Chance Encounters Page 5

  “Well Bingley, how was Scarborough?”

  “Oh, you know the same as usual, distant relations, asking annoying questions.” He grinned, “When will you marry? When will you buy an estate? Why are you so thin? When is Caroline going to marry Darcy?” Darcy looked up and glared, and Bingley laughed, “It became a bit wearing.”

  “If that was your entertainment, I am surprised you stayed away so long. By the way, did you answer all their important questions?”

  “You know that I did not, simply because I have no answers.”

  Darcy looked at his friend, then down at his desk, casually drawing a circle with his finger on the polished wood. “When do you intend to take up residence at Netherfield? That might quiet down your relatives’ concerns.”

  Bingley raised his brows. “Ah, you do remember that I leased an estate. By your asking, may I hope that you are at last ready to accompany me there?”

  “Perhaps, not right away, I have some important work here in town, and of course, I am due to visit Aunt Catherine for Easter. I would, I think be able to come to Netherfield in say, mid-April for a time, before I would have to return to Pemberley for the spring planting.”

  “Excellent!” Bingley said excitedly. “I was thinking that I would do well to move in at the end of March. I could have the house opened and ready for guests by the time that you arrived.” He looked at his friend, “Of course, you know, Caroline would be there as well.”

  Darcy sighed. “Forgive me Bingley, but that is not going to encourage me to visit.”

  “Ha!” Charles knew quite well that his sister’s single-minded pursuit of his friend was most unwelcome, and no matter how many times he had told her that, she absolutely refused to believe that she would not win him in the end. “Well, perhaps I can convince her to stay in town for the Season a bit longer. It should be in full swing by that time. But, if her choice is the frivolity of London versus pursuing you, it will be a hard call!” Bingley laughed at the grimace on Darcy’s face. Realizing that he had pushed his friend far enough, he changed the subject. “It was a surprise to see you at the theatre the other night, did you ever catch up with you quarry?”

  Bingley’s mouth almost dropped open with astonishment when he saw a slow warm smile spread over Darcy’s face. He had known him for nearly seven years, and such expressions of happiness on his friend’s countenance were rare, and always worthy of note.

  Darcy looked up and spoke softly, “Yes, Bingley, I caught up with my quarry.”

  “And??”

  “And what?”

  “Come on Darcy, you never smile like that.”

  His assertion just made Darcy’s smile broaden. “You are quite right, I do not, but I have a feeling that it is an expression that you will just have to accustom yourself to seeing.” He met Bingley’s eye, “And I have nothing more to add at this time.”

  “You cannot just leave me hanging like this!” Bingley was almost whining.

  “I can, and I shall. Now, I am very sorry, but I have an appointment at eleven o’clock, and I must prepare to leave. Perhaps you could join us for dinner on Sunday? I am sure that Georgiana will be happy to see you.”

  Looking at him suspiciously, he tried once again, “You will not even give me a hint?” Darcy’s smile barely lifted the corners of his mouth, but his eyes twinkled merrily. Shaking his head, he sighed. “Yes, I would be very pleased to join you for dinner on Sunday. Perhaps your sister will be able to shed some light on this mysterious happiness you are displaying.” Darcy just looked at him, his expression staying the same. “Shall I bring my sisters and brother along?”

  The smile instantly disappeared, “No. No offense Bingley, but I would very much like to have a very select company at this dinner.”

  Now it was Bingley’s turn to grin. “Oh ho! Well this could be quite an interesting evening, indeed! Very well then, the secret is safe with me. I am looking forward to it.”

