Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (12 page)

“Bingley certainly has a great deal of enthusiasm.”  Layton drawled.  “Have you had your fill of doing good for the less fortunate?”

“You still dislike him?”

“It is not a matter of like or dislike; he is not one of us.” 

“So he could never rise in your esteem, no matter the fortune he possesses.”  Darcy studied his cousin.  “What does your father have to say about your attitude?”

“He would prefer that your friend at least own an estate, however . . . he has said nothing derogatory other than noticing his youth.” 

“Ah.”  Darcy turned back to face the crowd. 

“What would your father say of this friendship?” 

Darcy automatically looked down his sleeve for the black armband and remembered that it had been retired that morning, a year and a day after his father’s death.  “I think that he would be glad that I had a friend, but would hope he would find an estate.”  He smiled slightly to hear his cousin’s laugh.  “I am not blind to the favour I am doing for him.”

“hmmph.”  Layton regarded him and decided to take him unaware.  “So tell me of this lady who has captured your imagination.”

Darcy startled.  “Lady?  There is no lady.”

“Then why are you flushed and clenching your fists?”  He laughed.  “Come on, Darcy, Richard is not here to interrogate you properly so it goes to me to discover who she is.  I have witnessed you looking out of windows and not seeing the scenery far too many times during our visit.”   He chortled with the thought and noticed how his cousin’s face had set into a smooth expressionless mask.  “What did I say?”

“Nothing at all.”  He looked towards the dance, the set had ended.  “It is time to leave.  I will collect Bingley.”

Layton watched him walk away and crossed his arms.  Darcy made his way through the crowd, visibly relaxing as he walked through his people and spoke to the tenants, stopping to hear their thanks and their concerns, and clearly making a point to remember what was said.  Layton realized that his cousin actually knew their names.  It was certainly not something that he could claim to do for Matlock, and wondered if his father could.  Thoughts of his fitness to be master took over his musings, and replaced the desire to tease his cousin.

“MAY I INTRODUCE YOU TO MR. STEWART?”  Sir William beamed.  “He is a cousin to Captain Carver and is staying at Netherfield for the shooting.”  He turned to Stewart.  “This is Miss Jane Bennet, and Miss Elizabeth Bennet.  I believe that you have met their father already?”

“Yes, we have taken many birds together in the past few weeks.”  He smiled warmly at them both, his eyes passing from one sister to the next, first stopping to consider Jane, then alighting on Elizabeth.  “I am delighted to meet such lovely ladies, and I hope that I might request a set from each of you this evening.”

Jane smiled serenely and looked down.  “It would be my pleasure, sir.” 

Elizabeth studied his soft brown eyes and expectantly raised brow.  “I believe that I may have a set available, sir.”

His eyes crinkled with amusement.  “I would surmise that to be so as you are not presently dancing, Miss Elizabeth.  Perhaps our set might be first?”

Unembarrassed she nodded.  “If you insist, I shall remain available for the next, and refuse all others.”

Chuckling he bowed and walked away.  Jane grabbed her arm.  “Lizzy!  What has gotten into you?  How can you speak so impertinently?”

“He asked for a dance, Jane, not a courtship!”

“He will never ask for more if you do not curb your tongue!”  She chastised.

“Then I will leave him to you.”  Elizabeth smiled and the sisters linked arms, walking around the room and speaking to neighbours and friends until the music ended and Elizabeth found herself suddenly staring into Mr. Stewart’s striped waistcoat.  “I see that you have remembered our set, sir.”  She took the offered arm and they walked to the line.

“I am not so old to have forgotten so quickly, Miss Elizabeth.”  He smiled and the music began.  The couples on either side moved and they remained staring at each other until it was their turn.  “Tell me, why are you so defensive?”

“Am I?”

“There it is again.”

Elizabeth flushed.  “Forgive me, I . . . I . . .”

“You are very pretty; otherwise I would not have asked you to dance.  There, is that better?”  He smiled to see her face brighten.  “I think it is.”

“It does not hurt to hear a compliment, sir.”  Elizabeth relaxed and they moved through the pattern.  “So sir, you are the cousin of our illustrious Captain.”

He chuckled.  “Illustrious?  That is hardly the term I would assign, but then I am family.  Yes, I am.  I live mostly in town.”

“Oh, and how do you occupy your time?”

