Darcy's Voyage: A Tale of Uncharted Love on the Open Seas (21 page)

A few rounds into the number, Jane finally spoke up. “Mr. Darcy, how long have you known Mr. Bingley?”

“We have been friends for about eight years now, I think.”

Jane smiled. Darcy sighed. It was now or never.

“Miss Bennet, I believe you have three sisters here. Is that correct?”

“Yes, sir.”

The two dancers separated and Darcy’s heart lifted.
Perhaps that is all she has! Elizabeth is not her sister!

When they came back together again, her voice faltered. “But I have one who is not here.”

Darcy was brought abruptly to a halt with her words. He waited for her to continue, as he watched tears form in her eyes.

“She has been gone for several months now.”

Darcy leaned his head toward her as he asked, most reluctantly, but he had to know. “Forgive me if this is none of my business, but did something happen to her?”

Suddenly Jane smiled, “Oh no, sir. Please forgive me.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “It is just that we are so close, and I miss her so.”

Darcy’s heart pounded and he could hear nothing else in the room save what she was saying. “She left for America to visit my aunt and uncle five months ago, although we do expect them to return any day now.”

Darcy closed his eyes as he fought a wave of dizziness come over him. He had to make a mental effort to recall the next steps to the dance, as he wanted nothing at this moment but solitude so he could ponder this revelation.

“You expect her to return shortly?” he managed to ask.

“Yes, the last we heard they were in Liverpool, about to head for home.”

Darcy felt his chest tighten up and he struggled even to breathe. He looked around the room, seeing her mother and three sisters. He could not reconcile that this quiet, demure woman dancing with him, the three vulgar sisters, their mother, and Elizabeth were all from the same family.

A small voice, resonating from his past, his upbringing, and his connections spoke out,
You can still annul the marriage and she need never know you actually considered otherwise!

They finished the dance in silence, for which Darcy was grateful. He was anxious to leave and settle his nerves and rationally think out all the implications of this!

That night in his room, Darcy tried to decide what to say to Bingley or whether to say anything at all. The fact that his friend had developed an interest in Elizabeth’s sister provided a very interesting state of affairs. He pulled out the marriage certificate, which he had secured in a dresser drawer inside a book, and fingered it gently.

He looked at her signature and ran his finger lightly over it. How did she ever end up in that family of hers? Her eldest sister was sweet and kind; he could easily credit her with that. But her other sisters and her mother would be a disgrace to his family! He shook his head, determining he would think of them no longer tonight.

***

At breakfast the next morning, Darcy encountered a highly agitated Caroline Bingley. “Mr. Darcy, please come sit down and settle something for us.” Somehow he had a feeling this had to do with Miss Bennet. The fact that her brother was not amongst them at the moment prompted him to suspect that Miss Bingley would unleash all her pent-up anger and sisterly concerns.

She cleared her throat before she began. “Mr. Darcy, you know how concerned we are for Charles’s welfare, and how he sometimes acts in very foolish ways, making unwise decisions.”

“Especially in the area of love,” Louisa added.

“Bingley’s affairs are his own concern, Miss Bingley.”

“Miss Bennet is a sweet girl, Mr. Darcy. But look at her family, her connections; she has nothing to offer him. She is just not the kind of girl and her family is not the kind of family that Charles should marry into. Her mother… certainly you observed last night how ill mannered her mother is!”

Darcy closed his eyes, mentally preparing how he should respond. It was true that Charles had made some unwise decisions before in the area of love. He was not so much concerned now that Miss Bennet was wrong for him, wrong at least in the way Caroline thought she was wrong. He was more concerned that his friend would continue to shower his undivided attention upon this lady and then, as he had frequently done in the past, decide she was not the one for him and leave her. That might eventually put him in an awkward situation with Elizabeth.

“Please do something, Mr. Darcy. Say something to him. He will listen to you, I know!” She leaned in closer to him. “You are staying with us for some time, are you not?”

Darcy looked at her. “As it turns out, I will most likely remain here for a while.”

A look spread across Caroline’s face that seemed to erase any previous thought or concern she may have had. A wide smile appeared, and she thought, at least she hoped, it was because of
her
that he chose to remain at Netherfield. She was satisfied that the longer he remained here, the better opportunity for him to see for himself the insupportable situation Charles was putting himself into. Caroline was also determined to take full advantage of his presence in her home for her own ambitions.

She was quite astonished, then, with Mr. Darcy’s next suggestion.

“Miss Bingley, I think it would be most cordial for you to invite Miss Bennet to lunch or tea with you and Mrs. Hurst.”