  THURSDAY MORNING Elizabeth again sat in the window and watched for Mr. Darcy’s carriage. Her thoughts drifted back to last autumn, and the reality of her life as she had come to finally understand it. She realized that she had come to more frequently rely on taking long solitary walks through the countryside, both for exercise, and escape. She alone had inherited her father’s intelligence and curiosity for the written word. They spent many long hours discussing and debating books and newspaper articles. Elizabeth devoured everything that she could get her hands on. This made her a brilliant conversationalist, quite regularly besting her father in her arguments, but at the same time, it was making her painfully aware of how limited and hopeless her life would be. She could not delude herself into thinking that she would ever find a man in the small society that was Hertfordshire who could match or exceed her in knowledge, wit, and interest in the world. Where her personal qualities were assets, lack of dowry and connections had doomed her to a poor selection of suitors. It was unlikely that she would ever receive a decent offer of marriage, let alone the one that she and her sister Jane craved, from a man she could respect, esteem and love for himself, and not for the value of his pocketbook. She knew that it was a rare marriage indeed that was based on love, and she had a daily example before her on the risk of utter failure that was a marriage of indifference. She would prefer a life alone rather than settle for that. She was feeling increasingly trapped, and lonely.

  She remembered attending the autumn assembly in Meryton. Presented with the same faces, and general lack of men and good conversation, Elizabeth took the event in stride and simply enjoyed the companionship of her friends and neighbours, even if they did not fill her dance card. There was just nobody special, new, or different present, a disappointment again. She realized that she was ready for a new life, and hoped that when the opportunity presented itself, she would be able to recognize it.

  The sound of an approaching carriage brought Elizabeth’s thoughts back to the present. Seeing it come to a halt in front of the house, she felt her breath catch when Darcy’s tall figure emerged. Placing his hat on his head, she watched him carefully adjust a large book and his walking stick in his grasp. When he looked up to her window, she saw the expectation in his face and delight that suffused his countenance when their eyes met. He hastened up the steps. Elizabeth quickly stood, smoothing her skirts and hair, finally desisting when she hear her aunt’s amused laugh.

  Darcy entered and bowed, “Good Morning Mrs. Gardiner, Miss Bennet, I hope that you and your family are well?”

  “Yes they are, thank you Mr. Darcy,” smiled Mrs. Gardiner after the ladies rose from their curtsies. “Would you please take a seat?”

  After taking his place on the sofa next to Elizabeth, he carefully set down the book. Elizabeth’s dancing eyes met his hopeful ones. “May I ask after Miss Darcy?”

  “I am very happy to tell you that after speaking to her of the bravery of an astonishing young woman, her spirits are so roused that I hardly recognize her.”

  Surprised and gratified, she looked at him. His expression had become serious. “Truly, Mr. Darcy? I am so very pleased to hear this news.”

  “I cannot begin to tell you how pleased I am to bring it to you.” Then looking first to Mrs. Gardiner, he added, “I am looking forward to introducing you both to her tomorrow afternoon. Shall I send my carriage to pick you up at three o’clock?

  “That would be very kind of you, sir.”

  “It is my pleasure, Mrs. Gardiner.” Glancing again at Elizabeth’s gentle smile, he took a breath and added, “I would also like to take the opportunity now to invite you and Mr. Gardiner for Sunday dinner. My cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam will be there, as well as my good friend, Charles Bingley. You may remember that Mr. Bingley has taken the lease for Netherfield, and it will be an opportunity to meet your new neighbour. I am also hoping that my aunt Lady Elaine Fitzwilliam, and my uncle, Lord Henry Fitzwilliam, the Earl of Matlock will be able to attend as well.

  Elizabeth blushed and looked down. She was well aware of the honour
he was bestowing on her, and the value he must have for her if he wanted to introduce her to his relatives. Mrs. Gardiner observed her niece; and realizing she was overcome with emotion and did not dislike the idea, accepted on their behalf and thanked Darcy.

  When Elizabeth had gathered her wits, she met Darcy’s anxious eyes, and immediately smiled to reassure him. She felt her heart jump when he smiled, seeing how a simple gesture from her so quickly made him happy.

  Her smile growing, she teased, “Mr. Darcy, should we be worried that you were concerned about being bored during your visit, or do you always bring reading material on calls?”

