Darcy & Elizabeth: A Season of Courtship (Darcy Saga Prequel Duo) (13 page)

The answer is simple, really.
Caroline replaced her anger and despair with cold calculation and
determination. Now was not the time to be depressed or wallow in pointless
regrets. Impossible it may be to turn back the clock and remedy her error in
not ensnaring Mr. Darcy when she had the chance; however, until he stood in the
church and repeated vows before God, the tragic deed was not final. Caroline
Bingley was, above all, a woman who knew what she wanted—that being Mr.
Darcy—and she was willing to do whatever it took to get him.

Her superior attributes had been
right under Mr. Darcy’s nose for three years, figuratively speaking. All Caroline
had to do was pointedly express her preference and blatantly remind him of her
sophistication and exceptional qualities. If that involved placing her finest
assets literally under his nose, she would do that too.

In the morning, she resolved to emerge
from her chambers set on a course to steal Mr. Darcy away from the impertinent
upstart wholly unworthy of him.

Caroline Bingley was a woman on a
mission.

* *
*

Jane
and Lizzy were waiting on the Longbourn porch when their two gentlemen rode
into the yard. With bonnets, shawls, and gloves donned, their purpose was
evident. After a rushed greeting and a brief time for the men to pay respects
to Mrs. Bennet, arms were secured and they were steered down a winding path
west of the house.

It was a trail Darcy had never
walked, and normally he would have paid keen attention to the ground and
passing terrain. Instead, he happily trusted Elizabeth’s familiarity and awareness
of any hazards.

What man of sound mind would
inspect trees or flowers when the beautiful woman he loved was holding on to
his arm and positioned inches away from his body?

“You and Miss Bennet appeared most
anxious to begin your walk. Dare I presume our company was a significant
factor? Or were you merely anticipating the delight of escaping the confines of
Longbourn?”

“It is true that I prefer being out
of doors rather than within, so I do look for any excuse, no matter how
implausible, to escape. Today you gave me a decent enough reason.”

“Decent enough? Well, I shall have
to be satisfied with that!”

Darcy smiled at Lizzy’s gay
laughter.

“Will you be scandalized, William,
to hear that I walk at my own pleasure, braving the elements if necessary, and
facing the censure of others upon occasion for my wild ways?”

“I am not scandalized. I vividly
recall your appearance after one such wild walk in the elements and confess I
appreciated the picture far too much to censure.”

“Did you?” Lizzy halted and glanced
up at his face. She looked genuinely amazed at his confession.

“Indeed. Exercise becomes you,
Elizabeth. Your eyes were bright and cheeks rosy. A soft sheen bathed your
skin, making your face glow. Several tendrils of your hair had escaped your
bonnet, and were dancing across your forehead and neck. You were…exceedingly
fetching.”
To state it mildly.

“I recall only surprise, and what I
interpreted as contempt. Granted, you were silent and grave rather than openly
incredulous, like Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, but I did not guess
appreciation. I apologize for misinterpreting.”

“An apology is not needed. I
was
surprised, Elizabeth, for I had never met a woman who would
think
of
walking so far, let alone do it. I questioned your judgment in traversing muddy
fields unescorted, in the early morning while the mist remained, and under the
threat of further rain. I still believe it an unwise course under most
circumstances and hope in the future you will appeal to me before setting out
in such a manner. Nevertheless, I soon comprehended your level of comfort in
the countryside and that I was wrong to question your capability. Most touching
to me was the devotion to your sister. This I can readily understand.”

“Yes, I suppose you can.” She glanced
away from his eyes, her gaze falling on Jane and Mr. Bingley as they
disappeared around a bend in the trail. Suddenly she laughed. Darcy lifted a
brow questioningly when she looked back at him.

“I was comparing Jane now, walking
happily with Mr. Bingley and mindless of our existence behind them,” she
explained as she tugged on his arm and resumed walking, “to the Jane earlier,
who argued with me about waiting on the step and whisking the two of you away
seconds after arriving. She thought our behavior would be condemned as brazen
and unladylike. I bullied her along, with help from mama, but did not
successfully convince her that Mr. Bingley would be gratified to witness her
enthusiasm. What say you, Mr. Darcy? Who was correct, me or Jane?”

