Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (31 page)

“I wonder if she was seeing the evening through your eyes.”  Richard smiled when Darcy’s face coloured.  “I probably would not have been quite so hard on Elizabeth if I had not read that letter. Yes, I still would have questioned her.  She is not one of us, Cousin.  I had to know if she was as good as you clearly thought she was.  I know the pressure and pain you have been feeling since Georgiana ran off and I prayed you were not being taken in by a clever girl when you were at your weakest . . .” Darcy blew out a breath and looked away.  “. . . but because I do know that she is not of our circle, I needed to tell her what was coming.  I needed to see if she was up to the task.  Mother is going to befriend her, I know it.  And if Mother will, you know there is likely a parade of others who would do the same.”

“You are not so philanthropic, Richard.”  Darcy’s piercing eyes read his cousin’s equally intelligent gaze.  “Did you mention your mother and prejudice Elizabeth against her?”

“No, I made it the faceless somebodies who want to get to you through her.”  Sighing, Richard moved back in his seat.  “I like her, Darcy, I do.  I was not purposely looking for reasons to dissuade you.”

“What a shame that you had to abuse her to come to that conclusion.  Why did you choose a ballroom for your inquisition?”  He growled.  “You frightened her of more than your mother.”

“I know; I know, but that is the point, if she was one of us, she would not have been in the least intimidated, but in the end, she did manage to put me in my place, which impressed me.  If I had met her under other circumstances, I can imagine I might be quite taken with her.”  Darcy snarled and Richard sighed while shaking his head.  “I told her she was pretty. When she looks at you, she is beautiful.”  He saw Darcy’s small smile appear.  “I hope that one day she will trust me.”

“She is a forgiving woman.”  He murmured and unconsciously rubbed the ring on his hand then looked up.  “
My
woman.  Let your imagination run elsewhere, Cousin, do not tell me of your admiration as some way to placate me.  And do not bait me.  I did not ask for your advice or opinion, my mind was settled on Elizabeth and nothing, not even her family, would dissuade me from my choice.  After last night, I wish you had remained in London searching for Wickham.”

 “I know.  And I wish that I had been more of a relief for you both last night instead of adding to the tension.  I am assured that you are both happy with each other, and I promise not to interfere again.”  Richard studied him.  “You two have a terrible problem.”

“Just one?”  Darcy sighed.

“I sincerely doubt that you kept your distance from her after I left the library.  What are you going to do on your wedding night?”  He smiled as Darcy closed his eyes.  “And every night following?”  Biting his lip, Darcy pushed a newspaper at Richard and touched an advertisement.  “Condoms?”  He laughed and picked up the paper.  “Linen or skins?  From experience, I would go with skins, at least you’ll feel
something
.  Hmm, a great many sheep are at Pemberley, perhaps you could set a tenant to work supplying the master . . .” He laughed at Darcy’s embarrassment and curse when he snatched the paper away.  “Forgive me, but it is amusing.  Would she even let you wear such a thing?”

“I doubt that she knows what they are.  I wonder how much she really knows, but she just looks so terribly sad whenever we approach the subject.”  He swallowed and the sadness in his eyes struck Richard deeply. 

Leaning forward, he spoke softly.  “Give Georgiana’s child away, Darcy.  Find it a home, pay for its well-being, see it educated.  Send her away to Scotland for the duration, then bring her home.”  He pointed back at the paper.  “Right beside that condom advertisement there is one for discreetly finding wet nurses and homes for unexpected children.  You know that financially strapped families do that regularly.”  Darcy’s jaw set.  “Has she felt the quickening?”

“No.”

“Then perhaps it is not true.”  They exchanged glances.  “There is another advertisement here for one of those concoctions . . .” 

Darcy closed his eyes and rubbed his face.  “Stop, Richard.”

“You need to talk about it; I am only saying aloud what surely passes through your mind daily.”

“Hourly, it seems.”  He looked down to his hand and touched the ring, then looked to the chairs where they had been sitting that day, not even two weeks earlier.  “The plan seemed so easy at its inception.  I suppose any impulsive decision does.”

“That was before you considered everything that would be touched by it, before you admitted your feelings for her.  It would be so much easier if this was Anne, but you just had to choose a girl who you cared about.”  Darcy returned his gaze to the window.  “Separate rooms, then.”  Richard offered and seeing Darcy’s resigned nod, smiled.  “Although, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a bit of fun in the meantime, shall I enumerate?”

