Page 10 of Leave Her Wild
“Surely you do not still believe in love in marriage,” Jane countered. “Is such why you have always followed . . .” Her sister broke off with what she meant to say. “I did not mean to speak harshly to you. There have been many who have questioned my decision, but you are always so supportive.”
“And I still am,” Elizabeth assured. “I just feared you meant to deny yourself a chance for love elsewhere. You must do what is best for you, and, if that person is Mr. Darcy, you have my blessing.” She gave her sister another hug. “Think nothing more upon it.”
Chapter Five
Over the next few days, Elizabeth purposely avoided speaking again of her qualms regarding Jane’s match to the gentleman, though in Elizabeth’s opinion, Jane’s countenance spoke of her eldest sister’s lack of enthusiasm for the proposed match.
“An express has come this morning,” their father had said as he took his place at the breakfast table. “Mr. Darcy should arrive around noon today.”
Elizabeth surreptitiously watched her eldest sister, but Jane’s smile remained equally as staid as it had been for the last three days. So she might better know her sister’s feelings, Elizabeth was sorry she had not claimed a place in Jane’s quarters ratherthan in Mary’s. However, she assumed if Jane was excited by the match, such would make Elizabeth angry, for she had not only been shunned by the gentleman, but she had always stood “second” to her sister. Not only in birth order, but also being considered less graceful. Less sweet natured. Less comely. Less desirable.
“Mr. Darcy also confirmed,” Mr. Bennet shared. “That his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, will accompany Jane’s betrothed to Hertfordshire. The gentleman prays that such is not an inconvenience.”
Mrs. Bennet told Mrs. Hill. “ We should know assurances that the linens and the candles are fresh and a small bouquet of flowers is added to both the rooms. However, we already prepared for the gentleman for Mary was confident Mr. Darcy would ask his cousin to accompany him. Apparently, according to Mr. Ericks, the two have always been quite inseparable. ”
“Yes, ma’am,” Mrs. Hill said and rushed away to present the maid with her orders.
“Fitzwilliam?” Kitty asked. “Is that not the family name Mary mentioned?”
“The younger son of the Earl of Matlock,” Elizabeth explained. “The elder son holds his father’s minor title of ‘Lord Lindale.’ The viscountcy is seated in Lincolnshire and the earldom in Derbyshire at, naturally, Matlock.” She had purposely sought out not only her father’s copy of Debrett’s but several other family listings after Mrs. Bennet had said she wished to know more of Mr. Darcy’s family, having preferred to “blame” her own curiosity upon her mother’s request.
“Mr. Ericks says Colonel Fitzwilliam is quite amiable,” Mary shared. “He is two years Mr. Darcy’s senior.”
Elizabeth wondered why no one ever questioned why Samuel Ericks always wrote to Mary rather than their father, especially as no official proposal had occurred between the pair. Like the rest of the table, Elizabeth swallowed her observation. Instead, she returned to her study of Jane’s reaction to the news of Mr. Darcy’s imminent arrival. As Elizabeth suspected, there was no obvious anticipation upon Jane’s countenance. No smile of satisfaction. Nothing but Jane’s comment that they would all adore Colonel Fitzwilliam. “He is quite intelligent and very amiable.” Elizabeth thought her sister’s comments very telling, for such was more than Jane had said of Mr. Darcy, who Jane determined to be “quite handsome” and “from a most excellent family.”
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Though he knew some shame in cutting Bingley from the list of hopefuls for Miss Bennet’s hand, privately, Darcy had originally hoped Mr. Bingley would accompany him to Hertfordshire. As Darcy had promised, though Mr. Bingley had not totally agreed, to support his friend, Darcy had, withoutbeing asked, inquired about the Netherfield Park property in Hertfordshire and the larger one suggested by Mr. Hurst in Buckinghamshire and been informed the one Miss Bingley and the Hurts had insisted upon was in poor shape, for it had sat empty for a decade, whereas the previous landowner in Hertfordshire had passed only two years prior. Moreover, Darcy thought Bingley might also become interested in one of Miss Bennet’s sisters, for Bingley often changed his mind about first one young lady and then another, and Darcy could claim his “friend” as a “relation,” if such proved true. Darcy still felt a bit guilty for having swept Miss Bennet out of Bingley’s grasp. If what his betrothed said was true, Miss Bennet had three other comely sisters at home, though she seemed to think that Darcy’s rector, Mr. Samuel Ericks, was interested in Miss Mary Bennet.
Perhaps it might have been better if Darcy had not called upon Bingley at his friend’s place of business, instead waiting to call upon his friend at home, but he had much to do to arrange this journey to Hertfordshire, and so he had made his way to Bingley’s offices at his friend’s warehouses. “I do not believe you have ever called upon me in my warehouses,” Bingley said as he shook Darcy’s hand.
“I, normally, would not wish to disturb you. Yet, I am to travel to Hertfordshire to settle matters with Miss Bennet’s father. However, I have taken the liberty to ask around about the estate Miss Bennet mentioned to you, as well as the one Miss Bingley and Mr. Hurst have suggested. From what my man of business has learned Netherfield Park would be the more sensible choice.”
“Perhaps for you,” Bingley said as he stiffened.
Darcy’s own hackles came to life. “I apologize if I have overstepped my boundaries,” he said in equally cold tones. “You did, initially, ask for my advice. I had thought you might wish tojoin me in Hertfordshire. You found Miss Bennet cordial. I am assuming her sisters would be equally as pleasant.”
“Though such could be likely,” Bingley said, “I cannot be traipsing off to Hertfordshire, even to please a friend. Therefore, I must decline.”
Darcy felt as if he had been slapped in the face. Assuredly, he had initially recognized Bingley’s interest in Miss Bennet, but Bingley was, generally, of the nature to claim to be “in love” this week with one fetching young lady and with another next week. Such was how his friend traveled through the world, but had evidently Darcy had misjudged somehow. He studied Bingley’s expression for several elongated seconds before he said, “Then I apologize for detaining you.” With a bow and without another word to his friend, he had turned on his heels and left the warehouse.
Such was the reason he had asked his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam to accompany him. Naturally, Fitzwilliam teased Darcy about fearing the prospect of taking the acquaintance of Miss Bennet’s family.
“You know I am never at my best when I am among strangers,” Darcy countered.
Fitzwilliam agreed, but he said, “We may not stay more than a week. I must report to my superiors by then.”
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Since they had learned of the anticipated arrival of Jane’s betrothed, the house had been in an uproar in preparation. Elizabeth had taken on much of the household chores, as Mrs. Bennet and her Sister Phillips had been too “overwhelmed” to be of much use to the household staff.
“Everything looks delightfully fresh,” Jane had said earlier, as she stepped up beside Elizabeth. Even with her sister’s praise, Elizabeth looked at the well-worn drapes and rug andthe missing buttons on the upholstered chair and imagined the slight snarl of Mr. Darcy’s disapproval.
“They are here,” Kitty announced from the top of the stairs. Catherine had been watching for the coach from the upstairs window, the one overlooking the drive from the hallway to the family wing.
“My dear Jane,” Mrs. Bennet burst through the door to the main sitting room and came up short when she realized Jane was not there. “Where is she?” Mrs. Bennet demanded.
“Jane wished to change her sash,” Mary responded as she placed her sewing away.
