The Gypsy Blessing (19 page)

Jane hesitated as she finished braiding Elizabeth’s hair and then met her sister’s gaze in the vanity’s mirror. “Why did you not tell me you received a drawing of the ball?”

Elizabeth smiled. “If I had told you, I would have felt obligated to show it to you. I did not want to spoil your meeting with Mr. Bingley by having you expect it.”

Jane furrowed her brow. “Do you think your being warned of Mr. Darcy ruined your first meeting somehow?”

Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders. “I know not, but I
do
think the sketches have caused me to have false hopes in regards to the gentleman. Mr. Darcy’s behaviour varied so widely this evening, I cannot make any sense of it.” She sighed heavily. “I am sure you saw the way he allowed Miss Bingley to lay claim to him whenever he was not dancing? I am afraid we have misinterpreted his presence in the drawings, Jane, and we must face the fact: he was included only because he is Georgiana’s brother.” Elizabeth reached into her drawer and pulled out the latest picture, holding it up so they both could see it. “When I opened this, I felt strongly I should not show it to you until after the assembly ball. Once we arrived in Meryton, I meant to tell you only that I expected to see Mr. Darcy this evening, but we were interrupted.”

Jane’s gasp was audible as she snatched the page from her sister, holding it at an angle close to the candle to illuminate the drawing better. “Lizzy! Please tell me that my feelings towards Mr. Bingley were not as obvious as this depicts!”

Knowing her shy sister would be mortified if it were so, Elizabeth answered truthfully, “Worry not, dear Jane; I could see it, but I doubt many others would have noticed.”

Jane did not remove her eyes from the picture as a smile spread slowly across her face. “Mr. Bingley is everything a gentleman should be, is he not?”

“Yes – yes, he is all that is handsome and amiable, and he seems genuinely interested in the comfort of those around him. I give you leave to like him, Jane.”

“Thank you, dear,” Jane replied, still too busy examining the drawing to look up. “I must admit that I was too distracted by your condition at the time to notice Mr. Darcy’s expression, but here I can see he is certainly not hiding his feelings for you!”

“I thought so, too, when I first saw it, Jane, but I fear I will suffer a serious disappointment if we should continue to go on in this manner. No matter my feelings when I look at his picture, we—
I
must stop jumping to conclusions about Mr. Darcy’s role in my future happiness.”

Chapter 13

October 3, 1811

“I refuse to accompany you, Charles, and I am sure Louisa will agree with my reasoning. It is customary for those of slight acquaintance to refrain from making morning calls the day following a ball, and I will not break with tradition in such a manner,” Caroline stated firmly over a late breakfast.

“And
I
am confident that since I go to Longbourn to return
Mr. Bennet’s
visit, and since that gentleman did not attend the ball last evening, I shall offend no one, Sister.”

Bingley turned to greet Darcy as he arrived at the breakfast room. “I expected that you would have already eaten, Darcy, and I would find you in the library or riding by this time.”

“Anticipating you would arise later than usual, I took my ride earlier this morning, before breaking my fast,” Darcy replied as he made his way to the sideboard to fill a plate.

“Then you are free to come along with me to Longbourn to meet Mr. Bennet?”

Caroline laughed. “Charles, I am certain Mr. Darcy would rather remain here in comfort, than visit our neighbours, who, judging by what we saw last evening, have no taste or sense of fashion—excluding the eldest two daughters, of course. You should take last night’s behaviour as a warning, Brother; I fear you may arrive at Longbourn only to find a theatre or circus where the manor house should be! The most complimentary thing I can say of the youngest two Misses Bennet is that they are untamed and undisciplined, but it is no wonder since they are
out
so young—and with the eldest two still unmarried. I cannot understand Mrs. Bennet’s choice to allow such conduct; she made not the slightest attempt at managing them. Louisa and I have decided that we shall never set foot on Longbourn’s property. We shall see the eldest two daughters
only
at Netherfield.”

For once, I must agree with Miss Bingley’s appraisal of Mrs. Bennet and her two youngest daughters. But seeing where Elizabeth lives might be helpful to my quest to overcome this unhealthy infatuation.

Darcy finished filling his plate and joined his hosts at the table. “I shall be happy to accompany you, Bingley.”

Instead of answering his friend, Bingley was distracted by the need to slap his sister’s back whilst she choked on her tea.

~%~

The housekeeper curtsied to the gentlemen at the door. “I’m sorry, sirs, but the master isn’t home just now.”

“Thank you; may I leave my card, please?” Bingley handed over his card, and, after a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Are the ladies of the house within? We were introduced last evening and would like to pay our respects—if they are receiving.”

