Chapter 12
Marcus could scarcely believe his eyes. Eleanor stood before him—or rather, a younger image of Eleanor. For one bewildering instant, it seemed as though time itself had stopped, and he was once again in that same bookshop more than twenty years before.
Mary looked at him in surprise. The stranger had spoken to her, but she had not caught his words. She had been so absorbed in thoughts of her father that she had scarcely noticed his presence.
"I beg your pardon, sir. What did you say?"
"Nothing of consequence. I merely wished to return the book you dropped. I beg your pardon if I disturbed you; I had no intention of doing so," Marcus said, having regained some of his composure.
"Thank you, sir," was all Mary could manage.
"Mary, are you ready?" Jane asked, approaching her sister.
She had seen a gentleman attempting to speak to Mary, and knowing how shy her sister could be with strangers, she wished to spare her any discomfort. Besides, Aunt Gardiner was waiting for them.
Marcus turned and saw another young lady, one whose features reminded him strongly of Fanny Bennet.
He was now certain that what was happening could not be a mere coincidence.
The past had returned to demand his attention, and he was determined to discover what had become of the Bennets since he had last been at Longbourn so many years before.
"Excuse me, sir. I must go," Mary said.
“Of course,” replied Marcus.
"Nothing of consequence. I merely wished to return the book you dropped. I beg your pardon if I disturbed you; I had no intention of doing so," Marcus said, having regained some of his composure.
"Thank you, sir," was all Mary could manage.
"Mary," Jane said as they walked away, "who was that gentleman? He seemed eager to speak with you."
"I do not know," Mary replied. "He simply picked up the book I dropped and returned it to me."
"Did he say anything else?"
"I believe he did, but I was thinking about something and did not hear his first words."
Jane smiled gently.
"Then he was very kind to help you."
"Yes," Mary agreed. "He was."
They soon found Mrs Gardiner and left the shop.
‘Tomorrow, I shall speak to Mr Gardiner again,’ Marcus thought, watching the ladies depart.
◆◆◆
"My son, you cannot avoid them forever. Perhaps it would be better simply to speak to them and discover what they want once and for all."
Mr Andrews looked at his son with concern. He did not like to see Matthew so agitated.
"No, Father. I shall not allow them to interfere in my life ever again, and certainly not now. You know better than anyone what they want, and I cannot understand why they persist when I have already told them repeatedly that I have no interest whatsoever."
Matthew shook his head in frustration.
"At present, I wish for nothing more than to court Miss Bennet. My mind was wholly occupied with that happy prospect until Bernardo delivered that lady's message and reminded me of a matter I had hoped never to think about again."
Should Jane accept him, Matthew intended to seek Mr Gardiner's permission to court her properly.
"And what do you intend to do?" Mr Andrews asked.
"I shall accompany you to Liverpool tomorrow.
I wish to see Carmen and my two nieces again.
But before we leave, I intend to speak with Miss Bennet.
If fortune favours me, she may permit me to pay my addresses to her.
I have never been less inclined to leave London, but if I disappear for a few days, perhaps they will grow tired of looking for me and return to wherever they came from. "
"I hope you are right," Mr Andrews replied with a resigned smile, "though I have my doubts.
I know them better than anyone, and they have never been the sort to give up until they obtain what they want.
Still, seeing your sister and your nieces will do you good, my son, and I know Carmen will be delighted to have you with her family, even if only for a few days. "
"I do not wish those arrogant people to be part of my life—now or ever. You know how greatly I detest that world, Father. By the by, yesterday I met Mr Darcy. I believe he is related to your friend, the judge. He is an insufferably arrogant fellow. He reminded me of them."
"Leonard always maintained that his nephew was a good lad, though an exceedingly reserved one," Mr Andrews replied thoughtfully.
"The poor boy lost both his parents at a very young age and found himself burdened with responsibilities that would have overwhelmed many older men.
I met his father on only two occasions. He and his wife were serious people—not unfriendly, merely reserved.
Your mother was astonished when she discovered that Mr Darcy and Lady Anne were husband and wife.
She had taken them for brother and sister. "
He smiled faintly at the memory.
