Pride and Prescience (3 page)

She returned his smile. “I would not separate a newly engaged couple for the world.” She instead sat down across from Parrish and Miss Bingley to better observe them together. Charlotte took a seat beside her husband.

“Allow me to compliment you on a lovely wedding,” said Mr. Parrish. They were words she’d heard often enough today, yet his warm manner made Elizabeth believe he actually meant them.

“Allow me to congratulate you on your forthcoming one. Have you fixed upon a date?”

“Wednesday next, by special license,” Miss Bingley declared.

Elizabeth suppressed growing irritation at Caroline’s timing. First she had announced her engagement today; now she planned to wed next week. Why must the woman schedule her own nuptials so soon after theirs? Merely to broadcast Mr. Parrish’s ability to pay the substantial fee required for the license?

Ruefully, she thought of the idyllic plans she’d just described to Charlotte. She and Mr. Darcy could not with propriety escape attendance at Miss Bingley’s wedding simply to advance their own domestic felicity. Now, instead of retiring to Pemberley for the winter, they would scarcely reach it before having to return. “So soon?” she asked, entertaining an irrational hope that she had somehow misheard.

Mr. Parrish regarded Miss Bingley with an ardent look, seeming to draw sustenance from the mere sight of her. “I’m afraid I cannot remain patient any longer than that. Caroline has utterly enchanted me.” He turned to Elizabeth. “The ceremony will take place in London. You and Mr. Darcy will attend, won’t you?”

Not yet ready to commit irrevocably to altering their Pemberley plans, she hedged. “Provided the weather permits travel.”

“A sensible response. Even well-traveled roads can be unpredictable this time of year—I discovered that when I arrived in London last December to my first taste of winter. It took me some time to grow accustomed to your English weather.”

“I daresay it’s a good deal different than Louisiana. How do you get on now?”

He grinned. “Under an umbrella, most days. That is, when I can see where I’m going through all the fog.”

The fog—
that
explained Mr. Parrish’s attraction to Miss Bingley. He could not see what he was getting himself into.

“A twelvemonth is a long time to be away from home,” Elizabeth said. “Do you miss the States?”

“Not as much as I thought I would. When my father passed away, I wanted a change of scenery, so I came here in search of my mother’s relatives in Hampshire. Sadly, I found none living. But I fell in love with the country—and my dear Caroline.” He glanced at Miss Bingley once more, his countenance full of more admiration than Elizabeth had ever thought Caroline capable of earning. Miss Bingley, who had appeared vexed that any of Mr. Parrish’s attention had been focused on someone other than herself, now allowed a smile to once more cross her features.

“And when will you return to Monts Joyeux?”

“Mr. Parrish intends to sell his plantation,” Miss Bingley said quickly. “We’ll purchase an estate here in England. Until then, we’ll live in town. He’s leased a house in Upper Brook Street.”

So obvious was Miss Bingley’s lack of interest in ever laying eyes on Mr. Parrish’s home, that Elizabeth wondered whether his decision to sell it had come before or after their courtship began. She had little time to ponder the question, however, as her Aunt Gardiner soon caught her gaze and discreetly beckoned. Elizabeth made her apologies and headed over to where her aunt and uncle yet stood with Mr. Darcy. His sister, Georgiana, had joined them.

Her husband took her arm. “I have a proposal for you.”

“Another one? You’ve only just made good on your last.”

“Not for want of resolution, I assure you.”

“Yes, I know—we could have wed weeks ago, had we but considered no one’s feelings save our own. Whatever were we
thinking? Next time we shall have to do the business in a hasty manner, as seems to be the fashion, so as to trouble as many people as possible.”

“Next time?”

“My mother is in such a state of rapture over marrying off two of her daughters on the same day, that I have determined to make this an annual event. Though in alternating years, perhaps I should marry Bingley and you should wed Jane, just to keep the clergyman in a perpetual state of confusion.” Indeed, Mr. Edwards had tripped over everybody’s names so many times in the double ceremony that Elizabeth could not be certain that the four of them weren’t all married to each other.

“And during the years I’m wed to Jane, will she assail my ears with such outrageousness as this?”

“I venture not. Life with her will be orderly, peaceful, and predictable.”

“Then I will have none of it.”

