Darcy and Elizabeth What If? Collection 1 (21 page)

‘Yes, I remember now.’ Colonel Fitzwilliam’s voice was sombre. ‘It was a great tragedy.’

‘It was indeed. The five Miss Bennets were left orphans. Even worse, no one knew who should inherit the estate. Mr Collins had been due to inherit it from Mr Bennet, but as he was also dead, the next in line had to be sought. It turned out he was in the navy. No one had heard of him for years, and no one knew if he were alive or dead. An investigation was set in motion but it was slow. And so, at Lady Catherine’s urging, I visited the Miss Bennets to see how matters were progressing.’

‘Surely it was none of Lady Catherine’s business?’ asked Colonel Fitzwilliam.

‘Not directly, no. But Mr Collins was some kind of distant relative – a great-nephew of a distant cousin, I believe - which is why she gave him the living in the first place. That gave her some kind of reason to find out more, although I suspect the real reason is that she was bored and needed something to do,’ said Mr Darcy. ‘And I must admit, I was bored too, and so I fell in with her wishes.’

‘And has the heir been found?’

‘No, not yet. The lawyers are trying to trace him. Meanwhile, the Miss Bennets are able to remain in their family home until the heir is found, but after that they will have to leave.’

‘And so you decided you would marry Miss Bennet?’ asked Colonel Fitzwilliam. ‘It does not seem a good enough reason for marriage to me. There are plenty of women in difficult circumstances, some of them from old and titled families. If you want to help Miss Bennet, would it not be easier to let her have one of your cottages when she is turned out of her home? And her sisters, too, of course.’

‘I do not intend to marry her for that reason,’ said Mr Darcy. ‘But the accident made me think about my own situation. If I die without a son, then a distant cousin will inherit and he will be within his rights to turn Georgiana out of Pemberley.’

Mr Darcy’s mind filled with an image of Georgiana in distress and he was determined that that should never happen. He loved his sister dearly and he wanted the best for her. He never wanted her to be unhappy or frightened, and he meant to make sure that it could never happen.

‘The family would not stand for it,’ said Colonel Fitzwilliam promptly, jumping up and striding round the room.

‘Perhaps not,’ Mr Darcy conceded. ‘But the new owner could make her feel unwelcome and unwanted.’

‘True,’ admitted Colonel Fitzwilliam. ‘But these are very morbid thoughts,’ he went on, returning to his seat. ‘You are not likely to die, Darcy. You are still very young.’

‘Young men die every day. Mr Collins was young.’

Colonel Fitzwilliam had no answer for that.

‘If I have a son, however, he will inherit on my death and Georgiana’s home will be safe.’

‘Unlike Miss Bennet’s home,’ said Colonel Fitzwilliam.

Mr Darcy nodded.

‘Miss Bennet does not know from one day to the next if the heir will turn up and put her out of the house. She lives with that fear every day. Meanwhile, she is having to act as a parent to her younger sisters, for she is over age, but she is still very young for such responsibility.’

‘About the same age you were when you lost your father,’ said Colonel Fitzwilliam.

‘Yes. But I was a man and better able to cope with the situation. Besides, I had an army of servants and advisors to help me. Miss Bennet has nothing but a couple of aunts and uncles, with a few general servants. And yet I am not marrying her out of compassion. She is very beautiful and she has many other good qualities, so that any man might be glad to call her his wife. As soon as I was introduced to her I was struck by her beauty, her calm poise and gentle manner – very different to the demanding manner of heiresses, or ladies from good families. I was also struck by her kindness to her sisters. It occurred to me she would set a good example to Georgiana, and also be a kindly sister. And so I began to spend more time with her, getting to know her, and at last I was certain that I could think of her as my wife.’

Colonel Fitzwilliam nodded. ‘I see the appeal. If she is gentle, she will be undemanding, and she will be grateful to you for taking care of her and her sisters. She will be a good hostess for Pemberley and a friend to Georgiana.’

Mr Darcy nodded. He took another drink then set his glass down on the table.

‘The only thing she lacks is a dowry,’ he said. ‘But I have fortune enough for two.’

