Chapter 13

On the Road to Longbourn

Ten Minutes Later

28 th October, 1811

Elizabeth was usually the fastest walker in the family, but irritation and indignation were currently lending Jane sufficient strength to keep pace with her next younger sister and to stay a few feet ahead of Mr. Collins, who was half walking, half running, and babbling all the way.

"My dear cousins Jane and Elizabeth! Please, you must listen to me! Mr. Darcy is, of course, handsome and eligible but, as unpleasant as it is, I feel it is my duty to point out that you are in no way worthy to be the bride of such a man! Moreover, Mr. Darcy is engaged to his cousin, even if she has, of yet, not accepted their inevitable union! I insist, as the heir of this fine estate, though of course, I hope and pray that your father will live many years longer, that you leave off pursuing Mr. Darcy in such a vulgar and determined manner! It is entirely…"

Elizabeth stopped in her tracks and whirled around, her eyes blazing so passionately that the clergyman actually cringed. "Mr. Collins, I must ask you to stop speaking. Jane and I are not, in any fashion, pursuing Mr. Darcy. Indeed, I venture to say that we have absolutely no interest in the man."

"But Mr. Darcy asked Cousin Jane to dance both the first and supper sets," the clergyman said in anguish, "and then asked you to dance the supper set. While you both might consider that a great compliment, it is not at all appropriate for the man who will one day marry Miss de Bourgh."

Elizabeth opened her mouth to snarl at the idiotic parson, but Mary, who had caught up with the group, managed to speak before her.

"Mr. Collins," she said, taking the gentleman's arm in her own, "I am confident that Mr. Darcy has no designs on my sisters Jane or Elizabeth. Indeed, I suspect that he was merely attempting to assist Mr. Bingley, who, as master of Netherfield, will doubtless feel it a necessity to dance both the first and supper sets with a highborn lady of the area. It is Mr. Bingley who has been attentive to Jane, not Mr. Darcy, not at all! As for Elizabeth, it was natural enough to ask her as the second daughter after Jane refused him that set."

Collins turned a suspicious look on the elder two Bennet girls and said, "Is that true?"

Elizabeth, responding to the pressure of Jane's hand on her own arm, kept silent, and Jane said, "Indeed, it is. While I respect Mr. Darcy as a friend of Mr. Bingley's, I have absolutely no interest in him as a … that is to say, I have no interest at all, I assure you. As you said, Mr. Collins, Mr. Darcy is master of a great estate, with connections to the nobility. I have no thought of him offering or ... well, I am certain you understand."

Mr. Collins stared intently into his cousin's lovely face, and his cheeks, which had been puffed up with outrage, relaxed. "I am very glad, Cousin Jane. You and Cousin Elizabeth are, of course, delightful women, but it would not have been appropriate…"

"No, quite," Jane said with a bright smile. "Now, I do believe we need to hurry home. We stayed out longer than I intended, and I need to speak with our mother."

"Certainly," Mr. Collins said and bobbed absurdly. "I do apologize for detaining you, Cousins."

"Jane, Elizabeth," Mary piped up, "since you wish to speak with Mamma soon, perhaps you could run on ahead? I can escort our cousin the rest of the way."

Elizabeth stared into Mary's eyes and suppressed a sigh. "We will see you later, then."

She turned and began marching rapidly toward Longbourn, which was only a quarter mile in the distance now, and Jane ran to catch up with her.

When the two women were side by side, Elizabeth hissed, "What an insufferable man!"

"Which man?" Jane hissed back. "Mr. Darcy or Mr. Collins?"

Elizabeth wrinkled her nose and huffed aloud. "I was speaking of our cousin, but it was definitely peculiar and indelicate of Mr. Darcy to ask you to dance twice at the ball. What can he mean by it?"

"Perhaps, as Mary said, he wished to be certain that I am well cared for while Mr. Bingley is otherwise engaged?" Jane suggested.

"I think that unlikely, though it did well enough as an explanation for Mr. Collins."

"Mamma said," Jane began hesitantly, and then trailed away at Elizabeth's grim nod.

"I know what Mamma said," Elizabeth said, "and I agree that you ought to take care. These London gentlemen are sometimes inclined to bestow their favors loosely, and you are the most beautiful woman in Meryton. Perhaps Mr. Darcy cannot bear that his friend has captured your interest."