She smiled up at him, happy that the light teasing which had marked their courtship had extended—at least so far—into their marriage. She didn’t know what she would do if her more straightlaced husband ever became impatient with the liveliness of her mind. “So tell me, what is this proposal of which you spoke?”

He glanced at Georgiana and the Gardiners. “Would it disappoint you greatly to postpone our journey to Derbyshire?”

The query came as little surprise. “Until after Miss Bingley’s wedding?” She sighed. Much as they longed to reach Pemberley, remaining in Hertfordshire was the more sensible course. “I’m sure Jane won’t mind us extending our stay at Netherfield.”

“I have a different notion—I thought we could honeymoon in London while we wait. We can go to the theatre, perhaps some museums. You could meet more of my social acquaintance.
If we leave within the hour, we can be at the townhouse by dinner.”

“And you can have it to yourselves,” added Mrs. Gardiner. “Miss Darcy has consented to return to London with us as our guest.”

Elizabeth turned to Georgiana in surprise. Since their father’s death, Darcy’s sister had made London her primary residence. “But the townhouse is your home.”

The young woman laid a gentle hand on her arm. “A newlywed couple deserves some privacy. And our family has been just my brother and me for so long that I’m looking forward to getting to know yours better. I’ll accompany you to Pemberley after Miss Bingley’s wedding, or I can simply travel with the Gardiners. Please say yes, Elizabeth—will you refuse the very first request of your new sister?”

“Of course not.” She felt a twinge of disappointment, as she’d been looking forward to settling into her new home with her new husband. The delay, however, would be of short duration, and Darcy had devised a pleasant way to pass the interim.

She turned to him with an arch look. “But it’s going to cost you.”

“Indeed?”

“Surely you cannot expect your wife to stay a week in London without visiting a shop or two?”

Mr. Gardiner chuckled. “Welcome to the life of a married man, Mr. Darcy. Beware, or she’ll make a Grand Tour of every draper and milliner in Oxford Street.”

“Nay, I have trunks full of new wedding clothes.”

“Where, then?” Darcy asked.

She tilted her chin, her eyes delivering her husband a playful dare. “Can you not guess?”

His gaze narrowed as he studied her. “Will this errand take us to Piccadilly?” he said finally.

“It shall.”

“Then it will indeed cost me dearly.” He gave her an approving smile before turning to Mr. Gardiner. “Did my wife wish to examine the latest muslins at Grafton House, the expense would be small, for she yet shies from spending my money on herself. Instead, she lures me to Hatchard’s bookshop, where I will be tempted to purchase more than she does.”

“As I recall, Pemberley’s collection is already quite extensive,” said Mr. Gardiner. “But the library of a great house can never have too many books.”

“Agreed. Particularly if there are any deficiencies that want correction to accommodate my new wife’s reading tastes.”

“Fortunately, Elizabeth is hardly one to fill your shelves with nothing but gothic romances, as some young ladies would.”

While Mr. Gardiner’s statement was true, she felt called upon to defend a genre that had provided her many hours’ enjoyment. “Though, Uncle, I do take pleasure in them, as in many other things, and will probably add a few to Pemberley’s shelves.”

“You shall be happy to discover, then, that the library already holds quite a few novels, including gothics,” Georgiana said. “We own all of Mrs. Radcliffe’s books. My brother has even read
Udolpho
.”

“A ‘horrid mystery’ in every sense of the phrase,” Darcy declared.

“But diverting?” Elizabeth challenged.

“Yes,” he admitted. “And if you want a trunkful of similar tales, I will happily indulge you.”

“What think you, Georgiana?” Elizabeth asked, her gaze never leaving Darcy. “Will I always enjoy such generosity from your brother, or must I seize it while we’re still in early days?”

He replied as if they stood alone. “All I have is ever yours.”

At last, they took leave of their guests. As their carriage headed toward London, Elizabeth pondered the irony of Miss
Bingley keeping her away from Pemberley just a little bit longer. But then Darcy took her hand in his and gave her a kiss that chased away all unpleasant thoughts.

Let Miss Bingley bask in the glow of her own newfound love. Today Elizabeth could begrudge no one happiness.

Next week, however—that would be another matter. When it came to warm feelings toward Caroline Bingley, even newlywed bliss had its limits.

“A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment.”

