25. Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Four

Darcy was happy to visit Bingley at his home without having to worry about Miss Bingley being there to pop in and bother him. He smiled at the butler as he showed him to Bingley’s study. Making himself at home, he sank into one of the luxurious, overstuffed chairs near the desk.

Looking up from his papers, Bingley grinned, saying, “Thank you for visiting me here before I head back to Meryton in the morning.”

“I do not mind at all. Did you sort out the settlement paperwork?” asked Darcy.

Nodding, Bingley answered, “I have everything together. Whatever the future holds, Jane will have what she needs. Though I resent the need to bring the papers to Mr. Bennet to sign. I already know that he cannot be trusted to see to his children’s best interests.”

Grimacing, Darcy said, “Miss Bennet is of age. She could sign the documents herself, I suppose.”

Bingley sighed and shook his head, his voice filled with resignation as he said, “Jane wants her father to sign the papers. She thinks it is the right way to go about things. Despite her initial struggle, she has handled the situation more effectively and still holds onto hope that her father will eventually make the right choice. She hopes he will show his love for her and her sisters somehow.” Pausing, a ghost of a smile crossed Bingley’s face. With a slight tilt of his head, Bingley shrugged and remarked, “It is one of the reasons why I am so deeply in love with her—her endless optimism. She looks to see the best in everyone.”

Darcy nodded, understanding that when you loved someone, you had to take the bad with the good. It wasn’t necessarily a negative trait to be optimistic, and Miss Bennet’s unwavering positivity had its advantages, despite the occasional letdown. Figuring that he would leave Bingley to his concerns regarding his affianced and attempted to change the topic of conversation, asking, “Did I see an announcement about your sister’s marriage in the paper? I had thought you might have mentioned it.”

Darcy’s heart sank as he saw the smile disappear from Bingley’s face upon mentioning Miss Bingley, hinting at an underlying tension. Darcy had hoped to change the conversation about he had not thought to crush his friend’s spirit. He was quick to apologize, saying, “I am sorry Bingley, you do not have to talk about it if you do not wish to.”

Waving him off, Bingley said, “I was going to tell you eventually, but yes, Caroline married Sir Jasper Wilton in a small ceremony last week.”

Darcy knew Bingley was hopeful that his sister would get married sooner rather than later, so he had assumed that Bingley would be happy about her marriage, but he wasn’t. Understanding that there must be something off about the marriage, Darcy questioned, “Was there something about the match that you disapprove of?”

Slumped in his chair, Bingley’s voice conveyed deep concern. “I advised Caroline against marrying the baronet,” he revealed. “However, she was resolute in her belief that a title and the respect it would bring among the ton were worth any sacrifices she might have to make in her personal life.”

“Was what you learned about Sir Jasper so terrible?” asked Darcy.

Expression turning dark, Bingley explained, “In a partner, Caroline sought both a title and a primary residence in town. While Sir Jasper met both of her qualifications, she did not care about my concerns. If it was only the fact that the man was some thirty years older than my sister, I would not have said anything. However, Caroline is Sir Jasper’s third wife. His first wife died birthing his fourth daughter and after a suitable waiting period, he remarried. His second wife died shortly after her marriage to the baronet in a fall down the stairs that was quite suspicious. Faced with the need for an heir, he set out to find a third wife, who ended up being my sister.”

Running his hand through his hair, he continued, “All reports say that he is often in his cups and his servants have whispered about being mistreated when he is drunk. I fear for Caroline, but she is of age and there was nothing I could do.”

Shocked at the revelation, he attempted to commiserate with his friend, saying, “I am sorry to hear that, Bingley.”

Shrugging, Bingley said, “What can you do? My sister has made her choice, and I can only hope that the outcome won’t be as disastrous as I fear.” Then, sitting up straighter, Bingley picked up his ever-present cup of coffee and, after taking a sip, he declared, “I no longer want to discuss something gloomy. How are your sister and Miss Elizabeth doing? You know Jane will ask the moment I return to her.”

Smiling at the image Bingley’s words conveyed, Darcy said, “Elizabeth and Georgianna are both doing well. I think their time together in London has done good things for both of them.”

Quirking an eyebrow, Bingley inquired, “Elizabeth, is it?”

Realizing his mistake, Darcy hoped that the room was dim enough to hide his slight blush. Understanding the need to talk with someone about his dilemma and knowing that Bingley was the ideal person, Darcy affirmed, “Though she has been Elizabeth to me for a while, it was only this morning that I grasped the true reason behind my strong inclination to shield her and revel in her company. I had thought we were just friends.”

