Chapter Twenty-One #2
“I do not think we ever really fell in. Since the earliest days of my friendship with Bingley, his sister made her interest clear, but I have never felt that sort of affection for her. Over the years, her efforts intensified to the point of becoming rather a nuisance. The Bingleys and Hursts came to me at Christmas, and their stay at Pemberley began to feel indefinite. When my aunt unexpectedly arrived from Kent, renewing some old demands that I marry her daughter, which I declined for what I hope shall be the final time, Miss Bingley interpreted this as a sign of her own favor. She behaved very forwardly to me for a fortnight afterward, until I was obliged to tell her that I had no intention of paying her any addresses, and would have done so years ago if I wished to.”
Darcy heaved a great sigh, but Elizabeth was laughing softly.
“It may well amuse you, but I was mortified, Miss Bennet. I hoped never to be obliged to speak to her in such a way, had even tried to introduce her to friends of mine who might consider her an eligible prospect, but she was unshakeable for five long years. After an exceedingly exasperating interview with my aunt, Lady Catherine, I spoke more harshly to Miss Bingley than I otherwise might have done, and then they all departed before I had any opportunity to apologize and soften the blow. She must have met Wickham in the ideal state of mind to believe the worst of me.”
“Not Lady Catherine de Bourgh, of Rosings Park? I believe you said Kent.”
Darcy nearly choked. “Do you know her?”
“I have heard much of her from her devoted parson, who is my father’s cousin and the heir to his smaller estate, Longbourn. We made his acquaintance when he came to visit us last autumn, and he seemed to expect that boasting of such a laudable connection might win him my favor.”
He chuckled, knowing just the sort of sycophants his aunt chose to surround herself with. “And shall you swoon at my relation to her, Miss Bennet?”
“That depends, Mr. Darcy. Has she taken over the appointment of your home, right down to the placement of shelves in the closet?”
He let out an astonished bark of laughter. “Good God, that would be the day! No indeed; I shall save that great distinction for the future Mrs. Darcy.”
Darcy felt himself leaning closer to Elizabeth.
Her intelligent eyes had been the first of her lovely features to draw him in, but he found her expressive mouth even more delightful.
He could still recall the softness of those lips as they moved against his.
He had about ten seconds of sanity left before he did something very foolish, and he hastily said, “I suppose we ought not tarry any longer, or we shall be missed.”
She stared at him for a moment before slowly nodding her head, and she allowed him to steer them back the way they had come. They did not speak until they had come out of the hedge maze, and were nearly at the stone steps back to the terrace.
Elizabeth slipped out of his coat and handed it back to him, laughing softly. “Is it terribly wicked of me, that I hope if anyone notices our absence, it is Miss Bingley?”
“I cannot say I like the idea of your father calling me out; indeed ,I never imagined putting myself in danger of such a thing.”
“The last thing she would wish is to forcecertain matters, as with Emma and Mr. Bingley. Papa is far too indolent to challenge you to anything more ruthless than a game of chess. You are in no danger at all.”
Darcy begged to differ. He swung one arm into his coat, and just the whiff of her fragrance on his garment was enough to drive him mad.
Elizabeth began to make her way up the steps, motioning for him to remain where he was and wait a while.
Darcy had only one arm in his coat when Elizabeth abruptly stopped and staggered backward.
Darcy moved to catch her before she fell, and then he heard raised voices.
As Elizabeth righted herself, she leaned against him, her expression intensely focused as she listened to the argument taking place on the terrace, perhaps ten paces away.
Darcy kept his arms around her and slowly drew them both behind the concealment of a small willow tree.
Together, they listened as Jane Fairfax implored Frank Churchill to cease his flirtation with Emma Woodhouse.
The selfish coxcomb actually refused, and laughed at his lady’s concern, insisting that it served him well to conceal their engagement.
Despite Miss Fairfax’s impassioned entreaties, Mr. Churchill went on to blame Miss Woodhouse for beginning their acquaintance with such forward encouragement, and he even had the gall to mock Bingley for his feeble attempt at wooing his betrothed.
The cad was absolutely shameless, and heartless toward his own intended.
Ere long, he felt Elizabeth shaking in his arms, and he realized that she was silently weeping. She peered up at him with glistening eyes and whispered, “When he is gone, I must go to her.”
“Of course; I shall find another means of returning to the house. Miss Fairfax is fortunate to have such a loving sister.”
She wiped her cheeks. “You know very well that I am the author of her distress after my mischief with the seating arrangement. I am very sorry for my foolishness.”
“I trust you will make it right. I can think of no greater comfort than the love of such a sister.”
Darcy suddenly recollected that he only wore one sleeve of his coat.
Elizabeth softly laughed and raised the other sleeve for him to slip his arm into.
As he did so, she began to smooth out his coat, and even reached up to adjust his cravat.
She smiled when she was satisfied with her efforts and ran a hand idly down his chest. Darcy retrieved a handkerchief and placed it in her palm and then slid her gloved hand over to his heart, holding it there as he leaned forward and brushed his lips against her forehead.
Elizabeth let out a little whimper as her tears stilled, and she slowly lifted her face toward his.
Her cheek grazed against his, and she turned as if she might kiss him, but then suddenly stilled.
