Second Glances: A Tale of Less Pride and Prejudice Continues (Tales of Less Pride and Prejudice) (11 page)

Elizabeth, upon noticing Sir James’ card, put her husband precisely in the predicament he wished to avoid. “Sir James is back! Does he say what took him off so suddenly?”

“Some business North of town. Did you ladies have a pleasant day?”

“Yes, but for one bit of unpleasantness. It seems Mrs. Wickham has determined that Mondays will be the very time for a regular gathering of sisters – Kitty, Jane, and she all had such a fine time that it cannot be an isolated experience – and while Jane will take on the responsibility of playing hostess next week, such pleasures cannot be delayed forever. Kitty is to have the following.”

Darcy grimaced. “I would rather not have anything to do with the Wickhams at all, but I suppose it is unavoidable. How long before the husband follows the wife? We are sure to have him on our doorstep before long, and I will not subject Georgiana to such imposition.”

“We shall take care that she is otherwise occupied when Mrs. Wickham visits. More than that I do not see what is to be done,” she sighed. “What sort of business would take Sir James into Hertfordshire?”

Mr. Darcy stared at his wife. “I’m sure he has many interests that take him about the country.”

Mrs. Darcy stared back. “Fitzwilliam, do you prevaricate with me?”

He flushed, “What makes you think so?”

“It will not do, you know. How fortunate for me that you are thoroughly clumsy in the art of deception! I had thought you abhorred disguise? Whatever has led you to attempt it must be very interesting indeed.”

Resignedly, he affirmed, “I warned Sir James I would not hide his whereabouts if questioned directly on the subject, as I feared I would be. He has been to Longbourn to consult your father.

Elizabeth did not reply for a moment as the shock of this information descended upon her, and then she could only emit an incredulous, “He did what?!”

“He went to Longbourn, and there he spent three days making himself quite comfortable, by his account, with his future in laws.”

Elizabeth bristled, “Awfully presumptuous, isn’t he?”

“You and your father are of the same opinion. However, as he has taken quite a liking to Sir James, he has agreed to assist his cause by negating this extremely misjudged action. Mrs. Bennet has been ordered by Mr. Bennet, and cajoled by Sir James, to not even mention his existence to anyone, and most particularly to not write Kitty on the subject.”

Elizabeth looked dubious. “While I am relieved to know my mother will not be descending upon us to expedite the affair, how is such a feat of officious meddling supposed to benefit anyone?”

“I do not like it myself, but what do we do but hold our tongues? Kitty, in all her unreasonable prejudice, is unlikely to forgive Sir James such an action. Even were she inclined to him, there is no doubt he has acted with unbecoming haste.”

“I should say so, indeed!” she declared, her indignation rising as she considered the matter. “It’s really disgraceful, you know! If Sir James was not such a thoroughly pleasant fellow – and with each encounter I like him more and more, you know – I could not abide such blatant matchmaking, on you or my father’s part. How fortunate for him!”

He breathed a sigh of relief. “You will not expose him!”

“No, though I should. It is rather unfair to Kitty, do you not agree?”

”Yes. I am afraid I do, but I see no way around it. James is so desperately in love with her it is almost comical. I am sure your father enjoyed his company immensely. Marrying him would do far more than secure Kitty a title, you know. He will be an exemplary husband.”

“And if she cannot like him?”

“My dear Elizabeth!” Darcy chided her. “What is there not to like?”

“Not every lady will care for every man, no matter how charming,” she defended herself before admitting, “Kitty is a more stoic lady than I if she can withstand such determined devotion as he displays. Let us hope he is not exposed, for I know not how I shall justify our behavior.”

