16. Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

March 26, 1812 Rosings Park, Kent Charlotte

S ir Andrew seemed to favor her company, though Charlotte was at a loss as to why. He had mentioned her company was ‘safe’ since she could have no expectations of his person. Tonight, he had joined her on the settee as soon as the gentlemen entered the room.

“Lady Catherine has delayed Darcy,” he said quietly. “How long before he makes his way to Miss Bennet? Five minutes? Ten?”

“You seem confident he will join her.” Charlotte replayed Sir Andrew’s words from their walk a few days’ previous.

“I wish to know all that occurred between Darcy and Miss Bennet whilst he visited Hertfordshire . ” His abrupt change of subject startled her, and Charlotte looked at him in surprise.

“Mr. Darcy? I remember you saying that he was smitten whilst we took tea at the parsonage. I knew he admired her, but I had no notion it went so far.”

“I have known Darcy for years. He has brushed aside so many matrons and their daughters that I wondered if he would ever marry. He does not need to. His estate is not entailed, and he can leave it to his sister’s son if he wishes. He is nearing thirty years, and many mamas have lost hope.”

Sir Andrew moved to a log and sat upon it, patting the spot next to him for Charlotte to join him. He turned and straddled their seat. “Darcy’s admiration is apparent to those who are looking. He stares at her a great deal and follows her movements when she walks around a room. I thought he would strangle Fitzwilliam for speaking to her.”

“And as I said yesterday, I have tried to tell Elizabeth. She refuses to listen and cites their first interaction as evidence. I cannot count the number of times I have heard her mimic him. ‘She is tolerable, I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me.’ Besides, even if he admires her, it does not seem likely that Mr. Darcy will act on his inclination. He is the scion of an earl, destined for a match from the first circles. It seems more likely that he will eventually offer for his cousin than marry my friend.”

“I do not believe you are correct.” Sir Andrew reached down and pulled at some grass growing beside the log. “Darcy has held out against Lady Catherine this long. Maybe he has only been waiting for the right lady to come along. What bewitchments does your friend possess that she has attracted his attention? Darcy’s exacting expectations are well known in the ton .”

“I cannot tell you. By all accounts, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have argued every time they are in company. It is not a sure foundation for a romantic relationship.” Charlotte paused. “Perhaps he enjoys their arguments?”

“You may be correct. Darcy likely sees their encounters as lively debates and takes pleasure in them. He has always appreciated a fine mind and Miss Bennet strikes me as a rather intelligent creature.”

Charlotte nodded. “Elizabeth’s father has never censored her reading. She has been allowed almost complete access to his library and is more well-read than most ladies of my acquaintance. She often ties unsuspecting gentlemen in knots when they try to assert their superiority.”

“That is it!” Sir Andrew slapped the log. “Darcy likes her because she challenges him. It is a singular thing; most ladies fall all over themselves to agree with everything he says.”

Charlotte considered this. Had not Miss Bingley behaved in precisely that manner? Yet, Mr. Darcy had remained unmoved. “All this proves only that Mr. Darcy likes Elizabeth. It does not mean he will offer for her.” It disappointed her. The Bennets’ future living situation might have been secured, but they would still be in reduced circumstances. If Elizabeth married well, there would be no cause for concern.

“And if he did?”

Charlotte’s heart fell. “She would refuse him.”

Sir Andrew frowned. “You are certain of this?”

“Elizabeth is romantic. She wishes to marry for love. Already she feels betrayed by her sister’s decision to marry their father’s heir. I believe it has made her more determined to see herself happily situated with a gentleman she loves.”

“Is it not enough that he loves her? Affection grows, and in time she would come to love him. Darcy is honorable to a fault and would not treat anyone he loved badly.” Sir Andrew scuffed the ground with his boot. His mannerisms made him seem younger than his forty years. His contemplation rendered him almost boyish.

He looked up suddenly, mischief sparking in his eyes. “Shall we help our mutual friends, Miss Lucas?”

She regarded him seriously. “How so? I do not wish either Elizabeth or Mr. Darcy to be unhappy.”

