Darcy's Voyage: A Tale of Uncharted Love on the Open Seas (20 page)

As the party moved on, Elizabeth lingered a moment longer, regarding his likeness, finally having to will herself to continue. Mrs. Gardiner noticed Elizabeth’s reflective deportment. It was unlike her niece not to embrace an experience like this wholeheartedly and with an overt enthusiasm. She wondered whether it could possibly have something to do with this Mr. Darcy and his being with her on her voyage to America.

They came back down to the front of the house, and Mrs. Reynolds expressed her regret that the rest of the house could not be seen today. “Miss Darcy is practicing in the music room, as I am sure you can hear. She is very shy and would feel most embarrassed if she knew she had an audience.”

Elizabeth spoke, “She plays beautifully, Mrs. Reynolds. I hope someday she can overcome her shyness and perform easily before others.”

“She does play beautifully. You are very kind.”

Mr. Gardiner expressed his gratitude for showing them the house. “It is beautiful, and we are so grateful to have had this opportunity.”

“It was my pleasure. Now, feel free to explore the grounds.”

“Thank you, I think we shall,” he added.

They bid their farewells and walked toward a small lake that was situated down from the front of the house. Elizabeth was grateful to get away from the house, feeling as though the farther she was from it, the safer she was from any chance encounter. Even though they had been told he was away, she knew there was always the possibility that he could show up at any time. Yet she equally
wished
she would encounter him!

As they walked, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner talked about, commented on, and praised the grounds. It did not escape Mrs. Gardiner’s notice that Elizabeth was unusually quiet.

As they looked out upon the lake, and Mr. Gardiner was commenting on how much pleasure it would be to be able to fish in it, a voice called out, “Excuse me.”

The three turned in unison to see a young girl coming toward them. “I hope I am not disturbing you, but I understand one of you was on the ship with my brother when he travelled to America.”

Elizabeth could see that it had taken a concerted effort on her part to say this, and immediately responded, “Yes, I was on the ship. My name is Elizabeth Bennet.”

Georgiana tilted her head at her name.
Elizabeth
.
Could this be the woman my brother thought he saw that day in New York?
she wondered. “I am Georgiana Darcy. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Elizabeth introduced her to her aunt and uncle.

Elizabeth could see that she had been well trained in her manners and posture, but that it was something she was not quite comfortable with. Or at least she felt that the young girl worried too much whether she was performing adequately in her duties.

“Do you have a moment, Miss Bennet?”

“Certainly, Miss Darcy. What can I do for you?” Elizabeth noticed immediately the resemblance between Miss Darcy and her brother in their eyes, but in all other areas they were very different. He had dark brown curly hair, brown eyes, and a solid build. She had straight blond hair, blue eyes, and was rather thin in stature, although tall for her age.

“I wondered if you could tell me whether something happened on the crossing over. When my brother arrived in America, he was changed… so dark and brooding. And he would not talk about it and he still refuses to talk about it.”

Elizabeth involuntarily winced, but she could not tell Miss Darcy anything about their marriage, however much she believed that could be the reason for his concern.

“I… I do not believe I know of anything that happened.”

“Was it a rough crossing?”

“Not terribly. We had some rough weather, and then the second to the last day we had a terrible storm that rocked the ship violently. But I do not think that would have affected him so.”

Georgiana looked down. “I am sorry to have disturbed you. I was just hoping…”

Elizabeth took her hand, feeling an unexplainable sense of kinship and concern for the young girl. “Miss Darcy, your brother is very fortunate to have a sister who cares so much for him. I am sure that whatever it is that seems to be disturbing him will pass in no time.”

“Oh, I do hope so.”

Elizabeth smiled and gently squeezed the girl’s hand and let it go.

Georgiana turned to go, but then stopped. “Are you to be in the area very long?”

Elizabeth answered for the others. “We are staying at the Inn at Lambton. My aunt lived in Lambton as a child and we are visiting some of her friends. I believe we plan to leave tomorrow.”

“Hmm.” Georgiana nodded. It was not in her nature to pry into people’s business, but she was curious about one more thing and felt compelled to ask. “And where do you all call home?”

Mrs. Gardiner replied, “My husband and I live in London, and Elizabeth lives at Longbourn.”

Georgiana’s eyes widened; another piece of the puzzle falling into place. “Longbourn?” she asked. “I do not believe I know where that is.”