Caroline looked at him open-mouthed. “You cannot be serious! Why should I encourage this intolerable infatuation of his?”

Darcy looked at her intently. “Because he is your brother, and at the moment, Miss Jane Bennet is the object of his regard. If, indeed, he were to decide to marry her, there is nothing that you or I would be able to do about it, and it would be best if you had exhibited friendliness to her at the onset.”

Caroline pinched her eyebrows together. “Mr. Darcy, you underestimate your influence over my brother. Just say the word; give him some sort of warning or discouragement, and he shall end it. I tell you he greatly respects your opinion.”

Darcy let out a short breath, knowing she was most likely correct. “Still, Miss Bingley, I should extend the invitation if I were you. It will be an indication of your goodwill toward both your brother and this young lady, and it will give you an opportunity to get to know her better.”

Caroline knew that if she continued to argue with him, it might spoil her chances with him. She had to let him know she respected his opinion as well.

“Mr. Darcy, now that you mention it, I think it is an exceptionally good idea to invite Miss Bennet over, do you not agree, sister?” She looked over at Louisa with a sly smile.

Louisa looked at her suspiciously, with every intention of speaking to her candidly about this later when they were alone. “Certainly, Caroline.”

“I shall write directly and invite her to come to tea with us tomorrow!”

Darcy pushed the chair back and brought himself up from the table. “If you will excuse me, ladies, I shall be out riding and seeing all that this neighbourhood has to offer.”

Caroline only let out a disappointed “hmmm,” as she watched him leave the room.

Louisa immediately leaned over. “Upon my word, Caroline! Why would you want to invite Miss Bennet over for tea?”

“Louisa, I am greatly surprised you have to ask. I do believe you have been married too long! I am trying my hardest to get that man to notice me while he is here, and letting him know I think highly of his opinion and totally agree with him is one way to do it!” She looked over at the now empty door. “Besides, Mr. Darcy is most likely aware that while Jane Bennet is here, we might be able to discover all sorts of disreputable information about her family that we shall be able to use against her!”

The two sisters looked at each other and snickered, while Mr. Hurst continued to deplete the food on the table.

Darcy walked out to the stable, asking the stable hand to ready his horse, Thunder, for riding. With some seemingly innocent questions, he ascertained the whereabouts of Meryton as well as Longbourn. He would do some riding to clear his head and while he was at it, see if he could find the place Elizabeth called home.

Thunder was saddled and eager for an outing around the countryside. Darcy understood Longbourn was about three miles southeast of Netherfield, so he set out in that direction. Thunder was more than anxious to expend some of his energy, and Darcy allowed him the freedom to gallop through some open fields. As the horse was given free rein, Darcy tried to rein in his thoughts.

He could not get Elizabeth’s family out of his mind. Their behaviour was rude, unrefined, and completely inappropriate. So unlike Elizabeth! Her eldest sister seemed to be of the same upbringing as Elizabeth, and he wondered how there could be such a disparity between them and their sisters.
Her mother
. He sighed as the uninvited thought challenged him as to how he would ever be able to introduce her family to his own family… to his friends.

Pushing that thought brusquely aside, he came upon a road and slowed down, following it at a brisk canter. Not much farther along he came across a modest two-story home that was set back a ways from the road. A wooden sign marker off to the side was inscribed with the name
Longbourn
.

His heart skipped a beat as he looked across at the home, wondering if it indeed was Elizabeth’s.
Is this where she grew up? Where she took her walks? Where she formed all her hopes and dreams?

A noise drew his attention and he saw two young girls come flying out of the house, one carrying a bonnet. He did not want to draw attention to himself, so he gave his horse a slight kick and walked it slowly down the road, occasionally turning to see if he could recognize the girls as the Bennet daughters from the night before.

They were not paying any attention to the road out front, and so were quite careless in their behaviour. One shrieked, “Give me back my bonnet!” while the other waved the bonnet in the air, taunting, “Just try to get it back! It looks much better on me!”

Darcy’s stomach churned as he realized he
was
watching the Bennet girls he had seen last night. He hated to admit it, but this little display between the two sisters was another example to reinforce Caroline’s partially correct views of the unsuitability of the Bennet family.

Darcy rode on a little farther up the road, enjoying the crisp autumn day, but knew he ought to return shortly. He felt a chill in the air and if he suspected correctly, it felt like rain. As he turned back, he imagined Elizabeth taking walks along this very road. He pondered whether her love for walking was drawn from a desire to escape the oddities that were displayed in her house by her family or merely to enjoy the beauty of the hills and dales around her home.