Mr. Darcy to Miss Bingley,
Pride and Prejudice,
Chapter 6

I
n the privacy of their coach, Darcy enfolded Elizabeth in his arms. He closed his eyes and kissed the top of her head, noting that her soft brown hair still retained the fragrance of orange blossoms. He savored the moment, still amazed by the knowledge that she was his wife now. They had an infinite number of such moments ahead.

“You’re sure you don’t mind going to London?” he asked.

“Pemberley will still be there in a se’ennight. Besides, much as I adore your sister, I rather like the prospect of having you all to myself.”

As much as he adored Georgiana,
he
rather liked that prospect. He tightened his embrace. “I hope you still feel that way when we arrive at an empty townhouse that has just been shut down for the winter. I sent word to the housekeeper that we’re coming, but the rider can’t be far ahead of us.”

“Ah, the inconvenience of Miss Bingley’s hasty nuptials expands.”

“So you
do
mind. Does it upset you that she used our wedding as a forum for her own announcement?”

“I confess, I was vexed at first. But then I saw them together. Mr. Parrish seems truly besotted with her, and she with him. Have they known each other long?”

He stretched out his legs as far as he could, angling them toward the opposite side of the carriage. “I believe they met at Almack’s when we were all in town last winter.”

“The infamous ‘marriage mart’? Was it love at first sight?”

“I wouldn’t know—I avoid the place myself.” Most of the
ton
considered Almack’s
the
place to meet men and women of proper quality, but he found the club, with its perpetual parade of debutantes seeking husbands, distasteful. Though it was the most exclusive club in London, he declined all invitations to its balls, and had directed Georgiana to do the same upon her coming out.

Her eyes shone with merriment. “Lucky for me, or some accomplished lady with a handsome face would have tempted you long before you laid eyes on my tolerable countenance.”

He winced at the memory of the snub he’d incautiously uttered within her hearing the evening they first met—an opinion he’d long since reversed. “Will you never let me forget that most undeserved slight?”

“Never. I delight too much in teasing you about it.” Her fingertips gently smoothed his creased brow. “Fortunately, I’m not a vain woman. I doubt Mr. Parrish could have overcome such an adverse start to his acquaintance with Miss Bingley. Not that I can imagine him saying such a thing given how rapidly he formed an attachment to her.”

“He does seem devoted.”

“Did you know him before today?”

“We met a few times. You will recall that I spent part of last spring at Rosings, so I was absent for much of the official
season. He seems an amiable fellow, with exceptionally good manners for an American. I understand he’s very well liked in town—more than one lady will be unhappy to hear of his engagement.”

“That is usually the case, when a wealthy man weds. You and Bingley dashed countless hopes today. Alas, the cruelty of a double wedding!”

His wife flattered him—Darcy could think of no woman mourning the end of his bachelorhood. “I expect any disappointed young misses will quickly recover.”

“I was speaking of their mothers.”

The twenty-four miles to London passed quickly, thanks to fair weather and his wife’s company. As the carriage pulled up to the townhouse, Darcy wished he could have given his housekeeper and her severely reduced staff enough notice to properly prepare the home for the arrival of its new mistress, but there was no helping that now. Mrs. Hale, he was sure, would have at least managed to uncover the furniture, light fires in the main rooms, and prepare dinner. Once the servants he’d recalled from Pemberley returned, they would have a more comfortable stay.

He assisted Elizabeth out of the carriage, retaining her hand in his as he led her up the steps in the waning winter light. He squeezed her fingers as he opened the front door. “Welcome home, Mrs. Darcy.”

They discovered, however, that the home was hardly welcoming. Naught but the sounds of clanking keys and hurried footfalls greeted them in the dim vestibule. A moment later, a very startled Mrs. Hale appeared, lamp in hand. “Who’s there?”

“It’s only us, Mrs. Hale.”

“Mr. Darcy? Sir?” The housekeeper’s eyes widened as she took in the sight of her master, accompanied by her new mistress. Her ruddy complexion turned an even deeper shade of red. “I—I’m so sorry, sir—I thought you were going to Pemberley
after the wedding? Oh, dear! I must have misunderstood your instructions! Miss Ben—Mrs. Darcy—Madam, forgive me for not having the house done up proper to receive you!”