Chapter Eleven
William was in the billiard room, reading over the seven eloquent and affectionate letters Elizabeth had sent him since their parting.
He was relaxing after Bingley’s departure, enjoying a glass of fine brandy as he prepared himself for what he hoped would be an exceedingly amorous reunion with the woman he meant to marry.
What he was absolutely not doing was what he had set out to do, after having a room readied and making adjustments to their dinner plans – he was not thinking about how he would go about telling her the truth.
He had scolded Bingley for his dishonesty with Kitty, which had only lasted three days; William had allowed his charade to go on for six weeks.
He ought to be more ashamed than he was, this he knew, but at present he could only rejoice that she had cast aside convention and was making her way to him.
He had not known himself to be so susceptible to such acts of grandiose passion, but he had never been happier.
And then Bingley sauntered into the room.
“You! What are you doing here?”
“Now, William, do not murder me. I have come to make a bargain with you.”
“Does that bargain involve you departing my premises immediately?”
Bingley scoffed and poured himself a drink before lazily seating himself across from William.
“You speak as though we are not friends of many years! I would never have imagined you to be so inhospitable. Richard opened his home up to us for six weeks, you know, and you were not entirely honest with him until the final days of our time there.”
William gazed upward, clenching his jaw as he drew in a slow breath.
Surely the impatience must be fairly radiating from him.
“Bingley, Elizabeth is on her way to Wildewood. I expect her within the hour. You cannot be here – you cannot be Darcy while she is here. Had you told Kitty the truth, I might not be obliged to turn you out of the house. It is entirely your own fault, but you must go.”
Bingley looked thrilled. “Oho! You are in quite a bind!”
“You must go!”
“You need me to go, because you have not been honest with your fair lady, either.”
“I intend to tell her the truth, for we are to be wed. I will tell her, throw myself upon her mercy, and then, with any luck, we shall be bound for Scotland.”
“Your plans are not unlike my own,” Bingley said, swirling the brandy in his glass as if he were not the least bit bothered by William’s dilemma.
“I intend to ask for Kitty’s hand. Not right away, perhaps – certainly not while you are in such a foul mood – but I have returned to court her properly, even if it means I must confess the truth.
I daresay I shall fare better than you, since my deception has been of a far shorter duration. ”
William groaned and gave a heavy sigh. “Can you not court her some other time? Go back to London, Bingley, and I shall see you when we return from Scotland. We can speak then about your courting Kitty.”
“No. If we both come clean, there shall be no reason why I might not stay.”
“As I have informed you, I mean to depart in a few days’ time. I cannot permit you to stay here, alone with Kitty. Anyway, this is my house, Bingley, and I can turn anybody out of it whenever I please.”
“You are certainly free to do so, and to experience the consequences of so doing.”
“I think I can bear Kitty’s ill humor for a few days. Perhaps I shall be exceedingly fortunate, and she will forget all about you once she is dazzled by Elizabeth.”
“Or perhaps my path and Miss Elizabeth’s might cross as she makes her way here, and I shall caution her that she has been deceived in your identity.”
William went rigid. “Bingley, you would not be so cruel.”
“Ah, but you would.”
“I am in love with Elizabeth; you have known my ward for three days.”
“You cannot possibly expect me to believe that you were not frothing at the mouth over Miss Elizabeth Bennet by your third day in her company. You were already besotted, and so am I. You have an excessively charming ward. One does not raise a whole litter of kittens with a young lady and not feel something.”
William stood and glowered at his friend.
“This is absurd, Bingley. If you are still so determined to court Kitty after Elizabeth and I are wed – God willing, she will still agree to marry me – I shall bring Kitty to London, and you may call upon her there. Lady Catherine has commanded me to purchase a house in town, anyhow.”
“Yes, I am sure that will make up for your elopement, in her estimation.”
“Bingley. Leave. Now.”
“Ah, but what if she is cross with you? Surely Kitty might bring her round – if Kitty is not furious with you for sending me away.”
William paused to consider this, and Bingley seized at his moment of doubt. “Come, it will feel like our jolly times in London, with me here.”
“And when I leave with Elizabeth, you must leave, too.” William began to pace. “No, no, I still think it ill-advised, Bingley.”
