Pirates and Prejudice (25 page)

Jane remained
silent for a moment. “What did Lydia do?”

“Oh, Jane!”
Elizabeth said, as her tears flowed freely. “Our sister has done the most
unthinkable thing, and Mr. Darcy was witness to it all!”

*~*~*

The following day,
when Mr. Bingley called upon Longbourn, he was treated with the news that Mr.
Bennet, Elizabeth, and David had returned. He was delighted to be able to walk
up to Oakham Mount with Jane, having Elizabeth and David as their chaperones,
rather than Mary or Kitty. He also invited them to return with him to
Netherfield for the afternoon.

When Elizabeth
stepped through the door at Netherfield, memories of her stay there last autumn
swept over her. She almost expected to turn her head and see Mr. Darcy gazing
out one of the windows or standing by a fireplace with his elbow propped up on
the mantel.

She turned to
David, who was engaged in a lively discussion with Mr. Bingley, and smiled. He
was a good man. Perhaps she could convince herself to love him, knowing that
Mr. Darcy would likely never have anything to do with her again. She was
certain Mr. Darcy was the type of man who had the principles that would compel
him to disassociate himself with the Bennet family and their taint of disgrace.

David and Mr. Bingley
both turned at that moment to look at the two sisters, who were sitting next to
each other on the sofa. They were both grinning, but David’s smile did not seem
as fervent.

Elizabeth shook
her head imperceptibly. How could she not have realized that David no longer
had the feelings for her that he had exhibited at St. Mary’s? Or even on the
ship? Ever since discovering what Lydia had done, he had been distantly polite,
kind, and even understanding. But did he now have doubts that uniting with her
family was wise?

She smiled back
and wondered when he might suddenly announce he had to depart. She sighed as
she almost wished it would happen sooner than later. Then, at least, she would
know.

As they stood
there, the butler walked in carrying a salver and presented it to Mr. Bingley,
who picked up a small card. He thanked his butler and looked down to read it.
He began smiling, said something to David, and the two walked over to the
ladies.

Mr. Bingley sat
down, taking Jane’s hand. “It seems there is going to be a Masquerade Ball at
the Meryton Assembly in two weeks. I cannot think of anything more delightful!”

Jane returned
his smile, her eyes dancing. “Sir William Lucas hosts this every year. He
prefers a summer masquerade ball over an autumn or Twelfth Night Ball, so it
can spill outside into the courtyard in the mild evenings.” She turned to her
sister. “We must begin thinking of our costumes! How shall we dress up?”

David sat down
on the other side of Elizabeth and folded his hands, resting them on his legs.
“I fear I will not be able to join you. It does sound like fun, but I shall
likely be on my way to Staffordshire by then.”

Elizabeth tried
to sound surprised and disappointed. “Truly? I am sorry to hear that.”

David nodded. “I
shall remain a few days longer, but I really ought to leave no later than the
end of the week. I am sorry.”

Elizabeth now
had her answer but was truly able to smile, however, for she saw the love and
admiration that her sister and Mr. Bingley both had for each other. It might be
some time before she felt anything close.

Elizabeth bit
her lip. No, she
had
felt something very close to what her sister felt,
possibly even more, but it was something she would only be able to treasure as
a memory.

Chapter 25

Two days later, David and Elizabeth were once again
acting as chaperones for Jane and Mr. Bingley at Netherfield. Elizabeth
suspected that the two gentlemen had been conspiring together on some seriously
clandestine plot. Later, as they took a walk about the grounds, David nudged
Elizabeth ahead at a quicker pace while Mr. Bingley seemed to linger with Jane.

After they had
been walking alone for quite some time, Elizabeth looked back and then smiled
up at David. “Do you think we ought to wait here for Jane and Mr. Bingley? We
are not being the most attentive chaperones.”

David shook his
head. “We can wait if you wish, but I doubt they will catch up with us any time
soon.”

Elizabeth tilted
her head and looked up at David. “What do you mean, Mr. Adams?”

A guilty smile
appeared. He leaned in and whispered, “I think he might be asking her something
of great import.”

Elizabeth
clasped her hands together, and she squealed with glee. “You cannot imagine how
happy this makes me!”

David looked
down at her and smiled. “I believe the two of them shall be very happy
together. I have enjoyed getting to know them.”

Elizabeth turned
to look towards the path they had just walked down. “I think they are perfectly
suited for each other.”

Taking
Elizabeth’s hand, David gazed at her warmly. “You know I shall be leaving on
the morrow.”

“Yes, and I have
so enjoyed our time together and deepening our acquaintance.”

He gave her hand
a squeeze. “You believe that I am leaving because of your sister’s
indiscretion.”

Elizabeth pinched
her brows. “I must admit that has crossed my mind.”

David walked
around and stood in front of Elizabeth. “No. But I do have other reasons.”