Chuckling, Bingley remarked, “I had always assumed love would knock you about when it finally found you. I am not even surprised by your falling in love with Miss Elizabeth. She seems like the perfect match for you—intelligent, well-read, and hardworking. Moreover, she’s kindhearted and outgoing. Which I think you could use in your life. She will help you get out of your shell, so to speak.” Studying his friend for a moment, Bingley sat forward slightly and asked, “Being in love is not a bad thing, you know. What has you worried?”

“The moment I realized I was in love with Elizabeth, I wanted to rush to her and propose,” began Darcy.

“Not an uncommon reaction,” commented Bingley.

Rolling his eyes at his friend, Darcy said, “I hadn’t taken two steps before I began to worry. What if she only excepts my proposal because she feels she must? I have helped her, wanting nothing in return, but my love for her complicates matters. I only want her to marry me if her heart truly beats for me, as I couldn’t bear the thought of my love causing her any pain.” Scrubbing at his face with both hands and thoroughly mussing his hair Darcy groaned, “What makes it worse is that I came up with the perfect idea for how to deal with Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and Longbourn once I realized I was in love, but it only works if Elizabeth and I are married. I just hate to think that she might misunderstand my intentions.”

“So what are you going to do?” asked Bingley.

Looking at his friend in annoyance, Darcy grumbled, “I do not know. I may know how to run an estate and balance ledgers, but I am clueless when it comes to matters of the heart. You have always been more in tune with your emotions, and you are currently in love with Elizabeth’s sister. What do you think I should do?”

Smirking, Bingley took a sip of his coffee and Darcy wanted to throttle him for all that he was taking his sweet time to respond. Bingley placed his cup on the table, a mischievous grin spreading across his face before he spoke again, saying, “My suggestion is to have confidence in Miss Elizabeth and to share your thoughts and feelings openly with her. Let her know that your support is not contingent on her saying yes. You never know, maybe she has feelings for you but has said nothing for similar reasons. What have you done to show her you care so far?”

Disarmed by the question, Darcy sputtered, “Ahh, I um, nothing so far?”

Grinning Bingley said, “Darcy my friend, you have had months with the lady. If you continue to move this slowly, you will both be old and gray by the time you act. Or worse, some other gentleman will swoop in and sweep her off her feet.” Laughing, he added, “Then too, there is the possibility that if Lydia finds out that her sister loves you and you break her heart through inaction, she will have your head.”

Darcy furrowed his brow, feeling a mix of confusion and concern. “Is there something about Elizabeth’s feelings for me that I’m unaware of?” he asked, rubbing his forehead.

“Not explicitly, no. Based on my observations, Miss Elizabeth spends a considerable amount of time in your presence. If she had no feelings for you whatsoever or disliked you, she would undoubtedly find a means to limit her interactions with you. As I have continued to visit, I have become acquainted with most of Jane’s sisters, and it has become clear to me that Miss Lydia is fiercely protective of all her sisters.” Bingley’s smile had grown as he spoke, and Darcy could not help feeling as if his friend was enjoying his struggle.

Despite the temptation to grumble, Darcy controlled himself and opted to respond, “I have plans to go with her and my sister to the theater tomorrow.”

Nodding, Bingley said, “That is a great beginning. You do not have to declare your undying love, but at the very least, show her some extra attention or something. Sit next to her, offer her your arm, talk to her about something I would find boring and that the two of you find interesting.”

As Elizabeth climbed the steps at the theater, she felt a familiar thrill coursing through her veins. Although she had some prior experience attending plays, it paled in comparison to the unforgettable experience she had while watching from the Darcy box. This evening was even more special.

This evening Mr. Darcy had offered her his arm and while it was a polite gesture, it felt special somehow. Normally, he offered his arm to Georgianna, which was only right. Georgianna was his sister, after all, and Elizabeth was merely his sister’s friend. Elizabeth couldn’t help but feel that the subtle shift in his behavior held significance, and she wasn’t the only one who picked up on it. Georgianna had grinned widely before a look from Mrs. Annesley had encouraged her to stop.

Mr. Darcy had always been a gentleman, but now it seemed like his courtesy was directed solely at her. Moving through the crowd, he shielded her, and it was a lovely sensation to be so thoroughly looked after. When they finally got to their box, Darcy sat her next to him and asked, “Did I tell you yet how lovely you look?”

Elizabeth hoped that the light was dim enough for him to not see her blush when she answered, “Thank you. The dress is new.”

Georgianna chimed in, saying, “We visited the Gardiner’s warehouse to look at fabric and we found the fabric for both of our dresses. Her uncle was kind enough to gift me the fabric for my dress, so I insisted on taking Elizabeth to my modiste to have her fabric made up along with mine. I think the results are quite flattering on her.”