“Do you, though? You must see my reasoning.” Bingley stood and set aside his now empty glass, and gestured to the billiard table. “Play me. If I win, I stay – until you depart for your infamous elopement – and if you win, I shall leave at once, and wait to hear from you in London.”
William eyed him warily, then nodded his head. “You are terrible at billiards – if that is what it takes to be rid of you.”
But apparently, Bingley was only terrible when he was absolutely foxed.
***
Elizabeth stood in the front drive and admired the fine manor.
“Wildewood,” she said to herself, savoring the sound of her future home.
The housekeeper opened the doors and welcomed her, having been made aware that she was to be expected.
She took Elizabeth’s two small traveling cases from her at once.
“We have made a room ready for you, Miss Bennet. I am Mrs. Lane, the housekeeper. Shall I show you upstairs so that you can refresh yourself after your travels?”
“I have already done so in Guildford; I confess I should rather like to speak to Mr. Darcy.”
“Oh. Well, yes, I suppose that can be managed.” Mrs. Lane handed the valises off to a footman to bring upstairs for Elizabeth, and then she showed her into a very elegant, sunlit parlor. Elizabeth smiled at the sight of the pretty space; she would be very happy here, indeed.
“You may wait here. Miss Bennet. Just a few minutes ago, Mr. Darcy informed me that he had to speak to Mr. Worthing on urgent business, and they were not to be disturbed.”
“Oh, well, if he has some pressing matter – but you need not trouble yourself with interrupting just yet.” Elizabeth gave Mrs. Lane a gracious smile as the housekeeper left the room; she was perfectly content to take in her new environs while she waited for Mr. Darcy.
She examined the paintings on the walls, the various curio on the shelves, the many well-tended plants, and the stacks of books that gave the room a lived-in feel, which she found most endearing.
She considered where they might sit together, once they were wed; they might read together by the large marble hearth, or sit by the window in a passionate embrace… .
As Elizabeth glanced out the window, she was first struck by the picturesque landscape of the garden and the parkland beyond. And then she noticed a young woman sitting at a table near the back of the garden, reading a book and eating a muffin. The girl looked remarkably like Jane.
Curious, and unaccountably anxious, Elizabeth found the garden door and made her way outside.
She approached the young woman, marveling at the resemblance to her sister.
The girl looked up from writing in a large journal and smiled at her.
“Good afternoon – evening? I did not know we were expecting company; my guardian neglected to mention it, but I have been hiding from him.”
“Your guardian?”
“Yes, I am Mr. Worthing’s ward. You may call me Kitty.” She closed the journal and beckoned for Elizabeth to sit with her.
“Good evening, Kitty,” Elizabeth said as she took a seat and accepted an offered muffin. “I suppose you may call me Lizzy, if we are to begin as intimates.”
Kitty giggled. “That is just what I like. But what brings you to Wildewood? We do not often have interesting visitors.”
“I am here to see Mr. Darcy about... an urgent matter. Pray, do you reside here?” Elizabeth felt a surge of panic in her chest. Did Mr. Darcy have a sister he had never mentioned? She shuddered to think what else this may portend.
“Yes – for now. I expect I shall soon reside in London, when Mr. Darcy and I are wed.”
Elizabeth nearly choked on a bite of muffin. “I beg your pardon?”
Before Kitty could answer her, Mrs. Lane hurried outside to offer her some tea, having seen her through the window.
Elizabeth remained silent as Mrs. Lane provided the refreshments and then swiftly absented herself once more.
Fighting off a sense of dread that she had made a terrible mistake in coming here, Elizabeth schooled her countenance into something civil.
“I must have misunderstood you, Kitty. You are not engaged to Mr. Darcy, surely.”
“Well, not yet; he is speaking to my guardian about it even now.” Kitty beamed at her, drumming her fingers idly on her journal.
Elizabeth stiffened her posture, shock coursing through her. “But that is impossible! I received a letter from him just this morning, assuring me of his continued affections – he proposed to me when we were in London, and I have come here to be with him – to elope.”
Kitty nearly fell out of her chair. “What? No, that cannot be. He is devoted to me. And why should he invite you here, when he has been quarreling with his cousin? I am sure you must be mistaken – unless your intent is malicious. If you have come to malign him to my guardian….”