Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge (15 page)

The Bingley siblings were not having much success in their eating of humble pie. The Lady Matlock had received them coolly, listened to Miss Bingley's stuttered apology, and informed them she would have to curtail their visit, as she was going out.

At the Bennet household, they were only able to meet with Miss Bennet, as her sister was on an outing with Miss Darcy. Jane grudgingly accepted Caroline's expressions of regret but succinctly explained that since Elizabeth had been the intended victim of the cut, Miss Bingley would have to seek her sister's absolution at another time. When they were back in their carriage, Caroline reminded her brother he was supposed to do most of the talking and gently chided him for, instead, spending his time staring in tongue-tied adoration at Miss Bennet.

At Darcy House, the Bingleys did manage to make two apologies at once; Lady Anne and her youngest daughter were kind and merciful. Caroline was dismayed she would have to return again to gain Miss Darcy's forgiveness. When Charles asked to see his friend, he was told Darcy was indisposed. As the Bingleys left the townhouse, Charles said, "I hope Darcy is actually indisposed and is not avoiding me." He quickly added, "Not that I hope Darcy is indisposed, I just meant ... "

"Charles, I know what you meant; and I am sure Darcy is not avoiding you. Speaking of avoiding, I truly wish to be away from London for a while. I have already written to our aunt and uncle; and with their permission, I will travel north and spend the winter months there. I promise to call on Miss Elizabeth and Miss Darcy before I depart, but please allow me to leave this place soon. I need some time away to reflect and decide on my future ... if I even have one."

As the Bingley carriage drove away from the Darcy townhouse, Georgiana alit from hers and ran up the front steps. The footman waiting to receive Miss Darcy's outerwear was left empty-handed until the young lady spun around and thrust two little dogs at him. She then bounded up the stairs in a most unladylike manner, pulled off her bonnet and spencer, handed them to a passing chambermaid, and asked, "Where is my brother?" Upon being informed he was in his room and was not to be disturbed until dinner, Georgiana muttered, "Oh, really? Well, we shall just see about that."

The usually impeccable Fitzwilliam Darcy had fallen asleep on top of his bed, still clad in wrinkled shirt, breeches, and waistcoat; he would have been horrified had he known his state. The left side of his face rested on a ribbed cushion that was damp from the drool that seeped from his open mouth; and his lusty, forceful snores echoed in the hallway. A concurrent incessant pounding in his aching head and on his chamber door rudely awakened him, and the blasted banging finally ceased but was immediately replaced by Georgiana's raised and excited voice. "Fitzwilliam, open this door, right now! I urgently need to speak with you."

A muffled mumble of "Go away!" was ignored by the impatient young lady.

"No, brother, I most certainly shall not. I have news of the utmost importance to reveal to you. Please, Fitzwilliam, I promise it is of the happiest nature; and you will be pleased, if you would just ... open ... this ... confounded ... door!" She fruitlessly pushed on the oaken panel with her shoulder, jangled the knob, and nearly fell to the floor when the portal suddenly burst open.

Fitzwilliam caught her but snapped, "Why are you constantly cutting up my peace today, Georgiana? What does a man have to do to be allowed a restorative nap this afternoon?"

Miss Darcy grinned hugely at her dishevelled sibling and said, "It would take more than just a nap to restore you to some semblance of order, brother; and such testy manners and slovenly appearance do little to tempt me to reveal what I have just learned."

Red diagonal lines crossed the left side of Darcy's face, his eyes were only half open, and hair was plastered to one side of his head but puffed up on the other. "Georgiana, was I rudely awakened merely for the purpose of being subjected to ridicule? I thought you said there was urgent news of a happy nature. The only words that would truly be joyous to me right now would be those telling me I may go back to sleep ... or those informing me dunderhead, dung-beetle Dun has been found guilty of treason."

"Brother, do you not get
tired
of sleeping? Seriously though, you should have compassion for the poor Lieutenant-Colonel and the misfortune he has suffered at Elizabeth's hand."

"His misfortune!" repeated Darcy contemptuously. "Yes, his misfortune is great indeed. Imagine having won Elizabeth's hand and having to spend the rest of his life with such a wife! How
ever
shall he bear such tribulation and woe? Nonetheless, by all means, let him have my compassion as well as my woman."

"Tsk, tsk. Well, perhaps now would be an opportune time to offer you my compassion for having to spend the rest of
your
life with such a woman as Elizabeth Bennet."

Fitzwilliam snorted and scoffed, "There is no other woman such as Elizabeth Bennet."

"Sometimes you are as thick as two short planks, brother. You do not deserve her." She turned her back on him and said, "Apparently, neither did Dun, poor man."

"Georgiana, my mind must still be somewhat befogged right now, because it sounds as if you are saying she is ... unattached." Darcy gently turned her around but could scarcely breathe as he awaited his sister's response.

"I just spoke with Elizabeth ... " Darcy was suddenly fully awake and alert. He hung on every word his sister excitedly uttered. " ... and she
is
absolutely unattached, single, eligible, unengaged, in love with you, unencumbered, and as free as a bird."

"Good God! Did you just say she is in love with me and unfettered? But is it certain, absolutely certain?" When his sister eagerly nodded, Darcy's headache and heartache suddenly vanished and he felt ten feet tall instead of his usual six feet, one and a half inches. "I shall go to her at once! I must not lose her again. It must be settled between us immediately. Miss Elizabeth Bennet's days of being unattached, single, eligible, and unengaged are numbered, Georgie." He stumbled around in search of his cravat, coat, and shoes.