Noticing the clouds begin to collect above, he decided to head directly back to Netherfield. He could feel a north wind sending its tendrils of shivering cold, and brought Thunder to a gallop.

By the time he reached Netherfield, Charles had joined his sisters. Darcy walked in and handed his coat and riding stick off to one of the servants.

“Did you have a nice ride, Mr. Darcy?” asked Caroline.

“Splendid, thank you.”

“I was just telling Charles that I will be sending a note to Miss Bennet inviting her to join us for tea tomorrow while you men are out.”

Charles perked up. “I think that is a marvellous idea, Caroline. I am glad you thought of it.”

Caroline smiled a contented smile, but then quickly added, “Oh, but Charles, I must give the credit to Mr. Darcy. He is the one who came up with that most agreeable suggestion.”

“I believe Caroline and Louisa will have a wonderful time with Miss Bennet tomorrow!” Charles declared exuberantly. Charles looked over at his friend. “Do you like her, Darcy? Do you not think that she is an angel?”

“She seems very sweet, Bingley. But why are we to be out? Where are we going?”

“We, good friend, have been invited to dine with the officers.”

“We have?”

“Yes. The timing could not be more perfect. Miss Bennet can spend the time getting to know my sisters while we enjoy the company of the officers.”

Darcy pursed his lips upon hearing this, feeling disposed to think that what he had intended in his suggestion may now not be feasible. He had hoped to be able to glean a little more information about Elizabeth from her sister. Now he could only hope that the visit with the officers would end early enough for them to return to Netherfield before Miss Bennet left, although he doubted it would. He certainly could not expect to hear any favourable information about her from Charles’s sisters.

He could only hope it would not be too long before another opportunity presented itself to find out more about the woman for whom he impatiently longed.

The following morning, Bingley expressed delight that Miss Bennet would spend the day getting to know his sisters. He had no doubt that the ladies would get along splendidly.

After the gentlemen had departed, Caroline and Louisa settled in to wait for Jane. As they sat, rather impatiently in the sitting room, they noticed the spattering of raindrops against the window.

“Oh dear,” muttered Caroline. “It is beginning to rain.” She walked over to the window and looked out. “How unfortunate that the men are out in it!” She turned to Louisa. “I hope they do not remain long with the officers. I shall have the dullest day if they stay out too long.”

With a surprised look on her face, Louisa looked up at her sister. “How can you say that, Caroline? We shall have Miss Bennet here to keep us entertained. Did you forget?”

“Of course not! I simply cannot imagine we shall have very lively or profitable conversation with her. I must admit, I am not looking forward to it in the least bit, but we shall do our duty by her for our brother’s sake.”

Louisa laughed softly. “And Mr. Darcy’s sake?”

Caroline looked at her innocently, with raised eyebrows. “Hmmm?”

“To please Mr. Darcy, as it was
his
suggestion to invite Miss Bennet to dine with us.”

“Oh, yes, that.” She tilted her head with a sly smile. “All I need is a little time, Louisa. As he does not seem inclined to leave Netherfield any time soon, I am more than confident that things will turn out as I have always believed they would.”

As she looked back out the window, she felt more confident that it was solely because of
her
that he had remained on, and she let out a reflective sigh. The rain began to pound more fiercely against the window, and Caroline noticed the wind pick up. At that moment she saw a lone figure approaching on a horse.

“Now
who
could that be!” asked Caroline in disbelief. “Who would be out on a horse on a day like this?”

Believing it to be someone delivering a post or on some sort of business, she went back and sat next to her sister as they patiently awaited Jane’s arrival. It was with a sense of surprise then, that after just a few moments, a servant came to the door followed by a very wet, embarrassed, and uncomfortable Jane Bennet.

“Why, Miss Bennet! You are all wet! Did you not come in a carriage?”

“Uh, no… Miss Bingley. Unfortunately the horses were engaged elsewhere.”

“So you travelled all the way over here on horseback… in the rain?”

Jane meekly nodded. “But it had not begun to rain when I started out.”

Her cloak had covered her for the most part, but because of the downpour, it had soaked through and she was quite cold and wet, looking somewhat like a lost puppy caught out in the rain.

Louisa walked over to her. “Dear girl, let us see if we can get you into some dry clothes.”

“I would not want to put you through any trouble.”

“No trouble at all,” Miss Bingley offered, as she looked archly at her sister, wondering if any of the Bennets had any common sense.

They escorted Jane upstairs and secured a change of clothes for her. They left her with a maid who helped her to dry off and change. While Jane was away doing this, the two ladies returned downstairs and commented to each other on her arrival and how appalled they were at her appearance. They were determined to find out what they could about her family in order to convince Charles how unsuitable she was for him.