"If so, he is not a good man, Mr. Darcy, which seems odd. He appears to be a most devoted brother, after all."

"He is," Elizabeth agreed, "along with being intelligent and well read. However, a man might be a loving brother and also a rake. Do be careful, Jane."

"I will," Jane promised.

/

Billiard Room

Netherfield Park

Ivory balls clacked gently against each other, rolling haphazardly around the cushions of the billiard table. Firelight flickered across the table, setting the deep-polished wood aglow. Heavy navy curtains had been drawn over the window, shutting out the night and the singing crickets. The oak clock on the mantel read five minutes to midnight, and the brandy glasses on the small oak side table sat almost empty.

"You really think so?" Bingley asked for the third time.

Darcy chuckled and nodded. "Indeed. I think you have found a truly remarkable woman in Miss Bennet. In spite of several opportunities to bestow her attentions on me, she has consistently turned to you. While she is courteous to me, she shows no enthusiasm, whereas her face lights up in your presence."

Bingley set aside his pool cue and wandered over to peek through the curtains to stare outside the window, where a nearly full moon cast its silvery light over the shrubbery.

"I am in love, Darcy, totally, irrevocably in love," he said quietly. "Indeed, I wish to marry Miss Bennet."

Darcy's amusement gave way to concern. "Surely not, Bingley! You only met Miss Bennet a few weeks ago!"

"Does it matter?" Bingley replied, spinning around and raising his glass high. "You know what it has been like since I entered society, Darcy. I have met and been attracted to many a lady, only to have that lady ignore me when you threw your handkerchief in her direction. Miss Bennet is the only woman who has ever genuinely preferred me over you!"

Darcy opened his mouth, shut it, and forced himself to think before he spoke. He should have known that his friend, always ready to fall in love, and frankly reckless, would eagerly take this opportunity to offer for Miss Bennet.

"Bingley, do you not believe you should wait a little longer?" he suggested. "Miss Bennet seems all that is lovely and refined, and she is indeed very handsome, but to offer based on but a short acquaintance seems unwise."

Bingley's brow furrowed in thought, and then he nodded unhappily. "You are quite right. I hardly know the lady, though she is enchanting. I will continue to spend time with her. I do think, Darcy, that you no longer need to evaluate her on my behalf; she has proven herself to my satisfaction."

"And to mine as well," Darcy said and felt his shoulders relax in relief. He had no quarrel with his friend wedding the eldest daughter of Longbourn, but he also thought that Bingley and Miss Bennet would do well to spend more time together before any sort of commitment.

As had so often happened of late, his thoughts shifted lazily to Miss Elizabeth Bennet, whose fine eyes, arch speech, playful manners, and intelligent discourse were growing more enticing by the day. He really believed that, were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he might actually offer for her hand. It was a pity.

/

Georgiana's Sitting Room

Georgiana, dressed in her night attire, reached out to draw nearer one of the candles sitting on the table beside her. She was resting on a comfortable chair upholstered in a cornflower blue, with forget-me-nots embroidered over the seat and back. A white runner with more blue flowers snagged the candlestick, and she lifted it closer to tilt the light towards the papers in her lap. She had purchased new sheet music at the bookshop during their walk to Meryton that morning and now sat poring over the clustered notes.

A log in the fire slipped, sending a wash of heat into the room and a rush of sparks up the chimney. Georgiana glanced up and around the room, enjoying the blue curtains and rug, and the serene landscape on the wall of parkland and a pond. She smiled and returned to her sheet music, her limbs heavy with the comfortable lethargy that followed a pleasantly busy day. The clock on the mantel chimed the midnight hour, echoed immediately by a discreet tap on the door.

"Come in?" Georgiana called out, sitting up straight.

The door opened to reveal her Cousin Anne, who said, "I apologize for knocking so late, but I saw the light under your door and wondered if we could talk."

"Of course. Do come in and sit next to me by the fire. It is rather chilly this evening."

Anne did so gladly and leaned forward toward the fire with a sigh of happiness. "This feels so good. I did not particularly enjoy living at Rosings, but at least the house was always very warm."

"Is your fire not hot enough in your chamber? I am confident that the servants could arrange for more wood if you like."

