Chapter 17

Shortly after Carstens, William’s valet, assisted him to change out of his jacket and waist coat, William softly knocked on the door from the shared sitting room which led into his sister’s bedchamber. He had made sure not to knock too loudly in case she was already asleep. She was not and Richard, who had entered from the hallway door, opened the room door having had the same thought to check on her as well. He and Giana joined William in the sitting room.

“Did you have a good night Giana?” William enquired after she and Richard took seats in the sitting room.

“I did,” Georgiana replied succinctly. “William and Richard, do you know why everyone was staring at Saul and Philip which led to their early return from the assembly?”

Richard and William looked at one another and both shrugged their shoulders. “No Sprite, we have no clue as to why they were garnering so much attention, neither did Jamey when he related they had departed and why. There is one more thing which was very interesting.”

“And that was?” Georgiana prompted.

“You know William has being playing chess against—and losing to—Miss Elizabeth Bennet via the post, do you not?” Giana nodded that she did. “We met her this evening. After an almost disaster, your brother danced two sets with her. As rare as that was, it was not the most fascinating thing about her. She looks like a younger version of Mother and Aunts Rose and Cilla.”

“Richard has the right of it. Miss Elizabeth does bear an uncanny resemblance to our aunt and her sisters,” William agreed. “You should know I was not the only one who danced a second set with the same lady, was I Richard?”

Giana looked at her cousin questioningly. “It was Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth’s older sister who I met some years ago,” Richard related. He was waiting for William to make some asinine comment about wealth or rank, but it never came. “Jamey danced with a local lady more than once also, a Miss Lucas.”

“Richard, after we say goodnight to Giana and she returns to her bedchamber, would you remain in the sitting room so we may speak?” William requested. Richard nodded.

Subsequent to fielding a few more questions about the assembly, the cousins wished Giana a good sleep, and then she made her way back into her bedchamber. William pulled his sister’s chamber door closed and walked over to the tray on the sideboard. “Nightcap?” he suggested.

“One finger of brandy for me, thank you,” Richard responded as he dropped himself into a comfortable wingback chair opposite the settee, and across from a low table in between. William poured a snifter for his cousin and one of the same volume for himself, and once he handed Richard his, he took a seat on the settee.

Both men took a sip of the amber liquor and felt its burn as it went down their throats. William gathered his thoughts as he slowly sipped his drink.

After his almost slight of Miss Elizabeth, he had begun to evaluate himself and the way he related to others, especially his penchant to judge based on his perceptions of someone’s social standing. The words of his hypocrisy with regards to his friendship with Bingley while disdaining landed gentry combined with his parents’ decision regarding Richard as it pertained to Giana all came together in order to cause him to become far more introspective than he had ever been before.

Richard had seen this look on William’s countenance previously. It signalled he was ordering his thoughts regarding some weighty issues. As such, he sat quietly, sipping his brandy and waiting until his younger cousin was ready to commence.

“I have been evaluating my past behaviour, up to my almost slight of Miss Elizabeth at the assembly, and I do not like the image I see in the mirror,” William began. “The metric I was using to judge others, are replete with many fallacies and do not take character into account. The truth is I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, and at times, in principle. You well know my parents taught what was right, but I did not learn the lesson on how to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but have been following them in pride and conceit. Even when for many years I was an only child, I was not spoilt by my parents, who, as you know are extremely good themselves. They never allowed, encouraged, or taught me to be selfish and overbearing; to care for none beyond my own family circle; to think meanly of all the rest of the world; to wish or, at least, to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own. That was all me. I have not found the root cause of my attitudes, and may never do so.

“Such I was, from eight to four and twenty—and such I might still have been but for you, my parents, and others in the family taking me to task for my attitudes and behaviours. What do I not owe all of you! I have learnt some lessons, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. I have been properly humbled.

“That I was willing to say the vile words I planned to say at the assembly to one who has been a friend via the post for years was the shock I needed to force me to take the hard look at my actions, which will be an ongoing endeavour. She is a fascinating, highly intelligent woman who I am certain, would have issued a setdown for the ages—which would have been completely deserved—had I said what I planned to say.”

“What did you plan to say William?”

He hung his head in shame, but William knew he needed to be honest with Richard. “I was about to say: She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to the local lowborn ladies and enjoy their smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.”

“We can all be grateful you did not say that,” Richard shook his head. “I am sure you would have turned the locals against us. Did you not note how popular Miss Elizabeth and her sisters who were at the assembly are?”