They heard the slamming of a door, and then a loud burst of feminine sobbing.
The argument had apparently ended, and not well.
Her breath was hot on his ear as she murmured, “I must go to her.” And then she turned and fled, vanishing like a ghost in the moonlight.
Darcy walked along the back of the house and slipped back inside through the unlocked doors to the conservatory, and then hastily returned to the parlor.
The party had split into smaller pockets of conversation around the large room, and Darcy noticed with annoyance that Mr. Churchill had already gone back to monopolizing Miss Woodhouse’s attention.
Darcy found that he could not abide Miss Fairfax returning to such a sight, and he approached his friend, ready to encourage him to rectify the situation before it got too far out of hand.
“Bingley, you ought to endeavor to separate Miss Woodhouse from that vain coxcomb Mr. Churchill.”
“Do you not think I have tried? She is fascinated by him, though I cannot think why!”
“Because he flatters and flirts with her. I know you are capable of doing the same, for I have witnessed you in love half a dozen times at least, and always to the same sort – lively, pretty blondes. Miss Woodhouse is just such a creature; you must think her worth wooing.”
“I do; she is divine,” Bingley admitted, whining a little as he added, “I have never had to compete with a man who has such an advantage over me – except you, but you are never interested in anybody.”
Darcy cast a desperate glance around the room, and then an idea struck him. “That night at Mr. Weston’s party, I noticed that Miss Woodhouse was eager to recommend her governess to our host.”
“She is hardly her governess anymore – more like a companion, I suppose.”
“Exactly. Miss Woodhouse has no need of a governess any longer, and I believe she wishes to see her settled well. You might show yourself to be an ally to her cause – if you do not, she will only conspire with Weston’s son to bring that match about.”
Bingley considered this for a moment before breaking into a wide smile. “I see. Better that she conspire with me, eh? I like it, Darcy! See, the country air has already begun to fix whatever is wrong with you.”
Darcy chuckled, but then his attention was captured by Elizabeth and her sister as they returned from the terrace.
Miss Bingley was near the door and cried out in exaggerated alarm as they nearly collided with her.
“Oh! Jane, Eliza, what a wicked trick! I was terribly worried that you disappeared for so long – I thought any manner of mischief might have befallen you!”
It was evident that the pair of sisters had been weeping, and Darcy could see that Elizabeth was aware of it as the attention of their companions was drawn to her and her sister.
“Only a tearful moment of joy at our reunion, Miss Bingley. Your solicitude overwhelms me, but you need not fear. We shall soon overcome our tender emotion, and I daresay make quite a habit of being together, as twin sisters should be.”
Elizabeth dabbed at her eyes with his handkerchief and made no attempt to conceal the embroidered corner which bore his initials, stitched years ago by Georgiana.
Elizabeth clearly perceived the exact moment when Miss Bingley saw the handkerchief and clenched her fists at her side, and she met Darcy’s eye with triumphant mirth.
He wanted to cry out and cheer her on, but he betrayed only the slightest of smiles, just for Elizabeth.
How she could at once comfort her sister, placate the curiosity of the whole party, and inflame her rival with ire was truly to be marveled at; he was prodigiously proud of her, and wished again to take her in his arms.
Unfortunately, Frank Churchill was still paying Miss Woodhouse his unceasing addresses, and Miss Fairfax beheld the sight of it with agitation.
Concealing this became Elizabeth’s first object, and she made a great fuss of professing her affection and elation at their reunion, until their companions thought nothing more of the tearful display and resumed their captivated chatter about the novelty of the fair twins in their midst.
Darcy urged Bingley to go to his betrothed, and then he was at liberty to speak with Elizabeth and her sister. He could not account for it, but if easing Miss Fairfax’s anguish was a priority for Elizabeth, it was no less important to him.
“I understand you are uncommonly accomplished, Miss Fairfax,” he said as he joined the two young ladies.
“Your talent at the pianoforte is widely praised in Highbury – so much so that your sister was obliged to give an excellent performance of playing the instrument for mischief over melody last evening.”
“I played very ill indeed, and chose a rather bawdy song – if I could not match your skill, as Miss Bingley must have expected, I had to let her think I played poorly by my own choice,” Elizabeth whispered to her sister with a laugh.
“Perhaps you may learn a duet that complements your individual talents best,” Darcy suggested, and Miss Fairfax smiled gratefully at him.
“I should like that very much. We have no instrument at the cottage, but we might practice if I visit you here, Lizzy.”
“I am sure Bingley would agree that you are always welcome,” Darcy said smoothly.
The two women fell silent as they all watched Mr. Bingley finally succeed in detaching Miss Woodhouse from Mr. Churchill. His triumph did not last long, for soon Mr. Elton sought to claim Miss Woodhouse’s attention, and Bingley looked near to abandoning hope.
Elizabeth nudged her sister. “I suppose I would not object if he bedeviled her a little, Jane.”
“Nor I,” Miss Fairfax drawled.
It seemed their wish would be granted, for Bingley stalked off and was swiftly intercepted by his sisters, leaving Miss Woodhouse to the oily flattery of the vicar. She was saved from this misfortune only by the evening coming to an end.