"I am fine so long as I am in bed, well covered in blankets," Anne replied and then turned her attention on the music in Georgiana's hand. "That looks complex, Cousin, though I have no doubt you will play it beautifully."

"Not immediately," the girl said quickly. "It is a difficult piece, and I will have to practice a great deal to master it."

"I wish that I had been able to learn to play the pianoforte when I was young," Anne said wistfully. "My health has been poor for most of my life, but I think perhaps I could have learned a little."

Georgiana reached out to touch her cousin's hand. "It is not too late if you wish to learn now."

"Is it not? I thought that truly accomplished ladies always started learning at a young age."

Georgiana pulled her hands back into her lap and wrinkled her brow in contemplation.

"I think," she said eventually, "that to become a true adept at the instrument, it is very helpful to start early. However, I enjoyed playing even when I was an inexperienced player; if you truly enjoy creating music, there is no reason not to start now. If you merely wish to become an accomplished lady, then perhaps it is not worth the time."

Anne raised her brow and then chuckled. "An accomplished lady like Miss Bingley, perhaps? She is quite tedious with her talk of accomplished ladies, especially given that I have none of the skills she deems so vital."

Georgiana could only nod in agreement. "Yes, like Miss Bingley. I think that Miss Elizabeth Bennet has a very different view. She is not a stellar player, but she seems to genuinely enjoy the experience and is not embarrassed by her lack of precision. I like that."

"I do too," Anne said, and then her eyes twinkled. "Since you spoke of Miss Elizabeth Bennet..."

"Yes?" Georgiana asked.

"I do not wish to be unduly curious, but is it possible that your brother is considering offering for Miss Jane Bennet?"

Georgiana started in surprise and then rolled her eyes. "No, but I understand entirely why you think ... really, gentlemen can, quite accidentally..."

She trailed off as her cousin gazed at her with rampant curiosity. "Gentlemen can...?"

"I truly cannot tell you, because Fitzwilliam spoke of the situation in confidence. Suffice it to say that no, he is not interested in wedding Miss Bennet."

"Or Miss Elizabeth?"

"Miss Elizabeth? Why would...? Oh, no, not at all."

Anne sighed. "I see. I confess to being a trifle disappointed about that."

"Why do you wish my brother to marry one of the Bennet ladies?" Georgiana demanded.

"Oh, I do not have any strong feelings about the ladies themselves, but I think that Darcy would benefit from marrying a good woman who could help him with his many responsibilities as master of Pemberley. Moreover, once he is safely wed, my mother will have no hope at all that I will give in to her orders that I marry Darcy."

Georgiana stared in astonishment. "Does Lady Catherine still believe such a marriage is a possibility?"

"Of course she does," Anne said with an unladylike snort. "I have received two letters already from my mother, sent on from Matlock House, and both include two full sheets of paper berating me for my disobedience and stubbornness and stupidity."

Georgiana winced. "You ought to throw them in the fire unread, then."

"I will do so with any more that arrive," Anne promised. "But back to Miss Elizabeth. Have you noticed how much Darcy watches her when they are in company?"

"Does he?" Georgiana asked in surprise.

"He does," Anne confirmed. "Moreover, while I do not pretend to know her well, I think she might suit my cousin."

Georgiana blew out a slow breath and said, "I like Miss Elizabeth very much, but I understand that her family has ties to trade, and furthermore, the Bennets are not wealthy."

"Yes, and you are quite right. Darcy will likely insist on both those attributes. I think it is a pity, though. Your brother is a fine man, and I like him very much as a cousin, but obviously not as a husband. I do not think he will be happy if he chooses a typical society lady. He is a man of the country and far too intelligent to enjoy a vapid woman who thinks only of fashion and gossip. Ah well, it is none of my business anyway, and I am determined not to be like Lady Catherine, who is always interfering in other people's marital plans. My dear, I have kept you up too late. Good night."

"Good night," Georgiana replied, rising to her feet as her cousin walked away quietly.

A few minutes later, Georgiana climbed into her bed with Miss Elizabeth on her mind. The lady was bright and cheerful and clever, and Georgiana could imagine liking her as a sister very much. She would watch Fitzwilliam carefully, and perhaps, if it seemed appropriate, nudge him toward the lady.