All Hallow's Eve (70 page)

Mr. Darcy looked surprised, “I did not know you were related. I have been a patron of this superior bookshop for years, and it has only improved since Mr. Gardiner became proprietor last year.”

“Yes, I quite agree. If not for the bookshops, London would be intolerable!”

“I see your opinion of Town has not changed, Bennet.” Mr. Darcy laughed.

“Not in the least!” Mr. Gardiner replied. Mr. Bennet introduced Elizabeth to Mr. Darcy and then the three gentlemen began to speak of Cambridge. Mr. Gardiner had attended beginning the year the other gentlemen had left it, but they still had much to discuss.

“You said earlier that you attend Eton, Mr. Darcy.... do you like school?” asked Elizabeth.

“I like it very well, Miss Bennet.” William felt a pang of guilt because he knew he was not being completely forthright with this very honest girl. He did enjoy learning, but he did not feel comfortable with the social aspects of living at school.

“I wish I could go to school.”

“Perhaps if you tell your father, he will allow you to attend a school for ladies.”

“I would not want to go to
that
kind of school! I meant that I want to go to the kind of school that boys attend. Girls learn silly subjects like embroidery, netting purses, and how to serve tea… and I already know more languages than they could teach me at a school for
ladies
. Papa says that I could probably teach the instructors a thing or two! I do like to dance and play the pianoforte… but embroidery!” Elizabeth rolled her eyes in such a way that had William attempting to hold back his smile again. “I want to learn about literature and mathematics and science and philosophy! Mama scolds me for reading so much for she says men do not like girls who know more than they do, but I want to
learn
! I am glad that Papa allows me to read anything in his library, and he does not forbid me from studying any subject I wish.” She lowered
her voice and said conspiratorially, “Well, except for the books on the uppermost shelf by the window on the left, at which I am
never
to look.”

This time William could not stop a chuckle from escaping before he said, “It sounds as if you have many diverse interests, Miss Bennet, much like my mother did. She was an intelligent lady, and I applaud your wish to expand your mind past subjects you find silly.” Thinking his praise might actually end up getting her in trouble, he thought to add, “Though embroidery does serve a purpose and would not be a bad thing to learn if it pleases your mother for you to do so. Do you enjoy only reading, or do you have other pursuits as well?”

“I love to be outdoors, sir, doing just about everything. I walk a great deal. Charlotte and Jane will walk with me, but they do not like to climb trees, or play army and pirates and bandits with the boys like I do, so they often go home after our walks. They like doing
girl
things much better.”

“Are Charlotte and Jane your sisters?”

“Jane is my elder sister by two years, and she is an angel!” Elizabeth’s smile was wide as she spoke of Jane, but it lessened as she continued, “I have three other sisters. The youngest two, Kitty and Lydia, are too young to go out with me, but I do think they will not be interested in what I like to do when they are old enough as they are very silly. Mary, the sister who is two years younger than I, is too serious to play at… anything. Charlotte is my friend and
neighbour
. Her father was just made a knight, and we must call him ‘Sir William’ now instead of ‘Mr. Lucas.’ It is mostly Charlotte’s brothers that I play with, though there are other boys from the
neighbour
ing estates and tenant farms that join us as well.”

“And what position do the boys have you play during these games?” William asked, thinking they would have her pretending to clean up after the horses and swab the decks.

“I am not supposed to tell anyone… do you promise not to tell?” William nodded. “I am always the general of the army or the captain of the ship or the leading bandit, of course!”

“Of course!” William said with a grin. “And the boys do not get angry because they must take orders from a girl?”

“No, for I make up much better games than they do, and though they might not admit it to anyone else, they do say it to
me
. None of the boys play chess or read much, but I do, and I believe that is why I devise better strategies in our wars and conflicts. Sometimes we fight real battles as they were portrayed in history books or the newspaper—
not
with real weapons, of course. I am the best tree climber of the lot, as well as the best swordsman!”

At this point, William was not surprised by anything this obviously witty and adventurous young lady had to say. He saw his father looking at him with a small smile that reached his eyes—one he had not seen on his father’s face since his mother had died. Little did he know his father was thinking that he had not seen his son laugh, smile or even take an interest in
anything
other than his sister since his wife had died… until now.

William overheard the men making plans to meet at Mr. Darcy’s club for lunch the following day and expected them to soon be bidding each other farewell. “I am quite impressed with the many accomplishments already achieved by one so young. But I do believe you should try to work on the
girl
things as well. I know it is difficult to do things that one does not enjoy in the least, but we all must carry that burden. If you think of it as a challenge to improve yourself, as I do, it will make it more palatable.” When Elizabeth looked doubtful, he added, “It does sound as if it would make living with your mother a bit easier if you showed her you were putting in a good effort, if nothing else.”

Elizabeth made another face that reminded William of her age, and he almost expected her to stamp her foot and have a tantrum. He had been at first surprised and a little amused at hearing her converse with more intelligence than ever he had heard from young ladies twice her age, but soon he had become so comfortable with her conversation that he had forgotten just how young she was. Elizabeth sighed and relented, “Well… it does sound like a better idea when you put it that way. Since you do seem like a sensible young man, I will make the attempt to follow your advice. Perhaps I will ask my Aunt Gardiner to teach me a bit of embroidery while I am still in London. She has more patience with me than does Mama.”

William could not help but chuckle. “That sounds like a very good plan, Miss Bennet.”

Mr. Darcy approached and said, “It certainly was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Bennet. Your father will be having dinner with us in two days’ time. Would you like to accompany him? Your father tells me you are interested in books, and I thought that William could show you our library; I hoped you might enjoy meeting my daughter as well.”

