Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (24 page)

“But how do you convince the advisor that their opinion is not your own?”  Bingley glanced around the room. 

“Why do you have to?  It is based on the strength of your conviction, Bingley.  If your opinion is not strong, then you can be easily swayed.  Is there some subject that is on your mind?  I think that we are no longer speaking of my concerns, and I am frankly glad to change the subject to yours.”  Darcy leaned on the desk, and realizing that he still clutched the letter, folded and placed it in his coat.  Richard watched the movement and then looked to Bingley.

“Yes, who is guiding you?  And what is their motivation?”

“Ah, I forgot that little point.”  Darcy smiled.

“So true, I can certainly say that any opinion given by my sister should be weighed against her reasoning.”  Hurst nudged Bingley.  “Go on, tell them.”

Bingley sighed and looked to his hands.  “Miss Bennet . . . Jane . . . I like her; but my sister has spoken of the choice of ladies being so limited here, and how I must surely look forward to returning to Town as she does and seeing what the Season brings.   I fear that I have just fixed on the prettiest of the neighbourhood, and once back in Town, I would quickly forget her.”

“I see.”  Darcy nodded. 

“I admit to . . . fickleness, but I do think that I have genuine . . . I do not know.”  He sighed.  “She is so lovely, and kind, perhaps Caroline is correct.  I . . . you see the thing is, I am not sure of her feelings for me, she is so . . . unflappable.”

“And you wish her to be flapped a bit?”  Richard grinned. 

“Perhaps he would like to be the one doing the flapping.”  Samuel smiled.  The four others looked at him and he coloured.  “I will be quiet.”

Hurst chuckled.  “No, no, you are amongst friends.”

Darcy caught Richard’s eye and they exchanged amused looks.  “Bingley, I have noted your attention to Miss Bennet, but I have really been far too preoccupied with my own thoughts to pay her much heed.  You cannot tell of her interest? Although Elizabeth claims that she was wholly unaware of her interest in me, I always sensed it; otherwise I never would have allowed my feelings to grow.”

Bingley sighed.  “I am afraid that I am not nearly as clever as you, Darcy.  I cannot read a woman so easily.”

Richard laughed and got up to refill his glass.  “We are speaking of Fitzwilliam Darcy are we not?  The most disinterested Lothario on Earth?”

Darcy glared.  “Perhaps you should employ your magnificent skills and see what sort of determination you can make?”

“Why not just ask your betrothed of her sister’s opinion?”  Richard tipped his glass up to his smiling lips.

“I have better things to do with Elizabeth than play matchmaker, I will not have seen her for two days, and . . . she owes me a dance.”  His face coloured as they laughed.

“And I imagine you will be preoccupied for the entire evening.”  Hurst grinned.

Darcy relaxed and smiling a little, rubbed a ring as he looked up to their expectant faces.  “Most likely.”

“Well then, point the lady out to me and I will take on the duty of observation.”  Richard examined a portrait then turned and rocked back and forth on his heels.  “I have no hesitation wishing to contradict your sister.” 

“I would appreciate it.”  Bingley said gratefully. 

Darcy stood and lay his hand on Bingley’s shoulder.  “While we are all glad to be of service to you, Bingley, just remember that it is your opinion that matters.  What you feel in your gut.  After all, only you can read the message in her eyes and if it is meant favourably for you.”

“Perhaps that is the problem.”  Bingley sighed.  “She never looks up!” 

“LYDIA, FOR THE LAST TIME, NO!”  Mrs. Bennet cried.  “You drive me to distraction!  Mr. Darcy gave Lizzy those jewels; he wants to see her wearing them, not you!  When she is married, she may put you in the way of other rich men, and then you will have your own jewels.”  Elizabeth startled to hear her off-handed support.

“Well . . . then I want to wear her necklace, the one that Papa gave her for her birthday.”

“I want to wear that!”  Kitty cried.  “Mama!”

“You both have lovely necklaces to wear.”  Jane said soothingly.

Lydia whined, “But it is not
new
!  Everyone sees us wearing them all of the time!”

“Then why not exchange them with each other?”  Mary turned the page in her book and read on.  The others looked to her with surprise.   Noticing the attention, she coloured a little.  “It is the example of Jonathon and David in the book of Samuel, encouraging sharing . . .”

Lydia groaned.  “Oh La, Mary, if ever there was someone meant to marry a boring minister it was you!”