  Darcy laughed, “No Miss Bennet, I assure you, I had no fear of discontent in your company. I was thinking of our conversation last night, and remembered I had this book in my library.” He moved slightly closer, “This was a gift to my mother from my father on the occasion of their first anniversary.” Opening the cover carefully, and paging past the inscription from his father, he revealed the first illustration. Elizabeth’s gasp of delight sent a shiver up his spine

  “Oh how beautiful! Is this the Lake District?” She was beaming.

  “Yes, my parents spent their honeymoon there in a cottage we own.” Stealing a glance into her eyes, he continued, “It is a Darcy tradition to bring a new bride to this magical place to begin their new lives together.” He was thrilled to see Elizabeth’s deep blush, the tingle in his spine spread over the rest of his body.

  Mrs. Gardiner, closely watching the conversation, felt it was time to step in. “This seems to be a very special volume Mr. Darcy, and we are most grateful that you would wish to share it with us.”

  Returning from the joyful place his thoughts had taken him, he looked to Mrs. Gardiner. “You are welcome to keep it as long as you like. I am sure that it will be safe in your care.”

  “That is very generous of you, sir. It is obviously valuable for both monetary and sentimental reasons. My husband and children will enjoy it. I will make sure that only adults will turn the pages.”

  Elizabeth, again recovered from a blush, “Mr. Darcy, we seem to be blessed with lovely weather again today. Shall we begin our walk in the park and enjoy this sunshine?”

  Darcy instantly agreed. Soon the couple had donned their outerwear and were standing on the sidewalk. Mrs. Gardiner, from her post at the window, saw that he did not hesitate to offer his arm to Elizabeth, and she likewise did not hesitate to accept it. Watching them thoughtfully, she decided that it would be a very good thing for Jane to come and visit, and help her sister sort out all of the different emotions she must be experiencing. Mrs. Gardiner knew many couples who married after only weeks of knowing each other, and some who only met on the wedding day due to prearranged marriages, so it was not too unusual to see a courtship proceed so quickly. She just wanted to be sure that both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were certain of their feelings. She looked forward to observing his family’s reaction to her and her lower connections on Sunday. That would be a good indicator of how she would be received by society, and whether it would be with the family’s support. This might also show how happy Mr. Darcy would be with her in the future. Surely his relationship with his family would have to affect the marriage on some level. She saw perhaps what Elizabeth was only beginning to realize, that Mr. Darcy was her match in every way.

  Setting off briskly, Darcy was pleased to see that Elizabeth’s claims of being a good walker were quite true. “Miss Bennet, if you keep up this pace, we will have completed the circuit of this park in mere moments; and I will be forced to return you to your aunt entirely too soon.”

  Elizabeth looked up with surprise, “Forgive me Mr. Darcy, I did not realize that I was tiring you.”

  “I do not believe that was what I was implying, Miss Bennet.”

  “No?”

  “No.”

  “Then perhaps you should speak more clearly, Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth was flirting shamelessly, and Darcy knew it. Deciding to strike back, he spoke boldly, “If you insist, Miss Bennet, I shall. I find you everything that is lovely this morning, and I wish to prolong my time in your sole company as long as possible. If that means slowing down our walking pace to a crawl, then so be it.” He gave her a devilish grin, noted that her face had turned beet red, and raising his eyebrows, asked, “There, was that plain enough?”

  “I believe you have won your point, sir,” she whispered.

  Smiling to the sky at making her uncomfortable for a change, he asked. “Do you fence, Miss Bennet?”

  “What a silly question to ask a woman!”

  “I did not mean with foils but verbally. You seem to enjoy twisting words to great effect. Could this be the sharp wit that your uncle spoke of?”

  “Oh no, I see that I am going to have to corner my uncle in his library tonight and find out exactly what he told your cousin about me. I seem to have a great deal of ground to make up. And speaking of that, I think that it is quite ungenerous of you to make verbal thrusts at me when I am at a great disadvantage. I have yet to have a conversation with your relatives to reveal all of your faults!”

  “Ha!” His eyes shined with glee, “I must take advantage while I can Miss Bennet. Right now I intend to exploit your weakness until you learn mine!” They both laughed and smiled, “I take it that you learned the art of repartee from your father?”

