Chapter Fourteen #3
She gazed out the window at the gazebo and sighed.
Charlotte had tried to warn her against this, and Elizabeth had not listened.
She had convinced herself that it would be a jape, something to amuse her while she waited for the summer season to begin in earnest—something to take her mind off the pining for Mr. Penny.
She was a supreme idiot, for she had once again fallen for a gentleman who had already chosen another.
“Lizzy?”
Shaking away her miserable reverie, Elizabeth offered her sister a smile. “Yes, Jane?”
“What sort of creature is Miss de Bourgh?”
“Can you imagine if Caroline was the granddaughter of an earl?”
It was not Jane’s custom to speak ill of anybody, but her patience with her sister-in-law was strained enough for her to visibly cringe at the thought.
Charlotte nodded emphatically. “I believe she brings out the worst in Sir Sidney. Some of her hauteur and unpleasantness might reasonably be blamed on her mother, who is an imperious gorgon only your cousin Collins could ever like. She is fussy and impatient, claims ill health when it suits her whims, and with Sir Sidney she is fawning and forward—she treats most other people with flippancy and contempt.”
Jane sputtered with confusion. “How can that be? Surely Mr. Darcy would not tolerate such behavior in a relation, much less choose that cousin as a bride!”
“If he does not marry her, and she weds Sir Sidney, she shall be my relation ere long!” Charlotte groaned. “But I suppose she must have some redeeming qualities, if Mr. Darcy remains so devoted to her despite her treachery.”
“They have corresponded extensively, and of course they grew up together. He believes that it is Sir Sidney’s influence that has soured her character,” Elizabeth said.
She perceived Charlotte’s reaction and swatted at her friend.
“Many couples exchange love letters. But apparently Sir Sidney’s mode of address suits her better, and she is better suited to him. ”
“They are both apparently awful enough to deserve one another,” Marianne said. “And that would leave Mr. Darcy free to marry you, Lizzy! Do not shake your head at me, we all saw you dancing in the gazebo. I was sure he was going to kiss you!”
“Certainly not! The thought never occurred to me,” Elizabeth lied, flustered by the recollection of the moment when she had jubilantly expected the same.
Marianne swatted at her. “How could it not? He is intelligent, cultured, kind, and a very fine dancer. He is our brother-in-law’s trusted friend, and his own sister is fond of you. And he is fearfully handsome! I am sure I hardly knew what I was saying when I first spoke to him.”
Elizabeth was on the point of arguing that she was far too vain to fancy a gentleman who preferred such an inferior creature as Miss de Bourgh, but a fortunate interruption spared her from having to further deceive her sisters and her dearest friend.
Bingley’s library was indeed sparsely stocked with books, but more generously supplied with spirits.
Darcy abstained, but Richard and Bingley had a small draught of brandy.
To Darcy’s astonishment, they managed an entire quarter hour of conversation before the subject of their discourse turned to his recent activities in Sanditon.
Richard relayed the relevant information with a great deal of biased fluff and nonsense that Bingley found vastly entertaining.
“Well done, Richard! And so when Darcy refused to act on your advice, you forced his hand after that dramatic scene in the rain? What did Elizabeth do? She must have been a little cross with you.”
“Oh, she has been wonderful,” Richard gloated, raising his glass to Darcy.
“She had very gamely agreed to the ruse; from what I hear of her exciting life at the hotel, it is just the sort of shenanigan to capture her fancy, and within minutes of meeting her I could see that she has ample reason to wish some mischief on Anne.”
“And after he insulted her when they met years ago in Meryton! I would have thought her happier to spit in his eye!”
“She does delight in reminding Darcy of his capital offense! Such a lively, witty creature—I would court her myself, in all sincerity—and with much greater gusto—if one of us had enough fortune to make such an alliance practical. Ah, see there—now Darcy shows us how he really feels! That perfected scowl!”
Darcy grimaced as his cousin hooted with laughter and Bingley nodded with a dopey grin. “I have apologized for my words, which she overheard and mocked a great deal, in her charming way. After such a beginning, she has been generous to me and a miracle worker with Georgiana.”
“I ought to have guessed she would be,” Bingley said.
“And she is the perfect woman for your little charade, Darcy. She is clever and mischievous, and likes to have her japes and impish amusement. She is too irreverent to be easily cowed by your aunt and cousin, too confident to be dismayed that you prefer another lady, and her heart is not likely to be touched by the romance you pretend at. In nearly two years of our acquaintance, I have never seen her in love.”
Discouraged as he was by Bingley’s certainty in Elizabeth’s indifference, Darcy might easily discredit the dismissal, for he knew what Bingley apparently did not. Elizabeth had been in love before, and it has definitely taken place during the time since Bingley had married her sister.
It could not be said that Elizabeth did not have a romantic heart, knowing what he did, and suspecting that she had confided even more in Mrs. Bevan.
But she was also as prone to impudence and mirth as Bingley painted her; indeed, he adored her cheerful vivacity and high spirits.
He adored her. But did she see their courtship for no more than the farce they had agreed upon?
Or had her sentimental heart once again been touched?
Darcy knew he ought to hope for the former, yet his heart ached to know that she returned his inconvenient feelings.
“She is the perfect woman for Darcy, indeed.” Richard grinned at Darcy.
Bingley slapped his knee. “Do you know, I have thought that at least a dozen times since I married Jane! I would hear some amusing anecdote in her letters to Jane and the Bennets, or some expression of her intellectual tastes, and I would think to myself—Darcy ought to have given our Lizzy a chance! What a ponce!”
“What a monumental ponce!” Richard agreed.
Bingley sipped at his drink and then swirled the remainder, thoughtfully turning the glass in his hand.
“Say, Darcy, if Miss de Bourgh has thrown you over for this coxcomb, have you considered courting Elizabeth in earnest? You need not think of fortune—Pemberley’s holdings are still doing well, and you have a house in town.
The woman who let us this place, Lady Denham, hinted at a willingness to sell, if you wished to remain in Sanditon. You ought to think on it.”
Darcy feared he would think of nothing else for the remainder of his days. But it was impossible when Lady Catherine still wielded the power to destroy Georgiana. He would not sacrifice his sister’s reputation.
“You could be brothers,” Richard cried. “Just what Miss Bingley has always wished for!”
Pity seeped into Bingley’s gaze. “If Miss de Bourgh really prefers this other fellow, even if he is a bit of a lout—well, could your pride even abide such a slight?”
His pride. Darcy nearly choked. His pride had everything and nothing to do with the awful truth, which he dared not admit even to his dearest friend.
“I do sincerely believe that Sir Sidney has seduced her mind and made her forget herself. After being confined so long to the tedium of life with Lady Catherine at Rosings Park, she was easily drawn in by the flashy allure of his wild debauchery. She is naive and only wants to be out more in society—and to vex her mother.”
Richard rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes, and she will soon grow envious of your courtship and see Sir Sidney for the rake that he is, unlike you, the paragon of righteous virtue.”
It was a paltry defense and Darcy knew it; he was weary from the redundant justification that belied the truth. He had no choice but to win Anne back, whatever his feelings, whatever her flaws.
“But it was your idea, Richard,” Bingley said.
“Oh, I see—you merely suggested it so that Darcy would fancy Elizabeth and put aside his attempt to reconcile with your cousin.” Richard only sipped his drink with a smile, and Bingley laughed.
“Well, Darcy, I do believe I picked a fine time to come to Sanditon.”