“That reminds me Mary, we must be sure that you are properly turned out for Mr. Collins tonight.  We must convince him that you are his match. 
He
still thinks he has a chance with Jane.”  Clucking, she patted Jane’s shoulder, “but we all know that Mr. Bingley has eyes for you dear!”

“Please, Mama . . .”

“Oh, and with his friendship to Mr. Darcy, I am sure that he will soon be proposing!  How can he not?  You are so beautiful!”

Elizabeth sighed to herself and returned to her sewing.  Biting her lip, she tied a last knot and snipped the thread.  “Well, that is the best I can do.” 

“Let me see.”  Jane took the dress from her hands and held it up, then laid it across the sofa.  The six Bennet women gathered around and looked at it critically.  “It is just lovely, Lizzy!” 

“Where is the lace?”  Mrs. Bennet picked up a length of it from a table behind her.  “You could have an overskirt of lace, and then here, some ribbons . . .”

“No Mama, I want it to be simple.”  Elizabeth added quickly, “I want the jewels to be admired.”

“Oh, well.”  Mrs. Bennet folded up the lace.  “It is true, we must make sure that everyone sees them, I cannot wait to have all of the neighbours comment!  Pooh-poohing your engagement!  Who will be laughing now!”  She lifted her chin proudly.  “I do not care what you did to capture him, Lizzy.  If you let him have his way . . .”

“Mama!”

“I am just saying that if a baby comes along sooner than later, I will not mind one bit!  What happened at Netherfield shall stay a secret.”

“Mama, please!”  Elizabeth felt Jane take her hand and squeeze.  “Nothing happened at Netherfield, he was the perfect gentleman and I was caring for Jane.  Please do not talk about such things, especially outside of this house!”

“Hush Lizzy!  Lydia and Kitty caught you two together in the locked parlour, half the household saw him kiss you in the kitchen, and I watched you embracing in the foyer, of course I would not dream of interrupting
that
!  You have done very well in capturing him!  Who knew that you could succeed!  I was sure that you hated him, so clever you were, making him want you by being standoffish!  That must be what attracted him.  Some men like a challenge more than beauty, and once you are married, it will not matter that the chase is over!  It is settled irrevocably!”  She dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief.  “And here I thought that you never listened to my advice!  I am so very proud.”  

Blushing deeply, Elizabeth picked up the gown and started to move from the room.  “Are you really going to have a baby, Lizzy?”  Kitty asked excitedly.  “Is that why he proposed?”

She stopped at the doorway and felt the conflict of emotions rising up in her breast and again felt that unexpected wish for him to be with her.  Raising her chin, she drew upon her courage.  “Mr. Darcy’s reasons for proposing are his own, however, I assure you; I come to him as I was born.  And if I hear of my sisters doing otherwise with their future husbands, I will skin them alive to bring such disgrace upon the family!  And I should remind you, Mama, that Mr. Collins is a minister and will not look upon such suggestions for securing a husband kindly!”  Furiously, she spun and left the room.

“Is that what she did, Jane?  Is that how she caught him?”  Mrs. Bennet beamed.  “I used to fight with your father like that!  I think that he liked it!  Maybe I will try that again . . .” Musing to herself, she gathered up her ribbons.

“Mama, Lizzy is virtuous, she has never . . .”

“I do not need to know, dear!”  Mrs. Bennet hummed happily.

Jane heard Elizabeth shut the door to her bedchamber soundly and turned back to her mother.  “She and Mr. Darcy like each other very much; I think that it might be more than that . . .”

“How nice, dear.”  She looked up and smiled.  “Now, let us get your gowns pressed.  I am sure that Mr. Bingley is waiting for you, and do not be afraid to employ your sister’s methods!”

“DO YOU KNOW THE COLOUR Miss Bennet will be wearing tonight, sir?”  Parker asked as he scraped the last of the whiskers away and wiped the remaining soap from Darcy’s face.

Darcy looked up to him and felt his smooth skin.  “Ivory.  Why do you ask?”

“You are appearing officially as a couple tonight, sir.  I must coordinate you.  However, ivory, well that makes it simple indeed.”  Parker moved away and stood before a drawer, considering a selection of waistcoats.  Darcy slowly climbed out of the chair, struck by the thought that he was no longer a single man, and slipped on a fine lawn shirt, buttoning it and tucking the long tail into his breeches. 

“Coordinate.”  He said thoughtfully as he joined Parker and examined the selection critically.  “She will be wearing emeralds.”   