Mrs. Hill gestured for the gentlemen to enter the house. “Wait here, please.” The housekeeper departed through a door further down the hallway.

“Bingley, your sister was correct; it is considered poor form to call the day after—” Darcy stopped speaking when the door opened again and Mrs. Hill bustled into the hall.

“Mrs. Bennet is receiving, sirs.” She seemed to take her time collecting their hats and coats, and then led them to the door through which she had passed earlier.

Mrs. Bennet rose. “Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, it is
good
to see you again so soon,” the matron exclaimed with vigor. “Of course, you remember Jane, but I do not believe you have met my younger daughters: Mary, Catherine, and Lydia.” The ladies curtsied as they were introduced. “Elizabeth will join us shortly, I am sure. I do hope you will excuse my husband for being absent; he rode off to see a tenant quite early this morning. If you would stay for tea, perhaps he will be home in time to receive you.”

Bingley accepted the offer of refreshments. Mrs. Bennet asked the gentlemen to take a seat.

Once all were comfortably settled, Bingley and Mrs. Bennet began to chat, allowing Darcy a chance to examine his surroundings. The room was of decent size for a small manor house, and the walls seemed to be newly papered with a design similar to those he had seen in recent days in London. The style of furniture was quite old, but the upholstery had been recently updated. All in all, it was a more comfortable room than he had expected.

Miss Bingley will be disappointed with her brother’s report,
he thought, but then realized it was more than likely that Bingley had not noticed the room at all since he seemed to be having an extraordinarily difficult time tearing his gaze away from Jane Bennet.

Several minutes later, the tea arrived. Darcy took the opportunity of the interruption provided to step to the window and look about at the grounds on that side of the house. As he noticed a pretty little wilderness just past a stretch of lawn, he spied Elizabeth coming down a path that ran through the informal garden.

He swallowed hard. Although Elizabeth had no trouble fitting in no matter where he had seen her, she seemed to belong amongst nature—as he preferred, as well.

Sensing someone approach him, Darcy turned to find Jane Bennet standing nearby, a slight smile playing with the corners of her mouth. He took the teacup that Jane offered before turning again to peer out the window. Disappointment welled within his chest when he realized Elizabeth was now gone from his sight. A minute or two later, she reappeared just entering the lawn, seeming to be headed towards a swing hanging from a branch of an ancient tree. A servant-girl ran out to meet her, and the two spoke for a moment. Elizabeth smiled and hurried towards the house.

When Elizabeth was again out of his sight, he turned to join the others.
It would not do for Elizabeth to know that I have been watching her.
Darcy found a chair that happened to have an unoccupied seat next to it and set down his cup before taking his seat. Darcy then looked up to find Jane’s eyes upon him—still smiling.
Too late,
I
have
been caught out!
Jane moved her gaze to Bingley, and her features softened ever so slightly. Just as he began to think of what that could mean, the door opened.

It was fortunate that standing when a lady entered the room was instinctual, for he was too distracted by the vision of loveliness that entered the room to have remembered otherwise. Just as had happened when he first saw her at the assembly ball, filling his lungs with air seemed easier than before. Elizabeth’s fine eyes were brightened by her exercise; her complexion glowed with health and well-being. Her gaze met his, and he imagined she smiled especially for him, bringing a sense of life to the room that had not existed before.

Elizabeth turned to speak to Jane and Bingley, and the spell that had taken hold of Darcy was broken.

Hertfordshire is proving to be a dangerous place for my heart. If I must see Elizabeth nearly every day while staying with Bingley at Netherfield, I will have to find an excuse to leave here—and soon. What did Mrs. Hurst say about the Bennets? Two thousand a year and their highest connexion being Sir William Lucas, a knighted tradesman. It will not do!

As he again took his seat, he noticed Mrs. Bennet’s attention was on him, a calculating gleam in her eyes that chilled him to the core—one he recognized too well from his experience with a multitude of marriage-minded mamas in the past.
Lord, help me. Mrs. Bennet has
five
single daughters!

Not knowing where to look next, Darcy was about to return to the window when, from the corner of his eye, he saw Elizabeth approaching. Again, he rose. She took the seat adjacent to his, leaving a faint scent of lavender in her path.

They conversed pleasantly for several minutes before the door opened once again, and in walked Mr. Bennet. The gentleman looked older, but very much the same as Darcy remembered from their last meeting in South End.

After being introduced to Bingley, the younger man turned to introduce his friend, but Mr. Bennet took several steps closer to Darcy and said, “There is no mistaking that
you
are Mr. Darcy.” He extended his hand to shake Darcy’s.