“As I see it, Miss Elizabeth,” he
emphasized her formal name, as she had his, and spoke in an exaggerated,
stilted manner, “there is a place and time for proper behavior, and one must
take pains to never cross into vulgarity. Undue
enthusiasm
can be most
unsettling. Nevertheless, in affairs of the heart, no one, not even a mature
man of confidence, would reject an overt display of affection and—dare I
say it?—
enthusiasm
from the woman he loves. As illogical as it
seems, the greater one’s feeling for another, the more he needs to be assured
the sentiments are reciprocated.”

His kept his tone of humorously
dramatic instruction but hoped that she would detect the truthful revelation,
especially in the last two sentences.

She held her teasing smile but
nodded seriously. “I shall keep your words of wisdom in mind, William.”

“Excellent!” he exclaimed in
relief, and then attempted to lighten the mood. “And I shall remember that you
have now confessed to desiring this time with me rather than for the single
wish for a walk.”

“Did I confess that?” She succumbed
to laughter at his firm nod. “Yes, it is true. I enjoy every moment with you,
and intend to make the most of it. I want to know everything about you, which,
of course, means that you must talk freely and be prepared to argue with me if
I disagree. Are you up to the challenge, sir?”

“Like you, I never back down from a
challenge, my dear. How do you wish to proceed in this endeavor to know
everything
about me?”

“How about beginning with
recounting your morning? You said you had letters to write, some announcing our
engagement, I believe. Did you complete your task?”

“Nearly. I shall finish tomorrow.
There are quite a number, and I am not the fastest writer.”

“Oh? I heard you write uncommonly
fast.” Darcy chuckled at her reference. “Quite a number, was it? Endless
possibilities to reveal the mysteries of Mr. Darcy!” The mischievous glint in
her eyes was absolutely adorable, and Darcy resisted the urge to kiss her only with
great effort. Luckily, to avoid an unseemly display sure to embarrass them
both, she returned her gaze to the trail. “Were they primarily business matters
then, or personal? I did not think your family large.”

“My family is more extensive than
you realize. Primarily the letters were personal, although I did write to my
solicitor in London, Mr. Daniels, whom I am sure you shall meet someday. The Daniels
firm has handled my family’s affairs for decades. He will begin the necessary
paperwork pertaining to our betrothal settlement. I sent detailed instructions
on that and a few other matters I dropped when I rushed back to Netherfield.”

This time, it was he who halted
their steps, turning to Lizzy and grasping both her hands between his. For
several seconds he could not breathe and forgot what he meant to say. They were
not physically closer than when walking side-by-side, but the impact of facing
her fully was striking.

“I have to warn you, Elizabeth,
that as unappealing as it is for me, and as loath as I am to be parted during
this special time, it is inevitable that I travel to London to personally
discuss the specifics and formalize the legalities of the settlement.
Additionally, I want to arrange estate business now, before our marriage. With
proper planning, my steward and solicitor can keep Pemberley functioning after
our marriage, for a time at least, with minimal input from me. Once at
Pemberley for the winter, I do not wish our solitude disturbed unless a drastic
emergency arises.”

And since it is quite possible I’ll
keep us locked in my bedchamber all winter, they better handle it!

Visions of Elizabeth in his
bedchamber were highly pleasant. They were also unsettling and inappropriate.
The thought was a fleeting one, but with her standing directly in front of him,
the abrupt barrage of emotions were as strong as they had been yesterday
evening when entering Longbourn, and again while in the starlit garden last
night. Both times his desire to kiss her overwhelmed his reason. Restraint
honed over nearly three decades, and the gentlemanly breeding of generations,
all but disappeared. Somehow, he needed to smother his baser impulses before
his uncontrolled ardor frightened her into rethinking her choice in husband.

Your ardor did not seem
unwelcome. She did not look frightened before, and looks quite willing to be
kissed now.

