Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The morning following the picnic and boating excursion, the three Miss Wrights were summoned by their father to the small sitting room near their bedchambers. Positioned on the other side of the closed door, a footman had been ordered to warn the family if anyone approached.
Mr Wright sat and inspected his fingernails while his eldest paced. “Well, Hannah, your brilliant scheme was not so brilliant after all, was it?”
“It was infinitely superior to yours, Papa. How effective would you have been, brandishing my parasol and pretending to swat at gnats with it while Miss Bennet was so far out of your reach? At any rate, hitting her with such a flimsy object would not have been sufficient force to push her overboard. It certainly would not have achieved what I managed to do.”
“I wish you had not stepped upon poor Hector’s paw while carrying out your contrivance.”
“Horses and dogs! They are all you care about, Meg.” Turning on her heel, Hannah next vented her spleen on Althea. “And you, useless little sister! You have been of no assistance at all.”
“At least I did not betray you. I could have told the others of your scheme, but I did not. In any case, I cannot understand how pushing Miss Bennet into the water would have turned Mr Darcy against her.”
Hannah threw up her arms. “He was supposed to witness her frailty, her clumsiness, and her wet, muddy repulsiveness while I, in untainted splendour, would have lounged elegantly in his punt.”
“From what I could see,” said Althea, “he was very solicitous to her. Miss Bennet is nice, and he recognises that.”
“Nice?” Hannah shouted, beside herself with tears of fury and frustration. “You do not understand, Thea. I had Mr Darcy in the palm of my hand until she came along.”
“It is not Miss Bennet’s fault that you are letting him slip through your maladroit fingers.” Althea opened her novel as though unconcerned.
“We are not here to read.” Hannah took the book and threw it upon a table. “Either contribute something useful to this discussion or leave.”
“Very well. Your dismissal is irrelevant, for Miss Darcy and I have plans this morning.” Althea fetched the novel and walked out of the room.
“That girl does not understand.” Feeling herself growing hot, Hannah furiously fanned her face.
“All of the beau monde knows of my expectations where Mr Darcy is concerned. Securing him is not only a matter of financial security, it is also a matter of pride.” She paced again, scratching at her arms. “At all costs, I must find a way to get rid of Elizabeth Bennet.”
“Sister!” Margaret’s face blanched. “You cannot mean to cause her bodily harm, can you?”
“Of course not, you absolute ninny! Honestly, Meg, at times you agitate me beyond expression.”
“Girls! Girls, do not work yourselves into a pother. Unsightly wrinkles may result. Now, Meg, your sister may be in high irritation, but it is with ample cause.”
Still scratching, Hannah walked about the room. “Have you had word from James?”
“No.”
“Our stupid brother will be the object of censure wherever he is known, and we, his sisters, will be involved in the disgrace.”
The door cracked open. “I beg your pardon, Mr Wright, ladies. Mr Darcy and Miss Darcy wish to speak to you.”
With a whisper of silken skirts, Hannah rushed across the room, arranged herself to best advantage upon the chaise longue, and affected her sweetest practised smile.
How elegant she must appear, displayed in such a manner, and how different from the ungainly Elizabeth Bennet who could not even maintain balance on a motionless boat.
The Darcys entered and were offered seats. All the necessary and proper greetings, obeisances, and enquiries were then made.
“Yes, I am well, thank you,” replied Hannah, upon being asked.
“However, I should have taken your sound advice, Mr Darcy, and worn long sleeves yesterday. It seems gnats and midges enjoy feasting on azure veins and alabaster skin.” She would have to eschew short, puffy sleeves for the nonce.
It would not do to have the gentleman repulsed by a series of angry welts upon her arms.
“I do apologise that insect-repelling smoke was not produced sooner, and I sincerely regret any discomfort you may be suffering as a result. My plans for the afternoon deteriorated, understandably of course, once Miss Bennet had that unfortunate incident.”
“Oh, sir!” Hannah put her hand over her heart. “My hair stood on end and I suffered such great agitation when that dear girl plunged into the water.” Not to mention biting my tongue lest I burst into laughter.
Placing his hand on Miss Darcy’s back, Mr Darcy nudged her forwards. “Speaking of that misadventure, my sister has a proposal for you.”
Would that you, sir, had one for me! Hannah leant in, eager to endear herself to the Darcys—as long as it did not necessitate too much effort on her part. Idle refinement was all the rage, and she carefully cultivated and embraced it.
