Chapter 20

Fitzwilliam Darcy had attended different events to Elizabeth yet in substance they were identical. Lady Matlock had rather bullied him into attending some of the events, and his ears were still ringing from her admonitions to dance and not ‘skulk about in the dark corners’. So he had done his duty. He refused to dance the first set, too scared of creating expectations, but he partnered eight young ladies for the other sets. Little did he know but his thoughts were very similar to Elizabeth’s. There was no depth to any of the conversations, the tight confines of society’s script made the young ladies come across as boring.

It was early in the morning, half a day before the fashionable hours, and Darcy was striding down the paths of Hyde Park. It was already well into February, he had made an effort to be social. Not just on account of his aunt’s scoldings but on his own initiative as well, as per his explanation to his sister on their journey the previous month. But there had been no spark. Alone without anyone to overhear him he snorted out loud. The ladies he had been introduced to, had renewed acquaintance, and had danced with were nothing but a collection of green wood in a rain storm. A spark was not going to ignite any romance with that sodden lot.

He did not even expect romance, just any kind of connection would be a pleasant surprise. Was it too much to expect? His breath hung in the air as he huffed a loud sigh in the cold winter morning. He stifled a smile, he would end up on the stage if he continued to be so melodramatic. He was not afraid of hard work, and searching for a bride appeared to be such toil. As he turned for home he squared his shoulders, he would find someone.

He hoped.

Three nights later the Countess of Matlock finally managed to dragoon her family together for a dinner. It was to be just the Earl and herself, their two sons, and Darcy and his sister. A small intimate family dinner. The three bachelors should have expected a trap but only realised their mistake after all were assembled, when it was too late to escape. Dinner was relaxed, fun, full of family tales, no different than so many before. But then.

“We will not be separating this evening. Georgiana and I will move down to the end of the table if you wish to smoke cigars, far enough away to escape the worst of the fumes, but not so far that we have to shout.”

There had been several questions during the meal as to why they were in the more formal dining room, with a table far too large for a family party of six. There were glances amongst the gentlemen.

“Bring the port or brandy to the table. Georgiana, you may join me in a small sherry should you wish.”

Georgiana Darcy had no idea what was going on, but felt very grown up and accepted the offered drink. She watched as her brother, uncle and cousins all lit cigars, the familiar smell stronger given her proximity. She remained silent, wondering what her aunt was planning. She had to repress a smile as all four gentlemen were affecting a carefree attitude but even she could see it was a facade. Her aunt engaged her in small talk and she learned an invaluable lesson. Who was going to break first?

“Mother, is there a reason for remaining with us this evening?”

Viscount Snowdon won the prize.

“The season has been underway for close to a month. I wanted to hear your impressions so far. This seemed like an ideal opportunity, just family, and with us all together.”

“You have attended more events than any of us, I doubt there is anything that we can add of which you are not aware.”

“While that is open to debate, I want to hear your impressions of the season, not my own.”

There was a silence.

“The season has been so poor that you would rather say nothing than anything negative?”

“Mother!”

“None of you are obtuse, despite evidence to the contrary this evening. Talk to me about the young ladies you have met.”

An even longer silence. The Colonel, with the least pressure, spoke first.

“This season has been no different than any of the past several years.”

He stopped and thought.

“This time last year, ‘blood brandy’ was still the hot topic around town. Not something that was discussed with young ladies but it was an undercurrent to the start of the season. This year? There has not been anything similar.”

“Well done Richard, a nice speech without actually addressing my question.”

Georgiana had to cover her mouth with her handkerchief. This was most diverting. She heard her guardian sigh.

“The ladies are as you would expect. You will have seen them when attending your own events. The last ball had Desmond in attendance and many of the young ladies were distracted, vying for his attention.”

“The Duke has made it known that he is slowly easing into society, and that no one will be considered this season. He is already planning a major ball early next season, to formally announce his entry into society as he will have reached his majority.”

“I had heard that story as well. It appears to be commonly known. It does not stop the impact of his attendance. An unmarried Duke, not just the heir, and only 20?”

“Let us put aside the Duke and focus on you. Has there been anyone that has captured your interest?”

Richard was saved from answering by his cousin.

“Aunt Susan, what has prompted this inquiry?”

Lady Matlock controlled the urge to curse at her nephew. Pointing at each in turn she responded.

“You are 31, 29 and 28 years old. Two of you have responsibilities to your families to provide heirs. None of you can argue that the Earl or I have pressured you over the years. And we are not going to start now, but there is going to be more pointed discussion from now on. None of you are wastrels unlike so many about town, but you cannot remain bachelors forever.”

The gauntlet was thrown down. And it applied to Darcy as much as to the two sons of the Countess. She had been the maternal figure in his life for nearly 15 years. Viscount Snowdon was the first to answer.

