Memory: Volume 1, Lasting Impressions, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (Memory: A Tale of Pride and Prejudice) (62 page)

Mrs. Gardiner approached and spoke softly.  “I think that it is time to continue the tour.”

Darcy flushed and was grateful for Elizabeth’s position in front of him.  She looked back at him then smiled to her aunt.  “Must we?  It is at last calm in here.”

“Lizzy, your mother will not rest until she sees every corner of this house.”

“I doubt that Harwick will welcome her into his.”  Darcy said as he regained his composure. He drew a deep breath and managed to smile again.  “
You
are a problem.”

“Why?”

“Because you are so close, but I dare not touch you.”  Steeling himself, he offered her his arm and raised his voice.  “For any who wish to continue the tour, please follow us.”  Everyone joined them and they moved through the house, visiting the music room, the many sitting rooms, then on to see several bedchambers. 

“Where are the masters’ and mistress’ chambers?”  Mrs. Bennet asked.  “They must be fine indeed; I must see where my Lizzy will sleep!”

“Mama, they are in the process of being redecorated, so there is nothing to see there right now.  We just ordered new furnishings . . .”

“You chose furniture without me?”  She huffed.  “And what did you purchase?  Which warehouse did you visit?  Lizzy knows nothing of what is fashionable.  I cannot begin to imagine what mistakes she has made . . .”

“Mr. Chippendale came here personally, Mrs. Bennet.”  Darcy’s expression was challenging.  “Does that suit?”

“Oh . . .yes of course.” 

“Do you find any of the rooms of this home in need of improvement?”

“No, no sir, everything is very fine.”

“Very well, then perhaps comments should instead be directed to Elizabeth on what an excellent mistress she will be, and not on opinions of her lack of experience.  I have found that she has excellent taste, and I trust her to choose well.  Furthermore madam, you speak of how pleased you are with our engagement, and yet you continue to disparage Elizabeth with your comments.  Which is it madam?  Is her discernment only applicable in finding a husband or may it be applied to all aspects of her many talents?”

“Oh, well, I . . . I think that Lizzy is a clever girl . . .”

“And beautiful.”  He stated and stared at her.

Mrs. Bennet remained silent and all conversation around them had stopped as well.  “And . . . beautiful.”

“And you will not criticize her before company again.” 

“I . . . No, why would I do that?” 

“Why indeed, madam.”  Darcy looked to Elizabeth who was gripping his hand tightly and studying the floor.  He glanced at Mr. Bennet, saw Richard and Harwick both smiling widely, and caught the Gardiners nodding.  Raising Elizabeth’s hand to his lips, he kissed it and waited for her look back to him.  “Let us show your father our library, Elizabeth.” 

Chapter 23

10 June 1809

I had hopes that upon this meeting between Papa, Fitzwilliam, and Mr. Harwick, all of our differences of station, opinion, even behaviour would be easily resolved.  After Fitzwilliam met Papa at Longbourn and they discussed our engagement, and agreed that Papa’s desire to manipulate people and laugh at their reactions or worse, sit back and exert no control over Mama and my sisters was not admired at all, I cannot imagine why he decided that it would be amusing to bring Mama with him to London.  Although I can appreciate that she probably did complain loudly about not coming with him, I know that if it was any other circumstance, he probably would have been glad to leave her at home.  But no, he chose to see what havoc she could wreak.  Stupid, foolish man!!  It was all I could do to hold my tongue in the carriage, but both Aunt and Uncle took me aside before we boarded and told me that it was for them to address.  I was a floor above them, and still I could easily hear my uncle telling Papa in no uncertain terms that his behaviour that day had likely precluded any hope of establishing a tolerant welcome of the Bennets at Pemberley, and he would not be in the least surprised to see Mr. Harwick coming in the morning to end his courtship with Jane.  I will not be surprised either and I know that Jane will accept it as well.  How different it might have been if Mama had stayed at home!

She heard a quiet knock on the door and it opened a little to reveal Jane’s worried face.  “May I come in, Lizzy?”

“Of course.”  She smiled and closed her journal, and joined Jane on the bed.  The sisters held hands and after some silence Jane asked, “Did you hear them?”

“Yes.  I do not think I have ever heard Uncle so angry.”

“Nor Papa.”

