Chapter 5 #2
Rising in her seat, she took the paper from Lord Matlock’s hand. She unfolded it and began to read. “Lord Reginald Rochford of Oxfordshire, age thirty, never wed. Mr George Allen, heir of Allen Park in Hertfordshire, age forty, widower.”
Lady Matlock interjected, “He is forty but a very well-favoured gentleman. You would not think him a moment past his thirtieth year.”
Elizabeth gave her a doubtful glance and kept reading. “The Viscount Beauchamp, age three and twenty, never married. The Viscount de Comyn, age eight and twenty, never married. Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam—” She gave Lord Matlock a severe look.
“My son,” he admitted. “Recently returned from the Continent and a fine man, but I would not forward him over the others.”
“Thank you,” Elizabeth spoke drily. She suddenly felt too fatigued to continue reading the remaining twenty or so names on the list. She folded the page, laying it on a small table, then went to the window and looked down on the boys playing in the garden.
“I suppose your coming here today should not surprise me. I have seen your impatience growing.”
“It is not my impatience,” the earl protested. “Rather, it is an urgency born of the growth seen in your son and a new confidence that you are both safe at last.”
Elizabeth sighed, unable to disagree. “Is there one you favour? Mind you, I am not agreeing to this; I am only curious.”
Lady Matlock replied, “There are several we look upon favourably. Is there something you would wish us to consider in the selection?”
Elizabeth turned back to face the room, squaring her shoulders. “None who are fair. He must be tall, and I prefer dark eyes and curly hair.”
Lord Matlock, returned to jovial spirits by having nearly prevailed in his quest for the day, remarked, “Well, if that is not the very opposite of the late Lord Courtenay, I cannot think what is!”
“My point exactly,” replied Elizabeth. “I cannot consider anyone who looks even slightly similar to my late husband.”
Elizabeth considered a moment further. “I shall not decide this now. What I should like—nay, what I insist upon—is to spend the autumn in Hertfordshire as I have been, as Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I require a few months to accustom myself to the changes about to occur in my life.”
“It is settled then. The decree will remain until the first of January.” Lord Matlock agreed readily, his prize within grasp.
Lady Matlock spoke, her voice cautious. “Elizabeth, if I may offer a word of advice. This business of finding a marriage partner can be difficult. Lord Courtenay settled an extraordinary fortune on you, particularly as you came to the marriage with nothing. There are few ladies with a fortune as splendid as yours, few with such connexions as yours, and you are young and beautiful as well.”
“Thank you.”
Lord Matlock added, “I dare say the man you marry will earn some sort of favour from Prinny himself.”
Elizabeth nodded, but she did not entirely comprehend their meaning.
The countess continued. “The machinations and arrangements that might arise could be rather ruthless.
The gentleman who marries you will have much to gain from the alliance, thus there will be many dishonourable men willing to stop at nothing to obtain you.
Even those who are honourable might go to great lengths to have you.
“I say this not to frighten you but merely to caution you. It would be daunting for the most worldly of ladies, but for one of your tender years with no experience among the ton, it worries me.”
Elizabeth looked down at her teacup. “I understand why this match should be arranged, but I am not yet willing to concede. Allow me the autumn, and we shall see to more in January.”
The earl and countess smiled graciously at Elizabeth, and with a few more encouraging remarks, the topic was done.
Business now aside, they took tea until Lord Courtenay was deemed ready for his nap.
He was brought to his mother for a kiss and some soothing over a skinned knee that had ensued from his determined pursuit of the bunny.
His lordship was an amiable and friendly child, apt to see a friend in every strange face, but Lady Matlock was well known to him, and he toddled towards her readily.
The countess exclaimed in delight. She made no secret of her readiness to become a grandmother, though with two bachelor sons, such pleasures were not imminent.
She pulled the boy onto her silken lap, cuddling and tickling him.
Lord Matlock was equally interested in Henry, showing him a trick involving a handkerchief and a coin and revelling in the little boy’s excited laughter.
After a brief visit with the young lord, the Matlocks departed. As they walked the short distance to their townhouse, Lord Matlock asked, “Might I assume we are of a like mind on this matter?”
His wife gave him a quick nod and smile. “Being that she expressed her disinclination for another fair-haired husband, our two sons are out of the running, and I so wished to have her in the family.”
“Darcy could have no objection to her.”
Lady Matlock laughed lightly. “Perhaps not to her, but he will object violently to the notion of our attempting to marry him off.”
“Perhaps not.” Lord Matlock enjoyed the look of surprise on his wife’s countenance. “I do think Darcy at last recognises that his homes would benefit from a mistress and his sister from having a sister. Once he will admit he needs a wife, it will fall to us, I assure you.”
Lady Matlock smiled. “He could wish for no better than Elizabeth, though I do wonder what you meant by saying the regent could grant favour to her husband.”
The earl paused to nod to some acquaintances as they passed.
“I imagine some sort of title—perhaps only honorary, but a title nevertheless—will be bestowed on the man Elizabeth marries. Gardiner was knighted for his role, and this is far more significant. The gentleman will raise the future Lord Courtenay, and given the circumstances, obeisance to the reigning monarchy will be paramount. What better way to ensure loyalty? Not that the Darcys’ loyalty to the Crown can be faulted in any case. ”
“A title would not matter so much to Darcy as would the distinction for the Darcy name. There is no question Elizabeth brings that and more.”
“So, Darcy and Elizabeth…” Lord Matlock smiled at his wife. “It has a very good sound to it, does it not?”