Elizabeth Bennet's Excellent Adventure: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary (16 page)

Darcy personally knew of two others who Wickham left with child, but he would not mention those facts before Elizabeth.

“Moreover,” Sloane continued, “I am not certain Penelope would treat Captain Vaughan well. It pains me to say so, but Penny is a bit flighty in her tastes; my mother permitted Penelope much latitude in her opinions.”

Darcy thought the late Mrs. Sloane and Mrs. Bennet held that characteristic in common.

“Vaughan lost part of his left arm in service to the King,” Sloan explained. “Such is the reason many of the gentile class will not choose a match with Vaughan.”

Darcy leaned close to speak to Elizabeth privately.

“How will Miss Lydia react to such a joining?”

Elizabeth turned to whisper in Darcy’s ear. He wished he could simply enjoy the warmth of her breath on his neck, but Darcy made an effort to listen to her evaluation.

“Lydia and Mrs. Bennet will appreciate that Mr. Vaughan is an officer of renown and that he possesses a bit of a fortune. I am not certain whether Lydia will respond with more aplomb than Miss Sloane regarding the captain’s injury. If we repeat the valor with which Vaughan acted during his service years and the fact Lydia will not be simply ‘Mrs. Vaughan,’ but rather ‘Captain Mrs. Vaughan,’ we possess a chance to convince my sister to accept the man.”

“Might Sloane and I leave you alone with Miss Lydia? I think in this matter, your sister will respond better to you than to me.”

When Elizabeth nodded her agreement, Darcy asked Sloane, “Are you certain Vaughan will accept Miss Lydia to wife if we arrange it?”

“I will speak to Vaughan’s father,” Sloane assured. “Having the privilege to claim a man of your status as family will go a long way to convince Mr. Vaughan of his son’s future.”

Elizabeth added another layer to the temptation.

“You are aware of my father’s estate, but you may not realize my elder sister is soon to marry Mr. Charles Bingley. They will reside at Netherfield Park, and you may know something of Mr. Bingley’s shipping lines.”

“Indeed I do,” Sloane acknowledged.

“And that is not to discount many of Mr. Darcy’s other relatives. The colonel is Mr. Darcy’s cousin and the son of the Earl of Matlock. Moreover, Mr. Darcy claims Lady Catherine de Bourgh as his aunt.”

Darcy chuckled, “Miss Elizabeth is my champion. I require no other.” He stood. “Come, Sloane, let us permit Miss Elizabeth time to speak to her sister. Join us, my dear, when you have Miss Lydia’s decision.”

When Darcy and Sloane returned to the passageway, Sloane caught Darcy’s arm to stay him.

“I must extend my deepest apologies for my shortsightedness. I pray you will forgive me.”

Darcy wondered how desperate he might have been if Wickham left Georgiana in the condition he did Miss Sloane.

“We each make mistakes,” Darcy pronounced. “If you secure Miss Lydia’s future, you will earn my benevolence. After all, it is not as if Miss Elizabeth deserted me for a life of independence after my absence from the ceremony.”

“Certainly not, Mrs. Philips always spoke of the quick intelligence of her second niece,” Sloane related. “Miss Elizabeth would possess enough sense to realize you are a man of honor.”

Darcy wasted his attempt at humor upon Sloane. The man was quite singular in his opinions.

An awkward pause followed, but Sloane cleared his throat to speak again.

“I thank you, Mr. Darcy,” Sloane said in what appeared to be a fit of nerves. “I possess another favor to ask of you, Sir, and I am not certain how best to express it except coming out with it. I am hoping you would hold no objections to my calling upon Miss Mary Bennet while she is in London. Your future sister is one of the reasons I desired to remain in Meryton.”

Darcy kept the amusement from his tone.

“You wish to court Miss Mary?’

“Aye, Sir.”

Darcy glanced to the room where the Bennet sisters awaited their return. Sloane would make Mary Bennet a fair husband: well educated, of modest economy, and of a protective nature. Fortune could soon see Mrs. Bennet knowing the pleasure of four daughters married.

“I expect your foreman claiming his employer as family would assist in swaying Captain Vaughan’s decision,” Darcy observed. “And it would do you well to claim like connections: Perhaps Bingley has a need of the captain’s service or of your raw copper.”

Darcy nodded toward Mr. Wickham’s room.

“I hold no objections of your attentions toward Miss Mary, but you must receive the lady’s agreement first. I will not tolerate your coercing Miss Mary into a situation, which would not please her.”

* * *

“Mr. Darcy?”