“Papa was defensive, not angry.  He realizes that he has erred terribly.  Did you hear uncle telling him to go to Mr. Harwick first thing in the morning and beg his pardon?”

“Yes, and somehow I do not think it will help.”

“He would be marrying you, Jane.  Not the family.”  Elizabeth sighed.  “I believe though that he would be justified in not welcoming them into his home.”

“I can see that.”  Jane whispered.  “I can also see him rejecting me on my own behaviour.” 

“But you
did
apologize.”

“Yes, but . . .”

“Would you be so very hurt if he did withdraw?” 

“Were you hurt when Mr. Stewart left?”

“I knew it was because of our dowry and family . . .”

“I know that part of it is because of me.”  Jane said sadly.  “I do not love him, Lizzy, so I do have that.”

“Do you like him?”

“Oh yes, how could I not?  He is very gentlemanly and although he is very formal with me at all times, he clearly is an amiable man.  I imagine that if he was in a comfortable situation, he might be much more open.  He makes me think of your Mr. Darcy sometimes.”

“Yes, I think they are cut of the same cloth.”  Elizabeth mused, then went back to holding Jane’s hand.  “Whatever happens, Jane, please know that I am with you.”

“Thank you, Lizzy, you are too good.”

“WELL THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN UTTER NIGHTMARE.”  Bingley declared the following morning. 

“It was, trust me.”  Darcy glanced at the clock and sighed, he was determined to call on Elizabeth, but he would wait a little longer before appearing in Gracechurch Street.  He was grateful that Bingley chose to visit and distract him for a while. 

“And you have the dinner with them tonight at Matlock House?”

“Yes.”  Darcy rubbed his face and looked over to the pile of correspondence he needed to address, then back up to his friend.  “This was supposed to be a straightforward event.  Show Mr. Bennet my home, introduce him to the Earl, show him Harwick’s home . . . well, the best laid plans are not necessarily effective.”

“It seems that in the end you made your point; did you not?  I mean, he certainly saw what Miss Elizabeth would be gaining as your wife, and meeting Harwick would certainly show him that he had similar prospects?”

“But the problem there is that Harwick . . . well, I will not speculate about his thinking.”  He looked up to see Bingley’s knit brow.  “It seems that I will soon be in a position similar to yours, looking for husbands for my sisters.  At least Georgiana has many years before I have to face that torment.”  Hearing a chuckle he looked at him curiously. 

Bingley cleared his throat.  “Well, at least the Bennet girls still have parents to address that problem, for Caroline it is just me.”  He smiled and crossed his legs.  “I do think, however, we may have a nibble on the line.”

“Really?”  Darcy smiled and leaned back in his chair.  “Do tell.”

He laughed.  “Well, let us say that she went to a ball with Louisa and Hurst the other night, and a man actually approached her to dance, and followed through with a call the next morning.  I was not at home when he called so I can not speculate on his features or really on anything else, but Caroline described him as handsome and charming, and very well-connected.”

“Does this prince have a name?” 

“Undoubtedly, but I have not heard it as yet.”  He saw Darcy’s concern.  “I should be more inquisitive, you think?”

“Yes.”  Darcy leaned forward.  “Women are not the only fortune hunters, Bingley.  If he calls again, despite enjoying the novelty, you should see what the man is about, and what he has to offer her, besides charm, that is.”

“You see, that is why I come to you, although I know what you say is common sense.”  He held up his hand and laughed.  “No, and I do not need a lecture on my deplorable lack of the attribute.”

“I said nothing.”  Darcy sighed and glanced at the clock again.  “I am sorry, but I really should go to visit Elizabeth.”

“It is a fine day; shall I offer to be chaperone with Miss Bennet again so you two might walk?  I promise not to cough?”  He raised his brow and smiled.  “And I promise to keep Miss Bennet from coming between you as well.”

“I do not know if Harwick . . .”

“I am not courting her, I am aiding you.  Unless you would prefer Mrs. Bennet to join you?”

“Get your hat, Bingley.”  Darcy growled.

INSIDE THE FRONT ROOM in Gracechurch Street, Elizabeth sat and stared unseeing at the book in her lap.  In her right hand, the gold locket containing Darcy’s hair was held, and she rubbed it unconsciously as she attempted to ignore her father’s presence in the chair opposite.  The only sound in the room was his throat clearing as he turned a page in his newspaper, and the steady tick of the mantle clock.  Upstairs there was a thump and the sound of little feet.