‘Then I wish you well,’ said Colonel Fitzwilliam. ‘You will have to bear the disapproval of the rest of the family, but they will not be able to do anything about it. Eventually they will come round.’ He flicked a speck of fluff from his tailcoat. ‘When do you plan to ask her uncle for her hand?’

‘Tomorrow. After which, I will return to Longbourn and ask the lady herself.’

‘Then I wish you luck,’ said Colonel Fitzwilliam. He lifted his glass. ‘A toast! To your successful proposal.’

‘Thank you,’ said Mr Darcy.

He, too, finished his drink.

Tomorrow he would speak to Jane’s uncle and ask for permission to propose to her. He was sure that permission would be granted, and then he could ask Jane to be his wife.

Miss Elizabeth Bennet was pleased to be home. She had spent an enjoyable six weeks with her aunt and uncle on a pleasure tour but she had missed Longbourn and in particular she had missed her eldest sister, Jane. The two of them shared a strong bond of love and friendship. This bond had helped them to bear the loss of their parents the previous year, and it had helped them to cope with looking after their three younger sisters. To be sure, their aunt and uncle Philips lived close by, and their aunt and uncle Gardiner wrote and visited from London very frequently, but it was Jane and Elizabeth who bore the day to day cares of running the household.

Elizabeth had been unwilling to go on holiday for this very reason but Jane had insisted. And so at last Elizabeth had agreed, on the understanding that Jane would take a holiday later in the year.

There was no denying that Elizabeth had enjoyed it. She liked her aunt and uncle Gardiner very much, and spending several weeks in their company had been refreshing.

But now she was home, and something even more exciting had happened, for it seemed that Jane was on the verge of being engaged.

‘Your letters have been very encouraging,’ said Mrs Gardiner to Jane. The three ladies were sitting in the drawing-room that evening, once the younger girls had gone to bed. Mrs Gardiner was staying at Longbourn for a week before returning to her London home. ‘Elizabeth and I have both been intrigued by your accounts of Mr Darcy and his constant visits. Is there something between you?’

Jane replied with her usual calm serenity.

‘It is too soon to say anything definite, but he asked me which of my uncles was the head of the family, and he then left Meryton for a few days. I believe he has gone to London to ask my uncle for permission to pay his addresses.’

‘This is excellent news!’ said Mrs Gardiner. ‘The Darcys are an old and well respected family.’ She frowned. ‘In fact I am surprised . . .’ She looked at Jane, as if wondering why Mr Darcy would choose her as a wife. But then her face cleared. ‘No, I am not surprised,’ she corrected herself. ‘You are everything that is good, dear Jane, and it is no wonder he fell in love with you. Tell us all about it.’

With the reminder that nothing was settled, Jane told them that Mr Darcy had come in to the neighbourhood to ask after the affairs of Mr Collins and that he had stayed. She told them of the assemblies he had attended; the times he had asked her to dance; the calls he had made at Longbourn; the supper parties they had both attended; the times they had met when she was shopping in Meryton, in fact everything that had happened while Elizabeth had been away.

‘A man such as Mr Darcy would not pay you so much attention if he did not mean anything by it. I am sure a proposal will soon follow. You are fortunate to have caught his fancy,’ said Mrs Gardiner.

‘And Mr Darcy is fortunate to have caught yours,’ said Elizabeth stoutly to her sister. Adding, ‘If, indeed, he
has
caught your fancy? You have told us all about his courtship but you have not said anything about your feelings. Do you love him, Jane?’

‘I am not sure I know what love is,’ said Jane. ‘That is why I am so glad you are here, Lizzy. And you too, dear aunt. I need your advice.’

Mrs Gardiner said, in a matter of fact manner, ‘It is certainly a good match. In fact, it is an excellent match. If you marry Mr Darcy you will never want for anything again, and neither will your family. But Elizabeth is right. Your feelings are important, too. As to love, I think it is different for each of us. Some people are madly in love at the beginning and then fall out of love. Others find love growing on them slowly. Some people marry in the white heat of passion and a few years, or even months, later, regret it. For others, love comes after marriage. What are your feelings for Mr Darcy?’

Jane spoke slowly and thoughtfully.

‘I esteem him and like him,’ she said.

‘That is a good start,’ said Mrs Gardiner.

‘I admire him.’