Georgiana quickly snatched the coat and shoes from the heap on the floor while her brother fumbled around under the bed. She hid the items away in his dressing room and returned to find him in the middle of the room looking around in bewilderment. "You forgot 'unencumbered,' Fitzwilliam. However, if you arrive at Elizabeth's home in your current state, you will surely
be
an encumbrance. 'Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread.' So please give her some time; and by all means, do not go to her looking like
that
! I hope she never has to suffer such an unsightly sight after you two marry. Ugh! You are certainly no Bond Street Beau right now, brother, trust me."

Georgiana wrinkled her nose and pretended to shudder. He grinned sheepishly before she continued, "It might be romantic to let her know your feelings tomorrow night at the ball, when we are all perfumed, polished, and perfectly pleasing; but that is all the advice you shall cajole from me. I do have my own courtship to enjoy, you know. I must go now and make myself beautiful before Mr. Fleming arrives." She turned away and started toward her own chamber.

"Georgie? Wait."

"Yes, brother?"

Fitzwilliam Darcy took two long strides that brought him to her side and he bent and kissed her cheek. "Thank you, and you do not have to
make
yourself beautiful. You are already truly, and naturally, beautiful in every way."

"Oh, Jane, you are truly, and naturally, beautiful in every way; and I am sure Mr. Bingley would agree. Thank you for handling his sister's visit so well. Still and all, you should not have had to endure that misery alone. I am very sorry I was not here with you. However, Miss Darcy and I had a rather ...
interesting
conversation while you were entertaining. I will tell you more of it later. Suffice it to say I expect her brother will begin courting me now that a certain army officer is out of his way. I may only have one charming suitor at tomorrow night's ball while you, dear Jane, shall surely have to contend with at least two very attractive and amiable young men vying for your attention. Do you hold any special regard for either?"

"Lizzy, I realize how much you are in love with Mr. Darcy and you seemed to know the moment you first saw him. I have not the luxury of coup de foudre, if there is such a thing as love at first sight. You are fortunate to know your heart's desire so well, but it was not a bolt of lightning for me. I admit I am attracted to both Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Bingley; still, I am uncertain. In Derbyshire, Mr. Bingley almost irritated me with his fawning attentions while the Colonel seemed indifferent. Now the boot is quite on the other leg, as they say; and of late my feelings have been shifting about pretty much. If I could combine Mr. Bingley's sweetness with Colonel Fitzwilliam's magnetism, such a man would be quite irresistible."

"Yes, one has all the appearance of goodness and the other has a very good appearance. Take your choice, Jane; nevertheless, you must be satisfied with only one. Perhaps the selection will come down to which of your gallant gentlemen is the better dancer, for they will both want to stand up with you tomorrow night and sweep you off your feet."

"Lizzy, do be serious. Such an important decision cannot rely on such a contest. Oh, how is one to decide between two such remarkable men ... two such remarkably handsome and very appealing men? Did you notice how well they looked that day at Pemberley ... when we first met? My goodness, the Colonel is a fine specimen of dazzling masculine beauty, is he not?"

"I thought you were not looking then. You certainly scolded me twice for staring."

"Well, I did sneak a few glances while you were ogling Mr. Darcy. I must say, Fitzwilliam's clothing was clinging in a most provocative manner."

"Well, that certainly settles it, Jane. Their names are just too similar. We must avoid confusion; therefore, you shall simply
have
to choose Mr. Bingley."

"How have you arrived at that nonsensical reasoning?"

"I have no idea whether you were referring to Fitzwilliam Darcy's or Richard Fitzwilliam's provocatively clinging clothing."

Fitzwilliam Darcy stepped from the tub and donned a silk robe that clung provocatively to his damp body. He was then shaved and dressed with the assistance of his faithful valet. By the time he left his chambers, he felt no lingering affects from the afternoon's indulgences. He joined his father in the drawing room while they waited for the ladies and their guest, Ellis Fleming.

"Ah, Fitzwilliam, recovered, are you?"

"I beg your pardon, Father?"

"I heard you were sick as a cushion this afternoon ... something to do with gross overindulgence and being ape-drunk and on the cut at Whites, I believe."

"Yes, well, I am unsure how you came about that exaggerated piece of on-dit, but I assure you I did not make a cake of myself at the club. Fleming fortuitously arrived before I could actually accomplish that and accompanied me home."

"He is a fine fellow, that Fleming; and I will have no hesitation when he asks for Georgiana's hand."

"Speaking of asking for hands, Father, I should inform you I intend to make an offer of marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bennet in the near future."

George Darcy scowled at his son and walked across the room to gaze out the window. "You can do better, Fitzwilliam. You know I want you to marry a woman with a title or at least a vast amount of wealth. You may be infatuated with a vivacious young beauty from a decent family; however, you can have your pick of the country's very finest ladies. Why settle for less? Do not be so hasty in making such an important decision."

"I very nearly lost her by being slow and careful, and I will not take such a risk again. Miss Elizabeth
is
my pick from the country's finest women. I would certainly not be settling for less, because she is everything I desire in a wife, and more. Why would I want to marry some snobbish, vain, mean, empty-headed woman of the haut ton just because she has a title when I can have a modest, kind, natural, witty, intelligent, and caring lady?"