Elizabeth acknowledged, “It was incredibly generous of your sister, but I couldn’t say no to her desire to share the experience of going to the modiste together to get the dresses made.”

Their chatter stopped as the lights dimmed, and the play began. Elizabeth’s attention was pulled towards the stage in anticipation of the coming drama. She had always loved reading Shakespeare’s plays and even though the play that evening was to be a farce from a lesser-known artist, she still expected to enjoy it.

With her attention thus diverted, Elizabeth was taken aback when Mr. Darcy leaned close, his warm breath tickling her ear as he whispered, “I think the seamstress did a remarkable job on your dress, but sadly, the dress cannot rival your inherent beauty.”

Mr. Darcy, having said his fill, turned and smiled as the curtain rose, immersing the audience in a visually stunning set and a cast of uniquely attired characters. Sadly, Elizabeth found she could not quite concentrate on the play with Mr. Darcy’s words echoing in her mind. Mr. Darcy thought she was beautiful.

Never before had Elizabeth been told she was beautiful by someone who was not one of her sisters. In fact, she had often been told by her mother that she would never hold a candle to Jane or Lydia. Elizabeth couldn’t help but be swayed when a gentleman praised her beauty. Elizabeth suspected that Mr. Darcy would have encountered at least several seasons’ worth of stunning beauties, and yet he said she was beautiful. She knew Mr. Darcy well enough to know he would not lie to her and so he must believe what he said was true. It gave her a thrill that she did not quite know what to do with. So with a determined air, she focused on the play. She refused to let herself be thrown off by Mr. Darcy’s words and was determined to enjoy the enchanting night.

If only paying attention was as easy as she would have liked. Every time Mr. Darcy shifted in his seat, Elizabeth was aware of it. Still, she enjoyed what she saw of the play, even laughing at the antics of the characters. She did so love to laugh and was glad that they were attending something comical rather than sad.

All too soon it was the intermission, and the lights came up. Standing, Mr. Darcy asked, “Would you ladies like me to get you some refreshments?”

Elizabeth looked at Georgianna, her brows raised in question, and her friend answered, “No, you do not have to fight the crush on my account.”

Adding her own denial, Elizabeth said, “I am certainly fine with no refreshment.”

They had only begun discussing the characters in the play and the interesting costumes when the first of their callers arrived. Elizabeth had her back to the entrance talking with Mrs. Annesley on the way the play alluded to various royal families through history when she heard a slightly nasal voice greet Mr. Darcy.

“Mr. Darcy, when I saw your box was occupied, I just had to come say hello. After all, our families have been friends for so very long,” cooed Miss Caroline Bingley.

Turning, Elizabeth spotted Miss Bingley on the arm of a much older gentleman in all her orange glory. Mr. Darcy had not yet responded to the greeting beyond a nod when Miss Bingley seemed to spot Elizabeth. Miss Bingley’s eyes flashed in anger and her lip curled in spite before her expression relaxed and she declared, “Miss Eliza! I never would have expected such a quaint country girl to be in London attending the latest play and with the Darcys, of all people. You must feel so out of place so far from home.”

The woman had changed little at all since she had last seen her. Putting on her best smile, Elizabeth said, “As you can see, I am in London, and I am quite enjoying the play. What character have you enjoyed the most so far, Miss Bingley?”

Tittering in response, Miss Bingley said, “Oh you are droll, Miss Eliza. No one comes to the theater to watch the play they come to see and be seen.” Snuggling up to the older gentleman beside her, she smiled condescendingly and said, “You must have missed the announcement. I am no longer Miss Bingley; I am Lady Wilton now and you should address me as such.”

“Then congratulations are in order,” responded Elizabeth. She couldn’t help but notice that Caroline’s husband, who was standing beside her, didn’t inquire about being introduced. He was just as puffed up with himself as the new Lady Wilton was.

While Darcy enjoyed how Elizabeth handled the new Lady Wilton, he had focused much of his attention on Sir Wilton. Despite his well-groomed appearance, the older gentleman’s stylish waistcoat failed to fully conceal his noticeable paunch. The man’s hair was graying around the temples, but he still seemed to have most of it. The most disturbing thing about the man was the way his pale blue eyes lingered on Elizabeth. Moving to stand closer to Elizabeth, Darcy attempted to convey his protection without having to confront the baronet.

Her voice snide, Lady Wilton asked, “However did you end up sharing a box with Mr. Darcy?”

Smiling, Elizabeth glanced at Georgianna before responding, “Although she favors symphonies over theater or opera, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity for a night out at the theater and was kind enough to insist that I come along. Georgianna and I have both enjoyed her brother’s magnanimous efforts to keep us entertained.”