Darcy looked up to find Elizabeth framed by the open door. It was as if his long-time dream came to life. How often did Darcy imagine Elizabeth crossing this very room to curl up in his lap? It took a good shake of his head to leave his desires behind.

He rose to cross the room to where Elizabeth waited for his permission to enter. Only then did he realize how nervous she was.

“I thought you sought your quarters,” he said as he captured her hand to lead Elizabeth to a comfortable settle. “This is a pleasant surprise, but I will not have you know exhaustion.”

His party returned to Darcy House some five hours prior. Sloane and Fitzwilliam agreed to detain Mr. Wickham until Sloane could arrange Wickham’s marriage to Miss Sloane. Unsurprisingly, Darcy’s former childhood companion readily agreed to the joining for Miss Sloane’s dowry would assure payment of Wickham’s other creditors, and Sloane’s wealth remained an inducement for future allowances.

What Grange had yet to disclose to Wickham was the man purchased passage to India for the pair. The mine owner also negotiated a position in the East India Company military force for Wickham. Darcy admired Sloane’s forethought. The man might prove an excellent influence on Mr. Wickham.

“I am all amazed with today’s transactions,” Elizabeth admitted. “I could not sleep.”

“I always welcome your company,” Darcy assured. “Do you care for claret or something a bit stronger? It might help you sleep.”

Elizabeth shook off the suggestion.

“I am well tended, Sir.”

Although he would prefer otherwise, Darcy sat across from her rather than beside her.

“Did you know success in convincing Miss Lydia of the necessity of her marriage to Captain Vaughan?” he asked in sympathy.

The girl was difficult with which to reason. Miss Lydia complained of the need to accept Captain Vaughan sight unseen.

“What if he possesses the countenance of an ogre?” was heard often since their return to Darcy House.

He overheard both Elizabeth and Miss Mary assure the girl that if Miss Lydia did not favor Vaughan, another marriage would be made. Mr. Wickham chose his responsibilities to Miss Sloane and his creditors over Miss Lydia.

“If you can discover something of Captain Vaughan to claim to affection,” Elizabeth persuaded, “you will be married to a hero from the war, a man well renown among England’s elite. Moreover, the captain will not require a large dowry from Papa. Your share of Mama’s allowance, along with what Mr. Darcy is willing to provide you will settle the situation with the captain.”

Elizabeth’s words brought Darcy from his recollections.

“If you hold no objections, I would send for Mrs. Bennet. My mother will recognize the advantage of a captain of the Royal Navy, who won prize money for his service, over Mr. Wickham, who is embroiled in debt. Mrs. Bennet holds great sway over Lydia’s opinions; she will make my sister see reason.”

Darcy shared, “I wrote to your father to explain what we negotiated on your sister’s behalf. I asked him to join us in London. Mr. Sloane planned to send an express to Vaughan’s father this very evening. Hopefully, the captain will make an appearance by the start of next week. It would be best to permit Vaughan and Miss Lydia an acquaintance away from the eyes of your Meryton neighbors. Mayhap we will be fortunate to disguise the truth of the matter, especially if something goes awry.”

“With my parents’ presence in London, we should retreat to Uncle Gardiner’s house. It is too much for you to entertain the entire Bennet family.” Elizabeth suggested, but Darcy noted how her eyes refused to meet his.

“I would entertain all of Hertfordshire if doing so would keep you under my roof,” Darcy said in earnest as he moved to kneel before her. “Tell me you wish to remain with me, Elizabeth.”

Darcy brought her hand to his lips, but instead of brushing his lips across the back of it, he turned Elizabeth’s hand over to place a kiss upon the pulse point on her wrist. A hitch in her breathing served as Darcy’s reward.

“We are the worst of our enemies,” she whispered.

Darcy caressed her cheek before lifting her chin.

“Personally, I tire of fighting.”

He leaned forward to slip his lips along the curve of Elizabeth’s chin line.

“Could we not better apply our time to more pleasurable activities?”

Elizabeth’s eyes drifted closed.

“Such as?” she murmured.

“I find the softness of your skin most appealing.”

Darcy’s fingers traced slow lines up and down Elizabeth’s neck.

“As well as filling my lungs with the scent of lavender that follows you about.”

He paused to lift a loose curl to his nose.

“At Netherfield I would scratch out the scent until I encountered you.”

Elizabeth smiled in sadness with his ministrations, and Darcy’s heart leapt with gladness. Her resistance faltered.

“I wish I knew then,” she said in regret.

Darcy nibbled on her ear.