William acknowledged the truth of Richard’s words. “I can only be thankful I did not make another critical error.” Richard looked at his cousin quizzically. “I have not written the response to my parents for, what at the time I believed, was their usurping of my position as Giana’s brother regarding with whom she may or may not associate. If I had sent the letter I planned to send, I have no doubt my parents would have come close to disowning me.” William paused and cogitated for a few moments. “Richard, please accept my abject apologies for ever presuming I had the right to dictate who you will or will not take as a wife, especially for the wrongheaded reasons I did so. If Miss Bennet is the one who makes you happy, you offer for her, and she accepts you, I will be there to wish you happy.”

“Thank you, William,” I accept your amends and pardon you fully. Now I have to pray Miss Bennet does the same when I call on her at Longbourn in the morning. I too erred and I hope I did not destroy my chance of happiness with her.” It was William’s turn to look puzzled. Richard explained his bad decision after the ball in ‘06.

“If you explain all, I believe Miss Bennet will be willing to pardon you,” William opined.

Both felt infinitely better now that the air between them had been cleared. After a backslapping hug, the two made for their respective bedchambers. William slept far better that night than he had for a long time.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~

“How do you feel Thomas?” Fanny asked as she held the back of her hand to her husband’s forehead. To her delight, he was much cooler than he had been earlier in the day so she relaxed considerably.

Having spoken to Mother before the lady retired, Fanny already had a good idea her husband was feeling a lot better, but she still wanted to hear it from his mouth.

“Much recovered, thank you Fanny. As I told you, it is a trifling cold and it will be gone within a day or two,” Bennet asserted. “Our Maker would not be so cruel as to take me home before I meet, and am amused by, the heir presumptive.” He grinned at his wife, the best sign indicating he was on the mend. “How was your night at the assembly?”

Fanny gave an abbreviated report stressing how each of their daughters in attendance had danced two sets with the visiting gentlemen. She told how Mr. Bingley had been very keen to dance more with Jane, but she had not been as enthusiastic to partner him again. She also mentioned the Darcy heir’s almost slight of Lizzy. Then she related how the two young men who had attended briefly had looked like a younger version of himself, and had left very early.

“If they do not like being the object of public scrutiny, they are much like me. I can understand their reticence as I too would have left under the same circumstances,” Bennet revealed. “From what I have heard from his father, the younger Mr. Darcy is uncomfortable in crowds, especially when he is unfamiliar with most there. I am happy he corrected himself and apologised as well. Such a slight would have ignited Lizzy’s prejudices and I would have been honour bound to relate all to Mr. Darcy. As she danced multiple sets with him, it is obvious Lizzy did not take offence.”

Within a half hour the two were snuggling in each other’s arms under the covers of their shared bed.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~

Richard was up with the dawn; he had hardly slept at all, thanks to his anticipation of his upcoming interview with Miss Bennet. To both pass the time and burn off some of his nervous energy, Richard decided to take an early morning ride. He first made his way to the breakfast parlour to have some coffee and a pastry, where unsurprisingly, William had arrived before him.

A trait they had in common was, regardless of the time they went to sleep—even when Richard was not worrying about speaking to the woman who held his future felicity in her hands—they were both usually up at the crack of dawn. William was scanning the Times of London while a cup of coffee was steaming near his right hand.

“Good morning,” Richard drawled as he poured a cup of the dark, strong drink for himself. Eating was not high on the list of his priorities, but he took a raspberry pastry none the less. He needed some energy to have his wits about him on this day of all days.

“Hello Richard,” William averred. “I see you are wearing your riding boots; I assume you intend to give Invictus his head this morning?”

“You have the right of it,” Richard confirmed. “It seems you also planned to ride Zeus,” he observed. William nodded it was so.

Soon enough they were on their way to the stables where, thanks to the messages their valets had conveyed to the grooms, their stallions were saddled and waiting for them.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~

She would not interfere, but Elizabeth could not say she was comfortable with the fact Mr. Fitzwilliam was calling to speak to Jane later that morning. She well remembered the sadness Jane exhibited after her return from her shortened season in Town two years past. She was confident in Jane’s strength, but regardless of how strong her older sister was, if Mr. Fitzwilliam trifled with her emotions again, it would devastate Jane, and Elizabeth would not forgive one who intentionally inflicted hurt on her Janey, or any other she loved.

As was her wont, even after an assembly, Elizabeth met John Biggs in the stables and used the mounting block to reach her side-saddle. With her faithful footman trailing behind her, Elizabeth guided Penny out of the paddock next to the stable and into the fields beyond. Once John had closed and secured the gate, and had remounted, Elizabeth flicked the reins and applied pressure to Penny’s flank with the heel of one riding boot.