“Ah.”  Parker watched him fingering the silk of one striped waistcoat.  “Excellent choice, sir.  I will just press out these few wrinkles, and we will have you dressed for her in no time.”

Nodding, Darcy smiled at his subtly excited valet and opened his jewel case, removed his emerald cufflinks, and putting them in place, picked up a ring.  He was examining the engraving when Richard knocked and entered the room.  Quickly Darcy slipped it on his finger and straightened, clasping his hands behind his back. “I thought you were dressing.”

“It does not take much effort to throw on a uniform.”  He laughed and leaned on the doorway.  “You smell pleasant.”  Darcy sent him a look and he laughed harder.  “Trying to impress?  I will tell you a secret, Cousin, I think that is unnecessary.  If your inattention to any and all conversation last night and this afternoon is any indication of your feelings, I can without doubt declare that she has you.”

Darcy’s expression did not change.  “Yes, she does, do not forget that.”

“Sir?”  Parker returned with his waistcoat and two letters.   “A footman just brought these around.” 

Taking them Darcy looked at the first.  “Here it is.”  He glanced at Richard.  “Your mother.”

“Uh-oh.”  He uncrossed his arms and moved forward.  “I cannot imagine what she said.”

“Perhaps I should leave it for after the ball.”  Darcy smiled and Richard nodded.  Parker held out his waistcoat and he donned it, doing up the buttons as his man handed him his watch and handkerchief.  Pulling down on the fabric, he looked up, lifting his chin while the pristine neck cloth was tied, and then slipped into the exquisite black coat.  Richard grinned and walked around him, nodding critically as Parker did the same with a tiny brush.  Darcy eyed him.  “You approve?”

“If I was a young lady I would surely faint dead away with such a presentation of masculine perfection.”  He chuckled at Darcy’s curse and watched him stand before the mirror, examining every bit of his appearance.  “You are flawless Cousin, nothing is amiss, I swear.”  With Darcy still fussing he shook his head and picked up the second letter.  “Did you see this?”  Seeing the reflection of Richard holding up the letter, Darcy turned away and joined him.

His smile faded.  “Georgiana.” 

“Has she written to you at all since . . .?”

“No.  But Aunt Darcy’s letter from yesterday told me how worried she is, and warned me that Georgiana had been struggling, writing me many letters that found their way to the fire.  I suppose that she finally found the words she was seeking.”  Darcy hesitated then took the letter from Richard’s hand.   He closed his eyes for a moment and broke the seal.  His jaw worked as he attempted to maintain his composure.

“What does she say, Darcy?” 

He waved his hand and turned away as he choked out the words.  “She is such a child.  She apologizes and asks if I still love her.  She begs me not to send her back to her husband and to spend the rest of her life taking care of me.  Apparently she lives in fear of me returning her.”

“You have not told her that the marriage is a sham?”

“We have only just concluded it in the last week.”  Darcy paced and looked up to Richard. “I wished to hear it from Wickham’s lips, without a doubt.  I also felt that . . . I should be with her when I told her.”  His voice trailed away when he imagined the tears that revelation would bring.

“She does not know of your plans, she thinks her child is legitimate.”  Richard saw the pained look that crossed his face, and clasped his shoulder.  “So you have said nothing of pretending paternity of the baby with Elizabeth?”

“It is hardly something that I would put in a letter.”  Darcy pulled himself together and stroked over the ring.  “She does not understand why I am suddenly marrying Elizabeth.  At least I had written of her before this all happened so she at least knows of my interest.” 

“May I?”  Richard took the letter and read it over himself.  “She seems to have regressed, do you agree?”

“How could she not after such an experience?”

“Your uncle was still hoping for Samuel to marry her.”  Seeing Darcy’s glare he shrugged.  “He is undoubtedly looking at it from many respects, but of course he is considering a dowry that his son would never expect to see otherwise.”

“I understand that, but honestly Richard, would you wish to be married to the child who wrote this?”  He touched the letter, then pulling it from his hand, read and folded it up again.  “I would not wish her on anyone.  Lord knows if she will ever be fit to be a wife.  Wickham ruined far more than her reputation.  When I think of how we found her . . .” 

“I know.”  Seeing Darcy slipping back into the despair he had carried for months, he picked up his mother’s letter.  “Well, shall we see what Mother has to say?  It will surely bring some blood back to your face.”  He held it out.  “Come, read it and storm about the room!”