“Thank you, Mr. Bennet; I did not think you would remember me.”

“I may not remember names readily, but I never forget a face! It is amazing how much you favour your father.” Mr. Bennet settled himself into a chair across from Darcy. “How is your father?”

“He has been gone these five years, sir.”

Mr. Bennet’s expression sobered. “Oh, I am sorry to hear it.”

After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Elizabeth asked, “Papa, how did you know Mr. Darcy’s father?”

“’Twas all your doing, Lizzy.” Mr. Bennet chuckled. “I am sure you remember how I have said little James Gardiner reminds me of you. Just as James’s curiosity lures him away, while we were visiting at South End,
you
wandered away from your mother and nurse and became lost. From what I understand, Mr. Darcy here kept you occupied while his father went in search of your family.”

Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open. “That was you?”

“Apparently so. As soon as Mr. Bennet entered the room, I recognized him.”

“I met your father once more in Town, at my attorney’s office. It seems both our families have been using the same firm for generations.”

“Mr. Bennet!” Mrs. Bennet called out. “I must speak with you for a moment.”

Mr. Bennet raised his eyebrows. “Will you excuse me?” He rose and joined his wife. The two left the room together.

“Why did you not teach Georgiana to build castles in the sand?” Elizabeth asked once her father had left them.

Darcy furrowed his brow in confusion.

Elizabeth continued, “That day at South End, you taught me to make sand castles. When we came across Georgiana one day on the sands at Ramsgate, she watched my niece and nephews building castles. She said she had never before seen one.”

Darcy coloured slightly. “When we were at South End, Georgiana was only two years of age. We did not return to the seaside until this summer.” Elizabeth’s expression remained curious, so he continued. “Whilst my mother was alive, my father took us on many holidays by the sea in hopes of the air improving my mother’s health. Once she had become too ill to travel, and subsequently passed on, the tradition ended.”

She nodded and seemed about to say something when the housekeeper approached and curtsied. “’Scuse me, Miss Elizabeth.” She held out a silver tray bearing a letter. “A messenger came with this, miss. I wouldn’t have interrupted, but he made me promise—said to give it to you right away.”

Elizabeth took the letter and glanced at the direction, then blanched. “A messenger?”

“Yes’m.” Mrs. Hill curtsied and began to walk away.

Tensing as if she were about to rise, Elizabeth looked at the door to the hallway and asked, “Is he still here?”

Mrs. Hill replied, “No, miss. I offered him a plate of food, but he said he was in a hurry and rode off like the devil himself was chasin’ him.”

“Thank you, Hill.”

Darcy raised both eyebrows in response to Elizabeth’s pocketing the letter without a second glance. Peering up at him tentatively, she blushed a deep crimson and quickly looked away.

Elizabeth was uncharacteristically quiet for the remainder of the gentlemen’s visit at Longbourn. As Darcy and Bingley were donning their coats and hats, he saw Elizabeth slip out the door of the parlour and take the stairs up to what he assumed would be the bedchambers.

Who could have sent a letter to cause her to be in such a state of agitation?
He shook his head.
It is likely she was embarrassed that the housekeeper gave her the letter during our visit.

~%~

Upon answering her bedchamber door, to her relief, Elizabeth discovered Jane in the hallway. She took Jane’s hand and pulled her inside, locking the door behind them.

“Lizzy, what is wrong?”

“Did you not see Mrs. Hill deliver a letter while Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy were here?”

Jane shook her head.

Elizabeth nodded. “You were too distracted by Mr. Bingley to notice, but I had not that luxury since she gave it to me directly—and while Mr. Darcy was speaking to me, no less. Jane, it came by messenger this time! I almost ran from the room to see if I could speak to the man—perhaps he could have given me some answers—but Mrs. Hill said he immediately rode away.”

“Was he a gypsy?”

“I know not. After the gentlemen departed, I looked at the pictures, and then I went to the kitchen to ask Mrs. Hill about the man who delivered them. She said he looked no different from any other young man of the working class.” Elizabeth was agitated. “If Mr. Darcy is not suspicious of me now, he soon will be.”

“Why would you think so?”

“As I said, he was there when Mrs. Hill delivered the letter. When I saw the handwriting, I thought I would faint! Mr. Darcy was staring at me so intently; every inch of my skin must have blushed.”

“Perhaps he only liked what he saw.”

Elizabeth shook her head and sighed. “Would you like to see them?”

“The drawings? Yes.”

Blushing, Elizabeth handed Jane the first of three sketches that had come today. “I do not know why they insist on sending some of these pictures when I know they cannot come true.”