Chapter Fifteen #3
Marianne scoffed and then scrambled to her feet before reaching down to haul Elizabeth up off the cushions. “I suppose, as you have already decided my fate, my opinions are not necessary. I would do better to go for a walk, so that my figure appears to best advantage.”
Elizabeth linked arms with Marianne as the two ladies began to stroll down the beach. Elizabeth steered them toward Georgiana, deciding it would be a fine time to introduce her to Marianne. “I would like to present you to Miss Darcy—unless you are still too out of humor?”
“What? Oh, no—I was not angry for myself, Lizzy! But I could hear your distress, and I wished for privacy, so that you can finally confess that you are in love with Mr. Darcy. Truly, it could not possibly be more apparent.”
Elizabeth needed no further interruption to spare her—she was ready to admit the truth. The feelings had taken form so rapidly, and if anybody would understand such a sensation as this, it was Marianne.
Unfortunately, they were interrupted. Sir Sidney Parker swaggered over, his feet bare and his trousers rolled up to the knee and damp from his revels.
His waistcoat hung open and unbuttoned, and he had lost his cravat to the sea nearly as soon as he had loosened it.
His hair and his flamboyant orange coat were covered in sand, and as he squinted into the sun and drank wine from the bottle, it was easy for Elizabeth to imagine him as a pirate bent on bamboozling them all.
“God Lord, who is that? He wants only a cocked hat and a parrot on his shoulder. It must be Sir Sidney.”
If Marianne had not wished an introduction to Sir Anthony, Elizabeth knew she ought to spare her from a wastrel ten times more odious. “Perhaps if we make haste to the buffet table….”
“No, no, he is plainly coming to speak with us, and his lady is watching him. It must cut both ways—she may be drawn to him out of jealousy, and then you shall have Mr. Darcy. Besides, if Mrs. Jennings sees me speaking to him, my complete disinterest in the male species may seem a better alternative.”
Marianne stepped forward with a bright smile, and Elizabeth performed the introductions. Sir Sidney gave an unsteady bow as he exclaimed his delight in welcoming such a lovely lady to Sanditon.
“Bloody damn, we could print your portrait on the brochures and half the gents in London would be flocking to Sanditon! What a remarkable beauty to adorn our little slice of paradise. And you, too, Miss Bennet. I see you are walking properly, unlike certain persons amongst us who have over-imbibed already.” With a cheeky wink, Sir Sidney pointed to himself.
“You are very kind, sir,” Marianne replied with a smile, still taking her turn at play-acting. “And how kind of you to think of Lizzy—I have heard all about her carriage calamity, and Mr. Darcy’s romantic rescue.”
Sir Sidney took another swig of wine. “Yes, love is in the air, etcetera. But we mustn’t let your Lizzy have all the fun, eh Miss Dashwood?
Nobody that pretty is not ready to make men fall at her feet, and I am prepared to answer the call.
Tomorrow is the first assembly of the summer, and I am sure I would not be too far into my cups to dance if you promised to stand up with me. ”
“If you are capable of dancing the last, I shall save it for you.”
“And endure the whole evening pining for you?”
Elizabeth glanced around nervously; Sir Sidney was beginning to attract the notice of his friends and her own.
Miss de Bourgh and Miss Lovelace were walking that way hand in hand, sipping wine more sedately as they studied the scene unfolding.
Georgiana was leading the colonel and Mr. Marsh over with a look of concern for Elizabeth, and Mr. Darcy had wandered a few steps away from Mr. Knightley to watch Sir Sidney so intently that Elizabeth feared he would call the cad out.
“By the by, Miss Bennet, have you any more of that excellent elixir? But never mind, I shall do well enough with wine.” Sir Sidney took another long draught from the bottle.
“As sobriety at an assembly is quite out of the question, I shall simply have to practice my steps half sprung, if you will oblige me, Miss Dashwood.”
Before Marianne could protest, Sir Sidney dropped his empty bottle and took Marianne by both hands, spinning her wildly as he attempted the footwork of a reel. Despite her surprise, Marianne gave Elizabeth a quick wink before letting out a peal of gay laughter.
“Hum us a tune, Miss Bennet, for our rhythm is dismal and dizzy!” Sir Sidney barked out a drunken laugh, then lifted his arm as Marianne twirled beneath it.
As Marianne spun, she nearly collided with Miss de Bourgh. She managed to stop herself, but Sir Sidney’s reflexes were not as quick. He staggered into Miss de Bourgh, causing her to spill dark wine all over her gown. She screeched.