“Oh,” laughed Elizabeth. “It is in a small, inconsequential village in Hertfordshire. If you were to blink while passing through it, you would miss it completely.”

Georgiana suddenly had an unquenchable inquisitiveness about Miss Bennet, and a determined inclination to get to know her much better.

“Would you mind terribly if I joined you out here as you walk the grounds? I should be more than happy to answer any questions you have, and then I should be remiss if I did not invite you back in for some refreshment.”

“Miss Darcy, you are most welcome to join us,” Elizabeth assured her, “but we really would not want to impose on your hospitality.”

“Consider it a pleasure, Miss Bennet.”

Georgiana remained by Elizabeth’s side, and the Gardiners followed behind as they continued their walk by the lake. Georgiana demurely, but diligently, informed Mr. Gardiner about the excellent fishing that abounded in the lake, and that if he felt so inclined, he would be more than welcome to come back anytime and try his hand at it.

He was profuse in his thanks and appreciation. They walked but a bit more, and as Mrs. Gardiner began to feel wearied from the walk, they turned back to the house.

Wanting to get to know her better, Elizabeth engaged Georgiana in conversation. “Miss Darcy, I hope you do not mind my saying so, but while touring your home we heard you playing, and I must say, I have not heard anyone play as well as you do.”

“Oh, Miss Bennet, I was merely practicing. I was not playing well at all!”

Elizabeth smiled and looked directly into the young girl’s eyes. “You play very well, indeed, Miss Darcy.”

Georgiana self-consciously accepted her praise. Drawing from all the lessons in conversation she had from various governesses and more recently Mrs. Annesley, and a determination to discover some answers, she applied herself to Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet, did you come to know my brother at all during your voyage?”

Elizabeth stammered, feeling another unwelcome blush come to her face. “I… um… he…” Elizabeth took in a deep breath. “We did get a chance to meet. He was very kind to me. I stumbled on the stairs one day and he was of great assistance to me.”

Georgiana smiled. “I am glad you think him kind. Many people consider him proud and aloof. But they really have not taken the time to get to know him.” Georgiana was not sure why she felt compelled to defend him, but just in case Miss Bennet had formed a different opinion of him, as so many others quite often did, she wanted her to know what he was truly like.

They came back into the house, and Georgiana offered them some refreshment. She wanted to find out more, but had not the slightest idea how to go about it without unduly prying.

Miss Darcy and Mrs. Gardiner talked of growing up around Derbyshire. Elizabeth noticed how many times the shy, young girl mentioned her brother and that it was always in a positive light.

When they had finished, and the Gardiners announced they ought to take their leave, Elizabeth felt a pang of regret. She and Miss Darcy truly enjoyed each other’s company. She would have loved having her as a sister.

“I am very pleased you came outside to join us, Miss Darcy. It was indeed a pleasure meeting you,” Elizabeth told the young girl.

Quietly the girl answered her, “I do hope we meet again, Miss Bennet.”

“I hope we do, as well.” Elizabeth took the girl’s hand and gave it a squeeze, taking a long look at her face, wondering if she would ever see her again.

During the drive home, Elizabeth was extremely quiet, her thoughts in turmoil. Her aunt occasionally glanced at her, concerned that she did not look well—not so much a look of physical ailment as an emotional one.

The quiet atmosphere of the five-mile ride to Lambton allowed Elizabeth to dwell on all that she had come to know in just the course of an hour. There was the fact that he owned the ship and had never bothered to tell her. There were implications to that fact that threatened to overwhelm her.

Her eyes widened as she realized the captain most likely had no choice but to perform the ceremony Darcy asked him to, as he would be subject to his every command. She had seen glimpses of his concern for passengers in steerage and during the storm; could they have been solely out of concern for the reputation and the seaworthiness of
his ship
?

Then there was the grandeur of his home; the praise of his housekeeper and his precious sister. She could not escape the fact that this man was highly esteemed by those who knew him well. She also became all too aware that he had more wealth than she had ever considered, and in marrying her, he had married considerably beneath himself.

Her thoughts then turned to her little sampler, which she had seen in his study. She took in a deep breath as she considered that he found it, kept it, and had it framed, setting it among his favourite things. Did she dare hope that it reflected something about how he felt about her?

