Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation (64 page)

Again Mr Collins amazed those assembled by making flower wreaths for the ladies to wear. Elizabeth removed her bonnet and chose a circlet of violets and wild pansies, and then placed a matching one on the head of her daughter. Mr Darcy was moved by her simple gesture. Suddenly, he felt as if it was his birthday. The full impact of seeing Elizabeth without her disguise hit him. She was even more beautiful than he had dreamed, because those rebellious curls he so loved were escaping the pins holding them in place. Whenever Lady Catherine was not in attendance, she had begun forgoing the spectacles, and these last few days he had even seen those flecks of light shine from her eyes on several occasions.

The day was warm for March, and Lizzy, who was feeling both the sun’s rays and the wine, removed her shawl. She caught the Colonel grinning at his cousin’s reaction. Mr Darcy was feasting his eyes on the sight of her frock without a collar. To Lizzy his face reminded her of a child anticipating a sweet—it was a look that both pleased and frightened.

Elizabeth, Georgiana, Lewis and Bethany had practiced a recital for Mary and those at the picnic. They performed
The Bells of London
rhyme alternating the refrains.

As they neared the end, it was time for Lewis to say his one line. Unable to keep from giggling, he proclaimed quite loudly,
“I do not know say the great bell of Bow.”
They all concluded with
“Gay go up and gay go down to ring the bells of London Town.”

The applause of their audience was great, and the Colonel yelled out “bravo” several times. Elizabeth noticed that Mr Darcy had a loving expression on his face for all the performers. The thought that ran through her mind was how often his face was displaying pleasure these days and what an improvement it was to that stony countenance he had so often worn while waiting for Bethany to be born.

Bethany and Lewis fell asleep between Lizzy and their father on one of the blankets. The rest of the group were scattered about the grove. Darcy was telling Elizabeth stories of their midsummer picnics. He tried to look very stern as he said, “Last summer, Bethany persuaded Lewis and Sian to take off their clothes, and only wear the wings attached to a harness the Countess had made for them. Bethany showed them the bookplate in the worn copy of the play my mother had given me as a boy. The picture depicted naked fairies, and Bethany insisted they must be accurate in their portrayal. They waited to make their entrance behind several bushes, and when it was time, the assembly gasped in a mixture of horror and amazement as they leaped out into view. I was mortified, but continued on with my lines. All I could think of was…”

Elizabeth interrupted him by saying. “I know… you wished at that moment you could give her back.”

Darcy laughed loud enough to cause Bethany to stir. He whispered, “Yes, something like that.” He noticed that the sparkle in Elizabeth’s eyes was replaced by a look of concern. He was not certain what had caused her distress.

She asked, “Was Lord Wolfbridge there?”

“No, Edmund was in Brighton, I believe.”

Soon after the adults noticed changes to the sky, and Mr Collins, who was a little tipsy pronounced, “From the heavens the Lord sends his lightning.” Mary laughed that spirits had unleashed her husband’s predilection for pretentious prose. Those assembled agreed with the parson that the Lord had indeed sent them lightning, and the rain could not be far behind.

They hurriedly packed up and headed for safety from the storm. Lizzy was in a curricle with Mr Darcy, Lewis and Bethany. In their hurry, she had not put on her shawl or bonnet, and her hair had slipped its moorings even more. Lewis was on her lap, and Bethany cuddled into her side. During the ride, the three fell asleep. In her slumber, Elizabeth nestled against Mr Darcy—Elderberry wine and fatigue having removed her inhibitions.

In that instant, Darcy absolutely knew, this was what he wanted. This time, nothing would keep him from his goal.

He drove first to Rosings, so Millie could settle the children in the nursery for a nap. Once awake, Elizabeth disengaged herself and sat apart from him, a look of chagrin in her eyes. The absence of her warmth left him feeling bereft.

From an upstairs window, Lady Catherine, observed her son-in-law’s arrival. She noticed his frequent glances at Miss Elizabeth’s bosom, and the daft smile he was wearing. He did not seem to be at all appalled by her unkempt hair.

Darcy was imagining that state which would allow her body to be next to his without fear of society’s disapproval. Now all he needed were the appropriate words and the courage to broach the topic.

44 OH, WHAT A DAY!

Elizabeth awoke the Monday after Easter with cramping due to her courses. She contemplated asking Rose for a hot water bottle and remaining in bed for the day but knew from experience, moving around would lessen the duration of her pain. Some blankets and pillows, as well as a basket, belonging to Rosings had been left at Hunsford after the picnic. She decided to return them before setting out for her morning walk to the grove. There she could spend some time trying to make sense of Jane’s last letter.

As she was giving the basket filled with the blankets and a pillow to Gerard, Lady Catherine entered the vestibule. “Miss Bennet, please come with me. I have an urgent matter I must discuss with you.”

Elizabeth followed her down the hall to a small sitting room. She wished proper behaviour did not require her to be polite to her brother-in-law’s patroness. Lady Catherine turned the key after they had entered, and her reluctant guest shuddered with the recollection of another locked door. Elizabeth experienced a particularly debilitating wave of cramps as she assessed her situation.

As soon as they were settled, Lady Catherine began, “You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason for my insisting on a meeting.”

Elizabeth looked at her with astonishment. “Indeed, you are mistaken, madam. I am not able to account for your request.”

“Miss Bennet,” replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, “you ought to know that I am not to be trifled with. Last week I viewed a most alarming sight. You were without bonnet, hair unkempt, wearing a most immodest gown, curled into my son-in-law’s side. Yesterday after services, to my disgust, I overheard my niece and nephew discussing the possibility of Mr Darcy proposing to you. I am certain they were just indulging in idle conjecture, as both are wont to do when not adequately occupied. Despite their foolishness, I instantly resolved on confronting you with both the spectacle you made in front of my servants and this gossip you are generating among my relatives. Know well, Miss Bennet, it is impossible my son-in-law would ever consider marriage with someone such as you.”