“We cannot change the past, only create a future we both appreciate,” he whispered.

Her hands rested upon Darcy’s chest, and he lifted Elizabeth’s chin where he might look fully upon her features.

“Surely, my dearest Elizabeth, you realize how violently I admire and love you. Please say you will trust me–that you will marry me. I promise I will not fail you again.”

“It is I who failed you,” Elizabeth admitted. “I was so frightened you would seek revenge for my earlier rebukes that I believed the blue devils upon my shoulder.”

“I mean to make you forget blame and remorse and celebrate a second chance.”

Darcy claimed Elizabeth’s mouth in what he thought would be a kiss of pure innocence, but which quickly transformed into one of sheer demand. A spark flared between them, taking root in Darcy’s soul. The heat melded them. Elizabeth’s hands encircled Darcy’s neck as he rose up on his knees to drag her body deeper into his embrace.

He dreamed of this moment often, but his dreams proved faulty. Nothing in Darcy’s life ever was so sweet: This kiss was not like anything he knew previously. Elizabeth lacked experience, but that particular fact did nothing to stifle the desire flaming Darcy’s blood. It took all his well-honed discipline to draw back from the kiss when every instinct he possessed screamed for Darcy to carry Elizabeth to his chambers and finish what he started.

“You have yet to accept my third proposal,” Darcy murmured against her skin as he showered Elizabeth’s cheeks and eyelids with light kisses.

Elizabeth tightened her hold about his neck. That familiar glint acknowledging a tease brightened her eyes, and Darcy’s lips turned up at the corners in preparation.

“I may require more persuasion, Mr. Darcy.”

“As you wish, Miss Bennet,” he said in mock sternness.

Darcy’s lips returned to hers. For once, he left self-control on the shelf. He kissed Elizabeth, as he always wanted to do. Like an animal marking its trail, Darcy meant to place his stamp on her–to brand Elizabeth Bennet as the woman who owned his heart.

“Good morning, William.”

Darcy chose items from those upon a serving table in the morning room. His sister and Elizabeth entered the room arm-in-arm. It was a sight he would cherish the remainder of his days.

“Good morning, my dears,” he said with a smile. “May I prepare you a plate?”

Georgiana shook off his offer.

“Lige knows my preferences.”

His sister assumed a chair and motioned the footman to serve her tea. Darcy suspected such was Georgiana’s means to provide Darcy and Elizabeth a moment of privacy.

“And you, Miss Elizabeth,” he said with a lift of an eyebrow.

Her delightful chin lifted higher.

“You have my permission, Mr. Darcy.”

Darcy knew Elizabeth thought he would fail, but his intended was in for a surprise. Elizabeth held no idea how often he studied her mannerisms and choices. Darcy knew, for example, that Elizabeth preferred the butter spread thin upon her toast, but the preserves spread thick. When she ate her supper, she preferred smaller portions so the foods did not touch upon the plate. Moreover, unlike many who mixed their foods–peas with potatoes and cream sauce intermingled–Elizabeth finished her peas before touching the potatoes.

He carried the plate he filled to place it before her.

“I pray my choices meet with your approval, my dear,” he whispered with a knowing look.

Elizabeth glanced to the plate, and her eyes widened.

“I took the liberty of buttering your bread the way you prefer it,” Darcy said under his breath. “I asked Cook to include both blueberry and strawberry preserves upon the table.”

Elizabeth’s eyes misted with tears, but a smile of approval graced her lips.

“The coddled eyes,” she murmured. “And the preserves and even the cut tomatoes.”

Her hand brushed against Darcy’s.

“You knew.”

Darcy leaned closer to speak to her ears only.

“I am not yet as well acquainted with you as I wish to be, but I promise to devote my life in learning each facet of your personality.”

Unable to say more, Darcy stood to give his footman instructions.

“Murray, I would prefer tea, but Miss Elizabeth indicates a desire for chocolate.”

Within moments, Mary Bennet and Mrs. Annesley joined them.

“Does not Miss Lydia mean to break her fast?” he asked Elizabeth who sat upon his right.

“Lydia claims a headache, and for now, I will permit my sister her dramatics. She cried most of the night: I am certain Lyddie is frightened by the prospects of marrying a stranger.”

She paused to nod her appreciation to Murray’s service.

“I asked the maid you assigned us to deliver my sister a tray and to include a drop or two of laudanum in her tea. Lydia requires rest so she might make a reasonable decision. The laudanum will permit her to sleep. Mayhap Mrs. Bennet will join us soon.”