“I am aware of my responsibilities to both the title and the estate. For the last year I have been making a more concerted effort. We talk about this presently.”

Both the Earl and the Countess were pleasantly surprised. Did their heir have his eye on someone? If he did not then it was still a masterful stroke, he was no longer in the firing line. The Colonel looked at his brother with both disgust and admiration.

“Swine.”

His sotto voce was not sotto enough.

“Richard!”

“I apologise mother.”

“And stop smirking Andrew it is most unbecoming.”

“I apologise mother.”

Georgiana had to lower her head, it took all her willpower not to laugh out loud.

“Now Richard, you never answered my question. Has anyone captured your interest?”

“Not seriously. Your friend Lady Maria Leonard has a young lady staying with her at present. She is a charming young lady and I have danced with her twice. And before you ask mother, only once at two different balls. We talked of many things during our dances and I sat with her for supper last week. She is different to the other young ladies.”

“How do you mean?”

“I do not wish to be rude, but she should not be there.”

“She is an embarrassment?”

“No, nothing could be further from the truth. It is just she is too lowly to interest any of the gentleman, at least seriously.”

“Too lowly?”

“I am repeating your teachings mother. Private balls allow guests to mingle without fear of meeting someone far beneath them. Those are the words you told me when I was 15, 16 maybe, my middle teenage years. Lady Maria as the sister of a Duke and the cousin of another is a guest of the highest standing. But the young lady is several steps below that standing. And this is nothing to do with her personally, she is a great addition to any event, but even as I talk about her I am confused as to why she is there.”

Despite the slightly rambling nature of his comments Lady Matlock understood what he was saying.

“So she is interesting but you do not want to toy with her. Have others?”

“Not that I have seen, Lady Maria keeps a close eye. Another thing I noted is that she is on good terms with young Desmond. It is well known that he is close with his cousin, I have it on good report that he calls her ‘aunt’. At the ball last week he danced with the young lady.”

“Are you going to call on her?”

“I would like to, but without raising her expectations. Like I said she is a pleasure to converse with.”

“You may accompany me when I next visit Lady Maria. I will ensure that there is no confusion as to your intentions.”

“Thank you, mother.”

“But there is no one else?”

“No. They are all perfectly pleasant, but nothing out of the ordinary. The ladies with substantial dowries are chaperoned heavily while still attracting a crowd. I do not wish to appear a fortune hunter. I think that is why I find Miss Bennet so easy to talk to, neither of us put on airs and graces.”

The dish had been knocked from the table, all Lady Matlock had to do was wait for it to smash.

“Miss Bennet?”

Shards of crockery flew in all directions.

“Yes. I realise I had not mentioned the young lady’s name. Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

Darcy sat there in astonishment.

“It cannot be the same person. Could you describe her?”

“She is around five feet three inches tall with curly hair. I initially thought it was black but it appears to change depending on the light. It is dark but I have not met her in daylight so I do not know the exact shade.”

Given his mother and ward were at the end of the table he stopped his description there.

“Do you know her?”

“I believe she is someone that I met when I accompanied Bingley to Hertfordshire. But she never gave any indication of knowing the Leonards.”

“Well this Miss Bennet is a guest staying with Lady Maria.”

Lady Matlock watched her overly disciplined nephew try to process this new information. Then an unexpected voice entered the conversation.

“Is this the same Miss Elizabeth that you talked of with me brother?”

Lady Matlock was going to have Cook make Georgiana’s favourite dessert, it had been a perfect interruption. Sitting back she watched her husband and sons start to interrogate Darcy. Reassuring her niece all was well, she reached over and discreetly squeezed Georgiana’s hand.

“Before we ask young Darcy 20 questions let us make sure she is the same lady.”

The Earl’s statement stilled his sons. The Colonel continued.

“She told me that she is the daughter of a minor country squire. The second daughter I believe. She is a ward of her uncle, Sir Edward Gardiner, and is staying with Lady Maria Leonard until his new house is ready for occupancy on Bryanston Square.”

He paused as he considered whether he had heard any other information.

“I think that is all I know of her background. She is well read on the war, we even discussed it while dancing last week.”

“You discussed the war while dancing?”

“Yes, father. We talked of Cuidad Rodrigo, not just our recent victory, she also referenced the Spanish loss two years ago.”

“How singular.”

Three heads turned to Darcy.

“It is the same person. The Bennet family estate was the neighbour to the one Bingley was leasing. She was known as Miss Elizabeth there as her older sister was still at home. She acknowledged that Edward Gardiner, as he was then, was her uncle.”

“Brother, you mentioned that you enjoyed speaking with her.”

“I did. As Richard has mentioned, she is intelligent and well read. We too talked of the Peninsula during our discussions.”