She kept her gaze out the window, this time not soaking in the beauty of the woods, but swimming in the deluge of emotions that were building up within her.

Her breathing was distressed, and she had to force herself to act as naturally as she could whilst in the presence of her aunt and uncle. She knew very well how her aunt could easily detect when something was bothering her, and she knew the marriage between her and Mr. Darcy was something she would never be able to confide.

Feigning sleepiness, Elizabeth closed her eyes and leaned her head back. Not since stepping off the ship onto the American shore had she felt such an onslaught of emotions.

Her aunt and uncle, still in awe over the beauty of Pemberley, were not at all oblivious to Elizabeth’s demeanour. Since arriving in America she had been subdued, and her aunt was now quite convinced there was more to her acquaintance with Mr. Darcy than she was willing to share. But she would not press her. She would wait for her to come to her in her own time.

Hertfordshire

It was near evening when Darcy’s carriage pulled up the long drive to Netherfield Manor. Sitting inside the carriage, Darcy still could not believe his good fortune that Netherfield and Longbourn seemed to be in close proximity to each other. He would not be required to search all over the countryside and visit every village that started with the letter “
L
” to find Elizabeth. As soon as he could, he would find the Bennet household and discreetly ascertain whether Elizabeth had returned.

His spirits were high. He knew it was only a matter of time before he would see Elizabeth.

As Durnham opened the door of the carriage and Darcy pulled himself out, he gave Netherfield manor an appraising glance. It was very suitable for Charles, not too opulent and not too modest. He absently nodded to himself in the conviction that it had been wise for Bingley to merely let it. He knew a word of encouragement to Bingley to remain at Netherfield or a prompting to move on would be taken to heart. But he would not broach that subject until he saw Elizabeth, was able to declare his intentions, and subsequently ascertain her sentiments. If she refused any consideration of keeping their marriage intact, he would not wish his best friend to live in such close proximity to her and would, with persuasive subtlety, advise him to find another, more suitable place to live, preferably in a more distant neighbourhood. But he would give all that was within him and without to win Elizabeth’s heart.

Caroline Bingley and her sister, Louisa Hurst, were sitting in the drawing room when a servant stepped in announcing Mr. Darcy. Caroline jumped up with great joy at this unexpected interruption.

“Mr. Darcy! What a pleasant surprise! What brings you to Netherfield?”

“I have some business in Hertfordshire. I wrote Charles; did he not tell you?”

“Charles? Tell us anything? Never!”

“I apologize.” Darcy looked at both sisters. “I do hope this is not an inconvenience.”

Caroline edged up alongside him and slipped her hand around Darcy’s arm, unaware that he tensed up as she did so. “Oh, Mr. Darcy, on the contrary! This is not inconvenient at all! You have come at just the opportune time!”

“It appears you are going out.”

“Yes. There is a trifling party that Charles has insisted we attend at some lodge in Meryton, and the worst part…” She paused to look at Louisa and nodded. “The worst part is that Charles has found himself enamoured of some decidedly inferior country girl with the most abhorrent family!”

“Where is he now?”

“You know Charles, always so anxious and optimistically cheerful. We are not looking forward to this evening as much as he. Needless to say, he has gone on ahead of us. Oh, Mr. Darcy, you
must
come with us tonight and put some sense into Charles’s head!”

Darcy shook his head. “I am sorry, Miss Bingley, but I am exceptionally tired. I really cannot go with you tonight.”

“Oh, Mr. Darcy, please reconsider. We are certain that this infatuation of his is ill founded and foolish. You shall see for yourself!”

Darcy sighed. “I am sorry, but I really do not feel as though I can go.” As much as he was aware that he might be able to find something out about the Bennets, and particularly Elizabeth, at such an affair, he felt too fatigued to make the effort required at such a gathering.

Suddenly, Caroline saw things in a new, more amiable light. “Why, Mr. Darcy, how insensitive I have been, selfishly looking at my own concern for Charles and not your comfort. Of course you are tired. But I would be remiss and the poorest hostess if I were to allow you to remain here alone tonight. I shall stay back as well.” She turned to her sister. “Louisa, tell Charles that Mr. Darcy has just arrived this evening, and I have remained back to make sure all is well with him.”

