Chapter 12 #3
"Do not trouble yourself, my dear," Eleanor said with a gentle smile. "It happens to me from time to time as well. Come, sleep here with me. There is more than enough room for us both."
"May I truly?"
When Eleanor opened her arms to her, Kitty climbed into the bed and embraced her tightly.
The two of them talked quietly for a little while until their voices gradually faded. Eleanor extinguished the candle, and just before Kitty drifted off to sleep, she whispered, "I love you very much, Aunt. Thank you for asking me to come and live with you."
Eleanor kissed the top of Kitty's head.
"I love you very much, too, my dear."
Holding her niece close, she soon drifted off to sleep with a happy heart, comforted by the love she had found in her family.
◆◆◆
Marcus was in his study, which also served as the room where he received visitors, for he entertained very little. Only two people ever came to the house with any regularity: his brother and his niece.
Since losing Ella and his little angel, Marcus had never allowed himself to grow close to anyone else.
Once, he had been a cheerful and sociable man with many friends.
Twenty years earlier, everything had changed.
Since then, he had chosen a quiet, solitary life and had grown accustomed to his own company.
He was making the final arrangements for his journey to Hertfordshire when his niece was shown into the room.
"My dear Uncle, I hope I am not disturbing you. I have only come to remind you that tomorrow is Lady Westcliff's ball, and you promised to accompany me."
Marcus looked up in surprise.
The ball had entirely slipped his mind.
Ever since meeting Elizabeth—and even more so after seeing the two young ladies in the bookshop—he had felt increasingly unsettled. Life seemed determined to place the past before him once more, and he intended to discover why. He had planned to leave for Hertfordshire the following morning.
"I am sorry, my dear, but I do not believe I can attend the ball. I leave for Hertfordshire tomorrow and expect to remain there for a day or two."
Claire clasped her hands together.
"Please, Uncle. If you do not go with me, I would rather stay at home, though I truly wish to attend."
She hesitated before adding, her cheeks colouring, "Miss Darcy called on me today and told me that her cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, intends to be there.
You know Mama. If Mr Darcy also attends, she will spend the entire evening trying to throw us together.
Please, Uncle. You are the only person who can rescue me. "
Claire knew perfectly well that her mother would never openly oppose Marcus. Her father rarely involved himself in such matters and almost always deferred to his younger brother's judgement. Lady Emma, for all her determination, was careful never to provoke him.
Marcus smiled. The ball must be of great importance to Claire. She disliked large gatherings and never attended them willingly. If she wished to go, it could only be because seeing Colonel Fitzwilliam meant a great deal to her.
"Very well, my dear. I shall accompany you. I daresay Hertfordshire can wait another day or two."
Claire's face brightened immediately.
"There is something else you should know, Uncle."
"What is that?"
"Mama has plans for you as well."
Marcus laughed softly.
"I feared as much."
"Yesterday, Lady Westcliff paid her a visit, and they spoke at length about Lady Campbell. The ball is being given in her honour. She is Lord Westcliff's widowed sister-in-law and spent more than twenty years living in Canada before returning to England a few months ago."
"And what has all that to do with me?"
"Mama and Lady Westcliff have decided that the two of you would make a perfect match."
Marcus shook his head with an amused smile.
Claire could never understand why a man as kind, intelligent, and handsome as her uncle had chosen to live alone, keeping almost everyone at a distance.
"Do not concern yourself, my dear," Marcus replied with an indulgent smile.
"I have faced such situations before, and they always end in much the same way.
Someone introduces me to a lady, we exchange a few polite words, and she soon discovers that I have no intention of paying her any particular attention. After that, we are both left in peace."
It was by no means the first time well-meaning friends had attempted to find him a wife. If Lady Campbell was indeed wealthy and accomplished, as Claire suggested, he doubted she would have the slightest interest in a man whose happiest years belonged to the past.
"I know, Uncle. I only wanted to warn you, so you would not be taken by surprise." She smiled mischievously. "And you must promise me one thing."
"What is that?"
"You must wear your new uniform. I dislike seeing you in those old coats all the time. I want everyone to see that my uncle—the war hero, General Marcus Sinclair—is the handsomest gentleman in all England."