“William, you were more forthcoming with me on our journeys. Why this sudden diffidence?”

“I never expected to hear of Miss Elizabeth again. I spoke to you of her positive qualities, and did not see the need to go into other aspects.”

“Meaning what exactly Darcy?”

The Earl was now intrigued.

“She was extremely unfortunate in her relatives.”

“He was awarded a Baronetcy, with support from both parties.”

“At the time I did not know of that. I viewed her having an uncle in trade as an unfortunate impediment in her making a good match but there were even more unfortunate members of the family.”

“Worse than an uncle in trade?”

“I had met Edward Gardiner, been to his premises to secure some ‘blood brandy’. He was most polite and well-mannered. He presented well, even more so when you consider his impairment. He was in trade but was not an embarrassment. Instead I refer to her family. She is the second of five daughters, and the youngest two are an affront to propriety and good manners. Her mother is as ghastly a matchmaking mama as I have ever met and the father an indolent ghost.”

“You exaggerate surely?”

“If anything, I am understating them. At Bingley’s ball the youngest sister was running around waving a Militia officer’s sword about her head. It was only sheer luck there was not blood spilt.”

Lady Matlock looked at her niece, sitting beside her in shock.

“I can see why she does not make mention of her family.”

“Miss Elizabeth is also not a lady who responds gently to attacks against herself or her family.”

“Darcy, you really must stop these leading statements without providing details. All you are doing is forcing us to ask the question. An example if you please.”

Lady Matlock and Georgiana briefly looked at each other, the slightest of smiles ghosting across their lips.

“Sorry Andrew. You all know my friend Bingley, and that he still has one unmarried sister?”

Nods all round. None of the other gentlemen had met the lady but all were aware of her reputation. Lady Matlock watched her sons lean forward slightly.

“Miss Bingley has many qualities I am sure, but she also has a sharp tongue. A tongue that Bingley does not sufficiently control. The result is she regularly reaches the limit of what is acceptable. While I was a guest at Netherfield Park she far exceeded that limit at least twice.”

Darcy briefly explained the illness of Jane Bennet and the resulting stay of Elizabeth.

“Miss Bingley’s view of life is that for her to rise someone else must sink. When in Hertfordshire she demonstrated an unpleasant need to try and belittle those of the local society. She equated wealth with consequence. She was barely tolerated by most, but not at all by Miss Elizabeth.”

Rather than drag it out, Darcy retold the tale of the two evenings at Netherfield Park. He kept his eye on his little sister but was accurate and complete in his recitation. When the company heard Elizabeth’s final rejoinder everyone leant back, visibly shocked at her response.

“What was Bingley doing while all this was happening?”

“Being ineffective, she is his Achilles Heel.”

“Richard, you have danced with this Miss Bennet, talked with her, sat at supper with her. Can you believe it of the young lady you met?”

“I am at a loss mother. 15 minutes ago I could never imagine this, yet we know it is the same young lady. She has given no indication of that temper when I have been in her company. She is open and friendly when you engage her in conversation, yet quiet and discreet as part of the larger company.”

“Brother, may I clarify something?”

“Of course, Georgiana.”

“These events happened before Mr. Bingley’s ball, yes?”

“They did.”

“Yet you still asked her to dance, sat with her during your scheduled dance because of her bruised foot, and she was your supper companion.”

There was no question posed by Miss Darcy but everyone looked expectantly at Darcy.

“The morning of the final confrontation between Miss Bingley and Miss Elizabeth I had the opportunity to talk to Miss Elizabeth at breakfast. She had been reading the paper and the conversation that followed was similar to the one Richard had with her at the ball. She could speak of the situation on the Peninsula with confidence. She was exactly as Richard just described her, friendly and relatively open. At the ball I chose to focus on this side of her personality. The time passed quickly in her company.”

“That is a good point cousin. The two dances of the set seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.”

Georgiana was taken by surprise and could not quite stifle her yawn. Despite her protestations her brother used her tiredness as an excuse to end the evening. She had lots of questions and was unsure who to ask, and whether she would even receive answers to some of them.

Richard retired to his rooms leaving his parents and older brother. Viscount Snowdon did not dissemble.

“I have danced with the second daughter of the Earl of Traquair several times. This is her third season and she is changed, and for the better, from when she was a debutante. When I first met her my impression was not good. She was conscious of her Scottish accent and was trying too hard to make a good impression, ironically doing the exact opposite. This season she is calmer, more sure of herself, and it has allowed her many charms to shine through. She has granted permission for me to call on her and we shall see how things progress over the season.”

The Earl and his wife did not bombard their son with questions. They let him also retire to his suite of rooms. Both of them would work their circles to build a complete picture of the young lady and her family. Just as they knew her parents would be doing the same thing with them.