Caroline snickered at their plot. “Shhhh, here she comes,” she said when she heard footsteps approach.

Jane joined the ladies, feeling very much more comfortable and grateful for the dry clothes, while at the same time suffering the initial effects of being out in the cold and rain. She felt slightly dizzy and the symptoms of a cold began to emerge.

The three ladies proceeded to the dining room where a delicious hot meal awaited them. As much as Jane enjoyed it and looked forward to getting to know Charles’s sisters better, and as much as she applied herself to the two ladies’ questions and conversation, she found herself feeling increasingly poorly.

“I understand, Miss Bennet,” Caroline Bingley addressed Jane in her most polite voice, “that Longbourn has been entailed away from the female line. Did I understand that correctly?”

Jane brought her hand up to her head as she struggled to assuage her dizziness. “That is correct, Miss Bingley.”

“And you have no brothers?”

Jane took in a deep breath and brought both her hands up, laying them flat on the table as she felt herself begin to sway. “No, only four sisters.”

“So this would mean, most unfortunately, that all of you would at some point be turned out of Longbourn. What a pity. That means that one of you must…” Suddenly Caroline stopped. “Excuse me, Miss Bennet, but you said you have four sisters. I believe we have only met three. Is there
another
?” She turned and looked suspiciously at her sister, pinching her eyebrows heavy upon her eyes.

“Yes, my next eldest sister has been away for the past several months.”

“Miss Bennet, you say she has been
away
?” Caroline then raised her eyebrows at Louisa with a look of disdainful interest. “And just
where
has she been and
why
has she been away?”

Jane fought off another wave of dizziness as she answered Miss Bingley’s questions. “She left to go to America several months ago to visit my aunt and uncle who were there on business.”

“Business?”

“Yes. He is in trade in London and was making arrangements to do some exporting to America. As they were to be there for several months, my sister was able to join them.”

“He is in trade, is he? And your sister went off to America, just like that?”

Jane nodded, feeling a stronger and stronger sense of lightheadedness.

“And your aunt and uncle… just where in London do they live?”

“They live at Gracechurch Street.” When this last question was answered, Jane could no longer fight off the overpowering dizziness and she suddenly slumped down in the chair.

The two women called immediately for help, and Jane was carried upstairs to a guestroom and secured in bed. It was determined that she had a cold and fever, and it was best not to move her. When Jane felt able, although still somewhat disconcerted, she scribbled a quick missive home letting them know she had taken ill, was in good hands, and would remain at Netherfield until she felt improved enough to return home.

The ladies took turns up in Jane’s room for the remainder of the afternoon waiting on her and applying themselves to her care. The fever seemed to quickly grip her, and it was soon determined that they should send for Mr. Jones, the doctor. The only good Caroline could see in this was that it would provide an opportunity to show Mr. Darcy just how kind and caring she could be.

***

The time the men spent visiting with the officers was entirely too short for Bingley, too stuffy for Hurst, and too disconcerting for Darcy. His heart was not in it, and while he normally enjoyed a good discussion with an officer, he could not concentrate. He sat and pretended to listen, all the while anxious to get back to Netherfield with the hope that he could have some opportunity to speak with Miss Bennet.

When they finally arrived back at Netherfield through the rain and increasing cold, they were welcomed at the door by Miss Bingley, who had been keeping an eye open for their return. She excitedly began to tell them how Miss Bennet had unexpectedly taken ill, was going to remain at Netherfield until she was feeling improved, and that she had been doing all she could to make her more comfortable. While her words spoke of her concern for Jane, her focused attention on Darcy reflected her true interest in her desire for his good opinion.

Bingley quickly removed his coat and shook off the water, handing it to a servant, with a look of alarm. “Miss Bennet has taken ill? Say it is not true!”

“She certainly is most unwell. I believed her to be too ill to travel back home and have put her up in a guestroom. I have dispatched a note from her to her family at Longbourn.”

“Good, good.” Bingley rubbed his hands nervously together. “She is being well taken care of, then?”

Caroline smiled sweetly. “We are doing all we can for her. Louisa is up with her now if you would like to see how she is faring. She is upstairs, the second room on the left.”

Bingley took the stairs two at a time toward the room where his poor, sweet Jane was ailing.

Darcy handed off his coat and was removing his gloves as he began to walk toward the stairs himself.

Not wishing him to leave so soon, Miss Bingley asked, “Did you enjoy your time with the officers, sir?”