“Oh, do forgive me, darling. Back into the sea, then, that will have the stain rinsed clean in a trice.” Sir Sidney grimaced and then gave an indecorous belch.
Miss de Bourgh closed her eyes and let out a slow huff and she clenched her fists at her side. “This is my favorite new gown! Penelope and I chose it together on my first day in Sanditon, and this is my first time wearing it!”
Miss Lovelace began dabbing at the stain with a handkerchief. “Annie, hush, your mother is coming over—we were having such fun before….”
“He is certainly having fun! Perhaps we ought to leave him to it,” Miss de Bourgh hissed. “You are quite welcome to him, Miss—oh, I do not care!”
Lady Catherine was indeed moving that way, but others were faster. Charlotte was walking with alacrity toward them, and from the other direction, Georgiana called out and waved as she approached.
“Cousin Anne, what a pretty dress. Hello Lizzy! Is this your stepsister?”
“Yes,” Elizabeth said, once again flustered as she saw Mr. Darcy hasten after his aunt, toward the commotion.
She managed to perform all the introductions, including Miss de Bourgh, who sniffled and shed a few tears as she clung to her companion.
Marianne moved away from Sir Sidney, looking very smug about what she had accomplished in her little charade.
Georgiana eyed Sir Sidney warily but appeared undaunted by Marianne’s share in the indecorous display.
“I am pleased to meet you at last, Miss Dashwood. I am already quite devoted to Lizzy, who has sung your praises to me. But we come with an invitation! Mr. Marsh has settled on a new date for our naturalist excursion, and we must pray it does not rain again!”
Charlotte had joined them and was quietly whispering something placating to Miss de Bourgh.
“Yes,” Mr. Marsh said with a smile for Georgiana. “We are to go on the twenty-sixth to explore a particularly scenic tidal marsh near Bunbury, the next town over. Do you know of it?”
Elizabeth and Charlotte exchanged a significant look.
They may not be familiar with the marsh in question, but they had often gone to Bunbury together.
Not wishing Elizabeth’s secret correspondence to be discovered in Sanditon, the letters were sent to Charlotte Lucas in Bunbury for the sake of discretion, after the two friends had left Meryton.
“Bunbury? I have an old acquaintance there,” Miss Lovelace said. “I should love to be one of the party.” At this, she whispered to Miss de Bourgh and resumed fussing over the stained gown.
“We would be delighted to attend,” Marianne said with zeal. “Lizzy and I delight in lengthy perambulations when there is fine scenery to be had!”
The colonel smiled broadly at Marianne. “Do you paint or draw, Miss Dashwood? I am hoping to persuade my cousin to do some sketching during the excursion, and she would be less shy about it if other talented young ladies took up the same endeavor.”
“I might make some feeble attempt; surely Lizzy has told you I am more musically inclined.”
Elizabeth had once again ceased to listen to what was passing.
Instead she watched as Charlotte led Miss de Bourgh and her companion away to don a loaned gown at Trafalgar House.
“I will look in on the baby while your maid attends you; I believe I have a very fine sprigged muslin from last summer that will fit you very well.”
Though Elizabeth could not make out Miss de Bourgh’s reply, the tone was not uncivil.
And then Charlotte spoke again, sending a shiver down Elizabeth’s spine.
“I know my brother-in-law may not make the best husband. Sir Thomas and I would bear you no ill will if you were to return to your previous engagement. Have you communicated with Mr. Darcy lately?”
This was all Elizabeth could hear before Charlotte was too far away, and a moment later Mr. Darcy and his aunt stopped to speak with Miss de Bourgh. Elizabeth watched them but could glean nothing. She could only think of what Charlotte might have meant by making such a speech.
Perhaps Charlotte supposed that recommending Mr. Darcy might have the reverse effect—but she may have meant what she said.
Her friend had not been keen on Elizabeth’s ruse with Mr. Darcy, just as Elizabeth was loath to admit that Charlotte’s apprehensions were not unfounded.
Charlotte may see it as a blessing to have Mr. Darcy and Miss de Bourgh reconciled more expeditiously, before any further damage could be done to Elizabeth’s heart.
As Sir Sidney shambled away and Georgiana was escorted to the refreshment table by Mr. Marsh and the colonel, Marianne let out a sigh of relief and squeezed Elizabeth’s hand. “I believe you were about to tell me something of great import, before we were waylaid so strangely.”