"Leonard assured me they were happy together, though theirs was an arranged marriage. I do not believe they were ever deeply in love. There was affection between them, certainly, and mutual respect, but very little passion."
Matthew laughed. "Compared with you and Mamá, Father, anyone would appear dispassionate."
"My Rosita, your sister, and you are the greatest blessings of my life.
And do not mock your parents. After your performance at Lady Campbell's house, you are hardly in a position to criticise me.
Delivering inspirational speeches in Spanish to a young lady you had scarcely met is not exactly the conduct of a dispassionate gentleman, my dear son. "
Mr Andrews smiled with satisfaction as he watched Matthew blush.
Matthew could do nothing but laugh. "You have a point, Father."
James had suffered deeply after his wife's death, following many years of happiness by her side.
Yet, being the cheerful and optimistic man that he was, he honoured the promise he had made to her.
He devoted all his love and energy to their children.
They were the living reminder of their mother and the greatest comfort of his life.
Both Carmen and Matthew had always treasured their father's unwavering love and protection, and the three of them remained exceptionally close.
Father and son continued talking for another half hour, discussing family matters as well as business. Afterwards, Matthew went in search of his assistant to give the necessary instructions before his departure.
He and his father would leave early the following morning.
No one was going to interfere with his plans. Before facing those people again, he intended to know whether Miss Jane Bennet would grant him permission to pay his addresses to her.
◆◆◆
Colonel Fitzwilliam had returned to London the previous evening. Rising early the following morning, he decided to breakfast with his cousins. When he arrived at Darcy House, however, Mr Darcy had already gone out to attend an important meeting with his solicitor.
Richard, therefore, spent the morning with Georgiana.
She was deeply attached to her brother and admired him greatly, yet whenever she wished to confide her thoughts or anxieties, she invariably turned to Richard. He was more open and far less rigid in his opinions than Darcy.
"The other day I met a group of very friendly young ladies," Georgiana told him. "They are Lady Campbell's nieces. Lady Campbell was kind enough to invite us to dine with her, but my brother said we were engaged for the whole week, even though we have nowhere to go."
"That’s not so unusual for Darcy; remember, no one could say he’s particularly sociable," Richard said, avoiding expressing an opinion without knowing the full background.
Georgiana could not understand her brother's behaviour.
He disliked falsehood and always valued honesty, yet on this occasion he had deliberately deceived Lady Campbell.
Worse still, he had become even more reserved than usual.
More than once, she had found him sitting alone with a glass of wine, staring absently into space.
As she shared everything with Richard, her account immediately aroused his curiosity.
After talking with her for nearly an hour, Georgiana left, accompanied by Mrs Annesley, to call upon Lady Claire. She wished to let her know that Richard had returned to London and intended to attend Lady Westcliff's ball the following evening.
Richard, meanwhile, decided to remain at Darcy House until his cousin returned. He had every intention of having a serious conversation with him.
When Mr Darcy entered the house, the butler immediately informed him that Colonel Fitzwilliam was waiting for him.
"Richard," Darcy said with genuine pleasure as he entered the drawing room.
"Darcy," Richard replied, rising to shake his cousin's hand. "I trust you have not been avoiding me."
"I have only just returned."
"Then I have chosen my moment well."
"If you wish, we may continue our conversation in my study."
"With pleasure."
A few moments later, once they were comfortably seated, Richard smiled.
"I have a great deal to tell you. My journey to the north was most successful."
"I am glad to hear it. Tell me everything."
Richard spent the next several minutes describing his travels, the people he had met, and the various matters that had occupied him during his absence from London.
"I have already obtained permission to accompany you to Rosings at the end of March," he said with a grin. "You know Lady Catherine is counting the days until she can see her favourite nephew—and future son-in-law."
"You know perfectly well that such a marriage will never take place," Darcy replied calmly. "Neither Anne nor I have the slightest wish to marry. Lady Catherine alone persists in entertaining that hope."
He disliked visiting Rosings, yet he regarded it as a family duty, and duties were never neglected. His father had instilled that principle in him from childhood.