Elizabeth turned
her gaze up to him. “What other reasons?” She braced herself, expecting to hear
him say he no longer cared for her.

His expression
was solemn. He looked down at the ground, bit his lower lip, and finally said,
“I believe that you are in love with someone else.” He took in a deep breath.
“And I believe that gentleman is very much in love with you.”

Elizabeth felt
her face grow pale, and she slowly shook her head. “I am so sorry, David,
although I doubt…” She let out a shaky laugh. “I doubt that
anyone
would
continue to have a strong sentiment for me after what Lydia did.”

David gave his
head a toss. “Well, Mr. Darcy probably has his scruples – I cannot say what he
might feel about what your sister did – but I doubt that I would ever find a
way to replace that man who seems to reside so deeply within your heart.”

Elizabeth turned
her eyes up to look at him. “I am so sorry, David. I never meant…”

“Lizzy!” Jane
called out as she and Mr. Bingley hurried around a bend in the path towards
Elizabeth and David.

“I want you to
know, Elizabeth,” David said as they watched the happy couple approach, “that I
truly enjoyed getting to know you, and I wish you all the happiness in the
world. I am in earnest.”

“Thank you,
David. I feel much the same for you.”

Jane came up and
hugged her sister. “Oh, Lizzy! I am so happy! You cannot know how happy I am!”

The two men shook
hands as David congratulated his new friend. “I assume she said yes?” he asked.

“Of course!
There was no hesitancy at all!”

Jane and
Elizabeth walked back to Netherfield, arm in arm, with the men just behind
them. Jane told her that Mr. Bingley had visited their father earlier that
morning to obtain his permission, which he readily gave.

“When we had
dropped far behind you,” Jane gleefully told her, “he stopped and asked me a
very odd question.”

“What did he
ask?” Elizabeth wanted to know.

“He asked me how
we should dress for the Masquerade Ball.” Jane shook her head. “I had not even
had time to think about it and could not give him a reply.”

She told
Elizabeth that Mr. Bingley had taken her hand and then asked, “What would you
think about us going as a bride and groom?”

Jane beamed at
Elizabeth with wide eyes. “I did not know what to think!”

“Tell me more,
dearest Jane! What did he say next?”

Jane giggled.
“It is not what he said, but what he did! He got down on one knee and said, ‘I
would be honoured if you would accept my hand in marriage.’ Oh, Elizabeth, I
thought I would faint! Fortunately, I did not!”

“And you said
yes?”

Jane giggled. “I
gave him an unequivocal yes! I was determined there would be no
misunderstanding.”

With great joy, Elizabeth
listened to her sister as she continued to proclaim the extent of her
happiness. She was amazed at the level of Jane’s excitement, something she had
rarely seen Jane exhibit.

Jane let out a
long sigh and smiled.

Elizabeth
quickly leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I am so happy for you,
Jane. So happy!”

*~*~*

When they
returned to Longbourn, Jane, Charles, and David repaired to the sitting room,
while Elizabeth went in search of her parents. She approached her father’s library,
knowing he would likely be there, and heard both her parents’ voices coming
from inside.

“We are likely
to have a guest for dinner tonight, Mrs. Bennet, who will soon be a member of
the family, but it is not Mr. Adams.”

“Not Mr. Adams?
But he leaves on the morrow! I thought before he departed, he would have asked
for Lizzy’s hand!” Mrs. Bennet let out a moan. “Is that not why you brought him
here?”

Mr. Bennet shook
his head. “We never have a guarantee of those things, and we must not dwell on
what might have been. But are you not inclined to hear who the person is?”

“Oh, yes, Mr.
Bennet! I was so distressed over David, that I forgot there is someone else!”

Mr. Bennet
smiled. “It is our neighbour, Mr. Bingley, who is this very day asking for our
Jane’s hand.”

“Mr. Bennet! I
am delighted with such news! But what can we do about David? I am so
disappointed he is about to leave us.”

“We are going to
do nothing about David. Let us be happy for our Jane and share in her joy this
evening.”

Elizabeth waited,
listening at the door, until she was certain her mother was thinking about Jane
and Charles, and not David and her. She finally walked in and announced that
the newly engaged couple had returned and were waiting for them in the sitting
room.

*~*~*

Later, as they
gathered in the dining room for dinner, the mood continued to be joyful, and
everyone talked about the engagement and wedding. David did not wish to take
away from the elation everyone was feeling, so he spoke little about his
departure.

They had just
finished their meal, when there was a knock at the front door. A few moments
later their butler walked in carrying two letters.

“A missive for
Mr. Bennet, and one for Mr. Adams.” He handed each of the men their letter,
bowed, and stepped out of the room.

“Oh!” cried Mrs.
Bennet, who began fanning herself. “It can only be about your sister, Mr.
Bennet. I just know she has died! It is always bad news when one receives an
unexpected letter!”