“I am the second son, so I studied law.  My cousin urged me to the sea, but that is not for me.  And with this war raging on, I am glad to be free of it.  I am also glad to come and keep my cousin’s family company while he is away.”

“Mrs. Carver must be desperately worried.”  Elizabeth said softly as they passed each other.  Stewart smiled at the compassion he saw in her expression.

“She is indeed.  I read the papers and give her any news I can glean, but it is a long wait.  We are not entirely sure where he is at this point.”

“Will you stay in the neighbourhood long?”  She met his smiling eyes then looked down. 

“I will be here until November when court resumes, then return in December until court again resumes in January.  Beyond that, I have no fixed plans.  Will you and your family be here during this time?”

“We will, however my sister Jane, Miss Bennet, will be leaving for town tomorrow to attend to our aunt in London.”  She looked up and saw that he seemed only slightly disappointed with the news.  The music came to an end and he bowed. 

“I hope that I will have the opportunity to call on your father during my stay.”  He smiled at her and she blushed.  “Would he object, do you think?”

“No sir, I think that he might be pleased with the honour.”  Elizabeth returned the smile.  He nodded and offered his arm, returning her to Jane who took his other arm and followed him out to the floor.  Mrs. Bennet slid up next to Elizabeth as she looked after him curiously.

“Oh, that was nicely done, Lizzy!  I know that he is but a second son, but his father is an Earl, so that makes him quite suitable for you.  He is a gentleman.  Now then, keep smiling and remind him that you are there.  You must not miss this opportunity!”  She reached up and began pinching her cheeks.

“Mama, please stop!”  Elizabeth whispered furiously. 

“Miss Lizzy, you have failed to secure a man in town, and that is because I was not present.  Your aunt clearly does not know what she is about, so it is up to me to make sure that this attachment takes its proper course!”

“Attachment?  We had one dance together!  I do not know him!  How can you . . .” Elizabeth closed her eyes and reopened them only to see her father across the hall, laughing at her discomfort with her mother.  She flushed again and tore away from Mrs. Bennet and headed outside to get some air.  Charlotte followed her. 

“Are you well, Eliza?”

“No.”  She wiped her eyes with her hand.  “Why must Mama ruin everything?”

“She is only seeing an opportunity.  My mother would be doing the same if he had asked me to dance.”

“He did dance with you.”  Elizabeth looked up in confusion.

“But he did not ask.  Papa pushed me onto him and he was too polite to say no.”  Charlotte smiled sadly and squeezed Elizabeth’s hand.  “Do not wait to secure him.”

“Charlotte!  You are as bad as Mama!”  Elizabeth stared and began to laugh. 

“I only see what is clearly before me.”  She shook her head at her young friend and they re-entered the hall.  The rest of the evening passed pleasantly, however by the time that they arrived home, Mrs. Bennet was loudly expressing her anger with Mr. Stewart for not asking for second dances and rounded on her daughter. 

“What did you say to him, Lizzy?” 

She sighed.  “Nothing, Mama.  He simply did not ask again.  I notice that he did not dance twice with anyone besides Mrs. Carver.”  She turned to her father.  “He did wonder if you would accept his visit, Papa.”

Mrs. Bennet’s ears perked up and she purred.  “Oh, did he?  Well, that is fine.”  She patted Elizabeth’s shoulder, approving of her again.  “And you will of course accept him, Mr. Bennet.”

“I will.  I like him.  I enjoy speaking to a person with sense and have enjoyed the hours I have spent in his company this past month.”  He smiled and saw Elizabeth flush and Jane bow her head.  “I would find him a suitable mate for either of you girls.”

“Papa!” 

He shrugged.  “I will not demand that you marry anyone if you are not so inclined.  I am simply saying that if you wish to pursue this avenue, I will not stand in your way.” 

“Thank you for the blessing, Papa, as unnecessary as it is.”  Elizabeth said dryly.  He chuckled and watched as the girls went upstairs to retire.

Jane dressed in her nightclothes and crawled under the covers while Elizabeth plaited her hair and sat staring at herself in the mirror on their dressing table.  “He liked you, Lizzy.  Do you return the admiration?”

“I hardly know.  I do not feel . . . fluttering in my chest when I look upon him as I did with . . .” She stopped and blushed.

“With?”