‘That is also good,’ said Mrs Gardiner.

‘But would your heart stop beating if you never saw him again?’ asked Elizabeth.

‘Really, Lizzy!’ said Mrs Gardiner. ‘That never happens, except in novels.’

Elizabeth smiled, but she would not let her point drop. ‘Very well, aunt,’ she said. ‘I will try to be more moderate in my speech.’ She turned to Jane. ‘But do you think you would be happy as his wife?’

Jane thought for some time, giving due weight to her answer, and said, ‘Yes, I believe I would.’

‘Then, in that case, Jane, my advice would be to accept him,’ said Mrs Gardiner.

‘I am not so sure,’ said Elizabeth. ‘Only love would tempt me into marriage. Nothing else would do for me.’

‘But I am not like you, Lizzy,’ said Jane with calmness. ‘I wish to love my husband but I do not think I would ever be swept away by my feelings. I think, for me, it would be more gradual. I do not feel things as strongly as you, although I think I feel them as deeply, if that makes sense. ’

‘Yes, it does, at least to me,’ said Elizabeth. ‘I know we are different, dear Jane, but I want to make sure that you are not accepting him because he will take care of the family. I do not think you should let that influence you. If you marry him, it must be because you want to. It should not be for the rest of us, it should be for yourself.’

‘I think, as my aunt says, that liking and admiration are a good start to a marriage. For me, I think love might come later.’

‘Well, there is no need to make up your mind just yet,’ said Mrs Gardiner.

‘No. He has not even asked me yet, and he might never do so,’ said Jane.

‘Then let us talk of something else and return to the subject in the morning. Now that you have had a chance to talk about it, you might find that a good night’s sleep helps you to take a decision.’

As Mrs Gardiner suggested, they talked of other things. Elizabeth entertained her sister with tales of their holiday and the three women parted at last, tired and happy, to go to bed.

The following morning brought a letter from Mr Darcy, expressing his intention of calling on Miss Bennet the next day.

‘Then he means to propose, as we suspected,’ said Mrs Gardiner. ‘Have you made up your mind, Jane?’

‘Yes, I have,’ said Jane. ‘If he offers me his hand I will accept it.’

‘I think you are making the right decision,’ said Mrs Gardiner. ‘Mr Darcy is an honourable man and any woman would be proud to call him her husband.’

‘Are you sure, Jane?’ asked Elizabeth, searching her sister’s eyes. ‘Absolutely sure? Once you are married, it is for ever.’

‘Yes, Lizzy, I am sure.’

‘Then I will wish you happy,’ said Elizabeth giving her sister a hug.

‘I will stay with you when he arrives,’ said Mrs Gardiner. ‘The presence of a married woman will give you support and it will do Mr Darcy good to see that your relatives love you and care for you. But Elizabeth, I wonder if you would take the younger girls into Meryton?’

‘I was just about to suggest it myself,’ said Elizabeth. ‘The last thing Jane wants is to be embarrassed by Lydia or Kitty or Mary!’

‘I think you are right,’ said Jane. ‘It would be better if they were not here. Are you sure you do not mind taking them in to Meryton, Lizzy?’

‘Not at all. The exercise will do me good,’ said Elizabeth. ‘Now, Mr Darcy says in his letter that he will arrive at three o’clock tomorrow. I will set out with Lydia, Kitty and Mary at two o’clock and we will not be back before half past three. That should give you plenty of time together before the rest of the family descends. I had better go and prepare our sisters for it. I will not tell them that I am taking them out of the way, otherwise they might refuse to go. Instead, I will say that I saw some new bonnets in the milliner’s on my way past the shop this morning – which is the truth. And if the thought of a new bonnet does not lure Lydia out of the house, then I do not know what will!’

The following day, Mr Darcy was on his way to Longbourn. He was feeling satisfied with himself and with the world. He had visited Mr Gardiner in Gracechurch Street and asked for Mr Gardiner’s permission to propose to Jane. He had never been in any doubt about Mr Gardiner’s reply, because no one would refuse Mr Darcy of Pemberley. But he believed in the formality of asking – as a gentleman he could do no less – and now he could ask her to be his wife.

He put aside his last, lingering doubts and banished the young woman of the fine eyes from his thoughts.

