Chapter Fifteen
The gentlemen returned to the parlor just as Elizabeth was considering whether she ought to confess to her friend and sisters that she had wanted to kiss Mr. Darcy in the gazebo. She breathed a sigh of relief at the interruption, but she could not meet his eye.
“We have been invited to a picnic at Trafalgar House,” Mr. Bingley declared, clapping his hands with enthusiasm.
“A picnic! How wonderful,” Jane said serenely.
Charlotte appeared startled. “At Trafalgar House?”
“I have just received word from your excellent husband, Lady Parker,” Mr. Bingley explained. “It seems he and Sir Edward Gardiner have been swept up in some scheme of Mrs. Jennings’ and are eager for our company.”
Marianne laughed. “That is not at all surprising. She is very fond of society and indulgence. I expect she has made it a grander affair than our original plan for something small and simple.”
Mr. Bingley nodded. “She appears to have invited everyone I have ever heard mentioned in Lizzy’s letters to Jane, and a great many people I have not. What fun!”
Elizabeth finally braved a glance at Mr. Darcy, who was scowling at the note Mr. Bingley handed to his wife for examination.
Anne de Bourgh would probably be there, and Sir Anthony Denham; she had no wish to spoil such a lovely day by sharing the pleasure of her sister’s company with them, but it could not be helped.
After Jane and her husband looked in on the baby before leaving her in the nurse’s care, the whole party set off for Trafalgar House.
The manor was perched atop a cliff on the western edge of the village, beyond the hotel.
A large stone terrace behind the house connected to a rocky set of stairs carved into the cliff face, providing access to a small and secluded inlet with a narrow strip of beach, and gentler waves where the water was shallow.
It was one of Elizabeth’s favorite places to swim with her friend Charlotte.
A great deal had been accomplished since the original plan had been formed that morning, when Marianne and Elizabeth had exchanged missives over breakfast. Five large canvas tents had been erected along the base of the cliff; four were furnished with rugs and cushions for seating, while the fifth contained a table that had been carried down from the manor, and was laden with a buffet sufficient to feed three dozen guests.
Charlotte beamed at her husband as she waved at him from across the beach.
He was helping his oldest son fly a kite, while the rest of his children splashed in the warm, shallow water.
“Sir Thomas is a marvel, is he not, Lizzy? Ours was no whirlwind romance, but he is steady and kind, and abundantly resourceful.”
“It was very kind of him to act as host for our picnic; I would never have presumed to ask, but it does seem the ideal location. His spontaneity is just the generous thing I would have imagined of him,” Elizabeth said as she took in the excited crowd of people milling about.
Sir Anthony Denham perceived her arrival and hastened to greet her, his approach timed just as Mr. Darcy and his sister fell into animated conversation with the Knightleys.
“Your suitor may have abandoned you, Miss Bennet, but I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival! I hear the notion of a picnic was your idea, and I think it a stroke of genius! Just what I would have supposed of you.”
“I can take very little credit for all this extravagance, though I do intend to enjoy it. I wish to acquaint myself with Mrs. Jennings, whom I understand has been the true mastermind of today’s entertainment,” Elizabeth said, taking a step away from Sir Anthony.
“She is a newcomer amongst us. A tad vulgar, I must say, but I can easily forgive her indiscretions of address, for I have found her to be keenly fascinated by the romantic maneuverings of we young people. I understand she has a very pretty young ward in attendance—perhaps I may pay her my addresses, and arouse in you that same ardor you have inspired in me by entertaining Mr. Darcy’s suit.
” He leered at Elizabeth in what she supposed he intended to be a flirtatious manner.
“That will not be necessary. Mrs. Jennings is the intimate friend of my half-sister, a young lady with no thoughts of romance at present,” she said curtly.
Marianne materialized at Elizabeth’s side and sneered at the odious fop. Unabashed and undaunted, he swept into a low bow and reached for Marianne’s hand, but she recoiled. “Will you be so kind as to introduce me?”
“No, thank you,” Marianne said curtly. She linked her arm through Elizabeth’s and led her away in great haste. “What a horrid man! Shall I drown him for you, Lizzy? I cannot imagine anybody in their right mind objecting.”
Elizabeth laughed, and the two women fell into step behind Charlotte and Jane.
They entered the tent where Lady Denham was holding court.