And so the Darcys nervously watched on as Kitty and Sir James embarked upon a somewhat unexceptional period of courtship. Elizabeth spoke to her sister about the gentleman’s formal request to do so, assuring her that there was no reason to doubt the veracity of his attachment, but only asked her to give him a chance and get to know him, promising that she would stand by her should she choose to refuse his certain proposal. Elizabeth also spoke with Georgiana about not providing her own form of pressure on Kitty to like Sir James, “I know how very exciting the notion must be for you, Georgiana, but do refrain from sharing with Kitty any daydreams you might have about being neighbors for the rest of your lives.”

“I will try,” she promised, “but it will be difficult. I do so hope she comes to like him better, Elizabeth!”

“We must hope she comes to feel a great deal more for him than she currently seems to if we want the two to enjoy a happy life together. I am afraid Sir James has an upward battle.”

It was true. Although Kitty had determined to provide Sir James the opportunity to know her better, she remained doubtful about the possibility of having a future with him. He seemed too exciting, too handsome, and far too rich for her to be so fortunate as to win his affection. Yet she felt herself drawn to him despite her hesitations, and with each ride in the park (either in the once fearful curricle or upon a horse of his choosing), visit to the theater, or dance at a ball, she had an increasingly difficult time retaining a strict guard upon her heart.

London society had already become somewhat accustomed to seeing Georgiana and Mr. Brooks in each other’s company, a pairing interesting to discuss, particularly as so many thought she could do rather better, but now that Kitty and Sir James combined to make a most determined foursome, the gossip could not be contained. That Sir James, for all his singularity, was expected to marry higher did not cause as much sensation as the subject of Miss Bennet’s good fortune. Rumor spread of there being four or five more such ladies back at Longbourn, each possessed with a bevy of graces, the youngest of whom was surely destined to marry no less than a Duke. For some these tales were mere diversions, only the latest coupling to be the talk of the town, soon superseded by more interesting news, but others, like Mrs. Wickham, her husband, and her dear friend, Miss Beaumont, to whom the phrase “my dear friend, Lady Stratton” sounded very well, relished with greedy glee Kitty’s rising expectations, congratulating themselves on her success.

Sir James had been assiduously pressing his suit for ten days when he and Mr. Brooks escorted Georgiana, Kitty, and Elizabeth to a damp shed in a Park Lane yard to view the marble statuary that Lord Elgin had so controversially removed from the Athenian acropolis. Elizabeth had been unsure of her feelings about the manner in which this ancient treasure was obtained, but as Mr. Darcy, who had already viewed the marbles on more than one occasion, was adamant that everyone who had the opportunity should see the magnificent collection, regardless of the circumstances, she was easily convinced to act as chaperone. Sir James, who arranged the visit, had also been to Park Lane several times over the proceeding decade, and it was with passion that he argued for the state’s acquirement of the marbles, as the party made their way towards their destination. “If they are not removed to a proper location soon, all of Elgin’s efforts will have been in vain. I doubt even the Turks and tourists could have done more damage than London fog has inflicted. The time for moralizing has gone on long enough; the marbles must be protected, and at all costs.”

“Should they not be returned to their rightful owners?” Georgiana questioned, her mind full of Byron’s poignant criticisms of the former ambassador to Constantinople.

Sir James shook his head most adamantly. “The journey might prove disastrous. We may argue forever and a day about what has already been done, but all that we can change is in the future. England, for better or worse, is in possession of one of the greatest treasures in the world. It is our duty to protect and preserve what remains.”

Kitty, who knew very little on the subject, was prompted by this introduction to view something extraordinarily magnificent, and she was unable to conceal her disappointment when confronted by a massive array of broken statuary. Sir James watched her as she contemplated a series of sculptures, all badly damaged, before inserting himself into her contemplations. “What think you, Miss Bennet? Rather unlike anything else you have seen, I imagine.”

“I am not accustomed to judging art, Sir James, or at least not anything more complex than classroom watercolors. I fear my opinion is of little account.”

“You do not care for them?”

“I suppose they are interesting, if only for being so old, and they are quite large.”

He laughed. “We are fortunate to see them this close. This is only part of the pediment to the Parthenon. It would not seem as huge when viewed from the ground.”