“Mayhap your friend does not know what will make her happy. We must help her realize it.”

“How do you mean to go about it? We cannot force Elizabeth to like Mr. Darcy. Nor can we force him to propose.”

Sir Andrew considered this. “I would wager Darcy will propose without our interference. It is Miss Bennet we must work on.”

“She will not listen to praises of him. Miss Bingley sang them enough, yet his own actions and behavior toward her and others of our acquaintance have soured her completely.” Mr. Wickham’s tale of ill-use materialized in Charlotte’s mind. If the officer’s words were true, Mr. Darcy had behaved dishonorably. Could such a man be trusted to treat his wife with the care and consideration she deserved?

“Let us wait and watch. We will know how to act when it is time to do so.”

Charlotte observed Mr. Darcy break away from his aunt within five minutes of her securing his attention. He moved immediately to the pianoforte. Elizabeth stumbled over a few notes before regaining her momentum; Charlotte could see her friend’s saucy expression from her seat.

“That did not take long,” Sir Andrew said. “Just as I imagined. He did not speak to the Collinses or you. He likes her.”

“I believe we have established that Mr. Darcy admires Elizabeth.”

“I thought we agreed on infatuated as a descriptor.” Sir Andrew winked. “Does she seem to be enjoying herself?”

“It is hard to tell. Elizabeth is cordial and polite to everyone, not just those she likes.”

Sir Andrew nodded. “The exact opposite of Darcy, then. She will manage him properly.”

“You act as if their marriage is a done thing.” Charlotte shook her head in disagreement. “Short of forcing her, Elizabeth will not oblige.”

“Then let us force her!” Sir Andrew grinned wickedly.

Charlotte opened her mouth but stopped before speaking. Elizabeth’s headstrong behavior had already cost her one suitor. Her friend did not know how fortunate she was to have received an offer from an eligible man. Charlotte did not know what it meant to be admired, wanted… desired. She envied Elizabeth that. Would it be so dreadful if her friend married Mr. Darcy? If the gentleman loved her, then she would already possess more in her marriage than many couples could boast. Mayhap Sir Andrew had the right of it, and love would grow with time.

“Elizabeth has always thought she knows best,” she murmured. “She does not know what it is to be…” She trailed off, remembering to whom she spoke.

“Yes, Miss Lucas?” He spoke softly, the teasing manner gone and quiet, gentle tones in their place.

“It is nothing.” She did not wish to discuss this with him. He, who had already mocked her spinster status, causing more heartache. But his words had given her much to consider.

“What are you speaking of?” Lady de Bourgh came toward them, her walking stick driving into the carpet. “You are rather secretive, sitting so removed from the rest of the company.” She eyed the pair, wisdom in her gaze, and Charlotte wondered where the lady’s thoughts were.

“Have you noticed Darcy’s preoccupation?” Sir Andrew nodded toward the pianoforte.

“Darcy?” Lady de Bourgh looked at the group by the pianoforte and frowned. “I had not noticed any great change from the last time we were in company. He is as taciturn and silent as ever.”

“We were discussing his attention to Miss Bennet.”

She cocked an eyebrow skeptically. “He has done nothing more than stare at her and fumble his words when speaking to her. His attempts during dinner were painful to witness.”

“I had not thought you noticed. Your attention seemed engaged in battling my aunt.” Sir Andrew’s jest made his grandmother smile. She sat in the chair across from the settee and placed both hands on the head of her walking stick.

“Despite my focus on needling my daughter-in-law, I observed everyone over the course of the meal. Darcy seemed as disinclined toward conversation as ever.”

“Except with Miss Bennet.” Sir Andrew looked at her knowingly. “Mrs. Collins sat on his other side, and he barely spoke two words to her. He made an effort with Miss Bennet, however, and now he has joined her at the pianoforte.” He turned to Charlotte. “Miss Lucas has knowledge of his actions in Hertfordshire. Her report corroborates my suppositions. Darcy is infatuated with Miss Bennet.”

Lady de Bourgh’s mouth turned up slowly, and Charlotte saw Sir Andrew in her mischievous smile. “Oh, Catherine will be livid,” she said quietly.