The mare shot forward and was soon galloping with abandon towards Oakham Mount. A few hundred yards from the base of the mount, Elizabeth slowed Penny to a canter, then a trot, and finally a walk. She heard a noise behind her. When she turned, she noted Mr. Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy behind John as they too approached the base of the Mount. Elizabeth signalled with a tip of her head to her footman telling him she was familiar with the men and they were no threat. The big man relaxed somewhat, but maintained his vigil as the two men approached.

“Well met Miss Elizabeth,” Richard doffed his beaver, as William did so as well. In the brightness of the pre-dawn morning and without the distractions of the assembly, Richard could see the lady looked even more like his mother and aunts than he had estimated the previous evening.

“Gentlemen,” Elizabeth inclined her head. “I see I am not the only one who is up before the sun rises in the mornings.”

“Neither of us like to waste the day away in bed,” William stated, “and Mr. Nichols told us we should not miss seeing the sunrise from the top of this hill. Is this something you do often, as I assume you intend to watch the sun greet the new day.”

“Mr. Nichols’s recommendation was accurate. And yes, this is an activity I enjoy quite often, usually without company,” Elizabeth stated. As soon as she said the last she realised it sounded like she wanted the men to leave her and be on their way. She was about to correct the impression when Mr. Darcy spoke.

“I am afraid we interrupt your solitary time,” William noted. He was disappointed the intelligent beauty desired them gone.

“You certainly do…” Elizabeth arched an eyebrow and smiled warmly; …but it does not follow that the interruption must be unwelcome. In fact, I would welcome your company.”

William smiled a wide, dimple revealing smile. He and Richard dismounted. The latter was quite amused at his formerly staid cousin behaving like a giddy schoolboy in Miss Elizabeth’s company.

“May I assist you down?” Richard volunteered. William shot him the gimlet eye. He had been trying to find the words to request the very same.

“Thank you, Mr. Fitzwilliam, you may,” Elizabeth averred.

A feeling of irrational jealousy swept over William as he watched Richard place his gloved hands on Miss Elizabeth’s dainty waist and help her to the ground. To distract himself he inspected her mare. It was in fact an Arabian. Before he could consider the relevance of a thoroughbred like this being owned by one on a supposedly insignificant estate, Miss Elizabeth captured his attention.

“Mr. Darcy will you walk ahead with John while I follow with Mr. Fitzwilliam?” Elizabeth requested. She would say nothing to Jane, but that did not mean she would do the same with the gentleman who offered her his arm.

Once she was sure Mr. Darcy and John were out of earshot, she slowed her walk and turned to the man on whose forearm her hand was resting. “You can be at no loss, Mr. Fitzwilliam, to understand the reason of my wanting to speak to you alone. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I desire to do so.”

“If I desired to prevaricate, I would say: Indeed, you are mistaken, Madam. I have not been at all able to account for the honour of your wanting to walk with me. However, I am not one to dissemble. I am sure it is regarding my upcoming meeting with your eldest sister.”

“Very perceptive. It is not my desire to interfere, but I must insist you do not hurt my sister again. If you intend to leave her without an explanation like you did after you first met, then rather go and leave her be,” Elizabeth demanded.

“My purpose in speaking to your sister this day is to explain why I left when I did. It was not my intention then, nor is it now, to hurt Miss Bennet in any way. Truth be told, that is the very last thing I desire to do. The fact you are telling me she was hurt by my leaving without an explanation grieves me greatly.”

Elizabeth looked into the man’s eyes and could see the truth in his words. “I will hold your feet to the fire if you hurt her again. See that you do not.”

Even had that been Richard’s intention, which it was not, he would have done nothing as, for a slip of a girl, Miss Elizabeth seemed rather intimidating at times. “You have my word of honour. I hope to make her happy, not occasion her pain.”

With Biggs looking on, ever vigilant, the three enjoyed the sunrise and the two men from Netherfield Park agreed the butler had spoken the truth of the beauty of the vista when he had recommended Oakham Mount as a destination. Richard had relinquished Miss Elizabeth’s arm at the top of the hill, and Darcy had immediately volunteered to take it. They all shared a flattened rock, looking out towards the east, as they sat and waited for the new day’s sun.

Not long after the sun’s warming and nourishing rays met the hungry crops growing in the fields below, the three, with the huge footman following, made their way off the summit and back down to where their horses were grazing.

This time, William had no problem finding the words to request permission to return Miss Elizabeth to her saddle, and she acquiesced.