A Spring Sentiment: A Pride and Prejudice Novella Variation (Seasons of Serendipity Book 2) (10 page)

“It would appear you are in trouble, Cousin.” Mr. Darcy held his walking stick with both hands in front of him, content to wait a moment before following Elizabeth inside.

“Oh?”

“Yes, your lady is most vexed with you for leaving for war.”

“Whenever did she say that?” The colonel frowned as he had listened most carefully to the few words he could get out of Miss Mary. Darcy merely tapped the side of his nose in a mimicry of Mr. Gardiner and finally began his own journey back to the house with hopes that he could organize a ride with some of the other gentlemen in attendance.

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Chapter Nine

When the express reporting Mr. Gardiner’s accident reached Fenley Cottage, it predictably sent Mrs. Bennet into near hysterics. “My brother is dead! How cruel to lose my husband and brother in one year! Must I endure the death of everyone I love?”

Jane ignored her mother’s antics and paid the exhausted rider and directed him around to the back to find refreshment in the kitchen. As her mother continued to rant and rave, Jane managed to pry the missive from her flailing hands to read it for herself. Her eyes misted up as her aunt’s shaky hand detailed there had been a ghastly carriage accident and that her uncle had several serious fractures in his right leg and was unconscious.

“Mother, Uncle Gardiner has not left us.”

“But he will; oh, he will! He will never wake; I’m sure of it.” Fanny Bennet continued to cry until she suddenly stopped and sat up from the newly ordered fainting couch in the sitting room. “I must away to my sister Phillips!”

“No, Mama. Lydia!” Jane shouted up the stairs to her youngest sister, who was spending more and more time in her bedroom. The youngest Bennet sister appeared atop the stairs and plodded down each step with a sour look on her face.

“What is it now? I was trying to rest.”

Jane looked her sister up and down suspiciously, wondering where all of Lydia’s abundant energy had disappeared to, then clucked her tongue. “We must ready the carriage. Uncle Edward has had an accident.”

“La, we will just be in the way.”

“Nonsense, our aunt could very much use our help. Prepare your trunk, and I shall pack mine and mother’s.”

“Ohh, I couldn’t possibly go. My nerves cannot bear to see him die! You must go Jane and represent the family. Do as you must. And be sure to let Mr. Bingley know you have arrived. It’s such a pity he had to rush off to London for business again.”

Lydia flounced into the sitting room and lounged on the overstuffed arm chair with her legs dangling over the side. “I shan’t go either; someone must stay home with poor Mama.”

White-hot anger spread through Jane’s body as her hand involuntarily crumpled her aunt’s message. Seething with rage, all Jane Bennet could do was breath in and out before she curtsied and took the stairs to her own room. Where she could not trust her tongue, she resolved to keep it out of use. As she packed her gowns and personal effects, she chastised herself for not standing up to her mother and younger sister. In her mind all of the rejoinders and harsh criticisms those two women needed to hear played over and over, and Jane hated herself for never wishing to rock the boat. Mr. Bingley hadn’t left for London on business. She had sent him away when he hinted at his boredom to avoid further embarrassing displays. And his sister! The way Caroline Bingley appeared to inspect every inch of the cottage and her younger sister’s illnesses, Jane didn’t know what Caroline’s game was, but she agreed with Elizabeth that she was not a woman to be trusted.

The fury of her anger had made short work of her labor and within the hour her trunk was packed and the carriage ready. Her mother and sister did not even deign to step outside and wish her farewell, and as the carriage rolled away towards London, Jane Bennet suspected today was the first day of finding her own future.

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For two days, Elizabeth had many assurances from Lady Matlock to not distress over falling ill. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling she was in the woman’s debt, so she offered to help oversee the dinners and activities. Without a pounding headache plaguing her, Elizabeth made short work of the menu and memorizing the table seating assignments. All had gone on without a hitch until the gentlemen joined the ladies the night before half of the party planned to break off and visit Pemberley.