“I did not expect to receive such good news.”

“What do you know of her?”

“A lot of my limited knowledge is as Andrew described her. In truth, her accent is not very strong, but she was always conscious of it.”

“Her grandfather, no actually now that I recall, it was her great uncle, was arrested after the ’45.”

“Was he guilty?”

“He was not executed as far as I know. The title passed to his brother on his death, and he was her grandfather. The current Earl has a reputation as a learned man, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.”

“She resides with an aunt here in town so that makes sense.”

“Is she a good match?”

Lady Matlock considered the question carefully.

“It will be interesting to discover the amount of her dowry. I will allow that it is not a bad match, whether it is a good match? It is too soon to tell.”

“The early part of the evening was rather full of surprises, was it not?”

“I was very pleasantly surprised to have Richard recite my teachings of 15 years ago back to me. It was interesting to hear him consider her unsuitable.”

“You are upset at his honesty?”

“Not at all. I wonder whether he was accurate?”

The Earl sat up straighter and looked at his wife.

“You think her suitable?”

“Let me answer your question with one of my own. This is just hypothetical, I do not know the exact amount of her dowry. Suppose she had a dowry of ￡20,000. She is the daughter of a gentleman, related to a Baronet, very good friends with Lady Maria Leonard and through her Richwood, and on more than passing acquaintance with the Duke of Desmond. Maria told me he has granted her permission to call him Lord Roderick in private. Could Richard do better?”

“What of the family?”

Lady Matlock grimaced.

“Taken firmly in hand, sent off to strict schools, never allowed in London. Every family has those it keeps at a safe distance.”

The Earl knew of whom his wife spoke. It was his turn to grimace.

“Would Maria tell you her dowry?”

“She told me it was ‘good’, perhaps closer to ￡15 than ￡10,000.”

“A little light, but not insurmountable. Are you going to push a match?”

“I do not think I will be that plain spoken. I will let him know that we do not oppose it and see what he does. I confess her temper worries me.”

“It was a remarkable story, I was surprised that Darcy told it in front of his sister. I have never met either Bingley or his sister, but her reputation proceeds her.”

“Miss Bennet’s words?”

“Intemperate, but just about justified. I wish to meet her, perhaps goad her a little.”

Lady Matlock knew he was teasing but responded anyway.

“What was it that Richard called Andrew?”

“That you would think such a thing of your husband.”

They both chuckled and retired for the night.

--

The following morning Georgiana plucked up the courage to continue to ask her brother questions.

“Are you upset with me for talking of Miss Elizabeth with our family? Oh, should I call her Miss Bennet?”

“No, I am not upset. In fact, it was a useful way to share information between different family members. Just as I did not know of her presence, or connections, here in town, Richard was unaware of who remains in Hertfordshire. I think we should both call her Miss Bennet as that is how she is known here in town. If I talk of Hertfordshire I will address the Miss Bennet I met there as Miss Jane. Let me ask you a question in turn. Did I shock you with the tale of her battles with Miss Bingley?”

Georgiana stopped and considered the question.

“The first evening did not seem that different from verbal battles here in town. Miss Bennet was a touch blunter than I have heard before but other than that no. The second evening, I have never heard anything like it. Yes, Miss Bennet’s response was shocking, but so was Miss Bingley’s insinuation. I have thought about it this morning and again it is the bluntness of her response that is so unusual. The words, the disgusting insinuation that Miss Bingley made was exactly that, an insinuation. Miss Bennet did not employ such a device. She just spoke plainly. Sitting here the next day, the insinuation and response are both shocking, but it is Miss Bennet’s plain spoken-ness that I find fascinating.”

“I can see why you would think so.”

“Why did you ask her to dance at Mr. Bingley’s ball? I find that act to be the most surprising.”

“Until last night I had not really thought back to that evening. Let me see. The weather had been ghastly in the week before the event, so I had been trapped in the house. Even before then, in the preceding fortnight, I had only seen Miss Bennet from a distance in Meryton, the nearest town to Bingley’s estate. In the run up to the ball I had been ‘trapped’ at Netherfield Park with Miss Bingley and the rest of the party. So, I had daily reminders of Miss Bingley’s unsuitability, while only memories of Miss Bennet. As I mentioned last night, on her penultimate morning while in residence we had sat and had an interesting discussion while we broke our fasts. Miss Bingley made me, makes me, tense. Miss Bennet did the exact opposite. When she arrived for the ball I saw her and before I knew it I had asked her to dance the first with me.”

“The first William? You never dance the first.”

Despite these being his own memories, Darcy was still taken aback with this realisation.

“You are right. How remarkable.”

Rather than continue the conversation Georgiana employed the lesson she had learned from her aunt the night before. She said nothing and left to practice at the piano.