They both opened
their letters, and David abruptly stood up. “Heavens! This is grave, indeed!”

Mr. Bennet read
his letter, slowly shaking his head. “How very sad!”

“When did she
die, my dear? I am so sorry!”

Mr. Bennet
looked up. “She did not die; she is still very much alive, for if you look
closely, the letter is from her. But there
was
a recent death.”

“Who?” everyone
in the room asked.

David softly
answered, “Robert Mintner, the young man in the navy whom Melanie loved.”

Elizabeth
brought her hand up over her mouth. “Oh, this must be so hard on her. Does it
say how she is faring?”

He nodded. “My
mother says she is taking it hard and is very despondent.”

Mr. Bennet
looked down at the letter in his hands. “Viola says she does not know what to
do to help her through this. She only wishes she had the strength to do everything
she would wish for her daughter.”

Elizabeth looked
at David and could readily see the concern he had for Melanie. He began to
pace, reading the letter again and again. She stood up and walked over to him.

“I am so sorry
to hear this. It sounds as though she would benefit from the support of a very
close friend.” She bit her lip and watched him, but he said nothing. Finally,
she added softly, “Do you really have to go on to Staffordshire? Perhaps…
perhaps you ought to return to St. Mary’s?”

David pinched
his brows. “I do not know if I should. I would not want to interfere. I would
not want her to think…”

“No, I know you
would not. But you are a good friend and care deeply for her.” Elizabeth took
in a deep breath. “If you go and allow her to grieve… just be there for her…
she might come to return those same feelings you have for her.” She lifted her
brows and gave him a nod of encouragement.

“Has it been
that apparent?”

Elizabeth
silently nodded and smiled. “I know how much you care for her.”

“I do not know…”

She placed a
hand on his arm. “Of course, you cannot expect her to suddenly switch her
affections from this young man to you, but if you let her know you are there
only to give her comfort and support, be a listening ear, and give her a shoulder
to cry on, she will treasure that.”

David slowly
nodded. “I should really like to do that, but do you suppose she will come to
love me?”

“I believe she
already does. She needs to realize that what she feels for you is something
that two people do not often have.” She gave him a smile and tilted her head.
“You will not know until you try.”

His brows
furrowed as he considered her words. Finally, his brows lifted. “I believe I
shall! Thank you so much, Elizabeth.” He turned his head towards her. “I wish…”

Elizabeth gave a
quick nod of her head. “Yes, I know.”

David spread his
lips in a smile. “I hope all things work out for you, as well, whether it is
Mr. Darcy or someone else.”

Elizabeth let out
a long sigh. “Yes,” she replied wistfully. “Perhaps someone else!”

*~*~*

The following
day, David departed for London, planning to return to St. Mary’s. Mrs. Bennet,
of course, did not understand how he could settle upon making another trip
across the sea after all that had happened to them on their previous journey.
She was still disappointed that Elizabeth had not secured the young man’s
affections, or if not his affections, at least an offer of marriage, for
certainly love could come later. She blamed Elizabeth for not having made a
greater effort in securing his hand.

Elizabeth could
only silently laugh at her mother’s absurd grievances.

*~*~*

Nearly everyone
in the Bennet household was in an uproar the days before the Masquerade Ball as
they excitedly planned their costumes. Since this was a yearly event, the same
costumes were usually worn year after year, if not by the same person, then
passed down to another. They were always altered in some way, with
embellishments added, changed, or removed.

Mr. Bennet had
decided to allow Lydia to attend, as he always looked forward to a pleasant
evening alone on the night of the Masquerade Ball. His idea of enjoying the
evening was to remain at home with a good book in front of his face instead of
a mask. The last thing he wanted was Lydia there to disturb his solitude. While
Elizabeth did not agree with his decision to allow Lydia to attend, she was not
surprised by it.

Previous years’
costumes were brought out, haggled over, and snatched up. Kitty and Lydia
immediately began pulling out ribbons, lace, beads, and feathers and adding new
ones. They did not care what they were dressed up as; they only cared that they
and their costumes would be noticed.

Mary’s costume
always consisted of the same muslin dress and a mask which was adorned with a
simple flower. She did not care to dress up as something she was not, but she
conceded to enter into the masquerade festivities by covering her eyes.

Jane chose to
dress up as an angel, because that had become the endearing name Mr. Bingley
continued to call her. She wore all white, and Elizabeth made a halo decorated
with white ribbons and small white flowers. The wings were somewhat
problematic, but a solution soon presented itself. They attached sheer white
fabric to the sleeves, so when Jane lifted her arms, the wings spread. She was
eager to see Charles dressed as a soldier, borrowing the uniform from one of
the families in Meryton, whose father had been in the army in the late 1700s.