A look of alarm spread across Darcy’s features, and he protested. “No, no! Perhaps it is best that I do go and meet this young lady of whom you speak!” The thought of spending an evening alone in Miss Bingley’s presence quite easily convinced him to reconsider his state of weariness.

Caroline sighed, not really sure if that was the way she wanted it after all.

With Durnham’s able assistance, Darcy bathed, changed, and came downstairs in a reasonable amount of time. When he walked into the room, an audible sigh was heard from Caroline, who was quite sure that she would be the belle of this affair on his arm as well as on the dance floor. She mused that perhaps it would not be so tedious after all.

Sir William Lucas, at whose lodge the party was being held, greeted them at the door. Trying to bring himself up in their estimation, he began to talk of his presentation at St. James and his fondness for superior society.

Caroline Bingley nudged Darcy away, rolling her eyes at her sister, indicating her disapproval of their host. They walked through the crowd, working their way to an area where they could stand off to the side. Darcy eagerly watched for his friend while fighting off the barrage of unflattering thoughts that assaulted him about the nature of this gathering from a habit that had become deeply ingrained over the years.

It was a typical, small country assembly, and with the hint of whispers he heard between Charles’s sisters, they were not impressed either. A sigh escaped Darcy at the realization that he was viewing with an overcritical eye the very people among whom Elizabeth lived.

The three of them stood off to the side as Mr. Hurst went in search of drink and a comfortable chair. Darcy was determined to counter his critical musings with the argument that he had been able to see the beauty within Elizabeth and certainly could give her neighbours the benefit of the doubt and look upon them, as well, without prejudice. But it was becoming more and more difficult as he observed more than one incident of unpolished and unacceptable behaviour.

At length, Caroline began pointing out to Darcy the sisters of the woman Charles apparently was quite enamoured with.

The first sister he observed was at the pianoforte. Her playing was heavy with little interpretation. She seemed to have neither the inclination as to the preference of the crowd nor the desire to accommodate it. He compared her playing with Georgiana’s, and believed this young lady had a lot to learn about the mastery of music. Her playing was sombre as was her countenance. If she was any indication of the woman Bingley had taken a liking to, she would hardly be an accomplished woman.

Darcy’s critical musings on the one sister were suddenly made insignificant by the outrageous behaviour of another. In a voice that was not subdued at all, she demanded that her sister play something they could dance to. Caroline gleefully pointed out her mother, and he witnessed a display of behaviour so wanting in propriety as she quite loudly and rudely made a demand of the daughter at the piano, that he felt quite repulsed. He hated to admit it, but he had to agree with Miss Bingley on her appraisal of this lady’s family.

“Did I not tell you, sir?” asked Caroline, eyeing his disgust at what he was witnessing.

“Their behaviour is distasteful, indeed!” he answered. “It is hardly reasonable to consider how Bingley would be so taken by a woman whose family is abhorrently ill mannered.”

Darcy was curious to see this young lady and discover for himself just what it was that Bingley saw in her.

Caroline cast furtive glances up at Darcy, quite pleased that he was witnessing what had to be an excess of impropriety in the family. At length they saw Charles walk in from another room with the young lady on his arm.

Darcy had to admit she was pretty. She was fair with gentle features. She had a soft smile, but as he watched them make their way through the crowd, he noticed that it did not appear to reach to the depths of her. He wondered if this attachment was one-sided only. If indeed she was willing to make a match solely for his fortune, she might be willing to lead him to believe she loved him. For Bingley’s sake he would keep an eye on this lady.

After speaking to a few people as they came in from another room, Bingley looked up and he saw his good friend. His eyes widened with joy and surprise.

“Darcy!” Bingley exclaimed from across the room. He turned to the young lady next to him, “Come, I see a good friend of mine is here and I must introduce you to him!”

Bingley escorted the young lady over to Darcy and shook his hand fervently. “How are you, good friend? I completely forgot you had written to say you were coming!”

“I hope it is not an inconvenience.”

“Not at all! This is splendid, indeed!” Bingley turned to the lady by his side. “Darcy, may I present this fine young lady to you? Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, may I introduce to you Miss Jane Bennet?”

Darcy’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped as he heard the name, and he could scarcely proceed with the barest civilities required of him. His heart pounded erratically as he contemplated whether this could truly be Elizabeth’s sister.