Darcy was quick to not the brittle expression on Lady Wilton’s face when she said, “Really, Miss Eliza, I would have thought that even someone from the country would know better than to use Miss Darcy’s Christian name in such a setting. I have known Miss Darcy for years and still haven’t been graced with that privilege.”

That was when Georgianna cut in, saying, “Do not think you need to chastise my friend Lady Wilton. I gave Elizabeth permission to call me Georgianna long ago. In fact, I asked her to call me Georgie, though she still insists on only using it privately.” Pausing, Georgianna looked at Elizabeth in a puzzled manner before saying, “Elizabeth, I thought you told me you preferred the name Lizzie to Eliza. Did I misunderstand?”

Darcy could see Elizabeth’s struggle not to laugh in the way she pressed her lips together before answering, “No, I actually dislike the name Eliza. I only allow my good friend Charlotte and her family to use the name, as it is a small joke between us. Though some individuals insist on using the name Eliza without ever being given permission to address me so informally. I far prefer Lizzie when among friends.”

Darcy could not help smiling at how Elizabeth and Georgianna were handling the confrontation with the new Lady Wilton with grace and aplomb. Lady Wilton was growing even angrier, and it only got worse when Lord and Lady Matlock entered the box and, after ignoring the Wiltons, greeted his group.

Embracing Georgianna, the countess said, “It is so good to see you, my dear!” Then she embraced Elizabeth as well before kissing her on the cheek. “I see you are once again helping my niece and nephew to get more culture, Elizabeth. What have you thought of the farce thus far?”

Smiling fondly, Elizabeth replied, “I have found it quite entertaining thus far. Though some of the happenings have been quite ridiculous, I think that has been the point. The costumes have been quite stunning. What is your opinion of them, Lady Matlock?”

“Darling girl,” Lady Matlock tapped Elizabeth with her fan before playfully saying, “I’ve asked you before to call me Aunt Margaret. And I agree the costumes are delicious with all those lovely fabrics.” As she spoke, Lord and Lady Wilton retreated from the box with a disgruntled huff. Darcy assumed they did not appreciate being ignored by the earl and countess. That his aunt, the countess, was asking Elizabeth to call her Aunt Margaret was probably the last straw.

Darcy missed the rest of their conversation as he was drawn into one of his own with his uncle. The Earl of Matlock chuckled and said, “Your aunt has always wished for daughters, and it seems she’s found a way to fulfill that longing by attaching herself to your sister and her friend.”

Watching the three ladies chat, Darcy smiled, saying, “They both seem to revel in her maternal affection.”

Nodding in agreement, his uncle said, “I think it is good for all three of them.”

Darcy had informed his family of the shoddy way that Elizabeth had been treated by her own family and, after meeting her and seeing the way she got along with Georgianna, they had welcomed her into the fold wholeheartedly. Curious to know if there had been any fresh developments with his other aunt, Darcy asked, “Have you heard from Lady Catherine since her dethronement?”

Sighing, the earl muttered, “My sister has done nothing but castigate everyone and write censorious letters. Thankfully, my staff is in place at the dower house, and I pay them well. They have forwarded me all the letters she attempts to send, and I have been able to prevent her from attempting to spread scurrilous lies about the family in an effort to get back at us.”

“I had wondered why I had stopped receiving letters from her,” commented Darcy. Then, seeing his uncle’s look for further explanation, Darcy shrugged and added, “There has been a longstanding order to burn anything she sends as soon as it arrives, but my staff would still tell me that she had written.”

“It makes sense, I suppose,” his uncle said, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. “I knew you had stopped communicating with her years ago.”

The entire conversation with his uncle Darcy had been observing Elizabeth with furtive glances. The longer he knew her, the less he could spend time out of her presence comfortably. There was just something about her that drew him.

It seemed that his glances had been less furtive than he thought because his uncle said, “So when are you going to do something about bringing that lovely girl into the family?”

Darcy jerked his head back to face his uncle so quickly that he might have hurt himself. Even his uncle knew of his feelings? Rubbing at the now twinging muscles, Darcy attempted to find the words to adequately express himself. “I do not want her to enter into anything with me out of obligation. Nor do I wish for anything I say or do to ruin her relationship with Georgianna. I am moving slowly.”

Clapping Darcy on the shoulder, his uncle said, “No, son, you are barely moving at all. Starting with a trip to the theater is commendable, but if you want to get her to fully grasp your intentions, you’ll need to make a greater impression.”

Slumping slightly, Darcy grumbled, “I was afraid that you were going to say something like that.”

“It is not your fault, my boy. Your father was quite the same way and did not know how to go about courting Anne for all that he was madly in love with her. Thankfully, my sister noticed the signs and found his fumbling endearing,” reassured his uncle.