“Should you not be fighting a war?”  Darcy sat up and pointed at him.  “What were you thinking telling her how experienced I am?  She has it in her head that I was flitting from woman to woman, and am some fount of carnal knowledge!”

“Really?”  Richard laughed.   “Teach me, oh master!”

“I should have beaten you last night!”

“I am amazed that you did not!  Good heavens Darcy, all I said was that you had the interest of many; I never said that you took advantage.  It seems I have done nothing right since arriving here.  Again I beg your forgiveness.”  Holding out his hand, he let the grin fall away.  “Pax?”  Darcy hesitated.  “Shall I tell her the truth of your pitiful experiences?”

“Pax.”  Darcy shook and fell back against the chair.  “Lord, my head hurts!”

“Good morning!”  Bingley entered and dropped into a chair.  “Excellent evening!  Definitely have to do that again!”  He smiled widely at them and seeing glares; cleared his throat and pointed when Samuel appeared.  “You had an excellent time, did you not?”

“Yes, a very good time.”  He looked between the two cousins and smiled, took a seat, and reached for the coffee pot.  “I think that our elders are feeling the effects of the wine, Bingley.”

“Is that it?”  Bingley peered between Darcy and Richard.   “How much did you drink?”

“Obviously not as much as you, as you are still babbling.”  Darcy growled.

“No, no, bright as penny!  If it was not for your wedding, Darcy, I would be off this morning for Town.  I have some business to attend, but . . .” He slapped his hands down on the arms of his chair and beamed.  “What say you to a trot through the fields?  That rain kept us cooped up for too long.  I am more than ready to stretch my legs, or rather my horse’s legs!”

“Bingley . . .” Richard started then held up his hand.  “Perhaps after we eat.” 

“Is Hurst alive?”  Darcy glanced at the doorway. 

“Yes, he is on his way.”  Samuel smiled.  “He was talking to his wife when I passed their rooms.”

“He is well used to holding his liquor.”  Bingley jumped up and started wandering the room.  “Well?”

The three looked between each other curiously.  “Well, what?”  Richard asked.

“Miss Bennet!”  Bingley spun and sat down.  “What do you think?”

“Oh.”  Darcy sighed.  “I did not really pay much attention, but what I did see, she seemed . . .” He searched for a word.  “Content.”

“
Content?
  That is all?”  Bingley frowned.

“Complacent?  Relaxed?”  Richard offered.  “Honestly, Bingley, I saw no more excitement from her when she was talking to you than when she spoke to Samuel; or anyone else for that matter.” 

“She was the model for excellent manners.”  Samuel glanced at Darcy who closed his eyes, “Very sweet and kind.”

“I heard rumours floating around about an engagement, although I think the source was her mother.”  Richard glanced at Darcy whose eyes were still closed. 

“I think that if it was up to Mrs. Bennet, there would be a double wedding on Saturday.”  Hurst announced with a chuckle as he joined the party. 

“Good heavens!”  Bingley looked around the room and snapped his mouth shut and creased his brow.  “Would she want me?”

“What do
you
think?”  Richard demanded.  “You will not be wedding her by committee; you will be alone with her.  What do you think she is feeling?”

“I do not know.  I thought that I did, until you all started throwing words at me.  Complacent.”  He looked to Darcy pleadingly.  “Have I been entirely wrong?”

Darcy first looked at Richard.  “I am glad to see that you are learning, Cousin.”  Then he turned to Bingley.  “I only know for certain one woman’s emotions.  This you must determine for yourself.  This business that takes you to London, how long will it keep you there?”

“No more than a week, I would say.  Why?”

“Unless you are ready to ask Miss Bennet if she likes you, why not refrain from adding more fuel to the fire Mrs. Bennet is fanning, avoid Miss Bennet until the wedding and tell her that you expect to return in a week’s time, then go and conduct your affairs.  That separation will certainly give both of you a chance to think clearly, and when you return, pay a call.”

“Could you not ask Miss Elizabeth what her sister thinks?  You will be visiting today?”

“No, I will be visiting tomorrow, she asked me to stay away today.”  Darcy frowned and got to his feet.  “I think I will go take a ride.”

“Did I not just propose that?”  Bingley jumped up. 

“Alone, Bingley.  I have things to think about.  So do you.” 