Finally coming to his senses, Darcy bowed politely but felt as though all colour had drained from his face. He knew Elizabeth had sisters, but he could not remember if she ever mentioned them by name. If she had, he could not bring himself to recall a single one. A sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach began to overtake him as he struggled to reconcile the fact that Miss Bennet could indeed be Elizabeth’s sister and consequently, this
was
her family!

After exchanging the briefest of civilities, Bingley and Miss Bennet left him for the dance floor. As he watched them begin to dance the set, he felt even more distressed than when he had first arrived. He watched, as a man watches a play from his seat in a theatre, as events unfolded around him, trying to come to terms with what he was witnessing. Here was his good friend Bingley, beaming. He could tell he was falling hard for this young lady who shared the surname of his own Elizabeth, but the young lady exhibited nothing more than sweet contentment upon her face.

Darcy had no desire to dance, and he rested against the mantel for physical as well as emotional support. He kept telling himself that this certainly could
not
be Elizabeth’s family. He
hoped
it was not.

His disheartened demeanour did not go unnoticed by Caroline. Looking over to her sister Louisa, she whispered, “Poor Darcy! What agonies he must be suffering. How distressed he must be in having to endure this!”

With that she rose. “Louisa, I cannot sit here and watch him suffer so. I must go to his side.” She eagerly walked over to him and placed herself beside him, hoping to ease his discomfort. She was all anticipation that he might be inclined to dance at least one set with her.

When he did not acknowledge her, but seemed lost in thought, she offered in a most sympathetic voice, “I can guess the subject of your reverie.”

Darcy was somewhat startled, but he replied coolly, “I should imagine not.”

“You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in such society; and indeed I am quite of your opinion. I have never been more annoyed! The insipidity and yet the noise; the nothingness and yet the self-importance of all these people! What would I give to hear your strictures on them!”

“Your conjecture is totally wrong. While I do agree that there are some here who are noisy and carry about them an air of perceived self-importance, I find that there are pleasures that can be found in country manners if one looks in the right places.” In truth, he knew the only true pleasure he could imagine finding here would be Elizabeth.

This did not sit well with Caroline, but she remained steadfast at his side.

The evening passed ever too slowly for Darcy. As he tried to determine whether this was Elizabeth’s family, he began to hear bits and pieces of talk from those around him of “Bingley’s wealth,” “a good match for Jane,” and “Mrs. Bennet will be so pleased.” Even a fool would have been able to discern that the tide of sentiment among the people in this neighbourhood was that Miss Jane Bennet would benefit greatly from a marriage to a man of Bingley’s means, and they were beginning to expect it. The more he watched Mrs. Bennet, the more he realized she was one of those pushy, marriage-minded mothers who would do anything to secure her daughter in a marriage with a man of fortune.

He finally decided the only course of action he could take to ascertain any relation to Elizabeth would be to ask Miss Bennet to dance. But before he did that, he knew it would be only proper to ask Miss Bingley first. Reluctantly, he asked Miss Bingley, who was ever so appreciative, to join him on the dance floor.

As he struggled to maintain a polite manner as Miss Bingley’s dance partner, he remained preoccupied with Bingley’s partner. He had to admit he had never seen Bingley so enamoured, so cheerful. She did seem to bring out, even more, his gregarious manner. But the young lady did not seem similarly affected. His concern rose as he considered Bingley did not even notice her cool, unaffected demeanour. There was no harm in being sweet and pretty, but he had to make sure that his good friend married a woman who loved and respected him for who he was and not for what he had.

He thought of Elizabeth and how different, even from this young lady, she was. A vivid recollection of her lively and playful spirit suddenly came upon him, and he could not believe how he ached for her. He looked back upon Caroline, who was methodically performing the steps of the dance with an air of distinction. She may have all the external attributes of a well-bred, fashionable woman of society, but Elizabeth was overflowing with internal qualities that put her on a higher pedestal than Caroline Bingley would ever be.

With the agony of the obligatory dance finally over, he excused himself and walked back over to Bingley, who was readily willing to allow Darcy a dance with his angel. He was eager for his friend’s approval, and he had no doubt that he would get it.

As the dance began, and Darcy stood facing the sweet-faced Jane Bennet, he wondered whether the two would ever begin a conversation. She was very quiet, and Darcy was at a loss to know how to begin the dialogue that might offer up the information he so desired to hear, or not to hear.