“They are an excellent group of men,” Darcy replied. Her question did bring him to a halt. He turned and asked her, “Just how seriously ill is Miss Bennet?”

“I believe it to be only a trifling cold and fever. We have called for Mr. Jones and he will be here in the morning. I have done all I can for her to make her comfortable. She has been most grateful for my attentiveness toward her.”

“I am glad to hear that.”

Caroline smiled triumphantly. But she found it beyond her patience to continue talking to him about Miss Bennet and turned the conversation to her concern for him. “Mr. Darcy, you must take care not to come down with a cold, as well, having been out in the rain as you were.”

Darcy looked at her and smiled. “You are so right, Miss Bingley, and I appreciate your concern. If you will excuse me, then, I shall retire to my room to change.”

Bowing, he turned and walked away, leaving Caroline appreciating his compliment, but vexed at his leaving her side.

Darcy went upstairs, passing the room where Jane was resting, and heard Bingley giving her words of encouragement as well as regret that she had taken ill. His room was a little farther down and on the right. As he entered it, another tremor of hope filled him that with Miss Bennet being in their midst for a while, he might just have the opportunity to talk with her and perhaps something about Elizabeth might come up in the conversation.

How he would love to hear anything about her. What was she was like growing up? What are her likes and dislikes? What dreams and aspirations does she have?

He chuckled at himself. He was being ridiculous. He could not, in all propriety, carry on a conversation with Miss Bennet about her sister without good reason and without raising suspicion. He smiled as he considered that even one little morsel of information about Elizabeth would satisfy him until he was able to see her again.

***

That night, after Jane had been settled into bed for the evening and had fallen asleep, the ladies eagerly made their way to the drawing room to spend their time in a much more agreeable fashion. Darcy walked in and found them with Mr. Hurst and Bingley at cards.

“Would you care to join us, sir?” asked Miss Bingley.

“No thank you. I should prefer to read.”

Miss Bingley tried to engage Mr. Darcy in conversation again, but to no avail. She talked of the book he was reading, the excellence of Pemberley, and his influence in making Pemberley such an elegant place, but nothing seemed to capture his interest.

Caroline was left with no alternative but to turn her attention back to the card game.

When two games of cards had been completed, Bingley was the first to excuse himself for the night. He stood up from the table and stretched. “As we will be having some sport in the morning, I believe I shall turn in now if you do not mind.”

“Good night, Charles.” Darcy looked up from his book.

The card game came to an end with Bingley’s departure, and if Darcy had not been so engrossed in his book, he may have planned a little more shrewdly and taken his leave when Bingley did. But as he did not, he unwittingly found himself again in the midst of a conversation about the unsuitability of Miss Bennet, or at least the unsuitability of the Bennet family.

“Mr. Darcy, you would have been appalled at the state in which Miss Bennet arrived today. She was completely soaked from the rain.” She leaned toward Darcy as she said, “She had actually ridden on horseback all the way here! Can you imagine?”

“Perhaps that was her only source of transportation.”

“But certainly you see how imprudent it was! And now look at the result! How long will she have to remain here?” Caroline looked to Mrs. Hurst, who gave her an affirming nod. “I find this whole situation with Charles and this Bennet family highly disconcerting!”

“Charles is an adult. I am sure he is perfectly capable of deciding what is best.”

She remained quiet but for only a few moments. “Mr. Darcy, you would not believe what else we discovered today about her family!”

Darcy cringed, but politely asked, “And what was that?”

“Well, first of all, their home has been entailed away from the female line and that makes it absolutely imperative that one of the daughters marry well. You must see that her interest in Charles is solely to ensure that her sisters and mother will one day be well taken care of!”

“I do not see that at all.”

“Oh, come, Mr. Darcy. Have you ever seen in Miss Bennet any evidence of strong attachment?”

Darcy closed his book. “I have not had the opportunity to see them together enough to make that sort of judgment. There is nothing in her demeanour to suggest she has mercenary motives for marrying.” Although he had been of the same opinion before he knew who she was, he would never admit that to Miss Bingley. He felt until he knew more, he would give her the benefit of the doubt.

“But there is something else we discovered just today.”

“And what is that?” Darcy’s impatience had just about reached its limit.

“That she has
another
sister who has been in America these past few months.”

Darcy’s heart lurched. Catching himself, he replied, “Does she?”

Caroline stood up from the table and began to walk around. “Are not
three
Bennet sisters enough? Now we find out she has
four
!” The contempt in her voice did not go unnoticed. “Exactly what could this other sister have been doing in America? What reason could there be for
anyone
to go over there?”