“Marianne has her hands full with the children.  It is good that Jane enjoys helping with them so much.”

“It is good that Aunt and Uncle employ a nursemaid and will soon hire a governess to teach them.  Jane would make a fine mother to anyone’s children,” Elizabeth said without emotion, “however I suspect that the children of Mr. Harwick will not be amongst them.”

“Do you feel that he will not make an offer?”

She looked up and met his eye.  “I believe that what was at one time a viable possibility has been crushed by selfishness and sloth.”

Mr. Bennet’s paper came down.  “Explain yourself, young lady.”

“You knew what would happen if Mama accompanied you Papa, and did not think of my engagement or of Jane’s future.  You thought of your entertainment.  Sloth is self explanatory.  If we had received the education that we ought, and you had saved in some way to give us a reasonable dowry, we would not be in the positions we are, hoping for someone to take notice of the poor assets we possess.”

“It seems to me you have done quite well for yourself.”

“That is purely by chance, Papa.  If I had never met Mr. Darcy, I might still have met Mr. Stewart, and you know why he rejected me in the end.”  She turned back to her book.  “My good fortune does not erase the reality of the situation.”

He responded sharply.  “I do not appreciate receiving a reprimand from you, Elizabeth.  You still require my consent to marry.”

“You would refuse consent?”  She stared at him in disbelief.

He deflated and shook his head.  “Of course not, Lizzy.  I could never deny you this marriage.  I am a foolish old man who has spent far too much time alone with his books instead of people.  I am afraid that I have forgotten the art of proper discourse, and your mother never knew it.  I have not had anyone to reprimand me until now.”  Standing up he walked over to her.  “I had to wait for my little girl to grow up and be disappointed in me.  You had to meet a better man to see me for what I am and to lose the adoration that all fathers of daughters enjoy until one day . . .” He heard a carriage outside and looked out of the window to see Darcy and Bingley descending.  “Ah.”

She heard the coach outside and glanced at the window, then jumped to her feet.  “Fitzwilliam!”  She ran from the room and Mr. Bennet watched the men climbing the steps to the house.  Unwilling to meet them, he ducked out of another doorway and escaped to Mr. Gardiner’s study.

Impatiently Elizabeth waited as the maid took their hats then came forward to grasp Darcy’s hand.  “What a wonderful surprise!”  She smiled and he could not hold back his own.  “I have been wishing that you would appear!”

“I was waiting for a decent hour; otherwise I would have come at dawn.”  He kissed her hand and searched her face.  “Are you well?”

“Are you?”  She asked and touched his cheek.  Bingley cleared his throat. 

“Does anyone care about me?”  He said with a little whine.

Elizabeth peeked around Darcy’s shoulder and saw Bingley grinning at her.  “Of course I care, Mr. Bingley.  Are you well?”

“Tolerable, I suppose.”  He said with an affected air, and sniffed while examining his nails.  Grinning at her he reached around Darcy to take her hand.  “You are lovely as ever, Miss Elizabeth.”

“And you have not lost any of your charm.” 

Darcy retrieved her hand from Bingley.  “I came to take you for a walk in the park, if you are so inclined.”  He tilted his head.  “I assumed it was the best I would be able to manage today.”

“No, a private conference is probably out of the question, and leaving the house is wise.”  Hearing footsteps she looked up at the top of the stairs.  “Jane, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley have come to walk; will you join us as a second chaperone?” 

“Oh.”  Jane bit her lip.  “Yes, I would be happy to come.  Let me tell Aunt where we are going.”  She disappeared and returned with Mrs. Gardiner.  They came down and greetings were said all around. 

“Is your father still in the sitting room, Lizzy?”

“No, I heard Uncle’s study door close.”  She looked at Darcy and he shrugged.  “I think that is for the best.  Mama is still in her chamber so it is a good time to depart.”

“Then what are we waiting for?”  He smiled and watched as the ladies found their bonnets and gloves, then soon they stepped out on their way.  Both visibly relaxed once they had left the house behind.  Darcy noticed the dark circles under her eyes. “How was the night?”

“Papa was thoroughly admonished by Uncle, and Jane and I talked for a very long time.”  She leaned against his shoulder, and he looked down to see her looking up at him.  “He just apologized to me.”