“Miss Wright, Miss Margaret,” said Miss Darcy, “I am hoping the two of you might join your sister and me in calling at Cliff House to enquire after Miss Bennet’s well-being. We would not remain longer than a quarter of an hour, and I shall be most happy to have your company.”
Disappointed, Hannah sat back. “What a neighbourly notion, Miss Darcy. Of course, one cannot help but be concerned about Miss Bennet’s welfare.
The smallest of ailments can become something ominous, particularly after immersing oneself in sludge and miasma as she did.
Perhaps the dear girl should be purged.” From Wyman’s Cove and, thereby, from my life.
Standing, Margaret picked a few more dog hairs from her skirt. “I would gladly make such a visit, Miss Darcy. But I am just about to go for a ride. Please extend to Miss Bennet my wishes for her good health.”
A momentary furrowing of Mr Darcy’s brow spoke of his disappointment in Margaret’s demurral.
Since Hannah could ill afford to give him reason to bestow the same upon her, she quickly spoke.
“I shall be delighted to accompany you, my dear Miss Darcy. Are you to come, too, sir?” As much as she desired the gentleman’s attention, she did not want him anywhere near her rival for it.
“I am afraid not, madam. Mr Baker and I are to take a punt and try our hand at angling along Willow Bourn. Mr Wright, you are more than welcome to join us.”
“The invitation is appreciated, Darcy, but I had enough of those bloodthirsty gnats cutting up my peace yesterday.”
“Then I shall leave you to enjoy your day, sir. Ladies.” Mr Darcy bowed, then bestowed a tender smile upon his sister before walking away.
While waiting in the vestibule for Miss Darcy and Althea, Hannah squeezed her eyes shut and pinched the bridge of her nose. She had lost both sleep and appetite. There were knots in her stomach, and she could not breathe deeply.
How desperate I have become! What in the world possessed me to act so impulsively and deceitfully?
To dare speak of having a secret understanding with Mr Darcy…
and to trust Elizabeth Bennet, my arch-enemy, with such a confidence!
What a dangerous position I have placed myself in!
What will happen if Mr Darcy finds out? And if that chit breaks the tacit promise she made, I shall face ruin.
Even a whisper of a secret engagement will damage my reputation irrevocably.
Oh, how could I have been so reckless? It is all Elizabeth Bennet’s fault.
She is to blame for my disregarding the rules of propriety.
During the carriage ride from Strandsmere, Hannah continued to fret, but she did not regret any pain she might have caused her rival. Somehow I shall ruin her reputation before she ruins mine. Then, if she dares to speak against me, no one will believe her.
Having hoped to be informed that the patient was bedridden, feverish, and unable to receive callers, Hannah, upon entering Cliff House with Miss Darcy and Althea, was immediately treated to the annoying and familiar sound of Elizabeth Bennet’s laughter.
The factotum who had opened the door—and who had steered the boat that she, Margaret, and her father had occupied and whose name she had not bothered to learn—left them standing in the vestibule while he enquired whether the ladies of the house were receiving.
A maid appeared. Startled upon seeing visitors, she bobbed a curtsey, carelessly tossed the post upon a console table, then fled.
Well, thought Hannah, one can hardly help but glance at the name written upon the topmost letter, can one?
The factotum returned. “Miss Hughes will receive you, but Miss Baker is gone to the village to fetch some books from the lending library.” He then led the way to the sitting room.
Hannah lagged behind the others. Glancing about and seeing no one, and without a second thought as to possible consequences, she slid the topmost letter off the table and into her reticule.
Only by reading Miss Bennet’s personal correspondence could she possibly discover the secrets the young lady doubtless hid. The only other letter was left behind.
Disappointed to find her enemy all pink-cheeked and glowing with health, her shoulders began to droop, but she squared them and took the chair indicated by Miss Hughes.
Hanging upon the wall directly above Hannah’s head was the most hideous clock she had ever seen.
Really, there is no accounting for other people’s tastes.
While Miss Darcy and Althea made a fuss over Miss Bennet, Hannah looked round the room with its threadbare carpets and foreign paintings, then offered her young hostess a genuine smile. To her rival for Mr Darcy’s attention she gave a false one. “How lovely to see you up and about, Miss Bennet.”
The chit glanced at the clock. “It is past one, Miss Wright, and I rarely sleep beyond seven.”