Darcy wished to offer his comfort: Elizabeth worried for her younger sister’s future.

Last evening, after Darcy’s reason returned, he encouraged Elizabeth to sit at his desk to write her missive to Mrs. Bennet so he might add it to the express to be delivered to Mr. Bennet with the morning light.

They were both reluctant to part and so Darcy convinced Elizabeth to sit with him. They held hands and talked of childhoods. At length, Elizabeth rested her head upon Darcy’s shoulder. When she fell asleep, Darcy carried her to her room and settled her upon the bed.

He was tempted to crawl into the bed with her, but it was too soon to claim more than he was entitled. Darcy would see this business with Lydia Bennet finished, not because it would prevent Darcy from making Elizabeth his wife, but because Elizabeth would more freely give herself up to him once she realized Darcy meant to protect her family.

“I am certain Mrs. Bennet will have your request by now. I will engage a coach after we break our fast. It will bring your mother to Darcy House tomorrow. I suspect it will be several more days before Mr. Bennet joins us. I assume he has not yet returned from Brighton.”

“You are very kind, Sir,” Elizabeth said softly.

“Like you, Miss Elizabeth, I am of a practical mind. I am certain that Mrs. Bennet will comprehend the need for her influence.”

He would prefer to say more, but much of what Darcy had to say to Elizabeth required privacy.

To the table, he said, “Miss Darcy requires my escort to Bond Street. Might I convince the Misses Bennet to join us?”

Mary Bennet flushed with color.

“I fear I gave Mr. Sloane permission to call. If I held some idea…”

Elizabeth caressed the back of Mary’s hand.

“You must enjoy Mr. Sloane’s company. I am certain Mama will wish to shop for cloth for new gowns while in Town. Other opportunities to partake of London’s shops will occur. But please know I mean to claim a special memory of us together in London. You so rarely come to the Capital, and I mean for us to share many of the sights.”

Georgiana suggested, “If you remain for more than a few days, perhaps a picnic upon Richmond’s greens would meet your approval, Miss Mary. I promise a delightful day.”

Mary Bennet smiled, and her features took on a softness Darcy never noticed prior. The girl would never be considered comely, but she possessed mud brown expressive eyes and enticing dimples to set off her thin lips.

“Like your brother, you are all kindness,” the girl said in earnest. “Once we know more of our mother’s plans, I shall be pleased to claim your company if it is within my power.”

Darcy winked at Elizabeth.

“Then it is only Georgiana and Miss Elizabeth.”

* * *

Elizabeth sneaked into Miss Darcy’s room for a quick talk before they met Mr. Darcy for their outing.

“I thought perhaps you might require my assistance,” Elizabeth offered in explanation when the girl bade her to enter.

“That is most kind of you,” Miss Darcy said with a frown in her mirror. “It is moments such as these that I wish I inherited my father’s thick hair rather than Lady Anne’s fine locks. I find it most frustrating to pin the curls in an appropriate fashion.”

Elizabeth shooed the girl’s hands away.

“With four sisters, I am an expert with hair.”

She removed the few pins Miss Darcy attempted and began again. Elizabeth spoke as she wrapped the girl’s long blonde curls into a stylish knot upon the back of Miss Darcy’s head.

“Then Mr. Darcy favors your father?” Elizabeth asked with false nonchalance.

Miss Darcy watched Elizabeth’s efforts with great interest.

“William possesses our father’s features and manners, but George Darcy’s sternly square characteristics are softened on my brother by Lady Anne’s classic lines. William is the best of our parents. There is little of Papa in my features.”

Elizabeth kept her hands busy, but she listened carefully to what the girl shared.

“Do you possess any memories of Lady Anne?” Elizabeth inquired.

Georgiana started to shake her head in the negative, but then thought better of it.

“Lady Anne survived my birth for nearly a year, but my mother remained abed. My father grieved for his wife for nearly twelve years before he joined her in heaven.”

“It grieves me to hear so,” Elizabeth said honestly. “From my observation, a mother is a girl’s staunchest defender and her greatest foe. At least, Mrs. Bennet is such.”

Georgiana admitted, “I would gladly suffer any punishment Lady Anne meted out if I could spend one day with her.”

A long silence followed.

“Then Mr. Darcy has held your guardianship for some years?’

“Officially only four years, but Papa was never quite what he was when I was younger: He lost his spontaneity. I sometimes feel my father only waited until William reached his majority before he gave up. He was often ill those last three years of his life.”

Elizabeth finished the girl’s hair by releasing several wisps to caress Miss Darcy’s cheeks.

