upon herself to introduce those poor girls to more refined society as a charitable gesture."
Mr Darcy rose from his chair and began pacing the room, silently considering everything he had just heard.
But Mr Bingley had more news.
"Yesterday I called on Miss Bennet at her uncle's house. She is even more beautiful than I remembered."
Caroline sighed impatiently. "Charles, Miss Bennet may be a perfectly respectable young woman, but you must remember that she has neither fortune nor connections.
Besides, she appears perfectly indifferent to your attentions.
If you persist in visiting her, you will only end by marrying a woman who does not love you. "
Mr Bingley looked thoughtfully at his friend. "And what do you think, Darcy?"
"You know my opinion already, Bingley," Mr Darcy replied calmly. "I find myself in complete agreement with your sister."
He had already said everything he could on the subject of Jane Bennet. There was nothing further to add. What concerned him far more was whether either of the Bingleys had anything else to say about Elizabeth.
Caroline resumed the conversation.
"Lady Campbell has only just returned to England. She does not yet understand how society works. In time, she will learn that those country girls belong in Hertfordshire, not in London's finest drawing rooms."
Then, turning to Darcy with a coquettish smile, she added,
"And imagine, Mr Darcy—Lady Campbell even invited her solicitor to the dinner."
"Caroline, Mr Andrews is far more than Lady Campbell's solicitor. He is one of her principal business advisers," Charles corrected. He had already explained the matter to his sister more than once.
"Mr James Andrews?" Mr Darcy asked.
When Bingley nodded, he continued, "Lady Campbell must indeed be remarkably well connected. Securing Mr Andrews's firm as one's legal representative is no easy matter."
"You know the gentleman, Mr Darcy?" Caroline asked with interest.
"I have met him on several occasions. He is a close friend of my uncle, Judge Leonard Darcy.
Mr Andrews formerly held an influential government position in the West Indies.
He is an authority on international commercial law and serves as an adviser to Parliament.
He is a gentleman of considerable consequence, Miss Bingley. "
"And a very agreeable one," Mr Bingley added cheerfully. He then returned, as always, to speaking of Jane Bennet.
Mr Darcy searched for a way to inquire about the one person whose name he truly wished to hear without betraying himself.
"And how are Miss Bennet's sisters?" he asked as casually as he could.
"They look remarkably well. Lady Campbell's influence is already evident."
Caroline, however, immediately guessed Mr Darcy's true object.
"I am delighted to hear that her solicitor is held in such high esteem," she said with a smile.
"Lady Campbell's charity may prove particularly advantageous to Miss Eliza.
Do you remember, Charles, how she spent nearly the entire evening talking to Mr Andrews?
I might even venture to say they were flirting.
And he certainly appeared equally captivated by her. "
"That is true," Mr Bingley replied. "Miss Elizabeth spent almost the whole evening speaking with him. They were seated beside one another at dinner."
Mr Darcy rose abruptly and walked towards the fireplace, absently stirring one of the burning logs with the poker.
"Mr Andrews is an older gentleman, Miss Bingley. Surely you cannot mean him."
Caroline smiled, pleased by the question. Her words had had the effect she desired.
"I do not mean the father, Mr Darcy. I mean his son. Mr Andrews de la Ga… something. He is quite young—and remarkably handsome. He has rather an exotic appearance... and such an unusual surname."
"Caroline," Mr Bingley sighed, "Mr Andrews de la Garza is half Spanish. There is nothing unusual about his surname; it is simply Spanish."
"Oh, never mind, Charles." Caroline waved the correction aside. "The point is that he is young, handsome, and, I imagine, very wealthy. I am truly delighted for Miss Eliza. They would make a most attractive couple."
Caroline was secretly pleased to see the effect her words had upon Mr Darcy. He remained silent for the rest of their visit, speaking only when necessary.
Half an hour later, the Bingleys took their leave, and Mr Darcy immediately retired to his study and locked the door behind him.
He knew almost nothing of Matthew Andrews de la Garza. He knew only that the young man worked alongside his father and was widely expected to inherit both his practice and his reputation.
He could not help feeling utterly miserable. If Elizabeth married Andrews de la Garza, she would remain in London. They would inevitably meet at balls, the theatre, and countless social gatherings. How could he bear to see her on another man's arm?
Worse still, Andrews de la Garza possessed every advantage. He was handsome, accomplished, wealthy, and well connected. Mr Darcy could not imagine Elizabeth refusing such a gentleman if he offered her his hand.
How could they both marry other people when they loved one another?
Yet the thought that tormented him most was the possibility that, in time, Elizabeth would forget him and give her heart to another man.
He had to do something.
That evening, during dinner, he turned to his sister.
"Georgiana, I should like you to accompany me when I call upon Lady Campbell tomorrow.
I had the pleasure of making Lady Campbell's acquaintance in Hertfordshire, and as she is newly arrived in London, I consider it only proper to pay my respects, welcome her to the city, and wish her a pleasant stay. "
Georgiana looked at him in surprise but asked no questions. Her brother was certainly not a sociable man and rarely paid calls on people he did not know well. Yet Georgiana would never have presumed to question his decision, so she simply replied, "Of course, William."
◆◆◆
Matthew had called on Jane the previous day and had promised to return the following afternoon. Before leaving, he had tried to teach Elizabeth and Kitty a few Spanish words, though with very little success.
Later, Elizabeth discovered a Spanish dictionary in the library. Apparently, Lord Campbell had studied several languages in order to conduct business throughout the New World.
Determined to surprise Matthew, she copied a few expressions onto a piece of paper and spent the morning practising them. Jane, Mary, Kitty, and Lady Campbell could not help laughing at her dreadful pronunciation, and when the butler announced the visitors, they eagerly awaited Matthew's reaction.
"?Bienvenido a casa, simpático y bueno, senor Andrews de la Garza!" Elizabeth declared proudly in awful Spanish.
"Miss Bennet," Mr Darcy said gravely, scarcely able to conceal his disappointment.
Georgiana merely smiled.