Page 6 of Leave Her Wild
“Darcy,” Bingley said, tipping his hat. “Miss Bennet, well met.”
“I have not seen you in more than a week,” Darcy remarked.
“I was called to Hurst’s estate. Caroline wished to join me in London. She and Louisa and Hurst arrived two days prior. We all traveled to Buckinghamshire to view a possible estate to let,” Bingley explained.
“Then you have eliminated the possibility of Netherfield Park?” Miss Bennet asked with what sounded of disappointment.
“I never heard back from the land agent, and my sisters believe Buckinghamshire would be more impressive than Hertfordshire. No dukes live in Hertfordshire, or some such nonsense.”
Miss Bennet studied her fingers. “Naturally,” she said without looking up to Bingley again. “You must be in an area where others will associate your tenancy with the aristocracy. My Uncle Gardiner has said something similar regardingreturning to Hertfordshire.” She looked up to Bingley then and said, “I wish you the best in your endeavors, sir.” To Darcy, she said, “We should return to Milk Street. I promised Aunt Gardiner I would assist with the children. She and uncle are to attend the opera this evening.”
“As you wish, my dear,” he said. He was excessively pleased when the lady laced her hands about his elbow.
Darcy glanced to Bingley to say his farewells, but his friend had already turned his horse to ride in the direction Darcy and Miss Bennet had come.
Later, as Darcy escorted Miss Bennet to her uncle’s door, he asked, “Would you object if I called on your uncle tomorrow morning?”
“I would . . . would be . . . excessively . . . honored, Mr. Darcy,” she said with downcast eyes.
He had actually hoped for more enthusiasm, but Darcy knew women were taught to hide their emotions. Such is what his mother had often said when George Darcy would playfully admonish Lady Anne for jumping in the lake before Pemberley House while still wearing one of her best gowns.
Darcy merely offered the lady a brief word of gratitude before leaving immediately to write a note to Lord Matlock regarding his intentions to propose to Miss Jane Bennet. As he settled again behind the reins of the horse for his return to Darcy House, he wondered if the world as he knew it would keep spinning or whether his heart would break with sadness. Doing one’s duty was hard for any man, but especially one who had always envisioned something more spectacular in his life.
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The Bennets had finished their breakfast and had gone about their usual entertainments. Mr. Bennet, as was customary for him, had retired to his study, and Elizabeth had followed him.
“I wish we had a letter from Jane. She has been in London for nearly two weeks, and we have only heard of which entertainments Aunt Gardiner had chosen to attend.”
“I wish it was not necessary for Jane to save you and your sisters,” her father replied, having sat heavily in his chair. “I should have laid by an annual sum for the provision of my children and wife, that is, if your mother survives me. We are indebted enough to your Uncle Gardiner for whatever honor or credit he purchased for Lydia. The satisfaction of prevailing on one of the most worthless young men in Great Britain to be Lydia’s husband might then have rested in its proper place.”
“Pardon, Mr. Bennet,” Mrs. Hill said with a light tap on the open door before entering. “This post was delivered to the kitchen rather than the main door. It is from Mr. Gardiner and he had given specific directions to the rider to do so.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Hill,” Mr. Bennet said as he accepted the letter. “Was the rider paid?”
“Yes, sir, and given a bit to eat, as well as permission to rest and water his horse before his return to London.”
“Good. Depending on what this says, I may require him to return a message to Gardiner.”
“I suspected so, sir. I will check with you before the rider leaves.”
When Mrs. Hill disappeared, Elizabeth asked, “Do you suppose Jane has already received an offer of marriage?” Elizabeth feared her eldest sister might sacrifice herself for the family’s good.
Her father opened the letter and read it through before handing it off to Elizabeth, who read it twice. The realization of Jane’s arrangement had struck Elizabeth in a different manner than it would any other in the family. She already briefly held an acquaintance with her eldest sister’s intended.
“If you would fetch your mother and sisters to the sitting room while I craft a note to Gardiner in agreement, I would appreciate it. Do not tell them the nature of what we must discuss, though I am confident they will all know my intent. Do what you may to calm your mother’s famous ‘nerves.’”
“Are you not, at least, going to meet with Jane and determine her affection for the man?” Elizabeth protested.
“Elizabeth, you know how dearly I adore you, but there are times your passion does not meet society's strictures. According to my Brother Gardiner, Jane’s young man has a sizable income and owns an estate of which your Aunt Gardiner is quite familiar and of which she speaks in glorious terms. Moreover, your Aunt Gardiner’s brother is employed by the gentleman. Neither your aunt nor Samuel Ericks would permit Jane to marry an ogre.”
Elizabeth thought “ogre” perfectly described the gentleman, but she swallowed her future objections. Instead, she said, “Yes, sir.”
“I always know when you are angry with me,” her father said, “for you call me ‘sir,’ rather than ‘papa.’”
Elizabeth did not respond. Instead, she darted away to do her father’s bidding. First, she sought out her sisters. “Our father wishes to speak to us in ten minutes in Mama’s sitting room.”
“Has Jane accepted a proposal already?” Mary asked.