“I adore it,” the girl exclaimed. “William shall be so surprised.”

Miss Darcy turned one way and then the other to admire her appearance.

Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed.

“Would you tell me about your brother? I admit I am slow coming to this agreement. It is obvious Mr. Darcy studied me over a period of time. I wasted the months at Netherfield to learn of Mr. Darcy’s nature. In truth, I feel quite out of step.”

Georgiana turned to look upon Elizabeth.

“What do you wish to know?”

“Anything you think significant,” Elizabeth encouraged.

Miss Darcy’s nose wrinkled in concentration.

“It was William who convinced our father I did not cause Lady Anne’s demise. Although George Darcy recognized the dangers of a woman in childbirth, Papa’s grief had him limiting his interactions with his children. Later, I thought it was because I resembled Lady Anne, but again William took it upon himself to assure me the fault did not lie with me. A thirteen-year-old Fitzwilliam refused to return to school until father agreed to call upon the Pemberley nursery daily, and when he was home on holiday, William spent long hours entertaining me with games and stories. He said he never wished for me not to know the love of family.”

Elizabeth felt her throat thickening with tears, but she managed to ask, “What makes Mr. Darcy appear so severe in public?”

Georgiana laughed lightly.

“If you ask William he will tell you his actions are necessary to ward off the Society mamas. You would not believe the extent some matrons practice to trap a rich husband for their daughters.”

Elizabeth smiled mischievously.

“Mrs. Bennet has five daughters. I am well acquainted with manipulating mamas.”

“Perhaps.” Miss Darcy returned Elizabeth’s tease. “But I heard some outrageous tales at my school.”

“I shall give you those,” Elizabeth encouraged. “You explained Mr. Darcy’s reasons. What is your estimation of your brother’s unease in public?”

Georgiana’s eyes twinkled in delight.

“Mrs. Reynolds, the Pemberley housekeeper, says Papa should have included a governess along with a tutor in William’s education. Lady Anne’s long illness isolated William from company other than when the cousins Fitzwilliam called upon the estate. Even so, William had few interactions with females beyond the estate’s servants, which he always treated with respect. A comely woman makes him quite tongue-tied.”

Elizabeth thought again of Mr. Darcy’s letter. There was nothing deficient in the gentleman’s thoughts.

“I am certain Mr. Darcy waits below. Mrs. Annesley volunteered to sit with Mary and Mr. Sloane while we are away.”

* * *

“William,” Georgiana said softly as she glanced over her shoulder to where Elizabeth examined gloves upon display at a modiste.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable in the shop, Darcy stood looking out the window upon a busy Bond Street. Some of the men with whom Darcy customarily did business spoke of these establishments because the shops offered intimate apparel for the men’s mistresses, but Darcy never kept a woman to sate his masculine needs, and so until Georgiana left the classroom, he did not enter the female realm.

“Yes, my dear,” he murmured.

Georgiana shot a second glance to Elizabeth.

“Did you notice how often Miss Elizabeth returns to the gown with the dark green and gold overlay?”

Darcy had not, but he would make it a priority.

“The gown would be exquisite upon Miss Elizabeth, but she would not hear of our interference,” Georgiana observed with more maturity than Darcy expected for a girl on the short side of sixteen.

“I am certain Miss Elizabeth would refuse if I made the offer to purchase the gown,” Darcy assured in quiet tones.

Georgiana bit her bottom lip, a sign of his sister’s indecision.

“What if I distracted Miss Elizabeth in the fitting room, and you could order the gown delivered to Darcy House? Surely once you marry the issue would no longer exist. If you think it might be more appropriate if the gift came from me, deduct the cost from my quarterly allowance.”

“The gown remains unfitted,” Darcy protested, but he recalled when she attacked Sloane, Elizabeth’s claimed her wedding gown in rags.

He paid no attention to her charges then, but in hindsight, Darcy suspected his feisty bride-to-be tore her original dress to shreds.

“Madame Nouri can leave the seams with a basting stitch until a seamstress can fit it to Miss Elizabeth.”

Georgiana’s eyes pleaded for Darcy’s cooperation.

“If you believe Miss Elizabeth will appreciate the gift, I will return later to place the order,” Darcy assured.

“Elizabeth will be the most beautiful bride ever,” Georgiana said with a giggle.

* * *

Elizabeth noted the bookstore along a cross street.

“Would it be inconvenient for me to call upon the bookseller? I hoped to find a particular book for Mr. Bennet’s upcoming birthday.”