Chapter 9 A Consequential Conversation #3
He could not have been more gracious at my refusal; a lesser man would have responded with anger and perhaps petulance. Furthermore, he would allow me time to become better acquainted with him.
Once I had returned Thea to the stables, I went towards the house. Yet the concept of encountering Uncle Barton twisted my stomach. Thus, I veered to the wooded path that followed the stream for a walk. In time, my thoughts centred upon Mr. Darcy again, and an added esprit marked my steps.
After a solitary breakfast, I removed to my room and sat at my escritoire to compose a letter to my uncle Gardiner.
I had almost finished my missive when Cassie knocked and called to me through the door.
My fingers jerked, making a sizeable blot on my paper.
“Yes, come in.” I placed a blank sheet over my writing and stood as she strode towards me.
Cassie swept her arm to the green brocade settee. “Shall we sit together?”
“Yes, if you like.”
She led the way and shifted to face me when I joined her. “How did you find Miss and Mr. Darcy this morning?”
I took a slow breath. “Miss Darcy did not join us today, and Mr. Darcy had a topic of import to discuss with me.”
She grinned. “Oh, I see. Did he want to speak about me?”
In actuality, I had made the same assumption and had been braced for him to confide his affection for Cassie. “No, I am sorry.” I locked my upper body in place. The sooner she heard this from me, the better. “This morning, Mr. Darcy asked me to marry him, and I—”
“What?” Cassie nearly shouted the word and followed it with a harsh laugh. “That cannot be true. Why would you utter such a flagrant fib?”
“You may be assured of my veracity.”
“No, I do not believe it.” She shrank back from me.
“How could you, of all people, betray me like this? You knew I favoured him. Yet you must have been playing the coquette with him this entire time.” Her features stretched, then contorted into a grimace.
“What have you done? Have you been…intimate with him?”
“No, of course not!” Fire shot up from my neck, overspreading my face. “How could you even ask that question? I have never so much as flirted with him. You know me too well to believe that.”
“I thought I did.” She beheld me with a bitter glare. “But a gentleman of Mr. Darcy’s standing would not propose to a penniless orphan who is connected to a nefarious uncle—unless he felt duty-bound to do so.”
With a slow breath, I attempted to subdue my indignation. “Well, that is not the case.”
“He could have his pick of eligible, wealthy ladies. Why would he choose you?”
“Over time, we have formed a rapport, and he has grown fond of me. We share several common interests, and he has observed how well I get on with his sister.”
“Miss Darcy is my friend too!”
“Yes, although I think she is more at ease in my company.” I used an even tone.
“Besides, she has a companion, so I do not understand why that would be important to him.” Cassie sprang to her feet and hugged herself. “This is too much for me to grasp. I…I cannot bear to even look at you right now.” She ran from the room.
I almost called after her but stopped myself.
I should give her time to calm down before approaching her.
Instead, I returned to my escritoire and finished my correspondence to Uncle Gardiner.
I secured the letter in my pocket and moved to the armchair with my uncle’s copy of Ennui by Maria Edgeworth.
An hour or more later, a knock drew me from my reading. “Come in.”
The door opened to reveal Oliver. “Miss Lizzy, the master wishes to see you in the study.”
“Thank you, Oliver. I shall be there shortly.” Mr. Darcy must have called and would be waiting for me.
I set down the book and perused my reflection in the looking glass.
The anticipation of seeing him brought a rush of colour to my cheeks.
But first, I must go to my uncle. I steeled my spine and went downstairs to the study.
Once I sat across from Uncle Barton, doubts crept in for Mr. Darcy’s testimony. How could this man, who had been so good to me over the years, have been so deceitful? Could some sort of misunderstanding have taken place?
My uncle greeted me with a broad smile. Judging by the reddish hue that tinged his ears and complexion, he had indulged in a drink or two. “Lizzy, I have had the most astonishing meeting with Mr. Darcy.” His lower jaw tarried in an open position. “He said that you refused his marriage proposal.”
“Yes, I did. As you may imagine, his declaration took me by surprise. I need the opportunity to know him better in order to make such an important decision.”
“Your logic is sound, and yet few ladies would hesitate to accept a marriage offer from a man of his wealth and rank.” His fingers rubbed upon his nape.
“I feel foolish for having led you to believe your marriage prospects would be limited. After all, I understand very well that a man may go to great lengths to secure the lady he loves.” He blinked, his irises glistening.
He must have Aunt Barton on his mind; emotions often stirred him when he spoke of her.
“I hope you will forgive me for my error in judgment.”
“Yes, of course.” I bit my tongue. “I know you had my best interest at heart.” Is that the case, Uncle?
“You are generous and understanding, as always.” He shifted, and the tension in his shoulders abated.
“Mr. Darcy is more reserved than most men, yet he displayed subtle signs of anxiety throughout our discussion—he fidgeted with his signet ring, and his gaze darted around the room. It seemed as though he imagined I might deny his suit.” He chuckled.
“It is a wonder I never noticed his preference for you.” He angled his head sideways.
“I informed him that you are not a blood relation, and the revelation did not discomfit him in the least.”
“Oh yes. I ought to have mentioned that fact myself. I suppose it never occurred to me.”
“No doubt that is because we are family, in every way that matters.”
His tone, comportment, and facial expression gave every appearance of earnestness. If only I could take his words as truth. I nodded.
“Is…um…Cassie aware of Mr. Darcy’s intentions?”
“We spoke earlier today. I am afraid she did not take the news well.”
Uncle wagged his hand in my direction. “Do not be concerned. I shall speak to her and will ask Noah to do the same. She will not lament for long.”
“I hope you are correct.”
“Be assured that I shall not press you to accept Mr. Darcy. However, if you decide he is the right man for you, I shall be delighted to see you become mistress of a fine estate.” Uncle Barton cleared his throat.
“Now then, I imagine your suitor is eager to see you. He awaits you in the front sitting-room.”
When I entered the cheery yellow room, Mr. Darcy strode to me and took my hand, raising it to bestow a kiss, and a sensory shock from his touch warmed my flesh, sending sparks up my arm.
“Good day, Miss Bennet.”
“Good day, Mr. Darcy.” Even after he released me, a succession of tingles persisted on the back of my hand. We took seats on the sofa. “I take it that your conversation with Uncle Barton went well.”
“To my relief, yes.” He used a soft tone and glanced at the open doorway. “I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for you to live here with your uncle. For my part, I had to fight the impulse to demand an explanation for the deplorable way he has treated you.”
I retrieved my letter to Uncle Gardiner from my pocket and passed it to him. “Thank you for handling this.”
“The pleasure is mine. My messenger will have this in Mr. Gardiner’s hands on Monday evening.”
“I am eager to be reunited with him and meet his family. If you would not mind, I should be pleased to hear more about the evening you spent with Mr. Gardiner and his wife.”
“Of course, I should be glad to oblige you.”
I sat forwards in my seat, riveted by Mr. Darcy’s recital of the time he and Mr. Hayward had spent with my aunt and uncle Gardiner.
He described them as educated, discriminating, and charming, increasing my eagerness to meet them.
Yet dark possibilities intruded upon my enthusiasm.
Should I be forced to choose between my uncle Gardiner and my uncle Barton?
And if I maintained an association with Uncle Gardiner, should I become estranged from one or both of my Barton cousins?
Noah would never abandon me; I should swear that to be true. Cassie, though, if ordered by her father to forsake me, might not be strong enough to defy him. The possibility of a permanent estrangement from her inspired my shudder. For Mr. Darcy’s sake, I strove to maintain a collected aspect.