Page 5 of Lord Lonbourn's Daughter
Darcy’s unease increased as the appointed time approached. He stood at the end of the line, after his uncle, aunt, the viscount and his wife, and Richard. The door opened and the butler announced, “The Earl of Longbourn, Lady Jane Bennet, Lady Elizabeth Bennet, and Lady Mary Bennet, sir.”
Their guests greeted their hosts in a formal line. The father was a tall and broad man with long white hair tied up in a queue, as it had been when Darcy had seen him at Cambridge. He looked solemn but had a twinkle in his eyes and wrinkles around them that betrayed that this was a common occurrence.
Behind the Earl of Longbourn, he could see Bingley’s angel. She was beautiful and angelic but lacked a certainje ne sais quoi.He kept staring at her as she approached down the line, trying to gauge what could possibly be missing from her serenecountenance that made him deem her lacking. On paper, she fitted his list of requirements, supposing she was accomplished, but what daughter of an earl would not be? His eyes rested on her too long, a throat cleared in front of him, and he had to lower his eyes significantly from the eldest sister to the next.
He felt a jolt pass through his soul. He might have flinched visibly, though he hoped that was not so. Richard elbowed him in the side, but he was too stupefied to utter a single word. Those eyes! Green with a rim of dark blue, speckled with moonlight, surrounded by thick, dark lashes. He could not look away; neither could he speak it seemed. He gulped down a breath of air, but it did not aid his recovery. The apparition huffed, turned her back, and strode away. He recognised that back. How could he have failed to notice the lush soft curls on her head when he had judged her dowdy? Her figure was light and pleasing, portraying a graceful quality not even countered by her tramping away. She was obviously displeased with him. He turned to follow, but Richard had the audacity to grab his elbow, holding him back. He had entirely forgotten there was a third sister.
She was a pretty girl with spectacles and a discerning eye. He suspected nothing passed her notice. He bowed low, greeted her cordially, and offered her his arm to escort her into the dining room.
“I feel it incumbent upon me to notify you that I am not the sister you offended,” she informed him with an intent look over the brim of her spectacles. She reminded him of a young Mrs Reynolds when she had berated him as a child.
“I know.”
“An apology would not have gone amiss,” she replied primly.
“I…” He sighed and turned towards the outspoken miss. “I was planning to, when something robbed me of my ability to speak.”
“Yes, I noticed. You have your work cut out for you. If any of the Longbourn sisters can hold a grudge, it is Elizabeth. She is not vain, but dowdy is as far from the truth as you could possibly get. She is not a great beauty, but her vivacious nature more than makes up for what symmetry does not.”
He was appalled; how could this mousy thing deem her sisternot a great beauty?He reined himself in before he offended a second of the earl’s daughters. She had been kinder than he had.
Instead, he bowed to Lady Mary Bennet and approached his aunt, who rightfully had a scolding ready for him. He hung his head and listened with his hands behind his back. She was right, and his offences had just doubled.
#
Lady Elizabeth sat to his aunt’s right with the viscount opposite her. Lord Longbourn and his eldest daughter were seated either side of his uncle, leaving him, Richard, Lady Mary, and the viscountess to the middle seats. At least he could watch from afar as his aunt and Lady Elizabeth entered into a lively discussion about the shopping excursions they were about to embark upon.
“I am exceedingly grateful to you, my lady, for taking on such a monstrous task as outfitting not just one but three Longbourn sisters all at once.”
“Oh, hush. I am delighted to be of aid. I have no daughters of my own, you see, and my niece is not yet of age. Well, I do have another niece, but she is not motherless like youand dear Georgiana. Please, do not hesitate to inform me if my enthusiasm becomes too much. I have not looked upon an adventure with this much anticipation for years.”
Lady Elizabeth let out a light, melodic laugh before she covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes twinkling. Her lips formed a slight ‘o’ when she listened attentively, he had noticed. Her eyes sparkled while her dove-grey gown had no embellishments in the form of embroidery, lace, or overlays. Even the front of her dress was modest compared to certain ladies who preferred to cover their bosoms as little as possible. She did not need any adornments. Her gown bore the signs of half-mourning, and he felt utterly mortified that he had not noticed at the ball. Not that she was in any way lacking in her soft, natural state.
Her gleaming eyes turned from his aunt to Lord Longbourn.
“If your enthusiasm stretches that far, my father could do with a couple of new suits as well. I am sure you know of a good tailor and a method to force reluctant gentlemen to apply themselves.”
“My clothes are adequate, Elizabeth. I have no need of more.” Lord Longbourn grumbled.
“You need something more fashionable when you escort your daughters about town, Father. Thehaut tonis ruthless when it comes to those who do not meet their exalted standards. Society judges your attire before your character. Ridiculous, I know, but it cannot be helped. You know changing people’s habits is impossible. We shall just have to comply with their superficial and supercilious beliefs until the Season is over and we can retire to the rationality at Longbourn.”
“You had better find a match soon, along with your sisters. I cannot stomach the thought of this Season, let alone another. Perhaps I can convince you to accept the first suitor who comes along. That obsequious parson who called this morning should suffice. He certainly seemed keen enough to me.”
“Father! Do not wish such a horrible fate upon me as to marry a man of so little understanding. I would as soon remain a spinster.”
“That will do, Elizabeth. If you could just convince your sisters of the benefits of spinsterhood, we can remove ourselves to Longbourn all the sooner.”
Elizabeth laughed and winked at her father.
“With the selection of gentlemen I have met, I might refrain from courting all together, but you cannot deprive Jane and Mary of their first Seasons. I am looking forward to dancing with great pleasure, and Jane would not be pleased if she could not attend at least a dozen balls. She would never voice her objections, but that is all the more reason to provide her with what she wants. I am sorry, Papa, but your fatherly duties must prevail over your personal preferences.”
“My lord, I gauge from your delightful conversation with your daughter that you do not take pleasure in a ball?”
“In that, you would be cunningly accurate, Lady Matlock.”
“If I may make a forward suggestion, my lord, I would gladly take upon myself the pleasure of escorting your daughters throughout the entire Season. I can usually manage to ferret out a son or a husband to accompany us, and if all else fails, I do have a fierce-looking nephew as a last resort. I can guaranteeboth the safety and chaperonage of your daughters would be vigilantly upheld.”
“It is too much to ask of you, my lady.”