Then he turned his mind to the future. He would marry Jane and take her to Pemberley. He would provide her sisters with a home as well, for he was sure they would be turned out of Longbourn as soon as the heir was found.

The thought of housing four sisters-in-law did not worry him. Indeed, he welcomed it, as it would provide friendship for his own sister, Georgiana. To be sure, some of the Bennet girls were not ideal companions for his sister, but a few years with strict governesses, or at select seminaries, would correct their faults.

And then, once they were married, they would provide chaperones for Georgiana.

He would have to provide them with some sort of dowry so that that would make good matches and he would introduce them to some suitable gentlemen. Perhaps Bingley . . .

His thoughts went to his friend, Charles Bingley. He liked Bingley and would welcome him as a brother-in-law. He had previously thought of Bingley marrying Georgiana, but he was not sure they would really suit.

Mary Bennet, now . . .

He gave a wry smile as he pictured Mr Bingley and Mary together: Mary with her moralising and sermonising ways. No, he would not wish Mary on his friend.

Kitty, then?

That was a possibility. Kitty Bennet was light and frivolous, and although she was inclined to be petulant, a good governess would soon cure her of that particular fault.

Or Lydia, perhaps?

He shook his head in a determined manner. Lydia Bennet needed a much stronger husband than Bingley, an experienced man who could curb her wilder excesses without breaking her spirit. Besides, she was not yet sixteen. It was far too soon to be thinking of her marriage.

But perhaps the other sister, the one he had not yet met: Miss Elizabeth Bennet. She was a favourite with Jane, which boded well for her amiability, and she was well liked by her uncle. Mr Gardiner had mentioned her once or twice when the two gentlemen had exchanged pleasantries and she was old enough to be thinking of marriage.

Darcy nodded thoughtfully to himself.

If Miss Elizabeth Bennet was what he imagined her to be – polite, well bred, friendly and amiable – then he would encourage a match with his friend.

His thoughts went to where his friend would live. At the moment, Bingley did not own an estate and he was looking for one to rent. Mr Darcy thought he would encourage him to rent Netherfield Park. It was on the market and it was near to Longbourn. Miss Elizabeth would no doubt like to stay in the neighbourhood when she married Bingley, and Jane would enjoy seeing all her Hertfordshire friends again when she visited her sister.

The neatness of this idea appealed to him, and as he was used to life falling in with his plans, he thought it was almost certain to happen.

At last he reached Meryton. The carriage left the main road and traversed a country road for several miles before turning in at the Longbourn gate. The drive was overgrown and he made a note to speak with the gardeners. They took advantage of Jane’s gentle nature, but once she was his affianced bride, he would have the authority to deal with the gardeners himself. They would not dare take advantage of her then!

The carriage rolled to a halt in front of the house. It was a lovely building of golden stone with a porticoed entrance and windows reaching down almost to the ground. Beneath the windows were flower beds which, like the drive, were overgrown. Jane spent much of her time tidying them, but she could not be everywhere, and it gave him a sense of satisfaction to know that he could take many burdens from her shoulders when they were betrothed.

Mr Darcy’s footman climbed down from the box and opened the carriage door, then let down the step that had been folded inside the carriage. Mr Darcy climbed out. He flicked a speck of dust from his cream breeches and shook out the ruffles at his wrist. His booted feet crunched on the gravel as he walked to the front door.

He rang the bell and was admitted after a short delay. The maid had no doubt been loitering somewhere and had decided she would answer the door in her own good time. That was another thing he would change when he had the authority to do so.

He was shown in to the drawing-room, and there he found Jane with her aunt.

The introductions were performed, with Mr Darcy bowing and the ladies curtseying, then Jane rang for tea. They all sat down and talked pleasantly of Mrs Gardiner’s trip.

After a few minutes, Mrs Gardiner excused herself, saying that she would see what had delayed the maid, and Mr Darcy found himself alone with Jane.

Custom dictated that he should kneel when proposing, but he could not humble himself. and so he stood up, taking Jane’s hands and drawing her to her feet likewise.

‘Miss Bennet,’ he said in a kindly fashion. ‘When I saw your uncle this morning, I asked him a very important question. Can you guess what that question might be?’