“I AM IN A QUANDRY, Mr. Bennet.”  Mr. Collins paced about the study with his hands behind his back, pausing from time to time to examine a book or the finish on a piece of furniture.  Spotting his host’s gaze he cleared his throat.  “I came here to find a wife, my patroness demands it, and you indicated it was preferable that I do so quickly.”

“I did.”

“My first choice seems no closer to a happy union today than she was when I arrived,” he looked at Mr. Bennet and turned away from the man’s raised eyebrow, “despite the gossip I heard spread liberally about the ballroom last night.”

“Nonetheless, Jane is not available.  And neither is Lizzy.”

Mr. Collins cleared his throat delicately.  “No, I obviously would not think of upsetting my patroness’ nephew with such a suggestion again.”

“Especially as their wedding is in three days, and Mr. Darcy has made it quite clear his feelings about our proposal.” 

“Yes.  Ahem, well . . . hence, my quandary, sir.  I began to consider my cousin Mary yesterday evening.  A poor substitute for Jane or Elizabeth, both in age and looks, but the thought crossed my mind . . .”

“Yes, Mr. Collins?”

“My patroness has expressed extreme displeasure with her nephew’s choice of a bride.  I cannot help but think that she would not be at all pleased to have her sister as my wife!  Most seriously displeased!”

“So you have concluded that you cannot propose to Mary?”  Mr. Bennet sat up.  “And who will you take home, then?”

“Miss Charlotte Lucas seemed very welcoming to me last evening . . . most welcoming.”

“Of course she was, she is seven and twenty, a spinster, you are her last hope.”  Mr. Bennet watched him splutter.  “Get on with it, Collins, what do you want?  You are not pacing my bookroom for the exercise.”

“I . . . Lady Catherine cannot take the living away from me, but she can make things very . . . uncomfortable.  I . . . if I were to take Mary, as a favour to you, sir, would you be willing to let me, let us, live here . . . sooner than expected?”

“Before I die, you mean?  In the master’s chambers, I suppose?”

“Well, I
am
to inherit . . .”

“Over my dead body.” 

“Ahem, yes, well, perhaps that is premature. Would we be welcome?”

“My daughters are always welcome in their home.”  His smile faded, thinking of his plan for Elizabeth.  “This is not the result I would wish for; I still feel that Mary is too young.  But if she will have you, I will give my consent.”  He shook his head.  “And likely nobody will say a word.”

“About what subject, sir?”  Mr. Collins asked. 

“Mr. Darcy proposed to Elizabeth, and will marry her in days.  The fuss that generated was outrageous.  Here you come into town and wish to marry not only three of my daughters, but a neighbour.  You will likely propose to one of them within two weeks of meeting her, and nobody will bat an eye.”  He shook his head again.  “Ridiculous.” 

“I cannot be compared with the magnificence of Mr. Darcy.  I am merely a humble cleric and heir to the estate.”  Mr. Bennet sighed to himself.  “And, I propose a long engagement.”  Mr. Collins sniffed.

“Of course you do.”  Mr. Bennet waved his hand dismissively.  “Well sir, if you have courting and considering to perform; I suggest that you do not belong in my bookroom, but elsewhere in this house.”

“Yes, sir, I will begin immediately.”   Bowing, the little man backed away and left the room. 

Mr. Bennet sat still in his chair; his hands folded over his belly, and stared out of the window at the trees bending in the brisk wind.  His hopes were falling apart all around him, and alone, he did not hide the emotions that played around his face.  Hearing a knock he straightened in his chair and looked to the door.  “Lizzy.” 

She studied him as she entered and closed the door behind her.  He appeared to have aged again.  “Are you well, Papa?”

“Of course, I am not used to dancing until dawn.”  Smiling, he indicated her favourite chair.  “How are you?”

“Tired, worried . . . anxious for time to pass and wishing for it to slow down all at once.”  Elizabeth looked up at him then out of the window as if hoping to see someone.  “What was Mr. Collins asking you about?  After dancing with him last night, I am so glad not to be, as he put it, ‘his companion for his future life’ despite the honour he would undoubtedly bestow upon me.”  She smiled and seeing her father did not, it faded.  “Papa, will you please tell me why you wanted me to marry him?  And so very quickly?  I will be a married woman in days.  I will be leaving this house.  I want to understand why you would be so set against Fitzwilliam.” 

“Is it only a few weeks ago that you were sure he was the most boorish man alive?”