Chapter 22

22

D arcy paced up and down the Netherfield library, wondering what was happening at Longbourn this afternoon. It was intolerable that Miss Elizabeth should have to put up with such discomfort while Collins was there. He wondered how long the man was staying, and how he would respond when he was finally convinced of Miss Elizabeth's refusal.

He sighed; Mrs. Bennet would make her daughter's life almost as disagreeable. It was obvious she wanted to be secure into her old age and living at Longbourn, and he huffed a laugh. If she managed to force Miss Elizabeth to marry against her will, he was convinced that Mrs. Bennet would get her marching orders the day Mrs. Collins became mistress of Longbourn.

He shuddered; he could not imagine Miss Elizabeth as Mrs. Collins. He imagined the fool pawing lecherously at her, his aunt lecturing her impertinence, and he felt ill. No, Bennet would surely overrule his wife and refuse permission for them to marry. He would, would he not? Darcy abhorred that he was not completely certain.

Bingley was sitting in one of the big library chairs, a vacuous smile on his face. "Come, take a seat, Darcy. I don't like to see you so discombobulated."

It would not be wise to tell Bingley the direction of his thoughts, so he must distract him, and he crossed the room and made himself comfortable in the opposite chair. "How did your talk with Miss Bennet go? Were you able to discover a little more of her character?"

Bingley jerked forward. "I was indeed! I cannot thank you enough, my friend, for your suggestion." He shook his head. "The lady is as beautiful within as she is without. I think she was pleased to be able to talk of the work she does in the stillroom, making perfumes for herself and all her sisters, as well as herbal remedies for those tenants who cannot afford the apothecary."

"That is well, then. She sounds an estimable young woman."

Bingley needed no further comment as he waxed lyrical about the lady. Darcy remembered the delicate scent of lavender with a hint of citrus when Miss Elizabeth was on his arm. If Miss Bennet had made the perfume, she was good enough not to make it overpowering. He was quietly amused; perhaps she could make something suitable for Miss Bingley, as the overpowering, cloying scent of — something — that she used could do with much improvement.

He listened idly to Bingley. It would be a good match for him if his friend could convince Miss Elizabeth that he cared for her sister and not merely for her lovely face.

She was admittedly lovely, but Miss Elizabeth's looks were far more to his taste. Her heart-shaped face and expressive eyes drew him in, whether she was angry or laughing. He was utterly ashamed of having described her as tolerable, and winced again, thinking of when he had been taken to task by Sir William, by Bennet, and then by Miss Elizabeth.

No, she was very lovely. He smiled; she was unswervingly courageous, staunchly defending both herself and her sister against those who would take them for their looks or talent.

He sighed to himself; he wished Georgiana had her to protect her from the fortune hunters of town, and he suddenly imagined her standing beside Georgiana on their outings, staunchly defending her from all the other supercilious young debutantes, and at balls and Almacks, examining all young men and knowing their hearts with inexplicable accuracy.

Georgiana could be safe with Miss Elizabeth beside her as her sister. He smiled to himself; Miss Elizabeth as Mrs. Darcy. She could hold her own amongst them all.

He had finished his letter to Aunt Alice, and had sent it yesterday. If Miss Elizabeth could be sponsored into society before they wed, then the ton would not be so harsh to her as if Darcy had brought her straight from the country as his.

But it was only a few minutes later that he turned to the decanter and poured himself a hasty drink. What had he been thinking of? He dare not let any other eligible single man meet her before he had staked his own claim. He shuddered to himself; he could not countenance not being beside her to protect her. And even now, she was being importuned by another man. In her own home. Sanctioned by her mother. He could hardly bear it. Why did Mrs. Bennet dislike her daughter so much? Sir William had said that she constantly derided Miss Elizabeth's looks, and now she was trying to make her marry Collins, uncaring whether she would be happy.

"I say, Darcy!" Bingley's voice intruded.

"Hmm?" He turned to his friend.

"You were really lost to the world. I have been saying your name for quite a while." Bingley's smile was rather too knowing for Darcy's tastes.

"I apologise, Bingley. I was composing a letter in my mind." He was ashamed the lie came to him so easily. "Did you want to speak to me?"

Bingley laughed and shook his head. "I don't think you heard a word about what I said of Miss Bennet. But never mind, I am happy just to think of her."

Darcy was disconcerted again the next morning, when he arrived at Longbourn and Miss Elizabeth was not there. Again. At least Mr. Collins was very much present, dominating the room and the conversation, so he was not with Miss Elizabeth and bothering her.

Darcy wondered what would be made of his manners if he quit the room as soon as possible. However, he was saved from descending to his old ways when Bennet put his head around the door.

"I thought I heard you and Mr. Bingley being announced, Mr. Darcy. Did you wish your return game of chess today?"

Darcy tried not to show too much anxiety to leave the room, but he obviously did not fool Bennet, who smirked at him. Once in the library with the door shut, and the sound level considerably reduced, Bennet turned to him and waved the decanter, and Darcy nodded.

"Thank you."

"With a visitor like Collins, I am blessed to have this room to escape to." Bennet eyed Darcy. "Elizabeth has taken the opportunity for a day with her friend as the only way to escape his attentions." He sighed. "I wish she did not feel she needed to leave her own home to be free of him."

He turned to his desk, and picked up a packet. "I understand Miss Darcy has not yet received a copy of the music Lizzy played at the gathering. So she has taken the time to copy it for your sister, knowing that when the printed version arrives, it can replace this."

Darcy took the packet offered him. "That is extraordinarily generous of her, sir. Please thank her for me until I see her and can do so myself."

Bennet nodded. "I believe she felt sorry for Miss Darcy who has obviously been waiting impatiently once you told her of the existence of it."

Darcy had slid the papers partly out of the packet. It was enough to see the neatly written complex music on the staves, and was evidence of the extraordinary amount of time Miss Elizabeth must have taken to copy it all out so carefully.

He kept his head down while he blinked away the strange moisture in his eyes. "I will tell my sister how kind Miss Elizabeth has been."

But Bennet was over by the chessboard, and Darcy rose to his feet. Chess would be an agreeable way to pass the time until he could send the music to Georgiana. If he sent it express before lunch, she would get it this evening. No, he would take the time to write a letter to enclose with it, and tell her of Miss Elizabeth's kindness, and he smiled to imagine his sister's pleasure.

"Smile all you like, Mr. Darcy. You will still have a fight on your hands."

Darcy grinned. "No quarter given, Mr. Bennet. I am determined to level the score."