Mrs. Bevan sat on one side of her, and on the other sat a stout but cheerful looking older woman whom Elizabeth instantly knew must be Mrs. Jennings.
Once all the requisite introductions had been performed, Lady Denham commanded a footman stationed nearby to fetch them all an ample selection from the buffet.
Mrs. Jennings wasted no time in lavishing her new acquaintance with praise.
“So you are the famous Lizzy! I have been mad to meet you, my dear! And Jane, the great beauty of Marianne’s new family!
What darling girls you are. And Lady Parker, you are younger than I expected.
What a fine husband you have, so obliging, so eager to transform my humble plan into a grand affair.
And Sir Edward, too—he is the uncle to Mrs. Bingley and Miss Bennet, is that right?
Quite a brooding beau in his own right! And which gentleman is Mr. Bingley?
Ah, he is a handsome one—well done! But I cannot like your beau, Miss Bennet.
Lady Denham has been telling me that he is most unsuitable, and he is her own nephew—she ought to know! ”
Lady Denham smiled wryly. “I think too well of Miss Bennet to wish any of my ghastly relations on her. If she had a mighty fortune, I may conclude that she would be capable of reforming his lunatic ways, but I believe she may have found a more suitable and sensible match, having only to compete with an insipid and supercilious heiress.”
“Oh, I hope it is this tall, handsome treat for the eyes headed our way presently! Look at that confident stride!” Mrs. Jennings waved eagerly at Mr. Darcy, whose face betrayed a moment of astonishment at the forward greetings she began to shout.
“Go to him,” Marianne hissed in Elizabeth’s ear. She made a subtle gesture at Mrs. Jennings, tipping her head and rolling her eyes to indicate that her old friend would likely continue on in the manner she had begun, should Mr. Darcy join their little group.
Elizabeth was on her feet in an instant.
She hastened to meet him before he had gotten too close to her tent.
“It was not very gallant of you to abandon me to the overtures of my other suitor, sir. Impolitic, too, for he was so eloquent in his address that I have come directly to Lady Denham to ask for his hand.”
He sputtered with astonished laughter at her teasing. “Forgive me; Mrs. Knightley is quite taken with my sister. I must remind Georgiana that she is likely to be just as enchanted by Miss Dashwood.”
“Oh, yes, I look forward to introducing them,” Elizabeth agreed, shifting awkwardly as her feet sank a little in the soft sand.
“I have just been introduced to Marianne’s friend Mrs. Jennings; I believe I might do you the favor of waiting until she has tired of her indelicate speculations before I introduce you. ”
He glanced toward the tent. At twenty paces removed, they could hear every word spoken by the widow, who had a great deal to say about all the young people present, including Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy—especially them.
“She is quite right that we are a fine-looking couple, though naturally I must credit that to you,” he said with a nervous laugh.
“No indeed! You are squinting into the sun most attractively.”
He turned his face, holding it at such an angle that he was not obliged to cover his eyes with a hand at his brow. “As my cousin Anne is present, perhaps a certain handsome couple might take a stroll along the beach?”
Elizabeth forced a smile that she did not feel. After what had passed between them in the gazebo, she could not countenance performing to Miss de Bourgh. She knew she must, but she would have to fortify herself first.
“Might I defer our amorous spectacle until after I have eaten? Sir Thomas has arranged such a great bounty, and I know he will not be satisfied until all his guests have conveyed their compliments to his kitchen.”
“Of course. You must wish to acquaint yourself with the benefactress who has been so kind to your stepsister. I should hardly know what to say to so many ladies all at once, anyhow.”
“I daresay you would hardly need say a word. But yes, I have heard a great deal of praise for her kindness, if not her volume.”
Elizabeth pressed her lips into a wicked smile as Mrs. Jennings’ rather shrill voice carried on the breeze.
“She is just as lovely as by dear Marianne, and a lady of fascinating exploits! I would have been happy to make a match for her myself, but she seems to have the matter well in hand, and by her choice I can see that she is a clever one!”
Stifling laughter, Mr. Darcy bowed and then raised Elizabeth’s hand to his lips.
He kissed the top of her hand softly and was hesitant to release her as her fingers slid through his.
“I shall look forward to hearing what your new champion has to say about that, after you have taken some refreshments.”
Though he was already pink from mortification at the feminine exclamations coming from the tent, Elizabeth took a step closer to Mr. Darcy. “She is not the only person of note observing us.”