Kitty looked impressed. “This belongs on top of a building!” she exclaimed. “Why, that certainly would change the perspective. One could not make out such detail.”

“No, but look how much detail the artists included, nevertheless.” He gazed at the sculptures with admiration. “This is art at its very finest. These sculptures, once mere blocks of stone, were painstakingly constructed into one of the most miraculous examples of human architecture ever built. Look how dynamic they are, as if alive! To have enjoyed two thousand years of majesty and now be lying here, almost discarded,” he lamented.

She looked more closely, trying to see what Sir James did. “They are realistic, that I can safely state.”

“I especially adore the horses,” he declared passionately. “It is one thing to endow a human shape with intelligence and emotion, but quite another to similarly capture a horse. Look here!” he pointed to part of the frieze. “See how h\is vein bulges! This horse has galloped hard. He is tired and strained, but you can see the determination in his eye to carry his master onward. Quite perfect!”

Kitty’s interest was kindled. “What of these horses? They have the bodies of men!”

“Those are centaurs: mythical creatures. Have you not heard of them before?”

“My father had many books on mythology, but most were in Greek or Latin, so entirely inaccessible to me. Elizabeth is my only sister with whom he shared their contents.”

“What a fantastic world you have yet to explore!” he replied with enthusiasm. “How wonderful to encounter these tales once old enough to appreciate them, not as I did, for whom they were as familiar as “the bells of St. Clement’s” for as long as I can recall. How I envy you!”

Kitty blushed. “You envy ignorance and illiteracy?”

“No. I envy the novelty of new experience.” He sighed, “So few things hold great excitement for me anymore. I was quite convinced the world had already unfurled all her enchantment before I met you, Miss Bennet.” As she didn’t rebuke him, he felt emboldened and pressed on, “Someday we shall stand on the Acropolis, you and I, and we will summon our memories of these precious marbles that we may imagine what the temple was in its heyday.”

Kitty’s face contracted with attention, as if she were striving to permanently imbed upon her mind the sight before her, and Sir James’ spirits soared. It was the first time she allowed him to link their future together, and he felt it could not be long before he was empowered to share with her all the overflowing passions of his perdurable love.

It was shocking to Kitty when she realized she had been in town for nearly a month. The time seemed both a blink of the eye and an eternity. Life was wildly different from what it had been the day she received Georgiana’s summons to London: the day she met Sir James. She tilted her head farther into her work so no one might observe the color brought on by her thoughts. Sir James Stratton – she would be Lady Stratton! Of this few doubts remained, even to her timid mind. Everyone seemed to expect it, and she herself could no longer imagine any other future than that of Mistress of Teggington. Without explanation, Lizzy had begun to include her in discussions with her housekeeper, quietly teaching her youthful sister something of running a great house. Kitty was grateful for the guidance her sister bestowed, particularly when Elizabeth admitted how intimidated she felt upon first beholding her new home at Pemberley. “I was never more terrified in my life,” she confessed. The house is monstrously large, and more than once in the first few weeks I broke down and cried with helplessness.”

Kitty looked doubtful. “I never knew you to fear anything,” she insisted, “and if you did, it certainly did not hinder you.”

“No, there is a stubbornness about me that can never bear to be frightened,” she replied thoughtfully, thinking for the moment of her own circumstances, “but I think you are cast of rather the same mold, Kitty.”

She laughed uncomfortably, “I hope you are right, but I do not see how it can be. If Sir James cannot see my deficiencies now, he will certainly be enlightened upon finding his dinner burnt and the linens missing. That will be the true test of his affections!”

“It is good you can laugh about it, for I imagine he will! Now Fitzwilliam would be truly devastated to find his household in disarray, but Sir James is more a friend to mayhem, do you not think?”

“What if he holds it against me Lizzy?” Kitty whispered, her unconvincing smile not hiding the anxiety looming large in her eyes.

“A burnt dinner?”