Elizabeth looked at her father, and at his nod, she smiled brightly and said, “Yes, sir, I would like that very much. Thank you, Mr. Darcy.” She curtsied.

Mr. Darcy bowed to her and said, “I look forward to seeing you again, Miss Bennet.”

The Darcys took their leave, both happier than when they had arrived.

~%~

When the Bennets arrived at Darcy House, after the usual greetings Mr. Darcy suggested that William show Elizabeth the way to the nursery so that she could be introduced to Georgiana. After the children left them, Mr. Bennet said, “Good thinking to have my Lizzy meet Miss Darcy
before
seeing the library. We may never see her again after she has experienced the famous Darcy collection!”

“So she takes after her father in this way?” Mr. Darcy laughed.

“Yes, she certainly does, though I think she will surpass my abilities in many areas. I am afraid her mother feels Lizzy’s thirst for knowledge is a liability, but I cannot deny her… and it has caused quite a bit of contention between us. Elizabeth is truly one of the most intelligent persons I have ever met, Darcy. She will be but ten years old next month, and she already knows more than do most boys upon entering Cambridge, and all from her own reading. The instruction I have given her is more guidance than teaching. Occasionally there is a concept that she has trouble comprehending, but to see how her face lights up with understanding when all becomes clear is reward enough to brave even my wife’s disapproval! I think sometimes my wife is actually frightened of her. There is no doubt she is frightened
for
Lizzy, and at times I have to agree.”

“Why would you be frightened for Elizabeth, Thomas?” When they were younger, the two had always switched to first names whenever discussing a serious matter, and though many years had passed since they had seen each other, Mr. Darcy easily fell into this old habit.

“If she were a boy, nothing would be able to stand in her way… but she is not. She will grow up someday, George—sooner than I am prepared for, in fact. To be honest, I do not know how she will manage. There could not be one in a thousand men who could be considered her equal in intelligence, and even fewer who would accept her for who she is and not insist that she pretend that she is something she is not.”

From the moment George Darcy had seen his son interacting with his friend’s daughter at the bookstore, he had had an idea of what Elizabeth’s future would hold, but it was far too soon to bring that subject up with her father. “Do not fret, Thomas. I have a strong feeling all will be well for Elizabeth.”

“You always did have a sense of what would work out well. I hope in this case you are correct.”

Perhaps, though, he
could
plant a seed. “Actually, from what you have told me and from what I have seen, she reminds me of William at that age, but she seems to have an intuitive sense of other people’s feelings that William has always lacked. She has gotten William to talk, and, believe me, that is a feat! He is even shyer than
I
was at his age, if you can believe it possible. Georgiana has been looking forward to meeting Elizabeth because William has mentioned her so often since we met you both at the bookshop.”

“Really? No, I would not have guessed it! In fact, I had been thinking that while he
looks
very much like you did at his age, he does not
act
like you did at all, in
that
way at least. But then, I
did
come across them after he had already been speaking to Lizzy for some minutes, from what I understood.”

“You always did have that effect upon me as well, Thomas, and I am certain you would have the same effect on William. With you, I always felt comfortable; it was with others that I became reticent. As far as I know, before two days ago the only person outside the immediate family with whom William was truly comfortable was my nephew Richard Fitzwilliam. He has had a difficult time at school and has had no Thomas Bennet to help him through it as I did. The headmaster tells me that while he is accepted due to his name, he does not really fit in with the other boys. Sound familiar?” When Mr. Bennet nodded, Mr. Darcy continued, “I was hesitant about sending him back to Eton after my wife’s passing because he seemed so… lost, but I am sure you will agree that keeping him at home will do him no
favour
s. He must learn to find his way in society, and Eton is a proper place to start. I keep hoping that perhaps he will find a true friend there, too. Seeing him the past couple of days has made me feel more comfortable with the decision. I now feel he will be all right.”

After discussing a few other subjects, the gentlemen became curious as to what had happened to William and Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy invited Mr. Bennet to the nursery to see what they were about. Upon arriving they found William sketching and Georgiana entranced in Elizabeth’s telling of the story,
Beauty and the Beast
. The gentlemen stood by the door, watching and listening for a few minutes before Georgiana noticed them and ran to her father with her arms open. Mr. Darcy scooped her up and gave her a hug before setting her down to introduce her to Mr. Bennet. Georgiana looked up to Elizabeth, who had joined them near the door, and Elizabeth nodded very seriously. Georgiana curtsied as well as a five-year-old could, and Elizabeth applauded. “You learn very quickly, Miss Darcy!”

“Very well done, Georgiana! Your curtsy has certainly improved since yesterday!” Mr. Darcy praised.

“Miss Elizabeth showed her a special way to accomplish it, Father.”

“I thank you for your instruction, Miss
Bennet
.” Mr. Darcy said with a sharp look at his son indicating that he was correcting him.

In a very serious tone of voice, Elizabeth said, “Mr. Darcy, I know I am supposed to be called ‘Miss Bennet,’ but ‘Miss Bennet’ is my sister Jane. I like to be called ‘Elizabeth’ or ‘Lizzy’ much better, but your son says
that
would be improper. So, we have decided to compromise and have settled on ‘Miss Elizabeth,’ if you do not mind, sir.”

Mr. Darcy glanced at Mr. Bennet, who was stifling a laugh, and shrugged. “I suppose it is fine with me as long as your father does not object. But William, when you are in public, you should refer to her as ‘Miss Bennet.’”

“Agreed, sir,” Elizabeth said, “but may Miss Darcy call me ‘Elizabeth’?”