Falling for Mr. Darcy (33 page)

Lady Matlock listened to her son’s words and realized the truth of them. Her fears regarding Miss Bennet’s status as a fortune hunter began to dwindle, and she enjoyed seeing the liveliness the lady brought to her usually somber nephew as well as to her niece.

“I wonder, Miss Bennet,” Darcy paused to gain her full attention, “if you had known I was sincere in my request, would you have accepted my hand?”

Elizabeth turned her face into one of mock seriousness and pretended to think about his comment. She tapped one slender finger on her bottom lip, and the action nearly drove Darcy to distraction. She turned sparkling eyes on him, bewitching him even further, as she said, “Probably not.”

The whole room broke into laughter, including Darcy, much to the astonishment of his relations.

Lady Matlock then turned to address Elizabeth. “How long are you visiting London, Miss Bennet?”

“My aunt, uncle and I will return to Hertfordshire in a week, milady. My elder sister is to be married in about three weeks.”

“Have you had an opportunity to attend the theatre or an opera since you have been in town?”

“I have not had that pleasure, Lady Matlock. I hope very much to attend before I leave.”

“Well, when you do, I should be happy to accompany you and your aunt and uncle in my box.”

Elizabeth was stunned with the condescension and, for a moment, did not know how to respond. She collected herself and replied demurely, “Thank you, your ladyship, it would be an honor.”

Darcy, too, was amazed, but pleased, at the civility his aunt showed to Miss Bennet. He glanced briefly at his cousin and was surprised to see a knowing smirk on his face.
So, Aunt Ellen knows of my feelings for Elizabeth.
He gave his cousin an answering look of recognition with a raised brow and was not surprised to see Richard’s smug smile in response.

Shortly thereafter, Elizabeth and her aunt indicated it was time for them to take their leave and for Darcy to order his carriage. As they waited, Darcy made a request.

“Mrs. Gardiner, if you are not otherwise engaged, my sister and I would like to invite you, Mr. Gardiner and Miss Elizabeth to be guests at our home for dinner.”

Elizabeth’s aunt smiled politely at Mr. Darcy. “It would be an honor, sir. Is there a specific evening you wished?”

“Would the day after tomorrow suit your schedules?”

“That would be fine, Mr. Darcy. Thank you.”

When the carriage arrived, Mr. Darcy left his relatives in the sitting room to see his guests out. He handed Mrs. Gardiner into the carriage first and said to her, “Thank you for coming today; your visit has been most enjoyable.”

“The pleasure was all ours, Mr. Darcy. Thank you for your hospitality.”

Mr. Darcy then turned to Elizabeth and looked at her in a soft and tender way that she had never seen from him before. She could not quite look into his eyes, for doing so did strange things to her insides.

“Miss Bennet, I cannot tell you how happy I am to have made your acquaintance again.” She accepted his hand, and he brought her fingers to his mouth and kissed them. “I look forward to seeing you again in a few days.”

Elizabeth’s courage rose, and she finally allowed herself to look Darcy in the eyes. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy. It was a surprise seeing you today, but I assure you, a most pleasant one.”

Mr. Darcy merely nodded as he assisted her into the carriage and closed the door behind her. He stood watching until the carriage rolled out of sight before he turned and went into the house.

Across the street a gentleman watched the exchange closely. He grinned with a wicked glint in his eye as he mounted his horse and prepared to follow Darcy’s carriage to wherever it conveyed Miss Bennet. He finalized his plan for his revenge on Darcy all the way to a Cheapside residence, where Miss Bennet and the other lady descended the carriage and entered the house.

Chapter 15

Elizabeth stretched her limbs across the expanse of her bed and sighed in contentment. For the first night in many weeks, she had slept most contentedly. Her night was still filled with dreams, and they still contained one similarity to her previously horrid dreams: Mr. Darcy. But this time, the dreams were pleasant, and she awoke that morning refreshed and happy.