Excitement bubbled in Elizabeth’s chest as she tried to stay occupied on the last night of her stay at Matlock. Seated on a settee with Georgiana and Kitty, Elizabeth had been enjoying Kitty telling her all about the latest chapter in her novel. Georgiana frequently interrupted, reminding Kitty of the parts she was leaving out and Elizabeth found the antics of the two young ladies highly amusing.

“And then, the dastardly cousin, who inherited the estate, tries to compromise poor Sarah, but the steward she is in love with rushes into the room and saves the day. But, of course, now he is dismissed from his duties, and Sarah is crying at how much she will miss her sisters as she packs a trunk. . .” Kitty trailed off as a shadow fell over their small group from behind Elizabeth’s back. Elizabeth turned around expecting Mr. Darcy, but instead her smile faded away as once more it was Lord Bergamote seeking her out.

He bowed very low and offered his hand. “Miss Elizabeth, it would be my greatest pleasure to escort you to Lady Matlock. She has requested your presence.”

Twisting her lips in disapproval, Elizabeth had little choice but to accept the Frenchman’s hand and cringe as he took the longest way possible around the room to the sofa where Lady Matlock and Lady Sefton were seated.

“Thank you, Antoine.” Lady Sefton waived her hand, and Lord Bergamote bowed lowly to the grand dame. With the piercing stare of an owl, the patroness of Almack’s looked Elizabeth up and down, seemingly inventorying every thread of the burgundy gown Elizabeth had chosen for the evening’s repast. “Not a classic beauty, no, but I do see some of the spark you mentioned, Maggie.”

Instead of appearing offended, Elizabeth smiled and inspected Lady Sefton right back. “How is your evening, Lady Sefton? I am so pleased to make your acquaintance on this first visit to Matlock.”

“Tell me, Miss Elizabeth, how many sisters do you have in total? I’ve heard six mentioned.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “I’m afraid not, madam, I am in possession of only four sisters at the moment, but I look forward to claiming a fifth very soon.”

“And all of you are out in society? With you engaged before the eldest? And the youngest too I hear? How very strange. Your mother and father must not keep careful control of their household.”

Elizabeth looked to Lady Matlock, who merely took the moment to drink her tea, but Elizabeth noticed the slight twitch in her ladyship’s mouth. “Indeed, your Ladyship, though my poor father passed away last autumn, my sisters and I have enjoyed very little time to mourn or grieve before my cousin inherited our estate and cast us out. My eldest and youngest sisters are both in courtships with gentlemen, but I was fortunate enough to receive Mr. Darcy’s love and admiration. Jane would never wish to delay my happiness for the privilege of marrying first.”

“Hmph. In my day, there was no talk of love with marriage. You married the match selected by your elders and remained in your own sphere.”

Elizabeth cleared her throat and cocked her head to one side. “Surely, my ladyship, you are not suggesting I have quit my own sphere by marrying Mr. Darcy? He is a gentleman and I am a gentleman’s daughter. In that so far we are equal. That he also is a man I most highly esteem and admire are additional inducements.”

“And I’m sure the prize of Pemberley never crossed your mind in considerations?”

Lady Matlock interjected before Elizabeth could completely lose her temper. “Actually, Agatha, Miss Bennet has not yet seen Pemberley, though she is to visit on the morrow. Perhaps you might remind Georgiana and Miss Catherine they ought to retire.”

Slowly rising and quitting the two grand ladyships in the room, she hoped she had made Lady Matlock proud. Elizabeth glanced around the room and still saw no sign of the Fitzwilliam brothers, Mr. Darcy, or the Earl. Just as she reached her sisters, the loud bombastic voice could be heard from the Earl as the colonel opened the doors to enter the room.

“You will march back here this instant. I have not finished my say!” Colonel Fitzwilliam gallantly bowed to the room at large and continued his paces towards Miss Mary. He stopped mid-room when his father continued his tirade. “Richard Bartholomew, I can still turn you over my knee!”

Winking at Mary, who frowned at him, Richard turned around to face his father, who was beet red in the face. “I should like to see you try to best one of His Majesty’s Finest.”

