Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World (3 page)

His
response when she introduced him to her aunt was rather perfunctory. She feared
this would not improve Mrs. Gardiner's opinion of him.

She
was grateful for her aunt's fine manners, politely asking him whether he would
like some refreshment, and beginning a conversation about Derbyshire. Darcy
thawed a little as it became evident he was not dealing with another Mrs.
Bennet, but his manner did not go so far as warmth.

Elizabeth,
growing somewhat anxious as time went on as to what her aunt and Jane might be
thinking, suggested to Mr. Darcy that perhaps they might walk out in order to
enjoy the fine day. It was ironic, she thought, that now she was seeking to be
alone with him, but it was not out of any desire for his company.

He
assented readily. Elizabeth fetched her bonnet; and, as soon as they were
outside of the house, Darcy turned a look of great warmth on her.

"Elizabeth,
I am very glad to be with you again."

She
blushed, remembering the kisses which had accompanied such a tone of voice from
him in the past. "I had not expected you quite so soon, sir."

"I
returned to town yesterday evening, but far too late to call, so I it better to
wait until this morning. Surely you did not think I would remain at Rosings
once you had left."

She
was unsure what he wanted her to say. "I am sorry if this has caused
trouble between you and Lady Catherine."

He
glanced down at her. "I do not know what you have heard, although I assume
it was what prompted you to leave."

Apparently
his source at Hunsford had neglected to inform him she had no choice but to
depart. She chose her words carefully. "I understood from Mr. Collins that
she was quite unhappy with the news. Rather than put him in an uncomfortable
position with his patroness, I thought it wisest to leave."

"You
are kind to be sensible of his position, but I hope you understand that as my
wife you need fear no one."

She
wondered if he thought it below her to worry about Mr. Collins.

However
agreeable she planned to be to her future husband, she did not intend to behave
with his sort of pride. "Mrs. Collins is a very dear friend.

I
would not hurt her for the world."

"Of
course not." He seemed more satisfied by this explanation. "It is
unfortunate your visit with her was interrupted. Have you made plans for your
stay in London?"

She
reminded herself of Charlotte's advice. "I am entirely at your disposal,
sir. My parents do not yet know I have left Kent."

He
looked at her questioningly for a moment. "It would please me if you had
an opportunity to make my sister's acquaintance while you are in London."

"I
would be happy to do so." Elizabeth hoped Miss Darcy was not as proud as
Wickham had indicated to her.

"We
need to discuss our wedding as well."

"Indeed."
Elizabeth felt suddenly closed in by the people and buildings around them, and
had a longing for the open countryside near Longbourn.

She
would not be able to enjoy it long, even when she returned home. She hoped the
scenery in Derbyshire would not be cold and forbidding.

"I
see no reason to delay overlong. What is your view?"

"I
have not given the matter any thought yet, sir." Elizabeth dropped her eyes
to the dirty cobblestones beneath her feet.

"I
am not minded to think that a long courtship in the presence of family would be
pleasurable to either of us. Do you think a month would be adequate planning
time?"

A
year would not be a long enough delay for her. "That might seem very

sudden,
sir."

He
favoured her with a smile which transformed his features. "Would you mind
that?"

Elizabeth
felt a wave of panic as she sought for a way to convince him to wait longer.
"Perhaps I could consult with my aunt before we decide. After all, I have
never planned a wedding before."

He
laughed. "Nor have I. It will be our first new experience together."

Georgiana
Darcy awaited with trepidation her first meeting with her new sister. She could
not have been more astonished when her brother arrived in London unexpectedly
with the announcement that he was to be married, and to a woman she had never
heard of. She dared not ask him many questions, but she was concerned,
especially when he described Miss Bennet as possessing an admirable spirit.
Fitzwilliam's wife would have a great deal of influence on the next years of
her life, arranging her coming out and no doubt having some say in her choice
of husband. If Miss Bennet was willful, Georgiana would never be able to stand
up to her. She trusted Fitzwilliam with her future, but it was harder with this
unknown woman.