Darcy silently concurred with the
justifying voice in his mind. Then he shook his head and gulped past the lump
in his throat. In matters of sexuality and romantic love, Darcy was not what
anyone would label experienced. Nevertheless, he was educated on the subject—while
surely Elizabeth was not—and as a man, it was his job to lead and set a
proper example. Despite her assurances of love and trust, Darcy knew they were
new developments harshly won. As such, they were fragile things, to his way of
thinking, and he refused to allow any action borne from his weakness cause
either her love or trust to shatter.

“I understand you have affairs to
manage, William. I will miss you, of course, but you must not fret over my
feelings. I recognize the sacrifice and appreciate why you are making it. How
soon, and for how long will you be in London?”

Her soft voice and tender touch of
gloved fingertips to his left cheek broke him out of his trance, Darcy only
then realizing how close he had drawn to her lips. He straightened slowly,
forcing a serene smile. “I will give Mr. Daniels a week or so to prepare. I
cannot say how long, but trust me that it will be as short as possible.”

Maybe it will be beneficial to
separate for a short span.
The thought was sensible but painful to
contemplate, so he tucked her hand under his arm and resumed their stroll. Bingley
and Jane were far ahead but had stopped to wait for them. Or perhaps they had
paused for an intimate conversation of their own. Darcy waved casually, and
Bingley waved back.

“We seem to have lagged behind, but
at least we are in eyesight, so my promise to Mr. Bennet to remain as a group
is not broken. Now, where was I? My letter to Daniels was complete, with
assistance from my valet who has neater penmanship than mine. Fortified with
coffee, I attended to the personal correspondence. First, naturally, was
Georgiana.”

“Miss Darcy is such a dear! She
will be pleased, will she not?”

“Pleased? Indeed not! She will be
overjoyed, Elizabeth. She has longed for a sister all of her life, dreams of
the intimate friendship not possible with a brother over a decade older. I have
wished for Georgiana to have this as well, and it is doubly gratifying that my
tremendous fortune in earning a place in your life also means fulfilling her
desires.”

“If Miss Darcy were anything other
than the sweet-natured creature she is, I might be daunted by the charge. As it
is, my only apprehension is that my impertinence and quick temper shall
frighten—or corrupt her good manners.”

“The liveliness of your mind and
sportive manner will be good for her, I am certain of it.”

“And when I tease you? Or we argue,
as we surely shall? Will her high opinion fade and affection cool in defense of
a beloved brother?”

They had almost caught up to Jane
and Bingley, so Darcy did not hesitate to once again stop walking. If not for
his concern over the trace of strain amid her humorous tones, Darcy would have
been gladdened to realize his improving ability to detect her emotions. At the
present, his only thought was to console her.

“It is in large part
because
of her love for me that Georgiana’s sentiments toward you spring, Elizabeth.
She is one of a handful who knew my love for you and has seen the affect upon
me when hope was lost. Rather than despising you as the cause of my…sadness”
—agonizing,
soul-wrenching pain—
“Georgiana welcomed you to Pemberley with
jubilation nearly as intense as mine. She supported my decision, that is true,
and trusted my resolution that you alone could bring me happiness. Yet,
Georgiana drew her own conclusions and grew to care for you because of your
interactions with her. It is impossible for me to imagine your heart opening to
me without my sister’s influence as a portion of the catalyst. As for the rest”—he
brushed the tip of one finger over her nose playfully—“Georgiana will
soon learn the relationship between husband and wife is quite different than
that of siblings.”

They walked in silence for a while
after that. Lizzy seemed deep in thought, and Darcy was content to quietly
dwell on the rosy flush his touch had elicited. Soon their steps brought them
to the waiting Jane and Bingley, the duo suggesting a rest beside the creek-fed
pond visible behind a cluster of oak and elm trees. In short order, they were
settled in moderate comfort on the flat tops of several rocks conveniently
located under the shady branches. Slices of cheese, dried fruit, and soft rolls
were pulled from the basket Jane carried, and Darcy bravely risked slipping
into the pond to fill two pewter mugs with water.