Chapter 14
After his manservant had finished shaving him, Darcy studied his face in the mirror, brushing his fingers through his hair.
He felt torn between the desire to see Elizabeth again at the dinner and the temptation to avoid another evening of torture and struggle.
Avoiding her did not diminish his yearning or passion, but at least he could be open and honest with his thoughts when he was alone.
In company, he had to guard his feelings, gestures, looks, and words, as he feared the smallest slip could betray his love for her.
He knew he had to keep his promise to Anne. Although she did not insist, nor did she seem eager to set a date, the engagement could not be prolonged for an indefinite length of time. He was reluctant to bind himself to Anne forever, and he cowardly refused to admit the reason even to himself.
In his recent encounters with Elizabeth, he thought he had sensed some changes in her behaviour, expressions, glances, and smiles.
All this could be easily explained by the awkwardness of their past, by the disastrous marriage proposal and their common intelligence of Wickham’s evil schemes.
But he hoped it could be more than that.
He recollected her insistence in talking to him, her open approval of him and his business knowledge, her friendship with his sister, the change of colour in her face when they met.
Could all that signify a change in her opinion and feelings for him?
Until he was certain of how things would progress regarding Elizabeth, until he saw her married to Lord Alveston, he refused to tie himself to Anne for life.
Not for a moment did he wish that something tragic would happen to either Philip Russell or Anne.
But he prayed that some miracle would occur and he might one day have a chance with Elizabeth.
As small and irrational as that sliver of hope was, as long as it existed it provided an anchor that protected him from drowning.
Darcy purposely avoided befriending Lord Alveston, as he could not bear witnessing his evident love for Elizabeth.
Bingley had told him that neither the earl nor Lady Kendal would attend the dinner, and he felt selfishly relieved.
Seeing Elizabeth and knowing she would soon marry another was hard enough, but watching her with her betrothed was intolerable.
“Which one, sir?” his valet asked him, holding up two coats.
“The black one,” he quickly decided. The colour of his clothes did not matter much for what he imagined would be another distressing evening.
∞∞∞
“You two look lovely,” Lady Kendal told Elizabeth and Mary, while Lord Alveston held his betrothed’s hand.
“Thank you. But is it truly necessary to take both John and Clyde with us? They must have more important duties than to take us to my sister’s house. What danger can there be in full daylight?” Elizabeth asked.
“No duty is more important than assuring the future Lady Alveston’s safety,” the earl answered.
“Elizabeth, I know you miss your family and you have not spent much time with them lately. So please do not hurry. Stay with them overnight or for as long as you wish,” Lady Kendal uttered.
“We shall certainly remain until the day after tomorrow. I confess I miss them all,” Elizabeth said. “I shall write you a note tomorrow regarding our plans. And you must promise that you will let me know if I am needed here.”
“Do not worry, my dear. We shall manage for a couple of days, although the house will be empty without you. You know, I was thinking, since you are so fond of your family, what if we sell one of the properties and purchase another one in Hertfordshire? Closer to your parents?” Lady Kendal offered.
“Grandmamma, please do not bother Elizabeth with any more business talk. She wishes to have a pleasant dinner with her family—no purchases, no selling,” Lord Alveston interjected.
Elizabeth laughed at them both. “Philip is right. I do not intend to speak of business tonight. We may discuss it with Papa and Uncle Gardiner at a later date.”
“Very well. Now go and enjoy yourselves.”
Philip held Elizabeth’s hand a moment longer, reluctant to let her leave. She could see the melancholy on his face and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.
“Go. Enjoy yourselves,” he repeated.
∞∞∞
The carriage took them along the main thoroughfare towards the town.
Elizabeth watched the houses and people pass by and listened to the sounds of the busy town.
She felt guilty for leaving Philip and even more so for her thrilling eagerness to see Darcy again.
Whilst she would readily sacrifice herself for Philip’s well-being, she could not deny her increasing interest in everything connected to Darcy.
The carriage passed by the Royal Pavilion.
Once again, the difference between the noisy and crowded streets and the solitude of their cottage struck her.
She would like to become better acquainted with the town.