“Nobody.”  Elizabeth sat up and blinked away the blurriness in her eyes. 
At least you have spoken to Mr. Stewart, and danced with him.  What have you done with Mr. Darcy besides smile?
  She turned to Jane and smiled.  “Just someone I imagined.”

“That is all of those novels you read.”  Jane sank down under the covers.  “This is real life, and we must think of our futures.”

“You do not wish to marry for love anymore?”

“Of course I do.  Can you love Mr. Stewart?”

“I just met him!”  Elizabeth stood up and blew out the candle.  “Do you seriously think that he is wondering if he could love me?  Besides, he may be just as interested in you or any other girl of the neighbourhood.”  She climbed into the bed and drew the covers around her.  “Good night, Jane.”

“Good night.”  She whispered.

Stewart poured himself a glass of port and settled into his chair in the Netherfield library, and looked at the crackling flames in the fireplace.  “Well, you have finally met the famous Bennet sisters, renowned as the beauties of Hertfordshire.  Miss Bennet is a beauty without a doubt, and by watching her tonight, I am sure that she would make a pleasant and compliant wife, if a bit dull.  However, Miss Elizabeth, you are a rose about to come into full bloom, with a personality that is a mix of impertinence and compassion which is very appealing.”  He smiled at the memory of her insecurity.  “You do not know how beautiful you will soon be, and what a lucky man I would be to capture that beauty before any others have the opportunity.”    He rubbed his glass on his chin while he thought, then lifting it to his lips, swallowed the burning liquid.  “Well, we shall see.”

“MAY I TOP OFF YOUR GLASS, STEWART?”  Mr. Bennet asked.

“No sir, I have had enough.  I am not in the habit of beginning so early in the day.”  Stewart smiled.

“Ah well, marriage can do that to you.”  He chuckled.  “It is one of my indulgences.”  He waved his hand at the shelves weighted with books.  “This is my other.”

“It is impressive.  My father is fond of his library as well.  This is a familiar atmosphere.” 

“Your father is an Earl, I understand?” 

“Yes, the Earl of Moreland, in Nottingham.  He encouraged me to study the law and I see much of him in London when I am in court.

“A barrister.”

“Yes.”

“So do you spend your time hanging about the court looking indispensible and hoping to impress potential clients by your supposed industry?”  Mr. Bennet’s lips twitched, “Or do you follow the circuit judges around the countryside?”

Stewart held back the retort he wished to throw at Mr. Bennet for his insult, and found it difficult to believe that this man would consider laughing at the position of a potential suitor.  “Sir, I wonder, are you familiar with the steps involved in becoming a King’s Counsel?  Like any goal, it is a long process to earn my place.  All men of law must endure their time at the bottom, and work their way up.”

“So you have been called to the bar already?”

“I have.”  He said stiffly.

“Well done.”  Mr. Bennet saw the ire in the man’s eyes, and did not push further.  “I must thank you for not listening to my wife’s invitation to take all of our birds from our coveys.”

Stewart relaxed a little.  “I assumed that she was simply being very hospitable.”

“No, after nearly twenty years of marriage, she still has not grasped that to take all of the birds in this season’s shooting will leave no birds for the table in the next.”  He smiled and laughed at Stewart’s astonishment.  “My wife was not raised on an estate.  Her meals came from the butcher or the chickens her mother raised.  I doubt that her father ever set foot in a field to hunt.  Of course, he was merely a solicitor and had not the leisure time to wander the countryside.”

“I see.”  Stewart stared down into his glass uncomfortably.  With each new visit to Mr. Bennet, it became increasingly difficult to ignore the qualities that were wanting in this family.  He thought of his father and tried to convince himself that the bright jewel that was Elizabeth would overcome all of the Earl’s objections to her family.  It would be a difficult.  He focussed on his hopes instead.  “Miss Elizabeth seems to be very well-read.  She must have made good use of this room.”

“She has.  I have spent many hours with her, debating books and challenging her thoughts.  It has been a joy to see her grow in understanding and confidence.  She is worthy opponent.”  He smiled fondly out the window where Elizabeth and Mary could be seen gathering the last of the lavender before the hard frost arrived.

“I have been on the receiving end of her opinions, sir.  She delivers her views very charmingly.”  He looked out to her.  “She is unique.”

“That she is.  I will be sorry to see her leave me.”

“My father felt the same of my sisters.  He delayed their presentation as long as possible.”  He smiled at the memory.