But
she would not be unknown for long. Georgiana could hear the carriage pull up in
front of the townhouse. She stood and smoothed her skirts, trying to disguise
her nervousness. It took longer than she expected between the time when she
heard the front door open and when Fitzwilliam appeared in the doorway
accompanied by a graceful young lady, not quite as tall as Georgiana herself.

"Georgiana,
may I present Miss Elizabeth Bennet?"

Georgiana
made a careful curtsey. "Miss Bennet, it is a great pleasure to make your
acquaintance."

"And
yours as well, Miss Darcy. I have heard so much about you. I understand you are
a talented musician."

"A
musician of sorts, yes, but hardly talented," said Georgiana as
Fitzwilliam offered Miss Bennet a seat on the sofa.

"You
are too modest, I am sure."

Fitzwilliam,
who was looking at Miss Bennet with undisguised fascination, said,
"Someday you will have the opportunity to hear Georgiana play, and you may
judge for yourself. I venture to say you will not be disappointed."

"I
shall look forward to it."

To
Georgiana it did not sound as if Miss Bennet were looking forward to it in the
slightest. With a sinking heart she said, "Will you be staying long in
London, Miss Bennet?"

"Not
long. I must return home within the week."

Fitzwilliam
smiled warmly at Miss Bennet. "Elizabeth and I have just agreed on when
she will make me the happiest of men. She has many preparations to make
quickly, since I am impatient enough to want to marry her next month."

Georgiana
was profoundly shy, but she had no difficulty in reading character, and Miss
Bennet's expression was more suited to planning a funeral than a wedding. Even
her smiles at her intended looked forced. Georgiana felt almost as wretched,
seeing her brother so enamoured of a woman who clearly did not return his
regard. Fitzwilliam had been caught by a fortune hunter after all.

Apparently
she was not to have the sister of her dreams. Georgiana reminded herself she
had survived many other disappointments in her life.

At
least Miss Bennet was not pretending a fawning interest in her as some ladies
did, hoping to curry her brother's favour. But by all appearances, Miss Bennet
had no need to do anything at all to please Fitzwilliam; he was happy just
looking at her.

Georgiana
straightened into the proper posture so carefully taught to her at school.
"Miss Bennet, may I offer you some refreshment?"

Chapter 3

"A
letter for Miss Elizabeth," Hill announced.

Mr.
Bennet took the sealed letter off the tray, examined it, then handed it to his
second daughter. "Your young man, I daresay."

The
direction was in a masculine hand, so there could be little doubt who had sent
it. "Thank you, Hill," Elizabeth said.

Since
her return to Longbourn a week earlier, Elizabeth had astonished herself with
her ability to forget the disaster looming in her future, even when forced to
listen to her mother's raptures over her upcoming marriage constantly. She did
not have to tolerate Mr. Darcy's attentions; he was off to Matlock to announce
their engagement to his aunt and uncle, or more precisely to soothe their
vexation over learning of the news through the biased view of Lady Catherine.
Without his presence it was easier for her to pretend she was happy about this
marriage, and as long as this was the general belief, no one troubled her
overmuch for details. Even her father appeared to have accepted it, though upon
occasion she found him looking dubiously at her.

But
Elizabeth could find no justification for confiding in him; there was no point
in making him suffer with the knowledge of her regrets.

She
spent this time as if it were the final days of summer, with the nip of evening
frost warning of the winter to come, urging her to make the most of the last fi
ne days. But someday spring would come again, she reminded herself. She would
make new friends in Derbyshire, and if she had been able to tolerate life with
her mother and younger sisters, surely she learn to endure Mr. Darcy. At least
he was quiet more often than not, and would not embarrass her in public. Once
she had children, he would not expect to be the centre of her life. Although
she preferred not to think on the begetting of her children, she would love
them no matter what her opinion of their father might be.

It
was more difficult to feel bold with the concrete evidence of Mr.