“I am counting on it.”

Charlotte turned to look at her companion. What possible reason could he have to anger Lady Catherine?

“Will she marry Anne to another if Darcy marries elsewhere?” Lady de Bourgh voiced Charlotte’s unspoken question.

Sir Andrew grew serious. He glanced at Lady Catherine. Noting her occupation with Mr. and Mrs. Collins, he spoke quietly.

“Anne has asked for my assistance,” he confessed. He turned and observed his much younger cousin. “She believes her mother will force her to marry, be it Darcy or another man, and she has not the strength to stand up to her. When she turns five-and-twenty next month, she will gain complete control over Rosings Park. At that time, she wishes to turn over management to me. She cannot name an heir, given the stipulations of her father’s will. This is as close as she can come legally to doing so. Her mother knows I will inherit if Anne does not marry and given Lady Catherine’s antipathy to the de Bourgh family, I suppose she will do everything in her power to prevent me from doing so.”

The tenderness and concern in his voice belayed his flippant and irreverent attitude, and Charlotte caught a glimpse of a caring, compassionate gentleman beneath the teasing and obnoxious demeanor.

“If Darcy likes Miss Bennet, it is only in my—and Anne’s—favor. With Lady Catherine’s favorite choice for her daughter’s husband removed, Anne and I might be able to convince her mother to cease attempting to marry her off.”

Lady de Bourgh turned and looked at the group by the pianoforte again. “We can only hope it will be so.” Her words were quiet and sad. “Her father did not wish for his child to enter a loveless marriage. Anne knows it. Lewis dictated the letter to me himself and I gave it to her upon her twenty-first birthday.”

Charlotte had not imagined this side of the de Bourghs. Both had presented a contentious demeanor from the moment of their arrival. Privy to this conversation as she was, she now believed there to be more to Sir Andrew and Lady de Bourgh than met the eye.

Lady de Bourgh turned to Charlotte, her brusque manner returning. “You will say nothing of this to anyone outside of our little group.” She nodded at Sir Andrew. “The three of us will watch the developments between Darcy and Miss Bennet. If he proposes, we shall know how to act.”

“Miss Lucas does not believe Miss Bennet will accept.” Sir Andrew said it speculatively rather than smugly, turning his head to regard the aforementioned lady who still sat before the pianoforte.

“That will not do at all. Can your friend be worked upon?” Lady de Bourgh’s displeasure showed on her face.

Charlotte almost shook her head, but a memory surfaced, and she paused. What had Jane said weeks ago when she confronted Charlotte about Mr. Collins?

“Elizabeth believes I have betrayed my dreams,” Jane had murmured. “Mayhap I have. But it was necessary, and I cannot regret my decision.”

When Charlotte had pressed for an explanation, Jane had turned away, unwilling to answer. “It is nothing,” she had said. “Nothing at all.”

She had not understood then, but now she wondered. During his visit to Hunsford, Mr. Bennet had spent many hours in his room. Charlotte had believed him to be avoiding his cousin, but now she thought there may be another explanation.

Mr. Bennet had dismissed his coughing on their journey hither, attributing it to the coming spring. Since Charlotte’s sister Maria often suffered a cough during the spring and autumn, she had accepted his word as truth. But could there be another cause?

“Elizabeth is… stubborn. I cannot guarantee how she will react if Mr. Darcy offers his hand. She may turn him away with a flea in his ear.” She sighed. “My friend’s memory is long. It will be years before she lets go of her resentment, unless she is given ample evidence that it is misplaced.”

“Then we must see to it that she has every reason to think well of Mr. Darcy. The match will benefit multiple parties. From what I have learned of her situation, she would be a fool to refuse a proposal from such a prominent man.” Lady de Bourgh nodded as if agreeing with herself.

“I believe Miss Bennet’s singularity is what sets her apart from other ladies. It is what draws Darcy’s admiration.”

Sir Andrew’s words rang true. Charlotte looked at her friend and silently prayed that she would not need to force Elizabeth’s hand.