“If you believe Mr Darcy would never consider marriage with me,” said Elizabeth, colouring with astonishment and annoyance, “I wonder you took the trouble of confronting me. What could your Ladyship hope to achieve?”

“I insist upon having this nonsensical speculation contradicted by you.”

“I think your queries are to the wrong person. Should you not ask Mr Darcy if he has plans to marry me?”

“If I did ask him, and he said no, can you likewise declare that you are making no effort to entice him?”

Elizabeth’s eyes glittered with disdain equal to Lady Catherine’s, but she said nothing.

“This is not to be borne! Miss Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. Has my son-in-law made you an offer of marriage?”

Today of all days, Elizabeth Bennet was being forced to discuss this most distressing subject. Last night as she had waited for sleep to claim her, their waltz in the woods had intruded. Why had he come to

Hertfordshire and disrupted her well-ordered life? “Your Ladyship has declared it to be impossible.”

“I fear he may no longer retain the use of his reason. Your arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, make him forget what he owes to himself, to his children, to all his family.”

Elizabeth refused to tell Lady Catherine she could never to marry. Instead she said, “I will make no promise of any kind with regard Mr Darcy.”

“Miss Bennet, I am not accustomed to such obstinance as this. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world, and I am entitled to know all his dearest concerns.”

“But you are not entitled to know mine; nor will such behaviour as this, ever induce me to reveal them to you.”

“Let me make certain you understand. This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place… no, never. You will leave Kent immediately, and if you do not, I will take the living away from Mr Collins.”

When she did not receive any reply to her threat, Lady Catherine stood up and walked to the window. “After seeing your vulgar display from here, I sent an express to my brother in London to determine whether they had ever heard of you. I received a reply from my nephew, the Viscount Wolfbridge, and his report of you is scandalous. He has heard rumours from reliable sources that you are a wanton temptress who demanded money six years ago. He says you seduced someone from one of the best families in England and were paid twenty thousand pounds to leave the honourable young man alone.”

Elizabeth thought of the knife in her reticule. She was certain she had murder in her eyes as she stood toe to toe with Lady Catherine and said, “If you do not unlock this door this instant, I will scream so loud that all of your servants and your family will know just how vulgar I can be.”

Lady Catherine did as she was told, but shouted at Elizabeth’s retreating back, “My son-in-law, my grandchildren will not be aligned with a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, who has greedy designs on those above her. Your sister is about to marry your father’s steward and the nephew of my son-in-law’s housekeeper. Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?”

Seething with anger while simultaneously trying to stave off sobs, Elizabeth ran toward the security of the grove. Once seated on the log she had shared with Mr Darcy during his apology, she finally allowed the release of her tears. Half an hour later, she was again calm and sensible and began to plan what she must do. Lord Wolfbridge’s accusation was potentially damaging. Though Lady Catherine could not remove Mr Collins from his position, she could add to the stew of gossip that always seemed to plague Elizabeth. Bethany was at risk as well.

Her first decision was that it was better for everyone to make it appear she had complied. Perhaps, that would stay the tongue of the hateful woman. It was almost time for her to return to Longbourn, and no one would question why she left a little sooner than expected. Returning to Kent would be forever out of the question—just as London had been deemed out of bounds for her six years earlier.

Tears threatened to spill again. She had been indulging in foolish behaviour to which she had no right these past weeks. Elizabeth was so lost in her thoughts that she did not notice Colonel Fitzwilliam’s approach. She forced a smile and said, “I did not know that you ever walked this way.”

“I have been making the tour of the park,” he replied, “as I generally do when at Rosings. I remembered this spot from our picnic. I intended to close with a call at the parsonage. Are you going much farther?”

“No, I was only resting here before returning myself.”

They walked towards Hunsford together.

Elizabeth began a conversation with the intention of gaining some advance warning if the speculation of his cousin’s proposal was true. “When do you leave Kent? I heard Mr Darcy mention Saturday?”

“Yes, if he does not put it off again. In truth, I have no quarrel with his plans.” He gave her an enigmatic smile as he added, “you, I believe are the main attraction for him at present; and I would never complain about more carefree time with my cousins before I must be in London. My return to Spain is not for some months.” The thought of what lay ahead threatened to remove the last hint of good spirits from his eyes. He said more cheerfully than he felt, “for now, Darcy arranges our schedule just as he pleases.”

Elizabeth felt some uneasiness with the idea she was the reason for Mr Darcy’s delay. That meant the rumour of his proposal could very likely be true. She winced at the recollection of Mr Darcy persuading Mr Bingley to include a waltz at his ball—and then inducing her to participate. Her discomfort was threatening to become anger. “He does seem to take great pleasure in arranging things. He has at times been very definite in his plans, and thinks nothing of making choices for others. I do not know anybody who seems to enjoy the power of doing what he likes more than Mr Darcy.”

“He most assuredly likes to have his own way,” replied Colonel Fitzwilliam with a chuckle, his sense of humour having reasserted itself. “But so do most of us. It is only that he has better means of achieving it than many others, because he is rich. I speak from experience. A younger son, you know, must be inured to self-denial and dependence.”

Elizabeth could hear cynicism and sadness mingled with his laughter. She hoped some contrite words from her might ease his anguish. “Colonel, I owe you and your sister-in-law an apology. Mr Darcy said my disclosure about your brother would have made no difference, but I will forever feel that I should have tried to protect Lady Wolfbridge. Does she know of me?”