If she had only been here with her family, she would have probably walked every day, down every street.
Also, she would have already enjoyed evening strolls on the seaside promenade.
But in her present circumstances, there was more to consider than her own preferences.
Lady Kendal always encouraged her to pursue things that gave her pleasure.
However, Elizabeth could not ignore Philip’s grief that stemmed from knowing he could not join her in certain activities, so she avoided them.
Since it had been decided they would stay at least another day with Jane, Elizabeth planned to take the opportunity to visit as much of the town as possible. Jane could not walk far and neither could Anne, but hopefully her other sisters, as well as Georgiana, would keep her company.
Elizabeth’s nervousness increased as they approached their destination. It was early yet, and she wondered if the other guests had arrived.
“Look, Lizzy, there are Lydia and Kitty!” Mary suddenly exclaimed. “Who are they talking to?”
Elizabeth looked out of the carriage window, intrigued, then frowned. She narrowed her eyes to be sure they were not deceiving her. There were her two youngest sisters chatting amiably with their old acquaintance George Wickham and two other officers.
Elizabeth signalled the coachman to stop.
“But miss, we are not there yet. The house is at the end of the street,” John the coachman said.
“It is fine, John, I just saw my sisters. We shall continue together from here. You may deliver our bags to the house. Thank you.”
Elizabeth walked towards the small group in haste with Mary following her.
Wickham? What was he doing there? It was not wholly unexpected, of course.
Several regiments were camped near the town for the summer, and Brighton was known for the balls and parties hosted every night.
But Wickham, of all people, meeting with her sisters?
Was it a mere coincidence, or did he have some nefarious plan, purposely crossing their path?
Lydia noticed her sister. “Lizzy!” she cried. “Look who we have met. Isn’t it the most fortunate coincidence?”
Wickham did not appear astonished, wearing the same composed expression. Therefore, Elizabeth’s suspicions increased.
“Miss Bennet.” Wickham bowed to her. “Indeed, I could not have hoped for better luck.”
“Mr Wickham. Quite a coincidence, indeed.” Elizabeth curtseyed.
“Please allow me to introduce Lieutenant Linfield and Lieutenant Terrell.”
The introductions were performed, and Elizabeth struggled to keep her countenance.
“Miss Bennet, I understand congratulations are in order. Both for Mrs Bingley and yourself. The news of your engagement reached me last month.”
“Thank you, sir,” she answered simply.
“Lizzy, my friend Mrs Harriet Forster is here too! Do you remember her? She invited me to Brighton last year, but Papa did not allow me to go,” Lydia said.
“I am afraid we must leave now. Our sister Mrs Bingley is expecting us,” Elizabeth said.
“Oh, perhaps they could come to dinner with us!” Lydia cried, and Elizabeth glared at her reproachfully. She expected Wickham to decline that unreasonable suggestion immediately but he was waiting, smirking.
Elizabeth struggled for self-control to reply with reasonable calm.
“I am sure the gentlemen have other engagements. No one would accept such an impromptu invitation to someone else’s house without the host’s approval. It will simply not do, Lydia!”
“But I am sure Jane and Mr Bingley would not mind!” Lydia insisted.
Fortunately, Lieutenant Terrell had the decency to intervene. “We thank you, but we cannot possibly accept. We do hope to see you again soon, though.”
“Likewise, sir,” Elizabeth said. She then nodded farewell to the gentlemen and took her younger sisters’ arms.
“That was rude of you, Lizzy!” Lydia hissed.
“Keep your voice down. I was rude? And how was your thoughtless invitation? Do you have no consideration for others’ feelings? The inconvenience to Jane?”
“But Lizzy, everybody liked Mr Wickham! I am sure Jane and Mr Bingley would not oppose the idea! I understand that now you are engaged you do not care much for Mr Wickham, but we do! He is so handsome! I was so happy to see him again!”
“Lydia, it is not about being handsome or not! Have you forgotten all the reports we heard about him once he left Meryton? He is not the honourable gentleman we believed him to be! Papa would certainly not allow you in his company! And why are you two alone?”
“Aunt Gardiner and Mama were not ready yet, and we had no patience to wait,” Kitty explained.