Marcus laughed.
"Is that so?"
"It certainly is." Claire threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Uncle. I love you very much."
"And I love you too, my dear."
As he returned her embrace, Marcus could not help smiling.
Nothing gave him greater pleasure than knowing he could bring a little happiness into Claire's life. He had never understood his brother's indifference towards such a devoted daughter. Had his own little angel lived, he would have treasured and protected her every day of his life.
As Claire left the room, Marcus's thoughts drifted once more to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. He found himself wondering whether, had his little angel been spared, she might have become a young lady like Elizabeth—beautiful, spirited, and kind.
◆◆◆
Lord Westcliff sat at Lady Campbell's dinner table, listening with quiet pleasure as his sister-in-law conversed with Mr Andrews and his son.
Fortunately, his wife had been unable to accompany him, allowing the conversation to range over far more interesting subjects than the idle gossip she invariably encouraged.
He admired Eleanor greatly. She was intelligent, generous, and kind-hearted—so very different from his own wife.
Lillian was the daughter of a prosperous tradesman, a circumstance he had never minded.
He had known that, to her family, his title had outweighed the modest state of his finances.
During the early years of their marriage, he had believed himself content.
In time, however, he came to realise that they had very little in common.
Fortunately, his children had proved a constant source of comfort. Both were affectionate, sensible, and delightful company.
By nature, Lord Westcliff was a quiet and reflective man.
His greatest wish had once been to enter the Church, but as the eldest son, he had inherited both the title and the estate.
He had often thought that his younger brother, Daniel, would have made a better earl.
Indeed, for many years, Daniel had quietly helped support the family whenever the estate failed to provide sufficient income.
His daughter, Camilla, had married a physician—a decision that had caused Lady Westcliff to refuse to speak to her for more than a year. She had wished her daughter to marry a wealthy landowner with a title, thereby strengthening the family's social standing.
His son, Viscount Blackwood, was now five-and-twenty.
Although heir to the earldom, Christian had chosen a military career instead, inspired by his Uncle Daniel's example, whose generosity had rescued the family from financial ruin and social disgrace.
Lord Westcliff admired him greatly. At such a young age, he had already attained the rank of captain and commanded a regiment of his own.
"My wife begs to be excused," Lord Westcliff said with an apologetic smile.
"She is entirely occupied with the final preparations for tomorrow evening's ball.
Mr Andrews, Mr Andrews de la Garza, allow me to add my own invitation.
It would give us great pleasure if you would honour us with your company. "
"You are most kind, my lord," Mr Andrews replied. "Lady Campbell has already extended the same invitation, but unfortunately, we must leave London tomorrow. We are travelling to visit my daughter and my new granddaughter."
The moment Jane heard those words, her eyes sought Matthew's, and he immediately looked back at her.
For one painful moment, she could not help thinking that yet another gentleman who had shown an interest in her was about to disappear from her life, perhaps never to return.
Unwilling to encourage hopes that might end in disappointment, she deliberately avoided looking at him again. She could not bear the thought of once more becoming the object of pity—the beautiful Miss Bennet whom no gentleman ever seemed to choose.
The dinner remained cheerful, yet Matthew could not fail to notice the change in Jane. Throughout the evening, she answered him with her usual kindness, but she no longer sought his company or attempted to prolong their conversations as she had done before.
As the guests prepared to depart, he quietly approached her.
"Miss Bennet, I must leave tomorrow, though I shall return within a month. Before I go, however, there is something I must ask you."
He hesitated only for a moment.
"I wish to know whether you would permit me to pay my addresses to you. Ever since I first had the pleasure of meeting you, you have scarcely been absent from my thoughts. You need not answer me now if you would rather have time to consider."
Jane looked at him with gentle surprise.
"You need not wait a month for my answer, Mr Andrews de la Garza. I should be very happy if you were to pay your addresses to me."
She blushed deeply, but she wished him to know that his feelings were returned.
Unable to conceal his happiness, Matthew gently took her hand and respectfully raised it to his lips.