Darcy's
post in her hand. A happy bride would be delighted by a letter from her intended.
She forced a smile to her lips. "If you will excuse me."

She
dropped a curtsey and made her way upstairs to her room.

Once
there, she tossed the letter on the wash-table, kicked off her slippers and
curled up in the window seat. She felt no inclination to see what Mr. Darcy had
to say, and instead picked up the novel she had been reading earlier. But her
mind refused to focus on it, and with a sigh, she left her repose to take up
the letter, eyeing it as if it were Pandora's box. It would be better to have
it done with. Carefully she broke the seal.

My
dearest Elizabeth,

At
last I may report to you that our separation will soon come to an end. I am
writing from Matlock, where I have informed my aunt and uncle of our impending
nuptials. I will leave for London tomorrow, and if the weather and roads
permit, I shall be at Longbourn Monday next.

It
has been only a week since I saw you last, but it seems far longer since I was last
delighted by your smile. You are always in my thoughts; no matter where I might
be, I wonder what you are doing now and wish I might be there as well. I think
it will be quite some time before I am willing to part from you again after our
marriage, which cannot come too soon for me. I wish I had the facility of words
some gentlemen possess to tell you how dearly I miss you and of my joy in our
engagement, but since I have only my poor ability with which to express myself,
I shall close by reminding you that I remain your ardent admirer,

F.D.

Embarrassed and not a little ashamed,
as if she had been on a private conversation she had no right to hear,
Elizabeth folded the paper carefully and placed it in her pocket. The reminder
of Darcy's sentiments made her uncomfortable; she felt almost guilty for her
reluctance to marry him. He did not deserve to be deceived into allowing
himself to express his feelings without the knowledge she did not share them.
But what was the alternative--to ask him not to speak words of love to her
because she was marrying him against her wishes? That would not do.

Poor
man, to believe he was loved and admired where he was not. That he held her in
a tender regard she did not doubt, for he could never have overcome his
objections to her family if he had not. Why he should possess such feelings was
more puzzling. She had rarely been anything but saucy and impudent to him. Was
he so inexperienced in caring as to mistake that for love?

There
was in that moment a more gentle sensation toward him in her mind than she had
ever felt before. Though she still resented his assumptions, she found
something in him to pity as well.

Darcy
was true to his word and arrived on the date promised. When he stepped into the
sitting room at Longbourn, his eyes immediately seeking Elizabeth out with the
look she was beginning to recognize was not criticism but admiration, she felt
a familiar heaviness come over her. She smiled at him dutifully as she curtsied
and answered all his queries with civility.

She
was grateful her mother stood in such awe of her intended son-in-law that she
ventured not to speak to him, unless it was in her power to offer him any
attention or mark her deference for his opinion. The last thing

Elizabeth
wished was to offer him any further confirmation of his low estimation of her
family.

She
was relieved when he proposed walking out, despite her suspicion it would lead
to certain attentions she preferred to avoid. At least it would reduce the
likelihood of scenes embarrassing to them both.

Darcy
was silent as they strolled down the lane. Once they were out of sight of
Longbourn, he favoured her with a smile which brought more warmth to his
features than she would have once thought possible. "How I have missed
you, my sweetest, loveliest Elizabeth."

The
regret she had felt on reading his letter returned in force, coupled with doubt
as to the correct course for her. She could not pretend to feelings she did not
possess, yet neither could she ignore his words nor suggest they were
unwelcome, and she did not wish to be unkind. Finally she cast her eyes
downward and murmured, "You are welcome back to Hertfordshire, Mr.
Darcy."

"What,
still blushing?" His countenance bespoke amusement.

"Do
you object to my blushing, sir?" she asked archly.

"I
object to nothing about you, my love, except perhaps your current marital
status." He took her hand and placed it on his arm.

It
was difficult to listen to his endearments knowing how little she would ever be
able to reciprocate them, and she once again found herself in the curious
position of feeling a sort of pity for Mr. Darcy. Thus it was that