She replayed the events of the day before in her head. She could not believe she had seen Mr. Darcy. He was obviously not staying at Pemberley for the holidays. She laughed to herself and shook her head in disbelief that she had actually met and became acquainted with his sister without even knowing it. She thought about Georgiana for a few minutes and compared her new friend to the many things she had learned about her from Mr. Darcy when they enjoyed supper together at the Netherfield ball. Elizabeth could see that Georgiana was every bit the sweet, shy girl he had described.

She remembered her father had told her about Mr. Wickham’s attempt to seduce and elope with a ‘near relation’ of Darcy’s. Elizabeth wondered whether, perhaps, this near relation was Georgiana. Darcy had seemed worried about his sister’s state of happiness, and she was, indeed, his nearest relation. Now, having made Georgiana’s acquaintance, she was filled with renewed distaste for Mr. Wickham and was glad her father had acted to protect her family from him.

Elizabeth heard a knock on the door and then a multitude of giggles. She sat up in bed and pulled her robe around her as she called to her cousins to enter. The door flew open, and three little children ran to her bed and climbed on. Elizabeth laughed as the oldest ones reached her first and gave her big hugs around her neck. Then she reached over and helped Peter, who was having trouble with the ascent, up into her embrace.

“Are you awake, Cousin Lizzabet?” Peter asked.

“Of course she is. Can you not see her eyes are open and she is laughing?” Margaret, the middle child and only girl, answered smartly to her little brother.

Elizabeth laughed again and gave them all squeezing hugs until they groaned to be released. “How are my favorite cousins this morning?”

“Good!” they said in unison.

“Would you like it if I escorted you to breakfast again this morning, Cousin Elizabeth?” Edward asked.

Elizabeth pressed her lips together to keep from smiling and nodded her head politely. “I should be honored if you would, but I cannot go down to breakfast dressed like this.” She indicated her nightclothes, and the kids laughed as they slipped off the bed and left the room, closing the door behind them.

Elizabeth smiled as she quickly dressed for the day. She might have slept well but she did not necessarily know the state of her feelings yet. Seeing Darcy again and having him give her such polite attention, made her wonder at the state of his regard. It seemed that his current actions were very similar to his behavior in Hertfordshire.

She considered briefly whether, perhaps, Mr. Darcy was naturally affectionate in his addresses to ladies he knew well and felt comfortable with. That would explain his behavior as simply an innocent expression of his personality. She shook her head as she rejected that conclusion. If he was so naturally charming to every lady he was on familiar terms with, he would certainly be married by now or, at least, even more pursued by ladies of the
ton
. Besides, he knew Miss Bingley quite well and never seemed to be as warm with her.

But as soon as Elizabeth began to conclude that Mr. Darcy might actually return her regard, she could refute that conclusion based on one question:
Why, then, did he leave Hertfordshire without so much as a by-your-leave?

Elizabeth finished preparing for the day and grabbed her bonnet and warm winter cloak before exiting her bedchamber. She decided a walk after breakfast would help to clear her thoughts and to understand her feelings better, both of which were essential if she was going to know how to act the next night when she dined at Darcy’s home.

She opened the door and smiled as she saw her cousin sitting on the bench in the hallway, swinging his legs and waiting for her. He looked up and quickly assumed the pose of a proper gentleman as he offered his arm. She curtsied and took it with a smile.

“You will be quite the gentleman someday, Master Edward, with all this practice.”

* * *

Wickham waved the sheet of paper he held in his hand to dry the ink. His plan was now fully in motion, and if everything worked as he hoped today, by the evening he would be a rich man. He folded the letter for Darcy and placed it in his coat pocket.

Wickham fantasized about the look of pure pain he hoped to see on Darcy’s face. Certainly, Wickham needed the money, but in the end, he knew it was not about the money with Darcy. He was raised as a near equal, educated as a gentleman and then denied what he felt was a just portion of the wealth George Darcy left to his son. Instead, the old man, for whom he had pretended affection nearly his whole life in hopes of gaining something in the will, gave him only a lousy position as a clergyman.