“Reginald! Richard! What is all of this about?” Lady Matlock rose to stand between her son and husband, as the rest of the room began to settle in for the show. Quickly Elizabeth whispered to Georgiana and Kitty that they needed to retire, and both girls started to pout until Elizabeth’s eyes bulged to emphasize her request was not a suggestion. The two young girls slipped out of the room just as the male voices continued to rise in the room.

Sitting next to Mary, Elizabeth reached over to grip her younger sister’s hand as she was wringing both of them in her lap. “What is the matter?”

“He did not tell his parents he was volunteering to go back to the front.”

“Oh dear.”

The two Bennet sisters watched as the Fitzwilliam family had their drama out in front of all. The Viscount, for his part, supported his younger brother, but the Earl took it as a slap in the face that his own son would rebuff his father’s care and support if he would just give up his commission.

“You’ve played soldier and done admirably in the ranks. Now it’s time to take your place in society, be a Fitzwilliam, and live up to your responsibilities.” The Earl paced the elegantly tatted carpet in front of the hearth, appearing as a lion caged.

“You’ve mixed your metaphors, father. I did not join the Navy.”

“Confound it, boy, this is serious!”

“Indeed, I take my life and responsibilities very seriously. If you and Mother see fit to cut me off, then I respect your decision. But I, who have seen the true horrors of war and what that tyrant has imparted on our European brethren, will not stand idly by to see the ravages reach my homeland. No, sir.” The colonel stood as erect as a call to attention and did not waiver as his father’s face slackened in shock, then his lips moved wordlessly as a fresh wave of anger now colored his cheeks a hideous shade of purple.

Elizabeth squirmed in her seat and looked to find Mr. Darcy, but his eyes were not on her. She noticed he too was looking at Richard and his facial expression was not one of kindness.

“Of course we will not cut you off, dear.” Lady Matlock moved to slide her arm into her son’s elbow. “But let’s save all of this unpleasantness for tomorrow when we can discuss it as a family without burdening our guests. Reginald? I find that I am dreadfully exhausted from today’s endeavors. Shall we retire?” Lady Matlock briefly rubbed her son’s arm, then detached herself from him to glide over to her husband and slide her arm into his. The poor Earl was still at a loss for words as his wife guided him towards the stairs.

Finally, Elizabeth captured Mr. Darcy’s attention, and he joined her side. “Do you care to retire as well, or perhaps stay up a little longer?”

Honestly, Elizabeth was exhausted, and she did not care for the way Lord Bergamote still eyed her from his far corner of the room. With her largest ally in the room gone, she had no desire to cross swords with Lady Sefton again.

“I believe I should like to get some extra rest for our journey tomorrow. I know it’s but a half day’s ride, but I would hate for the staff of Pemberley to see me looking less than my best.” Elizabeth smiled at Darcy to show him she was being light-hearted and not falling back into the melancholy of worrying about expectations.

“I bow to your wise decision, madam. Would you permit me to escort you?”

Her hand shaking, Elizabeth accepted Mr. Darcy’s arm, and they too quitted the room. She worried that it was most unbecoming to have him escort her out, and the beady eyes of Lady Sefton took great notice. All of these thoughts distracted her until they arrived at her bedroom door far too quickly than she recalled the walk to be.

“William. . ., “ she said timidly.

“Elizabeth,” he replied, huskily.

Without warning, he swept her into his arms and embraced her with all of his might. Feeling a tad pinched, her squeak reminded him to lessen his grip, and he stepped away in embarrassment.

“No, please, I’m sorry.” She reached out, and her hand slid down his coat sleeve until she could finally grip his hand. The flesh on flesh connection made them both pause, and he gently squeezed her hand. She sighed, and Mr. Darcy bowed deeply over her hand and kissed it.

“Good night, my darling. Tomorrow I shall show you my world and all I can offer a beauty such as yourself.”

As he stepped away from her, she held his gaze. Feeling brazen, she lifted her fingers to her lips and kissed them before opening her hand in his direction. Not brave enough to see his response, Elizabeth hurriedly opened her door and rushed inside. Her heart aflutter, it wasn’t until she was trying to find sleep that she began to worry about Mary.