  “Yes, he enjoys a good verbal fight, and often will take a contrary point of view just to disconcert someone.”

  “Do all of your family members share this talent?”

  “No, just me. I am the son he never had, I guess.”

  “Then he must miss you a great deal when you are away from home.”

  “Yes, I know he does, especially when he actually exerts himself to write to me and complain of my absence.”

  “He will not let go of you easily.” Darcy looked at her very seriously.

  “I think that he will always support me in whatever decision I make. He has proven this already.” She spoke softly, looking away.

  “May I ask what happened?”

  “He supported my decision to reject what would appear to be a very good offer of marriage, one that would have benefited our entire family, simply because I did not value the gentleman.” She saw Darcy’s fixed attention, “I have vowed to only marry a man who I could hold in esteem, who respects me, and who I love.”

  Darcy’s gaze did not waver. “I think that is the most admirable statement I have ever heard from a woman. I know that the choice of marrying for convenience can be hard when one’s own survival is to be determined, but I can do nothing but respect and support your opinion on this most important decision of your life.”

  “Thank you, sir. I cannot express how that makes me feel.”

  They turned their gazes forward, both absorbing what had been said, and walked on silently. Finally breaking the companionable moment, Darcy asked something that had been concerning him. “How long do you intend to stay in London?”

  “I will be here for three more weeks.” His heart sank. “Then I will be travelling to Kent for a month. I am to visit the home of my cousin, Mr. Collins and my best friend Charlotte, whom he recently married. My cousin has the living at Hunsford, attached to the estate of Rosings Park. I will return to Longbourn after Easter.”

  Darcy could hardly believe his ears. He had begun to despair of losing her so soon, and realized he was going to gain an almost better situation. He smiled at her. “How fascinating, I am to spend Easter at Rosings Park as well. It is the home of my aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”

  Elizabeth’s astonishment was complete. “You are her nephew?” She said incredulously.

  “Indeed I am. My cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam and I spend every Easter at Rosings with my aunt and cousin, Anne. I will be arriving there; it seems, two weeks after you do. We will have a fortnight in each other’s company; because I have no doubt that my aunt will invite the parsonage party to visit her frequently.” Smiling sardonically he added, “My aunt so enjoys attention.
”

  Still recovering from this shock, Elizabeth nodded, “I understand from my cousin that the parsonage is very close to Rosings, and that your aunt seems to have a rather forceful personality.”

  “Quite.” Lifting a brow to her, he grinned, “I will greatly enjoy seeing you trade verbal barbs with her. Very few people are capable of taking her on, but I think that you just might win a challenge. In any case, I very much look forward to it.” Then speaking softly, “I think that it will give us an opportunity to know each other much better if you like. I also look forward to showing you the many paths and trails of Rosings. It should be lovely with all of the spring flowers in bloom at Easter.”

  Elizabeth blushed again. “Mr. Darcy, I would not wish to offend your aunt by trading barbs with her, but I have a feeling from what you are saying, she will not give me a choice. As for taking advantage of the opportunity to forward our friendship while in such easy company, I would like to do that very much.” If I could just stop blushing! She smirked, “Perhaps you could show me the chimney piece in the drawing room, or the glazing of the many windows. I understand that they were quite expensive!”

  Darcy’s heart was beating hard, but he had no choice but to laugh at her words about the expense of the house. “I have a feeling that your cousin was quoting my aunt to you?”

  “Yes, Mr. Darcy, my cousin is a perfect sycophant.”

  “My aunt would have never given him the living if he was not, Miss Bennet.”

  “That speaks volumes of your aunt, Mr. Darcy.”

  “So it does. I see that we are on the same page.”

  They smiled at each other again.

  “Miss Bennet, I was wondering, my sister was very impressed with your story about Mr. Wickham last night, and since she will not speak of it to anyone, I thought that perhaps you could…”

  “Offer to talk to her privately if she wishes?”

  Relieved, Darcy nodded.

  She regarded him carefully, reading both seriousness and hope in his expression.