At every turn of his life, Wickham saw a Darcy trying to make him miserable.
Today this is going to change, and Darcy will feel it for the rest of his life.
Wickham pulled his boots on and left Mrs. Younge’s boarding house. He borrowed her horse once again and rode towards his destination in Cheapside. On the way, he reviewed the plan in his head. All he needed to do was be patient.

* * *

“Good morning, Lizzy,” her uncle cheerfully offered as he came in to break his fast.

Elizabeth stood, as she had just finished her meal, and smiled. “Good morning, Uncle.”

“Where are you off to this morning?” he asked, placing another cinnamon scone on his plate.

Elizabeth smiled sweetly at him as she took the second scone off his plate and returned it to the tray. When he protested, she merely raised her eyebrow in challenge. “You are lucky I do not tell on you. You ought not to have the sugar, Uncle, and you know it. And to answer your question, I think I will go on a walk to Moorsfield this morning.”

“All right, Lizzy, just take a maid with you. I do not want you getting lost.”

Elizabeth gave her uncle an indulgent smile and placed the scone back on his plate before leaving the dining room. After putting on her bonnet and gloves, she draped her cloak around her and walked out the door with one of her aunt’s maids trailing behind. The maid kept a respectable distance, allowing Elizabeth the freedom to walk briskly through the neighboring streets towards the park that was her destination.

Wickham rubbed his hands together when he saw Elizabeth emerge from the house. He watched for a few minutes to ascertain her direction and then led his horse that way. Soon he had surpassed her, and when he was far enough ahead, he turned his horse down an alleyway and dismounted. He crept closer to the edge of the buildings to wait for her to walk by.

Elizabeth was just beginning to feel warm from her exercise, despite the cold winter wind, when, suddenly, the air was knocked out of her and her neck jarred backwards as a hand grabbed her cloak and pulled her into the alleyway. Her head was shoved violently against the rough brick wall, the force of the blow causing her vision to blur.

Fear arrested her heart as she tried to comprehend what was happening. A man was holding her neck firmly against the wall while his other hand pressed painfully into her side. Her vision focused, and the face of Mr. Wickham came into view. She tried to scream but his hand was cutting off her air.

He leaned in menacingly, and she could feel his body press against hers. She again tried to call for help, but the sound of his sickeningly sweet voice made her freeze in terror. “It is nice to meet you this morning, Miss Bennet,” Wickham crooned maliciously. “You really are quite a lovely piece. I can see why he fancies you.”

Wickham ran his hand behind her back and aggressively pulled her closer. His other hand moved from her neck to cradle her chin.

“You do not mind giving your dear Darcy a message for me, do you, sweetie?” Wickham tightened his hold on her jaw so she could not respond. “I did not think so.”

He released her just long enough to retrieve a letter from his pocket. “I have it right here, Miss Bennet. Be so kind as to see he gets this.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes in an attempt to shut out the feel of his hand as he slipped the letter down the neckline of her dress. A tear escaped her eyes, and she struggled to free herself from the fear that gripped her. She opened her eyes as Wickham’s evil gaze rose from her neckline up to her face. She watched in horror as he leaned in towards her again.

Elizabeth finally awoke from the grip of fear in time to twist her face to the side. His lips reached her but missed their intended target, instead touching hot against her cheek. She turned and spat in his face. He angrily wiped the spittle, raising his arm to strike her. Before he succeeded, she executed a maneuver her father taught her to use if ever she found herself in such a situation.

With as much force as she could manage, she lifted her knee firmly between them, making contact with Wickham. Instantly he released her and doubled over to the hard cobblestone ground. She stood transfixed for a moment, watching him roll on his side and clutch himself in pain. She was brought back from her stunned state by a tug on her arm.