Chapter Fifteen #5
Sir Sidney was the last to comprehend Mr. Horne’s meaning, but he responded with enthusiasm.
“You have done well to seek advice, my good man! As a man of great wisdom, I can inform you that if she has not yet enjoyed marital bliss, as it were, then you have not, either. What I am about to demonstrate will change your life. Now, come over here, you be Mrs. Horne. What you want to do….”
Sir Sidney seized Mr. Horne by the hips and began an edifying instruction. Bingley and Richard laughed but rose to their feet to restrict the view of Sir Sidney’s demonstration, looking rather interested themselves.
“And then, if you flip her around like so, and find an advantageous angle….” Sir Sidney and an exceedingly mortified Mr. Horne tumbled over as the strange exhibition continued.
Darcy and Knightley exchanged wary glances. “Sir Sidney, I believe he comprehends you. That is enough; there are ladies nearby.” Knightley stood and hauled Sir Sidney off of Mr. Horne, who laughed and thanked them all for their assistance.
Darcy also rose to his feet as Elizabeth and Miss Dashwood approached from one direction, and Anne and Miss Lovelace from the other, whispering with great animation together.
The latter pair reached the gentlemen first, and Anne bobbed into a curtsey while staring icily at Sir Sidney. “I hope Sir Sidney is not being too much of an ass, gentlemen. Lady Parker has sent for some coffee, and I thought certain persons might benefit from the fortification.”
“I am thoroughly fortified already, my darling,” Sir Sidney replied. “And if you had come upon us a little sooner, you might have truly understood my abilities.”
“Remember yourself,” Darcy said sternly, exchanging a glance with Richard. Whatever else he felt, Anne was still a lady, and family.
“I am perpetually far too aware,” Sir Sidney spluttered, laughing as he reached for the wine again. “Shall we depart these dull companions and partake of the gaieties my perfect brother has arranged, my muse? Can your devoted maid spare you, that I might have a turn at whispering in your ear?”
Miss Lovelace let out a squeak of protest and Anne sneered at Sir Sidney. “Not if you are resolved to embarrass me!”
“Nothing of the kind! Are we not the happy couple, nary a quarrel?” Sir Sidney bent and kissed Anne’s hand, wobbling as he righted himself.
Darcy braced the wastrel by the shoulder, looking to his friends for aid. “Perhaps a stroll to the refreshment table for some coffee is just the thing. You need not mortify my cousin any further.”
“Pay him no mind,” Sir Sidney said to Anne. “He plays your champion now, but before his concern was all for Miss Bennet.”
Anne glared at them both. “Perhaps I ought to have remained up at the manor. Penny and I will return indoors. Sir Sidney, we shall speak later, when you are less….” She frowned, waving vaguely at the sorry state of him.
“And, Darcy, I would thank you to detain my mother for a while, if you would be so kind. The respite would be very welcome.”
Darcy had no intention of doing anything of the kind.
He merely stared at her; in the periphery of his gaze, he could see Elizabeth and Miss Dashwood approaching the tent.
Anne glanced that way and then took a step closer to Darcy.
She laid a hand on his arm, offering him a rare smile.
“You deserve better than a fortune hunter, cousin,” she whispered.
“I could say the same to you,” Darcy said coldly. He withdrew his arm and gave a stiff bow before stalking away to speak with Elizabeth at last.
Elizabeth smiled as Darcy drew near, and Miss Dashwood waved at him.
“I have just been telling Lizzy how much I like your sister, and wish to become better acquainted with her. In fact, I find that I can wait no longer. Do excuse me.” She grinned and bobbed into a curtsey before hastening away from them.
Darcy offered Elizabeth his arm and began to lead her along the beach. Her shoulder brushed his as the breeze buffeted them, and she laughed. “Sir Sidney has been in fine form today. Has your cousin begun to tire of him?”
“It would seem so,” Darcy said. He found himself suddenly tired of the subject—and tired of the charade. As he looked over at Elizabeth, who fairly glowed in the sunlight as a few wisps of dark hair blew about her face, Darcy found that he wished never to think of Anne and Sir Sidney again.
“I suppose we are to be congratulated—or you are, at least.” She looked intently at him, and Darcy wondered if she was attempting to determine whether his regard for his cousin had waned.
He was in dangerous waters, for his feelings were of secondary concern, as much as they consumed him.
The way she was gazing at him was entirely too bewitching; he wished to declare himself at once, to throw himself on her mercy and pray that she was not genuinely pleased at the prospect of his reconciling with Anne.
Cowardice and caution prevailed, and he guided their path toward another of the large canvas tents.
They joined Knightley and Bingley, who had sought out their wives, and passed a happy hour in conversation together.
And how perfect it was! Darcy allowed himself to imagine that they were three happily wed couples, and it felt so natural that the pretense was forgotten.
The ladies were all delighted with one another, but amongst them Elizabeth shined like a diamond, enchanting them all.
When the event came to its conclusion, Darcy made a private bargain with himself. He would give himself one more day to indulge in this fantasy, and then he must be finished, before he was too far gone, before Elizabeth was affected by his unwilling ardor.
Anne was losing interest in Sir Sidney, just as Darcy had hoped when he agreed to his charade with Elizabeth; the assembly was sure to be just the thing to drive his cousin’s envy to its zenith.
Perhaps Anne would return to her former self, the charming and affectionate lady who had written him such loving letters, once she had broken with Sir Sidney.
And then, his fortnight of infatuation with Elizabeth would pale in comparison to the deep and abiding love he had nurtured for so long.
That was what he wanted, he told himself. It was what must be.